Rss

  • youtube

Archives for : Comedy

Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection 9anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 4, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,

Fantasista Doll

Review Provided by Andrew &Katie

Title: Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection

Director: Hisashi Saito

Studio: Hoods Entertainment

Author: Noboru Kimura and Yuko Kakihara

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U.S. Release Date: August 12, 2014

Format and Length: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Sci-Fi

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: C

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Angelic Layer, Rozen Maiden, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Busou Shinki

Synopsis:

No one really knows what life has waiting in the cards for them, but for Uzume Uno, the surprises are not just in the cards but also in what comes out of them. Uzume finds herself in possession of a mysterious deck of cards through a strange twist of fate. She is surprised to find that five magical girls known as the Fantasista Dolls materialize and by playing the cards in different combinations, she can equip the girls with an array of costumes and weapons. That comes in extremely handy when a new danger that only the Dolls can stop is coming to threaten the Earth. With the future of the entire world on her shoulders, Uzume is going to have to learn how to play the hand she has been dealt pretty quickly. Will Uzume be able to deal with the Dolls’ odd demands and save the world at the same time? You will have to watch Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection to find out.

Commentary:

Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection is a very cute and moe anime series. I believe that tween and teen girls will love this series even with the age rating. The only thing that makes it the age rating is that the dolls have body paint on under their outfits and go around like that for a good part of the series and there is a little bit of fan-service. Those pluses aside, Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection does have some problems. The dialogue between characters does not flow well most of the time and they jump between the other plot line and the main plot line in the middle of an episode. I wish that they would have spent an entire episode on one plot line and went to the other plot line in the next episode. I believe that would have made things a bit smoother.

Uzume Uno is an interesting character. You learn that she has experience in playing card games. She had decided to give up playing card games though because she felt it was time to grow up. I believe that dealing with the dolls actually helped her become more mature and also helped her realize that she cannot try to solve problems on her own. Her Fantasista Dolls are pretty cute. Sasara is the first doll to appear to Uzume and she makes the contract. Katia is the childish doll and she is amazingly cute. Shimeji is the least trusting doll of them all as she misses her previous master. Madeleine is the tallest doll who is always ready to help out her master and she also plans out battle tactics. Akari is the little loli doll. She is also amazingly cute and uses yo-yo’s as her weapon of choice. If I had to choose my favorite doll it would have to be Katia because she is just too cute and adorable.

The artwork is really nice especially as the outfits and hairstyles are unique and reflect on each characters personality. The artwork was also very colorful and nice to look at. The voice actors did a good job bringing the characters to life. The battle sound effects were great and the music was okay. It sounded like J-Pop so if you like that type of music then you will enjoy Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection’s music. The only other thing I have to complain about is that there are credits from Sentai after each episode and it gets old after a while. I really think that they could have just put that at the end of the series and the episodes would have flowed better. But that is a small thing and might not bother other people.

Extras:

Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations, Sentai Filmworks trailers and disc credits as special features. Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection is only available in Japanese with English subtitles in this release.

Overall Grade: C

Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection is a good series, especially if you enjoy the Magical Girl genre. Just make sure to never make a contract with a random magical being that appears at just the right time.

The Devil is a Part Timer (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 18, 2014
1

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , ,

The Devil is a Part TimerTitle: The Devil is a Part Timer

Director: Masahiro Yokotani

Studio: White Fox

U. S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Release Date: July 22nd, 2014

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

Genre: Harem, Comedy, Romance, Supernatural

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis: 

When Satan is run out of his infernal kingdom, he finds himself virtually powerless in modern-day Tokyo. Stuck in a feeble mortal body and desperate for cash, there’s only one way for the dark lord to survive: by getting a job manning the deep fryer at “MgRonald!”

As Satan flips burgers and tries to regain his evil magic, he’s pestered by a righteous hero who tracked him to Earth, a video-game-loving fallen angel looking for a way back into heaven, and the most unholy of enemies: a rival fast food franchise. Will he figure out a way to reclaim his homeland and throne? And if not, will this demonic burger king at least sell enough featured menu items to be promoted to shift supervisor? The devil can’t survive on minimum wage!

Commentary:

The Devil is a Part Timer follows in the path of many light comedy harem series, but in several ways it stands out on its own for humor and pointed parody. The story is rather simple with the Devil being upon the verge of having his butt handed to him in battle by the righteous Hero and in order to be able to fight another day he and one of his powerful generals escape through a demential portal and end up in Tokyo. Of course the Hero is able to slip through the portal and also end up in Tokyo. Simply put they all end up loosing most of their magical powers which forces them to become regular humans and struggle through life having to make money just to survive. This basic plot is not what makes the series special, it is the character development and the way in which the story makes the viewer start to root for this unlikely group.

