What do think about all this crap?
Send me an email; I don't have any communication
with other anime fans out here, so lemmie know what your thoughts are.
I promise I'll reply or make some rude remark on this site!
13-Jul-2003 09:36 PM
Anime R2, King Records
Revival of Evangelion
Very simply put: this is the best dvd set I have ever seen. Also, this is the
best series I have ever seen.
"Eva wa mo hito no tsukuridashita mono" - tottemo shinjirarenai koto...
Also, this show has the best 5.1 track I've ever heard, amazing considering it
was made in 2.0 entirely and in 1995.
Content: 10/10
Dvd quality: 11/10
video quality: 11/10
audio quality: 15/10 (yes, it's a bit ludicrous, but it deserves it)
22-Jun-2003 08:36 PM
TV series DVD, R1, Warner
Babylon 5: Season 2 box set
Damn, I watched through all 22 eps in 3 days and only wanted more (3rd season
doesn't come out till late Aug at earliest). This is the best show ever
produced for American television; I actually think it is slightly (just barely)
better than Seinfeld. I remember watching this show when it originally aired
and being amazed at every episode; I remember watching it again when I recorded
it off TV (I have a complete VHS copy of every single episode, movie, etc.) and
being amazed again. I remember watching it this weekend and still being amazed
10 years after it originally started airing.
There is just something in this show that has the feeling of 'life' and
'creation'; you can feel the effort that everyone put into the production, you
can feel that they too knew that they were creating something exceptional that
would not be repeated. This show gives me the same feeling that Gundam and
Macross gave me - that rough, unpolished feel of something that may not be
'perfect', but gains it's life and feeling through its imperfections; it gains
its 'art' through those subtle flaws.
The dvd quality is bizzare though, I must admit. It looks as though they got
their source from several different places; as some scenes look wonderful and
others just a minute later look as though they were mastered from SVHS. Oh
well, it all looks better than any VHS copy and they obviously tried to do their
best effort. The audio is great though; no problems at all with the redone 5.1
soundtrack. They also recorded some new interviews with the cast, crew and
creators and they all have something interesting to say. Damn I wish Claudia
Cristian had stayed for the 5th season...
Content: 9/10 - best sci-fi ever written. Won the Hugo 2 years in a row!
Originality: 9/10 - They came up with some great episode, story and character
concepts.
Naughty: 1/10 - for all but "Divided Loyalties" which gets an 8/10, that bedroom
scene should have gone on for about 5 more seconds.
Disbelief: 8/10 - there were a lot of people fighting and trying to convince
Warner for years to release Bab5 on dvd, they finally did and have been doing
an excellent job with it.
22-Jun-2003 08:25 PM
Anime DVD, R1, Pioneer
Niea_7: vol 1 - 4
Damn, what a wonderful show. This is one of the shows for which I completely
disagree with the AOD review; I think Chris missed the entire point of the show
and wanted it to be something it wasn't, and wasn't supposed to be. Thank god
for ABe and Triangle Staff, those people know how to make something great and
new and interesting with every production.
If you haven't seen Niea, you suck, go watch it now. If you have seen Niea and
you didn't like it, I'm truly sorry; you need to go get a new hobby.
Dvd quality was pretty good overall, though there is some nasty color separation
(aka 'rainbows') at points and a few places with some compression artifacts, not
bad looking at all. Plus, this was one of the earliest titles to actually use
the unadultered japanese covers (well, the did do a 90 degree rotation).
Dvd quality: 6.5/10 - hmm... maybe I'll pick up the R2's
Content: 9/10
Malnutrition: 8/10 - quite bad for a non-wartime show.
Curry factor: 8/10 - I'm almost cetain that some bizzare type of curry was
eaten in every episode "Ehh... mazu... mo ippai"
Sleep: 2/10 - neither Mayuko nor anyone watching the show gets any sleep until
its over.
