UPDATE:
I'm almost exclusively on Letterboxd now. If you've grown to enjoy my reviews, or at the very least respect them (as in, don't agree with me but enjoy what or how I write), head on over to my Letterboxd profile here. I write reviews for roughly every movie I watch, although my general style has greatly changed from the format I used 7 years ago. Thanks for the kind words and messages, and I always enjoy seeing new comments on my profile or in my mailbag. I'll never forget the wildly unhappy responses I've gotten for my Wolf Children review lol. I'm sure I'll get the same for Belle. Melvin Benson 2/27/2023
About Me
I'm a big fan of storytelling. I used to limit myself to only film and video games, but there was a point where I decided to venture into anime for my new fix. What started it all was Death Note. I watched all 37 episodes within 4 days. I was totally hooked, and I needed to find more anime like it. The rest is history.
Since then, I've been proud to admit that I've expanded into not only manga but novels, too. It helped reinforce my love for writing, as well. After consuming so many media - from games, movies, music, anime, manga, books - it only felt natural to start producing something I could call my own. That's when Ethereal Temptation was brought to light in early 2015. Since then, I've finished a novelette of Ethereal Temptation as well as started many other literary works.
I stick to the default rating system that MAL has provided with a bit of my own flare.
In short:Ratings 1-4 define different forms of bad media from offensive to so-bad-it's-good. These means there isn't really a scale to them, just different kinds of bad. Ratings 5-10 are increasing degrees of good media where the higher the number, the better.
1 - Appalling: Offensive, repugnant, despicable. Shouldn't exist. No point to it. Don't watch.
2 - Horrible: It was boring. Nothing matters, and it's a waste of time.
3 - Very Bad: There's something oddly attractive about how bad this is. It's the sort of thing you need to experience.
4 - Bad: A painful score. It missed the bus. It could have been good, but there were too many problems. Not worth recommending.
5 - Average: Lazy, but harmless. There's nothing wrong with watching these, but don't expect anything special. Easily forgotten.
6 - Fine: There is some care and effort put into these works, but it's still not reaching high enough. Failed potential.
7 - Good: When things work, and others don't. The animation might be excellent, but the story is so-so. The first arc could be fantastic, but the following is piss-poor. There's potential for greatness, but it's just not there yet.
8 - Very Good: These are here to stay. People will talk about these for years. Though they have their problems, they're easy to forgive thanks to excellent storytelling and a powerful message. 100% rewatchable.
9 - Great: Close, but no cigar! This work is lacking the it factor. There's usually something hard to pinpoint that's missing, but once you recognize it, it sticks like glue and affects the whole experience.
10 - Masterpiece: Virtually perfect. This work has transcended beyond it's original conceived abilities towards something greater. It's capable of breaking your preconceived notions of what is acceptable in media and convincing you otherwise. There is nothing wrong with the work. You must watch this.
Please note that while I intend to be as critical as possible, everyone views a work differently. All my reviews, at heart, are nothing more than personal opinions.
I’ve never seen an anime review hit as perfectly as your one for Haibane Renmei. I was having trouble putting to words my disappointment and the weird feeling in my mouth. I still ended up giving it a 7/8 because those last 3 eps really saved my opinion of the show, but dang you were spot on with the nothingness and how it didn’t really answer some of your aching questions.
It may have been Pupa I was referring to, I don't remember lol. I just know for me personally I have never really had time for content that I wasn't getting value from in the onset.
Oh, this is Chris from Facebook, I don't know if you remember me since you haven't been on the platform in a while but I'm following your LetterBox already. I don't use it too often since I am not really a movie watcher but I enjoy looking for recos from time to time.
BTW, it would be cool if you could do a video version of the CD podcast for Youtube, I enjoy having it on the background while I do chores
How on earth do you read the entirety of a manga that you'd only score a 1? I've never encountered any piece of media where that score wasn't evident far before I got to the end lol
You called this guy great reviewer? Go see his comment in Kodomo no Jikan. I don't see any substance in his review. Even product review tends to give you some info and insight into it, but he got none of them in his review. I'm not sure about his other reviews, but the review from Kodomo no Jikan already prove he's not what you'd called someone great.
Particularly well-written claymore review. I took my time to peruse a few of your other reviews, thinking we had much in common, but found little. That was of little matter, of course, although it did leave me a tad disappointed(nothing on your part). Regardless, I had corroborated many of things you had written in your review in my thoughts as well.
All Comments (122) Comments
Great Work!
May try to give it another go later
Oh, this is Chris from Facebook, I don't know if you remember me since you haven't been on the platform in a while but I'm following your LetterBox already. I don't use it too often since I am not really a movie watcher but I enjoy looking for recos from time to time.
BTW, it would be cool if you could do a video version of the CD podcast for Youtube, I enjoy having it on the background while I do chores