MEZZO DSA – THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
May 12th 2010 23:09
Category: Videos
Original Story by: Yasoumi Umetsu
Director: Yasoumi Umetsu
Producers: Satoshi Matsui, Mariko Kusuhara, Tsuyoshi Yoshida & Osamu Koshinaka
Starring: Luci Christian (Mikura), Andy McAvin (Kurokawa), Jason Douglas (Harada), Sasha Paysinger (Asami), Vic Mignonga (Mugiyama), Monica Rial (Sakura) & Chris Patton (Kazuto)
Produced by: “Mezzo” Project Team
English version produced by: ADV Films
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 325 minutes Rating: M.
Having seen a preview of this particular series on a cover disc that was glued to a magazine I bought way back when, before I took up the mantel of the Green Lantern to be somewhat less vague, my curiosity was naturally piqued. Time passed as it does and I never found the time to get around to tracking down a copy of this anime, then a week or two ago the time was right, the stars were in propitious alignment and with little fanfare I received the complete collection of Mezzo DSA, courtesy of an order placed with Madman Entertainment and Australia Post. A brief moment to get the DVD out of the carton in which it came and before you can shout “Ia ftaghn Cthulhu!” the disc was in my player and the action starting to roll.
So this eclectic mix of characters are thrust into all manner of drama and situations ranging from ghosts to aliens to transporting ancient mummies and police corruption. The setting for all this action seems to be some unnamed Japanese city, most likely Tokyo and there is are as much guns and fight scenes packed into the show as the makers can conceivably get away with. And then there is the martial arts styling of Mikura who has the strength and reflexes of a combat specialist from some elite spec force unit. Certainly an interesting mix of elements all skilfully brought together in the hot steaming wok that is the DSA and turned into a truly interesting dish.
Hot, spicy and nutritious would be one of describing this series if it was a meal, certainly when the dust had finally settled from the maximum carnage that takes place over thirteen episodes I felt I had definitely gotten my money’s worth. It would be easy to say that the busty, pink haired, gun toting lead female character is the main drawcard in this series although I have to say that the three lead characters are a fantastic mix of protagonists voiced by high grade voice acting talent. Luci Christian, Andy McAvin and Jason Douglas breathe just that extra bit into the three protagonists that makes you feel as though there as real as your next door neighbour, your best friend or your irritating boss.
Interestingly even though the series is comprised of predominantly stand alone episodes there is an ongoing thread running throughout the entire series that involves the hidden past of Kurokawa, or Pops as he is frequently called by Mikura. It seems that somewhere in the past Pops angered someone who had enough clout to contract the infamous Black Scissors gang to assassinate him. The great irony about this entire situation is that Mugiyama, leader of the Black Scissors is also Pops barber and the DSA have their headquarters located right above Mugiyama’s barber shop no less. Maybe Kurokawa favours the old adage of keep your friends close but keep your enemies even closer, who knows, it certainly makes for some interesting situations.
The assassin who is contracted to do the job seems to be able to get himself in a position where he can fulfil the contract on Pops but is never quite able to bring it to fruition. Either something happens or else one of the other members of the DSA intervenes to prevent Pops from being forcefully shuffled off this mortal coil. It’s rather funny in a black macabre sort of way and it just adds an extra zing to the whole mix. Several times over the course of the series this mysterious assassin attempts to carry out the contract only to be thwarted at a crucial moment. When it is finally revealed just who has ordered the hit and why it all makes sense as to why certain other developments in the overall sequence of episodes have occurred.
If I had to be pinned down and say which of the thirteen episodes were stand out favourites then the Diamond Eyes Mummy and Phantom would be equal winners. Diamond Eyes Mummy is just a funny tale filled with elements of the classic mummy’s curse style storyline ranging from falling signs to black cats to mysterious explosions. The other tale Phantom is an interesting take on modern culture, the Manchurian Candidate meets the mobile phone generation with devastating results, when you watch this cautionary story you will never look at incoming text messages and adverts in quite the same way. If you like girls, guns and action aplenty or if you just like action and dry humour then Mezzo DSA – The Complete Collection is for you, if that’s not your forte then I suggest a cup of Java and maybe the works of Stieg Larsson instead…
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