wasn't sure what to expect, but overall, i was impressed with the movie. the ending was slightly lame though...

Is BRII better, worse?

BRII is shockingly bad, compared to the first one. I was really disappointed.

forget that BRII even exists, you'll be a lot happier that way

I'm reading the manga now. it seriously rocks on so many levels. If you took the movie and turned it up about 10 notches, you'd get the manga. don't know which came first though.

BRII was quite bad - but it did have a few good moments. As bad as it was it could have been decent with some editing.
I read the book not too long ago and I really liked it. Usually I don't read books after I've seen the movie (I try to do it the other way around), but the book had a lot more going on and went a little deeper into the characters.

I second the vote for the manga. Way more violent and disturbing. The movie is a christmas pageant in comparison.

i would not bother with the BRII.
the book was cool though and i really like the manga.
i think now they are releasing the manga in a more collected hard cover edition at the moment.

Loved the movie, really wacked out. Might have to check out the manga if it's highly recommended.

I highly recommend it. I'm about half-way done, and it's just awesome.

In that case I might have to drop by the local manga store for those English subbed ones. I remember seeing more than 10+ volumes?

ooh, I've only seen 8 at the local bookstore. anyone know how many there are total?

there's 15 of the the little soft cover, but in those hard cover reissues i think there will be 5 cos i think it's 3 a volume

i read the book before seeing the movie.....the book kicks major ass.....the movie, only so - so.....

i wish i could forget ever seeing the second.....
chk u'r pms kirkland.....

The large editions of the manga look nice, but are they well made? The omnibus editions of comics often times have very flimsy bindings, or are bound too close to the printed material and make it difficult to see splash pages.

I saw the movie, then read the book, but i've not read the manga, guess i'll have to look into that...

....and yeah, the book was awesome! lots of background on certian characters that explains a whole lot more what their motivations are. so much of that had to be condensed or just barely hinted at in the movie. recommended!

no matter what, do not see part 2. i understand that the director died before filming of this was complete and his son took over? is this right? better to have died with the man.

and while on the subject of good japanese novels that have been translated into english, i'd like to recommend Ryu Murakami's "Coin Locker Babies," great read and extremely twisted!

They are selling the book here for HK$1 at some publisher's house... I might have to get it given so many good reviews