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Maoyu (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 6, 2014
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MaoyuTitle: Maoyu: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray

Director: Takeo Takahashi

Writer: Narujisa Arakawa

Studio: Arms

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: June 10th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Romance

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Names can be deceiving, something the warrior known as Hero quickly discovers when he storms the castle of the dread Demon King that mankind has fought for fifteen years. For one thing, the “king” turns out to be a queen! Even more shocking, though, is that she’s waiting for him with an unexpected proposal.

She points out that it would be bad for both sides if the war was to end immediately, as without a common enemy, the individual factions of the winning side are certain to turn on each other in a new series of civil wars. However, she has a plan to end the war, bring democracy and advanced knowledge to humanity, and ensure lasting prosperity for both sides, no matter who “wins.” But to accomplish this, she needs a collaborator on the human side, and she’s chosen Hero as the one partner she can trust! Is it a deal with the devil, or mankind’s only hope for lasting peace?

 Commentary:

The list of anime that use romance and war as a vehicle to teach basic economics are few and far between and those that are able to do this and come out on the other side with a real winner of an experience are even fewer. Maoyu is one of those series that manages to pull this off at a level that puts it at the top of my list. After the first episode I was hooked or should I say after the first 15 minutes I was smiling. Admittedly there is some fan service that may not be necessary , but it just might be what is needed to keep some fans watching. Personally the writing and beautiful animation styling  are enough for me.

With the series being place in a mythical land and time just before the industrial revolution  the look needed to fit well. The animators at Arms seemed to understand exactly what seas needed. There is a very special rustic look to the environment that balanced well against the new standard for human form. The two main characters, The Hero and Demon King, visual appearance suit them both well. The Demon King is a kind hearted woman who has so much to offer and the Hero is a young man who has all the power and no wish to use it against others. It is just this that makes these two so well suited together. When you add in the way the story develops you end having a series that makes you want to watch it all the way through.

The only think that I felt betrayed the series was the last episode. Based on where we end up I can see that it was left open for another seson. With that said I felt like the last episode was rushed and ended up pushing the story to an end that fell flat. I’ve seen this before and it is a shame when so much effort was put into creating a rich story line that ends up being thrown together just to finish off the story. I can only hope that someday the writer and creative are able to get together and finish this off.

Overall Grade: A-

Maoyu is one of those new arrivals that should be given high marks for its story telling and style. It is great to see good stories that look fantastic making their way to the store shelves. So, if you are looking for a full bodies story that has great story telling then Maoyu is for you.

 

One Piece Season Five Voyage Six

Posted by :Joann On : June 3, 2014
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One Piece Season 5 part 6

review provide by Luther

One Piece Season Five Voyage Six

Director: Hiroaki Miyamoto

Original Creator: Eiichiro Oda

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Dates: March 4 2014

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Shonen

Age Rating: TV14

Overall Personal Rating: B-

The maiden voyage of the Thousand Sunny begins now!

Synopsis:

The latest adventure kicks off with a battle between Fire Fist Ace and the dastardly Blackbeard. Flames collide with the crushing power of darkness as these heavyweights lay waste to an entire island. When the dust settles on their showdown, the scene shifts back to the Straw Hats who find themselves trapped in frigid waters – and hunted by a family of bounty hunters. After their icy adversaries steal the Straw Hats’ flag, it’s all hands on deck to recover the precious symbol of their pirate pride! Chopper unleashes a Rumble Ball on a hockey hooligan, Franky unveils his Shark Submerge in a clash with some pesky penguins, and Luffy goes toe-to-toe with a foe that’s too hot to handle. Side by side they’ll fight to the death – because a pirate without a flag is no pirate at all!

Commentary:

One Piece Season Five Voyage Six primarily contains a filler story arc. While the first episode is an exciting and a plot crucial fight between Ace and Blackbeard, ten of the episodes are part of the Lovely Land arc, making it the second longest filler arc in One Piece. Unfortunately for as long as it is, it is set in a relatively bland location. With most of set in an artic location the backgrounds are primarily glaciers, making for a dull setting. However the white backgrounds contrast well with the antagonist, with their colorful personalities and character designs, they really pop in this environment.

