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Having heard a lot about 'Millennium Actress', I had high expectations from the movie, and surprisingly, it turned out to be very different and unique from anything I could have imagined.

Two filmmakers visit a 70 year old retired actress, Chiyoko, to interview her for a documentary on her life and career. As she tells them about her life since her very childhood, they can't help but be lost in the maze of experiences that made her into a renowned actress, and her search for a single man whose life she saved.
The narration of the movie is wonderfully done through the various roles Chiyoko plays in ... her filming career. It merges reality and her films in a way that makes it almost impossible to distinguish between the two, which adds a mysterious touch to the entire storytelling. This seems apt, since it beautifully depicts the disarray of Chiyoko's emotions, as she chases the elusive man she met through her movies and in real life. The key, which that person gave her, seems to be the only link between reality and movies for her, as well as the viewers.

About the man himself, not much is known to Chiyoko. Neither his face, nor his name nor any other detail that could aid in finding him again. His vague personality is what makes Chiyoko's obsession to find him both impossible to attain and awe inspiring.

By the end, we still don't know who the man was, or what the key unlocked. But for Chiyoko herself, that key opened the door to a life full of hope and wonders. No matter how things ended, I couldn't feel disappointed or sad, just mesmerized. As Chiyoko puts it in the end, it was the chasing after him she actually loved, and that was what her life was all about.

The art and music are also very well done. The transition between different movies is smooth. The background in some scenes is quite stunning, and overall, pleasant to look at.

OVERALL, Millennium Actress is a movie within a movie. And not limited to any particular audience. Its definitely worth a shot.

Zetsuen no tempest was one of the anime that had me waiting for each episode. A series I'd probably have seen all together if I hadn't been watching it as it was being aired. And so, this review is after seeing 7 episodes of the series. I might update it if I feel the need to, but as for now, this is my opinion of the series.

----STORY----
"Yoshino, Why did Aika have to die this way? It's been ten months and they don't have any leads. Nothing left behind.. no witnesses.. They don't even know if the killer was acting alone. The task force hardly does ... anything anymore. It's absurd. It makes no sense..."
"Then, what will you do about this absurdity? Find her killer and punish them yourself?"
"Yeah, that's it... I'll do whatever it takes to have everything make sense again!"

Following his sister's mysterious murder, Fuwa Mahiro sets out to find her killer and avenge her death. Then three years later, he returns to his hometown and chances upon his childhood friend Takigawa Yoshino, who doesn't know what to think when his best friend uses magic to save his life, and starts talking about mages, an ancient magic clan, the princess stranded on a distant island and a strange phenomenon that can destroy the world. And yet, Yoshina can't help but believe what he's being told.
The story of this anime is the kind that tends to keep the viewers in the dark. The facts are clearly explained. The magic system is not very complicated, but doesn't seem to be created halfway through either. But it's difficult to understand the characters' intentions. They do become a little clearer as their pasts are revealed. But they're mostly unpredictable. The random Shakespearen quotes add a tinge of drama which goes very well with the story, and they don't feel out of place. I'm not a huge fan of Shakespeare but I do feel like reading a little more of his stuff after watching it.
And so, I'll give the story an 8. Not extraordinary, but done quite well. The anime seems to focus more on the characters.

----CHARACTERS----
Even though most of the main characters were introduced very early in the show(the first episode, actually), there is very little known about them. There is a lot of mystery about both Mahiro and Yoshino's relation with Aika(the girl who was murdered), and they both themselves don't really come off as 'friends'. Still, they come to the other's rescue when it matters and seem to get along well, despite their conflicting personalities.
But the most striking thing is Mahiro and Yoshino both are not the kind of guys you'd imagine saving the world. Being ex-delinquents, they do have some experience with fights, but a one-minded revenge crazed guy and an easy going person who seems okay with everything wouldn't be my choice. In contrast to most protagonists, Yoshino actually enjoys being the hero, and the thought of saving the world he hates, which is quite refreshing. Then there's Aika herself. The little that is revealed about her from the flashbacks did make it clear that she was a woman that knew what she wanted, and didn't let anyone else in on it.
All in all, it's very engaging knowing more about the characters. 9/10

----ANIMATION AND MUSIC----
The animation is pretty decent. The fighting scenes and magic effects are nicely done. The expressions also come off well. The present feels vivid but the flashbacks have a distant feel to them. It's easy to immediateley differentiate them(the fact that the flashbacks have Aika aside). And the quality of the animation is the same for all episodes. The music is good and suits the show. And I don't see myself skipping the opening or ending song anytime soon. 8/10

OVERALL: I'm enjoying the anime a lot. The story is neither too fast paced, nor too slow. The show has a lot to offer, so it's definitely worth a shot. It has a dramatic feel to it, but that is also not overdone. The first episode pretty much reflects the style of the entire anime. And it only gets better from there on.

