- Last OnlineJan 24, 2018 11:02 AM
- GenderFemale
- BirthdayMay 19, 1994
- LocationNorth Carolina.
- JoinedNov 4, 2011
Also Available at
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Apr 10, 2017
Kizumono 3 answered questions that surfaced in the first and second installments. It also lessened my disdain for some of the objectives that were displayed in the previous films, particularly in regard to Guillotinecutter and his crew. After one last major surprise, Kiss Shot is returned to her final form. Her attitude has reverted to that of her 8-10 year old incarnation in the first film; cheerful, carefree and seemingly generous. Of course, her impression will appear differently to others. this is only my opinion and I admit, I didn't care for her person in Nekketsu. Araragis growth as a vampire and as a young
...
man were impressive and I really enjoyed his conversations with Meme, even though they were brief. Araragis interactions with male characters seem more organic in contrast to his shiftiness around female cast members who, in this case, were Hanekawa and Kiss Shot. I can appreciate Araragis pursuit of justice and even his shyness. I did laugh at the perverted scenes, but they went on for longer than expected and became unconfortable. Despite the awkwardness, these scenes were far better executed than those in Nekketsu in which the nudity not only seemed out of place but stupid.
Animation-wise, part 3 is probably the best of the trilogy. The freakin flashcards are at a minimum and the cgi or whatever looks less static than it did in part one. The color choices for this project were appropriate, conveying just enough intensity. I really enjoyed the eternal "heat" and haziness of the set. Kizumono def goes down on my list for best animated blood, it felt like i was watching calligraphy. There is a sensation about the style and effort of the animation that is more electrifying than the plot. This is problematic and I am in no way overlooking this error, but Reiketsu made better use of this device than part 1 and 2.
To wrap up, I enjoyed Kizu and perhaps it was for the best that this chapter was broken up into 3 films. It still came off as a money grab (tickets weren't exactly cheap) but the big screen experience was worth the price. It was fairly unique and more entertaining than most of the television titles released in late 2015 through now - a condition that obviously impacted Kizu's reception, at least in the West.
Kizumonogatari overall gets a 6/10. Reiketsu, 7/10.
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
![]()
Jan 26, 2017
In terms of enjoyment, Kizumono-Nekketsu-hen achieved a lot more than the previous installment, Tekketsu-hen.
The fleshing out of the villains (and the allies for that matter) is sub par. While they have great stage presence, they lack impact and purpose. I would like to know more on these guys. Why is the bi-racial vampire so self loathing? What is so problematic about exorcisms? and what makes the priest, who is fully human, nearly as strong as Kiss Shot herself?
Nekketsu-hen gives rise to more questions than it answers, very irritating but it's obviously intentional. I guess they really want me to read the book.
Watching Kiss Shot
...
spawn into puberty and early adulthood was uncomfortable and animation-wise, these scenes pale in comparison to her initial blight in Tekketsu-hen. She's more smug and less palatable in this go around. I feel like her character could have suffered 'less' if Hanekawa had been axed. I don't dislike Hanekawa, her interactions with Araragi are cute but meaningless. Her sole purpose as a cheerleader is maddening when literally the entire cast are more deserving of dialogue and screen time.
By the end of the movie, I was satisfied, granted, the ending was rushed. Very much so. Despite that, it was probably my favorite of the three showdowns if only for the Matrix, 1990s cyberpunk mood and boy was the music good.
If absolutely nothing else, I'd the seek the OSTs for this and Tekketstu-hen. They stand very well on their own but when re-watching either film, they almost don't quite fit together. The score is highly polished but coupled with some scenes, are down right base and childish. I mean it's easy to avoid this annoyance, just don't listen to the album but evenso, it doesn't mesh all that well.
Nekketsu-hen gets a 6/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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
Kizumonogatari is the first and only installment of any -gatari series I've ever watched. Being very familiar with Shaft's production and somewhat familiar with the running theme of this series, it's not that I didn't think it'd be worth watching, it just wasn't a priority.