Although most filer arcs are lack luster, I found this one relatively interesting, because unlike most, it had enough episodes to make a disguised story. Ultimately the story isn’t as good as the main plot, but it is still amusing. One thing to note is that even with the adequate plot, many of the battles are notably underwhelming compared main story fights. It often feels like the Straw Hat Pirates aren’t fighting with their full potential, and are often losing to enemies that are far weaker than them. However, the final confrontation is a rather grandiose battle between devil fruit power users.

Overall Grade: B-

While One Piece Season Five Voyage Six contains one of my favorite filler arcs, ultimately it is still just filler and can’t compare to the main story of the series.

Attack on Titan Part 1

Posted by :Joann On : June 3, 2014
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review provided by Luther

Title: Attack on Titan Part 1

Attack on Titan Director: Tetsurō Araki

Original Creator: Hajime Isayama

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Dates: June 3, 2014

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Shonen

Age Rating: TVMA

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

When the man-eating giants called Titans first appeared, humans retreated behind massive walls. After a hundred years of safety, a colossal-sized Titan smashes through the defenses, unleashing a flood of giants and carnage in the streets. Eren Jaeger watches helplessly as one of the creatures devours his mother. He vows to kill every Titan walking the earth.

Eren and his surviving friends enlist to fight against the insatiable monsters. The future looks bleak, but there’s more to Eren than meets the eye: he may be humanity’s last hope against extinction. The Titans have come to feast. Anything can happen. No one is safe.

Commentary:

At first glance, Attack on Titan is an exciting new series; however, at its core, it is really nothing new. This is a series about a stubborn, hot-headed and somewhat incapable male protagonist, who, using determination and a special power, fights impossible odds. That description may sound familiar because it can also be used to describe many other shonen anime: Naruto, Blue Exorcist, and YuYu Hakusho to name a few. Attack on Titan Part 1 has only proven that it is another cookie cutter shonen series with overly excessive amounts of blood and gore.

Although the plot of Attack on Titan may be nothing special, I will admit that the show builds a vast and complicated word that I could actually believe exists. I also think that many of the characters are surprisingly unique, though the three main protagonists do fall flat to me because of how generic they are. So, even though Attack on Titan isn’t special, it certainly shows potential for a deep and complex story.

Another thing Attack on Titan has going for it is the visuals. It is a slick bold art style with fluid movements. The show also uses an impressive blend of standard animation and CG animation. When some shows use GC it can very obvious and rather jarring, but when it is in Attack on Titan, it is smooth and works with the standard animation to make intense and powerful action sequences.

Overall Grade: A-

Although Attack on Titan is far from unique, it has a vast and interesting world and it is excellently animated.

Aquarion EVOL part 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 1, 2014
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Aquarion EVOL part 2Title: Aquarion EVOL part 2 combo pack

Director: Shoji Kawamori

Written By: Mari Okada

Studio: Satelight , 8-bit

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date:

Format: DVD / Blu-ray / 13 Episodes / 325 Minutes

Genre: Mecha, Romance, Sci Fi

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B-

 

Synopsis:

The intergalactic hijinks continue as beings from a womanless planet target the girls of the newly coed Neo-DEAVA academy. Meanwhile, a mysterious villain’s plot slowly comes to light, Amata’s past is revealed, and Mikono finds herself in the middle of a really awkward threesome.

The hormone-fueled pilots will have to survive unusual training methods and swimsuit-filled secret missions in order to grow strong enough to kick some otherworldly tail, but as the boys and girls get closer to each other, they discover that destiny might not be on their side. Victory could require the legendary mecha Aquarion’s ultimate form – even if summoning it means breaking an intimate taboo.