First of all the Devil somehow ends up making some rather monumental changes that make him a very likable person without making him overly sappy. The Hero is a bitter young woman who never seems to want to see the change but it is easy to see that she really see him for what he has become but still keeps her position of his inevitable slayer. This interplay between the characters keeps the story alive and also ends up being much if the humor.

Overall Grade: B+

Devil is a Part Timer has many elements that more recent stores like I Can’t Play H and Maoyu where there is a link between the human and demon world and in essence the connection between the two is at it core and proves to be very necessary.  All three of these stores use that interplay to their fullest and also make the connection something that stands out in the forefront, not a thing that must be discovered later in the series. The ting about The Devil is a Part Timer that makes it special is the writing and character development. I really enjoyed the way the each of these characters puled their own weight and how the persona of the devil ended up making them all stronger.

There was some simple and somewhat unobtrusive fan service in the series and I’m sure it was there just to please a special segment of the fan base, but overall I didn’t see anything about the series that made me want to turn away form it. The only flaw that I have is that it ended up being too short and the ending doesn’t feel complete. I’m not saying it can’t end there I just feel like I would like to see the devil and the hero really get together rather than just leave them in the place they are at the end. I also got a feeling like there is still much more to the story, I am not sure why there was a 13th episode if it wasn’t there to open the door to more. Maybe we will see an OVA come out in the future in order to close the gap between them. Anyway, The Devil is a Part Timer is a fun series that promises to give you plenty to enjoy and keep you smiling throughout the entire 325 minutes .

Majestic Prince Collection 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 10, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,

Majestic PrinceTitle: Majestic Prince Collection 1

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Studio: Dogakobo, Orange

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: July 15th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Mecha, Sci Fi, Comedy, Romance

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B-

 

Synopsis:

In the not-so-distant future, the people of earth have expanded their frontier into the solar system. And now, we’re under attack! Advances in physics and genetic engineering have created astonishing new flying war machines and pilots with a wide array of enhanced abilities.

Young Izuru has been chosen to lead the hapless Team Rabbits into battle against the sinister Wulgaru forces. Spearheaded by the cold and savage Prince Jiart, these dark invaders possess both superior firepower and technology, as well as an unwavering thirst for earthly destruction. It will be up to Izuru and his brash band of misfits to vanquish the enemy and save us all… if they don’t kill each other first.

Commentary:

It is always fun to watch a series that proves to be a fine omage to a archetype from the past. Majestic Prince just so happens to be one of those series. In its opening segments and the others to follow it manages to tip its hat to most of the great mecha anime of the past. Of course with Majestic Prince our heroes are setup a losers right off the bat and it doesn’t take long to see where they are headed. This leaves out much of the mystery and only gives us some sad moments of self doubt and societal abuse pointed in their direction. The other side of that plot device is that it sets up some rather funny situation, but because of the way the lead characters are written they just end up being nothing more than silly and at the same time pitiful. After the first 9 or 10 episodes I did begin to feel a title sympathic toward them, but this is because they are beginning to develop into more direct and serious characters.

The animation stylings are a mix of old and new. Some of the space battle scenes look like they are straight out of Marcoss or Gundam with the odd round burst of light far off in the distance and the strange little clusters of explosions that follow. The mecha are well rendered and end of being the star of the show. With the genetic connection as being part of the premiss of the series it is hard not to make them important and to show off the thing that will allow our band of misfits to become the heroes they all wish to become.

Overall Grade: B-

Majestic Prince is one of those series that has a great deal of possibilities but end up relying on rather weak characters and tired plot devices to try and carry the series. I can understand the appeal this series might have to some serious mecha fans and also how the comedic aspects do help it stay afloat, but in the end I honestly hope that the second half of the series looses the looser persona and allows the serious side of the show to come forward. I think that if give the right writing and move in a note dramatic direction Majestic Prince could end up being both an omage to the classic mecha from the past and also a worthy series in its own right.

YuyuShiki ( anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 4, 2014
1

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , ,

YuyshikiTitle: Yuyushiki

Director: Kaori

Author: Narsuko Takahashi

Studio: Kinema Citrus

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Aug. 5th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Epsisodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life

Age Rating: TV 14 (but really should be PG 13)

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Everyone knows you can learn a lot on the internet, and some of it is even true. But if you want to know what’s REALLY going on and important, then there’s just one place to go: the computer club!