(Since the series is ongoing, I might have to change the review depending on how it ends.)

The story of Natsuyuki Rendezvous was the most interesting among all the summer 2012 anime series I looked through: a love triangle with one of the people being a ghost. It's not everyday you stumble across a description like that, I had high hopes of the anime(and let's face it, I needed another josei manga after Sakamichi no appolon), and it didn't disappoint. The story is wonderfully done, it keeps you engrossed so that the 23 minute episode just breezes by. Even with the supernatural touch, the romance has ... a realistic and warm feel to it. I'll give the story an 8/10.

The art is wonderfully done. It's clean, simple and beautiful, specially the flower arrangements and the shop. The characters are not specially beautiful but still pleasant to look at, and the expressions are very well done. And the animation maintains the same level though all the episodes. 9/10

Rokka(the store manager), Shimao(the ghost) and Hazuki(the protagonist) all three of them have very likable characters. Their doubts, reasons, hopes and attachments are all explained, so that it's difficult to dislike any of them. And they have multiple facets to their characters, which are fun to explore. Like for example, from Rokka's memories, Shimao doesn't appear to be a guy who'd get attached to anyone, but that's obviously not the case, or he wouldn't have stayed back as a ghost. For me, the characters are the most important in any josei manga, and I'll give the ones in Natsuyuki Rendezvous a 9/10.

The music is probably where the series seems to be lacking a bit... The ending song is very nice but I feel like skipping the opening most of the time. The rest of the soundtrack is nothing extraordinary, but it doesn't feel out of place either. 7/10

OVERALL, the series gets an 8/10. A must see for any fan of the genre(and a good starting point for those inteested). It's a thoughtful, beautiful and, of course, romantic story that I'm glad I picked up.

Durarara!! is a story about a boy who moves from a town to Tokyo on a request from his best friend. Seems pretty ordinary. Add a little more to it, the story about a young boy who moves to (probably)the most crime plagued district of Tokyo, Ikebukuro, where a group of people ganging up on a person in a street or a flying vending machine are just part of the daily scenery. That makes it a little better description.... But wait, there's that legendary headless motorbike rider often glimpsed on the streets, small scattered groups of people all sporting a particular color, the super hotheaded ... bartender you'd better steer clear of, the surprisingly strong salesman of a sushi restaurant, the gang of misfits which always seems to find it's way to every suspicious occurrence, and that weird doctor, the shady guy wearing a coat, and the sister with a hell of a brother complex and the bother himself...... Suffice it to say that Durarara!! is a story about a strange place Ikebukuro where the shadows at night hold more secrets than a flitting nightmare.

The storyline of the anime is very much different from any series I've seen. Almost every new episode ends up revealing something I'd least expected, but obvious once I've known it. The very essence of a good mystery. Still, it was the narration which made the anime an unforgettable experience for me. Each episode is narrated by a different person, and the offhand way in which the supernatural aspects of the story are introduced in an otherwise seemingly normal crime inflicted place is truly spectacular.

The characters are all incredibly unique and dead clear about what they want the most. Yet, it isn't till the end of the anime that one can effectively figure out each of them. The animation is fit and engaging for the series and above everything else, the quirky soundtrack completely compliments the scenes. Infact, some of the songs have established a fixed position in my regular playlist and its a refreshing feeling to listen to the entire soundtrack every now and then.

OVERALL, Durarara!! is such a unique mix of every possible genre (supernatural, action, romance, friendship, mystery) that it should absolutely be given a chance. Most likely, one might either end up in love with the series, or hate it to the bones. But that in itself, is a fact that deserves recognition. Hats off to the amazing show that made me fall in love with anime all over again..