Scandilous scenes: 3/10 - this show is kinda wierd; it takes place at a
bath house, yet there isn't the obligatory 'sexy-bathroom-scene'. That's not to
say there aren't bathroom scenes, they just don't have the 'mokkori' sense that
is usually there. It's not that Mayuko isn't attractive, she's just not
attractive in that dubious manner; probably because I respect her character too
much... how odd... wakanaiya...
21-Jun-2003 11:44 PM
Movie DVD, R1, Paramount
Apocalypse Now (original version, not 'Redux')
Wow... I've watched this movie at least 5 times before, but never in such high
quality. It really brought so many more details that I hadn't seen before, so
much more thought and effort put into the production that had just slipped by
me so many times before. If you ever have a chance to see this movie in a
theater (or a high quality home theater) take the time/effort to do so. The
DD5.1 soundtrack is truly impressive, you really feel like you are there and the
sound engineering draws you further up the river along with Willard.
I truly compliment Mr. Coppola for making such an amazing adaption of "Heart of
Darkness" (Joseph Conrad); rarely does a theatrical adaption of a book, let
alone one where the time period is changed, live up to the original. Apocalypse
Now does not surpass the original book, but it does use its structure, theme
and symbolism and takes it in an entirely new direction.
This is also a movie I would hate to have seen made today; just as some anime
would look horrific done with computer coloring/animation some movies just
wouldn't look right with all the computer effects. Remember, Apocalypse Now
was made in 1979, and that every explosion and person you see running, jumping,
painted, dying and laying there dead was real. Making the movie nearly killed
Martin Sheen (Captain Willard) - he had to be hospitalized for three months in
the middle of production. The movie was supposed to take 18 weeks to shoot; it
ended up taking over 18 months (IIRC).
Some movies are great when they first come out; some are great for a specific
period in time and historical setting, and some are just... great. While
Apocalypse Now is set in Vietnam during the Vietnam war, and doesn't try to be
a 'generic' war, but the excellent scripting creates a place which could just
as easily have been fantasy; what I mean to say is that, even though it takes
place during a specific period in history its audience is not exclusive to those
who were there to experience it, it is able to draw any viewer into that period
and make them feel as though they were there.
The acting in this movie is also beyond compare, there are volumes of text
conveyed in the nearly silent scenes between Kurtz and Willard. It's really a
shame that I can't think of a single movie that Brando was in after Apocalypse
Now.
I really must compliment the 5.1 soundtrack, the helicopters fly all around you,
and the explosions shake the ground. My downstairs neighbors actually came up
during the Calvalry raid scene and asked me to turn it down because it "sounds
like thunder" (quote from my lame-pussywhipped-downstairs neighbor; it wasn't
even 10pm on a Saturday night!!! what a little bitch.)
I must recommend that everyone watch this movie many, many times and also read
Joseph Conrad's 1904 (not quite certain of the year, but I know I'm close)
masterpiece "Heart of Darkness" - probably the most powerful ~80 pages I've ever
read, it truly changed my opinion of what could be created with the written
word.
Dvd quality: 9/10 - nothing to complain about here, they really did an
outstanding job in all aspects
Content: 9.98/10 - wow, what a powerful piece of art
Quotable: 9/10 - "The horror, the horror" "Are you an assassin?" "I love the
smell of napalm in the morning" "It's alright" one of the most commonly quoted
and referenced movies of all time.
ritual slaughter: 9/10 - did you know that the cow slaughtering scene at the end
of the movie was an actual tribal ritual slaughtering that they allowed the
filmmakers to capture and use in the movie? (It's also brilliantly cross edited
with the ritual slaughter of Kurtz)
Travelogue: 0.1/10 - this certainly is not used by the Tourism Board of Vietnam;
"come visit lovely Vietnam and be shot, bombed, napalmed, grenaded and drugged"
well, maybe you could sell that to the right crowd.
20-Jun-2003 06:23 AM
Anime DVD, R2, Bandai Visual
Sennen Joyuu (Chiyoko Millenial Actress)
This movie is excellent beyond compare.
