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Post by Emily on Aug 10, 2005 20:49:23 GMT
ah yes... this is the one with the terminally ill robot maid girl... still not inclined to watch. I repeat that you need a career working for an anime mag. you write the best reviews.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 10, 2005 21:42:53 GMT
Well I'm not labelling it as 'must see' material by any means (especially for thee, who has the glory of FMA awaiting you). It is certainly watchable though. The second half of the first season got much more serious and, consequently, much better. I do think they were scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of their budget by the last episode though... Mahoromatic Season 2: Something More BeautifulJust started Mahoromatic's second season, and they've ticked off another box in the Fan Service Market Sectors by bringing in a small, quiet, clumsy girl. She's named Minawa, is apparently a cyborg, and has spent most of her time thus far falling over. As such I couldn't care less about her, to be brutally honest. She's run away from a new and third organisation in all of this. A brief explanation: The 'SAINTS' are the aliens attacking, whom Ryuuga is an android for. 'Vespar', who built Mahoro, are trying to contain the conflict and keep it from affecting the normal Earth population. Now we come to 'The Caretakers'. If you think that you can tell by their name alone exactly what they're all about, you'd be right. They're the archetypal Secret Earth Government type organisation, who control history and run everything from the shadows blah blah blah. See, I let Mai-HiME get away with this because they weren't even the main nemesis of the story (getting whooped as they did only halfway through the series), but I'm not exactly optimistic as to whether this lot can provide anything we haven't already seen before. As it is, they hate both the SAINTS and Vesper, which is handy. Compare the fight sequence in the first new episode (Mahoro/Minawa vs. Robots) with the Mahoro/Ryuuga showdown at the end of the last series, and see how their budget has been upped. Fancy battles always provide something cool to look at. Speaking of 'things to look at', I suddenly realised that because this was a new season, their Fan Service Counter has been reset...ah nuts. Although obviously they haven't felt the need to go full out like they did in the first series (presumably because they already have a pre-existing fanbase that they didn't need to attract a second time), I get the impression that I am still going to have to sit through a fair amount of Random Nudity in the next couple of episodes at least. Joy. On a tangeant from the fan service aspect, yes the female teacher, Shijiko-sensei, is still there. She still has her worrying obsession for Suguru (main boy), but seems to have become a lot more low key, which is invariably a good thing. I can't help but suspect a reprise of the "breasts rivalry" though, which I can only pray they finish with relatively quickly. Ryuuga (who's decided to settle down and just carry on living his life as a science teacher) and Slash (Mahoro's talking-black-panther-guardian-android dude) seem to have joined forces into an amusing comedy duo. They hate each other. They mock Maharo. She beats the crap out of them. I approve. As I say, I've only watched the first two episodes of the second season thus far (there are 14 episodes, compared to the previous 12), and it's not like I could really expect it to be doing much at this point in time anyway. The first series kicked it up a hell of a notch at the halfway point, so I'm expecting this one to do the same. Until then, I shall merely sit through the fan service for the moments of Ryuuga and Slash, who both kick ass.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 11, 2005 3:23:19 GMT
Please excuse me while I go off on a tangeant that no one else will even be the slightest bit interested in, but my endearment towards soundtracks is to blame.
During the first season of Maharomatic there is a brief clip of music - only about 15 seconds long - that is used in the background ONCE (well twice, if you include the clip show). When I heard it I immediately thought "Whoa whoa wait, go back a second. What was that? I recognise that from somewhere...". Upon listening to it again, I realised that I had heard it before, but the place I had heard it was so completely unlinked to Mahoromatic, anime, or even Japan in any shape or form that I just couldn't get over it.
The piece of background music in question, which has no name (it is not included in any of the Mahoromatic OSTs), was also used as in the title sequence for the then-WWF's July 2001 pay-per-view show, 'InVasion'.
What the hell was Mahoromatic, a completely random anime from the Autumn of 2001 (so, afterwards then...) doing with WWF production tracks?! That said, I couldn't find the track on any of the OSTs, nor did I have a copy of the WWF version (other than on the DVD...) to compare properly. Therefore, despite being 99% sure that they were exactly the same, I let it go.
THEN I came to one of the episodes in season 2. A different track, but it happened again! This time I was 100% certain - for I did in fact have an mp3 of the track itself (I have a bunch of random WWF/E production themes amongst my soundtrack collections). It's named 'Emergency Beat', and is the music they use in their "Don't Try This At Home" video.
I feel absolved. They actually are ripping off random wrestling music - I'm NOT crazy after all.
(I am well aware that you think that I am simply for caring about this in the first place, but tough.)