 

Commentary:

A 12 thousand year story come to an end. Of course Aquarion EVOL isn’t just another love story it a tail of souls torn apart being reunited. This simple plot is give plenty of life in this fan serviced filled story. I have a feeling that if it were not for the sexual connotations that run through this epic story the plot would end up even flater than it is, but at the same time the fan service ends up getting in the way of a story that could have been much more than it is. As with the original Aquarion story there is a great deal of mystery and confusion that runs through the plot, but with EVOL the main character ends up being way to wimpy which makes the ending a lot less dramtic.

The animation of EVOL is great and serves the story well. In fact I would say it is the saving grace for the entire series. The slick look gives the series its real appeal. It is a classic look given a contemporary style that does not betray the essence of the story, rather it enhances it to the point that makes it watchable. With the writing leaving you dazed and confused it takes the visual power to keep you watching.

Overall Grade: B-

Aquarion EVOL is a series that possess a great deal of potential and also plenty of fun for the fan service crows. Unfortunately, it fails to completely deliver. The level of confusion and just out right complexity betrays it and almost sends the series to its death. The fun with sexual innuendos and the high quality of animation helps save the series from itself. If you are a fan of Aquarion then you will mostly be a fan of EVOL, but don’t expect it to be close to the same, just expect it to look good and manage to lose you from time to time.

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 1, 2014
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Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete CollectionReview provided by Andrew and Katie

Title: Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection

Director: Kenichi Yatagai

Studio: Gonzo

Author: Yasunori Ide

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U.S. Release Date: June 10, 2014

Format and Length: Blu-Ray / 13 Episodes / 325 Minutes

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Comedy

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: C

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: The entire .hack series and Magic Knight Rayearth

Synopsis:

Aquafall is a paradise, where water was abundant, lands are covered in green, and everyone lived in peace and harmony, unless you’re the owner of the Key Tail Tavern. But then meteors began to fall from the sky, each impact bringing new hideous creatures. It soon became clear that they were there to take the entire green world for themselves. An invader that would not stop until all opposition had been destroyed. Fortunately, the fairy Syrup was on guard and knew exactly what to do. Working quickly, she began to recruit potential warriors to become the base of the Aquafall Defense Force. On her list are the incredibly strong, but absent minded Jormungandr, the spoiled, extravagant Bahamut, and the stoic, and timid Leviathan. Can these three really turn the tide of an alien invasion? They can when each of the ladies in question is also a member of a Dragon Clan, and when it comes to fighting tooth, nail and claw, the invaders have just met their match!

Commentary:

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection is an anime series being released virtually concurrently with the mobile game it was based on. Many of us have seen anime series that prequel video games. They usually are a base introduction to the characters, scenes, locations and a basic beginning story. And they tend to have no closure, and leave any possible ending out, so you will have to play the game to find out. Those anime series are usually just promotional, a long commercial if you will, that lead to what will probably be an awesome climax and conclusion, just to cut you off before it happens, and ends it to get you to play the game. Sadly since I am not a gamer anymore, these animes tend to irk me to no end. Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection is one of those, but with a few exceptions that have kept me from pulling my hair out. It’s a simple start to introduce you to who, what, where, and why. It’s not a bad story, at least the story that you get, as the fairy Syrup gathers her team. There is character development, and you get to know them on a decent level. And there is a reasonable conclusion to the story, or maybe at least what I guess could be called a chapter of the story. So I will say that this one did not make me curse the day I picked it up like some that have come before.

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection was a cute, light-hearted adventure, reminiscent of some classic titles. It doesn’t require excessive amounts of thought to understand, and has no strong philosophical meanings. It has a decent amount of comedy, most a bit cliché and nothing really new, but just because the jokes have been done before does not mean they fall flat. It has its moments where all is serious, but it never reaches the doom and gloom, end of the world like one would expect. It had the feel of a role playing game, as side quests are completed, allies made, and items acquired. To summon your allies, you needed an item of course, so it definitely felt like that I was watching someone play an rpg at times, just no sprites and stat bars. Overall Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection was enjoyable. It had enough story in it to overcome any feelings of incompletion, and the characters are decently developed that by the end, you kinda know what their reactions will be to certain situations. I suppose the single thing that annoyed me the most was the mixing of CG animation with normal animation all around it and flashing in and out of it for certain creatures. But truth be told that has bothered me in most occasions it has been done. I guess the other thing I noticed is if they would have cut down on the dirty jokes and suggestive themes that appear randomly throughout, this series could be suitable for children, and I think they would have enjoyed the simple enough to follow story.

