Bobbing just above mediocrity, Matsumoto's space epic weaves a web of complexity that obscures details but sets up a thrilling heavenly battle. And snippets of Wagner's "Der Ring Des Nibelungen," scores certain scenes with the weighty melodrama of tragic opera.

A sloppy script, which scores high for concept, compromises the story about a band of space pirates caught in the center of a celestial tug of war for power. An avalanche of exposition buries interesting jaded characters.

Animation director Hideyuki Motohashi's use of reflection adroitly skews the reality of the piece. And pastels used to depict the immortals and their landscapes contrast beautifully with the earthy hues of the humans.

A soup of bad acting and static lines, this dub exemplifies the worst in ADR. However, a few performances shine through, despite a script bereft of fluidity. David Brimmer layers his Tochiro with a Romantic sincerity and a roguish demeanor while Scottie Ray's Daiba is a believably impulsive kid.

Standard language inclusions, Japanese and English each available with English subtitles. The DVD also offers trailers for other ADV titles and the show's DVD credits.

Violence and a cataclysmic sense of doom.

For being decked out in full pirate regalia and marked by the ominous skull and cross bones, this emotionally tight band of travelers don't act like pirates. A more fitting emblem might be the beaming, yellow happy face or the peace sign.

These characters come up in various other Matsumoto anime, and perhaps he's a little too close to them now to write effectively for them.