By far, the best movie since End of Evangelion (1997). This movie shows just
what you can do with 87 minutes of film; it doesn't take 8 hours to make
something wonderful. I had liked Perfect Blue and thought it was pretty darn
good, but it wasn't a real selling point for this movie. When I found out
that Susumu Hirasawa did the soundtrack for this movie I had to buy it; damn
I'm glad I did.
I'm not even going to write anything about the plot, characters or style of
this movie; it's not necessary and would take away some of the surprise of this
movie. I think Chiyoko's character designs are great, and all of the drawings
and animations are wonderful; you get the feeling that the animators saw that
they were drawing something great.
Ahh... if only more productions were this great...
Content: 9.9/10
Style: 10/10 - my first perfect 10! Banzai Kon Satoshi!
Dvd quality: 9/10 - it looks a little grainy, but that's part of the style.
great 5.1 soundtrack and perfect progressive video.
Script: 9.9/10
You're a loser if you don't love this: 9/10
20-Jun-2003 06:07 AM
Anime DVD, R2, Avex Mode
Inuyasha: Jidai o Koeru Omoi
Great movie. If you like Inuyasha, this movie has everything in it that has
made the series so enjoyable. The character designs have been from redesigned
from the manga; they look pretty close to TV, but there are a lot more curves
in the faces and the hair has more detail. It's a nice change, but I'm just
too used to the great TV character designs.
The story is good, they made a great set of enemies and the plot moves at a
good pace. The fighting style of the enemies (a Chinese style) reminds me of
Watonjutsu - the style (from Shanghai) that Enishi (Ruruken) uses. Very well
coreographed and animated. The two enemy girls are great; they make great
fighting enemies for Sango and Miroku. Damn Sango kicks ass in this movie.
DVD quality is exactly what I had asked for with the TV series: anamorphic,
progressive, DD5.1, pimptacular.
Content: 7/10 - great stuff
Sango Factor: 9/10 - she kicks some serious ass in this movie.
16-Jun-2003 07:20 PM
Audio CD, Reprise
Zwan: Mary Star of the Sea
There are a few artists out there who continually strive to improve themselves
and make every work they create better than their last; in my mind these
people are the only people who truly deserve the title of 'artist'. These
few always have some message, some reason for the creation of each work of art.
Billy Corgan is one of these few people. I have yet to hear an album of his
that I thought was anything less than 9/10. Everything about his songs is
enchanting, as well as the fact that he never repeats himself or just stays
with what was comfortable just to make the easy buck.
If you don't own this cd, you are a musically challenged retard. If you don't
identify him as the best songwriter since 1990 I'm sorry; really, I'm sorry
you have no appreciation for what actually makes great music. I'm sorry you
are suckered into image salesmanship and trends rather than good music. You
probably don't listen to Bob Dylan either... (and yes, he is the best living
musician/poet on the planet).
So, go do yourself a favor and buy this damn cd; and all the pumpkin's cds
while you're at it.
Content: 9.9/10 (I'll put that at a tie with Siamese Dream and MACHINA)
15-Jun-2003 02:03 PM
Anime DVD, R1, ADV
RahXephon: V2
Okay, so I finally watched this disc. My first impressions were correct;
fortunately you can still have fun with this show. Play a new game I just
made up:
The RahXephon-Evangelion Drinking Game (although I suppose you could play it
without drinking; but what fun would that be)
Take 1 drink when:
you see something in Rahxephon that was taken directly from Eva; this includes
plot elements, enemies, script, characters, animation style/technique,
religious reference, and even key frames (yes, I've seen some frames where I
swear they just took the cell from eva and tried to make their frames match up
with it).
At least Megumi was in these episodes a lot; and the Korean girl, shes good
too. Damn that bedroom scene with Megumi was naughty, "asoko wa dame"...
I can give this show a one word summary/review: RECYCLED. It's new and it's
already old. At best this show takes Eva and changes the characters a little
bit; not much those. Mostly I've just seen this show take the cast of Eva
(Shinji, Asuka, Rei, Misato, Kaji, Ritsuko, Gendou and Fuyutsuki)and separate
the parts of their characters into 2-4 people (especially Kaji). It just shows
how well developed, constructed and complex the characters were in Eva.
