Product Description

Dragged through a time warp by a strange machine, Shu is thrust into a hellish future as it explodes into war! Surrounded by fierce warriors enslaved innocents, and enigmatic wanderers, Shu faces the ultimate challenge of survival in a world gone mad!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56597 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-03-26
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English, Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 325 minutes

Amazon.com
Shuzo "Shu" Matsutani, a rambunctious adolescent kendo student, encounters a mysterious girl named Lala-Ru in an abandoned factory near his home. When she's captured by hostile mecha, Shu is taken with her to another world, to the unfortunately named fortress-ship Hellywood, ruled by the psychotic King Hamdo. The apparently ancient Lala-Ru can produce vast quantities of water, which Hamdo desires. Shu is imprisoned, beaten, and tortured before being inducted into Hamdo's army of child-soldiers. He doggedly insists that he must protect Lala-Ru, despite her great powers. They escape Hellywood, wander through the desert, and reach a pueblo-like village where they defeat Hamdo. The rambling storyline recalls both El Hazard and Escaflowne. What sets Now and Then apart is the gritty realism of the violence: unlike other anime characters, Shu seems to feel real pain when Hamdo's thugs beat him. Although the rape of the Earth girl Sara is suggested rather than depicted, she has to decide whether to keep or abort the child. These depictions of the brutality of war give Now and Then a grim power many better-written and better-animated series lack. The most interesting segment on the "bonus disc" juxtaposes the animated version of the final episode with the storyboards. "From Then to Now" includes clips from the audition tapes of the actors playing Hamdo (Jack Taylor) and Shu (a surprisingly burly Ed Paul) along with interviews and standard behind-the-scenes footage of the recording sessions. Rated 16 Up for considerable violence, minor profanity, adult themes. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Wonderful ... leaves you with heartbreaking fondness
It's a wonderful film, high in its characterizations and interactions. Here's the lowdown on the film as far as genre, content and art style.

Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi. It is more a drama than a Science Fiction, though it contains elements of Sci-fi, unexplainable technology and distant future/alternate dimenional settings. It is mainly a drama pitted together in a horrible situation.

Artstyle: Realistic, similar to the Gundam Series, Princess Mononoke, Vampire Hunter D. Lacks the common anime features: exaggerated facial expressions (blown up eyes, river size tear trails), exaggerated bodily features (larger than life breasts, muscles where muscles just aren't).

Violence: High level. Bloody corpse, blood. Brutality, cruel behavior. It suggests rape twice and shows an attempt at rape. There is no needless violence, every notion of violence has an emotional and psychological impact on the characters. The rape scenes follow in the same pattern. This is a tasteful film which paces its violent scenes in full context with the story and the development of the characters and their situation. Not suggested for young children.

Setting: In foreign land/world/time (described as the distant future by many sources). Postapocolyptic, during a great war. World is under an extreme drought, water is very valuable (this is a main issue in the film but does not superscede the situations of the characters.

Themes: Finding ones place in life; Doing what is expected Versus Doing what is right; Survival; The value of Life.

Jist: I don't know what it is with the Japanese and Guys with sticks helping a helpless girl (ICO for example). You have a guy saving a girl. From the beginning until the end this is what it is mainly about, though involving many other characters.

I find the most important element of this film to be its characters. They are so diverse in their own way; there aren't a hundred different characters but each comes from a setting, sometimes similar with others, but they all have completely different situations. A lot of the situations start from one main point: being forced into another way of living. The way they deal with it and their exact way of living is different. Shu's situation is the main focus, as is obvious from the beginning of the film. After becomming invovled with Lala-ru he is determined to help her. She is probably the most influencial character, every character is effected by her either directly or indirectly. But Shu is the only one that is intent upon saving her, some even hate her. You'll find a lot of mystery surrounding her; her name is known apparently world wide and many rumors and speculations are going around about her no one really quite knows why she is so important to the King, excpet the King (obviously) and his closest and most loyal servant Abelia.

If you are an Anime fan then this should be at least viewed if not in your library. All three are wonderfully set with 13 episodes that don't let up or fill between. It's kinda like a 13 part OVA. I would highly recommend this for fans of Princess Mononoke, Vampire Hunter D/bloodlust. Young audiences may not be suitable for the violent/graphic/realistic nature of some themes and instances and these instances and themes may not even interest young audiences to begin with. It is a movie about emotions, and they can be heavy at times. I quickly added this to my library, give it a rent in the least. There are many more amazing things i could say about this film, but i'd probably give it all away (it doens't have any Sixth Sense style surprises though).

Everyone i know of that has seen it has loved it. It'd adorable and powerful. And they all loved Abelia just as much as they loved Sara

It is Art, but it hurts...
Now and Then, Here and There, from the very first episode, struck me as being one of the most beautiful anime series I'd ever seen. The art and direction are spectacular and make the darkness of the world all the more haunting, the nicer parts even more refreshing. The characters are complex and extraordinarily intriguing and you feel pity for them when they suffer - and in many cases, suffer they do - and joy when they get moments of happiness. And the storyline keeps one riveted from end to end. From the interrupted tranquility of the first episode to the gentle hope of the last, N&T,H&T is one of the finest anime works in my collection.

That said, it is brutal. The main villains are among the most contemptible individuals portrayed in this kind of medium, and their bloodthirsty will for power literally angered me when I was watching the show. There is severe brutality inflicted upon the unfortunate children of the world of Hellywood. Beatings, in one case a rape, the like. It can get depressing, severely so, and should probably be watched in a group for that reason - but it does deserve to be seen. Perhaps it's not really "enjoyable," but that's not the sole purpose of an animated series. If you can get through the difficulties, there are things that are really beautiful about this show. They're more than worth it.

Experience this one....
WOW, this whole series took me completely by surprised. I was not at all ready to be bombarded with so much violence and sadness. The first set of episodes practically ruined my night; and I could not get over it (hard to believe that a "cartoon" can effect you so much).
The next night, I rented the rest of the series-glad I did. The whole story is just awesome. Even though the hardships and issues the children are facing are horrendous, it really gives you a picture of how children really suffer in a world without law.
Each character in this series is just amazing. You really feel for every one of them, from the evil Hamdo to the little boy, Boo. Each situation and background really hits home.
Shu's pureness and good heart really touched me. Kabuca's (don't know if I spelled that right) horrible situation where he is forced to murder innocent people just broke my heart. Every character was portrayed and drawn magnficantly. The story is very well written.
This anime is for someone who is looking to be challenged mentally and emotionally. Be prepared to see terrible images of little children suffering and people being faced with brutal predicaments. Yet, to some people this is real life. I believe it is good to know that bad things do happen, however a strong, determined heart like the main character Shu can change one world's terrible dilemma.
Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys all aspects of anime and also to those who love to experience an astounding drama.