Flame of Recca

T.V. Series (Subtitled)

CARL's TAKE: <<<Two and a half out of Four Stars>>>

Summary - Recca is an energetic high school boy who fashions himself a ninja. His quick skills help him one day when he saves a girl from danger, even though he gets killed himself. But as it turns out she has a miraculous healing power that saves him. Now he's thrust into a battle to protect her from a maniacal rich man bent on immortality and a horde of henchmen with evil powers. Still, he's not helpless - a mysterious woman shows up to empower Recca's friends with magical weapons as well as to teach Recca to bring out a power all of his own: the power to summon eight dragons of fire.

Impression - Loaded with cliche battles against overwhelming odds without much plot to connect it all. But that's kinda the selling point of the show.

Review - Flame of Recca, at its core, is nothing more than fluff designed to catch your attention and bucks with a format too resembling an RPG. Its plot is loaded with conveniences: obligatory love triangles and group disfunction, looney lazy-eyed antagonist, and a pretty girl who can instantly heal all of the ridiculously fatal injuries inflicted upon these cliched-anime-heroes. But every now and then there's a glimmer of hope for the plot that could be turned into something compelling. They just never get around to it. You begin to expect a climcatic near-death battle in every episode, and the writers seemed more than happy to oblige..

VERDICT: It's fluff but it can be entertaining. If you're looking for something light and simple with tons of action and blood, this is a good choice.

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