However, this prequel piqued my interest.
The animation is highly stylized with some scenes that were far more pleasing than others. Of my favorites were those featuring Kiss Shot who, putting it simply, just looked cool.
Overall, the animation is highly reminiscent of titles put out by Studio 4°C...10 plus years ago. To make matters worse, 4°C is hardly the
...
only studio to have done this, they just did it the best. I am not at all familiar with the proper terminology for this style, but it's a regurgitated technique & aesthetic that makes Kizumonogatari appear dated or at least, very unoriginal.
I'd actually be embarrassed for anyone who found this novel or impressive.
The audio was appropriate, nothing to write home about. I enjoyed a few jazz and guitar pieces put towards the end. Some of the effects coupled along with the visuals made me groan but I've seen worse.
The dialogue is spread rather unevenly throughout the film and the progression of events is shaky. The antagonists make a showy entrance, that I actually liked, but they don't even speak. Their names are introduced via flashcards. There are silly production choices like that scattered throughout Kizu- and while it's so obviously intended to intrigue, it's overuse is beyond tiresome.
In spite of the grocery list of flaws, I did enjoy the cast- all except Araragi who rubs me as an opportunist. Kiss Shot and MEME readily captured my affection and hopefully the antagonists will evolve to be more than stunt queens.
But on that note, I can't rate a piece based on how I 'hope' it will turn out.
With the precarious handling of such a basic plot that makes up not just one but THREE films, this could go any number of directions and I'd hate to get my hopes up for something that didn't deliver.
Therefore, Kizumonogatari gets a 6/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Aug 23, 2014
Katanagatari is an animated combination of a 1990’s shounen with a 2000’s style and budget. It’s the best of an action-adventure series meshed together with a wordy script and social dialogue that elevate this series into something more than your archetypical shonen. While it is far from being a favorite, there was never a point where I was bored. In fact I strongly got the impression that Katanagatari was set up to gradually build interest and anticipation from one episode to the next – a major proponent for the shows’ success considering its original air time was one episode a month for twelve months.
...
The cast of Katanagatari is extensive but memorable in both appearance and personality. The artwork is distinctive in how the faces are rather simplistic and drawn in a style perhaps more suitable for a children’s show. While in contrast, the costume design is highly detailed and vibrant so much to the point that you’ll end up remembering characters for what they were wearing and not what they were saying. This is actually a smart move, seeing as how wordy the script is, viewers would be bound to forget who said or did what but the variation in character design (and their environment) help to ensure that most of what you’re watching actually stays with you.
As for the characters themselves, the lead MC’s are a female strategist named Togame and her “living sword” bodyguard, Shichika whom she found on a sparsely inhabited island. Shichika’s social skills are virtually non-existent since he’s had little interaction with people besides his long deceased parents and his older sister. His interdisciplinary skills are so lacking at this point that he can’t even recognize faces besides his sisters’ and his own. Togame is his opposite. She’s tactful, slick and despite the explicit revealing of her past, much of her ambitions and who she truly is remains shrouded in mystery from start to finish. She’s not just a liar, but a good liar and for that reason viewers will either love or hate her. Despite their differences, Togame and Shichika display great chemistry and have a charming relationship, but with the introduction of far more open and dynamic side characters and enemies, their chemistry slowly begins to subside.
The supporting cast members are presented with proper introductions that explain who they are and their relationship to the main characters and other affiliates. This is especially noticeable with the antagonists so much to the point that by the conclusion I felt as though I knew more about the will and intent of the enemies than I did the protagonists. Is that to say that they, Shichika and Togame, were any less fleshed out or interesting? Yes and no. While their initial interactions were sweet and engaging, as time went on (and as Shichika became more acclimated into mainstream society) it felt as if he and Togame were steadily growing further apart instead of closer together. While much of the show kept you guessing as to what will happen next, the shift in their relationship hints that much of what they had in the beginning was attributed to fate and that neither of them would have sought each other out under any other circumstance. There’s also the added frustration that even though Shichika has learned more and more about the relationship between men and women he still doesn’t even bother to initiate sex with Togame. Basically, you’re just sitting through this long ass show waiting for them to fuck and they don’t. Who cares.
