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Feature Presentation:
Special thanks to Geneon Entertainment for sending a copy for a review for this site. This is the second version of this movie release, the "Special Edition". It is the exactly the same movie as the other one I reviewd before, the only difference that this release got lots of extras & a whole new packaging. You thought is was all over when you see the final episode of the series. Guess again! Now, a new, never before seen on TV, a second movie of this magicial series is release, featuring a brand new story that is set 4 months after that great battle on the last episode of the series. You also get to see Sakura expressing more of her feelings towards Li. I find it so very cute to see both of them so in love that is a little left out in the series. Even with the description of the movie on the back of the DVD, the title says it all, there is one Clow Card is out there, the "Sealed Card", even Sakura thinks that she have captured all the cards. Well, I'm not going to say anymore, I'm not going to spoiled this movie!
Video:
Geneon Entertainment did a very great job. However, it seems that the images is a little fuzzy, like there has static, when you look closely at it. The movie is feature on Widescreen format. If you got a Widescreen TV, you're going to enjoy this even more. To top things off, unlike the other Cardcaptor Sakura releases, it's totally 100% Japanese version, except for the ending credit. There is not edited or angle features like the first movie DVD. I do note that you can skip all those warnings & logos when you first load the DVD by just pressing the "Menu" button on your remote control.
Dubbing: English:
For the first time in any Cardcaptor Sakura releases, the original dubbing cast isn't used, but Geneon Entertainment did the dubbing themselves. Well, you might feel a little strange with the new voice cast, but it's pretty good. I think it's way better, the translation is way more accurate, as well keeping the original Japanese names. Plus, the songs also remains the same. It's about 90% of the original Japanese.
Audio 01: English 5.1:
Unable to test it, since I don't have a 5.1 surround system, I can't really say much.
Audio XX: English 2.0:
Just letting you know, there isn't an English 2.0 audio track on this DVD. This is artificially made from the 5.1 audio track, that's why I noted it as "XX". I found no problem with the audio, but I bet it would be alot more interesting with the 5.1.
Audio 02: Japanese 5.1:
Unable to test it, since I don't have a 5.1 surround system, I can't really say much.
Audio XX: Japanese 2.0:
Just letting you know, there isn't a Japanese 2.0 audio track on this DVD. This is artificially made from the 5.1 audio track, that's why I noted it as "XX". I found no problem with the audio, but I bet it would be alot more interesting with the 5.1.
Subtitle:
Geneon Entertainment have selected a great font, very easy to read. Yellow for the regular subtitling & white for Japanese signs & text. Light blue is also used for the English lyrics for all the songs. There are two tracks of subtitling. One track is for the sign subtitling & the other one is for the Japanese dialogue. Just a little note, if you use the English subtitling track (signs & text only), the subtitling for the ending theme is translated in English, but if you flicked it to the Japanese subtitling, it's the original Japanese lyrics.
Menu Option:
The menu is also in widescreen format, but if got just a regular full screen TV, it will display in that format with no problem. The menu started with a little camera action, then go straight to a very cute Sakura picture. It does move, she wink her eye time to time. The picture isn't so clear, could have a better one. There is also a little ball moving with clips from the movie. There is the "Play", "Setup", "Extras" & "Screen Access". Selecting one of the options, you will get a little animation of purple flower petals moving across the scene. The background music is from the series. It have remain the same from the standard edition release, but with an "Extras" section.
DVD Extras:
Unlike the standard edition release, this one got extras. There is the original Japanese movie trailer, as well the original Japanese TV commericals. Also, you have a little art gallery. Oh, there is a hidden "Kero-chan Video Extra" option there as well. This feature is all about Kero-chan & Spinel, fighting over one last takoyaki (it's food made from octopus). It's also in Widescreen, both in English dubbed, as well the original Japanese audio with subtitle. It's really cute.
Packaging:
The packaging is totally different then the standard edition. On the cover, you see the beautiful Sakura dressing up to be a Princess with wings with Kero, along with a bright background with the Clow, or I should say, Sakura Card floating around. In the back, it remains the same, same description, same 4 screenshots, except the background image is different, as you can see the true form of the "Sealed Card". There is no insert on this release, but you do get a very nice photo, named "Tomoyo's Photo Album". Very nice. On the DVD disc itself, it's the same image as the cover. Since the DVD case is a clear one, you can see another beautiful image of Li & Sakura in battle.
PC Viewing:
Watching it on the PC is the same as watching it on the TV. The sound is just great. The movie is place on one single track, so loading time is really small. You can fast forward to the beginning to end with one move on your mouse! You might noticed a little static in the images during the movie, which is a normal. Also, in the menu screen, you must click on the little icon that pops next to the selected options (such as "Play") to make it work with your mouse, not the title option itself. Like on your regular DVD player, you can skip the warnings & logos when you load the disc, just use the "menu" option to go to the menu screen.
Overall DVD Rating:
You must see the series first before seeing this movie. Without it, you won't be able to know who is who in this story. This is a great addition for any Cardcaptor Sakura fans & you finally get to see Sakura & Li coming together. The only thing I note that if you're use to watching the dubbing version, it's totally different on this release, so don't be alarm. I think it should have been done this way! I do suggest to get this version if you haven't got it already, just for the extras. Plus, you will get a little photo album as well. It's only a 10$US different, but it's up to you.
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