Extras:

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations and Sentai Filmworks trailers. This release is available only in Japanese Language with English Subtitles.

Overall Grade: C

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection is a decent anime that is enjoyable even with all its flaws. Each episode is only 22 minutes including the opening and closing animations so it also does not take very long to watch a few then come back to it at a later time.

 

The Book of Bantorra (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 31, 2014
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The Book of BantorraTitle: The Book of Bantorra Complete Collection

Director: Toshiya Shinohara

Studio: Davis Production

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: May 13th, 2014

Format: DVD / 27 Episodes / 675 Minutes

Genre: Supernatural, Drama

Overall Personal Grade: B

Synopsis:

In another time and place, on a world of pain and sorrow, when someone dies, their soul doesn’t go to Heaven or Hell – it becomes a book. A book that reveals the deceased’s innermost secrets… and can be read by anyone. Protecting these priceless treasures is the elite organization known as the Armed Librarians. It’s their job to keep the books and the knowledge within them safe from those who would misuse or destroy them.

It’s a tough, dangerous job, so Chief Librarian Hamyuts Maseta recruits only the best and the brightest psychics to join her team of expert fighters. But will they be good enough to stop the fanatics of the Shindeki Church from wrecking vengeance on the entire world? Only time will tell, but that book hasn’t been written yet.

As the Shindeki Church marches forward with their plans of conquest, Hamyuts Maseta and the Armed Librarians continue to struggle against them. However, the path to victory is a long and dangerous one, and not easily navigated. Along the way, friends will be lost, new allies gained, and blood will assuredly be shed. With the whole world seemingly turned against them and the Library facing its darkest hour, does Hamyuts still have a trick or two up her sleeve?

Commentary:

If you are looking for dark action and adventure look no further, The Book of Bantorra brings it all to bare and some. From fighting epic battles to unveiling the wisdom of the ages you just don’t know whats next. The high drama keeps you entertained but at the same time you get a little overload of drama. For me that is where it looses some of its luster. After a few episodes it just begins to feel way too heavy.

The animation on the other hand has a great feel for the story. It comes a cross between a steampunk world and a post apocalyptic Victorian world where people humanity has lost its way and a few powerful people are doing what ever they can to hold on to the essence of what makes us special. Thus, the drama and the over the top characters who take themselves entirely too serious. But, the look of the series fits it well.

The writing is the key to the melodrama and heavy handed characters and I guess this is where it looses me.  I do have to admit that the ending is very imaginative and helps save the series form itself, but it too comes across like a dark tale of sadness brought back by the light of true humanity.

Overall Grade: B

The Book of Bantorra is one of those series that has a lot to say and keeps you guessing all the way up until the end. Even at that point you expect the outcome to be a bit different. This consistent confusion and heavy handed melodrama keeps this series from being a great one. I am glad to see it being re-released as a single collection, I think this will help expand its appeal and hopefully bring out a few more fans. If you pick this up give it some time it will grow on you and in the end you will not be disappointed.

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East season 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 31, 2014
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HakkendenTitle: Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East season 1 collection on Blu-ray

Director: Mitsue Yamazaki

Studio: Studio DEEN

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: May 20th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 13 Episodes / 325 Minutes

Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

When their village was wiped out five years ago, there were only three young survivors: boys Shino Inuzuka and Sosuke Inukawa and the girl Hamaji. Through a quirk of fate, both boys share the same peony-shaped birthmark. Genpachi Inukai and Kobungo Inuta were raised hundreds of miles away as foster brothers, but they too share the same birthmark. When they went north as part of the army three years ago, they went to confront demons and came back forever transformed. Now the Imperial Church has come for Shino and Sosuke and they must find eight mystical gems and their owners or face a fate worse than death at the hands of the Church.

