etg1701 Reviews

Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry (2006–2007)

Interesting ideas but some unanswered questions

[6/10 · 23 June 2009]

As something of a fan of mecha anime, I have long planned to watch this series but only recently found the opportunity. Though quite brief, only a dozen or so episodes, Soukou manages to present some nifty implications of time dilation as well as some strange concepts (like Emily and her people). Unfortunately, its short length leaves little time to explain the setting in detail and by the end many questions remain unanswered. We never learn much of anything about the Union and the Deague, for example, and many of the technologies and ideas introduced get little explanation. Some of the comedic antics also hinder the show at times, as they seem rather out of place in such a grave situation.

After War Gundam X (1996)

The Forgotten Gundam

[8/10 · 5 February 2008]

In a franchise made famous by flashy attention grabbers like Gundam Wing and SEED, as well as the original series, Gundam X stands in the shadows of these greater successes. As with Wing and G Gundam, this show takes place in one of the alternative continuities, specifically the After War era, in which war between Earth and the Colonies has nearly wiped out the human race.

Notably, Gundam X generally avoids the typical conflict between the Earth and the colonies and casts it in a new light when it does come up. Instead the show focuses on Vultures, roving bands of scavengers of varying moral integrity, and a young boy Garrod Ran who joins a Vulture ship. It also provides some intriguing answers concerning the question of Newtypes and where they truly come from.

Unfortunately, the series faced premature cancellation at only 39 episodes, forcing something of a rushed ending. This has no doubt contributed to its unfortunate reputation.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny (2004–2005)

Flashy but insipid

[4/10 · 19 December 2007]

This series revives many the characteristically flashy visual and musical elements that gave the first SEED its barrages of pink laser fire and pervasive J-Pop background. Of course these worked much better with a good plot and characters to back them up. Despite its promising start, this series spirals out of control with the reappearance of Kira Yamato from the first SEED. Little by little, the intended protagonist Shinn falls to the way side until the hopelessly perfect Yamato takes his place. The notion of 'real robots' once so central to earlier incarnations of Gundam effectively fades away with the introduction of inexplicably godlike mecha for most of the major characters, reaching the apotheosis of absurdity with the one Kira receives.

Bats: Human Harvest (2007 TV Movie)

Every bit as bad as it sounds

[1/10 · 11 November 2007]

Dull one-note characters with next to no development, unimpressive performances by people who sound like they're simply reading lines, and ludicrous special effects combine to make this a genuine stinker. The story begins with eminently bland commando Russo and his fellow soldiers attacking an Al-Qaeda training base. The scene tells us that Al-Qaeda has recently come to seek an ultimate weapon, and also serves to illustrate Russo's only character trait, a tendency to eschew teamwork. With the help of a collection of blank slates and walking stereotypes, including a Russian spy, Russo travels to Chechnyan territory to catch a mad scientist working for the terrorists. Along the way, they encounter vast hordes of flesh-eating bats that fly in broad daylight for some reason. From there, the movie becomes nothing more than a dragging morass of ridiculous action, including a scene in which a swarm of bats slices a soldier's arm off!

Ikiru (1952)

A masterpiece

[9/10 · 29 October 2007]

It is unfortunate that Japanese television calls to mind overly elaborate mecha battles and bizarre scenes of tentacle monsters, for this film portrays an altogether different side of Japanese cinema. It tells the simple tale of a dying man, Watanabe, and how he reacts to the news of terminal stomach cancer over the course of several months. Despite its serious premise, Ikiru balances sorrow with clever touches of humor, such as an early scene demonstrating effectively the bureaucracy at which Watanabe works. Those expecting the rapid and action-packed style of modern films will no doubt find it slow and even ponderous at points, but I believe it hearkens back effectively to the days before movies driven fancy special effects and action at every turn.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (1997)

Largely redundant apart from some nice moments

[6/10 · 22 October 2007]

The Evangelion series itself may well be a true masterpiece, a rare example of a popular work that transcends its commercial origins and enters the realm of great art. Unfortunately, this film fails to really do it justice as it consists primarily of material already seen in either the television series or the film End of Evangelion. Additionally, they redubbed many of the voices for the English version, and the new voices often fall quite short of the old ones (even if they didn't necessarily live up to the Japanese ones to begin with). Touji's lines, in particular, fall spectacularly flat. On the positive side, it does introduce some new and hard to get footage interspersed with some nice musical numbers from Bach and Pachelbel.

