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Jormungand: Perfect Order part 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 21, 2014
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Jormungand part 2Title: Jormungand: Perfect Order part 2

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Writer: Keitaro Takahashi

Studio: White Fox

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 11th, 2014

Format: DVD/Blu-ray/ 12 Episodes/ 300 minutes

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: A

Synopsis:

The child soldier Jonah continues to protect Koko while she brings the boom to cities across the globe. When the international arms dealer ramps up sales, her hired guns are targeted by government agencies, warmongers, and assassins – leading to some devastating betrayals and losses.

Amid all the gunfire and grenades, Koko begins to work on a secret project in South Africa: Jormungand. But when she finally reveals her master plan for the future of war, not everyone is happy with the plot. As the body count starts to explode, Jonah will have to decide if he can stand by and watch his employer’s blood-soaked plan for world peace unfold, or try to put a stop to it.

Commentary:

In my review of part one I discussed the existential aspects of the series. Part 2 of Jormungand stays with that projection and builds a very special ending that brings into question the entire backbone of the series. The playing with the underlying humanity within this series is powerful enough but to add the personal struggle that one young warrior has takes the entire plot to a much more rewarding level. The story takes several interesting turns that leaves you wondering what in the world could be next. In the world of anime this is not new, but when it is put together with a touch of emotional meaning it ends up standing out above the rest. Jormungand manages to take our heartless world and prove that it just might be possible to create a new dynamic and hopefulness through all of the pain and stupidity we have become all too accustom to.

Jormungand, is by no means for everyone and I can’t even begin to suggest that it should find its way on to shelves of the majority of anime fans. The thing about Jormungand is that it is a pure drama and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. That in itself places it aside other amazing dries like Urasawa’s Monster, Phantom: Requiem of a Phantom or even the relentless drama Black Lagoon. It is also a series that doesn’t try to paint a positive picture of the human  race, but in the end it give hope were hope may not be deserved.

Overall Grade: A

I’m sure you can tell that I really liked this series and that I have some very strong feelings about it and yes I fall into that category. Other than the drastic strength of the series it also manages to have a production quality that serves it well and the voice acting comes through and holds up the series for what it is. I wish I should this one off to everyone, but there is just a title to much raw violence . So, if you are of an age that it is made for then I really suggest that you take the time to give this one a try. Be ready of a hard hitting story that makes you think about the path we are on and how might we as a race get off of it.

OniAi (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 17, 2014
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Category: Reviews

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OniAiTitle: OniAi 

Director: Keiichiro Kawaguichi

Studio: Silver Link

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: Dec. 31st, 2013

Format: Blu-ray / DVD / 12 episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Harem,  Fan Service, Romantic Comedy

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Grade: C-

Synopsis:

When adorable teenager Akiko is reunited with her big brother, Akito, she’s determined to take her sisterly affection to the next level! But her brocon fantasies are dealt a cruel blow by the arrival of three colorful rivals. There’s a blonde heiress with a fetish for plushies, a boyish beauty who yearns to serve, and a ravishing redhead who’ll stop at nothing to get her man!

Every coy ploy Akiko dreams up is deviously derailed by robes that just happen to fall open, the flashing of “come hither” eyes, or scandalous splashing in the community bath! While Akiko has her hands full staying a step ahead of the competition, poor conflicted Akito can’t help but think: my little sister can’t be this… crazy?!

Commentary:

When it comes to harem anime it is never a good idea to make the younger sister the focal point of affection for the big brother. Please stick to the standards of having just a bunch on non-related women making this niave boy the object of their lust. In OniAi it becomes uncomfortable from the very beginning. As soon as Akiko makes it very clear that she wishes to bed her brother Akito the squeamish monster comes out. It may scream funny to some people, but to me it makes me want to scream “turn it off”. I admit that the way that Akito manages to play it all down is ok and the other girls are great in their equally unique ways, but for this to be a solid top line harem they should have made Akiko the a buffer rather than a vixen.

The production level and anime art styling of the series are slick and very much well developed for the series. The voice acting is solid and almost every bit of the rest of the series is good, but man I just can’t get past the ancestral fixation.

Overall Grade: C-

If this OniAi didn’t look so good and the other characters have such wonderfully rich characters I would have caned this series completely. I can see where there is a fan base for this and also know that many people will find that the brother sister incest think funny, but I just found it uncomfortable and hard to watch. There is plenty of good anime here and I think that it deserves it place on the selves of the harem fan service crowd so if you can get past the brother sister thing I think you will find it a fun and entertaining series.

One Piece Season Five Voyage Four (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 2, 2013
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Category: Reviews

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One Piece season 5 part 4One Piece Season Five Voyage Four

Director: Hiroaki Miyamoto

Original Creator: Eiichiro Oda

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Dates: Dec. 3rd, 2013

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Shonen

Age Rating: TV14

Overall Personal Rating: B-

Synopsis:

Luffy pours his heart and soul into the battle to keep his nakama together!

The assault on Enies Lobby reaches a boiling point as Spandam drags Robin towards the towering Gates of Justice! Zoro’s demonic nine-sword fighting style sets the stage for a blistering barrage of heroic attacks as the Straw Hats inch ever closer to a joyous reunion with their captured crewmate. The showdown between Luffy and Lucci rages out of control against a backdrop of devastating destruction thanks to Spandam’s Buster Call.

While the rubber-man trades blows with the most powerful assassin of CP9, his mates need help from below to avoid a watery grave. Explosions rock the horizon, Luffy’s giant attack sends him down for the count, and the unexpected return of an old friend represents the last glimmer of hope for our heroes!

Commentary:

As with most of these series that just go on forever it is sometimes hard to move the story forward when they get stuck in battles that are bogged down in the battle of the best. With Luffy and Lucci stuck in a battle that doesn’t look like either one can win the episodes feel like they are just beginning to sink in the mud of overwriting the series. Oda does manage to save this volume by getting them out of this dilemma. The only problem is that with the story taking so long to save Robin it becomes way to easy to toss in a large amount of irrelevant  stuff that not only drags the series down but also makes it hard to stick with.

The one saving grace about this group is that Luffy is indestructible and he proves it here. The battles are a lot of fun and when Usopp steps in to save the day for Robin it is wonderful to hear is goofy announcer voice come to life. There are also plenty of other fine moments in these 12 episodes that will keep you laughing and watching with amazement as this strangely addictive series moves thought its paces.

Overall Grade: B-

The thing about One Piece and voyage four is that it provides some movement and does so without too much of the dreaded flashbacks. I often feel like the one great failure in these long series is that they feel like they need to regurgitate the past for every major and minor character that we come in contact with and One Piece is not afraid to hold back in that area. Some times it is great to understand what someones motivations are but all to often these flashbacks are just filler and real waist of time. Ok, now we are on the final tread of this arc and maybe just maybe voyage 5 will bring it home.