I liked the films and thought it was a cool nice take on a bit more realistic mecha war action. You really got to see how war changed people. The characters were well done and the action wasn't over-the-top with ridiculous powerups or abilities by the MC. But man... that ending was brutal. Anti-climatic and incomplete = essentially begging for a sequel (I can dream). But I guess that's what you get with an anime original ending at movie 6 when the manga material ran out. I could read the manga (and am considering it) but I'm not interested unless I know for a fact that Rygart and Sigyn end up together!!!
Katanagatari is one very unique and beautiful piece of art and I highly emphasize the word "art". It may not be for everyone but if you give it a chance, you may see what truly makes it spectacular. In that sense, it reminds me a lot of the Bakemonogatari series. On the surface this may seem like a simple fetch quest story about collecting these demon swords with childish character designs. However, there is so much more than what meets the eye in this series. The art and designs may seem simplistic at first but look deeper and you'll see a masterfully animated world full of tiny intricate details that just reeks of style. And hidden within are darker and thought-provoking themes of revenge, purpose, self and death.
The defining strength of this anime is the relationship and romance between Togame and Shichika in particular the witty and masterfully scripted dialogue between the two MCs. But be prepared. There is a LOT of dialogue and it very rarely stops. But as I said, the dialogue is top-notch and what drives the character development. The banter between Togame and Shichika almost never gets old whether they are piling on jokes or delving into deep philosophies. And the action (when it finally does come around between all the talking) is excellently done although it can be short at times. Each episode is 45 mins in length and this is both good and bad in a sense. It's good in that each episode's story gets fully developed and it helps drive the character development. However, it makes each episode a bit more of a challenge and a chore to go through along with the simplicity and predictability of the story, amount of talking and overly episodic nature of the series.
Still, this is a unique gem that should be watched and appreciated by all anime lovers. Katanagatari may not be for everyone but if you liked Bakemonogatari or want to try something that is a bit different, definitely give it a shot. "Cheeeeeeerioooo!"
Eureka Seven (only talking about Season 1, not AO) is another very well done series by BONES. E7 is a lot of things all put together in one 50-episode package from action-mecha to SOL to philosophical piece, but the true heart of this series is the developing romance and characterization between the two leads Renton and Eureka. This is the one thing that remains constant throughout the series entire run, gets developed very well and imo is the strength of the series (although Renton can get on my nerves at times). The rest of the large cast is excellently developed in particular Holland who serves as a dynamic and intriguing foil to Renton. The action and animation stand the test of time and still look great. I also like how Bones ambitiously incorporates tons of elements and themes from previous sci-fi and mecha franchises (hello EVA). The biggest weakness for the series is that there isn't a very clear overarching plot for the first half of the series and there are quite a few filler episodes dispersed throughout (even though they are enjoyable). Thus, if you don't keep at it, this is definitely not the easiest series to finish with its 50 episode length. Still, this series does a lot more things right than wrong and is very enjoyable to watch all the way through. Just avoid Astral Ocean...
Just a spectacular, beautiful and mesmerizing anime. I was initially hesitant to start this because it seemed like it wouldn't be too exciting and able to hold my interest well but I instantly became addicted. It's a very easy show to watch as each episode is a story contained within itself, has its own theme, and you really don't encounter the same thing twice. Also, not all the stories end up happily and some are just heartbreaking which lend to keeping everything fresh. The creators masterfully created this world filled and thriving with mushi that just immerses you completely. Ginko is the perfect MC for the tone and themes of Mushi-shi with his calm, gentle and understanding nature. The only complaint I had was that literally every main male and female character looks the same (I honestly couldn't tell anyone apart between 75% of the different episodes). This is definitely up there on my list and a very relaxing and magical journey that is a very easy watch.
"El Psy Kongroo" has finally returned for one last finale (this is the official end to the series) and boy was it worth the wait. As an absolute lover of Steins;Gate (I'm possibly biased), this was a very fulfilling and emotional conclusion to the series and really did a good job of tying up loose ends and plot holes that still existed. As the original Steins;Gate was a story about the journey, struggles and decisions of Okabe through time, this movie gives Makise (one of my favorite tsunderes) a turn to shine and really emphasizes the feelings and conflicts of love that the current Steins;Gate world-line Makise was facing that were only touched upon in the OVA.
