At this point—-after Saiyuki and Saiyuki: Double Barrel—the adventures of Sanzo, Goku, Goyjo, and Hakkai in their reinvented journey to the West have gained a certain reputation for violent action, lots of humorous bickering, scads of demons, and a splash of sexiness, both in the popular manga and subsequent anime series. Saiyuki has always focused on one-liners and fights, and while it does delve into some character development in its humans vs. demons saga, it also never loses sight of its basic goal: to be entertaining. The problem with this third incarnation—at least judged on the basis of the opening four episodes of Saiyuki Reload: Gunlock presented on this dual-language first volume, rated 16-up—is that it seems to be running on the fumes of previous storylines, with connecting threads that are difficult to follow (although there's a glimmer of a good tale starting here with the introduction of the foursome's nemesis Kougaiji) and animation that noticeably cuts corners and lacks flair. Fans of the original series desperate for more may be drawn to this, but others should just check out the first Saiyuki. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: Saiyuki Reload: Gunlock, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 are also available, with Vol. 4 slated for release on Oct. 24.] Aud: P. (R. Brenner)
Saiyuki Reload: Gunlock, Vol. 1
(2004) 100 min. DVD: $29.98. Geneon Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 21, Issue 5
Saiyuki Reload: Gunlock, Vol. 1
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