Warp City-Black Lagoon MV

The Westside Goth Show #21: Anime

Westside Goth Show #5

Video

Facebook Commentary: Kiki's Delivery Service

This was my commentary for Kiki's Delivery Service. I did it on Facebook as Status updates and some people commented.

Not as many because its not the weekend.

Carl Towns Welcome to Facebook film commentary. Tonights presentation is Studio Ghiblis Kiki's Delivery Service by famed animator Hayao Miyizaki. Right now, Pixars boring John Lassater telling me the movie is great. I know that bitch.

Carl Towns The films about a teen witch who leaves home to find a city to set up shop. Its all full of gooey, warm feeling, bitter sweetness. Yes, pretty gay. But you know what! I love this film.

Carl Towns Kiki's planning on leaving home a month earlier than planned. "When a witch turns 13 she has to leave home to begin her training." I wonder if her parents gave her some cash before she left or they were like -FUCK DAT! Make yo' own scrilla girl!

Carl Towns You may not know this, but this is the only good thing Matthew Lawrence was in.

Carl Towns ‎"What about Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad?"
What about it?
"And he was in Boy Meets World."
After I stopped watching. Man Danielle Fishel is hot.

Carl Towns Yes, I am watching the dub version. the second one because Streamline original did a dub version before Disney got all the Ghibli rights.
Stupid evil Disney and evil Mickey Mouse...

Carl Towns Briefly, Troma Films had the rights to Miyazakis My Neighbor Totoro. Scary...

Carl Towns BTW, Kiki's just ran into on bitchy witch! She should've smacked her.

Carl Towns By the way, Kiki's cat is Jiji and voiced by the late great Phil Hartman in the Disney release.

Carl Towns This movie is based on a Novel. Interesting...
A cop is giving the poor witch girl a hard time for flying her broom around the street. Why the cops always tripping?

Carl Towns Tombo-the nerdy stalker.

Carl Towns Kiki is staying out of the sight cops. Because she's totally gangsta!

Carl Towns The original creator did not like the many changes made. But Miyazaki was like "Fuck dat! This is gonna be wicked! So sit back, shut up, and let me do my thang!"
Exact quote.

Carl Towns Checking up on Carl Macek who was a pioneer in bringing anime over to the states, which included several Miyazaki movies. He died this year which is sad.
However the way he tried to sell Robotech as an American cartoon was BS. it was Macross with two other anime's spliced in.
-Brian Tyson Didn't know about Macek, he really did allot to get anime up and running in America. Thought he was god but still a cool guy.
-Carl Towns He apparently died in April. I was looking up the Streamline stuff. Troma films had the rights to a Miyazaki movie once! Troma of Toxic Avenger fame! I hope this is some guy just messing around on Wikipedia.

Carl Towns Trivia courtesy of IMDB: When Kiki first arrives in the city, she is almost hit by a bus bearing the name "Studio Ghibli". This is the name of Miyazaki's animation studio. "Ghibli" is seen on the side of two other buses; once as she is
being questioned by the officer

Carl Towns More IMDB trivia: The dialogue during a scene in which Kiki is given coffee, changes the beverage to hot chocolate in the Disney release. This was done because Disney thought it was inappropriate for children to drink coffee. The video subtitles also mention hot chocolate, although the Japanese "kohii" ("coffee") is clearly audible on the soundtrack.

Carl Towns Famous Lewis Arquette who spawned an entire brood of actors has a small part in the English dub of this flick. So does legendary actress Debbie Reynolds.

Carl Towns The voice of Bobby Hill does a kids voice in this flick. Sounding like Bobby Hill. By the way, is a female actress who does the voice. And I skipped the scene with the character whose voiced by Janeane Garofolo.

Carl Towns Incidentally, my fav movie with Kirstin Dunst and I still find her voice annoying in it. Well, at times.
Hey, it's Tombo the Nerdy Teenager Stalker!

Carl Towns About to hit the scene where Kiki delivers a pie from a nice grandma to her grand daughter accepts it verbally annoyed by the gift. Whether you like the food or not, you should be thankful to your grandma.
This teenage girl is a bad bad person. Kiki should have back handed her too.

Carl Towns And worst of all, she doesn't get to go out clubbing on the town. Thats just sad...

Carl Towns Tombo and Kiki on the propeller bike. They should try this for Jackass 3D.

Carl Towns Hey, its annoying girl two. Kiki needs to go over there and beat that girl down.

Carl Towns Kiki's recent sick days, coupled by her stranger in a strange-land feeling is making her lose her powers. Or power. Since Kiki only seems to be able to fly. Not much of a witch...

