Before we start, I want to let you know, my great people, that some of the comments in bold and italics contain spoilers, so do not read if you want to see this fantastic anime by your own.
With that said, let’s continue.
Ah… Type-Moon! I will never be able to pay back all the happiness your works, as an studio, has brought me in the form of those fantastic visual novels, particularly two of them, One being Tsukihime, with all its dark atmosphere and beautiful writing (and that laughably terrible 2003 anime).
The other one… being Fate, in the form of Fate/stay Night, Unlimited Blade Works, Heaven’s Feel (my favourite arc), Fate/Zero, Fate/Extra, and the so addictive Fate/Grand Order.
And just when I thought that the franchise couldn’t get better… we are blessed again with Fate/Apocrypha.
Fate/Apocrypha
Based on the light novels written by Yuichiro Higashide, and illustrated by Ototsugu Konoe, Fate/Aprocrypha tells the story in an alternate universe from Fate/Stay Night, in which the Holy Grail War was transferred to Romania, where the War is being fought by two factions, the Black faction (represented by the powerful Yggmillenia Clan), and the Red Faction, represented by the Clock Tower’s Mage Association, based in London. In this war, there is a mediator, a Ruler-servant, in the form of Jeanne d’Arc.
Now, before I continue, it is important to mention that Apocrypha comes from the word apokryphos, which means «obscure» in Greek, and it also refers to the Biblical writings that do not belong to the Hebrew Bible. In other words, a story different from what we know about Fate. Nevertheless, we have all the canonical types of Servant (Saber, Caster, Archer, Rider, Berserker, Assassin, Lancer), each of the respective factions summon their own versions of the Servants. And of course Ruler-Servant. Now, along with these characters, we have our main protagonist, Sieg, an homunculus crerated by the Yggmillenia, the necromancer Kairi Shishigou, and the mysterious priest, Shirou Kotomine.
Story
As previously mentioned, the main story of Fate/Aprocrypha centers in an alternative Holy Grail War between the Black Faction and the Red Faction. But it also includes themes about Humanity, Sacrifice, Hope, Redemption, Love. And all in 25 episodes, the writing is pretty good, and in some cases, they include wonderful references from Fate Stay/Night itself, including this line.
«Tell me… Are you my master?»
In other cases, the dialogues are very deep, and also give us hints of the identity of each character; but some of the writing belongs to Sieg, because his dialogues become stronger as we progresses to understand and accept humans, not just that, also when he is with Ruler, because we can see how their relationship evolves; in addition, other great dialogue is from Shirou Kotomine,
Also the battles are very entertaining (Well. What else can you except from A-1 Pictures)
Characters
One of the most interesting points of Fate/Aprocrypha is their characters, both the Servants and the Masters. And let me tell you… I love all of them. Firstly, let me tell that in total are fourteen Servants, but do not let that discourage, each of them have their own identity and powers, to the point that you remember all of them, you can recognize that this particular Servant belongs to this particular Faction. And there are other interesting characters from the Yggmillenia Clan (Darnic, Celenike, Caules and his older sister Fiore, and Roche), with their own
Speaking of the Masters and Servants, each of them have great chemistry, for instance, the father-daughter relationshop between Mordred/Saber of Red, and the «fraternal» relationship between Fiore Yggmillenia and her brother Caules, despite having few moments, you understand how close they really are; moreover, Caules really cares about Frankenstein’s monster/Berserker of Black, she is adorable. As a matter
I want to mention Astolfo, Rider of Black. Possibly the break-out character. He is so relatable, humble, energetic, yet so brave
And I want to apologize for almost not writing during the month of March, but again, it was a very intensive and very productive month, for two reasons. The first one it is because… I am writing a book. Yes, and I have spent the entire month writing and proofreading the project, and it is because I wrote the book years ago, and I am trying to have it ready soon. Possibly in May or June.
There! I make the announcement.
The second reason is that I just got my Australian passport, and I did a lot of things that kept me from writing in my blog. Overall, it has been a very intense month, without mentioning that I did a lot of Transcendental Meditation.
Anyway. I have a new plan for April. And recently I saw the trailer of an anime that I was looking for. And that is…
And I am so excited about it. I love Megumin, and Chomusuke.
(picture of Kazuma and Aqua)
But before I watch that wonderful spin-off full of explosions, I will talk about that fantastic isekai comedy that started everything. And again, the title says it all. Here is…
(konosuba)
But before I start with my review, I must ask to all of you people, the same questions:
Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy.
Now, let’s start with a big explosion with Konosuba.
PREMISE
Based on the wonderful light novel franchise written by Natsume Akatsuki, Konosuba: God’s Blessing on this Wondeful World, or Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o!, tells the story of Kazuma Sato, a shut-in NEET who suffers a very embarrassing death; luckily, or unfortunately for him, he meets the goddess Aqua, who offers him the opportunity to reincarnate in another world, very similar to those he like to play on his videogames, that is of course… after Aqua reveals herself as idiotic and self-absorded makes fun of his demise. But, in a weird twist move, Kazuma chooses Aqua as his companion. Now stuck in a very useless goddess in the town of Axel, Kazuma recruits two members, Darkness, a well-endowed but masochistic paladin that fails every time she swings her sword, and Megumin, a delusional arch-mage that can only performs Explosion Magic, which also renders her useless after summoning it.
Realising how useless his companions are, and that the chances of defeating the Devil King, something that Aqua must do in order to go back to her throne, Kazuma does everything to have a very pleasant and luxurious lifestyle, but his moronic companions, and a lot of unfortunate cirncusmtances will be constantly forcing Kazuma to go into the adventure.
The author of Konosuba is Natsume Aktsuki, who also wrote Kemono Michi!! And Combatants Will be Dispatched, which I reviewed before. Here are the links so you can check out.
(link to Kemono Michi)
(link to Combatants will be Dispatched)
Akatsuki started writing Konosuba from October 1, 2013 to May 1, 2020, for a total of 17 volumes. And as of March, Konosuba has been adapting into two seasons, produced by Studio Deen, and a upcoming third season produced by Studio Drive.
Also, Konosuba has a very awesome cast, which I am very happy to remember without having to consult Wikipedia including Sora Asamiya (Spy Classroom, Call of the Night), Jun Fukishima (Tensei Slime), Ai Kayano (Sword Art Online:Alicization), and, as the amazing Megumin, the beautiful… Rie Takahashi (Tomo-chan is a Girl!)
And these two beautiful songs as the opening of the first and second season.
(link to the first op)
(link to the second op)
STORY
Oh my gosh!!! There is only one word that I will use fot the story of Konosuba. And that is… hysterical. Every single moment is incredibly hilarious, and everyone gives you a lot of memorable moments. And what is more impressive is that the story of Konosuba is pretty simple – Kazuma tries to survvie in Axel, Aqua does something stupid, Darkness brings out her masochism, and Megumin does an explosion.
By the way, there is a pretty hilarious song called Bakuretsu, Bakuretsu, La, la, la, that I personally recommend.
(link to Bakuretsu, bakuretsu)
And since the tone is more about comedy in Konosuba, unlike The Rising of the Shield Hero, Re: Zero, and Saga of Tanya the Evil, which are more dark fantasy, you can take it easy while watching every episode and enjoy the shenanigans of our idiot “heroes”, that is during the whole ten episodes of hilariousity. Of course there are moments in which our “heroes” go into adventure and have to face a really nefarious adversary, but these conflicts are either resolved in the most original and comical fashion possible, or have very awkward consequences that puts Kazuma and his guild into more trouble.
Of all these adventure moments, I think the most iconical is the battle against the giant toads, in which either Aqua or Megumin end up being swallowed and bathed in… toad drool? Because of their stupidity, and then Kazuma have to save them.
(photo of the big, bad toads)
And how can you forget the moments of Darkness being Darkness.
(some photos of our beloved masochist paladin)
And this one…
Seriously, every comedid moment is better than the previous one, and that really surprised oof how many great idead the author got in terms of comedy.
