Posts Tagged ‘ Reviews ’
Kite Liberator - Review
April 6, 2008 • Kite Liberator • Comments
Review of the film “Kite Liberator” by Douglas. Enjoy.
Popularity: 6% [?]
A review of the series “Fullmetal Alchemist” done by Douglas. Enjoy and please comment.
Fullmetal Alchemist
Popularity: 17% [?]
Country: Japan
Genre: Anime Soundtrack
Year released: 1995
Running time: 57:55
Composer: Shiro Sagisu
Label: Starchild
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 12/03/07
Neon Genesis Evangelion, Vol. 1 is the first of three consecutive soundtrack releases that chronicle the music from the hit television series. Shiro Sagisu is the mastermind composer behind delivering the powerful music heard throughout the series, with this release covering the music primarily heard towards the beginning of the series.
Top 3 tracks:
#1: “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”
#4: “Rei I”
#21: “Fly Me to the Moon”
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Final Score
A
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Popularity: 17% [?]
Read Or Die - Review
November 19, 2007 • Read or Die • Comments
Country: Japan
Genre: Thriller
Year released: 2003
Running time: 26 Episodes
Director: Koji Masunari
Cast: Helena Taylor / Hunter MacKenzie Austin / J.D. Stone / Rachel Hirschfeld / Sara Lahti / Wendy Tomson
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 11/07/06
Read or Die is a series that chronicles the lives of an author, Nenene Sumiregawa, and her three “bodyguards”, the three sister group Maggie, Michelle, and Anita. You see the three sisters aren’t just regular bodyguards; they are in fact all “paper masters”, one who can manipulate paper in order to form weapons, tools, or even transportation. It’s through their involvement with Nenene that produces the plot of Read or Die and is the central focal point for the events that occur in the series.
Let me remind you that this TV series takes place after the OVA (which is also entitled Read or Die), so one who is not familiar with the certain arrangements of particular characters in the show could become lost, particularly in the later episodes. With that being said, people who are familiar with the OVA will greatly appreciate the addition of new characters in the TV series as well as the universe of the OVA being greatly expanded upon.
One thing people will probably notice right of the mark is the beautiful animation. Similar the OVA, the animation is a standout from the many shows I have seen, with its vivid colors and gorgeous backdrops, it’s something that an anime fan can appreciate. The actions sequences are well done and are the showcases for some of the better animation. Another great aspect of the show is the music; filled with jazzy renditions and classical compositions, it is definitely of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard.
Another thing I like about the show was the character development. This is a departure from the action driven OVA, and for fans of the OVA, this could prove to be a disappointment. That’s not to say there is no action, it’s just that the action is disperse wisely throughout the series. Since the OVA consisted of three episodes, and the series 26 episodes, I was glad the action elements didn’t consume the show. This way there is ample time for the characters to develop as well as enough time to present the many twists and turns the series (plot-wise) provides the viewer.
Overall the TV series is a great companion to the Read or Die universe and provided a fresh storyline that not only expanded the ROD universe, but complemented it. This, plus the nice animation and music, make for one great anime that fans will enjoy, as well as newcomers who don’t mind having to play a little catch up later on to fully understand the story.
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Final Score
A
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Trailer
Popularity: 18% [?]
Country: Japan
Genre: Drama
Year released: 2004
Running time: 26 Episodes
Director: Ichiro Itano
Cast: Chris Ayres / Daisuke Namikawa / Illich Guardiola / Shannon Emerick / Hitomi Nabatame
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 02/07/07
“Gantz” is hard anime to describe. Based on the manga series, “GANTZ” is an ode back to the 80’s anime. You know the type of shows that consisted mainly of excessive violence to win over fans? At first, this seems like the case, but further viewing proves that “GANTZ” is different. Really different. On one hand, you have a show that seems to bask in its abundance of violence and harsh language. While on the other hand, you have a show that raises such extensive topics for the viewer to ponder; peer pressure, moral relativism, and issues of predominance all come to display here. All these factors combine to provide the viewer with a rather unique experience. This is what has lead “GANTZ” to develop a cult following of sorts.
Like I stated above, Gantz is one very original anime. I knew right from the start of the series that I was in store for something very uniquely different. For starters, the main character of the series, Kei, is a jerk; he is a rather selfish, egotistical teenager who cares about nothing but himself. Sounds like a lot of the teenagers today, right? Well, while waiting in the subway to take the train to school, he runs into an old friend of his, Kato. Let’s just say that Kato persuades Kei to help him rescue a stranger in a rather dangerous situation…which results in both their untimely deaths. The strangeness factor comes into play when they suddenly materialize (yes, materialize) in what seems to be an ordinary room, with the exception of a “black sphere” in the middle of it. They soon notice that other strangers are beginning to appear in the room as well, which they find out later shared the same devastating fate as them. Suddenly playful music begins to arise from the sphere, in which it proclaims its name is “GANTZ” and that the strangers assemble in the room are about to participate in a “game”. But this is no ordinary game…the rules are these; if you win, you get a second chance at life but if you lose, you’re apparent “death” remains permanent. Harsh rules indeed, but if I had to describe “GANTZ” in one word, it would “harsh”.
