ADV Films.

ADV Films

$29.98 each www.advfilms.com

ADV Films' manga and Japanese series productions are powerful recommendations, offering complete episodes and dramatic, action-packed fantasies on DVD. In 1998 the TV series Shadow Skill was released in Japan to much acclaim, presenting some 26 episodes. SHADOW SKILL: FIGHT FOR THE ONES YOU LOVE (141392141) provides four complete episodes from this series, introducing a fast- paced action set involving fast warriors and fantasy evil enemies. MABURAHO: SURPRISES AND SUSPICIONS (141391179X) tells of a high schooler with a special challenge: facing life as a ghost. Romance and ghostly encounters permeate a fun Japanese account of high school trauma. ELFEN LIED--VECTOR FOUR (1413911579) is the last volume of the ELFEN LIED series: familiarity with the others will lend a more immediate appreciation for this concluding story of a mysterious organization protecting humanity from the Diclonius mutant. Fast-paced action makes this Japanese animated presentation a real winner. AREA 88: TIGHTROPE AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT (1413911102) is a tense animated thriller revolving around supply transports cut off by enemy action and a sniper who holds the base hostage. Lots of jets and fighting action here, which is also enhanced by character bios, interviews, and much more. The complete collection PEACEMAKER (1413912796, $67.48) comes in a fine slipcased set of five DVD packages; each holding five episodes of the Japanese PEACEMAKER cartoon series. A teen's thirst for revenge after the vicious slaying of his parents leads him to seek out a group of swordsmen sworn to protect the capital against rebels--the same rebels who murdered Tetsu's parents. But he learns the swordsmen are themselves capable of the same vengeful violence: should he become a demon and join them, or become a Peacemaker like his father? Expect blood, gore, and plenty of fighting in 24 episodes of dramatic, changing action.