But what really surprised me is the fantastic animation done by Studio Deen, who, unfortunately, have the dubious honor of making an anime adaptation of Pupa, one of the worst, most disgusting anime I have ever seen. But I will talk about it eventually. And the more he pretended Nanatsu no Taizai: The Wrath of the Gods exist, the better.
Seriously, who has the idiot who suggested replacing blood for milk?
(scene for Seven Deadly Sins)
And I absolutely love Nanatsu no Taizai. Hail A-1 Pictures! But the Wrath of the Gods was simply trash.
Anyway, the story of Konosuba is basically disconnect yourself from tension and enjoy watching likeable idiots doing that, and resolving situations with the best fashion. It is really hard to describe unless you watch the episodes yourself, because every moment is so hilarious, so original you better experience it by watching the episodes.
Also, the rhythm is so natural that you end upr inmerse in the comedy straight away. And the thing is that Konosuba knows when to go fast, and when to slow down, giving us the opportunity to know our characters, enjoy their misadventures and enjoy a very good isekai in the fullest.
Konosuba is simply one of the best isekai you can ever watch.
CHARACTERS
As I mentioned before, the characters of Konosuba are as hysterical as the story. All the group of Kazuma is so likeable and oafish you, surprisingly enough, you want to be part of their misadventures, and every one adds up to both the comedy and the story in their own way. Aqua being stupid, to the point of being too dumb to live, Kazuma being sleazy and perverted with slected moments of badassery, Darkness making us laugh with the masochism.
One interesting fact. Did you know that Ai Kayano also voiced Alice Zuberg from Sword Art Online: Alicization?
Man! When I watch them together, I find hard to believe they have performed by the same seiyuu.
(photos of Alice and Darkness)
And, after watching Megumin, I understand why she is the most popular character of Konosuba. All of the characters are original and memorable, but Megumin really stands out due to her quirkness, her catchy phrases, her design and her contagious devotion to the Explosion Magic.
(Megumin)
And she is very exaggerated about her personality that I want to become by her, making her so popular.
Nonetheless, I have to admit Aqua can be really annoying, especially of her spoiled rotten attitude and her constant whining.
For the rest, all the cast is pretty good. And there is another character that I enjoy a lot, but I will talk about her later.
(Yunyun)
CONCLUSION
Overall, the first season of Konosuba is amazing, in all the elements. No wonder why is this comedy isekai is pretty popular and well-loved.
And I will later talk about the second season. And I apologize for having to lavea now, so that is why I will leave with an…
Hello my friends. Welcome to another entry of my blog.
Here is a very special occasion, because it is the fifth anniversary of my blog.
(picture of the occasion)
And I want to thank all of you my fans and my readers, because it is you who actually motivate me to continue with this work that I am doing. It is you who made possible for my blog to stay alive. I do not have enough words of thanks to all of you, but to every single person that reads me has a special place in my heart.
Also, I want to apologize with you for not posting anything in my blog for almost a month. As you know, Work has taken a lot of my time, and I recently finished a course of Transcendental Meditation, which has improved my life, I definitely recommend it to all of you. But, shortly after finishing the course, my body started feeling very heavy. I never thought my arms and legs would be so at me for not giving them enough rest.
Anyway. After so many weeks, I was able to prepare a new anime that I watched some days ago… started to watch some time ago.
And that is…
The Eminence in Shadow.
But before I start with my words, I must ask you the typical question:
Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy.
So… Now is it time to leave the shadows and seek the light. This is The Eminence in Shadow.
PREMISE
The Eminence in Shadow, or Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (陰の実力者になりたくて!) is based on the series of light novels written by Daisuke Aizawa and illustrated by Tozai. The Eminence in Shadow tells the story of a young man in Japan who is very obsessed of exerting the power under the shadows, which technically means to defeat villains, manipulate the events of daily lives, and leave an everlasting impression to the people without revealing his identity and always operating under the curtains, and that is why he trained in martial arts, in many disciplines, and science. But one day, on one of his secret trainings, he gets hit by a truck and dies. And as a normal isekai, he gets reincarnated in another world, as Cid Kagenou, the son of a noble family. In this new world, he becomes a master in dark magic and secrecy, founding an organization called Shadow Garden, which he uses to fight the evil Cult of Diabolos that controls the world.
Except for one detail – everything is a lie. There is no Cult of Diabolos. Cid is merely role-playing and having chuunibyou tendencies. In fact, in both his former life and new life, is to become an NPC character that is mostly mediocre and underwhelming. Nonetheless, turns out that Diabolos actually exists. Now, Cid is hooked in a secret war under his alias Shadow and his constant “role-play”.
The Eminence in Shadow started publication on November 5, 2017, and as of February 28, 2023, it has five volumes, under Kadokawa Shoten for Japan, and Yen Press for English. Also, recently Studio Nexus released a 20-episode anime, which broadcasted between October 5, 2022, and February 15, 2023, with a second season recently announced.
Finally, The Eminence in Shadow features a very ensemble cast, including Seiichiro Yamashita, Kana Hanazawa, and Rina Hidaka.
STORY
Before I start with my opinions regarding the story, I must clarify that I watched the famous Gigguk video analysing The Eminence in Shadow. Here is the link because I find the video pretty worthy.
But seriously, I will suggest all of you to be ready to a very unpopular opinion of my own. First and foremost, I want to talk about the good elements. First one is the animation. Personally, I loved the animation and the colour scheme, which really brings the tone of what The Eminence in Shadow tries to be, a mixture between dark fantasy, mystery, isekai and school life, at least from the first episodes. Of course, the animation of Chainsaw Man and Blue Lock! is way superior, but I will say it is pretty well done.
Furthermore, the backstory of our main character is… pretty decent, and how he founded Shadow Garden is well-written, although sometimes can be a bit slow. Finally, the character design is also enjoyable, especially in the members of Shadow Garden. Those are the elements that I mostly enjoyed from The Eminence in Shadow.
Now it is time to the “bad stuff.”
Just like I enjoyed the backstory of both Cid Kagenou and Shadow Garden, I also found the conflict and setting of the Cult of Diabolos pretty laughable, impossible to take it seriously, because Cid Kagenou made that up, and then turns out that Diabolos exists, with every element that Cid Kagenou mentioned about it, without even having any previous, clear evidence of his words. And I thought:
Really? Now Cid is saying the truth like that out of nowhere?
I found it pretty convenient and rushed. Like there is goddess…
…listened to his words and wanted to shaped reality according to his delusions.
Also… Was that “lie” even necessary? Why he just finds out about Diabolos later on and say something else? Furthermore… Why doesn’t Cid just say he wants to be a vigilante? Or just fight for the thrill of adventure? Something like that.
I don’t know. For me, that was weak.
Another problem that I got is that from one episode to another is that Shadow Garden disappears from Cid. And yes, I know they eventually get back to him, but I wish I could see more about their fight, or shall I say “game”. Or more depth on the relationship between Seven Shades and their master, so I will not feel that Cid was being a jerk. But that sudden departure of Shadow Garden left me unfulfilled, like something was missing. And I think it was the delusions of Cid. I felt that he was being immature and childish, and from there, I found almost impossible to take the story seriously.
Finally, the transition between the plot of “Shadow” and Cid assisting to academy made me feel like I suddenly was watching another anime. Out of nowhere. And that jeopardised my experience with The Eminence in Shadow.
I know it is hard to explain, but that was my impression. And believe me, I still have a lot to say about Cid Kagenou, or “Shadow”.
Bizarrely enough, I also enjoyed the nature of the story as well. As if I said to myself.
If Cid Kagenou does not seem to take myself seriously. Why should I?
What I am trying to say is that the corniness that The Eminence in Shadow, far from forcing me to leave this anime, it encouraged me to stay, like some kind of guilty pleasure.
Anyway. The Eminence in Shadow does not have the best story, but at least is pretty fun.
CHARACTERS
Now. I have the same issue with the characters. Because the members of Shadow Garden, especially the seven shadows, are pretty interesting, having definite personalities, powers and backstory. Not the best, but memorable enough.
