Riding Bean is a Action Packed Nutter
Peter Tilton | New York, USA | 07/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Riding Bean was produced by Kenichi Sonoda who did Bubblegum Crisis and Gunsmith Cats so if you've seen any of these your already know what to expect - ACTION & STYLE!
This is a high octane, fast electric paced anime which never takes a moment to slow down and let you take a deep breath. It has everything from incredible car chases to action packed showdowns and shootings.
Bean Bandit (our main character) is the definition of a bad boy. He can get so completly wreckless that his very attractive female partner must always keep him in line.
It's also worth noting the music is done by David Garfied and complements the anime perfectly. It's feel good, frantic electric guitar plugging and screeching to the fast tempo set in the anime.
Conclusion - Highly Recommended to Everyone - 5 Stars out of 5!"
Old school anime action!
C. W. Fitch | Wichita Falls, TX | 01/22/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"One of the best of Ken-ichi Sonoda's earlier creations, Riding Bean is a must-own for any anime fan's collection. Bean Bandit's a courier who works on both sides of the law. He'll deliver just about anything for just about anyone for the right price. Bean has very few scruples, but when the cargo's the daughter of a well-known political figure, and said figure is being held for ransom by a clever bunch of thugs, things can turn pretty ugly. What ensues is a battle between the police, the thugs, and Bean himself, who's caught in the middle. Needless to say, there's lots of action to be found here, complete with nail-biting high-speed car chases all throughout the city, big guns, explosions, and bigger guns. The story moves at a breakneck pace and keeps your eyes and ears fixed to the screen. Sonoda's fixation with weapons and cars comes alive very well in animated form, and the animation itself is actually pretty decent for an anime that's almost 15 years old. The crew actually visited Chicago in order to get an idea of how to capture the cityscapes, and it definitely shows. And how about Bean's ride, the Roadbuster? I want one...anyway, Bean's partner Rally is a force to be reckoned with as well; a deadly beauty who's a crack shot. The English soundtrack has a nice action-oriented flavor, with vocals by gospel artist Phil Perry. The complete package for action fans and anime fans alike. Even if it is "old school"."
The video worth £1000,000,000
kessler_bandit | UK | 04/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This video is great! I mean, not only is Bean one stud of a cartoon character, the comedy content is wicked! Some of the faces he pulls are just sooo wicked, and it's all down to the animators. There's a wide spread of characters in the film, and I watched it over 20 times the first day I got it! I know go round quoting the hilarious dialect and witty comments to myfreinds, who love it just as much as I! A good start to any manga/anime collection, or even if your looking for something interesting to watch, Riding Bean is the one for any occation."
OH YEAH!
David Greenwood | 08/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"PG-13 my foot! There do they come up with these ratings? Riding Bean is rightfully entitled to an R rating!. Anyway, Riding Bean is the coolest movie I have ever seen. Bean is the character by which all other action movie heroes should be judged. The plot is simple, but effective. The video is only 45 minutes long, and I guess they figured that more plot would take away from the action sequences. The second half of the movie is just one huge string of car chases and shootouts. The animation seems a little old to some people, but it really doesn't bother me at all. The skillful direction, plentiful action, and a sense of humor make Riding Bean my number one anime video."