Carl Towns Janeane Garofolos character returns! Meh...

Carl Towns Ursula wants Kiki to come over to her cabin. Take that of context for a moment...

Carl Towns Trivia: on September 12, 1998, it was the first video release to be reviewed as a normal film on Siskel and Ebert rather than on the "Video Pick of the Week" section

Carl Towns Trivia: The conservative Christian group Concerned Women for America boycotted Kiki’s Delivery Service screenings and released a press release on May 28, 1998 titled “Disney Reverts to Witchcraft in Japanese Animation”. Calling for a boycott of The Disney Company, the group said the company “is still not family friendly, but continues to have a darker agenda”.
-Carl Towns Why is it you can't have a witch in a childrens story as a lead? Shouldn't the christians shut up after the fact that innocent men and women died because of them. Well, partially. Others just wanted to get rid of people they didn't like.
-Jay Jay It's all bullshit. Theist bastards...
-Carl Towns Exactly

Carl Towns Coming up on the finale. The dirgible, which has been talked about a bit, is going wild and Tombo is in trouble. Time for Kiki to witch up and be epic.

Carl Towns So... Kiki's cat signifies her immature side? Symbolism over my head again!

Carl Towns Crazy girl sitting on a broom in the streets!

Carl Towns My eyes on the TV as I hear "Kiki!" "Tombo" and some grunting. Yeah... out of context.

Carl Towns Kiki saves Tombos life because thats why she's hot.

Carl Towns Movies over. i first saw pieces of the original Streamline dub a long time ago. But I got the Disney release on VHS after my uncle showed that version to me. Its a fav of Miyazakis work. A childrens film that an adult can watch.
Thats it for the commentary. Later.


So what next? Phantom of the Paradise? people Under the Stairs? Nightmare on Elm Street? Another anime flick? A classic hong kong film and watch it on a bad dub? Hit me up on the next choice for Facebook Commentary

2010!!! Two More Years to the End Times!!!

Yo. Back again. Quick updates.

Finished the third draft of my novel. need to do fourth draft. This would be faster if I had a new computer. get on that Carl!!!

Read the Fables novel and a cool book called Badass! By the guy who runs the side Badass of the Week. Both were entertaining reads. Also reread Red Planet and I hate to say this, but the edited version is less boring. Still a well thought out science fiction book from master Robert a. Heinlein.

Read a lot of comics. Okay, several comic books. Same old, same old. Though I did read all the Buffy Season 8 trades. Its okay, prefer it as a series.

Which I now have all of on DVD! Whoooo! As well as several other TV series, anime, and movies. including Duck Tales! Yes, i am buying my youth back.

Movies? Nothing worth noting really. Got a stack of bootlegs-er... a list of films I need to see. yeah, that's it.

Christmas was cool. Family and all. Did nothing for New Years.

I have, because I am a geek, started the Wonder Woman screenplay as its currently abandoned project right now. Wrote my opening which is... okay. However I give myself points on the amount of actual comic bits I used. In case you're wondering, it's the Contest. Which would work better in a visual sense than as a written piece sense it sort of just mentions the challenges and then gives Diana the weapons and sends her off.

Maybe I'll post it.

AX 09 Continued

Yeah... next time I go I need to go on different days and maybe with someone who would want to check out panels. Too bad the only people I know who watch anime and read manga are my bro and his friends, my uncle, and my friend. But he only knows what I show him.

Not that it wasn't cool hanging with my brother and his pal. There just wasn't much to do and we mostly stayed in the exhibition hall. I bought more stuff. Haruhi Suzumiya statue/figurine, Mikuru from Haruhi key chain (in a bikini) and a cheap Serial Experiments Lain book.

Took a pic with Hello Kitty. That was awesome. ;) And saw a new anime, Origin, which looked but was meh.

AX 09

55 bucks for two days? Damn. In all honesty we did two things. Exhibition Hall, to buy stuff, and the AMV rebroadcast with winners announced. Masquerade, which I still have yet to see, just started letting in and we decided to not try for stand by tickets. Mostly nothing else. Tomorrows a short day so we don't know whats happening.

Bought a Runaways Print from the artists alley. Yep, American comic art at Anime Expoe. This though was a print at colorist Christina Strains booth. Went back and got her to sign it. Picked up a cute Cat & Crossbones button. Plus two t-shirts. One Masters of the Universe(He-Man) and one Wonder Woman one from a Terry Dodson cover. Though they sort of took out the swastikas for the Nazi troops she's beating down. Plus two manga, 2oth Century Boys Volume 2-3.

I might get some pix up. If I feel like getting them scanned.