RahXephon isn't a bad show, I like a lot of stuff in it; I just don't love it
and don't think its an original creation. It's fun enough that I'll buy the
rest as it comes out.
Also, I realized why I don't like the opening song. I watched the 'production
sketches' section in the extras (which aren't production sketches at all, but
production character shots); in the background they have the full version of
the opening song play - and it makes sense. The full version makes musical
sense; the cutting job they did on the opening doesn't. The short version has
too many cuts for its length, listen to it, you'll hear the song has 5 parts,
only 1 of which is a repeat (the very last part). Too many dramatic changes
for so short a time period. If they stuck to 2-3 musical themes/styles it
would have worked fine, but it just jumps around too much. I'm glad I figured
out what the hell was bugging me about the opening at least.
I kinda like the inter-relations the characters have. I was kinda shocked by
Haruka's liking Ayato, especially considering she's ~28; damn that little shit
is lucky. They gave Haruka a very catlike character design; it looks pretty
good and they don't go overboard using it.
They were pretty shameless in having two (2) swimsuit episodes in a row; I'm
not complaining, but it is shameless. Anyone else notice that Shouji Kawamori
did storyboards for ep 9? He's a really nice guy (I met him at AX last year
and talked to him - in Nihongo - for a little) and always puts a lot of thought
and care into his creations.
Dvd quality was great; althought I did notice some blotchiness in places...
Content: 6/10 - quite an entertaining show, just don't let all the Eva stuff
get to you.
Naughty: 8/10 - not too much, but they had some quality stuff. The disc was
worth the price for Kawasumi-san's bedroom scene alone.
Fan Service: 7.5/10 - pretty good stuff, nothing overboard and they didn't
make it seem rediculous (as opposed to the YUA! mini-specials)
Eva theft: 9/10 - well done! They haven't missed much of anything thus far,
so I'll leave them a little room to improve their hijacking techniques as the
show progresses.
14-Jun-2003 10:58 PM
Anime DVD, R1, Media Blasters
Berserk: V1
I'm sorry. I lied. I didn't watch Rahxephon vol 2 (although I did buy it).
Instead I watched the R1 version (seeing as how I already have the R2 box set
version). So, what are my thoughts on eps 1 - 5. HOLY SHIT. GOD DAMN MO-FO.
Occasionally you watch something good, once in a great while something truly
great and then once every decade or (if you're lucky) 5 years something that
surpasses all of that. Berserk is one of these shows (along with Gundam and
Eva). I couldn't stop watching; I couldn't turn my head; I couldn't miss a
single cell (yes, this was made with full cell animation); I couldn't miss a
millisecond. So, if you have three shows from the 90's that you watch; make
them Eva, Berserk and Seikai no Monosho (Crest o'). Yes, there were other
great shows made; but those three define the very best in what anime can
(and should) be. If you want to convince someone that anime is a truly
unique, wonderfuly, innovative ART FORM have them watch those shows; if they
don't believe you after that KILL THEM, as you will be relieving them of
their suffering. After all, wounldnt' Griffith do the same?
When I think about anime and I see an 'ideal' character I think 'how could
I become more like him/her?'. However, when I watch Berserk I realize an
important difference; there are HEROES and LEADERS. Gutts and Amuro are
heroes; Griffith and Char are leaders. Which do you want to be? The choice
is yours, and I would take a bullet for you if truly had the 'spirit' to
become one or the other. However, I am afraid that most of us do not have
it; in fact all four of those men never actually existed in our world; or
did they?
Sometimes I question the meaning of 'reality'. If a 'character'
is created so well that we can feel their emotions and understand their
thought processes as well as our own how can we claim that they don't exist.
