- Last OnlineMay 7, 2018 8:28 PM
- GenderMale
- BirthdaySep 30, 1996
- LocationMumbai, India
- JoinedFeb 5, 2016
Also Available at
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Dec 29, 2016
There are three kinds of friends in the world: there are the ones who are mere acquaintances –you know who they are but you rarely talk with or about them. There are the good friends –the ones who see daily and talk with often but rarely have a deep conversation with or enjoy together; and then there are the best friends–the ones you cherish and adore. Even after fate separates them from you, the memories of interacting with them are forever etched into your mind and reminiscing about those days evokes a gallimaufry of emotions ranging from the joy of recollection to the pangs of
...
nostalgia.
I believe that the same logic applies to movies too –first, there are the movies that are unfulfilling and are only remembered nebulously. Next, there are movies that you remember the main themes of and enjoyed watching, but did not affect you much; and finally, there are those movies that affect you on a deeper level –they are the movies that make you scratch your head, are simple but yet enigmatic, that makes them such a delight to watch repeatedly. I am glad to include Spirited Away in the third category.
On the surface, Spirited Away’s premise seems to betoken yet another rendition of Alice in Wonderland; albeit with an Oriental spin to it. It has all the elements of the latter viz. –a befuddled girl who stumbles upon a fantastic realm, a Witch who calls the shots, a bewildering array of beasts or spirits and a few more.
More than meets the eye –
But, as with any Miyazaki film, these similarities are just a patina, for once we delve deeper into the movie we realize that in terms of tone, overarching themes, and interactions between the dramatis personae, Spirited Away is a whole new beast inside.
What seems to be a children’s movie is replete with meaning –protean and varied interpretations can be arrived at depending on the viewer. The frisson of delight that passes through you when you glean another meaning from the tale or stumble upon another scintilla of evidence that helps to buttress your theories or find the rudiments of an alternative one is what makes the movie such a compelling watch or re-watch in my case.
Now it is hard to discuss the meaning of the movie in detail without divulging the whole plot or impinging on your own interpretations of the movie but we can safely discuss a few themes to give you a glimpse of what the movie holds for a viewer. You can think of them as the hors d’oeuvre or appetizer that would whet your appetite for the main course.
These themes in question are the leitmotivs of kindness and greed. Most of Miyazaki’s movies, in my opinion, bespeak a man who is well versed in the Buddhist beliefs –and these manifest here in the form of Karma. Without delving deep into the concept, it can be succinctly stated as “Good actions done by a person in this birth or a previous one beget good fate in that birth or a later birth and vice versa.”
In the context of this movie, this concept is clearly illustrated by the protagonist and deuterogamist of this story who both exhibit a great deal of magnanimity through the movie even at great personal risk. This nobility of character pays rich dividends later on.
As for greed, the Buddhist beliefs hold that the cardinal reason for suffering in the world is the fact that people are never truly satisfied. When disaster strikes, people hope that things would get better soon and when one is experiencing a moment of rapture, the hope that the pleasure, however, fugacious may it be, should never end. There is no temperance in humans, only a hunger for more, which has unsavory repercussions for many. Essentially, we are always worried about something or the other and so we never live in the present, satisfied with what we have but we always look away into the future enshrouded in the brume of uncertainty.
As we strain to see beyond this caliginous atmosphere, we descry a faint light. Is it a firefly? Will it lead us to our dreams? Let us find out! We exclaim and impetuously dash after it.
However, this firefly is the Ignis Fatuus of desire, a misleading light that does not lead to the elysian fields of beatific bliss but to the morass of woe. The glorious vistas of future that it reveals are chimerical and the mountains of gold it tempts us with are Barmecidal. Nevertheless, ensorcelled by her meretricious charm we slog deeper and deeper into suffering.
Like the leitmotiv of kindness, this concept plays out repeatedly throughout the movie. The nemeses of avarice and rapacity run rampant and afflict most of the characters. In the end, only the selfless actions of the leading duo stop their rampage.
Kindness and greed are just two of the many parts that constitute the daedal internal workings of this vehicle of imagination called Spirited Away, but as leitmotivs, they are the linchpins –the ones that serve to hold the entire thing together; moreover, they are the most palpable and perceptible of the themes.
Once one has noticed these themes in action, one knows that this movie is much more than what meets the eye. This serves as the impetus for beginning a search for other underlying messages and soon one realizes that this is a most profound film masquerading as a children’s movie.