The Billion Dollar Franchise Known As Dragonball

Whether you love it or hate it, Dragonball is the most successful creator owned comic property of all time. Over 150 million Tankōbon(graphic novels) sold around the world. Not just Japan, Asia and the US but also countries like Mexico, UK, Italy, Hungary and more. The anime series was once hailed by Cartoon Network as having over one hundred million fans(or was that six hundred million?) worldwide. Dozens of animated movies, tons of video games, lots and lots of merchandise. A few live action moves. One unofficial one in China thats a remake of one of the earlier animated movies and a crappy one here in the US by Fox.

So... why is it popular? Because its fun.

I just finished rereading the entire series(okay, I flipped through the final books but I didn't like those stories) and Dragonball is a fun little book. Thats it. There's no deep meaning. No complex narrative.

Inspired by Journey to the West, Dragonball follows Son Gokuh, a young boy with a tail living on his own in the woods. He encounters a spunky teen girl named Bulma tracking down the Dragon Balls. A group of mystic balls that when gathered can summon a dragon to grant a wish. Gokuh has one that his deceased grandfather left him. Bulma and Gokuh go on an adventure to the find the balls.

Along the way on the first saga they encounter the shape shifting pig Oolong, the bandits Yamcha and Pu'Ur, Turtle Hermit Master Roshi and his talking Turtle, and the Ox King and his daughter Chi Chi. Eventually ending up duking it out with Emperor Pilaf and his minions who want he Dragon Balls to take over the world.

The series for the next several volumes finds Gokuh training under Roshi, who trained his grandfather, with Krillin. Fighitng, tournaments, svaing the world, etc. until the series jumps years into the future for what many int he world know as Dragonball Z. Gokuhs married with a child and soon discovers he himself is an alien of the Saiyan race. Once again we go into action and adventure with an added sci-fi slant.

All in all, a rather simple series though repetitive. But having reread the book... its incredibly fun. The early stories are fun watching Gokuh, a country bumpking, see the world outside and go on wild adventures. He strives to be a great fighter, a fair person, and just never quits. Even when going up against the Red Ribbon army when everyone around him stresses the danger. The DBZ stuff losses some of the humor but the first three "sagas" are some of the best action comics you could get.

It's refreshing to see Gokuh not have some identity complex about being an alien. He's an earthling and Earth is his home. He strives to be the hero but at the same time his natural instinct to fight makes you question his decisions. He doesn't want the Dragon Balls interrupting what could be a an entertaining fight.

The supporting cast is always fun. Its great to see that Krillin hold his own while other fighters stronger than him seem to slowly drift into the background like Yamcha or Tian. Krillin tries to assist in anyway possible even after he knows that he can't keep up as a fighter.

Watching the villain Piccolo turn to good is interesting though I became more familiar with DBZ first. The story behind Vegeta is what drives a lot of the series. The once Prince of a dead race who becomes envious of Gokuhs abilities drive him. You watch him from villain to... well... less of a villain. Him and Bulmas relationship is a twist as you always expect her to get with one again/off again boyfriend Yamcha.

One of the main reasons I pulled out my books was my feelings after the live action film. I could tell they were familiar with the material but the execution was awful on so many levels. Streamlining the series into a two hour lfick is definitely a challenge but the decisions they made didn't work.

The first Piccolo story happens deeper in the first portion of Dragonball. Right after the second tournament. By that time Toriyama established most of his cast at the time. But the glaring problems are the cast.

Gokuh isn't introduced as a young boy int he woods but an 18 year old high school. The personalities are different with Gokuh lusting after Chi Chi. Justin Chatwick also lacked the look of the character. Which is ahrd to get over. I mean, Gokuh as a teen wasn't super buff yet but he was bigger than Chatwick. Gokuh is arguably the most popualr manga character in Japan. Really, the Superman of Japan and Fox failed. Think about it, both aliens. Both have stories of their youths and adulthood. Both incredibly powerful. Both don't like to kill(though Gokuh will when it needs to be done but prefers mercy). Both upstanding men.

Bulmas selfishness and temperamental attitude is missing. The way her and Gokuh meet is so classic but the flick doesn't do it. She actually explains the Dragon Balls to Gokuh as she seeks her wish of a good looking boyfriend. Bulma is more noble in the movie and isn't quite sure what to think about Gokuhs story of the Dragonballs.

Matser Roshi is more of a perv in the book. Yeah...

