Video:

I agree with the other reviewers, the picture quality is simply amazing.

Audio:

No expert, but the audio sounds good to me.

Subtitle:

I started buying import anime sets last year, and have been really lucky not to have been burned much. Well, I may as well have flushed the money spent on this set down the drain (since I can't understand Japanese and rely on English subtitles). Like the two reviewers before me said, the subtitles are atrocious. Timing, spelling, grammar, translation...just about the worst I've seen. The translation seems like it was done by a student looking up phrases in a "Learn in 21 days!" book. Having watched the excellent fansubs of this series, I could only watch a few episodes of this version in disbelief at how bad it was. Like others said, this is a *very* complex and nuanced series that needs an expert translation. Stay away from this set!

Comment:

I would also like to add a note to EngrishMajor - I don't know what you are trying to accomplish with your review, but do us all a favor and stay off this site if you're not going to be honest. And if you *were* being honest, stop reviewing subtitles because you must not know English or Japanese!

Video:

The picture quality on this title is excellent. The image is crisp and without any noticeable pixellation or discoloration problems.

Audio:

The set includes both the Dolby 2.0 and 5.1 Japanese soundtracks. You won't be disappointed in the audio quality of this set one bit.

Subtitle:

Where the set really falls flat is in the English subititles! Every conceivable problem that you might expect to find in a HK anime DVD is found here. As well as spelling mistakes and poor grammar, there's also timing issues and a generally poor language translation that'll leave you scratching your head constantly, wondering what exactly the characters meant to say in every given instance. Considering that Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a complicated show to begin with, trust me when I say that you'll get no satisfaction from the dialog presented onscreen!

Comment:

I'd also like to add a note to reviewers like EngrishMajor - SHAME ON YOU! People are basing their decision to buy a title on reviews posted in forums like this one. You're not doing anything except wasting everyone's valuable time and money by blatantly posting a wildly positive review like yours. There IS "a danger in buying this set". Stop bashing real reviews from folks like stryper. Remember: if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem!

Video:

The video quality of this 4 disc set, actually blew me away (and that's with only an S-Video hook up to a "Sears" brand TV). I bought 4 of the original single disc issues of this title, and the picture quality of those was about average, with some pixsilation and ghosting, not to mention dull, washed out colours, but this set has the most vibrant, crisp and clean picture that I've EVER seen, not only in this type of anime, but in DVD's in general (and I can, with modesty say, that I have over 1000 dvd's in my collection, a good portion being anime)

Audio:

The sound quality seemed pretty average, with nothing of note to mention in the two episodes that I examined.

Subtitle:

Okay, now here's the reason that I only made it through two episodes, the subtitaling (shudder). As mentioned, I have 4 of the single disc versions of this serise (of which there are about 7 in total) and just rescently was given very nice "Fan-sub" versions of 18 of the ep's (though the picture quality is pretty bland) and both of these versions of this title are very near in their subtitling. Now I'm not a stickler for proper grammer as much as I am for length left on screen and over all sence of what is being said, but with this version of this title, well, the subtitles are a mess. Example, now I don't speak Japanese (wish I did though :) but during the first ep. when the authorities are discussing the hostage taking in the restaraunt, you can distinctly hear one of the men mention "Geisha", as there are geisha robots involved in the hostage taking, but what is subtitled is something to the extent of the aggressers or attackers, where as both the other two versions clearly state, "Geisha robots". This is more confused in the next line, were they discuss that the "Operater", has to be somewhere near by. This line only makes sence when you know that these are robots that are involved. There's more confusion when two of the rescue team is trying to tap into (what looks like) either phone or cable lines, and says that there are two meany lines, and that it would take up to 2 hours to find the right one, but what is said in this version is something to the effect that the road is too wide (road?). Like I said, pretty messed up, although the grammer seems pretty good, it's just really difficult to determine what exactly they're saying, in proportion to the scene that you're watching.

Comment:

All and all, this is a great set to have if you already have a competently subtitled version, and just want to be blown away by the amazing picture quality. But if this is your first buy, then beware. (I've ordered the 3 disc version, just to see if the subtitles are any better and will keep you all posted :)

Video:

This is either a Dvd rip or a very good TV rip there is totally no pixelation at all and the picture was crystal clear on my Norcent Dvd player. It has interviews with the creators and character bios which are also subtitled.

Audio:

The audio is perfect, there is alot of loud noises but thats common in an action series and it worked fine with my surround sound system.

Subtitle:

These subtitles are HK originals but dont get me wrong when I say that. They are nearly perfect HK originals no spelling errors, no grammar mistakes and no engrish phrases. If there was an award for best original HK subs this set would get it, whoever did these had very good knowledge of the English language. There almost up to R1 quality except for a few hung over lines in the later episodes..

Comment:

There is no danger in buying this set, its solid and has great quality all around. The review above me by stryper is very inaccurate and hope that you will not let his judgement change your mind on this awsome set.