Commentary:

Hakkedenden is not a new story, but this version is a new iteration of the infamous warriors. The odd infusion of demon and human seems to work better than I thought it would. This story brings forth some imaginative and humorous depiction of these warriors that leaves them both impotent and powerful at the same time. Of course all the imagination  doesn’t overcome some weak writing and character development. There are plenty of moments that I felt like come across flat and devoid of life. This lack of strength is not overly persuasive, but it does have its moments.

The overall look of the series is somewhat standard and it domes across at a production level that is at minimum expected and at the same time a base line level for any series made within the last few years. Studio DEEN has shown itself to be a top notch producer of wonderful series, but it almost appears as though the b team was put on Hakkenden. Even with the flat production level and moments of weak writing the series manages to rise to a level that makes it with while.

Overall Grade: B+

With all of the lack luster aspects of the production and writing I still found the series very enjoyable. There was something about these characters that as the series moves through it’s paces they became rich enough to enjoy and also peek enough interest to want to see more. I also found all the extras to be fulfilling and a real addition to the package.  If you are a fan of the Hakkenden story then you just might find this series fun in many new ways.

Let Me Out (Live Action Review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 30, 2014
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Let Me OutTitle: Let Me Out

Director: Kim Chang-rae, Jae Soh

Stars: Choi Jessica, Han Geunsup , Kwon Hyun-Sang

U. S. Distributor: Giant Ape, Group 1200, Funimation

U. S. Release Date: May 27, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / DVD / Feature Film / 97 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Age Rating: TV 13

Overall Personal Rating: B+

 

Synopsis:

Mu-Young is a film student who’s seen every movie you haven’t and thinks your favorite director is a hack. He’s happy to churn out criticism until a famous indie filmmaker funds his unproduced zombie masterpiece and gives the amateur auteur the chance to prove he’s the next big thing in Korean cinema.

On the set, melodrama quickly bleeds out of the script and into the shoot. Mu-Young’s undead are underwhelming, the star’s a total diva, and the cast and crew are one step away from mutiny – including the actress who’s caught his eye. If he’s not careful, chasing after his dream could turn life into a total nightmare.

 

Commentary:

After spending so many years going to art school this film struck a rather uncomfortable cord with me. It was a cold hard look at a large majority of the students that I spent so many hours talking about what art was great and what was no and how we will change the world. 25 years later I look at these images and understand how pretentious and silly it all was. Let Me Out does something that you almost never see and that is a jaded look at the state of art education and at the same time give us a somewhat kind hearted love story.

Kwon Hyun-Sang does a great job of giving us that over the top art snob. He knows what a great film is and understands everything about making , but has no real experience doing it. I just wanted to punch him. This acting really hit the hime run. If someone can find their voice and bring forth such a visceral response that tells me he knows his stuff and was able to get into the part. I realize that it is no major stretch for an actor to play a pretentious prig of a film school directing student, but never-the-less it hit the mark. The part of the show that fell apart was the romance aspect of it. It wasn’t until the last 20 minutes that it was even a factor and seemed like it was just a filler aspect to the story.

I did feel as though the writing was pretty good even if it lost touch when it brought in the ever longing love aspect to the film. The co-stars and secondary characters were well enough developed that when they needed to step in a carry the show it was easy enough and well transitioned. I guess that most of the film was a strong enough, but there were some rather tenuous aspects that just turned me off.

Overall Garde: B+

I have great admiration for the Korean indie film industry and Let Me Out is a film that proves that it should continue to produce such interesting and insightful films. Let Me Out gives us a peek into the world of the pretentious and the egocentric that few have walked and come out the other side with a better understanding of humanity for what it really is. Im not saying that this film is life changing, but rather it chronicles how a person can find salvation in their own folly. Really it is a fine film that is fun to watch.