Okay, so maybe it’s not the club itself, but the three girls you’re most likely to find there. And maybe they do spend more time chatting about their social lives and debating things like the virtues of ketchup versus mayonnaise than they do learning about the ins and outs of a keyboard, but whatever they’re up to, it’s sure to put a smile on your face.

So come learn what the mysterious YuiYukari Formula is all about and join serious Yui, hyperactive Yuzuko and lovable but not quite in touch with reality Yukari as they experience life’s ups, downs, surprises, and occasionally, the internet!

Commentary:

In the world of anime there is a classic formula that seem to attract creators to it like moths to a flame. That formal is the girl high school club slice of life. Yuyushiki is one of the moths at manage not to get too close to the flame and burn itself. It follows the simple formula of putting some girls into a club, that really has no purpose, and follow their lives and silliness though their early high school experiences. I’ve seen this formulae work and sometime it crashes and burns, but Yuyushiki manages to stand up to other classics like K-On and Lucky Star.

The one thing that gives me some pause is the style of animation that they depict these young ladies. They do everything possible to make them the older style archetype with big eyes and no nose and their heads are oversized for their bodies. It took me a few episodes to get used to this older comedic image and even though it is light and slightly funny I still find it distracting from the real strength of the series.

Overall Grade: A-

In today’s anime world of killing giant mutants to crazy slasher dramas it is great to get a taste of simple fun that comes from following a group of girls though the somewhat silly early years of their high school lives. I’m not sure why this series was listed at TV 14, I didn’t find anything that I wouldn’t allow a 13 year old to see. Maybe they are trying to attract an older age group, but I see this rather naive humor to be great for so many age groups that I wouldn’t rate over PG 13. The writing is great and the story made me laugh out loud several times and kept a smile on my face throughout the entire series.

The harmless humor that doesn’t have a mean bone in it keeps these girls likable and easy to watch. It reminds me of how great series like Lucky Star, K-On, Tari Tari and even Daily Lives of High School Boys are. I now have another series to recommend when someone is looking for a light hearted series that simply makes you feel good. So, if you want to smile then Yuyushiki is something you will need to get as soon as it comes out.

Dog & Scissors (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 3, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , ,

Dog & ScissorsTitle: Dog & Scissors

Director: Yukio Takaashi

Studio: Gonzo

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

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

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: C+

 

Synopsis:

Harumi Kazuhito was the ultimate bookworm, spending days at a time with his head buried in his beloved books, and little could make him happier than perusing the pages of his favorite author, Kirihime Natsuno. Unfortunately, Harumi’s life goes to the dogs – literally – when he gets himself killed while trying to stop a robber!

Thanks to the power of a true bookworm, however, Harumi inexplicably finds himself reincarnated as a dog… which might not be so bad if dogs could read. Or if the woman who adopts him didn’t have twin predilections for playing with scissors and tormenting her new pet! But what truly makes this strange reincarnation the worst of all possible worlds is that she’s also his favorite author! The horror! Can Harumi find a way to live with this tantrum-throwing typist, or will her crazed clippings prove to be his undoing? Can he escape her constant hounding via the doggy door, or is he barking up the wrong tree?

Commentary:

Sometimes anime just exists because they do and there are times when those anime are great just because they are. In the case of Dog & Scissors I can’t say that either of those instances come into play.  The simple fact is that this strange little sierras has an almost indiscernible plot line and mostly lacks any internal essence to propel it through 12 episodes. To have a young man who is a book worm cut down in the most exciting time of his life and transferred into the body of a odd little dog is sad in itself. To then have him become connected to a scissor wielding crazy woman who just so happens to be a popular author adds more pain to the suffering this story has to offer. Granted there is some redemption in their relationship as things more forward, but in general the torture continues throughout the 12 episodes.

The series is not a total failure because studio Gonzo has a hand in its creation. The creative minds at Gonzo understand how to take even the weakest story and make it look good. I’m not saying that they created a masterpiece, but they did give us a series that looks very good. That being said there is still something to be mentioned about the characters and their uniqueness. The strange quality to the top authors is light and adds some good humor to the story and when push comes to shove the main female character, Kirihime, shows some humanity in her emotional bonds to Kazuhito the dog boy.

