Blog Archives

Hana-Bi (1997)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Alison

Hana-Bi can be considered quintessential Kitano, and is one of his most acclaimed, and most frequently acclaimed, works. It was made after Kitano’s brush with death in a motorcycle accident that left him partially paralysed for a time, and carries the painful awareness of irrevocable loss that I’ve come to associate with Kitano films.

Kitano is probably best known as a director of yakuza films, or at least is perceived that way. While there is a certain amount of gangster … (read more)

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Cowboy Bebop Best Sessions (2003)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Ching Yee

Corgis are much maligned. Nobody thinks of them as being particularly groovy. Eddie from Frasier is cute, Lassie was smart and you don’t want to mess with Inspector Rex. But mention corgis and one thinks of the fat rolling bundles nipping at the Queen’s feet or soft targets for bored pitbulls.

Not so Ein, the super smart Welsh corgi from Cowboy Bebop! The life of the party, loyal friend of Ed and a saviour in many critical moments … (read more)

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Cowboy Bebop (2000)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

Borrowing heavily from gangster and Noir film for characterization, from the detective films of the 50’s and 60’s for some of its plot elements and from westerns, sci-fi and jazz and blues for its style, not to mention a bit of Hong Kong heroic bloodshed and kung-fu thrown in for good measure, and Cowboy Bebop is quite obviously anything but your conventional space ace anime! In the tradition of the best works in Science Fiction, technology is an expansive yet … (read more)

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Chobits (2002)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by James

Many of us are attached to the array of organisers, communicators, computers and other kinds of functional task-masters that we use for various ends on a daily basis. All these items tend to have common exterior design traits: a cold and hard surface, a box-like shape, a monitor or display of some nature — one that does not look back at us. While we often attribute the word ‘personal’ to most of these assistants in our labour and leisure, im… (read more)

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Samurai X: Vol.1 Trust & Vol.2 Betrayal (1999)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

Samurai X, a play on words derived from the pattern that scars the legendary Kenshin Himura’s face, despite its rather pedestrian title is anything but ordinary. This is in fact bloody poetry, and I mean that in a literal sense, rather than a derogatory one. From the very first scenes, and if you are at all familiar with the Rurouni Kenshin TV series of which Samurai X is a prequel, it is clear that this is quality, and deadly … (read more)

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Samurai X – Reflection (2001)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

Reflection is the sequel to the Samurai X / Rurouni Kenshin legacy, and a conclusion that I find myself contemplating with a few mixed feelings. After the brilliance of Trust and Betrayal, and the sheer volume and breadth of the Rurouni Kenshin TV series, it was a hedged bet as to whether Reflection could live up to its predecessors while labouring under such expectations.

Which is where the mixed feelings come in, because while I don’t believe it failed … (read more)

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Voices of a Distant Star (2003)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

It’s possible that everything you’ve heard about this anime is true. For a virtually solo effort, produced on a personal computer in the director/animator/writer’s home, it is more than merely good — it’s amazing. And while it might not have all the polish of a studio production it has something else. Heart. Watching it, you want to judge it by the standards you are used to, but five minutes into it such desires are forgotten and you find yourself taken … (read more)

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X: The Series (2001)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

Not that I could ever be accused of writing an unbiased review, but approaching a series that you are so familiar with is an unexpectedly challenging task. After all, it’s not like I can write, “It’s cool!” and you’d be happy, right? So I thought I’d just jot down some of the reasons to like X, and by the time I get my thoughts straight, I reckon I should be able to give you a review.

So what’s to … (read more)

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