All in all... a failure as a film. Butt he comics are fun. Entertaining. Their light reading action comics and I whole heartily suggest them to anyone. Plus their easy to find. Viz is re-releasing them in Viz Big editions. I found them all prior to this in the shonen jump editions. The books still sell and the anime series is still a huge success. Funimations DVD box sets were blazing up DVD sales charts last year and the new Dragonball Kai series in Japan, which is simply a more streamline cut of the anime series without all the filler, is making big ratings number. Yes, repeats of an old anime series with all the filler material taken out(and its a lot, believe me) is a hit.

Dragonball is a billion dollar franchise and it makes sense. Fun, escapism sells. And Dragonball is one of the standards.

Okay...

Lately, I've been slacking. For a few reasons. less time on computer being one of them and secondly... switching how an how many comics I buy.

My local comic shop did reopen but by that time I had cut several titles and where I bought them. Besides, i use to go after work and with them opening later in the day I can't really do that. I could just get a box and go on the weekend but eh. I'm saving money this way.

So, in addition to me Monthly favorites list and Excel Saga overviews I plan to do a few things. One... a Movie of the week. I'll dig through my collection, or try to remember films I do love that I need to buy on DVD anyway, and talk about them. This may include TV Series and anime out on DVD.

Also, a graphic novel or comic series spotlight every month. Graphic novels, runs, or even just stories that I really like.

I haven't really talked about wrestling but I'll probably do a piece on Chikara Pro. As a review from long time wrestling news site Figure Four says: "Without a doubt, CHIKARA Pro Wrestling is the most entertaining product in the world." I've practically stopped watching wrestling, indy wise, in 2008 and only sort of used WWE as background noise on monday nights but I started Chikara again and wow... the first three shows of the year were great. Its a hard PG, fantasy action series wrestling show. With high drama and great comedy. Could use a tiny beat of romance though.

Anyway, thats it for now. Lets see if I keep this up.

By the way, David Bird hooked me this link for a new series out of Japan that looks crazy. Check it out.

C.Towns-

Ramble Awards 2009

Last Years Here.

5 Fav Movies

#1-The Dark Knight
#2-Wall-E, #3-Iron Man, #4-Rambo, #5-Gran Torino
Yeah... I've watched this one more times than any other flick. Twice at theaters, on bootleg, then legitimate DVD release. I put off seeing Wall-E for a while but I was so engrossed by it when I finally saw it. Iron Man was awesome. Rambo and Gran Torino were films that were truely bad ass.

5 Fav Male Performances

#1-Heath Ledger for the Dark Knight
#2-Robert Downy, Jr. for Iron Man, #3-Micky Rourke for the Wrestler, #4-Clint Eastwood for Gran Torino, #5-Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder
Come on, this will be the most remembered performance in 2008. It's already the most iconic images seeing as Heath as the Joker is on dozens of top selling merchandise. Downy might be getting the nod for Tropic Thunder at the globes but I prefered Tom Cruise. Though Downy was my second fav in Iron Man. The Wrestler was damn good but depressing. Oscars snubbed Eastwood and thats a shame.

4 Fav Female Performances

#1-Ellen Page for Smart People
#2-Cate Blanchett for the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, #3-Anne Hathaway for Get Smart, #4-Marisa Tomei for the Wrestler
I honestly believe the best roles for women are on TV. But that's also coupled with the fact I don't see chick flicks and avoid a lot of depressing movie fare. I liked this movie a lot and thought Ellen Page was funny. You should seek it out. While I wasn't as hyped by Benjamin Button I liked Cate Blanchett. Hathaways getting the nod for Rachel Getting Married but I didn't see that and enjoyed the hell out of Get Smart. Marisa Tomei was awesome in the Wrestler.

5 Fav Directors

#1-Sly Stallone for Rambo
#2-Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire, #3-Chris Nolan for the Dark Knight, #4-Clint Eastwood for Gran Torino, #5-Andrew Stanton for Wall-E
Violent. Addictive. Great, great, great action film. Stallone put out a true action classic here. Danny Boyle, Nolan and Eastwood all did great jobs on their films. Wall-E maybe my second fav Pixar film. Thanks Stanton.

5 Fav TV Shows

#1-Avatar: the Last Air Bender
#2-Mad Men, #3-Sons of Anarchy, #4-30 Rock, #5-True Blood
Avatar was awesome. Not as good as season 2 but still, I loved it. Dread the upcoming film. Mad Men and 30 Rock continue to be awesome. Enjoyed Sons of Anarchy and True Blood.

5 Fav Male Performers on TV

#1-Jon Hamm on Mad Men
#2-Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock, #3-Charles Hunnam on Sons of Anarchy, #4-Zachary Levi on Chuck, #5-Stephen Moyer on True Blood
Mad Men is such an engrossing show and Jon Hamms Don Draper is brilliant. So good my friend got his haircut and calls it the Don Draper look. Of my list the only surprise, against my top shows, is Zach Levi from Chuck which is an awesome program.

