I've noticed the unsettling fact that I happen to be blogging alot about anime. This either shows that I have an unhealthy obsession with it or that I have nothing else to write about.
Both ways are rather unflattering to me, and as such this will probably be (emphasis: probably) the last you will see of anything anime here, at least for a while. Well, here we go:
Ghost in the Shell & Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
To put it simply, Ghost in the Shell (both movies) is what the Matrix trilogy should have been. It's way more intelligent- and in comparison to say, Matrix Revolutions, far clearer.
This is not to say that the plot is easily discernible. It's not, and don't expect to get everything the first time. But then, it's not about the story alone. There's the action scenes, which are rather well done (don't compare them to the Matrix, though...heh).
The first movie, which the first Matrix draws a lot from (although some might say, more harshly, ripped off), starts off with our protoganist trying to find out the truth in a mysterious series of events. I'm not to go into plot details here (you have Wikipedia for that), but suffice to say, it's interesting.
It's made awhile back (1995), but the animation only is slightly dated. The violence can get pretty gory (the illustrators bothered to draw bones and exposed metallic limbs, so you get the idea). Non-sexualized nudity is featured as well, though it's more like not- too obvious fanservice (ala the manga).
The second movie doesn't add much to the first (and its level of "maturity" stays somewhat the same). Animation for Innocence is brilliant, to say the least (thanks to its relatively enormous budget); although I might add that the added CG tends to be rather superfluous.
Overall: Interesting, and intelligent. Some of its themes explored might go beyond some, but if you love (or at least, understand) pop existential philosophy, these are the movies for you.
And I also like this particular quote from the opening of Innocence, by (the long winded) Auguste Villiers de l'lsle-Adam:
"If our Gods and our hopes are nothing but scientific phenomena, then
let us admit it must be said that our love is scientific as well."
Death Note
No, I don't generally review anything unless I'm completely done with it, but for this case I'll make an exception, because this ranks as one of the best anime I've ever watched.
If you've seen the first live-action movie (at least), then you would know the storyline of the first portion of this anime. But the anime splits away from the second movie towards the latter middle half (basically, it stays faithful to the manga storyline).
Well, simply put, it's brilliant. If you like thrillers involving mind games by people trying to outwit each other, plot twists here and there as well as the satisfaction of watching someone slay the bad guys at will, then this is the show for you.
I must say, this is probably the second anime I've watched so far to have such intensity in every episode. And considering that its 37 episodes long (I've already watched 36), it's certainly a feat.
Vandread
From the intense to the not so intense, Vandread starts off on a promising premise: Man vs. Woman. Yup, the two sexes are at war with each other, living on separate planets. Our (ordinary) hero gets caught in some (extraordinary) events, throw in some mecha battles, and there we have our story.
But from there it's mostly downhill. While this is no serious anime- (and when it becomes serious, it becomes corny) and with a fair amount of ecchi (mostly having to do with breasts) in it, it can certainly get annoying after awhile. Still, I went through all of it.
And while there are some interesting/enjoyable episodes throughout the two 13 episode seasons, it's certainly an anime that you shouldn't be desperate to watch.
Unless you er, like this sort of stuff.
Well that's it for now. Until then...
Bye!
Both ways are rather unflattering to me, and as such this will probably be (emphasis: probably) the last you will see of anything anime here, at least for a while. Well, here we go:
Ghost in the Shell & Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
To put it simply, Ghost in the Shell (both movies) is what the Matrix trilogy should have been. It's way more intelligent- and in comparison to say, Matrix Revolutions, far clearer.
This is not to say that the plot is easily discernible. It's not, and don't expect to get everything the first time. But then, it's not about the story alone. There's the action scenes, which are rather well done (don't compare them to the Matrix, though...heh).
The first movie, which the first Matrix draws a lot from (although some might say, more harshly, ripped off), starts off with our protoganist trying to find out the truth in a mysterious series of events. I'm not to go into plot details here (you have Wikipedia for that), but suffice to say, it's interesting.
It's made awhile back (1995), but the animation only is slightly dated. The violence can get pretty gory (the illustrators bothered to draw bones and exposed metallic limbs, so you get the idea). Non-sexualized nudity is featured as well, though it's more like not- too obvious fanservice (ala the manga).
The second movie doesn't add much to the first (and its level of "maturity" stays somewhat the same). Animation for Innocence is brilliant, to say the least (thanks to its relatively enormous budget); although I might add that the added CG tends to be rather superfluous.
Overall: Interesting, and intelligent. Some of its themes explored might go beyond some, but if you love (or at least, understand) pop existential philosophy, these are the movies for you.
And I also like this particular quote from the opening of Innocence, by (the long winded) Auguste Villiers de l'lsle-Adam:
"If our Gods and our hopes are nothing but scientific phenomena, then
let us admit it must be said that our love is scientific as well."
Death Note
No, I don't generally review anything unless I'm completely done with it, but for this case I'll make an exception, because this ranks as one of the best anime I've ever watched.
If you've seen the first live-action movie (at least), then you would know the storyline of the first portion of this anime. But the anime splits away from the second movie towards the latter middle half (basically, it stays faithful to the manga storyline).
Well, simply put, it's brilliant. If you like thrillers involving mind games by people trying to outwit each other, plot twists here and there as well as the satisfaction of watching someone slay the bad guys at will, then this is the show for you.
I must say, this is probably the second anime I've watched so far to have such intensity in every episode. And considering that its 37 episodes long (I've already watched 36), it's certainly a feat.
Vandread
From the intense to the not so intense, Vandread starts off on a promising premise: Man vs. Woman. Yup, the two sexes are at war with each other, living on separate planets. Our (ordinary) hero gets caught in some (extraordinary) events, throw in some mecha battles, and there we have our story.
But from there it's mostly downhill. While this is no serious anime- (and when it becomes serious, it becomes corny) and with a fair amount of ecchi (mostly having to do with breasts) in it, it can certainly get annoying after awhile. Still, I went through all of it.
And while there are some interesting/enjoyable episodes throughout the two 13 episode seasons, it's certainly an anime that you shouldn't be desperate to watch.
Unless you er, like this sort of stuff.
Well that's it for now. Until then...
Bye!
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