After all, aren't I writing this? How do you know that it is me writing
this and not someone else; or some 'machine' posing as me. You haven't seen
me in months, yet you believe in my existance; is that really any different
from someone who you have never seen in person before either? I'll take
this back to my original course before it becomes too much of a Kazunori
Ito/ Mamoru Oshii project. So, what I'm trying to say is that; if you
believe that Gutts and Griffith really exist; and you can feel what they
feel, why can't you become what they have become? Why can't I become the
leader that Griffith is? What stops me from doing everything necessary to
lead my men to greatness? Why do I desire to become Griffith instead of
Gatts?
I suppose I developed into the type of person who takes charge of any
situation; as anyone who knows me can easily verify from first hand
evidence. Does this mean I am 'destined' to become a leader? or just
a hero who didn't know his place? Or am I destined to become another
nameless man forgotten by time and space? Iiya, zettaini iiya. I
refuse to go quietly into that good night. I will rage, rage against
the dying of the light.
I suppose us 'dylan' must stick together...
At any rate; Berserk is a WORK OF ART simply for the fact that it brings
these thoughts out of me. Anything that moves a person to such serious
thoughts derserves no credit less than that. And by "WORK OF ART" I do
not mean that shallow label that is given to any piece of misunderstood
CRAP that some poor, lazy moth)(#(*)@&)%^&er creates. I mean those few
pieces that come onces every decade or so that truly move the human soul
and make him (her) strive to achieve something new and something greater
than that created by all those before him. That is what I mean by "WORK
OF ART". Gundam had it in 1979; Berserk had it in 1989 (the year MIURA
KENTAROU started the manga); the Berserk anime had it in 1997 (when
being made 8 years after its creation was still new, original and not
to be repeated) and Eva and the Seikai series both had it. How lucky
we are to live in such a blessed age.
I can only hope that in 10 or 20 years time even Americans are able to
watch/read those works and say "Yes, those are true works of art that
surpass the dimensions of time and space. They will be art for all time;
even after the sun burns out and our universe collapses (as said in End
of Evangelion)."
So, in closing I just ask that you watch/read Beserk with an open mind
and consider that every line was created with meaning and purpose.
Dvd quality: 7/10 - I have no complaints about the R1 quality.
Content: 10/10 - yes, I know; this says "Therefore, nothing can be
better than this." And it's true; if something really does surpass
Berserk, I will give it a 10.1/10
Trailers: 1/10 - they didn't include the Rayearch season 2 trailer!
14-Jun-2003 07:50 PM
Movie DVD, R1, Criterion
Rushmore
I LOVE THIS MOVIE. There, I said it. It's true. Certainly just as perfect
as American Beauty, Macross: Ai Oboete Imasuka and Godfather Part II. The
thing that makes this movie even better is that Bill Murray is the only 'known'
actor in the whole movie.
Wes ANDERSON (as he always write's it in the credits) has made 2 of my top 10
all time movies (Rushmore and The Royal Tennenbaums; with his only other movie
'Bottle Rocket' coming closely behind them).
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE YET, GO SEE IT TONIGHT!!! I paid $40 for the
US Criterion version of this movie; and it was a deal; I would easily pay $100;
there is no monetary value for a film of this quality. Yes, I have been
drinking a little wine; but that doesn't change my opinion of this movie.
This movie also had something that I've only seen less than 10 times throughout
everything I've ever watched, I will try to describe it here. At the end of the
movie (this or any other Movie/TV/OVA for which this experience occured) I got
shivers. That is, my body had as involuntary physical reaction to what I was
experiencing in just audio and video. The other creations that have recieved
this honor (that I can remember) are Macross: Ai Oboete Imasuka; Cowboy Bebop
#26 and Ruruken: Seisouhen. I'll stop now before I go on for another 10 pages
as to why this movie is so great; I suggest watching it. Then watching it again
and again and again (with occasional breaks to watch Mr. Anderson's movies).
Did you know that he has written all three of his films with Owen Wilson? And
it was in fact these movies from which Owen Wilson got his start in films.
"Everyone knows that General Custer died at Little Big Horn. What my book
presupposes is, 'maybe he didn't'?" (The Royal Tennebaums).
Hail Dignan!