XIII: The Series (Live Action Review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 29, 2014
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XIIITitle: XIII

Staring: Stuart Townsend and Aisha Tyler

 

Produced By: Prodigy Pictures and Luc Besson’s production company

U. S. Distributor: Giant Ape / FUNimation (Group 1200)

U. S. Release Date: Sept. 16th, 2014

Age Rating: TV 14

Genre: Thriller, Spy, Espionage

Overall Personal Grade: B

Synopsis:

Agent XIII was left to rot in an Eastern European prison with no memories of his past or hope for his future. After a high-stakes breakout, he finds himself immersed in a network of spies and special agents as he attempts to figure out if the man he used to be was a patriot or a monster. Along the way, he uncovers a global conspiracy reaching from the Oval Office to the prisons of Venezuela involving plans for a weapon that could forever change the balance of international power. But when you’re a rogue agent on the run from both government agencies and terrorist cells, is there anyone you can really trust?

Originally airing on broadcast on Reelz in 2012-2013, XIII-The Series also aired in Canada and France.

Giant Ape Media will release the series in two parts on DVD on September 16, 2014.

Commentary:

This special early review of XIII is based on the first 3 episodes of the series. I realize that that is not much to go on, but in this case it is enough to understand where it fall in the world of spy thrillers. Typically we don;’t see to many spy thinners hit the small screen or even come in a full 26 episodes. We almost always see them on the big screen and made into an action packed block buster. XIII is clearly action packed but because of its format it certainly does not rate as a block buster. Based on what I saw the production level matched well with a lower budget tv series set to air on one of the lower numbered cable channels. This doesn’t mean that it poorly made it just means that the production quality does not always do the series justice.

As for the acting, I am a fan of Aisha Tyler and her comedy has alway been top notice, but in XIII I felt like she left something at the door. It is obvious that her character had feeling for Agent XIII but she doesn’t let that show through when it would make the most sense. In other words I felt like she came off flat. As for Stuart Townsend I found him to have much more pronounced ups and downs. In some of the quitter moments I could really confect with his character and his whole struggle with his identity, but when his character became more active and involved he seemed to leave the set and just let his shell go through the motions. I guess he elves me rather ambivalent about the staring role.

Now the story is cool and the plot live seem to want to give us a lot to think about and in the first three episodes I found myself wondering what is really going on. Is this a conspiracy against the President of the US or is this some corporate plot to hide the deep dark truth about something they did. I just don’t know and in some ways just don’t care. I guess that I will need to see the rest of the series to understand what is going on. I did find this to be one of the best series for live action fight scenes especially early one when XIII takes on the woman spy who helps him break out of prison. I found it to be somewhat believable and almost honest. There were only one or two moments when I thought any real human would be on the floor swimming in the see of black fog because they were utterly unconscious. Other than that most of the action was rather typical spy thriller hero action where the good guy can take a bullet and keep going, but the minions  even smell a bullet coming their way and they are flat on the found.

Overall Grade: B

XIII is a action packed series and it brings on the fight scenes to keep things going. I feel like the plot is coming off a little convoluted and confusing but very entertaining for what it is. As for the acting, this is where I have my biggest problem. I can honestly say that the two main stars are the weakest of the bunch. The strongest acting in the first three episodes was by Caterina Murino who played Samantha, XIII’s love interest and helper. She brought some feeling to her role that helped give focus to Townsend’s character and also provided him an opportunity show some feeling too. If you are looking for a fun action packed spy thriller that has some rather deep layers , then you need to check it out when it comes out.

 

 

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! The Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 24, 2014
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Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!review provided by Andrew & Katie

Title: Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! The Complete Collection

Director: Tatsuya Ishihara

Studio: Kyoto Animation

Author: Jukki Hanada

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U.S. Release Date: May 27, 2014

Format and Length: DVD / 12 Episodes + 1 OVA / 325 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Oreshura & Toradora!