5 Fav Female Performances on TV

#1-January Jones on Mad Men
#2-Tina Fey on 30 Rock, #3-Katey Segal on Sons of Anarchy, #4-Anna Paquin on True Blood, #5-Maggie Siff on Sons of Anarchy
January Jones should have won! Yeah, I like Anna Paquin too but Jones is work in Mad Men was so emotional. Two women from the biker drama Sons of Anarchy. Great talent on that program. No surprise, Tina Fey.

3 Fav Anime Shows or Movies/DVDs or New In Japan

#1-Yuyu Hakusho Season Sets
#2-Black Lagoon: Second Barrage, #3-School Rumble
This year, all DVD pick ups. Went witht he Yuyu Hakusho seasons because it surprised me how much Cartoon Network edited. Still need to watch the final box that just came out. Black Lagoon was all kinds of awesome. School Rumble, first season was great. Second season is okay.

5 Fav Comics/Ongoings, Minis, or OGNs

#1-All Star Superman
#2-I Kill Giants, #3-Wonder Woman, #4-Empowered, #5-Water Baby
ASS is awesome! Oh yeah... I Kill Giants, which just finished, was truely remarkable. Gails making Wonder Woman good and Empowered keeps rocking. Water Baby was a fun read. But all pale to All Star Superman.

5 Fav Mangas

#1-Nana
#2-Skip Beat, #3-Excel Saga, #4-S-A/Special A, #5-Gunsmith Cats: Burst
Of course Nana though Skip Beat was close. Excel Saga was good but only two volumes released and the story is only starting to pick up now. Special A was a fun read. GSC might have bene higher but only one volume which makes me think Dark Horse is losing the license and Kodansha will be releasing it soon. Still, Nana is a perfectly executed drama about two friends. Emoitonal and at times funny.

5 Fav Comic Writers

#1-Grant Morrison for All Star Superman, Batman, and Final Crisis
#2-Joe Kelley for I Kill Giants, #3-Gail Simone for Wonder Woman,#4-Adam Warren for Empowered, #5-geoff Johns for Green Lantern and Justice Society of America
Bought more Morrison than anyone else. Everyone else on my list placed because of my fav comics or because of the output.

5 Fav Comic Artists

#1-Ai Yazawa for Nana
#2-Frank Quitely for All Star Superman, #3-Adam Warren for Empowered, #4-Yoshiki Nakamura for Skip Beat, #5-Ross Campbell for Water Baby and Wet Moon
Nana edging out ASS. Yep... more output. Empowered is a gem so Adam Warren is up there.

5 Fav Albums

#1-If by Mindless Self Indulgence
#2-Invasion of the Mic Snatchers by the Sinister Six, #3-Nudy Show! By Anna Tsuchiya, #4-Digital Gangster by MC Lars and YTCracker, #5-Chinese Democracy by Guns N’ Roses
Though Nerdcore had two albums up there(with Sinister Six being free-isn't that great?) the MSI album Ifs on top. Anna Tsuchiya's album was fun and the new GNR is addicting. Still, I don't get too many new albums these days. Maybe 2009 will be better with new TKK, KMFDM and... um... oh nevermind.

5 Fav Songs

#1-Roll the Dice by the Sinister Six
#2-Bomb This Track by Mindless Self Indulgence, #3-Displine by Nine Inch Nails, #4-Paper Planes by MIA, #5-Never Wanted to Dance by Mindless Self Indulgence
Two MSI tracks and singles from MIA and Nine Inch Nails. But on top is my fav song by nerdcore Sinister Six. Go to the site and grab it.

DVD Review: Black Lagoon: Second Barrage Vol. 3

Black Lagoon: Second Barrage Volume 3

The final volume to the second season continues the exploits of Rock and Revy in Japan as Balalaika and Hotel Moscow go to war with the Yakuza. As the conflict boils Yukio accepts her position as the new head of the Washimine Clan, a Yakuza family. Rock desperately wants to prevent her from getting tied into this mess but she doesn't want nothing to do with him.

Black Lagoon is one of the break out anime series of the last few years with rave reviews with its slick style and pulse pounding action. Produced by the amazing studio known as Madhosue and based on the hit manga by Rei Hiroe this series is probably arguably one of the best action series in a long time and volume 3 of the second season is the strongest story wise.

