About Amanda Rush
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The only thing extra about this DVD is how extra useless it is.
I know that I love bonus features on DVDs – and I know I’m not alone. I know that I wish that more anime came with cool bonus features, and in this, also, I know I am not alone. I know that School Rumble is one of those series that makes me say the word ‘cute’ as if it is spelled ‘kyoot’ and is about four syllables long. Once more, I know I am not alone.
All of that said, it would seem as if the School Rumble: Extra Class release would be a great idea, if not for one thing – having it on a separate DVD is utterly useless, not to mention a complete rip-off. This is a prime example of the stuff we all long for as bonus features, and never really get.
The story of a group of kids at Yagami High School, School Rumble often resembles a love triangle that slowly evolves into a web-like mess of interpersonal relationships, all spiked with silly comedic hijinks that the Three’s Company crowd would be proud of. It’s a funny show, and has one of my favorite voice actors, Brandon Potter (second only to Steve Blum – sorry, Brandon, but I will forever love Spike from Beebop). Brandon has graced such shows as Black Cat and One Piece, and his voice is truly a bonus for any fan of the english dubs (which I am, no matter how hard you purists rage).
Extra Class is entirely comprised of snippets of scenes cut from episodes for whatever reason. They’ve pasted them together in two episode-long chunks, each as schizophrenic and slap-dash as the other. They make no sense presented like this, separate from the episodes they were originally meant to go with (though some of the stuff is priceless – especially the bits that show the group as a clan of cave people). And this DVD – as ridiculous as it sounds – even comes with it’s own set of bonus features! Of course, they’re the crap we’re use to on everything else (textless songs and trailers, though there is a little bitty interview with two of the voice actors).
I suppose if you feel as if you have too much money, or like getting ripped off, this DVD is worth it. But as I’m sure this stuff will turn up on youtube soon enough anyway, save your cash and your dignity.