Magic Duo –
To use our earlier analogy, if a movie is a vehicle of imagination and the storyline and the themes comprise its chassis and internal working respectively, then the characters are the fuel that powers it. Without good characters, a movie no matter how compelling in terms of story or profound thematically cannot stake a claim in the pantheon of the legends.
Here again, Miyazaki pulls out another rabbit out of his hat and gives us two absolutely unforgettable protagonists and introduces a whole bevy of other characters who also make a strong impression on the mind.
The two protagonists –Chihiro and Haku –complement each other like the effulgent moon and its cortege of coruscating stars in the inky night sky –the absence of either would greatly diminish the supernal splendor of the scene. The affection and devotion they evince towards each other would warm the cockles of even the most frigid of hearts and leave a warm, fuzzy feeling roiling inside for quite a while.
However, it is not just the chemistry they share but rather it is the way in which, they mutually help the other to overcome their insecurities, face adversity, extricate them from nigh-insuperable predicaments at great personal risk, and contribute to each other’s character development over the course of the movie that makes them such an endearing duo to watch.
Although the movie revolves primarily around our main duo, the eclectic clutch of supporting characters is interesting and well developed too. Over the course of the movie, we meet a motley bunch that, inter alia, includes a grotesque witch, a kindly old man with a bushy mustache and black glasses who looks like an elderly version of Doctor Octopus of Spiderman fame, and a non-corporeal entity who is quite besotted with Chihiro. All these characters (and others) add their own distinct charm to the movie and make it eminently enjoyable.
The icing on the cake –
A great car is not just one that has a sturdy chassis and a good engine, but it also has some sort of aesthetic appeal to it and is not too noisy. Essentially, good bodywork is needed. In the case of a movie, that role is played by cinematography and acoustics, and Miyazaki pulls off a coup with these two aspects too.
As for the former, Miyazaki’s fecund imagination, nonpareil directing talent and his studio’s expertise in creating living, breathing worlds that immerse the viewer are evinced by the panoply of fantastical creatures, the crisp animation used to render the characters and their expressions, and the variegated backgrounds presented to us that range from a vast, baroque bathhouse to a quaint cottage in sylvan surroundings.
While Miyazaki expertly handles the former, the latter he entrusts to the gifted Joe Hisashi. As always, Mr. Hisashi, with inimitable skill, ensnares the strings of our heart with a lineup of mellifluous songs that wonderfully complement the cinematography and greatly accentuate our enjoyment of the movie, because after all, the interplay of cinematography and audio is akin to the Tango dance, whose success rests on the shoulders of both partners.
A Humdinger of an Apologue! –
Summing it all up, I aver that Spirited Away is a movie that everyone should watch, for its charming story, calming OST, pleasing artwork and endearing characters offer a much-needed respite from the tedium that pervades our lives. However, beneath its raiment of simplicity lie profound and evocative themes and motifs that might help us to lead a worthwhile life by helping others in times of distress and steadfastly sticking to pursuing our ambitions instead of being waylaid by venality, avarice, and other inimical forces.
This successful colligation of both aesthetic charm and compelling storyline with deeper meanings and moral messages, in my opinion, make Spirited Away a highly recommended watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Oct 20, 2016
Shinryaku!? Ika Musume is the second season of the Ika Musume or Squid Girl franchise –a highly risible anime series about an adorable and bumbling anthropomorphic squid christened Ika Musume (unimaginative name, eh?) who originally intended to invade the surface to punish the filthy and callous human race for polluting the ocean.
Unfortunately, a high school girl (albeit with superhuman powers) trounces Ika in her first battle, which quickly puts an end to the underwater threat to human civilization. Of course, this hardly dissuades Ika Musume (because she is a numbskull) who ardently continues to pursue her quixotic idée fixe and concocts outlandish schemes, by the
...
bushel, to conquer the world, all of which result in her being hoist on her own petard, in hilarious fashion.
Over the course of the series, Ika Musume also meets an eclectic and eccentric cast of characters, which include a crazy teen girl called Sanae (the second best character of the series) who desperately wants to test if love (and a lot more) can flourish between two species; a bodacious and brainy American-cum-MIT graduate-cum-alien hunter-cum-bikini babe named Cindy, who wants to dissect her (and yes, I am probably insinuating something by repeatedly using that word; are you sagacious enough to guess what?); and many other less remarkable ones. As the story is in episodic format, it primarily depends on Ika’s interactions with the characters for humor.