I think my favourites are Alpha, for her beauty and power; Beta, for her charm and design, Delta because… Animal ears and strength, and Epsilon because of how badass she is. Also, Alexia and her sister are very good characters, but I prefer the latter because of her personality. I am not saying I hate Alexia, but she is not just my type.
And finally… we got Cid.
Despite being the MC, it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to take him seriously, because he lives in another world, but doesn’t have the charisma of Megumin. His delusions and obsession to be in the secrecy is what make me get tired of him.
Also… The way he dies… (Don’t think is a spoilers, because it was for sure something like that happened to him)… is so stupid!! He gets obsessed with power, more than Palpatine.
And then he LITERALLY throws himself to a truck. Seriously. This guy makes Kazuma’s death as heroic.
CONCLUSION
Overall, The Eminence in Shadow is a must-see if you are a fan of isekai. Nonetheless, I will be a bit concerned if you are a die-hard fan of Re:Zero, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Youjo Senki and Overlord, because sometimes you will feel like The Eminence in Shadow is a parody, and not a good one, so you might not like it.
But that’s only my opinion.
And again… thank you so much guys for these wonderful five years. I hope I can stay with you for another five years.
Hola mis amigos. Bienvenidos a otra entrada de mi blog, Y en esta ocasión, les traigo mis opiniones sobre el Episodio VII de Chainsaw Man.
Primero que nada, les quiero pedir disculpas por haberme demorado en elaborar esta entrada, pero estaba muy ocupado con el trabajo, me tocó trabajar seis días en una semana por una emergencia, pero ahora estoy libre, y aprovecho para contar que me acabo de ver el Episodio VIII – Los Últimos Denji. ¡Y vaya episodio! Pero antes, vamos a hacer las cosas bien y a hablar del Episodio VII – El Despertar de Denji… más o menos.
¡Bueno ya! Basta de referencias a Star Wars, ahora vamos a afilar la motosierra.
Pero primero, debo hacerles la pregunta de siempre.
¿Se encuentran bien? ¿Saludables?
Si la respuesta es sí, entonces soy feliz.
Ahora… pasemos a Chainsaw Man.
EPISODIO VII – EL RETORNO DEL DENJI
El episodio comienza con Denji recriminándole a Aki por interponerse a la hora de ser apuñalado, pero lejos de hacerlo por malicia, le recuerda bastante la deuda con los yakuza que su padre le dejó.
Una vez dicho esto, procede a jalar la cuerda de su pecho y lanzarse de lleno contra el Demonio de la Eternidad. Y a la par en que vemos, de nuevo, una animación espectacular de la mano de studio MAPPA, el tercer ending como música de fondo. ¿Recuerdan? El que para mí es el segundo mejor ending de la saga Chainsaw Man.
Y no es para menos. – El tercer ending, Hawatari 2 Oku-senchi es la personificación de todo lo que es Chainsaw Man, y la visión de Fujimoto-sensei, arte, genialidad, y mucha violencia, que por cierto esta batalla no escatima en ello.
Pero eso es lo que la hace tan entretenida, porque no teme mostrar la brutalidad del momento, de cierta forma me recuerda a Rescatando al Soldado Ryan y su gráfico retrato de la guerra. Me pregunto si Fujimoto-sensei también ama esa película.
Desde luego, Himeno, Kobeni y Arai están horrorizados.
Desafortunadamente, para Denji, el Demonio de la Eternidad le quita mucha sangre, y eso hace que sus motosierras vayan desapareciendo. Es más, la propia Power menciona lo que está ocurriendo.
¡Y miren esa bonita cara de pesadilla! Cortesia del Demonio de la Eternidad.
Todo parece perdido hasta que Denji tiene una idea – consumir la sangre del Demonio de la Eternidad, para curarse y volver a atacar con más fuerza que antes. Y en este punto, se demuestra la absoluta pérdida de la humanidad de Denji, puesto que, a pesar de que la sangre del Demonio de la Eternidad es una m*erd*, tiene un rico sabor gracias a que permite que éste sufra una gran agonía.
En pocas palabras, Denji está loco de alegría por el espectáculo grotesco.
Y de nuevo, tenemos una aparición de uno de mis personajes favoritos de Chainsaw Man, Kishibe, dándonos otra muestra de su “sabiduría”. Que los demonios únicamente temen a los Devil Hunters más desquiciados, explicando que los antiguos compañeros de Himeno murieron precisamente porque estaban cuerdos, y temían el ataque de los demonios.
Pero, por otro lado, los demonios temen a aquellos que están locos porque es imposible saber cómo piensan, cómo atacarlos.
El caso es que Kishibe se va, dejando a Himeno por su cuenta, no sin antes pedirle que entrene bien a Aki, y aunque Himeno dice que se tomará su tiempo, Kishibe le dice que no puede, porque Aki aún está cuerdo, y puede que los demonios lo maten.
Ante este sombrío panorama, Himeno le propone a Aki convertirse en cazador civil, para que no tengan que buscar al Demonio de las Pistolas y arriesgarse a morir, pero Aki rechaza esa oferta.
Aunque debo ser sincero, ver a Himeno fumando en esta escena hace que sea mucho más hermosa.
De una vez adelanto que, gracias a este capítulo, Himeno ya superó, con creces, a Makima como mi waifu predilecta. Una opinión muy impopular, lo sé, pero muy honesta. Y si no es ella, al final será Power.
Volviendo al presente, el Demonio de la Eternidad casi mata a Denji, pero gracias al Demonio Fantasma, Himeno logra jalar la cuerda de su corazón y hacerlo despertar.
Y es entonces, cuando a Denji se le ocurre la mejor idea de todas – beber la asquerosa sangre de su enemigo, cientos de veces, las que sean necesarias, para sanar y seguirlo cortando, provocando tanto dolor en el Demonio que éste querrá suplicar morir.
Pero lo que realmente me hace reir es que Denji menciona ganarse el Premio Nobel de esa forma.
¡Y ya me lo imagino!
DENJI GANA EL PREMIO NOBEL DE BOXEO PATADA.
¿O el de la Paz?
¡Y como muestra de la belleza de Himeno! ¡Esa cara de excitación! De nuevo… más hermosa y carismática que la propia Makima.
El caso es que la batalla continúa por tres días, y todos están cansados, mientras que Himeno va a revisar a Aki.
Mientras tanto, el Demonio de la Eternidad se rinde y por ende Denji lo mata.
¡Madre mía! ¡Sólo por eso, yo le daría a Denji el Nobel de la Paz! ¡Y es que de verdad, lo que hizo Denji fue una hazaña increíble! Si yo fuera Makima, lo abrasaría, lo besaría con lengua, y tendría sexo con Denji, todo después de darle una Medalla.
Toma Denji, por tus actos heroicos, te doy… una Stella.
No por nada, terminaste desmayado y en el hospital.
Aunque parece que Aki no lo necesitaba, puesto que a los pocos días, éste regresa al servicio en compañía de Himeno, quien propone hacer un baby shower, para festejar que Denji embarazó a Himeno. ¡No! ¡Es broma! Lo que pasa es que cree que el grupo cuatro nunca se ha reunido para conocerse, y además porque, según ella, tanto Kobeni como Arai están arrepentidos de intentar matar a Denji.
¡Ah! ¡Claro que sí! Ahora que el peligro terminó, se sienten mal. ¡Por supuesto! Bueno, en la vida real, la gente es de ese modo, asi que no sé por qué los culpo, aunque sigo pensando que Arai es un payaso. Y Kobeni aún tiene mucho que dar.
Lo curioso es que hasta Aki le “reprocha” a Himeno por sugerir matar a Denji. ¡no importa! Aun así, Himeno… a ti sí te perdono.
Es más, voy a tomar este sabio consejo.
¡Gracias Himeno! Espero algún día, ser el SIMP que mereces, o el que estás buscando.
¡Maldita seas Himeno! Ya estoy muy enamorado de ti, y de Aki, y ahora quieres que se me salga el corazón con tu hermosa sonrisa. El caso es que Aki termina aceptando, con la condición de que sea esta semana, porque Makima pronto se irá a Kioto, y con eso, Himeno hace la pregunta del millón.
Dos preguntas del millón.