“You and I overcame chunibyo to live out our high school days as normal students, right?”
“I guess.”
“But even then, we’ve been trapped by this idea we made up of what a normal high school student is.”

Synopsis:

Yuta Togashi has a huge problem. He is a former “chunibyo” (literal translation; Eighth Grade Syndrome) one of the thousands of Japanese students so desperate to stand out that they have literally convinced themselves that they have secret knowledge and hidden powers. However, since he is starting high school he is determined to put aside his delusions and face life head on.

The biggest problem is his upstairs neighbor, Rikka Takanashi. She is just a little bit chunibyo herself and she knows all about his hidden past. Yuta thought all his delusions were behind him and now he is not so sure. Will Yuta be able to hide his embarrassing past or will Rikka be the downfall of his normal high school career? You will have to watch Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! and find out!
Commentary:

As a lot of us can attest, our teenage years were hard, and we all probably have embarrassing moments we would all want to forget about. Yuta is no exception, as he goes to extreme lengths to forget his previous life as the chunibyo, Dark Flame Master. He even goes as far as transferring to a school none of his previous classmates go to, and completely leaving his previous life, in hopes for a fresh start. Unfortunately is seems that chunibyo follows him like a bad curse. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! The Complete Collection follows his new life as a ‘normal’ teenage high school student, if there is such a thing.

All is going well, as he looks forward to leaving his embarrassing past behind, until a cute girl in cosplay, and an eye patch, falls from the sky, or at least repels from the balcony above with a rope. Meet Rikka, a first year high school student, still very deep in her chunibyo. She catches Yuta, unbeknownst to him, in one final act of chunibyo before starting his new life. Much to his shock, he finds she is in his class. And now that she knows of his chunibyo, she instantly finds him as a possible ally in the battle against the dark organization known as the Invisible Boundary Line Administration Bureau. Not only is love blind, but in this case, it’s also stark raving mad.

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! The Complete Collection is a must for romcom fans. Every character is likable, well developed, and brings something to the story. Yuta, the former chunibyo, looking to get away from it and to being a normal teenager. Rikka, a fully fledged chunibyo, follower of the Wicked Lord Shingan. Dekomori, the pig tailed middle school student, servant to Rikka, and wielder of the Mjolnir Hammer. Nibutani, the seemingly popular girl, cheer leader, class president, and general fantasy of all the guys, that seems to be the oddball-out in this group. And Kumin, who just wants a club she can nap in. They all bring a high level of moe, and you will quickly fall in love with them all. Watch as imaginary fights come to life, with overactive imaginations of the chunibyo. Plus you get a taste of the fascinating martial art of cooking utensils. If that’s not enough for you, enter the comedy. Well thought out 4koma style gags, mocking of cultural clichés and overall random insanity assist the whole thing along. Need some drama? Well aren’t you demanding… Well guess what, it has that too. There is a lot of love in this story too, so you know. How can all this work together? They did a great job of combining it all together, and giving it a balance of reality, and the fantasy of escaping reality. They also included some cultural clichés than have transcended Japan, like capcom code, role playing, slapstick comedy, and issues more serious in nature like dealing with loss and the pains of growing up. Some of us may not understand that last one, since we never actually grew up, but that’s a story for another day.

Overall Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! The Complete Collection offers a lot, from a touching story, well developed characters, heartbreaking truths, emotions that everyone who has led a normal life can relate to, and with comedy and fantasy colliding in a massive accident, the ones you do not want to stare at, but you find you can’t look away. Some of the craziest weapons you can imagine from umbrellas, to cookware, to weights on the end of long hair. Even the music is catching. There is something for everyone or everything for that someone who wants it all in a good anime.

Extras:
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! The Complete Collection includes Chuni-Shorts, Japanese promos, clean opening and closing animations, and Sentai Filmworks trailers as special features. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! is available is Japanese language with English Subtitles on this release.

Overall Grade: B+
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! is an interesting and amazingly cute anime that is fun to watch.