The Sandman: Act II
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'To anyone having playback issues: this is NOT in CD format; it is a collection of MP3 files that you will need to UPLOAD/SAVE to your computer before proceeding. In other words, while with CDs you can just pop it into your computer\'s disc drive and "burn" it into iTunes, with this you will need to open the CD drive file window, copy+paste (or drag) the individual files onto your desktop or into a folder, and THEN add them to iTunes from there. Keep in mind that iTunes needs a source file to access and play, so if you don\'t save the files off the disc, iTunes won\'t be able to find those files once you eject the disc. I completely understand the frustration, but it\'s just a couple of steps, and is ultimately quicker and easier than sitting there while iTunes burns the CDs into MP3 format anyway. For those of you hoping to play these discs in a regular compact disc player - for instance your car - you will have to save these files into your computer and THEN burn your own CDRs as playlists through iTunes or some equivalent program. I don\'t know how many discs that would end up being, but it will certainly be more than just one. Enjoy!!!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Brilliant cast of top-notch voice talent, flawless and immersive production, everything I was led to expect and so much more.\nMinor quibbles - the enclosed sticker art is exactly the same as what came with the first act, and the "beautifully crafted booklet" DOES NOT outline any of the episodes, as did the booklet with the first act. It\'s as if a number of pages are missing.\nLuckily, I\'m retired and looking for a new hobby - I\'ll just write my own episode guide. A great excuse to give it repeat listenings (as if I needed an excuse).'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-3 review-rating', 'review_body': "I had purchased the compact disc first Sandman audible release last year, was extremely pleased with it, and was a shoo-in to follow up when all additional volumes were released. As release date for Sandman Act II approached, I received the expected e-mail that suggested that I buy based on my previous purchase, and I promptly placed an order thinking I was getting the exact same format as the first volume. When it arrived, I learned that though it was recorded on 'Audio CD' as per the description, the CDs contained MP3 audio of the story on two discs, not the more conventional CD's that spread the first volume over a twelve disc set. When I ordered the first one, I very specifically wanted it to be playable on my existing devices that I used to still enjoy my extensive compact disc music collection. I didn't want to download it, I didn't want to stream it from a subscription service- I wanted to be able to enjoy it on my stereo, my blu-ray player, and most importantly, my portable disc-device, so I could enjoy Neil Gaiman's fantasy opus at my leisure while doing other things. None of my devices except my desktop computer has the capacity to play MP3 audio directly off the discs. I don't recall that an MP3 audio option was even available for the first volume, and find it very misleading that the MP3 version of Act II is the default 'physical' option offered on the main page via a button that identifies it as an 'Audio CD', while the multi-disc physical media version is only visible via the 'see all formats and editions' link. I appreciate the 'because you bought this, you should buy...' attentiveness that Amazon puts so much effort into, but I guess I was wrong to assume that they would solicit the sequel to one of the products I purchased in the same format that I got the first time."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I had read them (act I and act II) way back when AND WHEB I saw them as Audio books, I had to get them. While Act II is not as exciting as Act II. It is still definitely worth it. Having all of the actors come back to reprise their rolls was an incredible treat. Definitely recommend.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'The Audible adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman” covers the events of Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Dringenberg’s series from “Season of Mists” through “Distant Mirrors,” which appeared in issues 21-40 & 50 (the fourth through sixth collected volumes of the comic). It’s lovely to hear Gaiman himself provide his dulcet tones as the narrator while James McAvoy brings a brilliantly brooding presence to Morpheus. Kat Dennings perfectly captures Death’s optimism. Emma Corrin is worldly as Thessaly, Brian Cox brings the perfect amount of gravitas to Augustus, John Lithgow is dignified as Emperor Joshua Norton, Joanna Lumley returns as Lady Johanna Constantine, as does Miriam Margolyes as Despair, Kristin Schaal as Delirium, Andy Serkis as Matthew the Raven, Michael Sheen as Lucifer, and Jeffrey Wright as Destiny. Joining them are Regé Jean-Page as Orpheus, Bill Nighy as Odin, Kevin Smith as Merv Pumpkinhead, and David Tennant as Loki.\n\nIt helps if readers are familiar with the work. While Gaiman narrates each chapter and provides descriptions as necessary, the stories began in the comic book medium with its blend of text and visual storytelling so some details are lost in translation. The theme also overwhelms at times, with chapters structured like a television series featuring a “teaser” prior to the main titles. That being said, the adaptation gets the story beats right and captures the tone of the original comics perfectly. It’s a great adaptation for fans looking to rediscover the series.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-4 review-rating', 'review_body': "I love the production. Sandman part 1 was available as either MP3CD or regular audio CD. Part 2 was available only as an MP3 CD. (I didn't wan't a download from Audible. I wanted a disk.) Apparently, it is a known problem that Apple's music app (formerly iTunes) will not download MP3 CDs. My MacBook Pro and the peripheral disk player will not accept the MP3 CD that I received and deems the disks unreadable. I'm very disappointed that I spent this money and have a very limited way of listening to it in 5-10 minutes sessions in my car."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-4 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I must say that I am getting impressed with Audible and its continuous growth and improvement in the Audio Drama category. Its literally taken me away from listening to the radio and music to listening to these. I won’t go into the details of the story much\nSandman is a DC comic series that in all honesty I did not hear about until the first Audio Drama came out. I was lucky enough to find the old comic series and read through them and I can understand why Neil Gaiman\'s comic doesn\'t exactly stand out like superheroes or batman with Action but rather the comic is about the story and its impact to things we don\'t realize. To take a phrase from the first Act of the Audio Drama and comic when lucifer asks and I am paraphrasing in which Morpheus or Sandman responds, "What do you think will happen if the people in Hell stop dreaming of Heaven". These are small things that we don\'t realize have a strong impact that most of us don\'t expect in a comic but unfortunately the stigma is comics are action filled and not story driven.\nThe audio drama continues the trend of having 2 large, interrelated stories and then small one-chapter stories. My favorite is Thermidor and Ramadan. Unfortunately, compared to the first Act, the Second act Stories are not that impactful but still hold deep meaning, but I always feel the first one had more impact here. We do learn new things about Morpheus and his life and his siblings more, as well as new members to his teams and some returning characters.\nAnother improvement is the original soundtrack, I have noticed some of the soundtracks repeating that I heard in Alien audio drama’s and them repeating here while we are also introduced to new sound tracks that I felt perfectly fit in these stories. I was even impressed with the singing of “rege jean page”, his singing was soo beautiful and haunting at the same time for the story character he was playing. Excellent work Audible, but please don’t keep reusing other audio drama’s soundtrack please\nI think overall It is another excellent work by Audible. My only reason for the 4 star is because I honestly not liking the fact that some of the Audio sounds are being re-used from other Audio Drama series like Aliens. But at the same time I hope they continue to make more audio drama’s that delves us deep into our imagination'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Once again The Sandman stories deliver in excellence and Voice acting the first series brings you to his World of the Endless the 2nd series brings you in more. Enjoy !!!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'This series turned me around on audio books'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Amazing all-star cast, incredible music and sound effects bring Neil Gaiman's fantastic Sandman series to life. And the song of Orpheus is just beyond words to describe."}]