Con eso, finalmente pasamos a la hermosa escena del restaurante, donde se reúnen todos los miembros de la División 4 para ser amigos. Y recuerdo muy bien esta semana del manga, pero el ánime le agrega este toque humano, entrañable que caracteriza las animaciones de Studio MAPPA. ¡Voy a decirlo por si no quedó claro!
Tatsuki Fujimoto y MAPPA – Combinación ganadora.
Eso y el que Poderosa acapare el sashimi.
Pero. ¡Aw! Miren a la linda Kobeni, con su ropita linda, su boina de niña y su hermoso rostro. Me abrió el corazón. Kobeni… ¡Todo perdonado! Aunque no será así para Power si le robas el pollo frito.
De una vez, digo que esta escena es muy hermosa, ver a los miembros de la Cuarta División socializando así y siendo amigos es muy entrañable, y ver a Denji, Kobeni y Power felices por la comida me da mucha felicidad – los tres se lo merecen. Aunque gracias al menú, Denji recuerda algo muy importante – que las deudas con Himeno no se deben olvidar.
Por ello Himeno acepta besarse con Denji, después de estar ebria, a la vez en que Denji la perdona por sugerir matarlo.
¿Dije que la escena era hermosa? Pues con las introducciones de Denji, Kobeni y… por alguna razón, Arai la hacen todavía mejor. Pero digo de inmediato, que Arai me sigue dando asco, no me importa que su pasatiempo sea el Haiku.
Lo interesante es que también tiene un contrato con el Demonio de los Zorros, igual que Aki, quien nos revela que éste es amistoso con los humanos, y más aún con los Devil Hunters, con los cuales ha entablado muchos contratos.
Sin embargo, pronto recordamos que los Devil Hunters pueden morir pronto, gracias a que uno de los invitados, Fushi, dice que su compañero, otro novato, falleció el día anterior, y esta expresión de Kobeni lo dice todo.
Menos mal que Himeno siempre rompe la tensión, sobre todo con la idea del beso.
Justo cuando por fin llega Makima. ¡Hey! Un momento.
¿No se supone que esta Devil Hunter se quitó la corbata? ¿Por qué de repente la tiene de vuelta? ¿Acaso tiene un contrato con el Demonio Fantasma o qué? ¡Esto está muy raro!
¡Y aquí está la mejor parte de la escena del bar! ¡Que las imágenes hablen por si solas!
En serio es muy divertido ver a Denji en ese dilema. Pero luego vamos con el aburrido de Aki, que empieza a interrogar a Makima sobre Denji y su identidad. Y Makima está dispuesta a responderle a Aki, con una simple condición.
Y con eso, finalmente se arma la fiesta, especialmente porque Power parece haber desarrollado una adicción por la comida del lugar.
¡Me recuerda a mí en las fiestas del trabajo! Pero una cosa es segura, Makima merece un barril sin fondo de Duffman, y Power nos deleita con la revelación más importante de su cerebro – su coeficiente intelectual.
¡Digno de un Premio Nobel!
¿Pero saben qué es tan bueno como el Premio Nobel? ¡Probar la dulce lengua de Himeno!
¡Sí! Finalmente Himeno besa a Denji con su lenguita, tal y como lo prometió. ¡Increíble! He visto muchos hentai en mi vida, especialmente Shoujo Sect, Boku no Nurse y Amakano, pero creo que este beso supera a esos con diferencia. Poderosa, increíble, y realmente erótica, o al menos en los primeros diez segundos.
¡Damas y caballeros! Antes ustedes… una de las escenas más asquerosas del ánime en general.
Si. Himeno vomita en la boca de Denji. ¡Mmm! Vomito de primera calidad, recién horneado de la fábrica de porquería, con sus ácidos lubricados y sus pedazos de comida babeados. ¡Ugh! ¡Qué asco! Una cosa que sí me hace gracia es que el vómito está censurado. ¡Por favor! ¡Es el condenado Chainsaw Man! Muestran toda la violencia, el gore y la sangre que desean, pero un vómito lo censuran. Es como si yo me censurase cuando digo MI*RD*, pero no cuando digo PUTA. Y eso no recuerdo si ocurre en el manga, pero yo juraría que no. Tengo entendido que esto se hizo por el horario en que el capítulo se estrenó en Japón, y eso lo respeto. Pero cuando saquen el Blu-Ray de Chainsaw Man, ya no tendrán motivos para seguir con la censura.
El punto es que la escena provoca reacciones muy variopintas, Makima pide pañuelos para limpiar, Kobeni está muerta del asco, y como siempre Power dando comentarios muy cómicos.
¡Oye Power! No soy un médico, pero creo que eso se llama comer o beber según el caso.
Y peor aún… Denji se traga el vómito. ¡Ugh!
Luego nos trasladamos al pasado, cuando Denji era un niño y hurgó en la basura para comerse una hamburguesa en buen estado, y con Pochita, mira a unas ratas comiéndose el vómito de alguien más, lo que provoca sus burlas, y un comentario muy genial.
Pero luego volvemos al presente, cuando Denji… bueno… hace lo que cualquier haría tras tragar vómito ajeno contra su voluntad.
Arai lo termina ayudando, y le revela que le tiene envidia a Denji, quien le cuestiona inmediatamente, diciendo un diálogo que me rompió el corazón.
En serio, la mala suerte de Denji es implacable. De por sí, su infancia fue horrible por culpa de los yakuza, y ahora debe soportar tener su primer beso manchando con porquería, en sentido tanto literal como metafórico. Y me rompe el corazón porque Denji no es malo – es impulso, pervertido y algo violento, pero no es malo. Y quizás, no importa cuantas acciones buenas haga, la vida siempre parece querer darle nada más que momentos horribles, siempre contra su voluntad.
Y después de ver a Arai ayudar a Denji así, he de decir que el personaje ya no me da tanto asco como antes. Es más, hasta me está empezando a caer mejor. Mis respetos.
En fin, poco después Himeno lo lleva a su casa, y… ¡A pesar de lo que le pasó a Denji, Himeno le da un beso de cerveza!
Y se nota que sigue borracha, porque le pregunta a Denji por qué está en su casa. Y tras varias travesuras y algarabía, Himeno termina con una propuesta que espero sinceramente que Denji no vaya a rechazar.
Ya todos sabemos de qué está hablando. Y no sólo porque leímos el manga.
Y con Himeno deleitándonos con su sensual lencería, terminamos este capítulo.
CONCLUSIÓN
Otro gran capítulo de esta gran anime. No hace falta decirlo, pero este episodio en particular está dividido en dos partes, una que es el final de batalla contra el infame Demonio de la Eternidad, y otra que es la del restaurante, y pese a que la primera es espectacular, ello significa que la escena del restaurante deba palidecer. Las dos tienen sus fortalezas, que todas podemos disfrutar por igual.
Pero una cosa es segura, gracias a este capítulo, Himeno se convirtió en mi waifu predilecta, superando con creces a la propia Makima, y es que incluso en el ending, Himeno se ve mucho más hermosa que Makima.
Hablando del ending, me gustó ese estilo lo-fi ochentero que le pusieron, aunque la canción no es tan buena. De verdad. ¿Por qué les cuesta tanto superar a Chainsaw Blood y a Demon, in the name of Devil? Nunca lo sabré, pero una parte de mí siente que tal vez no deberían tener tantos endings, incluso Dorohedoro tuvo tres canciones por ending según mis cuentas, y con eso bastaba.
Aun así, se disfruta.
Bueno, espero que hayan disfrutando leer mi review, tanto como yo disfruté en escribirla. Y vayan y compren una caja de pañuelos, porque cuando hablemos del Episodio VIII, la vamoa a necesitar.
And, as part of my series of reviews of the works from Studio Trigger, as an special occasion due to the imminent release of Trigger’s new series; BNA: Brand New Animal, I continue with my series.
Again, I apologise for not being able to publish my next Trigger review on that day when I say I will post it. But it is been a very busy time for me, without mentioning that I have to go back to get familiar with some of the best moments of this gem.