“Gantz” is definitely a hard series swallow at times, but the conclusion I arrived at after finishing the series was this; the reason it’s this way is because the creators were trying to accurately reflect the social structure of our present day society. The characters introduced throughout the series each could easily be represented by someone we interact with everyday. The social class system is alive and well within the confines of “Gantz” and it is this, in particular, which makes “Gantz” an enjoyable and interesting series. Most societies tend to separate themselves into classes that that define the way a person should think, feel, and participate. “Gantz” explores the possibility if these classes were some how intermingle (unwillingly, I might add) with one another and forced to work together for a common goal, which in this case is survival. As one could perhaps guess, this leads to conflict within the group. This charismatic character interaction is “GANTZ” strongest attribute but is also one of its cons. Some characters make completely irrational decisions, specifically the choices that have to do with killing in order to survive, which made me a little irritated at times. Couple this with the fact that the pacing of the show is absolutely horrible at times, and you should have a stinker of show, right? Not exactly; what fails in “GANTZ” is its execution, not its story or characters.
As for the technical side of things, I have watched the series in Japanese and English. As always, the Japanese cast is great, but I tend to side with the English version. Mind you, “GANTZ” is an extremely foul-mouthed series. Taking into consideration the incredible amount of stressful life-or-death situations these characters are in and it becomes pretty apparent why they would say some of the things they say. What it amounts to is this; the English dub was able to communicate the effectiveness of the characters better than the Japanese cast could.
Overall, “GANTZ” was an extremely fresh series, and while some might say it was a little over-the-top in certain aspects (I’m in this crowd), I found it to be quite an experience. If you’re looking for a mature themed anime series, take a chance at watching “GANTZ”, just be prepared for a little blood with your social criticism.
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Final Score
B
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Trailer
Popularity: 23% [?]
Fullmetal Alchemist - Review
November 19, 2007 • Fullmetal Alchemist • Comments
Country: Japan
Genre: Drama
Year released: 2003
Running time: 51 Episodes
Director: Seiji Mizushima
Cast: Vic Mignogna / Romi Pak / Aaron Dismuke / Rie Kugimiya / Caitlin Glass / Megumi Toyoguchi
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 09/15/06
Every couple of years, an anime series comes out that is of the highest caliber. A couple of years ago, it was a show called Neon Genesis Evangelion. A few years before that it was Gundam Wing and before that it was Sailor Moon. It was well overdue for an anime to take the throne as the next great anime series. After viewing the anime Fullmetal Alchemist, I believe this is the anime to recieve the crown, and it is a show that deserves every praise it has received.
By judging Fullmetal Alchemist from the outside, it might seem like an anime for younger kids, but it is absolutely not. The story of Fullmetal Alchemist is actually a story of redemption. The two main protagonists, Edward and Alphonse, are on a journey for the “Philosopher’s Stone”, a stone that grants the user the power to bend the laws of alchemy. They hope that if they control find stone, they will be able to return their bodies to their original form; Edward to receive his limbs back and Alphonse to receive his entire human form back. Edward is the older of the two, and he feels personally responsible for what happened to his younger brother on that fateful day they attempted to resurrect their mother. What makes Fullmetal Alchemist’s story so great is its ability to convey real emotions. The characters decisions in the show are all feasible, and the outcome of their choices, no matter how awful, they deal with them.
The character development is also something to speak volumes of. Each character in the show has a background, and by the end of the series, we can relate to certain characters, as well as the decisions they choose to make. For a show with 51 episodes though, it feels great to say that there are absolutely no filler episodes whatsoever. Each episode pertains to the overall plot, giving the viewer insight to key points in the story without giving too much away. The episodes are engaging and they absorb you into unpredictable plot where by the end of an episode, you are already anticipating the next one. The story is one of the best I’ve had the pleasure to watch.
As for the music in the series, it is some of the best in recent memory. The music was composed by Michiru Oshima, and performed by the Moscow International Symphonic Orchestra. The soundtrack fits the show perfectly, within the realm of an epic anime the music should be epic nature, which it does excellently. The opening themes and ending themes are great too and I personally enjoyed every one of them.
Since this is a recent show, the animation is crisp and clean. The animation was done by Studio Bones (they also did the Cowboy Bebop movie, as well as the Rahxephon Series) and they give the anime great visuals to go along with the story. One of the stronger additions to the show.
As for my final words on Fullmetal Alchemist, I have to say it is definitely in my top five pertaining to anime and I personally suggest it to anime fan as well as non-anime fan alike, you will not be disappointed. A definite anime classic.
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Final Score
A+
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Trailer
Popularity: 18% [?]
Dragonball Z Season One - Review
November 19, 2007 • Dragonball Z (Season One) • Comments
Country: Japan
Genre: Action
Year released: 1989
Running time: 35 Episodes
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Cast: Christopher Sabat / Sean Schemmel / Sonny Strait / Stephanie Nadolny
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 04/15/07
Reviewing a huge anime phenomenon such as “Dragonball Z” is pretty tough. You have to put all bias aside and take a look at the series at a critical level. Fond memories eventually come into play and could haphazardly affect your judgment of the series as a whole. So, in light of this, I decided to tackle my review of the series with new eyes. Watching the first season of the series over again, uncut and digitally remastered, I was able to see the true identity and original intent that the producers of the series had in mind.