The second season continues in the much the same vein and introduces a few new side characters; albeit completely unmemorable ones. Unfortunately, for a show that is completely character driven, the second season has little to no character development and I quickly got bored of the shticks and quirks of the side characters. However, this did not dissuade me much, as the piece de resistance of the show –Ika Musume, retained her ineffable and inimitable charm that made me like the show so much in the first place. I think that it has to do with the fact that I really adore gamines like Ika (only in anime) because they evoke wistful memories of my vivacious and mischievous 9-year old sister –who stays 2,000 KMs away from me with my parents.
Still, there is only so much that one outstanding character can do for a poor show and by the penultimate episode, my interest was flagging considerably and I was certain that the show would end up with a rating of 4. Thankfully, the last episode turned out to be an absolute gem, wrapped up the season in spectacular fashion, and tugged a few heartstrings as well, which made me reconsider my decision and resulted in the score being bumped up to 5.
As for the audio-visuals, I thought that the show could have been better animated and I did not like most of the character designs–with the notable exception of Ika Musume. The voice acting was mediocre overall, although I think that Ika’s seiyuu did her job consummately.
As for the OP and ED, the former is fast-paced and ebullient while the latter is slower and beautifully expresses the bonds that Ika shares with her human counterparts; I really enjoyed both.
To sum it all up, I felt that the second season of Ika Musume is more or less a rehash of the previous season and gets boring very soon; so, I would only recommend loyal and devoted fans of Ika-Chan (like myself) to watch this season; others can skip it or can watch the only last episode, if they wish.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Sep 18, 2016
I am going to start this review with a little history lesson; I apologize for the digression. If you want you can skip it and read the review only, but I humbly request you to read it.
______________________________________________________________
2300 years ago, a man called Ashoka ascended the throne of the Mauryan Empire in India; he was a vile person, had committed many flagitious deeds, and was especially fond of torturing his enemies in a specially built palace.
8 years after his coronation, he waged war against the kingdom of Kalinga, one of the few regions that were free from the yoke of the subcontinent-spanning Mauryan Empire; a
...
sanguinary battle ensued in which over 200,000 souls lost their lives.
The immense carnage wrought by the Mauryan troops and the plaintive wails of the bereaved women and orphans (who were taken as slaves by the victor) brought about a wondrous transformation in the cruel king. Soon after the battle, he renounced war, converted to Buddhism, and became a staunch advocate of peace to atone for his sins. Under his auspices, Buddhist monks carried their teachings and his principles of nonviolence and Dharma (duty and responsibility) to China, Sri Lanka, Japan and South-East Asia, turning a riverine sect into one of the major religions of the world.
The transmogrification of this repugnant emperor into an envoy of peace led the great writer, H.G. Wells to issue this encomium, "Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the columns of history, their majesties and graciousness’s and serenities and royal highnesses and the like, the name of Ashoka shines, and shines, almost alone, a star."
When I finished watching Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan, I could not help but compare the eponymous hero to Ashoka. Like the latter, Kenshin’s hands were stained with the blood of myriads and like Ashoka, Kenshin metamorphosed from a murderer into a force for good (a peaceful peripatetic in the latter’s case). But what event could have possibly made Kenshin do such a volte-face?
In Rurouni Kenshin: Reminiscence, we learn about the impetus behind this change of heart. Set in the tumultuous milieu of the ‘Bakufumatsu’ (fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate), Reminiscence is a haunting tale of two star-crossed lovers; the movie also reveals how Kenshin got his trademark cross-shaped scar.
One of the things that I loved the most about Reminiscence is how beautifully it captures the mood of the era it is set in. Keeping in tune with the tumultuous milieu of that time, Reminiscence makes use of a muted color pallet in stark contrast to the bright and upbeat one of the original TV series that reflects the hopes of early-Meiji Japan.
Moreover, Reminiscence ditches the drollery and tomfoolery of the original series and maintains a somber tone throughout the movie in tune with the times. Both these points lend it an air of verisimilitude that enables the viewer to be more connected to the story.
In addition to this, the plangent and melancholic OST (one of these nights, is quite possibly the best track I have ever listened to) further accentuates the gloomy nature of the period and enhances the emotional impact of the many poignant scenes of the movie.