Oh, and remember when I said "I can't help but suspect a reprise of the "breasts rivalry" though"? Heh...guess what episode 3 was about. ¬_¬
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Post by stokerino on Aug 11, 2005 4:29:32 GMT
Yes, yet another post... >_> But this time it's about something entirely different. Not Mahoromatic but: Saikano: Another Love SongThe first of the two-part OAV was released today, and naturally I downloaded and watched it immediately. The OAV runs in parallel to the main story (well it's not like it could have run after it...), focusing on the military's perspective of the events. More specifically, Lieutenant Mizuki, who was in a way the 'prototype' Ultimate Weapon. Unlike Chise she's a proper soldier and a grown woman, and finds herself replaced by Chise - who is much more powerful though harder to control. I found it both interesting and informative to see things from the military's perspective - since in Saikano they were very much peripheral to Chise and Shuuji's ordeals. I'm still yet to get a grip on what this war is about though. What is revealed in this OAV is that their enemies are referred to as the 'Allied Forces', and at least some of them are American (it's quite amusing listening to their English voices: "Is that...a Goddess?" "That's no Goddess! She destroyed my home city and everyone in it in seconds!"). Put that together with Japan seeming very much alone and on the defensive in this conflict, and I have to be curious. It's not important really, since the plot is very much about the people and not the events, but it'd be nice to get some sort of clue in the second episode. There's definitely far less of the Fucked Up Awesomeness than in the TV series, but that's only natural. Taking the military perspective inevitably means you're far more detached from the Shuuji/Chise relationship from which most of the FUA stems. Most of what does occur is taken from the original series, as parts overlap. What is new is that Mizuki, having been modified into an Ultimate Weapon herself, can hear Chise's thoughts. Those aren't always especially fun ("I am a monster. I am a demon. I am Death. I have to kill them or they will kill me. I have to kill them or they will kill me. I have to..." and so on). The style and the artwork all match the original, though of course as an OAV they've had more time and money to make it smoother and spruce up the effects a little. The soundtrack seems all new, as far as I can tell, since I've yet to pick out one of their mournful electric guitar riffs (which is a pity, because they were pure greatness). Still, it's all very nicely done and I have no complaints here. In all, this is a worthwhile and interesting addition to the original series, and complements it well. To be honest it's just nice to see Chise again, because when her world's not being ripped apart she really is quite adorable (yeah, treasure those rare moments...). This episode was released on the 5th, just under a week ago. The concluding part is scheduled to come out on the 21st of September, so it won't be available for probably another seven weeks. I shall be looking forward to it, and may even rewatch the original during that time. If you haven't yet, do so now. Allow yourself to become emotionally involved with it, and experience its full effects. If you remain emotionally detached from the series as you watch it you're only a) missing out, and b) proving yourself to be dead inside.
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Post by Emily on Aug 15, 2005 21:30:04 GMT
make a "Tim reviews his anime" thread... i'm not having any more robotic-fighting-terminally ill-busty-maids associated with my name... get out! Saikano may stay...
Ahem EMILY Reviews her new anime;
Area 88: Don't bother. (mercenary/slave fighterpilots)
Otogi Zoshi: Watchable, but if you have something more interesting, don't bother. (feudal, confusing, lots of gore and political intruigue. Girl dsguised as her brother to go on a mission)
Gatchaman: SERIOUSLY DONT BOTHER (from the seventies, not even sure why it has fans at all, as is the epitome of crap even for the seventies....)
Samurai Seven; Its gold... its amazing... it's Samurai... IN SPACE!!! A reworking of the Kurosawa classic, and so far, fairly true to it, except it has cool mecha n' stuff. Only downside is annoying up-her-own-arse female lead character, and her annoying little sister. The Samurai rock. Watch it for them alone.
And that is how to review like Emily. Concise.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 15, 2005 22:40:11 GMT
The very first review you made in this thread was Maburaho and you're chucking Mahoromatic out on the basis of taste? YOU get out. ¬_¬ I will change the name of the thread though...lalala, that works. And you can be concise if you like. I enjoy my babbling. Edit: By the way, the direct-download Anime site I subscribe to has the first 20 episodes of Samurai 7 available, so I can easily get those. I've also checked and it is possible to find the last 6 via bittorrent, so it's straightforward enough for me to get the whole series...when I can actually burn enough discs successfully in order to free up hard drive space.
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Post by Emily on Aug 18, 2005 20:50:54 GMT
1) you are the king of nit-picking. 2) did I not clearly state in my review that Maburaho is crap? You are defending the robot girl! 3) Yay! Samurai in space!...But you might not like it, it might just be me and my obsession with "Insert random concept...IN SPACE!"
To quote comedy classic, 'how not to draw Manga' "Cooking for the man I love... IN SPACE!"
4) You like maids. I rule, case closed.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 18, 2005 21:03:18 GMT
I don't like maids. I just look around the fact for the positive aspects of the anime.
Just like I don't like fan service, but I'll watch shows that contain it. ¬_¬
I've watched the first 3 episodes of Samurai 7 so far. Seems like good stuff.
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Post by Emily on Aug 18, 2005 21:14:48 GMT
does the small child get less annoying? because currently i want her to tragically die in the next episode.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 18, 2005 21:17:55 GMT
I haven't found her that annoying...possibly because she doesn't do that much. You know that green haired samurai (who I swore was a girl the first time I saw him)? God is he useless...