Volume 2 set the story in motion with Balalaika going to Japan to handle Russian mob business with Rock along as a translator and Revy as his body guard but these final four episodes it all explodes with Rock looking tot he teenage Yukio, hoping she won't fall into a world of criminals but her looking back at him disgusted. Seeing him standing in the "twilight" between the criminal world he belongs to but having the chance to return to a normal life. Rocks intentions bring him into conflict with Balalaika and also angers Revy, the dangerous female gunslinger, who wants to protect him. It's easy to see she cares for Rock and the internal struggle inside her because of these feelings. He's not totally immersed in her world which makes it hard for her and when Balalaika points this out you can tell it cuts like a dagger.

Than there's the action and its good. Especially the scene where Revy teams with Washimine heavy hitter Gin to save Yukio from a former clan member. As is the twos battle between one another while Yukio and Rock watch on.

Great animation, story, and action. It's wonderful that Funimation worked out a distribution deal with Geneon to release this second season and rerelease the first in the States. I don't want to insult downloaders but anime has been hit pretty damn hard. My only sore spot, when I saw this in subtitles a year back I liked the idea of the communication barrier but at the same time the idea of Revy and others not being able to speak Japanese in japan but throughout the series was odd. Here its switched a bit but all the characters speak English except when in the various clan/mob dealings. But hey... whatever.

Grade: 10/10

Reviews: DVDs & Books

DVD: Shanghai Express
A little bit western, mostly Hong Kong action comedy from the legendary Sammo Hung directing and starring with another legend in Yuen Baio and quite a large cast including Rosamund Kwan, Richard Ng, and many other recognizable Hong Kong actors and actresses at the time.

The story follows seveal points that intercept. Sammo Hung's character, Cheng, is a bit of a hustler returning home with big plans. Tsao(Baio) is the newly elected security chief for the village after the last one and several officers robbed the bank, a trio of Japanese carrying an important Chinese map, gangsters after them, and an Interpol agent tracking Cheng. They call come together in the town of Hansui and things get crazy.

If you're into Jackie Chan than you'll probably dig his older and younger "brothers" in Sammo Hung and Yuen Baio. All three were raised and trained in the Peking Opera School and have similar styles with the differences being Sammo Hungs larger and and was considered the most talented martial artist of the school at his time while Yuen Baio was one of the better acrobats. The performances were all really good despite the fact that, as it turns out, many just wanted to be int he film so some scenes and characters had little bearing to the story. The set design for the small town and the fancy hotel are all top notch for their time and period. If you're looking for something that's funny and entertaining, this is a good flick. Its got good laughs, good fight sequence, and a couple crazy stunts like when Yuen Baio hops from the top of a burning apartment to the ground, gets up and runs forward and still nails his lines out. That scene represents one of the big differences between Hong Kong and American action films, that the actors feel superhuman. Its not a great movie by any means, but its extremely fun.

DVD extras include commentary with expert Bey Logan, interviews with some of the cast, trailers, and even deleted scenes. Dragon Dynasty always providing good DVDs for their releases.

Rating: 8/10


DVD: School Rumble Season 2 Part 1
The second season of that crazy romance School Rumble kicks off. Thirteen episodes of romantic misunderstandings, characters too shy to express their feelings, crazy school activities, and the occasional rumble.

This season includes the cultural festival which, for those not into Japanese culture, is a festival put on by a high school featuring plays, shops, and food booths that are opened to the public. There's also the survival game taking place on school grounds that was made to decide which theme the main characters of class 2-C would do. We take a peek at some of the characters part-time jobs, studying for exams, and even the girls basketball club.

Watching this reminds me of how utterly lame the ending to the manga is. These episodes are silly fun with a number of great laughs. The survival game scene is so over-the-top because its mostly played straight. The play 2-C puts together was strange and fun. The basketball portion had a number of great laughs. The star of the show is Harima and he has some great lines. Most the characters are a joy to watch though I tend to like the female lead Tenma less and less with each episodes. I watch the series in dub and I love it. Yes... I love the dub, deal with it anime fans.

Bad point, forty-five dollars for thirteen episodes. Yes, its cheaper then paying the twenty for the 4-5 episode DVDs like they did with the first season but I'd rather that every other month then pay around forty dollars twice in three months for the complete second season. If I'm paying that much I'd like the complete season if possible.

Rating: 8/10


Book: A Gentleman's Game-A Queen & Country Novel
by Greg Rucka

A Gentlemans Game stars Tara Chace, the head of the Special Operations Section and designated Minder One in the SIS. When a several terrorist attacks break out in London the Prime Minister urges quick retaliation against the leader of a Terrorist organization. The job lands with Tara Chace, and not only is it a dangerous one but the results make things even worst.