Another thing that endeared me to Reminiscence is that it fleshes out the two main characters: Kenshin and Tomoe, and tells us the story of their doomed love in a highly realistic fashion without resorting to melodrama or seeming mawkish. Their story is incredibly heart rendering and the dénouement of the plot was suffused with pathos so strong that even a person as phlegmatic as I was nearly moved to tears.
Finally, the fluid animation that captures the action scenes in breathtaking detail (for its time), the consummate voice acting, and unique art style give a fillip to Reminiscence which solidifies its place in the pantheon of great movies.
In conclusion, watching Reminiscence truly was a spectacular experience and it stirred my emotions as few movies ever have; in my opinion, this movie is the embodiment of all that animation as an art form is capable of achieving. I advise all readers to give this movie a shot, even if you have not watched the original series, or found it too suffused with wackiness for your taste. Trust me you will not be disappointed.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Mar 6, 2016
Review in short: - Batman electrocutes a bunch of dudes, makes scores of women fall for him (and leaves them out in the cold) and saves the world. It's basically Nolan's Dark Knight.
______________________________
How does Hei like his coffee?
Darker than Black!!
Terrible puns aside, Darker than black was a lot of fun. (Sorry, I won't do it again).
In terms of setting, Darker than Black puts a new and surprisingly original twist on a very old question i.e. what happens when individuals with superpowers appear among the populace.
...
The similarity to X-men is obvious but the method of approach is different as in X-Men are mostly products of evolution (The science is wrong though) whereas the contractors' (The X-men in this show) are granted powers due to a mysterious structure called as a gate, the appearance of which caused the night sky to vanish.
Also, the usage of the contractors' abilities requires a remuneration which can range from mundane stuff like chugging a beer or smoking a cigarette to really bizarre as in aging or cutting your veins. This is quite an interesting addition and separates it from most other superhero stories.
The story proceeds in an episodic format. With the exception of the final arc, we get 2 episode arcs. The story of the particular arc is effectively resolved at the end of it but through these short arcs, we get to learn about another facet of the world of Darker than black.
At first, this format perturbed me a lot as I could find no overarching plot but trust me, there is indeed one but it runs in the background and rears its head only after the main characters and their backstories are established. In the end, I was very satisfied with the format and while I did find some arcs to be boring, I must admit that none of them were filler material and every single one must be watched to learn more about the universe and the characters.
That said, the main plot itself wasn't all that great and having read more than my fair share of detective mysteries, I had more or less understood the big reveal a few episodes before the ending. It was kind of anti-climatic. I also felt that the series left a large number of loose ends like what is the purpose of the contracts? Why did the night sky disappear? It would have been great if these questions had been answered.
As for the characters themselves, Hei was my favorite. He is basically a far more badass version of Batman who has no qualms about killing people (or does he?), can electrocute people, throws knives better than Deadpool and uses grappling hooks with a proficiency that would make Spiderman envious. Oh! and he is popular with the ladies too (So, we can add Tony Stark to the mix, I guess). That said, the guy has quite a few quirks, a dark past and an air of enigma around him that makes him a compelling character to watch.
The other main characters Yin, Huang and Mao were also developed well and it was good to know more about them and their tragic pasts. However, I felt that the police detective Kirihara had very little to do with the story and served mostly as shipping material. That was kind of sad, considering that she seemed to be a strong female character who could have been used in a better way.
As for the main villain, well, there wasn't any. Saying more would probably spoil the plot so, all I would say is that all the characters, even the kinda evil ones have strong motives behind them so, it is difficult to point fingers and say Hey! That guy is bad! This gray morality is one of the best things about this show and adds to its appeal.
Among the side characters, I felt that the British contractor November 11 ( a more suave James Bond) and Amber ( a cuter version of C.C. from Code Geass). I also enjoyed watching the misadventures of the bumbling 'No. 1' private detective Kurasawa and his cosplaying assistant.
The show also has a separate host of side characters who appear for only 2 episodes (We'll call them mayflies). You may think that 2 episodes are insufficient to develop a character but surprisingly Darker than black pulls it off and there were quite a few mayflies whom I liked and sympathized with.
All in all, I would say that this show takes its characters very seriously and Bones! (the studio) deserves plaudits for making efforts to present such believable and likable characters.
As for the artwork and animation, I thought that they were quite average. The same can be said for the background music, voice actors and opening themes.
I also felt that the action scenes in this series were quite nicely done and while they were short compared to fighting sequences in say: - DBZ, they were intense, highly violent and exciting to watch. In spite of his abilities Hei, never seems to be invincible, overpowered or a Gary Stu. This makes the scenes even more riveting as you keep trying to guess how Hei can survive the fight (Of course, he'll survive but how?).
