VividSimon Simply Perfect

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

David Roggenkamp I will say that while watching the very first episode of "Nadia - Secret of Blue Water" that I was completely blown away. It takes a very common trope and completely does away with it in a single episode. I will not spoil any of it, but what Nadia does in just a few episodes, it takes many anime an entire season to accomplish. To put it mildly, the anime has fantastic pacing, does a lot in a single episode's time, and continues to do so for about eighteen episodes before bouncing around with fourteen episodes of filler. The filler episodes can be skipped, but do have some character development which occur - take your pick. After the filler the series resumes as normal and concludes things nicely - I was left with that 'this is awesome' feeling the minute the series wraps things up.Nadia itself stars a girl of the same name; she carries a mysterious pendant called "Blue Water" which plays center stage for the entire series. She becomes intertwined with the fate of a young boy that is also an inventor - he promises to take her to Africa, but not before saving her repeatedly from villains that want her pendant. Fast forward a bit and she and Jean are thrust into a much larger plot of destiny involving an organization dubbed "Neo Atlantis". They've been working on a special project for nearly a decade that can bring down a pillar of light from the sky. They intend to use this weapon to dominate the planet and bend humanity to their will. Only a certain captain by the name of Nemo, and his ship the Nautilus, stand in the way of this organization. It isn't exactly a pirate tale, but it comes awfully close; further it directly references "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea".I will say that I wasn't all that impressed by "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" anymore than I was impressed by the character of Nemo (from the book), and the one reference the book gave to Atlantis. On the flip side, the anime does a complete three-sixty and otherwise has Atlantis as center stage for some episode plot points, and goes into Nemo's character and why he acts the way he does. Most of the main characters actually have some kind of background that is alluded to, and their personality and way of dealing with things matches it. Further, character personalities often get some development time - especially during the fourteen episode filler arc. Depending on how you view it, the filler is either a welcome addition, or serves as the weakest link within the series. I felt it was a bit redundant after about eight episodes and I largely skipped the "Africa" episodes which seemed to really change Nadia's character. By the time the series comes full circle, it is as if the filler episodes never happened.Of more interest in the series is the fact it was directed by "Hideki Anno", a certain director that would later work on "Neon Genesis Evangelion". If it isn't obvious, there are many throwbacks and influences from Nadia that make it into "Evangelion". I'm a bit surprised that it worked out this way, when it felt like "Evangelion" was an original series - yet Nadia seems to take that one! Also, there seems to be some parallels between "Disney's Atlantis" and "Nadia". Some say it was blatantly copied; you decide! Either way, this is a great series to watch and I highly recommend it.Originally posted to Orion Age (http://www.orionphysics.com/? p=11531).

Dave from Ottawa Before anime characters started sporting gravity defying hair and using freaky psychic powers to subvert the laws of physics, we got a few gems like these. Nadia is one of the most popular series of the 80s and one of the best looking, especially over the first few episodes. The visuals are breathtaking and the action is edge-of-your-seat exciting. The action is driven by exciting stunts and the (then) cutting edge inventions from the age of steam make for wonderfully unpredictable getaway vehicles. The first episode alone has one of the best anime chase scenes of the period, as memorable as anything in Castle Cagliostro, and the excitement keeps up from there. The 'villainous' trio pursuing the main character are my only real complaint with the series; they are meant to be both threatening and comical, but they just come off as goofy and tend to get in the way. The pace also tends to slacken a bit after episode two, but the rest of the series is still worth watching for its likable characters and gorgeous visuals. The first couple of episodes are maybe the best in the series and start things off at a frenetic pace, making for memorable entertainment and good fun.

boonewilliams i bought a package of various bootleg anime series (bad, i know) and spent a few months muddling my way through them all. some were really good (pretear, love hina) some grew on me (macross 7) and some flat-out stunk. (to heart, and ironically, the series for which i bought the bundle, angelic layer) i approached them all with a certain amount of skepticism and nadia was no different. the story takes place in the 1880's and spent its first few minutes placing the viewer within the frame of the times. however, a few minutes later the story introduces the villains/heroes known as the grandis gang and their apparent mastery of a level of technology unavailable now 100 years later. so if anachronisms and anthropomorphisms bug you, nadia won't appeal to you.as the plot develops, the characters take on depth and voice and you can't help but be charmed. the story becomes complicated and textured and not a little dark. then suddenly the first act closes and the second begins by abruptly changing from a tense drama into a wile e. coyote cartoon. then as soon as you settling into the admittedly funny and loopy island adventures, the series swiftly switches back into its formerly dramatic theme. so if wild swings in tone bug you, nadia won't appeal to you.can a series flip and twist back and forth between drama and slap-stick comedy and still work? watch nadia for yourself and you be the judge. i found myself forgiving its flaws because it created characters i cared about, who seemed to have the depth to consider who they themselves were and what motivated them. the series lovingly embraces its characters flaws rather then exploiting them. (as was the case in evangelion, also by hideki anno) i forgave the surreality of the plot because it had the profound insight and courage to craft REAL teenagers. (i know a real kid who in his loving teenage cluelessness could have written jean's painfully funny "nadia" song) i especially appreciated the fact that marry's 5-year-old character wasn't nearly as obnoxious as she could have been. nadia could have been done differently, eliminating either its most serious moments or its most ridiculous, but it might not have been the same.somewhere between the wide swings of our own pendulum is where real life happens.p.s. there is a movie. it stinks, and adds nothing to anyone or anything in the story. resist the temptation to find it or watch it.

David Edward Martin A few years back, Disney announced they were going to be dubbing and releasing major Japanese anime in the US. So far, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE and PRINCESS MONONOKE have been the only ones to make it. It's dang obvious though, that someone at Disney watched NADIA and took notes, because the character design of the Atlantean girl in ATLANTIS looks to have been lifted directly from here.US release of the dubbed NADIA stalled at an early section on the series. I hope that the release of ATLANTIS prompts someone to complete the US release of NADIA, as I would like to finally understand what the heck I watched a decade ago in Japanese!