Black Jack, Vol. 2: Seizure (1993-94)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Original Story by Osamu Tezuka
Screenplay by Osamu Dezaki and Katsuhiko Koide
Directed by Osamu Dezaki

Features:

• Running audio commentary by director Dezaki
  
• Trailers
  
• Art gallery
  

Dindrane's Anime Warnings:

• Animated nudity
• Medical procedures
• Violence
• Projectile vomiting

Released by: Central Park Media
Region: 1
Rating: 13+
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format.

My Advice: Get it, along with all the Black Jack DVDs

Black Jack is a series about the titular doctor with the hands of a god, a doctor who can work medical miracles--for the right price. A noteworthy combination of self-interested anti-hero and dedicated, duty-loving physician, Black Jack is one of the most interesting characters in anime and is very worth of a look from everyone.

This disc presents two episodes, each about fifty minutes long. The first episode revolves around a coup in the fictional banana country, the Ortega Republic. The Americans have moved troops in and arrested the corrupt, drug-dealing leader of that nation, General Cruz, against UN recommendations. After this move, the fiery revolutionary Maria hires Black Jack to help her return General Cruz to his native soil, as they see him as a hero.

This episode is rather interesting, and aside from some gratuitous nudity, is one of the best Black Jack episodes thus far. We get to see an almost human side to the mysterious doctor, and it's also an unusual episode in the sense that he doesn't have a clear mission to save a life that no one else can save, as is his usual mission. This episode is more like a war movie, in that it contains revolutionaries, impassioned patriots, secret military strike forces, and more bullets than you could shake a fist at.

The second episode sends Black Jack on a vacation, only to be interrupted by yet another urgent case. Even though this client can only pay $20,000, Black Jack goes to France to find another doctor on the case already, and a patient with some mysterious form of anorexia. The patient, an actress, Michelle, has a lot of pressure on her to return to her set and finish her film, but the movie crew doesn't even know where Michelle has gone or why. This episode is very psychological and engrossing.

The audio quality is very good. The theme song music is just a little bit distorted, but given that the show originally aired on Japanese TV about a decade ago, that's understandable. The voices are very nicely done, especially Sean Thornton, the English voice for Black Jack himself. The series revolves around this personality, and if the actor fails, then the show fails with him. The visuals are also quite good, with lots of detail, effective color, and nice direction. Many of the shots are worthy of the best live-action film, with what the viewers see carefully controlled to create specific emotions and impressions.

The features list has a true, unusual gem: a director's commentary on one of the two episodes. This commentary is not only interesting, but it's just so unusual and wonderful to get some input from the creators of the film. We also get trailers and a very cool art gallery.

If you've never caught an episode of Black Jack before, then don't worry that you'll be lost; each of the episodes on this disc are really more like stand-alone mini-movies. If you like medical dramas, war movies, mysteries, or just great action, then this series, and this disc, is for you. This show always combines great writing with interesting characters and fascinating plots to come up with something truly unique and engrossing. This is one anime program that is definitely not just for anime fans.