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
![]()
Jun 22, 2014
Persona Spring of Birth is a film adaptation of the 2008 game Persona 3. At this point, it’s common knowledge that video games don’t typically make for good television shows and almost never make good movies, animated or live action. Much of the problem comes from both trying to fulfill obligations to fans of the source material as well as making an adaption that can stand alone as a good film, tv show, play etc. The end result is usually something so far off base that it doesn’t even slightly resemble the original story line or, something so copy-pasted to the point that it
...
doesn’t look as if any effort was put forth into editing the material into a watchable format. In the case of P3M, it falls uncomfortably between both descriptions.
The story is centered around S.E.E.S., a group of persona users posing as a school club, whose mission is defending the public against monsters called ‘shadows’. New to the group is an orphan transfer student named Yuuki Makoto and resting on his shoulders are many of the problems within Persona Spring of Birth. His characterization is laughable. Regardless of individual experience with the protagonist (if you played the game), you were still left with a sense that he was a charming, fairly optimistic and caring person with a healthy sense of humor. But in the film, all that is stripped of him for no reason other than to make him a 2 cool 4 skool, badass who doesn’t give a shit about anyone or anything and yet he always saves the day. Most of Makoto’s script is either silence or sarcasm which gets really annoying really fast. It’s hard to root for this guy seeing as he has no purpose for what he’s doing besides being asked to do it (I thought Aegis was the robot?). In the game, it was easy to get to know and empathize for him as the story progressed and the fact that they couldn’t translate not one drop of this into the film really irritates me - he simply lacks the curiosity and initiative to be human.
The rest of the cast, if only by contrast, is better but none of them are great with Yukari being the only one who comes off even the slightest bit believable. Pretty fucking ironic seeing as Yukari was largely disliked by much of the fanbase, including myself. She was the only character to have gradual development instead of flip-of-the-switch progression as with the rest of them. Development just feels rushed. I understand that it’s a lot of work condensing some 80+ hours of gameplay into a 4 part film series, but most of the problems with the characters boil down to poor and inconsistent handling which ripples throughout other aspects of the film.
Most games listed under the Shin Megami Tensei family (or rather just Shoji Meguro) are widely known for the high quality and extremely fitting soundtracks in each of them. Of course I was hoping to hear maybe one or two tracks but boy was I surprised to hear EVERY SINGLE SONG used in film. I quite enjoyed the title sequence and I thought the decision to use Persona 3 Portable’s “Burn my Dread” opening was well thought out and visually appropriate. But was it not just a tad bit overkill to incorporate so many songs in such a short amount of time? It’s not like the tracks used were utilized in such a way that was fitting with the situation at hand, they just felt slapped into the background – like the choice in music was an afterthought as opposed to a conscious decision made during production.
Lastly, the animation and design choices of P3M weren’t so hot either. Persona 3 incorporates this lunar calendar type sequence as a visual for the progression of time. It’s pretty fucking stylish for the game but choppy and stupid looking in the movie, even more so because the story is set in 2009. I’m left with the impression that the story of P3 is actually within alignment of Persona 4, so while I understand the decision to keep the setting within the original timeline, it doesn’t excuse the weird way of showing it. I mean, a lot of the game does happen at school where people undoubtedly write the date of assignments and whatnot somewhere in their work, so why not just include a few scenes with people asking or writing down what day it is? Or even better, why couldn’t there have just been a cleverly placed calendar somewhere that resembled the in game progression sequence? Little things like this actually have a bigger and better impact on fans than frivolous use of in game visuals (which there is a lot of).