With said that, I want to introduce you all…
(The best key visual you could possibly find)
But before I continue with my review, I want to leave you with the same recommendations that doctors and scientists share with all of us.
Wash your hands
Maintain social distancing
Stay at home
And most importantly:
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE CORONAVIRUS!!!
Having said that, let’s continue with the review.
PREMISE
Kill la Kill takes place in a very interesting high school, the Honnouji Academy, controlled by the all-powerful, fearsome Satsuki Kiryuin (voiced by Ryoka Yuzuki) , who controls Honnouji with an iron fist. But she is not alone, Satsuki has the all-mighty Student Council at her back, reinforcing the strict rules of the school, also, all of the Student Council members wear the Goku uniforms, which give the user superhuman strengths and abilities due to the material they are done, the Life Fibers.
Everything changes when a new transfer student, a delinquent called Ryuko Matoi (Ami koshimizu), arrives to Honnouji; shortly Ryuko challenges Satsuki and the student council, with the help of a giant sword that looks as half of a scissor, called the Scissor Blade, and her own powerful uniform, or «kamui», called Senketsu, invloving into mind-blowing and vivid battles against Kiryuin minions; for one single purpose: To find the murderer of her father – Isshin Matoi.
On her quest, Ryuko has a wonderful ally on the very first friend she makes, Mako Mankashoku (Aya Suzuki), and an underground organization who acts as a «resistance group» against the rule of Satsuki, called Nudist Beach.
Now that was one hell of a premise.
Anyway. Kill la Kill is the first full anime produced by Studio Trigger; before that, Trigger only made Inferno Cop. Also, Kill la Kill was directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, and written by Kazuki Nakashima, both of them had previously worked on Gainax’s Gurren Lagann. Being released from October 2013 to March, 2014, Kill la Kill consisted in 24 episodes, and an OVA released on September 3, 2014, with the music being composed by Hiroyuki Sawano, who also worked in Blue Exorcist and The Seven Deadly Sins.
Finally, reception about Kill la Kill was largely positive, and it got better with the years. Watchmojo ranked #20 on their list of Top 20 Best Anime of the Decade. In fact, you can find many mentions of either Ryuko or Satsuki in many of the website videos. Again, every single episode is full of adrenaline, by the hand of the trademark style of Trigger (and the staff behind Gurren Lagann) colour, hyperactive animation, an ear-ecstatic soundtrack, intense choreography, especially from the battles between Satsuki and Ryuko.
To be honest, I was very surprise about the animation and the charater design, when I saw Kill la Kill years ago.
But that’s not all.
STORY
Like I said, Kill la Kill consists of 24 episodes and an OVA.
And as the story progresses, we find out that the story is more about mere fighting, or your typical sci-fi story with those teases of ecchi. Some episodes deal with themes like family, future, freedom (The clothes are evil. What do you expect?), friendship, and vengeance. This is one of the many things I love about Kill la Kill, every element of the plot has a purpose, something that allows each of the characters to grow in one way. And I mean all of them.
Furthermore, after you watch all the series of Kill la Kill, you realise this:
The Plot focuses on that authoritarian school, and those backing it, that must be stop at all cost.
The Story is about a girl fighting to discover the truth, with that path leading her to become more that she really is.
Because that is what you feel. As the story evolves, the characters evolve. The protagonists, the villains, the supporting cast, while you grow attached to all of them; of course you would choose some characters over others, but everyone is so special.
Another element that plays in favour is the animation. Along with the choreography, the moments where the animation goes into a really frenetic rhythm are those in which you almost feel the intensity of the fights, and how each of our characters feel at the moment, with some pieces of the background adding to the emotional charge, creating a epic, beautiful eye candy shot despite the overcrowding.
Pure epicness
And there are more moments.
Even for comedic moments, that rhythm really adds to the laughs.
By the way, fans of Little Witch Academia… did you notice how similar are Mako and Akko?
Definitely the animation is indeed one of a strength for the story.
Now. most of the people that have read my blog entries remember that sometimes I recommend for people to live the experience and create their own opinion, and Kill la Kill are one of those anime that make my statement warranted.
And if you like Gurren Lagann, you will definitely adore the story of Kill la Kill.
But there is one element left for me to mention.
CHARACTERS
And of course, I could not forget about the characters.
Personally, the design of Ryuko Matoi is one of my favourite. it has that feeling of the type of anti-hero that we like for being rebellious, yet likeable, and her outfit holds a pretty neat balance between good ol’ serafuku uniform and what you could expect from someone like Ryuko Matoi. Being an absolute badass and a girl with a gold heart, despite… not being so trusting.
Also… kudos to both Ami Koshimizu and Erica Mendes for bringing identity and strength to the character.
And speaking about great characters… Satsuki Kiryuin always have the power of being the «waifu» of many fans. Also, her hime cut is fantastic, when you compare her with other characters with hime cut, you understand why that hairstyle is so popular in anime.
(WONDERFUL, CHARMING LADIES)
But don’t let the arrogant, fearsome appearance from Satsuki Kiryuin fool you. The character is more complex and fascinating that it looks, especially during the second part of Kill la Kill.
Finally, we got Mako. The perfect comic relief, and foil of both Ryuko and Satsuki. A character that has a lot of energy and a lot of comedy that definitely reaches the limit of Adorkable. Seriously, every time I get to see Mako, I feel I am falling to the floor of how hysterical she is.
And of course we got so many others. And I wish I could have a lot of pictures that I can show here. But I am getting out of time.
But to sum up, the cast of Kill la Kill has a lot of variety and charm, exactly that you would expect from the staff who created Gurren Lagann. And now, I can see that a lot of love has put in the characters, and their distinct personalities.
And we will remember Kill la Kill because of that.
CONCLUSION
Despite being the first official anime of Trigger, Kill la Kill is definitely one of its best creations. And now that set the standard of many of their most recognisable trademarks, crazy, vivid animation; creative, nuanced characters; epic, imaginative battles, and a great lore of their stories.
And the same model was followed by other creations, such as Little Witch Academia, SSSS Gridman, Ninja Slayer from Animation, Space Patrol Luluco, one of the best anime of 2013, and of course… one of the best anime of the 2010s.
Done.
Thanks again guys for joining me on my review of Kill la Kill. Next time (Not tomorrow, because I don’t trust my words), I will come with a new review, until them…
And today, I am going to take my time to review a movie that, definitely, is one of the best movies of 2019 by far.
Well… the title says it all.
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SKYFALL, SPECTRE AND AMERICAN BEAUTY…
«1917»
But before I continue with the review. I must ask you guys… The Question.
«Are you guys ok?» «Are you having a good time?»
If you are happy, I am happy.
Now, let’s go on to the review.
STORY
As I said, 1917 is directed by Sam Mendes, and tells the the story of two British soldiers during World War I; Lance Corporal William Schofield, played by George MacKay, and fellow Lance Corporal Thomas Blake, played by Dean-Charles Chapman, who must send a message to call off a planned attack to the German Army, which will result in the massacre of 600 soldiers due to a carefully strategic ambush beneath Hindenburg Line. Furthermore, the life of Blake’s brother, Lieutenant Joseph Blake, is also at stake. so the two soldiers must embark in a very dangerous mission through enemy fronts.
Before I continue, there are two facts that I must mention about 1917; the first one is that Mendes himself based the story on the experiences of his paternal grandfather, Alfred Mendes, who fought in the Belgian Front during two years.
The second fact is, and this is the one of the many that makes 1917 so outstanding, that the story is a whole «one continuous shot». What does this mean? Well, needless to say, that the movie looks like the camera is always recording, no cuts, no second takes. Nothing.
The only movie I have seen using this technique, so far, was a really realistic Colombian film, in all its crudeness.
One of the most mind-blowing films I have ever seen.
However, 1917 was filmed between April and June 2019, at the United Kingdom; so editor Lee Smith and one of my favourite cinematographers, Roger Deakins, put their greatest abilities in action to make 1917 feel like one single shot. And that is what makes the feeling of the movie so real, even in the slightest detail; not forgetting the relentlessly accurate portrayal of World War I, of course. Because of this, from the very beginning, you feel that every single event of 1917 really happened, like a documentary with the essence of a feature film.