The continued development of the romance and the true revealing of feelings between the two time-crossed lovers were a treat, and the creators were able to give a more in-depth explanation of the reading Steiner ability and deja vu effect. I and, more importantly, Makise could also finally understand the pain that the current Okabe was still going through even though he had "saved" everyone which was a critical development in my eyes. I also really liked the difficult struggle between the "scientist" Kurisu and the "woman" Kurisu on the decision of whether to risk saving Okabe against his "wishes". The movie could have maybe touched a bit more on the other characters, but in 90 minutes, the resolution of the story between Makise and Okabe is the most important thing to nail down (and they definitely accomplished that).
It starts a bit slow (as do all Steins;Gate related things) but the emotional pay-off is well worth it in the end. You definitely have to have seen the series and OVA in order to get any of this. I loved the movie and it's a must watch for anyone who has seen Steins;Gate. This is the end that we have all been waiting for so don't delay and watch this immediately. Here's to one final goodbye and "tuturuuuu".
Cross Game is absolutely one of the best anime shows (not just sports anime) that I've seen. Period. It is another masterpiece written by Mitsuru Adachi (of Touch and H2 fame). From the first episode (which is absolutely heartbreaking and a must-watch), the show just captures the viewer's attention and never lets go. The best part of Cross Game is that it is about more than just baseball. So much more. It is a story about dealing with the death of a loved one (it has a very similar feeling to AnoHana), friendship, and how two people grow and nurture each other through hardships and successes. The story may be a little bit predictable at times, but Cross Game is more about the total journey. Don't be intimidated by the length. Time flies and there really are no filler episodes (except for one recap episode) and by the end, I was wishing that the show would never end. The characters are truly what make this show exceptional and Aoba is one of my favorite female protagonists of all time. She is way more than just a tsundere and has so much depth to her character. Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece. It'll have you on the edge of seat the whole time.
Good show but it was WAY too short. This should have been 24 episodes at least in order to really flesh out the other characters and their backstories. Still, it's a great show.
I had fun with this series without a doubt. I really appreciated that it stuck with its strengths which were the on-point comedy and the cast of colorful characters. They didn't try to make the battles and shounen parts ridiculously over-the-top or dominating here. Rather the studio kept the dialog, engaging situations and out-of-control characters a riot instead. Due to the comedy, it was a really easy watch and I've actually gone back and rewatched some of my favorite episodes and moments in the series along the way just to get some more laughs.
While I'd love a sequel, this definitely seems like one of those one-and-done anime shows. I feel like they left the ending at a good place with the door slightly open. I'm honestly not sure how much more material is available at the moment since I haven't touched the light/web novel, so maybe others can fill me in on the chances of more content.
Not gonna lie. I watched the first two episodes of this on a whim and actually found it pretty damn funny so far. Llyod is quite a character. We'll see how far the joke of him being "OP and not knowing" can go, but it looks solid so far with the animation looking surprisingly good. The girls and other side characters are crazy as shit as well, which really helps fill out the rest of the show thus far. I'll definitely keep watching this as the season progresses.
"Loli-baba" and Marie for the best comedy duo thus far :D
Solid ending. Nothing too amazing but it was pretty good nonetheless. The show overall was pretty solid. The start of the show was fantastic but it kind of lost steam from there on. It definitely had some slow parts and got off track a bit in the second cour, but it finished up relatively strong enough. Not sure that it ever lived up to the massive hype that was behind it early on. Too bad we never got that perfect Dororo x Hyakkimaru ending. Other than for this tiny glimpse of "grownup" Dororo...
https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/a8aI3Xzi8tTtt9PkncZcBlxFaLo.jpg
My god... The retardedness of the Spear Hero is just too much for me to take... This is beyond just ridiculous and not even comical at this point. At least we kind of see him and Malty receive their just desserts.
Serves you right, Reiner. Sayonara. Bitch.