This is a novel dealing with the world Greg Rucka created in his spy series Queen & Country. A very realistic look into the world of espionage. Now, I wouldn't have bought this book if it wasn't for the fact that in the current Definitive collection the last story takes place in between Gentleman's Game and Private Wars. So I bought it to see what happened.

Now, this was a fast read and not at all boring. I see this because I find most novels to drag on in the beginning or have dull characters that will eventually turn me off. But having known these characters, already been interested in their world, and the pacing of the series it gripped me. I love the comic but the book feels even more in depth into their world than that. Especially following one of the terrorists, Sinan, through his own journey. Of course, the stand out character is Tara Chace and always is Tara Chace. I love tough women and she's one of baddest bitches around. Its fast, action packed, suspenseful, and I urge you to check it out. Though I'd suggest picking up the definitive editions first, skipping the final story in the third volume, and then reading this.

The only down side, of course, is that the recent collection killed the ending to this book for me. Ah well, I'm fine with it. Its my own fault for not heeding the warning.

Rating: 10/10

I Don't Like Indy/Damn CD Rips

I am in the process of watching all four Indiana Jones films. Rather slow because, well... I guess just don't like Indy too much. I mean, I finally seen Raiders of the Lost Arc all the way through and felt that it was just okay. I didn't really get into the adventure too much. Don't get me wrong, the acting was fine and the story was interesting but after the first thirty or forty minutes I was almost bored.

Temple of Doom? After the first fifteen minutes I was pretty much done. That film just would not stop and Kate Capshaw is annoying in that film.

The Last Crusade? Well I actually think that films alright. Maybe its Sean Connery that gives it that extra boost and I do love the beginning of the film quite a bit.

Temple of the Crystal Skull? Hated it when I saw it in theaters. I was like... "What are aliens doing in a Indy film?" I would kind of agree with South Park if I was that big of an Indy fan.



On another note, damn! Since there was some comp problems I lost all my music files. Thus restoring my iPod to zip. So of course I'm ripping songs for it. But one of my fav anime soundtracks, Project A-Ko, wasn't ripping. At all! I cleaned it(with alcohol) checked it on my CD player and another disc for the computer, everything worked fine. I was surprised that this site didn't have it since this soundtrack was released in the states and not a good torrent for it.

Luckily, I didn't give my friend my extra copy which was sitting in my box set(I ordered the soundtrack when I had the movie on tape and then bought the box set) so now its ripping. Thank Jesus, Project A-Ko is a fun silly anime and the soundtrack is awesome. produced by an American team doing synth rock and pop music.

Its ripped now and I'm happy. I might have to make a back up just in case for this one.

Whats Been Up

Okay... I've been a bit quiet here but I have written a couple articles for my friend Pete's site. I've known Pete for quite some time and he is a very outspoken and opinionated person. Check the site out. I'm under guess blogger with articles about the Age Controversy from the Olympics and my lame protest of Fox Movies regarding this problem over Watchman. Lame because I know I'll probably break it.

I should be rewriting and doing a tiny bit of research on my book. But after spending two months actually doing over 200 pages and being the slacker I am, this is boring. The good news is though I have started rereading the book rather than just writing down random notes and tidbits. I'm hoping in a few weeks I can get some feedback from a few people to help me.

I'll skip This Weeks Comix this week. Not because I bought bad comics but because I'll just save my opinions for the ones I like in next weeks(or the second week of September) August Favorites 2008. After I get a package of course and, if Dark Horse doesn't delay their manga, I'll have at least four more comics to check out.

I looked at the newest Previews and Excel Saga vol. 18 is in there. I look forward to December.

Been watching the Dark Knight constantly and rereading Yotsuba&! quite often.

Need to pick up more Black Lagoon DVDs and the next Yuyu Hakusho set. Was surprised to learn the newest He-Man box sets out. I'll get that in October perhaps. I actually want to but more of the Dragon Dynasty stuff. Top priority are Shanghai Express and My Young Auntie. As well as the Invisible Target with Jackie Chans son. Plus Police Story 2.

That's it for now.

Anime Everyone Likes-That I Hate

Just read the review for Gurren Lagann and, no surprise, the guy loves it. I remember saying I didn't care for it and some guy said I had no soul. Huh? yeah... apparently anime fans, like comic fans, can get on you for disagree with the crowd. So why didn't like this "work of art?" Kamina. The character drove me mad. I hate people who try to tell people theres a better way to live their life and disrespect anothers culture. That's what I got from this character. His "cool, arrogant, can do anything" attitude didn't strike me like everyone elses because one of the characters traits irked me to no end. He died half way through and I was actually happy. Then I stopped watching altogether.