I was really hoping that Persona 3 would’ve been given a movie as stirring and visually appealing as the game was. And in case you haven’t played it then please don’t let this mediocrity of an adaption deter you from playing the game as so much of what was important to the story was either only just mentioned or completely left out of the film. The characters felt too distant, the relationships were obligatory and transitions between events were lazy and unedited. You can’t leave it up to a game to the job of a full length film and Persona 3: Spring of Birth is yet another disappointing example of this.
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
![]()
Jun 20, 2014
I was lead into watching this show by the guidance of a certain anime veteran you may or may not have heard of with expectations that were neither high nor low. But at no point in time did I ever think Selector Infected would be bad and even after its completion I still feel the same way. In terms of technicality, Wixoss easily outdoes many of its anime brothers and sisters, but what it has in mechanics it seriously lacks in entertainment and arguably, in originality.
Starting with the artwork, SIW mirrors Madoka Magica to a tee; the opening theme, battle aesthetics and even
...
the choice in font bears heavy resemblance to that of PMMM. It literally gives me the feeling of re-watching Madoka Magica and since said anime isn't even five years old (at the time of writing this review) it’s a very bizarre choice in style. Does that make it a bad choice? Not really, but it certainly doesn't help refute the accusation of unoriginality particularly since most people negatively judging SIW are doing so based on face value over mechanics.
On the topic of mechanics, SIW is indeed a card game anime but unlike most other shows of the genre, it doesn't explain how the game works. The only given details are that if a wixoss player loses three matches then she is no longer eligible for becoming an “Eternal girl”. Yet even this rule isn't set in stone, as it’s later revealed that after losing three games, a girl may still have the opportunity of being chosen as a selector. In theory, you could lose an infinite amount of times, but since there’s no set number of wins needed to become an eternal girl, you could be stuck winning just as often.
Some argue that SIW neglected gameplay details as means of keeping the focus on the off-court drama. However, I honestly believe the decision to disregard the rules of Wixoss only works for the detriment of its entertainment factor. To put it simply, SIW lacks the tension to keep you invested – a problem that could have easily been avoided by including at least a few details of the game play. It’s hard to feel like there’s much at stake when the parameters of winning or losing are barely defined, and since most opponents (with the exception of a few specific characters) aren't given much of a back story, they start to feel like nameless punching bags for the protagonists.
So what all is good about Selector Infected? SIW does have good technical value in its use of foreshadowing and plot twists. It also makes smart use of some pretty stupid anime clichés such as, the power of fucking friendship and sibling romance in a way that’s unexpected as well as entertaining. Unfortunately, there just isn’t much else going on here to make it memorable. SIW is pretty much the antithesis to other animes of its time; it outsmarts most of them, but it doesn't outshine any of them. But as previously stated, I don’t think Selector Infected is a bad show and more than likely all of the unexplained mysteries of the first season could possibly make for a more captivating season two, which I will definitely be watching.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jun 18, 2014
Kill la Kill is a pretty outstanding series in terms of how on earth can a show so action packed, fast paced and stylish still leave me feeling painfully underwhelmed. But, to be honest I’m probably being a bit too harsh, as KLK in its entirety is merely a reflection of the entertainment industry across the board – all flash and zero substance. It took a lot of A LOT of effort to finish this show as I found almost every aspect of it’s being to be a backbreaking, sickening experience that undoubtedly undermined, and maybe even lowered the intellect of just about everyone
...
who watched it. But as I already stated, KLK only mimics the problems within today’s entertainment in how lacking it is in both quality and substance. It’s a big disappointment but hardly a surprise.
Anyway.