Hopefully...
I finally watched A Star Is Born, and boy... was I just blown away. This film is a literal whirlwind of emotions culminating in one truly tragic ending. I was hyped for this movie for months, and it definitely lived up to expectations (even exceeded them). I was totally floored by the performances of Lady Gaga and especially Bradley Cooper who completely disappears into his role of Jackson Maine (in a good way). The soundtrack to this movie is just spectacular with some of the best ballads that I've heard in a long time in both "Shallow" and "I'll Never Love Again". That first scene where Gaga and Cooper perform together on stage is just a revelation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_efYhYU2A
While this is a story that has been done many times (literally, this is the 4th remake), Cooper's version is just masterfully built and developed amazingly well even though it does run a bit long. It was over 2 hours long (135 mins), but at times I actually wish that it could have been longer due to how much I connected with the characters. It's a true "modern take" on a classic tale. And definitely prepare to cry as well. My god, the last 20 minutes of the movie were just... beyond brutal. If you've ever dealt with or really known/loved someone with addiction and/or depression problems, this movie hits so close to home that it is scary.
A Star Is Born is an instant classic and a definite Oscar favorite in multiple categories. If you told me that in 2018 the guy who played Sack in Wedding Crashers 13 years ago would direct and star in an emotional and moving film like this, I'd call you crazy. I'm definitely going to watch this again, but those last 15 minutes of the movie truly were gut-wrenching. Maybe I'll just stick with listening to the soundtrack over and over again... :P
Wow. Off to a great start with the first episode of Persona 5 The Animation. I'm not sure if the story/flow of the newest game just lends itself better to being animated, but this anime adaptation is really smooth so far. The animation looks good and things don't just seem "like a game" so far. I'm really liking what A-1 is doing with the anime so far. Really excited for some awesome Phantom Thieves moments and for some of my favorite girls to enter (we saw a lot of little cameos thus far).
Bow-chicka-bow-wow. Classic Lizard sex moment right there.
So obviously, I had to see Lady Bird being the RT/MC snob that I am with a weakness for these independent films. Since it had a 100% RT fresh and 94% MC rating, I had to see what was all the fuss. I definitely enjoyed the film quite a bit and it definitely hit home with a lot of the emotional life situations the protagonist Lady Bird goes/stumbles through (even though I'm a guy). Saoirse Ronan has always been one of my favorite actresses and she kills it here. Her chemistry with Laurie Metcalf, who plays her tough loving and, at times, overly critical mother is fantastic and their relationship forms one of the major cruxes of the film.
The story is essentially about a girl learning (the hard way many times) what is truly important to her in this world (and, more specifically, in the town of Sacramento) and realizing to not take for granted what she has even though she is coming from an unideal situation. However, this theme is explored in a funny, witty and non-pretentious manner to the viewer that allows you to really relate and sympathize with the protagonist (while chuckling along as well). So many times, I was like "ohhhh man, that is just not a good decision, but I totally did the same stupid thing when I was younger..." moments that just really resonated with me throughout. It's a coming-of-age story that really progresses the protagonist but by using what seems like "common and mundane" life events that we've all undoubtedly experienced before at one point of our lives. They took a lot of cliche coming-of-age scenarios (gay boyfriend, going to a Catholic school, confronted by a nun, etc) but put a nice and realistic spin on them different from other movies. This relatability is what really sold the film for me.
In a short time, the viewer experiences a profound yet truly realistic and believable transformation of the protagonist, Lady Bird. I am reminded of another movie, The Edge of Seventeen, that I watched last year and didn't really enjoy or connect with, where the main female character undergoes a similar "journey", but I felt like I could connect (and, thus, sympathize) far more with Saoirse Ronan's complicated and stumbling character than Hailee Steinfeld's edgey for-the-sake-of-being-edgey interpretation of her protagonist.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie, and highly recommend giving it a shot. I think that it will really resonate with viewers who have experienced some financial and social difficulties at some point in life, and have gone through the embarrassing pains and those seemingly obvious and avoidable mistakes when trying to "grow up".
That episode was LIT. Literally...
