What Are You Watching?

[gunswordfist]

I loved how that sweat looked. I haven't really been impressed with how fast action has looked in the series before that. Also, the end of that fight is pretty funny.

[gunswordfist]

I watched episode 43...ok, now I feel stupid. I thought Heaven's Arena was over after the Hisoka fight. It was interesting seeing Killua get hurt against that spear guy and even more interesting seeing him use assassination mode with Nen. I've only seen him do that in Chimera Ant once.

Also, my favorite part from 2011 did happen in this episode. I liked the part where he met Gido and whatshisface in their apartment better in 2011 because of the parts where it looked like Killua was teleported around the room here and there and scaring the crap out of those guys. I also didn't know/forgot that Gido fought Hisoka.

[gunswordfist]

Episode 44 is in the books! Ok, NOW I finished Heaven's Arena. It's a nice little training arc. Over this version of the episode was funnier execution of the ending of Gon's fight with wheelchair whip guy and Pokkle being actually shown struggling with Nen was much funnier in 2011. Now starts the great part.....

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

York New City is way better in the 1999 anime, IMO. It just feels so much more intense.

[gunswordfist]

 

[gunswordfist]

Just finished episode 45, the first Yorknew episode. Good to see Kurapika again, they went more in depth with his training and there was a little bit of action.

[LumRanmaYasha]

2/3rds. OF. ASHITA NO JOE 2. FINISHED. 16. EPISODES. LEFT. MUST. MARATHON. THE. REST. BUT. CANT. WHY. DONT. I. HAVE. MORE. TIMMMEEEE!!!!

The Dragon Kim and Hawaii arcs were awesome. I'll reserve elaborate thoughts on those once I'm done with the entire series. Though, I'm perplexed as to why there needs to be another arc between the Hawaii arc and Joe and Jose's match, but it'll probably be great anyway so I don't mind. I just wan't to finish it soon now that I'm so close Unfortunately, there is A LOT of work that I need to take care of that I haven't been able to complete these last few days, and that takes higher priority. If I work fast, though, I still might be able to finish by sunday, but it'll be tough...

Since Vlord already had the first dvd set checked out from the library, I decided to start watching Patlabor. 6 episodes in, and it's proving to be a very entertaining robot series. All the characters are likable and humorous in their own ways, though Ota's character type does tend to annoy me normally in other shows. Visually, the show holds up tremendously, and the animation is pretty wowing to boot. And the opening and ending themes are fantastic. It's still in episodic mode right now, but I'm sure it'll start getting into an arc or two the further I get into it. The first dvd set only has twelve episodes, so it's feasible for me to get through that much before my break is done. Hopefully I can manage to do so.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

The whole ordeal with Hisao was probably my least favorite part of the series, and felt the most filler-ish, but it was short, and also it's only weak in comparison to the rest of this great series. On its own it's a solid story arc and even though it's not immediately apparent, it does serve a purpose and leads into the end of the series.

The Dragon Kim arc was amazing, though. It really shows that Asao Takamori (the author's real name) was not just a one-trick pony, and he gave Joe an opponent who was VERY different from anyone he had faced before, yet still just as compelling, from his back-story to his fierce in-ring ability. And of course there's the whole weight-loss thing in that arc. Isn't it just poetic how Joe undergoes the same pain and hardship that Rikiishi had to go through for their match?

Man, it's no wonder this is my 2nd favorite anime, now.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

Also I've been watching the first anime for AnJ at a really slow pace, but it's definitely a pretty worthy adaptation so far. I'm currently 20 episodes in, and it's about half-way through the Juvenile Prison arc, so it's moving at a pretty decent pace as well.

[gunswordfist]

Episode 46 is over for me. Nice seeing Gon return home and this gave a look into how different Killua is from others.

[gunswordfist]

Just completed episode 47. In this episode, I learned more about Ging. They have more info on him in this version.

[gunswordfist]

Ah, episode 48. This part with the test at one of Kurapika's employer's mansions is longer here. So far it's interesting though.

[Inkwolf]

Finished Penguindrum.  It turned very dark and angsty, but stayed completely weird....to the point where, at the end, the making-sense to WTF ratio was about 1/3.  Still, good show, very interesting, and was worth seeing.  I won't be buying my own DVDs though.