Fantasia 2000 (1999)

Beautifully animated but very short

[7/10 · 30 September 2007]

As a big fan of classical music and to some extent of animation (mostly Japanese though), I long awaited the opportunity to watch this sequel to Fantasia. Finally, I found the time in my busy schedule this weekend to rent the movie and found it quite impressive. Without a doubt, the animation remains as wonderful, and as bizarre, as the original film with sequences that both astound and perplex (but in a good way). In particular, I enjoyed the recasting of the Pomp and Circumstance "graduation" march and unlikely but surprisingly effective union of Pines of Rome and a pod of whales at their most surreal. Only one issue truly disappointed me, that being the surprisingly short length of the film, a bit over half the length of the original. This, I believe, detracted from the overall sense of grandeur and gravity that the first seemed to possess despite the fact that it was "mere" animation.

Princess Mononoke (1997)

A masterpiece in anime

[9/10 · 9 April 2007]

There have been many times where after watching an anime, I have found myself seriously questioning the value of the medium. Whether due to misogynism, gratuitous violence, or tentacles, I walk away wondering what is going on in Japanese culture. Princess Mononoke, like Miyazaki's other works, is not a vehicle for shameless fan-service, nor does it rely on the tired and implausible concept of mecha as its selling point, unlike so much anime I have seen. Instead, it deals with the age-old tension between human attempts to shape the environment for its own ends and the life-and-death power of nature.

Despite its clear point, Princess Mononoke does not stray into obvious lines of good and evil or try to drop the message on the viewer like an anvil. Rather, it portrays both sides of the conflict in a balanced manner, showing the good and the bad and depicting the harm brought by hate on both sides. Perhaps the only major flaw I can see is that Miyazaki's romanticized monarchism, which leads him to again bring out the decidedly clichéd heroic warrior-prince/princess.

Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend (1989)

Would squick even the Marquis de Sade

[2/10 · 5 October 2006]

If ever there were a case where the use of the admittedly repugnant term "degenerate art" is justified, this is probably it. Guaranteed to put anyone's faith in freedom of expression to the test, this movie has it all: demons, violence, rape, and of course tentacles. You know you're in for something truly terrifying when even the heavily censored version released in the US is rated NC-17 is banned outright in several nations. To be fair, underneath the endless sex scenes and gruesome violence, there is an interesting, though hardly sublime, plot, apparently a hentai/horror take on the Nietzschean übermensch.

Those with weak stomachs will definitely want to give this one a pass. Those with strong stomachs will want to bring a vomit bowl before starting. Even de Sade would feel a little sick in places...

Rock-A-Doodle (1991)

Just say no

[1/10 · 9 September 2006]

Every so often, the basest elements of the human race, from the Holocaust to the Great Leap Forward, gush forth and wreak havoc on the world. With the release of this atrocious work, they have struck again. OK, that may be a bit much, but I think I've made my point. Perhaps I'm being a classical snob, but I can't help feeling a bit of annoyance at the Elvis vs. Bach set-up of the movie. However, what really gets under my skin are the silly characters (talking animals as usual, one with a "cute", that is to say pointless, speech impediment), the dull, insipid plot, the heavy-handed narration, and so on. In short, when it comes to Rock-a-doodle, just say no.

Elfen Lied (2004)

Violent but for a very good reason

[9/10 · 11 August 2006]

Elfen Lied is notorious, at least among fans of anime, for its graphic violence and frequent nudity. However, these aspects are merely part of what is in fact an excellent series. More than just an unsettling mix of cute little girls and intense gore, Elfen Lied is a series about nature vs. nurture, love vs. hate, the future of humanity, and similar themes. Yes, the show is quite violent, but this violence underscores these themes well and as we later learn, is not merely just a product of instinctual brutality. With only thirteen episodes in total, Elfen Lied is short but sweet and well worth watching. Just remember, you'll never look at cat-girls the same way again.

Amadeus (1984)

The tragedy of Mozart's life

[10/10 · 28 July 2006]

In today's pop-fixated culture, it's easy to forget that the techniques of harmony, musicianship, and so on were invented hundreds of years ago by the classical musicians. Unfortunately, I would say by now that classical music has all but become the real alternative music these days given its minority popularity. As such, I was quite pleased to see a film about Mozart and his rivals in the world of music.

It goes without saying that the film has a great soundtrack featuring many of Mozart's best loved works. It also manages to be dramatic without being too heavy. Salieri's angst balances with Mozart's silliness to keep things both entertaining, even humorous, while dealing with a dark plot of unfulfilled dreams, growing madness, and tragedy. All in all, a great film and a reminder of a time before Elvis was king.

SpongeBob SquarePants (1999– )

Vastly overrated

[1/10 · 23 July 2006]

Normally, I wouldn't even bother giving this a review, but having been pushed over the edge by all those Spongebob key chains, sweatpants, etc. they're selling, I feel compelled to. Spongebob Squarepants is undoubtedly one of the most overrated cartoons of the 90s and 00s, indeed probably _the_ most overrated. I would say the characters are really my biggest issue, given their absurdity.

The titular sponge bares no resemblance to real sponges, essentially consisting of an artificial cleaning sponge with a face and legs (and those square pants) added. Of course, he has a pet, a snail that meows (no, that's not a typo). Other ludicrous characters include a crab who has sold out his own people and now makes a living running a crabby patty restaurant and a squirrel who, for some reason, has taken up residence under water.

In short, this is yet another silly cartoon that has gotten way more positive press than it deserves and exists mainly to drive the production of more merchandise. Strictly a show for children and even that may be giving it too much credit.

Eureka Seven (2005–2006)

Evangelion with surfboards

[6/10 · 19 July 2006]

Eureka seven concerns the journey of Renton Thurston from an ordinary 14 year old living in the shadow of his deceased hero father to a key member of Gekko-State, a sort of mobile micronation aboard a flying ship. His journey begins when a mecha (known as an LFO) crashes and its pilot emerges requesting help from Renton's grandfather. The pilot, it turns out, is a beautiful young girl, named Eureka (hence the name of the series) that Renton finds himself instantly enamored with. However, battle soon breaks out and the mecha take to the air, riding a substance known as trapar on a kind of surfboard (a concept which pervades the show). Sent to deliver a special device known as the Amita drive to Eureka, Renton finds himself caught in the greatest adventure of his life.

Things do not go well for Renton, however. The captain of the Gekko-State, Holland, does not get along with Renton for much of the series, even hitting him a few times. The Gekko-State itself is in conflict with the United Federation, which controls the planet and frequently sends surfing mecha LFOs of its own to do battle with it. Dealing with the conspiring Dewey and the jelly-slurping antithesis of Eureka, Anemone, as well, the people of Gekko State sure have their hands full. It seems Dewey has some issues with the mysterious Coralians and intends to wipe them out.

Despite this imaginative setting, Eureka Seven suffers from a strongly derivative quality at times. Eureka herself makes one wonder if a clone of Rei Ayanami didn't escape from NGE (apart from her pallid complexion and Spockish demeanor, she does not dream, she experiences a bizarre transformation at the end, even sprouting wings, and so on). Additionally, the series features the obligatory Mysterious Mecha that Aren't Really Mecha, the strange psychological sequences, and quasi-Apocalyptic quality made famous in Eva and copied by shows like RahXephon.

This derivative quality (along with the rather slow pace of the show which contains a slew of filler episodes, especially early on) is why I only gave it a six even though it improved greatly as it progressed, though I think even that might be too generous. Some have called such comparisons to Eva superficial and tell me to look at how these copied ideas are used to make a point rather than the fact that they are copied. I have looked for a point, but alas, a commercial concerning Eureka Seven has already shown me the purpose of the series: to sell mecha action figures.

Trigun (1998)

An excellent anime series

[8/10 · 1 July 2006]

In a nutshell, Trigun follows the heroic if goofy gunman Vash in his adventures on a distant planet with a distinctly Western motif. Vash, it seems, is not too popular and finds himself in constant danger. Evading bounty hunters and old enemies, his past is slowly revealed. Though a strict pacifist, Vash has superhuman speed and skill that aid him in battle due to the fact that he is a member of a mysterious race of quasi-angelic beings referred to only as Plants.

The pacifistic Vash has an arch-nemesis, however, his brother Knives, who has no problem with violence. It seems the humans exploit the Plants and Knives sees it as his duty to wipe out humanity as the only sure way of stopping them. Assembling an army of villains lead by Legato Bluesummers, he intends to make Vash pay for his compassion for humanity. Along the way, the ideals of peace are tested against the reality of conflict and even the immense skill of Vash cannot protect him from the grim choice to kill in order to prevent worse.

Despite its initial appearances, Trigun has a great plot, memorable characters, and surprisingly good music. As with many anime series, though, the first half is pretty slow and full of some silly stuff. Though not especially groundbreaking, it is well worth the time of any fan of anime.

RahXephon (2002)

An Eva clone with a few odd elements thrown in

[5/10 · 26 June 2006]

The main problem with RahXephon is that it tries too hard to duplicate the success of Neon Genesis Evangelion, ending up rather derivative and turgid in the process. It has it all: the teenager with the knack for mecha piloting and whining, the cute but enigmatic "waif prophetess", the mysterious mecha that isn't really a mecha, the strange invaders named according to the show's theme, the ancient conspiracy, the world cataclysm, and, of course, the Looming Apocalypse™.

Another issue is the rather incoherent and contrived feel that comes from trying to combine a musical (specifically operatic) motif with Mayan mythology. The writers did not seem particularly knowledgeable about music, however, and the most conspicuous example of the musical element is the fact that many of the angels, er, dolem look like giant stone Valkyries, suitably stylized to look Mayan, who use song as a weapon. Another is the rather silly naming scheme for the dolems, which seems to involve picking random terms out of a book on music.

Despite these rather glaring issues, RahXephon did have some nice aspects, such as the music, unsurprisingly, and some plot twists involving the origins of Ayato and so forth. Although hardly a great series, it's not too bad if you can't find much else to watch.

8MM (1999)

Will make you think twice before watching fetish porn

[8/10 · 16 May 2006]

I don't normally watch thriller or mystery films, but a few friends were watching it and I decided to give it a chance. I was surprised to find that it was much better than I expected. I had always heard about snuff films and bondage, but I never really gave such things much thought. While certainly not perfect, the film is well worth watching even if you aren't particularly into the genre.

Be warned, though, that it is quite brutal in places for obvious reasons. There are a few scenes involving graphic bondage/S&M porn of various sorts and a great deal of violence. To those unused to such levels of violence and sex, it may prove to be quite jarring, and it goes without saying that it will be disturbing in its implications (snuff films are real, after all).

Signs (2002)

Two stars for its few good moments...

[2/10 · 3 May 2006]

Where do I start? The absurd realism problems? The heavy-handed religious tub-thumping? The incredible stupidity of the aliens? Do I even need to bother giving a review since what I'm going to say has already been said? The aliens are stupid. They have advanced technology and yet eschew it in favor of making circles in fields and fighting hand to hand. They travel all the way to a world where 70% of the surface is covered in water even though it is incredibly corrosive to them. They don't even bother with any kind of protection from water. Just what do they want from Earth that can't be found on water-free planets, anyway?

The film ends with a religious message, which only makes the already flawed film worse, in my opinion. The film illustrates the notion that everything has a purpose with a series of rather implausible coincidences (if only all the terrible things that happened to me and people I know turned out to be part of a divine plan rather than rotten luck...) Issues like how aliens fit into Christian theology (that could have actually made for some interesting discussion) are conspicuously absent.

Despite the atrocious flaws I've highlighted, the film does have its bright spots. It is indeed rather creepy in places and has some redeeming moments. Still, they simply can't save it from the nonsense that pervades the movie.