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The Greyjoys & the Dornish: "Damn. We done fucked up. At least it can't get any worse from here."
The Tyrells: "Hold my beer."
By far one of my favorite episodes featuring Shawn SpenSTAR and Gus TT "Showbiz". A classic.
Classic Lalatina episode here. Sometimes I think they take the M part of Darkness's character a little too far where it isn't really that funny anymore, but in this episode, it worked out perfectly especially the final duel between Kazuma & Darkness. In the end, Kazuma/Kazutrash is truly the only one meant to be with Darkness. Can't wait for the whole gang to be complete again.
The second episode was pretty good as well as we got introduced to more of the secondary characters. I'm pumped for the next episode as that is when the fireworks will start to go off a bit (as shown by that nice little preview we got at the end). I definitely prefer the anime to the manga so far, especially since nothing is being skipped and the art & sound of the adaptation is quite strong.
Oh yes. I loved the latest episode of LWA. Classic Akko clashing with Diana already with just a perfect contrast between the two. I loved how Akko's knowledge of the trading cards came in handy at the end. And it look like this will be 25 episodes :O Daaaaaaaaaaank.
Loved the first season and it seems like the second season will have the same magic. The animation quality was pretty horrifying at times (even for Studio DEEN), but at least the comedy is still there in full force. I pray that the BDs look significantly better...
Oh. YES. That was lit, baby. Welcome back Akko & co. I'm glad that they started from the beginning rather than continuing on from the OVAs and what a start it was. Trigger absolutely delivered on the first episode. Can't wait for next week.
Not a bad final episode of Hibike. Nothing really happened in this one other wrapping up a couple loose ends as the previous episode was the killer. Nice little recap of the series during the "final" performance/concert. I also didn't realize that Kumiko wanted to bang Asuka that badly :P
I know that the source material is basically over at this point, but is it such a sin to want more?
Orgasmic. I always looooooved the character design from the manga and feel. seems to be doing a solid job. The sheer variety of Mizuki faces in the first episode already made my day. With, of course, the best moment (and face) of the episode at the end...
https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/pgqBhnBEzm2WeDVck6Csp2SmuZy.jpg
The only thing that would make it better was if they had used Gumi's vocaloid song as an OP/ED...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVb5IqmWdSE
Jesus. Mother. F**k'n. Christ.
That's what I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!! F**k the books. Keep on rolling past that shit and finish this off with a bang. I'm so jacked up on all this "PLOT" right now...
Oh my... the feels just keep on coming. I think that I've got a little something in my eyes...
http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/fwBTNoHB0Ug2WwF8AM2ZUvbTMGS.jpg
Sweet shirt bro ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Love Okuyasu. He's gonna be a welcome addition to the group for sure. Can't wait to see what Koichi's powers end up being. And as always, JoJo leaves me with my weekly dose of Savage Garden on its way out. The perfect ending.
While ERASED finished on a positive note (especially with dat Airi ending!!), I can't help but feel that things were just a bit too predictable and cookie-cutter during the second half of the show. The first half of it was riveting and amazing, but the show really started to lose itself once Kayo's problem got resolved. Overall, it's a solid show and thriller, but it didn't really break any new ground especially with how everything progressed towards Yashiro being the way too obvious "ultimate villain". Also, it might have been a little rushed in the last few episodes and could have probably benefited from a 13th episode to add a little more filler and depth to the final sequences, Yashiro's motives/intentions, and the events post-time-skip.
I'll give the show a solid 7.5/10 or so. Not the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I was entertained. Plus, you can never go wrong with having too many loli characters ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Meh. This episode definitely felt a built rushed and apparently diverted quite a bit from the manga cutting out scenes of Airi and skimping on Yashiro sensei's flashback (I may have to read this last part). While I'm disappointed by Kayo marrying Hiromi (not a complete NTR), their kid was cute so I can't be angry. I'm more concerned with the Airi parts that were cut out and Yashiro's motive. It seems that the anime may be going with a bit more of an anime original ending. I'm hoping that the payoff and final confrontation is better in the final episode as this one was a bit of a let down.