Brought by the almost flawless directing of Sam Mendes. In fact, when I saw 1917 in the cinema, I immediately understood why is taking every single major association award for Best Director. Honestly, I have never seen a movie transmitting this sensation with such a terrible theme as war, it makes it more intense, epic and impactful to the audience; furthermore, I believe that 1917 was better directed than Joker. Now!! I still believe Joker is a great movie, and Todd Phillips did a really good job; but in terms of directing, 1917 gets to the audience quicker, and in probably the smartest way possible.
Of course, we have this delightful cast, that I will get to that later.
Nowadays, the best war (and anti-war) movies are required to be as accurate and human in terms of the political background as possible, and saying that we have a bunch of examples will be an understatement. However I will mention a few, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, Saving Private Ryan, Full Metal Jacket, Black Hawk Down and Grave of the Fireflies. And definitely 1917 is no exception. Once more, the amazing job done by Sam Mendes, and the performances of George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman is what makes the setting all more convincing, as well as tragic, thanks to the script written by Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns.
Overall, the story of 1917 cannot be any better. In my personal opinion, one of the best movies, not just of 2019, or from Sam Mendes, but also one of the best movies I have ever seen.
Now. regarding the cast, aside from MacKay and Chapman, we have very renowned actors like Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Mark Strong, and of course, Benedict Cumberbatch, who, despite appearing so little, leave an amazing impression on the whole movie, including Strong, who, personally, I am used to see him as a villain (Case in point… Green Lantern)
«Please, don’t hate me for mentioning that trash. You too Ryan.»
KICK-ASS… There you go!!!
And I can assure you that the CUMBERBUTCHS (Myself included), will enjoy his appearance in this movie. To the point of being one of his best performances. (In fact, when I think about Cumberbatch and 1917, the performance of Judi Dench from Shakespeare in Love comes to my mind).
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, 1917 is definitely one of the best movies of 2019 for more reasons that people might think. It is an unique experience, and it is evident that everyone, both the cast and crew, put all its love and dedication, heart and soul, not just to make an outstanding masterpiece, but also to pay tribute to those brave men that fought in the worst conflict of human history until Second World War.
I heard many people claiming 2019 as a really terrible year for cinema. I beg to differ. At least we got two wonderful jewels.
Joker… and 1917.
(And of course… Avengers: Endgame)
Now. before I finish, I want to make a final warning about the movie… Pseudo-spoiler to say the least. FROM this point, you can keep reading, it’s up to you my friends.
And that is… the ending.
THE ENDING IS A DOWNER ONE, BUT NOT FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU MIGHT THINK. LIVES ARE SAVED, BUT THERE ARE NO WINNERS. AND THERE ARE, AT LEAST, THREE REASONS OF WHY THE FINAL ACT FEELS LIKE A TRAGEDY.
THAT IS WHAT I FELT. AND I INVITE YOU, MY FRIENDS, TO FIND OUT ALL THESE THREE REASONS.
THE REST… ENJOY 1917. ONE MOVIE THAT WILL DEFINITELY KEEP TAKING MORE ACCOLADES HOME.
Welcome to another film review. After so many years (two at least of waiting), I am happy to announce I have finally watched Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, a.k.a., Star Wars – Episode IX.
It’s the time of the Truth. Or shall I say… The Time of The Force.
But before I continue, there are two things I want to tell you. The First one… MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND A HAPPY NEW 2020. (Hopefully I will continue giving you more reviews.)
And the second thing… Are you guys doing alright? If you are happy, especially in these holidays, then I am happy too.
With that said, ready for the review.
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
Story
Taking one year after the events of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the story begins when Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, finds a very unexpected clue that will not only change the life of his enemies from the Resistance, but also the fate of the galaxy in the amazing conclusion of the nine-part journey of what now we know as THE SKYWALKER SAGA. And of course, the Jedi Apprentice Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, will join her good ol’ friends, Finn, played by John Boyega, and Poe Dameron, played by Oscar Isaac, to stop Ren and the First Order at all cost.
And of course… we also have this amazing cast that includes the late Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Lupita Nyong’o, Joonas Suotamo, Domhnall Gleeson, Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell, Richard E. Grant, Kelly Marie Tran…
But the best part is the return of veteran Star Wars actors Billy Dee Williams and Ian McDiarmid, as Lando Calrissian and Sheev Palpatine respectively. And of course, the movie is directed by J.J. Abrams (My respects), who also directed The Force Awakens.
First and foremost, you must know that I am a huge fan of Star Wars since I was a kid; I watched every single movie in the cinemas, from the original Star Wars to Return of the Jedi, including The Phantom Menace, and I liked it (Already admitted). The only one that I skipped was Attack of the Clones (possibly worst title of Star Wars). And when Disney announced a new trilogy, I went bananas, especially after watching The Force Awakens…
Sorry for all this digressing, but definitely anyone has its own personal anecdote regarding Star Wars…
My point is that this is the movie that I was expecting from the beginning of 2019, as much as Avengers: Endgame or Joker; and as soon as the movie was released, I immediately bought my ticket and went to the cinema, and… It was a surprise for me!!!
Look, some of you might be thinking that I am overreacting, and that The Rise of Skywalker is not even that great. I am not going to lie. The first act is pretty rushed, especially its first ten minutes; and with all due respect to the memory of Carrie Fisher, but some of her parts are not that believable, you can notice that there is a green screen used for General Leia Organa, which sadly ruins some of the magic, even though I perfectly understand that there was no choice, especially after Fisher’s tragic death.
Nevertheless the movie improves its pacing and rhythm, taking its time to let us enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Galaxy; and feel its atmosphere in some scenes, which is also one of the beauties from the Star Wars Universe. (Those who have seen Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace definitely know what I am talking about). Especially during the action sequences, where probably The Rise of Skywalker might have too much of them, but I think these are well-edited, and Star Wars fans, both from the classic movies and the post-2012 ones, will enjoy them.
Like I said, the movie improves its rhythm, and by the time of the second act, you start understanding the purpose of everything that is going on in the story, except from some parts that should follow this rule – SHOW, DON’T TELL; but, by this point, the conflict between Kylo Ren and Rey reaches its highest peak. And slowly, some of the questions from both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi are answered, which is kind of disappointing because we, as fans, demanded more, but the film still is entertaining enough to make desire more. Better still, The Rise of Skywalker gets into more action rather than exposition, and the former is simple, so we, as audience, can really feel the story and enjoy it… For the most part.
Finally, that third act… BY THE FORCE!!! Ok. Probably is not the best battle from the Star Wars cinematic franchise, but it is definitely what you expect from this sequel trilogy. However, don’t get too excited about the Knights of Ren and the Sith Troopers. I need to tell this by now, because, due to the hype of this movie, they will definitely disappoint you.
Overall, the story is pretty well-balanced, and enjoyable enough, at least during the second and the third act, because the first one is not good despite the epic moments. To be honest, I was very impatient in the cinema, hoping to see the epic final battle between the Resistance and the First Order, struggling not to see the rest as pure filler.
Personally, I find hard to believe that The Rise of Skywalker costed between 250 and 300 million; on the other hand, that can be justified with the changes of the script done by J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio, or perhaps because the fans were so outraged by The Last Jedi, which I personally enjoyed as much as The Empire Strikes Back. That’s why I got my respects for Abrams; he had a big responsibility, and the sudden departure of Colin Trevorrow during production did not make things easier.
Nonetheless I had so much fun with the good parts. However I will give you a simple advice, focus on these four elements of the overall story:
The conflict between Rey and Kylo Ren
The answered mysteries of both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi
Land Calrissian
The final battle
With that, the movie will become a joyride.
CHARACTERS
Wow!!! This is kind of a hit and miss
Okay. All of the actors are great, especially Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley; as I said before, these two are the ones who are holding the movie. Moreover, despite my earlier criticism, I think Carrie Fisher does pretty good as Leia. Let’s recognise it… That character was made for Fisher.