Taking place a couple years after the original Dragonball series, “Dragonball Z” picks up to showcase how Goku has not only grown into a man, but has a wife, Chi-Chi, and a young son, Gohan. A majority of the original cast return as well; Krillin, Bulma, Piccolo, Master Roshi…just to name a few. All seems peaceful…for awhile. A member of Goku’s race, a saiyan by the name of Raditz, unexpectedly arrives on Earth to figure out why Goku has not destroyed the planet yet. With his arrival, the Earth is thrown into disarray and is unwillingly thrust into a race to prepare for two significantly stronger saiyans heading towards the planet, Vegeta and Nappa. This season revolves around their training and anticipation of diabolical saiyan forces.
Release in 1989, the new digitally remastered version is definitely easier on the eyes. The vibrant colors of the show are displayed in full splendor in this box set, which were otherwise washed out and grainy in the TV release. With a majority of the commotion of the new release stemming from the “cropping” of the show-to accommodate to widescreen television sets-rarely did I notice the cropping having any sort of significant affect on my viewing experience. I’m guessing a majority of the claims are from members who have never even viewed the new release for themselves, but yet mysteriously “claim” that it’s a horrible and inferior release. I didn’t see it as such a bad deal.
Story-wise, season one of “Dragonball Z” brings back familiar characters, themes, and extremely tenacious villains once again. The downside to this season is its repetitiveness, particularly towards the end of the show. Battles are drawn-out purposely to prolong the shows length, filler episodes are interspersed throughout the series, and enemies who you think would’ve died, in fact, weren’t even fazed by the protagonist’s deadly attack. It is an extremely long first season because of these unnecessary downfalls.
Altogether, “Dragonball Z” has and always will be a stepping stone for practically every fighting anime that has followed in its wake. It’s a series that has forged such a strong connection with many anime fans, that its presence can’t be denied. This first season of the series is evidence to that, providing the viewer with an interesting albeit long series that is definitely enjoyable, even with all its downfalls. Definitely check it out if you haven’t already.
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Final Score
B+
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Trailer
Popularity: 79% [?]
Afro Samurai - Review
November 19, 2007 • Afro Samurai • Comments
Country: America / Japan
Genre: Action
Year released: 2007
Running time: 5 Episodes
Director: Fuminori Kizaki
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson / Kelly Hu / Ron Perlman
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 05/17/07
Perhaps best known for having the involvement of actor Samuel L. Jackson starring in a major role in the series production, “Afro Samurai” presents an interesting and unique take on the samurai genre. And while putting all casting-hype aside, and with animation being done by popular Japanese studio Gonzo, its mixture of east meet west philosophies seem to set it apart from the anime norm, providing the viewer with an entertaining and somber tale of vengeance.
The plot follows our relentless protagonist, who is only known throughout the land as the “Afro Samurai” (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson); a wandering soul who seeks vengeance for his father’s murder. You see, his father was the number one fighter in the world-that is until a warrior by the name of Justice mercilessly murders Afro’s father in a duel for the number one ranking. With Afro witnessing this horrific act, he abides to himself to dedicate his entire life to seek out and destroy Justice, thus ending his torment and despair. Along the way he garners many friends but even more foes, all who have the intent to stop him from reaching Justice. One friend in particular, whose name is “Ninja-Ninja” (also voiced by Jackson), is Afro’s tag-along partner who sees fit that he follow Afro until he reaches his destination. It’s a long and arduous journey that Afro must take…
First off, the animation is absolutely stellar. From the exhausting life-or-death battles, which range from aerial sword duels to lightening fast gun showdowns, to the beautiful and visually stimulating environments, each animated sequence is a sight to behold. Animation studio Gonzo has recently become a front-runner in the realm of anime, providing articulate and mesmerizing animation for shows such as “Samurai 7″, “Blue Submarine No. 6″, “Gantz”, and “Blood+”, “Afro Samurai” is yet another stepping stone for the studio, and is most certainly their most accomplished show yet.
With music production done by Wu-Tang Clan member/producer RZA, the surreal yet rhythmic nature of the soundtrack fits the show excellently. Best known for his contributions to the hip-hop world, RZA delightfully tries his hand at a number of innovative techniques that provide the show with a fascinating musical landscape that blends well with the series atmosphere and showcases RZA’s talent for constructing compositions that become not just a part of the show, but an essential element. And with voices talents such as Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman, and Kelly Hu, how could you go wrong?
“Afro Samurai”, in the very least, is a technical milestone in its ability to combine superb animation, awesome voice talent, and a well-composed musical score. And while just a tad light in the story department, and perhaps too much “ultra-violence” for its own good, “Afro Samurai” is still a marvel to behold. If this is the result when America and Japan combine forces to produce an anime, the phrase “more is better” definitely comes into mind. A dark and gloomy work of art, “Afro Samurai” is a definite recommendation.
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Final Score
B+
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Popularity: 18% [?]