Saw some of Aria at anime club this weekend.  It's very cute, and will probably make a nice, light-hearted break after all the heavy stuff, if I can dredge up time and possibly DVDs.

Chrome-shelled Regios also looks promising.

[LumRanmaYasha]

Haven't gotten through any more Joe 2 yet, unfortunately, but I did finish up to episode 12 of Patlabor. Episode 10 and 11 were the first really plot-related episodes, and they were pretty interesting. Hopefully the next set has more of those kind of episodes. I do enjoy the episodic ones though. It's a matter of execution; even when they are technically "filler" material or have been done before in other series, they are done so well here that they become episodes well worth watching. So far, I'm enjoying Patlabor, and hope to watch even more of the franchise come summer.

I also ended up re-watching the first 11 episodes InuYasha: The Final Act by accident, this time dubbed. Considering the dub is one of the reasons I don't like the anime, I have to see that everyone does a much better job in The Final Act, and I don't really mind Kagome and Sesshomaru's voice changes that much (in fact, I like Kagome's a lot better, actually). Unfortunately not every line is delivered effectively, some downright embarrassing (My legs is stuck), and others which almost ruin the scene for me (InuYasha's shaky words as he's talking to the dying Kikyo).

Despite this, I have to say that I have a better appreciation for this adaption than the last time I watched it, though. While I liked the Moryomaru arc in the manga, for where it ended up, it didn't need to be as long. Removing all of the less important sub-stories and combining events next to each other not only makes for a fast, engrossing watch but also leads to a lot happening in a single episode. There is never a dull moment or a wasted scene. I wish more shonen anime were produced in seasons adapting about 100 chapters in 26 episodes, like Magi.  If Final Act can take the 90 chapter long Moryomaru arc and condense it down to 6 coherrent and fun episodes, then surely it can be done. The One Piece anime would be so, so much better if Toei did that.

I think the best changes in Final Act, though, were adding some extra scenes exploring Kanna's relationship with Kagura setting up her ultimate betrayal of Naraku. In the manga there was only a few scenes of her reacting/reminiscing about Kagura after her death, but they are too spaced out so the end result didn't feel as effective as it should have to me. Final Act carefully places new scenes for her throughout episode 10, though, which really helps out in setting up her actions in her final battle with InuYasha in the next episode. If only the original anime or the second half of Final Act made such effective changes. I probably won't finish rewatching this for a while, since I want to finish Joe 2 and watch Mushi-shi, but I'll have to consider moving the show up into my top 30 on my fav anime list. Though, then again, there is that whole "meaning behind Kagome's name" bullshit the anime added for no good reason in episode 16, so...

I rewatched The Wind Rises in the english dub with Vlord when we went to our local theatre last friday. I have to tell you, I was in such a shitty mood before, but quickly once the movie started I soon forgot my troubles and became immersed in the beauty of it. Some of Jospeh-Gordon Levitt's deliveries as Jiro bothered me, and there was something...off about Naoko's voice. I dont' know how to describe it, but it seemed "scratchy," if that makes any sense. Kayo's crying was also waaayy sadder in the original too.  While I prefer the original cast, the dub was still very good overall, and I'm happy that Disney didn't edit the film visually either. There wouldn't have been a point to it, since kids wouldn't be interested in a film like The Wind Rises; it's too grounded and goes at it's own, steady pace, and kids tend to prefer something with fast, high-energy action like The Lego Movie.  Overall, I came out in a very good mood seeing the movie in theaters again. It still such has such a profound effect on me, and is inspiring to me from a creative perspective. I don't like to get movies on home video anymore, but I'll have to get it on blu ray when it comes out, since I can see myself watching it again very, very often, and that's not something I say about a movie or tv show readily.

I also finally watched Nausicaa yesterday. A pretty great film, and I'm kicking myself for taking this long to watch it. A strong protagonist in the title character, interesting, layered antagonists, and solid environmental and anti-war messages. Just good stuff overall. I might call it my second favorite Ghibli film if it still as enjoyable on a rewatch, though it'd still be a distant second from The Wind Rises, to me.

[gunswordfist]

Finish episode 49. Whoa at that heel on nuts grinding part. And it looks like Killua and Gon will finally be going to Yorknew City.