Dvd quality: 9/10 - Criterion Dvd's rock! full progressive, nothing at all
imperfect
Content: 9.95/10 - Hey, I gotta leave room for his 4th movie to be even better!
Aside - god, I love my projector and audio setup.
14-Jun-2003 03:50 PM
Anime DVD, R1, ADV
Noir: V3
Great stuff. I was thinking I wouldn't pick it up since it was only
3 eps (after vol 2 being 5 eps) but Nik convinced me otherwise - thanks.
All three eps were really damn good; especially the last episode.
They really got some balls to do an entire episode without a single frame
of the main two characters. AND the ep was great! Chloe is a really
cool character.
Also, I looked up 'Noir'; it doesn't actually mean 'black'. The true
meaning is Cambodian for "Sexy Lesbians"; it's true! I swear, every
female in this show is a rezu-rezu - and not the bull dyke type either!
This shows animation has gotten a lot better too; it's obvious when you
look at the expressions on the character's faces and their actions; the
backgrounds have always been wonderful.
Mashimo-san said at AX last year that his favorite character was all the
nameless guys who get killed in every episode; he felt bad for them. This
show would have had a much different feel to it had they animated all the
blood and gore; I don't know if it would have been as good.
This show has so few voice actors; in the interview with Kuwashima-san, she
says there was usually only herself, Mitsuishi-san and one or two other
guest actors - still, they do a great job of not making it seem empty!
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the next disc. DVD quality - awesome.
DVD quality: 8/10 - everything except progressive... doh!
Music: 9/10 - Kajiura-san is a really great singer too; go download
"jumping fish" from her webpage!
Drawings: 8/10 - great stuff! all the 4 women are drawn wonderfully, and
full of life with every frame
Direction: 8/10 - I'm amazed at how well Mashimo-san is able to keep
my attention considering the lack of script. He really is a pro.
Content: 7.5/10 - the best eps I've seen yet! Also, major props for
doing ep 12 with only Chloe!
14-Jun-2003 03:39 PM
Anime DVD, R1, ADV
Raxephon: V1
Hmm...This show is okay, not great. It also probably didn't
help that I watched this right after watching YUKIKAZE, so
I would have to have seen something really great to be
impressed. Also, this show takes too much from other shows,
mostly Evangelion. Unfortunately it's not done as well so it
took them 4 eps to get where Eva got in 1.5 eps. Also, it
seems as though it took the creators ~4 eps to get comfortable
with what they were creating. Ep 5 was the first ep I like the
whole way through; hopefully it continues like this. Also, the
soundtrack almost sounds like a 'Best of the 90's' compilation
ost, especially with the off-key eva-esque piano stuff (which
Shiro Sagisu did better anyway).
Great show? Nope. Bad show? Not quite. I'll go pick up vol
2 and watch it tonight (maybe tomorrow) and see where it goes.
I think this would have looked a lot better had it been cell
animated; the computer coloring comes off as horrifically flat
and lifeless. No, this isn't a computer animation bash; I have
been impressed lately with the stuff I've been watching done
with computers. This show just doesn't have it.
Dvd quality: Great, not progressive though...
Video: 7/10 - MOFC does a great job encoding, now just make them
progressive!
Music: 4/10 - decently done, but I've heard it all before
Designs: 6/10 - I think I could increase this when they start drawing
them better...that doesn' make sense does it...
Setting: 5/10 - it's actually a cool idea (Tokyo Jupitor) but it reminds
me too much of the far superior YUKIKAZE
Casting: 6/10 - I don't really like the main character, but I like the voices
for the rest of the cast.
Op: 5/10 - I usually really like Sakamoto songs, but not this one; the opening
sequence is cool but, like the rest of the show, feels like I've seen it before.
14-Jun-2003 03:31 PM
Anime DVD, R2, Bandai
Sentou Yousei Yukikaze: Vol 1 and 2
KAKKOI!! GEKI YABEE!! Damn I love this OVA. By far the best
sci-fi ova since Macross Plus (and this includes Macross Zero).