The plot of KLK revolves around two rival female characters Satsuki Kiryuin and Matoi Ryuko, the former is some kind of military/corporate/class president- dictator? (I dunno) whose initial goal is to gain world domination via the control of clothing. The latter is an underdog misfit looking to avenge the death of her wayward father. In between all that are numerous subplots that contain forced romance, some almost interesting relationships, a lot of bullshitted philosophy and political undertones that only serve to further muddle an already confusing story. In fact, that about encompasses everything wrong with KLK in how it completely lacks self awareness and it can’t seem to make up its mind as to whether or not it wants viewers to take it seriously. Boob jokes are being uttered within the same breath of discussing a flawed and oppressive government. It’s a cringe-worthy balance of political satire and obscenity. Most of KLK just leaves me unsure of whether I’m supposed to laugh at or ponder over what’s being said and more important how it was delivered. Even the artwork is in conflict with the dialogue.
On its own, the style of Kill La Kill is quite good and so was the animation, which I’m going to assume was intentionally sloppy as to parody old shounen animes. Yet even this added more work to the already tedious job of taking KLK seriously which is hardly to say that I don’t like parodies. Actually, the first show to come to mind upon starting KLK was Panty and Stocking. They both use schools as a backdrop for hinting at mature, political topics especially in reference to Eastern vs. Western views of death, religion and economics. But by no means did you have to take them seriously or even recognize these themes to enjoy the show and at no point in time were we beaten over the head with winded speeches about idealisms and morals. PSG presented a number of topics with a level of subtlety, smartness and an impeccable sense of timing that Kill la Kill just doesn’t possess.
My last problem with Kill la Kill is how it’s confused a lot of viewers into thinking this is some sort of new amazing thing allegedly reviving anime as a genre. That might be the case if the year was 1992 (when animes like this were charms WITHIN the genre, they didn’t DEFINE it) and not 2014 where every second anime released is an onslaught of stupid harems, fan service and *whispers* ~shock factor~.
Gruel doesn't suddenly turn into a steak dinner upon receiving it larger amounts than what your used to eating and Kill la Kill exemplifies that. What anime isn’t doing what KLK did? What has KLK done that other shows aren’t still doing, and doing to death?
Answer: not a damn thing.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 22, 2014
Shigofumi is an episodic series about a girl named Fumika and her talking rod assistant named Kanaka. Together they hand deliver letters from deceased individuals to persons whom they've left behind. The specific contents of these letters vary from case to case but the themes can usually be summarized into stories of love, hatred, despair and regret between the departed and the recipient.
The first half of Shigofumi is incredibly well executed. Most other series of this kind end up becoming saturated in melodrama to the point that they're completely unbelievable - boring even. However, the characters responses to receiving the last words of dead
...
loved ones and friends are very human. Each case is handled so poignantly that it's easy to sympathize with each character and their situations.
Alongside the excellent writing is an equally exceptional soundtrack. It's a solemn tune that isn't overly moody but does a great job of creating a serious atmosphere and sets the tone for the entire show.
The artwork is a bit of a letdown as it's rather generic in appearance and the animation is a little sloppy even in comparison to other shows released around the same time. I will say that Fumika and her father’s appearances were attractive but, I wish the same level of creativity was used in the design of the side characters- all of whom look rather dull.
Unfortunately my problems with Shigofumi don't end with the art. The second half of the show isn't handled with the same smartness and drama as was with the first. All of the built up tension from the first 6 episodes is wasted on cheesy plot twists. The story could have gone in any number of different, better directions, but instead collapses into a jumbled and confused mess. It jumps around from case to case trying to regain the momentum it built up in its first few episodes. Unfortunately the effort is futile, much in part to the introduction of too many characters at the same time. Their progression was good, albeit could have been much better if they had been given more time to develop. The final conclusion was passable but in the shadow of the previous sentiment and drama it wasn't the most satisfying.
In spite of the inconclusive and rushed ending, Shigofumi was a heartwarming series with good re-watch value. It's handling was initially very well done but was ultimately robbed of its potential due to random inconsistencies and messy plot twists.
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
|
