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SUMMARY

In the city of Miami, crime runs rampant.  Gangs rule the streets.  Violence is the law of the land.  The Miami Police have their hands full....but not because of the criminals.

Two of their own members, Yao Sakurakouji and Lu Amano are the two most dangerous, violent, and insane cops on the force.  Nothing and no one is safe when these two psychos are on the case.

Things are getting worse in Miami.  A crazed killer is running amok in a deserted resort, scaring Yao half to death.  A Miss Miami competition gets dangerous as crazed assassins who are after Yao turn Miami into a shooting gallery.  Yet, none of this compares to the horror when Yao once again gets cut off from her allowance.  Now, she is forced to gamble so she can pay 10 billion Miami dollars for a train she blew up.

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY:   Yutaka Hirata and the writing staff have taken Takeaki Momose's entertaining manga and made it their own.  While it shares the flavor and energy of the manga, it isn't a straight adaptation.  Like Excel Saga, this series pokes fun at many different genres of anime and movies.  Miami Guns manages to make you laugh without leaving you totally exhausted.

ACTING:  Both the Japanese and English cast do a top notch job.  

First up, the group from Phoenix Post Sound.  I found Suzanne Willard a perfect match for the cold and aloof Lu Amano.  Her deadpan delivery perfectly conveys Lu's personality.  

Nicole Gibson's voice for Yao was a little jarring at first.  She sounded a little to old for a teenager.  However, the more I listened, the more her mouthy, cocky attitude won me over.

Crystal Waters is my personal favorite.  As the bitchy Nagisa, her voice can switch from sweet and innocent to evil in a snap.  She also has some great comedic timing.

The Japanese side is awesome as well.  Megumi Toyoguchi is perfect as the cute yet bitchy Yao.  The ecstasy in her voice when she is about to do some evil is down right sexy 

Like her American counterpart, Yukari Tamura is icy cold.   Her voice is a little too soft to be sexy, but then again, Lu isn't about sex appeal.

FAN SERVICE: 

Every female character winds up in a swimsuit at some point in this volume.  The outfits that Yao and Lu wear aren't exactly modest.  Yao goes all out in one episode, with Kaken taking some lovely pictures.

The other kind of fan service is here.  There are so many different pop culture references, both anime and live action, that it will take you several viewings to catch them all.  Look for a popular entertainer to make a guest appearance

CONCLUSION

While attending Otakon 2004, the folks at AN Entertainment gave us a check disc for Volume 3 of Miami Guns, in thanks to all of the support we have shown of the series.  It's an easy thing to do.  This is, at least for me, one of the best action/comedies in the anime world.  It's crass charm and its ruthless attack on your funny bone is what makes this show so damn entertaining.

This volume starts off with a homage to slasher flicks.  Besides the obvious "Friday the 13th" and "Halloween" jokes, there are some from classic Japanese horror films like "Ring" and Hino horror manga.  From there we segue into a beauty pageant and a send-up of every "gambling" movie you have ever seen.

If beauty pageants were like this one, I would watch.  Besides having a collection of lovely ladies, they have to survive an obstacle course.  Think of "Fear Factor" with the girls from the Sports Illustrated calendar, directed by Luc Besson.

The more I watch, the more I dig Crystal Waters as Nagisa.  Better than the Japanese voice actress, the energy in her voice sent chils up my spine. Her all encompassing hate for that "skinny bitch" was just as perfect as Megumi Toyoguchi when she plays Yao.  Crystal Waters is one VA to watch out for in the next year or so.

AN Entertainment continues to show that they know what fans like.  Like the previous volumes, they have packed this disc with many cool features.  The addition of the promo spots, the linkable references in their DVD liner notes, and the quotes from the staff in the scene selection show the love and care AN Entertainment put into this release.  I'm sure Hare+Guu will have the same love and affection.

As this is a check disc, I have decided not to go in-depth on the video, audio, or extras.  Suffice to say, everything is just as good as the previous two volumes.  The menus continue to entertain and delight, and are easy to navigate.

Miami Guns vol 3 is going to be another great addition to the Miami Guns cannon.  The only bad thing is that there is only one volume left after this one.  Make sure you support AN Entertainment, and buy all three volumes.  You will have a good time, and get plenty of service, service!

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