The mecha designs are amazing; Yukikaze is tied with the YF-19
for coolest jet design ever. I really like the character designs
they fit the show perfectly and help maintain the mood wonderfully;
they are drawn really carefully too.
I really can't say enough positive things about this show, It's by
far GONZO's best work since Ao no go roku (Blue Sub 6). I wasn't
interested in this project at first since it was GONZO, but they
really proved me wrong. Only a few more months until the next ep,
if they continue at their present 6mo/ep rate.
The music is super cool and it is placed perfectly.
GAH!! I MUST HAVE MORE!!! As for the DVD itself, the video is great
with the (unfortunate) exception of progressive video. Shameful
considering the price and the equipment Bandai has. The 5.1 track
is pretty good with nice separation, sometimes I think they did
too much separation: sounds come out of only one speaker too sharply.
Designs: 9/10
Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Kakkoi!: 9/10
14-Jun-2003 03:26 PM
Anime DVD, R1, ADV
Dirty Pair (original): vol 2
Bandai Bonzai! hachijuunen banzai! Wakuseirengoku banzai!
(iiya, chigau na anime dattake...) Anyway, Dirty Pair is great
80's action; the lovely angels certainly are just that. Also,
I really notice a lot of shows take from the elements of this
one and continue with it. Certainly not a bad thing.
Music: 5/10 - nothing memorable, nothing bad
Op: 9/10 - awesome opening song and animation sequence!
Video: 5/10 - not too bad considering the source, but there's some
noticable ghosting at points, still perfectly watchable.
Content: 6.5/10 - great fun stuff; nothing deep here, don't hurt
yourself looking for it.
12-Jun-2003 08:36 PM
Anime DVD, R2
Haibane Renmei: Cog 2, Pioneer
Another great, wierd, laid back Abe/Tomokazu show. I don't
like it as much as I do Niea_7; but it's still good. Cool
soundtrack and great characters. I really wish it had a better
animation budget; it's done in great quality anamorphic,
progressive widescreen, but the whole show has such a washed
look that the added resolution doesn't help. At best, this
was the creators wish to give the show a 'furusato' feeling
within the limitations of computer animation; however, the
details of the drawings are too obscured and detail is lost.
Another show I will pick up the rest in R1, it should be out
soon figuring as how it was co-produced by Pioneer USA.
Audio: 7/10 - great work, best 2.0 gets
Video: 9/10 : 4/10 - encoding is great, but the source is too
fuzzy for me
Translation: null
Content: 6/10 - it's always hard to tell with Abe stuff; but
it's my belief that it will continue to grow on itself
Fan Service: 1/10 - Lakka is fairly androgenous, but the others
have that wierd Abe sexuality, no naughty scenes so far...
12-Jun-2003 08:25 PM
Anime DVD, R2
Princess Tutu: vol 1, King Records
Certainly the best Mahou-shoujo since Utena; I am impressed
by the creators ability to create something new and original
in that genre. QWA! Super high detail animation, the avant
title is unbelievable and all the characters are excellently
drawn with each frame. The music is wonderful classical stuff,
which fits each scene beautifully. I can't even think of
anything really cheezy in this show; the only thing that comes
close is Ahiru's actions around Myuto, but they never get anything
close to pathetic.
Neko-sensei probably has one of the funniest catch phases/actions
I've ever seen. I won't say more; you must see it to believe it.
Dvd quality is great, with the exception of it being non-progressive
video. 5 eps plus a bonus audio sountrack cd (currently being
listened to) which is great (tv op/ed, lots of other great music).
I may buy the rest in R2 sometime when I have more money floating
around; for now, I have the wonderful first vol until I pick up a
R1 release and vomit at the quality.
Audio: 7/10 - as good as it gets in 2.0
Video: 7/10 - perfect aside from the non-progressive
Translation: null
Content: 8/10 - Usagi, Utena, Ahiru...
Fan Service: 1/10 - there is some partial nudity, but the character
designs make everyone out to be pre-teen (10ish), so 1/10 (nipple
does make an appearance).