Overall grade: C+

Honestly, there are plenty of anime that don’t have much reason to exist and I can’t completely write off Dog & Scissor. The series showed some real promise in the first few episodes, but never really developed and in the end was just s series of somewhat humorous episodes that just take up time. The look of the series stood up to the high quality that is expected from Gonzo. If you are looking for a series that just has some rather odd and torturous stores of a young man/dog who just wants to read books and has to live with a crazy author who has a thing for scissors.

Date A Live Complete Series (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 11, 2014
1

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , ,

Date A Live Complete Series

review provided by Luther

Title: Date A Live Complete Series

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Writer: Hideki Shirane

U. S. Distributor: FUNIMATION

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

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes + 1 OVA / 311 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction, Harem

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

In a world devastated by mysterious Spatial Quakes, Shidoh isn’t what you’d expect in a hero. He’s an average Joe who gets bossed around by his adorable little sister and mocked by the popular girls at his school. You’d definitely pick him last for dodge ball, but when it comes to saving the planet from imminent destruction, Shidoh’s got one thing going for him: intergalactic hotties can’t keep their hands off him!

When the secret to stopping the Spatial Quakes turns out to be romancing the extraterrestrial Spirits responsible for all the chaos, Shidoh the loveable loser becomes the hero of all humanity. For every Spirit he makes out with, mankind breathes a little bit easier. Kiss the girls – save the world. That name of the game is driving the space babes crazy, and nobody does it better than Shidoh!

Commentary:

At its core Date A Live is a harem anime, in which an unsuspecting dull male protagonist spontaneously attracts a horde of eccentric women. In many ways Date A Live is just a standard harem, for even the heroines are common character types. So the show does have a somewhat generic feel to it, however that does work to its advantage in some ways. With the show being as short as it is, having characters that are very distinguishable and easy to connect with, I was able to get a relatively good understanding of who the characters are with the limited episodes available.

One thing that Date A Live does have that sets it apart from other harem anime is that the protagonist, Shidoh, goes on actual dates with all the girls. While this may not be a revolutionary concept, it’s definitely not something I’ve seen in a lot of harem anime. There is also a lot of action in this series, for these dates will explode in to fantastical fights between super powerful girls. Though the change in action can be sudden and drastic, the transitions are well done and work well with the setting of the story.

Overall Personal Grade: B

Although Date A Live isn’t anything outstanding, it has bold characters in a memorable story and a good mix of action and romance. If you are a fan of harem anime, this series should not be missed.

Samurai Bride (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 7, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , ,

Samurai BrideTitle: Samurai Bride on Blu-ray

Director: KOBUN

Studio: Arms

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date:  June 24th

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Harem, Fantasy, Comedy, Fan Service!!!!

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: C+

 

Synopsis:

Things seemed to be going so well for Muneakira Yagyu. On top of dealing with Jubei, the immortal samurai warrior who fell out of the sky and into his arms and lips, he used his ability to awaken the latent power of a female samurai with a kiss to successfully juggle a handful of very powerful, very female master samurai, AND led them all to victory against the minion of a great evil. So was it too much to ask for a little break in the routine of saving Japan?

Apparently it was, as another great evil has appeared in the land, this one even stronger than the last. However, that’s the least of Muneakira’s problems, because with all the women he’s kissed in order to awaken their latent samurai powers, the inevitable has finally happened. Someone’s taking the long walk down the aisle with a samurai girl! It’s going to be a really old-fashioned wedding and any resistance by the groom will be totally feudal!

Commentary:

Ok, all you fans of Samurai Girls here comes the next installment. All the bouncing women parts are making their way through this simplistic story of light vs dark. Of course the series characters take on the names of famous historical figures, but all of these figures must be rolling in their graves with the depiction of their famous personas. I doubt seriously that the great Yagyu, Jubei was ever interested in being depicted as a rather  simple young woman, but this is not the first time his should has found its way into a rather bountiful young women. The thing with this series is the fact that it is really focused on the fan service.

Studio Arms has done its best at what it does best Samurai Bride. That is depicting the female form and showing to off from opening credits throughout the entire series to the closing credits. On the other hand the male characters much less developed and they clearly are secondary figures and represent a vessel for that viewer to use as a conduit to the women.

Overall Personal Grade:

Samurai Bride is not a series for everyone and in fact it has a rather narrow audience in the U. S. When putting the series together I can tell that the target audience is males between age 17 to 30 and it is put together just for them. I guess there can be some cross over, but seriously doubt if it will find a place in many other collection. For the harem, Fan Service crowd this one will hit a home run. This one is a classic of the idealized female form and does have its moments of real comedic relief that makes it fun. So, if you are looking for something that will arouse and humor you at the same time then Samurai Bride is just the thing you are looking for!

