Blog Archives

Big Man Japan (2007)

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Posted on March 30, 2009 by Eugene

I’ve always wondered exactly what it was that made giant monsters and their traipsing through downtown Tokyo a genre unto itself. Having watched merely a handful of examples of the genre, I can still say I really don’t ‘get it’.

But watch it I will, and having seen a handful of examples and with a cerebral understanding of what others might see in the genre, maybe I can at least get the gist of what Big Man Japan is about. … (read more)

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Claymore (2007)

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Posted on March 17, 2009 by Andy

Have you ever wondered how reviewing works? When a series has shapeshifting demons (Yoma), a Euro medieval setting and a secret society of warrior women from the Joan of Arc finishing school for badass demon slayers with an armour dress code that suggests a feudal Britney Spears – sight unseen that is a (6). When said series is produced by Madhouse, creators of the original and genre-defining demon-slaying fest Ninja Scroll, you’re looking at least a (7) up to (9). … (read more)

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Noein – To Your Other Self (2005)

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Posted on March 2, 2009 by Deni

The first thing you’ll notice about Noein is that it’s beautiful; not in a conventional way though. It stretches and bends the normal sense of the physical that most anime adheres to. Sometimes it’s only slight – the sketchy, jerky way the characters are rendered and move; and sometimes it’s more extreme, like the stunning opening action sequence in the first episode, for example. Perspective is a malleable thing, which is a little ironic considering the story involves multiple universes … (read more)

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Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage (2006)

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Posted on March 2, 2009 by Tom

Before we start, anyone reading this, who is unfamiliar with Black Lagoon should take a few minutes to read the review for that as Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage (to be known from this point on as BL: TSB) is a direct continuation of the series, so while you go read that I’ll sit here and drink some tea… Its okay I’ve got the time to wait and my tea is quite tasty… ahhhh… that’s good tea. You’re back. … (read more)

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Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005)

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Posted on March 2, 2009 by Samson

Always: Sunset on Third Street was a commercial and critical success in Japan, winning the hearts of Japanese audiences and critics alike. It was a huge box office hit, and went on to become the big winner at the 2006 Awards of the Japanese Academy, sweeping almost all of the major awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Support Actor and Best Support Actress. In fact, had it won any more awards from the Japanese Academy, it would … (read more)

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Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006)

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Posted on February 17, 2009 by Deni

The name of Clamp wields a great deal of influence, enough that their connection to an anime series is enough to make most people sit up and pay attention, and with good reason. In the case of Code Geass, the well known creative conglomerate have lent their distinctive style to the series’ character designs with impressive results. The look is sharp, elongated and intensely dramatic, and for a story with dark, complicated undertones and an antihero who makes Light … (read more)

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The Wallflower (2006)

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Posted on January 31, 2009 by Deni

There’s a couple of things I’ll never understand: why I have to buy a DVD series 4 episodes at a time (thank god for flatpacks, is all I can say), and what possesses a licensing company to change the more or less literal translation of a series title from Perfect Girl Evolution to The Wallflower when there was nothing wrong with the original in the first place. Seemed to me that ‘Perfect Girl Evolution’ was fairly descriptive of this kooky … (read more)

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Tree of Palme (2001)

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Posted on January 31, 2009 by Tom

First off, although based off of the story ‘Pinocchio’, this adaptation is really not for the children. The fact that there is a decapitation in the first fifteen minutes, well hidden by shadows and dust but it’s still a death by beheading, is proof of that fact. Secondly it’s a very complex. It’s taken me two sittings and I’m still not entirely sure that I can get my head around everything that is happening on screen.

Palme, a robot puppet … (read more)

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