Movie: There are all kinds of anime releases for all kinds of fans. A big sub-genre deals with sports related stuff. Another deals with adult themes. Combining the two is a show originally made in 1996 called Variable Geo. It's a three episode show set in the near future that details a sport, Variable Geo (VG), where large breasted waitresses fight each other using martial arts and energy that comes from inside them. If you win the big match, you get a large cash prize and a chunk of land anywhere in the world. If you lose, you have to strip off your clothes in front of the crowd. In essence, it's like a perverted video game. Here's what the box says: "The action is sudden and fierce. The TV cameras are close behind. With every match, beautiful winners inch closer to the grand prize – gorgeous losers strip naked before an audience of billions.
Harmless fun? Not quite. Black magic oozes from every pore in the tournament's public facade. Variable Geo is about more than the opponent in the arena. It's about the reach of an international conglomerate, the genius of well-paid scientists, the bond between best friends and what it truly means to be alive. It's about one powerful woman's burning desire to achieve life everlasting, and defeat the one opponent that stalks us all." Here's a breakdown of the episodes:
1) The Strengthening Of The Goddesses:
The first episode opens up introducing the lead character, Yuka, who is a waitress when not fighting in the VG ring. She barely won her bout and her opponent paid the price by stripping for the crowd. A mysterious stranger observed the fight and took an interest in Yuka's obvious power. As events unfold, Yuka is herded into fighting at a level far greater than she is prepared for. To what end, only time would tell.
2) The Complex Relationships Of The Goddesses: Yuka saves a fighter from her own hatred while an undercover operative investigating the VG fighting circuit finds out something disturbing. It becomes clear that someone, or something, seeks to use Yuka for purposes she wouldn't appreciate. Though her friend Satomi is captured by the corporation.
3) Elegy Of The Goddesses: More details into the corporation are revealed and it appears as though Satomi's been both enhanced as well as put in some form of mind control to serve as the host of another person's consciousness. Only Yuka can save her friend but she'll need to learn about her desires first.
Picture: The picture was presented in full frame, 1.33:1 ratio. The picture looked clear but the anime style was a bit limited.
Sound: The audio presented a choice of either 2.0 English or 2.0 Japanese with English subtitles. The bass was a bit deeper in the Japanese track but otherwise they were similar.
Extras: Some trailers to 6 ADV releases (some looked pretty cool).
Final Thoughts: Okay, fairly limited in terms of what you get: three episodes, no real extras, and not a lot of character development but it had a few cute moments and the MSRP is low. If you like fighting anime with a slightly adult taste, this would be worth checking out. The ending was too predictable but what do you expect for a show based on what appeared to be a videogame?
Buy: