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Ashyukun
 
 
 
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    4
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  • First review
    July 21, 2008
  • Last review
    August 6, 2008
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    4.3
 
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Ashyukun's Reviews
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Anime action in HD
on August 6, 2008
Posted by: Ashyukun
from Kentucky
The third animated outing of Masamune Shirow's post-apocalyptic story, Ex Machina follows in its immediate predecessor's footsteps of being entirely 3D computer animated. I was less than pleased with how the characters in the movie from a few years ago looked, but either the technology has improved or I've just gotten more accustomed to looking at it as the character animation bothered me far less in Ex Machina.
Ex Machina takes place sometime following the events of the previous movie as Olympus is still in the process of rebuilding from the climax of the first movie. The story focuses on Briareos and Deunan as usual, but throws a wrench into their mix with the arrival of Tereus, a bioroid (artificial human) heavily based on Briareos's DNA. The story follows their struggles to find their places among each other as they combat the newest thread to Olympus (and the world).
It's easy to see that John Woo produced this movie- anyone familiar with his works will recognize some of his hallmarks (white doves, shells falling everywhere, twin-handgun wielding). Amusingly, at least one of them actually gets worked into the plot for once. The action is fast-paced and very well animated- I have this in HD-DVD and it looks gorgeous, presumably the Blu-Ray looks just as good.
The only slight downside might be that there is a slight lack of background given on some of the characters and the situation. Having seen the previous movie (and/or the much older OVA) definitely helps- but honestly I think it probably stands well enough on its own. The background material just helps add to the enjoyment of it.
Overall, this is an excellent early outing of anime into the realm of HD media, and comes highly recommended.
What's great about it: Beautiful in HD, moves quickly
What's not so great: May be confusing without backstory
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great 'wrap up' of the show for fans
on July 24, 2008
Posted by: Ashyukun
from Kentucky
This movie is a great continuation and somewhat of a wrap up from the original TV show, pulling in a large host of the many characters from the TV series. It's just a good, fun romp through the Futurama universe one more time, and advances a few plot points a bit as well. The only 'con' I'd have for it was that it at points felt like it dragged a little- and the major 'twist' was really predicable from early on.
Still, it's a lot of fun and I think anyone who was a fan of or enjoyed the TV series will get a kick out of it.
Be sure and check out the extras too! The episode of 'Everybody Loves Hypnotoad' is a laugh a minute!
What's great about it: Fun and quirky, great extras
What's not so great: Seems a bit long at times, somewhat predictable
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Beautiful and surreal- classic Satoshi Kon
on July 22, 2008
Posted by: Ashyukun
from Kentucky
Anyone who recognizes the name 'Satoshi Kon' probably has a pretty good idea of what they're in for when it comes to watching one of his movies- or rather, that they should probably not go in expecting -anything- other than to be in for a great ride, usually with a good bit of surreality thrown in (Tokyo Godfathers being the somewhat more 'down to earth' exception to this).
Paprika tells the story of a group of doctors/scientists who have developed a device to allow them to enter other people's dreams with the hopes of using them to cure psychological problems. Unfortunately, someone has stolen some of the prototypes and is using them to wreak havoc and actually break people's minds, so they (largely through the skillful dream navigation of their leader's alter-ego, Paprika) set out to recover the stolen devices and repair the damage that has been done.
Satoshi Kon has a habit of playing with our perceptions of reality and twisting them around in his works, and Paprika is no exception- the dream sequences allow him ample flexibility to flex his creative muscles and conjure up some incredible visuals. Relating to his earlier works, Paprika is probably closest in nature to Paranoia Agent, though obviously with a rather nice movie budget backing it up. The voice work (at least in the original Japanese track, I haven't watched the dub), especially that of the pulled-from-semi-retirement Hayashibara Megumi (female Ranma, Lina Inverse, Faye Valentine) is top notch as well. Satoshi Kon and the original story's (the movie is based on a novel) author even have cameos.
If surreal fantasy isn't your thing, this movie almost certainly for you. But fans of Satoshi Kon's previous works will be in absolute heaven, and those willing to watch it with an open mind will likely be absolutely delighted with this romp through the world of dreams.
What's great about it: Absolutely gorgeous on Blu-ray, intriguging story, fun characters
What's not so great: May be a bit -too- surreal for some people
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent slice-of-life anime
on July 21, 2008
Posted by: Ashyukun
from Kentucky
Kamichu! (short for 'Kamisama de Chuugakusei', loosely 'The Goddess is a Middle-School Student') is a single-season 'slice of life' anime series the focuses on middle-school student Yurie who suddenly becomes a God (one of a great many, following traditional Japanese Shinto beliefs) and who must now not only deal with the usual issues a middle-schooler must (like her one-sided crush on a boy in her class) but also the new powers and responsibilities that her now Godliness entails.
Like most slice-of-life series, Kamichu! doesn't have a whole lot in the way of grandiose plot or drama- after the initial setup and establishment of the characters, the stories largely stand on their own. There's also really not much action, essentially (but not entirely) no fighting, and overall not a whole lot of real conflict. Kamichu! moves at a very slow pace at times- heck, in one episode Yurie never moves from underneath her family's Kotatsu (heated table) for the entire episode. But (again, like many slice-of-life series), the show is far more about the characters and how they approach their everyday lives and the lessons they learn while doing so.
Overall, it's just a nice, relaxing, and cute show that's great when you want to sit back and watch something that will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling.
What's great about it: Beautiful animation, amusing characters, interesting stories
What's not so great: slow pacing definitely not for everyone, difficult to find a copy of
I would recommend this to a friend!
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