Sword Art Online Alicization Part 1 - Standard Edition [Blu-ray]

even tho this was a great buy i love SAO i have all blu rays so far that have come out, the price is bit high and this is only part 1 so your be spending like nearly 100 for the complete package.Anyway lets get in to the good it came quick and the box is very sturdy i thought it would be thin cardboard but its very sturdy and keeps everything nice and neat insideloved watching this on crunchy roll in subbed but now i can own it on my big screen in full english dub and i fell in love with it again sao has been an amazing anime since day one and still going hard and strong

Came as advertised and no damage to the case. Great start to the Alicization arc with some very dark moments, possibly the darkest yet. Fans of the series will be pleased.

Great collectors set I love sword art as it makes my imagination of been able to be in a game apprear on screen magical action fantasy at your best

I remember back in 2014 how blown away I was by the first season of Sword Art Online. At the time of buying, I thought it was just something that had an intriguing premise and would be worth investing my money in. Little did I know just how amazing it would be. The action sequences were thrilling, the gaming mechanics stood out for their ingenuity, and the characters were so realistic I felt genuinely concerned for their well-being at times. This emotional investment carried over into the second season, culminating in the Ordinal Scale movie, which felt like everything the franchise had been building towards. Honestly, the series could've ended on a high note right there. But as revealed by A-1 Pictures, they had plans for a third season that would push the boundaries even further - if that was even possible. So now Alicization has been released worldwide, is SAO still as immersive as a VRMMORPG? Or has the series finally reached its game over phase? Let's start with the story.In a land called Underworld, a young Kirito spends a blissful childhood growing up in a small village with his two friends, Alice and Eugeo. One day, during one of the boys' excursions, Alice accidentally sets foot in Dark Territory. Although it was just her fingertip, and only for a moment, the Integrity Knights are informed of her crime, and she's taken away to be executed. At least, that's what's happening in a virtual world. As it turns out, everything is part of the Soul Translator; a machine developed by Rath, which a full-grown Kirito is testing out. He tells his friends it can read someone's soul (or fluctlights) and could be the next generation in full-dive technology. During that same night, though, he and his girlfriend, Asuna, run into trouble. They're attacked by a former Laughing Coffin member, who manages to inject Kirito with a lethal drug. Kirito then wakes up in Underworld, but something is off. He only remembers his life in the real world but not Underworld (when it should be the other way round), his avatar is now fully grown, and he can't even log out. Confused and trapped, he begins to explore; reuniting with old friends and discovering Underworld might be much more alive than he thought.I have to admit, watching this season for the first time, I did have some minor concerns about the direction it was taking. It wasn't that I didn't understand why it was taking this path. But I could see how long-term SAO fans might be thrown off by it. Let me explain.When the story begins in Underworld, we're immediately left scratching our heads. The characters are obviously inside a virtual world, but Season 1 established that VR gaming was still in its infancy when Sword Art Online (the game) was released. So how can a younger Kirito be here, with two friends he's never mentioned before? It seemed like an odd starting place, considering the franchise had two seasons and a movie to work off. It's only later we find out these aren't childhood memories.Confusion aside, though, the episode does an excellent job building this new world and developing its characters. The land is medieval-inspired with a fairytale-like vibe (not unlike Aincrad's). We also learn what roles the children play and how they've come to know each other personally. After 25mins, we feel a special bond between the three kids and how close they are as friends. That's why it's heartbreaking to see Alice chained up and carried off for a crime that wasn't her fault. Before we're too emotionally scarred, though, we're suddenly thrown back into the Sword Art Online we all recognise.Yes, as it turns out, episode 1 is a double-length feature; it's the second half that satisfies our nostalgia. The characters we know and love return; we see them fighting alongside each other in Gun Gale Online; the humour is here; they use the same familiar music from the previous seasons. And, most essentially, we're given an update on Kirito and Asuna's relationship - which is going through another tough challenge as Kirito is thinking of moving to America. Seeing all of this made me instantly feel welcomed back into the franchise.So with all the main series components here, what's the minor concern I mentioned before? Well, I noticed that after episode 1, things get watered down a bit. As I said, Kirito is thrown into a world he barely remembers and has no way of leaving. His resources are also limited, with only a few sword skills and the citizens' knowledge to guide him. Ultimately, he has to take this journey without the help of any other recognisable characters. My main concern was this would be Season 3 moving forwards. Perhaps they decided to go back to basics and rebuild Kirito from the ground up. It's not a bad strategy. After all, he is likeable enough to carry an arc by himself. Plus, fans have often complained he's too overpowered whenever he enters a new game. So maybe the first episode was intended to satisfy long-term SAO fans before committing them to this fresh experience? That seemed to be the case. But there was a compromise.One thing I appreciate the series for is that it doesn't linger in one place too long. The setting often changes to excel the pacing or highlight other characters. For example, Asuna and the others reappear in episode 4. That's when we learn what's been happening in the real world. Kirito is in a critical state after being poisoned. Someone he trusts offers to move him to a more advanced hospital, but suspicion is raised when his ambulance goes missing. His friends quickly take action. Even though some are only there to make up the numbers (e.g. Klien, Liz and Silica), it's still pleasing to see everyone in the group pitching in. It becomes like a spy thriller, where they investigate different locations, using VR technology - including the Augma from Ordinal Scale - to track Kirito down. Once he's found, the lengths Asuna has gone through to reach him proves how strong her love for him truly is. Saying she'll go anywhere with him isn't just words to her.If I had to summarise: the Underworld segments remind me of Season 1's first half, while the real world drama is reminiscent of the Alfhiem arc - just without the sexualised threats.I could go on and on about other aspects of