Another really popular anime(and manga) is Death Note. Now, I've only seen the live action movie but man... Light is a douche bag. I have this thing that effects my opinion on anything in entertainment-if I can't like the main character then I won't like the series. Sometimes thats not true but all my favorite stories have characters I love. Now... Light gets this notebook where he writes names down and they die so he takes it upon himself to kill evil people. Of course, power corrupts and when the authorities start getting onto him he maneuvers in ways that ultimately turn me off. Like engineering his girlfriends death. Yeah... in true fashion the characters I do think are decent usually die in these types of stories. No thank you to Death Note.

The next one will also annoy anime fans. I hate Eva. Neon Genesis Evangelion. Yeah, yeah, yeah... it's a psychologically challenging sci-fi/mecha series with religious overtones. But you know what I see? Twenty six episodes of beating the crap out of its characters until there is no hope or joy in their hearts. Yes... its is ridiculously depressing. I like the animation. I like the music. I think its a neat idea. But I hate everything that happens. I also believe it has the worst ending of any series I have ever seen. The fact that they keep remaking parts of Eva and people keep shelling out cash to see them retell the same story over and over puzzles me to no end.

Three anime that I dislike and the reasons for them.

The Man Named Onizuka

I just started hunting down the GTO manga. That's short for Great Teacher Onizuka. I saw the anime, bought it, and started re watching it constantly just recently. It's about a former delinquent turned teacher and his goal... to be the best teacher in Japan. And to look at hot high school girls. It's crazy, over-the-top and funny. But finds himself the homeroom teacher of a feared junior high class of fourteen year olds. So he ahs to work to gain the admiration of his students all while teaching them important life lessons and trying not to get fired for hsi crazy antics. Plus trying to get a girlfriend. The manga... is very much more R-rated. They actually toned down the stories for the anime. I was a bit, not taken back, but a tad shocked on some level.

Tohru Fujisawa is one hell of an artist and his stories are funny and twisted. I like his art on the Rose Hip stuff but GTO was one I wanted to get but didn't really want to start buying a long manga series. But I gave in. I also started buying the manga where Onizuka first appeared, Shonan Junai Gumi. I expected an action comedy about delinquents, instead I got a sex-comedy about delinquents. His style here is more crazy comedy anime with bigger eyes and more stretching faces. But it's a surprise.

have If you never heard of GTO, don't fret. It's popularity here in the states isn't as huge as other anime/manga and probably due to the stories content. Though, the anime series and mangabeen translated into French, Russian, Spanish, German and other countries making it one of the better known Japanese properties internationally. There is also a live action series.

Reira's a Bitch

Nana Spoilers... Sort Of.


I want to hate Reira, but its like... I can't because she is sweet. But damn it, she needs to realize just how she seems to screw up, or negatively effect, certain peoples lives.

Silly Anime Fans...

To get this highly anticipated anime out to fans as soon as possible, there will be two separate releases. In July, August, and September, the entire series will be brought out in a bare-bones sub-only format, at nine episodes per DVD. This will be followed in the first months of 2009 by a more standard release, containing both the original Japanese audio and a completely new English dub. Scenarios for online distribution are also being considered.

Here

No way sub only, 9 episode DVDs are going to be the wave of the future. Two reasons, er... three. There are people who like dubs. We simply laugh at you on your message boards. There's the fact that most non-anime fans would probably not give a sub only a chance. Lets be honest, anime companies always value new customers and try to appeal to them. Number three, no way a 9 episode DVD in subtitle only would be 24.99 or less. Of course I could be wrong.

I'm watching the Tengen Toppo Gurren Lagann on fan sub right now. And if I like anime I buy it on DVD but there is no way I'm buying sub only. I like having anime on while doing other things and following the stories. Maybe reading a comic, doing some writing, hell-I like to eat and watch TV. So if I am hyped about this series, I'll just wait for the 2009 release.

Quick Hits-April 4, 2008

Secret Invasion #1-Actually liked it. But I imagine like Bendis' New Avengers, once the the final fight comes along he'll either have his characters talk or have the fight of "screen" while the other characters handle the situation. God that's frustrating. Lenil Yu's are was... good. Sometimes great, other times "eh." I don't think Laura Martin is a right match for him color wise. Still, I liked it.

The Twelve #4-Another solid issue with fantastic Chris Weston art. That's all I have to say.

Nightwing #143-Don Kramer fills in for Rags Morales, I don't care because I like Don too. The banter between Nightwing and Robin was great. One of the few times I've liked Tim Drake. Overall, action-packed issue.

Chobits-The anime didn't thrill me. I was "meh" the whole way through.

Expect March Favorites and Excel Saga vol. 17 summary soon.