12-Jun-2003 08:12 PM
Anime DVD, R2
Inuyasha: nishiki no ichi (vol 10), Avex Mode
After having watched through ~ep80 (thanks Nik) one
always wonders what one will think of the earlier eps.
Remember rewatching Kenshin and listening to the voices?
They sounded totally different; not surprising considering
both Kenshin and Kaoru were newcomers. Does the show suck
because the relationships are different, or someone hasn't
'powered up'? Hell no; what a wonderful show. It's just
as much fun watching the characters earlier on as it is
watching each new episode.
I think that's really how I judge the 'quality' of anything:
how does it bear repeat exposure (watch/listen/read/drink).
I've always thought that something only worth watching (replace
with whatever verb you want) once is not worth watching at all.
Is the show as cool when you know what happens after the
cliffhanger ending? Or does it actually get better (which is
ideal).
Anyway, Inuyasha is great; and so is the dvd. While the season
1 recap ep is interlaced, all three regular eps are fully
progressive and otherwise perfectly encoded. Believe me, I can
see every little piece of crap encoding error on my setup; nothing
like PowerDVD and a 6' screen to bring out every minute detail.
If only this show were fully anamorphic widescreen...
Audio: 6/10; no problems, I just wish it were 5.1
Video: 9/10, progressive, no rainbows, no comp. artifacts
Translation: 10/10 - wow, no overlays at all (snicker)
Content: 7/10 - great stuff, Takahashi at her best.
Fan Service: 8/10 - as good as you're gonna get with Takahashi
Onsen Ryokou! Onsen! Onsen!
12-Jun-2003 08:05 PM
Audio CD
The Doors: LA Woman, Warner
Another old ass cd. still, the Doors were always enigmatically
great and this cd is certainly no exception. Every track is
something new and great to listen to.
Also, this cd was remastered in HDCD - meaning a real nice 20bit
decode (Windows Media Player 9 will properly decode this extra
info). Not as good a remaster as the Stevie Wonder discs, but
that's asking a lot. Warner treats its catalog wonderfully, doing
HDCD remasters for lots of their 70's stuff; unfortunately Columbia
is not so good, so I will have to wait and re-purchase all my Dylan
cd's when they actually properly remaster them. Back to the Doors...
Production: 7/10 - about as good as you can get from the source
Content: 8/10 - pioneers of great music
Times listened to: 50% (average) - I don't listen to it all the time
but I'm always pleased and surprised when I do
11-Jun-2003 08:16 PM
Audio CD
Perfect Circle: A Perfect Circle, Virgin
Yeah, I know this cd's been out forever and
I've listened to it 80 thousand times, but
damn it's good. the Rev Maynard really let
loose with this album.
Rumor has it they have a new cd in the works;
hopefully they don't screw up the mixing like
Tool did with Laterius - I couldn't hear the
damn vocals! What the hell is the point of
having the (second) best vocals and lyrics
in rock if you can't hear them?
Production: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Times listened to: 70% (think of it as a percent
comparison scale, with my most re-listened to cd
being 100% - bonus points for guessing which cd)
11-Jun-2003 08:05 PM
Anime DVD, R1 -
Brigadoon: Marin & Melan Blue, eps 1-5, Tokyopop
Pimptacular! Show about a girl and her living
weapon robo-ish bodyguard. Super cool ethnic
opening with equally relaxed end theme; music
throughout is wonderful.
directed and created by Sunrise staff and Yoshikazu
Yonetani (Betterman); written by Hideyuki Kurata
(if you don't know, start looking around). The
character designs have a simplistic 'childlike'
feel to them; especially the monster designs.
Unfortunately the last ep on the disk ends right
where you don't want it to, so I'm gonna have to
wait a while for the next vol to come out. Bah!
Video: 6/10 (EDIT - I upgraded after thinking)
Audio: 5/10
Translation: 5/10 (usable, nothing to cheer for)
Content: 7.5/10 (9/10 for Op, Ed)