the story: the Taboo Index and its many flaws, the uniqueness of Underworld's gaming mechanics or the Soul Translator's ultimate goal. However, the details do get complicated. So instead, I'll say that Sword Art Online is still very much a character-driven series. I've already discussed Kirito and Asuna, but other characters get their moment in the spotlight as well.One example is Sinon. Admittedly, she fell by the wayside a bit after the Phantom Bullet arc. However, this season highlights how closely she's bonded with Kirito and Asuna - the latter even gives her a nickname: Shino-non. We're also updated on her personal life, like how her ex-friend (Kyoji) is mentally recovering and how she, herself, is improving with her gun trauma. It's good to see her standing out from the crowd.There are characters like this in Underworld, too; Sortiliena, Cardinal, Tiesa and Ronye, to name a few. One of my favourites is Selka, a young novice who studies the "sacred arts" while caring for orphaned children at the church. She's certainly a charming girl with a good heart. But there's a deeper side to her. She's Alice's younger sister, who she knows people can't help but remember when they see her. Although she misses her sister terribly, she wants to be recognised for her own merits and not just act as Alice's replacement. She feels so strongly about it that she even takes the same path to the Dark Territory, hoping to prove she could never make it as far as her sister. It takes someone like Kirito to show her that the only life she can live is her own.It's a similar case with Eugeo. Now fully grown, he's the one who accompanies Kirito on his journey - making him a change from the usual female characters in this role. At first, I found it difficult to take him seriously as a lead character. He seemed to be a devoted woodcutter, tied to his "calling", and nothing more stood out about him. But then Kirito reenters his life, and everything changes. Although he has no memory of his male friend, he does remember Alice. And how part of the reason she got taken was because of his cowardice. After six years of grieving, he's inspired by Kirito to become a swordsman himself. If there's a chance Alice is still alive, he wants to find her and bring her home. As the series progresses, his willpower grows to the point where he (literally) loses an eye to protect those dear to him. I knew, at that moment, Kirito had picked the perfect companion.But even when characters aren't featured so much, the series still finds a way to make them feel noteworthy. There are two that come to mind in this sense.The first is Kikuoka, who might've been a wolf in sheep's clothing this whole time. I've honestly never given him much thought in my previous reviews; he was just someone closely associated with VR technology and an ally to Kirito. Perhaps that was by design, though. It's revealed he's been planning something since the NerveGear was released. Plus, he's part of a circle of scientists who've influenced the series from the very beginning - a group that includes Kayaba, Shigemura and Sugo.The other character worth mentioning is Alice herself. Now, before you ask: yes, it's made abundantly clear she's inspired by the famous Lewis Carroll character - not just in appearance, but personality as well. To sum up her younger self, she's kind and courageous (like her younger sister) but can also be stern and vulnerable. In the short time we know her, there's no doubt she'll play a significant role in the series. The narrative makes you feel for her that way. That being said, as much as they build up her character, her full-grown self barely appears in this volume. I'm sure they're only holding off on her potential until the second half of the season. But all that's clear right now is she's not the same childhood friend Eugeo remembers.So was there anything I particularly hated about this DVD? Well, unfortunately, yes. If one thing did rub me the wrong way, it's the sexual violence. I was terrified this was the first SAO DVD to be rated 18. And for a good reason. Not only are there large amounts of blood - when previous seasons barely featured any - but episode 10 contains a scene with two girls being sexually harassed, and they come dangerously close to being violated. I never enjoy content like this because it reminds me of Asuna at the end of Season 1 - and even that DVD was only rated 15. I understand they have to raise the tension sometimes - and sexual assault is a real issue that needs to be addressed - but I feel there are ways of doing it besides exploiting your female characters.In conclusion, Sword Art Online: Alicization (Part 1) did something I thought was impossible. It raised the standard of the series. A-1 Pictures advertised this as the most extensive story in the franchise yet. And from the looks of things, they're right. It's a shame not all the familiar characters are featured as much as we'd like, but the series never forgets its roots. Plus, the new ones more than cover for them. Whether they're a mainstay of the season or appear in just a few episodes, each has a background and personality that makes you care for them. Not to mention their world is finely built with many unexpected revelations.I would recommend this to any long-time fans of Sword Art Online. It does take a while to get used to the new setup. But once you understand its creative direction, it's one of the most uniquely compelling entries in a franchise that was already so perfect.That's all I have to say for this volume. I'll be reviewing the next part very shortly. So until then, stay tuned.

very good

My Grandson said it was good

Honestly the box set is absolutely stunning makes a great addition to your shelf. It does come with a placeholder box that you fit part 2 into but all that come in the place holder is 6 art cards that frankly look and feel cheap. It feels as if they forgot to add anything at the end and just quickly shot out 6 cards from screenshots of the anime and the art cards feel nasty and cheap. For the price you are paying for these collectors editions you expect more from it. I recently got arifureta collectors edition and the items you get with that and the art cards are actually descent. The part 2 box set includes an art book that also feels cobbled together at the last min. Honestly if your a fan of the show I would recommend the box set as I said it looks stunning. I just wish they put more effort into the additional items that were included.

So technically I did not buy this off of Amazon as it is way too expensive I bought this from a website called “all the anime” which I pre-ordered special offer for £34.99 and then it went up too £41.99 (It also arrived about a week before it was released on the 26th of October 2020) The box is amazing it comes with six art cards but no booklet hence the 4 star rating/ overpriced. The booklet is said to be included in part 2 coming December 7, Concluding with episodes 14-24. This boxset contains eps 1-13 including the inappropriate scene in episode 10 uncensored (making it an 18 rated) Great collectors item I recommend the Blu-ray as the animation has definitely stepped up its game.