The Matrix (1999)

One of the best films in recent times

[10/10 · 24 April 2006]

Over the past few years, we've been inundated with a deluge of silly, kitschy movies ranging from clichéd romantic comedies to Disney film sequels and so on. I am glad to say that The Matrix is not one of them. For once, it seems, we have a movie that manages to combine entertainment and excellent special effects with actual depth.

The Matrix does quite well in multiple areas, in fact, combining a philosophically interesting (though rather old in philosophical circles) premise with great special effects and action. There is also a rich layer of symbolism that rewards multiple viewings (note the book Neo has near the beginning of the film; it ties in with the philosophical theme).

Inuyasha (2000–2004)

Some wonderful moments...and some awful quarter seasons

[3/10 · 18 April 2006]

Rossini once described rival composer Wagner's work as having "some wonderful moments...and some awful quarter-hours". Inuyasha, it seems, can also be described this way. It has many great episodes, but in between them are countless filler episodes. The entire series consists of about 175 episodes, of which I'd say at least 125 are filler or some sort of subplot (I didn't bother to count and I wouldn't be surprised if that number were in fact higher, though).

Some of these filler episodes are actually quite enjoyable, though many are quite silly or dull. Nonetheless, the constant digressions start to wear thin after the first few seasons as the plot ends up progressing at a labored crawl for most of the series. Character development, too, slows down greatly and by the later seasons, the cast has become quite unchanging, resulting in increasingly stale jokes (particularly those concerning the monk, who's ironic traits start out as mildly humorous but grow tiresome when the jokes associated with them appear repeatedly).

However, all of that isn't to say that Inuyasha is a bad series. It just isn't a great series the way Neon Genesis Evangelion, for example, is generally considered to be. As something to watch at the end of a hard day, it is nice, but it could never be confused with high art.

Super Size Me (2004)

An informative yet entertaining film

[8/10 · 28 March 2006]

I think this is probably one of my favorite films, even though it's a documentary. In addition to showing some of the more frightening effects of fast food, it manages to deliver a great deal of background information and enlightening facts about the darker side of the fast food industry without getting dry (for example, it is revealed that people who eat at McDonalds at least once a weak are referred to as "heavy users").

The film provides a very good mix of unsettling facts and clever comedy and the satirical use of food and weight-themed songs also helped. I highly recommend this to anyone who is in denial of the dangers of obesity or fast food.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)

The Magnus Opus of anime

[10/10 · 19 March 2006]

I am at a loss for words to describe this work. It does for anime what Beethoven's 9th or Wagner's Ring cycle did for classical music. End of Evangelion combines intense action with emotional drama superbly. A number of scenes depicting graphic violence and sexual content will probably bother some viewers. These scenes, however, serve to underscore the themes of the movie for the most part.

The animation is excellent and the music is great (and features a number of nice works by Bach) and the symbolism is truly rich and elaborate, involving many elements of Christianity and Judaism as the entire series is sort of a take on the Apocalypse. However, as many have already mentioned, watching the anime series before hand is necessary to even remotely understand what is going on.

The Magic Voyage (1992)

I wish there were negative vote ratings....

[1/10 · 19 March 2006]

This is without a doubt one of the stupidest films ever created. Everything from the characters to the plot to the atrocious songs is just ridiculous to a degree that is simply unfathomable. It's actually rather hard to explain because the flaws are just too numerous. Suffice to say, you will need a vomit bucket for this.

It is certainly the worst movie I've seen all the way through and I'm shocked that it didn't get a perfect 1.0 out of 10.0 for the average score. If it were up to me, I'd give this stinker a -10 or better yet, go back in time and prevent it from ever being made. Oh well, there is anime for those in search of quality animation.

The Land Before Time (1988)

Quite good for Western animation

[7/10 · 16 March 2006]

I don't really like Western animation as it often just too silly and full of talking animals. Surely children deserve better than that sort of thing. This movie may be a children's film, but it's much better than one would expect, given the basic elements (like talking dinosaurs). In particular, it features a kind of darkness and tension that is usually lacking in children's movies. There is actual danger, sadness, and so on. It's one movie I can honestly say I would recommend for your children.

Over all, a good animated movie, though I would not recommend the sequels as they lose most of what made the original better than the average animation and degenerate into the kind of silliness that the first one avoided so well.