So, in conclusion, Darker than black packs a decent story, excellent characters, tastefully done action sequences and an original and interesting universe to sink your greedy otaku fangs into. It ain't the best anime out there but it's not bad either.
Definitely recommended for people interested in a gritty, action-packed, sci-fi (or supernatural depending on your interpretation of the Gate's powers) anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 23, 2016
“Murphy’s law” and “random shit” are the two words that perfectly describe Nichijou. This is one anime that anyone and everyone can enjoy (Hell, I watched it with my 8 year old sister).
Story ( --/10) -
If you are looking for any semblance of a story in Nichijou, I advise you to look elsewhere.
However, this should not be taken as a flaw as it saves us the trouble of remembering extraneous things and instead helps us concentrate on the humour and humour alone.
In this regard, you can favourably compare it to Mr. Bean as both shows have: no story, episodic format, copious amounts of random
...
shit and are ideal representations of Murphy’s law (anything and everything goes wrong).
Character – (11/10)
According to me, this show has the wackiest set of characters that I have ever witnessed in any form of entertainment (and that list is long). The characters are diverse, have their own unique quirks and idiosyncrasies and every one of them is pretty damn funny.
Some especially hilarious characters are: The rich, haiku spouting kid who comes to school on a goat (because chauffeur driven Roll’s Royces are so mainstream), the Tsundere who pulls out a bazooka if you even talk about her crush and the Oh So Kawaii! pint- sized professor who exasperates her talking cat and her robotic friend cum maid cum cookie dispenser cum android dreaming to be an ordinary schoolgirl, with her childish antics (after all the Professor is 8 years old).
That said, I loved all the characters and this anime wouldn’t have been what it was if it hadn’t been for them.
Art (10/10)-
The artwork in Nichijou is spectacular. The backgrounds are eye wateringly beautiful and the characters are cute, well drawn and fun to watch.
I also liked the fact that comedic scenes had special artwork (example- Yukko’s beserk button) which made them all the more funnier. All in all, an amazing job.
Sound (9/10)-
The opening and ending themes were vibrant and upbeat. The voice actors did their job consummately and the background music was well done.
Final rating (9.5/10)-
Overall, I loved this anime, its wacky characters and almost everything else about this show. I also think that the rewatch value of this show is high and I definitely look forward to watching it again, if possible.
So, just grab a beer, hit the couch and enjoy the misadventures of the cast. You won’t regret it (you might get a hangover though. Just saying).
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 8, 2016
In one of the funniest what-if scenarios ever, ‘The Devil is a part timer’ takes the old bromide “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings” and turns it on its head by making the devil himself flip burgers at McDonald’s.
Yup, the dark lord himself, serving greasy fries and espousing the cause of blocked arteries and cardiovascular disease; what an evil thing to do, right? (See, what I did there? :P)
Enamoured by the premise of the show, I decided to give it a try and trust me, this show didn’t disappoint.
The story starts relatively straightforward with a standard fantasy world, a dark
...
lord scheming for world domination with a demon army and a hero who is the last hope for humanity. After this depressingly clichéd start, the hero and the Devil arrive on Earth, where their magic fails to work and they are forced to take up low-level jobs to survive. Their adventures (or should I say misadventures) are quite comical and the show is a laugh-riot through and through. That said, the second half felt a bit rushed and the ending was quite mediocre and left quite a few loose ends.
As for the characters themselves, all of them are pretty darn funny. The villain of the story is the dark lord Saturn (Mao-sama) who leaves the path of evil and tries to live life as a normal human. His roommate is the demon general Ashiya who now chops vegetables instead of human heads and works as a homemaker to assist his lord.
The hero of the story is Emilia who works as a call centre employee. She is flummoxed by the change in the dark lord’s behaviour and stalks him to find out his real intentions (she assumes that he plans world domination). The encounters between her and the dark lord are quite humorous.
Other funny characters include Lucifer (yes, that Lucifer) who lives as a freeloader on his master’s money and Chiho-chan who has a crush on the dark lord (What a cliché: girls always fall for the bad guys). All in all, the characters are top-notch.
Considering its short size (13 episodes), humorous characters and wacky storyline, ‘The devil is a part timer’, is the perfect remedy to drive away melancholia.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