Speaking of which… Lando Calrissian was definitely a treat. Once more, Billy Dee Williams puts that good ol’ scoundrel at his best. In fact, ever since Disney announced the sequel trilogy, I never stop wondering:
When we are going to see Lando Calrissian?
And now… here we go. The only problem is that he could be used a little more, or at least more than I could expect. I guess the story and the script did not really had a lot of time for him. But at least he came in the best way possible.
The same goes to Keri Russell as Zorii Bliss. Apparently she has a very important role of a certain character, but her presence is so rushed and so contrived it ends up pretty unconvincing. I wish the script was more polished. If there is a future sequel, or a spin-off, perhaps Keri Russell will have a bigger role.
And what about Finn? Or Poe Dameron? Or R2-D2? The movie states that there is a bond between these three, but if you see this movie, along with The Last Jedi, you will definitely not buy it. At least Mark Hamill gets a pretty good part with despite the script.
Do you see a pattern here? We love most of the characters from the sequel trilogy, but the script of The Rise of Skywalker does not deliver the story they deserve, and that’s a shame, because despite some «moment» between Finn and some «other character» throughout The Last Jedi, there was a lot of potential of all of them.
What a shame.
CONCLUSION
To sum up, I enjoyed The Rise of Skywalker. Personally I don’t think it’s the conclusion that the sequel trilogy deserved, but is a pretty decent conclusion for The Skywalker Saga, and I still gonna watch it again; in addition, most likely the movie will generate the same controversy that came from The Last Jedi.
But with that aside, Episode IX is a really exciting movie, with great visuals, great characters, beautiful and poignant moments and this sensation of the vastness of The Galaxy; all what Star Wars is about. And just like both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker will continue to inspire a lot to talk about for the years to come.
I guess that all I can say is… See it by yourself.
Hey guys. This review includes spoilers. I do not if it is appropriate, or stupid, to warn about spoilers of a trailer. But since this is something special, and keeping in mind that the Release of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is today, at least in Japan, I think we can remind the readers they have the right of being amused… in both right and wrong ways. Especially for such an incredible cultural icon.
Having said that, let’s continue.
SURVIVING MY OWN THOUGHTS
Well guys… The day has come. I have done the unthinkable. I… watched the first trailer of the Live Action movie… of Sonic the Hedgehog. And…
Were do I start?
Ok. First and foremost, my childhood was taken over by Mario, Megaman, Castlevania, Zelda, Star Fox, Ninja Gaiden, Street Fighter, Doom, Duke Nukem, Donkey Kong, Indiana Jones, Resident Evil, F-Zero, and thousand of millions of racing games (I still miss Cruisin’ the World and my precious N64).
So many amazing gaming icons, and Sonic is definitely NOT one of them. Yet. I am very familiar with the kind of universe and lore Sonic belongs to. Why am I saying this? Simple. Because I think it is not something a movie with live action actors can replicate without any major controversy. This is not Alita: Battle Angel.
In addition, we are all familiar with the infamous relationship between video games and Hollywood movies. I have disliked most of them. I rather become a zombie rather than watch any Resident Evil movie directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. (Seriously. What the f»*k has Alice in Wonderland has to do with Resident Evil?). And… I prefer to forget that I watch the reboot of Tomb Raider in cinemas (But Alicia Vikander was great) Anyway, sorry about my digressing. The point is… Does Hollywood really think they can take Sonic the Hedgehog and make a good movie?
I… starting to lose the faith… even before I have faith.
I confess that, since this movie was announced, I could not come to terms that Hollywood was making a movie of Sonic the Hedgehog. I still can’t believe that Pokemon: Detective Pikachu really exists. I explored many possible plots for a Sonic the Hedgehog live-action adaptation. None was able to convince me.
I don’t know. Personally I don’t think Sega should handle its property like that. It would end up the same way as the disastrous, yet entertaining, Super Mario Bros movie, starring John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins. And after watching this trailer, I think it’s gonna be like that.
But why can I be a little more specific?
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
«Gotta go fast!!» – I agree Sonic. Scaring the moviegoers with your appearance is a terrible idea.
Now. The first 15 seconds of the trailer are fantastic. From the officer holding Sonic’s hair to seeing the logos of both Paramount Pictures and Sega, along with the Sonic Rings, was so awesome. But after that… all simply goes wrong. I personally can’t understand why the background music is Gangsta’s Paradise, from Coolio. I would use California Sun, from Rancid. I don’t know why. I simply think the tempo and rhythm are more appropriate with Sonic. And then… we got the fakest and most bizarre version of Sonic the Hedgehog, the shoes are ok, but for me, the fact that Sonic doesn’t have gloves goes completely against the character. And then a bunch of military gathers for how to deal with the «problem of the energy surge» provoked by the speed of Sonic.
And then… Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey.
It was exquisite to see Jim Carrey!!! And the jokes delivered were hysterical. And, believe it or not, I bought that he was indeed Dr. Robotnik, despite his outfit. In fact… That is something Carrey adapted pretty well. Yeah. I mentioned Carrey because I don’t think that was the idea came from the producers.
Then we see officer Tom Wachowski, played by James Marsden (You know, Cyclops), who encounters Sonic, forcing him to do, absolutely, the worst joke of the trailer.
«Meow?»
It is impossible not to compare that moment with the infamous last joke of the trailer of the reboot of Ghostbusters.
«The Power of Patty compels you.»
And at this point, the eyes, the fur, the expressions, and the design of Sonic feels so bizarre and repelling. With Detective Pikachu, the CGI feels well constructed, but here… Shortly, Sonic states that he has to «save the planet».
With that design of yours Sonic… I have no comments.
The last part features Good Ol’ Jim Carrey stealing the show with his character… specially on the last seconds of the trailer, which will definitely surprises the fans. I will not spoil them. All I am going to say is that… there are absolutely marvellous.
Unlike another bad joke that comes from Officer Wachowski, after putting Sonic in a bag. A woman asks him whether or not is carrying «his child» on a bag; to which he promptly answers.
«No. I mean Yes. It’s a child, but it’s not mine.»
Seriously. Who wrote that? Who actually thought that was funny? Afterwards, the face of the character looks like… What have I done? But for me, that’s was the actor, perhaps regretting saying such a stupid joke.
Anyway.
Of course there are some good parts of the trailer. The fights between Sonic and Dr. Robotnik look pretty awesome. But the part in which Sonic, literally, copies the iconic scenes of Quicksilver in both X-Men Days of Future Past and X-Men Apocalypse is very crude and implausible. Perhaps I said that last sentence because I am not the greatest fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, but I did not convince me.
CONCLUSION
What can I see? Some fans say that people can judge a movie for its trailer. And this might not be the exception. Ok. It is very soon to say whether Sonic the Hedgehog will be good or bad, however, the movie definitely left a very lame first impression with the trailer.
And the fact that most of the movies based on video games are terrible will NOT help the movie. On the other hand, both fans and moviegoers will watch the movie for curiosity, custom, or perhaps to confirm that Sonic the Hedgehog is an unintentional comedy. So it’s going to be a financial success for the wrong reasons.
Or a box office bomb.
Nevertheless, one thing is for sure. With this trailer, and the upcoming release of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, May is gonna be an interesting month, and, possibly, the greatest prelude of the summer season. (Winter in Australia.)
Before starting with this review, I just want to let you know, guys, that the bold texts contain spoilers, so please be careful with that.
With that said, let’s continue.
PROLOGUE
HELLO MY FRIENDS. How are you today? I hope that you guys are ok. And I apologise for not updating my blog in almost two months. I was busy at work, and I have other projects that took most of my time. But during these days, I watched a lot of new anime, and I am back in action.
One of them… Well… The title says it all.
When I saw that the first episode of the second season of this fantastic epic anime was released, I literally said…
«HOLY COW! I NEED TO WATCH IT BEFORE I DIE!»
I did… AND I LOVED IT.
And now I am happy to bring you this review.
SAITAMA MEETS… ALL MIGHT?