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

Posted by :Patches On : June 1, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , ,

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.

 

Let Me Out (Live Action Review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 30, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , ,

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.

Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends NEXT-The Complete Series (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 16, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , ,

Haganai I Don’t Have Many Friends NEXT-The Complete Seriesreview provided by Andrew and Katie

 

Title: Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends NEXT-The Complete Series

Director: Toru Kitahata

Studio: AIC Build

Author: Yomi Hirasaka

U.S. Distributor: Funimation Entertainment

U.S. Release Date: May 13, 2014

Format and Length: DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Romance, School, Harem

Industry Age Rating: 17 and up

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Mayo Chiki!, Oreimo, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Toradora!, and Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends

 

Maybe I do not realize I have friends…

 

Synopsis:

Kodaka and the rest of the gang from the Neighbors Club are back and up to their same tricks again in Haganai: NEXT.  From friendship to romance, things get a little more serious in Haganai: NEXT. New feelings are shown and the relationship between Kodaka and Yozora, Sena, and Rika reaches another level. How will Kodaka deal with that because he has never been in a situation like this before? Will he be able to face these new feelings and say what he really thinks about the girl or will he just run away. You will have to watch Haganai: NEXT to find out.

 

Commentary:

Haganai: NEXT continues where the first season left off, as the Neighbors Club is up to its usual antics. But it’s a little different from the first season. Haganai: NEXT focuses more on character development more than anything else, putting the comedy part of this romantic comedy as more a second concern than a primary focus. The story line is kinda episodic at first, mainly revolving around the activities of the Neighbors Club, but does start to come together after a few episodes and is not as disjointed as the first season. It also focuses on the characters actually dealing with their feelings instead of making fun of each other with the massive use of innuendo, sexual jokes and sexual harassment. Haganai: NEXT is a bit more serious than its predecessor, but humor is still a highly prevalent theme of the series. Haganai: NEXT is a fun anime and you can get caught into it making it very easy to absorb.

 

Haganai: NEXT did a wonderful job with character development and those developed characters endear you to this series more than ever. Of all the characters in Haganai: NEXT, Rika is the one that grew the most. Throughout the entire first season Rika played the part of the science nerd and acted very perverted because as she says, she would be a boring person if people only thought of her as the genius girl. In Haganai: NEXT the changes to her character begin slowly. Her hairstyle is changed at first and it takes Kodaka a couple of episodes to notice and then she begins to cosplay different anime characters to see if he notices the changes in her. Eventually she confronts Kodaka because she notices that he was just playing ignorant to the feelings of herself, Yozora, and Sena. It is very clear that Rika is the only one in the club who knows the most about Kodaka’s feelings and fears. By the end of this season, she finally has a friend for the first time in her life. Rika seems to be coming into her own personality now instead of focusing on how people want her to be. I also really like Kobato’s character. Kobato is Kodaka’s younger sister that he takes care of while his father is away working. She attends the middle school that is attached to the high school, Saint Chronica’s, and was able to join the Neighbors Club. She has a penchant for darkness, vampires, and the macabre and usually dresses as her favorite character from the anime “Full Metal Necromancer” that exists in the series unless she is at school. She also seems to have a brother complex due to her jealous behavior and clingy ways whenever she feels slighted because her brother, or An-Chan as she calls Kodaka, is not giving her the attention she believes she deserves. However, she is so adorable that you cannot help but say aww.

 

Once again for this season the voice actors and actresses were amazing. They really bring the characters to life along with the awesome art. The eyes of the characters are so big that you feel they can see right into your soul and draw you into the series. I really hope that there is a third season or a four to six episode OVA to wrap up the series. The ending was left wide open and a conclusion would be nice.

Extras:

Haganai: NEXT includes commentaries for episodes 7, 11, and 12, “Black Dragon: The Cries of the Damned,” clean opening and closing animations, Blu-Ray and DVD spots, T.V. Spots, U.S. Trailer, and Funimation trailers as special features.

 

Overall Grade: B+

Haganai: NEXT is an enjoyable anime that shines light on the characters from the first season and adds a few new ones. After watching Haganai: NEXT I feel more connected to the characters than after watching the first season. There is not as much fan-service as the first season but there is some. I loved the romance element in this season as well as the comedy.