Millennium
Actress
WOW! The second film by director Satoshi Kon and screenwriter Sadayuki
Murai (Perfect
Blue), this Dreamworks release
is a more complex, subtle, and sophisticated work that is actually
the total opposite of Perfect Blue in terms of it's tone. Using the
main character's life as a metaphor for the birth, death, and rebirth
of the Japanese film industry, the film weaves a colorful tapestry
that blurs reality and the memories of a former film star. Kon's
skillful direction and subtle use of color strengthen the intriguing
story: Chioyoko's memories are rendered in shades of gray, with hints
of muted color highlighting the overall composition.
A
key scene from Akira Kurosawa's "Throne
of Blood" plays an important role in the story, and even "2001:
A Space Odyssey" makes an appearance. Half the fun of this
film is spotting all the references to other films. Cultured cinema
otaku will find their appreciation of this shimmering, spiral narrative
deepens with repeated viewings. Millennium Actress has the stylistic
sophistication of Perfect Blue with the empathy, warmth and truth
of a Ghibli movie. A very powerful film, and one that belongs in
the collection of every anime fan.
Animation
Runner Kuromi
This charmer of an OVA is rife with inside-jokes about working at
an animation studio in Japan. An Otaku-fantasy come
true, Kuromi learns that it's hard work and requires more self-confidence
than she thinks she has. Anime fans who want to know how the magic
happens will find the film, as well as the extras included on the
disk, both insightful and just a little bit frightening.
Not
since The Duck Factory have we been this pleased to see something
that shows what it's like on the other side of the pencil.
Kuromi deserves a spot on your shelf, right next to some books on
how to draw and
how to do animation.
Computer
and high-quality cel animation are blended against jaw-dropping,
stunning backgrounds - the production value of this film is astounding.
The retro sci-fi trappings are delightful, particularly in the Rube
Goldberg style hardware, and clunky, World-War-1-esque robots. Extras
on the DVD are plentiful, we particularly enjoyed the character gallery
which highlights some of the great fashion design, and the BG gallery.
Sakura wars is fine entertainment for all ages, although there's
a good amount of violence, it's fairly harmless as far as most anime
goes.
Lupin
the 3rd -
The Mystery of Mamo
If you read our
first two Lupin reviews you can see how much we enjoy this franchise
and it's great to see that Pioneer is bringing it to US audiences.
Here's the first-ever Lupin theatrical film, and one of the most
bizarre and certainly the truest to the original Monkeypunch manga,
both in terms of the treatment of Lupin and the gang as well as the
obtuse-ness of the plot in this twisted tale.
Lupin
is pronounced dead by execution and he wants to find out who did
it. The object of Lupin's affection, Fujiko, has a new employer Mamo,
a powerful man with a lot of resources at his disposal who has her
using Lupin to steal some rather arcane objects. Lupin is out to
find out who Mano is, why he is using Fujiko and what is his master
plan. But in doing so he might lose his friends Goeman, Jigan as
well as Fujiko -- not to mention his own life.
This is classic Japanese animation. While the animation is "vintage" the
story more than makes up for it. The movie ran a bit long but it
was funny and worth our time. The great story, the funny animation
and Fujiko's topless scenes make this a must see.
Godzilla,
King of the Monsters
Holy Psychotronic Batman,
how'd we ever miss reviewing this classic? This 1956 original, directed
by Inoshiro
Honda gives birth to a generation of campy horror films. The
greatest monster movie of all time, this flick features the best
of the Godzilla-suits, the most fearsome and menacing, with razor
sharp teeth, sinster, narrow eyes and cat-like ears.
As
the film moves along, you are no longer a part of this world - you
sucked into a world much like this one, only there is a giant, lizard
like, mutated, atomic monster in this one, breathing his radioactive
breath onto hoards of helpless citizens, while smashing toy buildings.
Often copied,
but never topped, this original Godzilla still stands head and shoulders
above the rest. If this movie were any more fun it would be illegal.
Soul
Calibur II (xbox)
Word on the street is that this game kicks serious butt. Move over Tekken,
the greatest fighting game has now arrived. The gorgeously well-done
characters (gasp -- Taki!) return along with some extra fun created
for the game by Todd
(Spawn) McFarlane.
As
with the original, button-mashers and super-combo tricksters alike
can play, as the game is forgiving, yet, also has higher level modes
for those with extreme talent. Also, as before, the weapons are realistically
handled. We recommend the Xbox version above all others for its killer
combo of graphics, hidden extras, and characters (yes, the game is slightly
different for each
platform).
With
detailed sections on faces, hair, eyes, bodies, clothing, etc.,
the book explains how to draw all the basics, and also shows
different bishoujo themes like school girls, nurses, etc. One
particularly cool segment is the "Out of this world" section
where there's amazing examples and tips for drawing wings,
mermaids, robot girls, cat girls, other animal girls plus more!
If you can draw a few circles, pretty soon you'll be belting
out drawings of hot babes. And that's what separates the fanboys
from the really popular fanboys!
INVU
Sey is a 16-year-old whose social predilections are in question.
It doesn't help matters when she wakes up one morning to find
her mother moving to Italy. This thrusts the pretty schoolgirl
into a tangle of plot convolutions and character inter-relationships
of a kind usually found in a Shakespeare comedy
(one that includes women dressed as men, by the way).
All
this and more can be found in Kim Kang Won's I.N.V.U. (Innocent
Nice Vivid Unique), which is being reprinted in English by TokyoPop.
This is a delightful romance manga that sports an easy going
style to go with its willowy, attractive characters. Fans of
the sub-genre will enjoy the slightly bittersweet tomfoolery
of schoolgirls, teachers, modeling agents, and rollerbladers.
The soap suds bubble with a hint of mystery in this well written,
well paced comic.
Chobits
BGM
We admit it, we think Chobits is
the best thing since Video
Girl Ai. Just stamp the big "L" on our foreheads
and lets be done with it. In our never-ending quest for everything
Chobits, Pioneer has helped us get our fix with not just one
but TWO
soundtrack albums for car-stereo enjoyment or fine home
listening.
From
the bouncy opening theme to some of the more twisted tracks,
you'll end up with a pretty good overview of some of the incredible
music that lives behind the TV Series. And, as every character
has their own "theme" (as do the various persecomms),
there's plenty of music to go around. If you can't get enough
Chobits, then these albums are your cup
of tea.
Big
O Soundtrack
Awesome, magnificent, powerful and earthshattering are some
of the adjectives we could use to describe this soundtrack.
But mere words are unable to express the sheer scale of this
seminal work. Running the gamut from subtle to audacious, this
is simply the greatest music made for any anime since Yamato.
Thanks
to a full orchestra, the music actually sounds "big",
and you feel the power in the notes. Track 4 "Name of
God" will send a chill down your spine and leave you with
goosebumps. Yes, it's that good. Included, of course, is R.
Dorothy's "wake up Roger!" piano solo. Stick that
in your alarm clock bucky. Big
O rocks, and this soundtrack will rock your house.
Mac
Hall
A nice anime styled comic website created by Matt Boyd and
Ian McConville. These guys know how to draw!
Millennium
Actress
The official website for the movie. Unlike most "official" websites
this these guys included some interesting content!
Sakura
Wars: The Movie
The official website for the movie. Features a nice character
design section.