In this episode, we start with Good Ol’ Saitama, and his apprentice, the cyborg Genos, going back to their «normal» lives, and getting groceries, but suddenly Saitama sees a figurine of King, a.k.a. The Strongest Man on Earth. Coincidentally, both meet King in the streets, fighting two super-villains; one of them surrenders after witnessing King’s «aura», which is seen in his facial expression, and that I will call calm, cool and imposing; as well as his «strong heartbeats», a.k.a., the King Engine. But when the other one, a giant robot created by The Organization, arrives to wreak havoc, King suddenly disappears.
As expected, Genos fights the giant robot, along with Saitama… Oh wait… He also disappears!! If not, the robot will be dead by now.
I will be honest. Up to this point, I was really looking forward to see what’s going to happen. I wanted to be surprised by King himself, not because he is «The Strongest Man on Earth», but because there are so many cool heroes in One-Punch Man, just like in My Hero Academia; in fact, King reminded me All Might in a way; however, two of the strongest pillars of the comedy of One Punch Man are the creativity and the power to amaze the fans, or at least in my case.
Having said that, this is not the exception.
The episode later reveals that King is…
«An unemployed, 29-year-old, otaku loser!»
And yes. King reveals this to us. He only happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, with «someone else» killing the foes King encounters. Anyway, he runs away, gets home, and meets Saitama. Both play the newest release of Doki Doki Sisters, until King is forced to confess Saitama he’s been lying. Also, he discovers that Saitama is not only the same hero that King encountered in the past, but also the one who saved the latter’s life after getting his scar.
Finally, the episode ends with Genos claiming victory over the robot, and Saitama sharing some pearls of wisdom to King:
«Then why don’t you just get strong?»
Then we have some hints about Genos’s past and the return of some fan-favourite characters… Fubuki and Sonic.
MY THOUGHTS
Just like in the first season, the combination between comedy and action is brilliant, something you can always expect from the same creator of Mob Psycho 100. I couldn’t stop laughing at the comedic moments, especially when it comes to the presence of Saitama, whose calmness in the direst situations is hysterical. Moreover, witnessing how Genos has become stronger is so satisfying, proving again that he is one of the greatest characters of One Punch Man. Both Genos and Saitama have an amazing chemistry together in this episode, and King himself leaves an ever-lasting impression, to the point that, on behalf of all the fans of One Punch Man, I would say that you want to see more of him. And we will indeed. Somehow, I compare the first episode of season 2 with the very first episode of One Punch Man, because the story and the pacing are very synchronised, and you get to understand all the main leads for the first moment.
And if the second season follows the rhythm and narrative of its predecessor, then fans will not get disappointed. The only problem is that perhaps newcomers of One Punch Man will be forced to see season one from the beginning in order to understand what it’s going on.
Moreover, I would say that One Punch Man s2 will be that good, but it is impossible to forget that, while the first season was produced by Madhouse (Boogiebop and Others, Card Captor Sakura), and directed by Shingo Natsume, J.C. Staff (Date a Live, Food Wars!) and Chikara Sakurai are in charge of this season 2. Additionally, the op, Seijaku no Apostle, is performed by JAM Project, who also sang the already classic «The Hero!! Set Fire to the Furious Fist» of season 1. It was a great song, but it will never reach the perfect epicness of its predecessor.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the first episode of One Punch Man, season 2 is a great start for a second season that took almost four years to see the world, and I would say that it was worth the wait. But like I said, is still too soon to compare both seasons, but for now, this is an anime I am more than willing to watch from the beginning to the end.
And let’s not forget Mob Psycho 100, whose first season I really enjoyed as much as I enjoyed One Punch Man.
Just to let you know, I am working in a review of The Rising of the Shield Hero, which will be ready in a few days. Until then, enjoy what I learned from someone else’s… «Love»
Where do I start?
You know… In the recent days, I think I discovered one type of horror that is really gives me goosebumps every time, in the most powerful way possible. A horror that, obviously, in is any genre, movies, tv shows. Even Anime itself. And I don’t know the correct name, but I think is the «horror drama», because it combines ordinary people, or ordinary real-life problems, and psychological thriller at its finest, convincing the audience that, in the least expected moment, what happens to the main lead can happen to them.
This is why I really love movies like Get Out, Se7en, A Quiet Place, and even The Conjuring franchise. And in anime there are solid examples, such as Erased (Boku dake ga Inai Machi)
The other one… Is Happy Sugar Life (ハッピーシュガーライフ in Japanese). And do not let the cutesy title fool you (I almost did that». This anime is… PRETTY F<C>K UP.
Based on the manga written and illustrated by Tomiyaki Kasigora, published by Square Enix, with eight volumes so far. Happy Sugar Life tells the story of high-schooler Sato Matsuzaka, who «lives» in an apartment with her «love», a young girl called Shio Kobe, who she wants to protect… by any means necessary, including kidnapping… and murder.
From the first episode, we see that Sato Matsuzaka is not precisely an example of good mental health. She is a literal Yandere (Yuno Gasai, Kotonoha Katsura and Mana Ouma for further references), but all what she wants is to live her «happy sugar life» with the person that she loves the most, while she understands what love really is, or tries to.
The problem is that everyone wishes lusts for her, because of her looks or . And I am not using the term «lust» so loosely. I mean… We want her to satisfy their deepest carnal desires, inspired by their own… «unique and precious» definition of «love» (which apparently includes sexual misconduct). And this is what makes the horror of Happy Sugar Life so effective, in two ways. The first one is that every character is twisted in his or her own way, making you feel pretty unease when you discover their true colours, and what «love» really is for them, to the point that you just want to run anyway from them. Interestingly enough, this «twisted» way of love is what make the supporting cast so interesting, Aside from Sato and Shio, the cast includes Taiyo Mitsuboshi, a handsome young man with some «preferences», Shoko Hida, Sato’s best friend, Asahi, Shio’s older brother, sensei Daichi Kitaumekawa, Sumire Miyazaki, a girl interested in Sato, and finally, Sato’s aunt.
The second way is that Happy Sugar Life deals with real-life problems (Domestic violence, kidnapping, bullying, rape, sexual misconduct, stalking, etc.). Needless to say that we have been seeing in the news cases of people like this, especially in Japan. Combine the characters and the constant plot trying to meet their «love», and the fact that you can meet people like any of these characters in real life, and you will immediately feel the same constant uneasiness that you feel when you see movies like Get Out, It follows or A Quiet Place.
Forgive me if I am not going into much detail of some of this «love» that inspires the cast, but I really do not want to spoil this experience from you, especially if you are familiar with Yuno Gasai, Kaede Fuyou, and Kotonoha Katsura. All I can say is that imagine what will happen if a Yandere lives in a terrible world, trying to beat people who is as awfuly as the Yandere herself.
Regarding the animation, I cannot say it is the best animation, but it’s pretty decent. the studio behind Happy Sugar Life is called Ezo’la. One curious detail is that, so far, Happy Sugar Life is the only production done by this studio, which would explained why none of this animation style is familiar for you. Nonetheless, I praise Ezo’la in animation in showing a balance between the happy moments and the disturbing ones. I almost forgot to mention, there is some comedy in Happy Sugar Life, with some funny faces of the characters, despite this, the tone and the pacing of the episodes is never affected, retaining its consistency until the end.
Happy Sugar Life consists in 12 episodes, which aired from July 14 to September 29, 2018. The opening «One Room Sugar Life» is performed by Akari Nanawo, known for voicing Mash Kyrielight from the mobile game Fate/Grand Order; I just want to mention this opening, because, when you watch it, you will immediately think about Puella Magi Madoka Magica, possibly evoking the darker tone of Happy Sugar Life; in addition, the ending, called «Sweet Hurt, is performed by Reona, knowing for being the singing voice of Elsa Kanzaki, in Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online.
Definitely I will recommend it for those who love horror anime, or just want to see something new from a romantic comedy, especially a yuri-themed one.
But I want to share the following morale from Happy Sugar Life with you.
![[HorribleSubs] Ninja Slayer - 01 [720p][(004570)19-58-20]](https://jainituos.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/horriblesubs-ninja-slayer-01-720p00457019-58-20.png)
Jainituos Presents 