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Air Gear (2006)
More out of boredom than anything else I put my name down to review this, the first disc in the series called Air Gear. Based on a manga by Oh! Great (I’m not kidding; that’s what he calls himself) that has also been turned into a stage musical (why am I suddenly thinking of Starlight Express in Japanese?). Air Gear is a sports anime mixed with a bit of teen angst and other by-the-numbers clichés, including the standard girl … (read more)
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Bleach (2004)
Last week, a manga buddy recently indoctrinated into the joys of anime asked me: “Hey, is Bleach any good? I’m thinking of buying it.”
Oh, I immediately enthused, it’s frigging awesome. Definitely don’t get it.
It’s the little ways in which we try to help our friends, isn’t it?
Because Bleach is awesome, and approaching one hundred and thirty or so episodes in Japan without any sign of stopping, it’s almost too watchable. Sure, that’s not so much in … (read more)
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School Rumble (2004)
Never again will I watch something on the title alone. When I put my hand up to review this title I was thinking “oh joy another beat ’em up show that will slowly atrophy my brain with each punch and round house kick”. I wish it had been a beat ’em up show; instead I got lumped with this ‘romantic comedy’. I now long for what in comparison is the cerebral brilliance that is Baki The Grappler. However I … (read more)
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Fate/stay Night (2005)
I feel I’m going to be unfairly harsh in my opinion of Fate/stay Night; or, more to the point, I want to be harsh, and it may or may not be fair of me. This series appears to be another of those formula fight shows, where the main character discovers — after an episode or two spent showing us how much of a nice guy/pushover he is — that he is actually destined for bigger and better things. Cue … (read more)
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Burst City (1982)
Burst City, to me, is not only the name of a film, but also a fairly accurate description of my mind after being confronted by two hours of Ishii Sogo punk rock mayhem. After all, what can synapses do, when faced with such an assault on the senses, but explode? It’s the sensible thing to do.
This is a film that has a reputation for being an important stepping stone in the development of Japanese cinema. It is widely … (read more)
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Some of the best (and worst) stuff seen in 2007
TOMAS
Best
The Host: I can quite easily say that this is the best creature film that I’ve seen in the last ten years. Cloverfield has a lot to live up to now.
Paprika: Satoshi Kon’s latest film while not his best work still is something to behold in all its wonder and beauty.
Aachi & Ssipak: A strange film but it entertained me and kept my movie nerd-dum alive and well with subtle pop culture references … (read more)
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Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad (2004)
Beck begins the compelling story of a boy who discovers who he is through music. A teenage boy meets an amazing guitar player and together they form the band Beck. Follow the band’s ever-challenging road to fame, as told through the eyes of the impressionable boy.
As much as I am prepared to dive off the nearest stage in appreciation of Madman releasing the single finest anime of the year, that above synopsis must have been written by a … (read more)
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Invisible Waves (2005)
The second collaboration between Pen-ek Ratanaruang, cinematographer Chris Doyle, script writer Prabda Yoon and actor Tadanobu Asano after Last Life in the Universe is in my opinion an even better work, regardless of its technical faults, jarring changes in plot direction and stilted performances.
Simply as an extremely raw mood piece with astonishingly drawn out sequences devoid of elaborate fantasy, Invisible Waves was for me thoroughly captivating. When I think of it now, some months after viewing it for the … (read more)
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