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Post by Emily on Aug 18, 2005 21:37:09 GMT
Yeah. Have you seen the original?
perhaps the annoyingness is because of not being given a choice to watch with subtitles... Dubs are so cringeworthy.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 18, 2005 21:38:37 GMT
Ah. Yes, the child is no doubt more bearable the way I'm watching it.
Nope, it's one on the long list of Films That It's Probably A Crime For Tim Not To Have Seen...
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Post by Ally on Aug 18, 2005 21:48:54 GMT
Heh...just working my way through the first series of Mahoromatic. I think I read a bit of the manga...isn't that the one where she jumps into the bath with him because "It's my duty as a maid!" Yeah, hun, and it gets you the really big tips...
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Post by stokerino on Aug 18, 2005 21:53:09 GMT
Aye. Welcome to the Obligatory Fan Service Hook that takes place int he first few episodes...seemingly in the majority of anime these days...*sigh*.
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Post by Ally on Aug 18, 2005 22:17:44 GMT
Well, I'm going to jump in and do a review too. An improv review, which will probably turn into rambling. (I can only write coherent reviews if I plan them...damn English A-Level conditioning...)
I'm always a bit wary of doing something like this, because sure as hell you two have already seen/read it long before I get to it. Ah well.
Saiyuki
Another take on the 'Genjyo Sanzo goes to India' story (which seems to crop up everywhere, from ROD to, apparently, Dragonball. I wouldn't know, I've never watched Dragonball), but with a little twist. It's set in a semi-modern, semi-feudal world where humans and youkai have lived in harmony for centuries.
Sounds vaguely familiar? It strays further into rip-off territory when the real story begins. The youkai start mindlessly attacking humans, so a group of four travellers - including a hanyou, a priest and a demon scarily like a teenage Shippou - set off on a daring adventure to save the world. By this point I was just about ready to give up on it, but I'm half-glad I didn't, for several reasons.
- The youkai are attacking humans because someone's mixed magic and science to resurrect a youkai who spent his life doing exactly that. Doesn't sound particularly original, but from what we've seen of the bad guys, I'm getting the impression that they're not all that bad. And I want to know why.
- The characters. I said I was half-glad because sometimes these guys are comic geniuses, and sometimes they are chauvinist pigs. I either want to hit them or giggle, which, disturbingly, makes me half the women in the story. They are:
Genjyo Sanzo: Our priest, a drinker, gambler and cold-blooded killer. Not a nice guy, and, because he's the hero, quite dull, although he does hit stupid people with a paper fan.
Goku, aka Shippou: The Monkey King in the legend, and the token young, overexciteable kid in the story. Kind of annoying.
Gojyo, our hanyou: chain-smoker, pervert, sexist git...but funny. Very funny.
Hakkai: The best character, mainly because you can never tell if he's being pleasant and calm or just very, very dry.
The story so far - lots of gore, lots of innuendo, lots of dark hidden pasts...but more than a few moments of real humour. Bishi lovers will like this just for the pretty pictures. Em will probably like the dragon that can turn into a jeep (it's no cat bus, but it does its best).
So, to round off my ramblings...I'm undecided on this manga as yet. It could turn one way or the other - macho crap or good story. It'll be interesting to find out.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 19, 2005 0:10:41 GMT
Hmm, I watched the first two episodes of Saiyuki a fair while back...aside from the kickass opening and closing themes, I found no real redeeming features in the show itself.
In that sense it's like Fruits Basket in reverse. Because praise the show all you like - the opening and closing themes suck. >_>
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Post by Ally on Aug 19, 2005 20:56:14 GMT
They really do. I can only remember the first note of each, that's how little I watched them.
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Post by stokerino on Aug 21, 2005 23:44:36 GMT
I've watched the first 10 episodes of Samurai 7 now...seriously, how much more badass could they have designed Kyuuzou to be? He has disheveled blonde hair; you usually only see one of his eyes at a time; half the time he wears a black cloth over the lower half of his face; he says almost nothing EVER; he always wields two swords at once; and he has a long, red (Vash) coat. That, my friends, is BADASS.
All of the samurai are cool though, in their own way. I don't dislike any of them - which for seven people, you'd think I would.
Episode 9 had a lot of nice action in it. I believe they will actually arrive back at the village in episode 11. Very good stuff.
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Post by Emily on Aug 22, 2005 20:54:32 GMT
Kikuchiyo was always my favourite because he's so frikkin' dumb and therefore hilarious. And yes, you must watch this film. Unfortunately its nearly 3 hours long.
*Never cared much for Saiyuki, although really wanted to see it after hearing zoe rave for hours about it. Not as pretty as the manga, really rather tired as a story. And you can't claim its and inu-yasha rip cause its older. *and yes, the theme tune does rock, bit of a dissapointment really...
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Post by stokerino on Aug 23, 2005 14:06:20 GMT
I now have all of Samurai 7 in my possession......except episode 21, which I now cannot find anywhere.
This infuriates me more than you can possibly imagine.
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