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Post by The Lucky C on Jan 15, 2007 14:13:20 GMT -1
Takeshi's Castle is exactly the sort of thing we could do with having on more mainstream TV over here  Shame about H&S regulation really  Not seen Noir personally, but several friends have said it's good. Go on, gimme the spiel, try and sell it! ;D it wouldn't be the same over here. for starters, the games would be over clean, chlorinated pools rather than swamps. Noir - I was watching it on my housemates PC a while ago. It's about a couple of assasins, one of whom has no memory apart from a tune. Clearly done bad stuff and pissed off the wrong people, and they're trying to get her memory back. More complicated than that, but it's been a while since i saw it. Got about halfway through and then my housemate got himself evicted  |
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Post by Travis on Jan 25, 2007 11:26:57 GMT -1
May as well as the eastern film reviews on here as well then....
GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES
An early Ghibli production based on a true story. Set in Japan during the Second World War, the film tells the story of a young boy (Seito) and his little sister (Setsuko), and their struggle to survive.
When his town his bombed, Seito loses his home and his mother. Unable to call upon the support of his absent father, Seito takes it upon himself to look after himself and his little sister. After failing to find favour with a distant aunt, Seiko makes a home of a disused shelter, and from there seeks to protect and feed himself and Setsuko. But with food scarce, and no access to rations, the battle to redress the failing health of his ailing sister becomes increasingly hopeless.
Although far less impressive to look at than later works, and with an inferior dub (the Japanese soundtrack with subtitles is markedly superior), this a tragic and moving movie that will stay long in the mind.
8/10
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 25, 2007 11:50:24 GMT -1
Oooh, that one sounds like one worth seeing! Taking the opportunity here, the complete series of the anime Burn Up: W is available for £5 of www.advfilms.co.uk presently, as they're deleting the title from their inventory. While I've not seen this particular series, I have seen the follow-up called Burn Up Excess: Crimes and Misdemeanours, and based on that, it's the sort of purchase you wouldn't regret. The basic plot focuses on a team of special recruits within a police force who take special missions when it gets too tough for the regular police - for a nominal fee, of course. I can't recall an anime series that made me laugh so much. There's fanservice aplenty (bouncing boobs, panty shots etc) but it's done in such a comic way that even the most ardent feminists I know couldn't help laughing at it. Sexual innuendoes abound, and the combination of pretty girls, pervy boys and big guns was always going be a winner (especially Maya, whose obsession with heavy artillery borders on a fetish). The characters are delightfully separate from each other - no copied personalities here - but at the same time gel and play off each other superbly, from bouncy and intelligent to dumb, flirtatious and agressive. Despite the plentiful silliness, though, the series touches on some surprisingly thoughtful and tender moments, and the plot is hardly weak - throughout the eight episodes of Crimes and Misdemeanours, the team are battling against a terrorist organisation, whose members range from the super-secretive and sinister all the way through to a gang of pre-op transexuals. It's also worth noting that in Crimes and Misdemeanours, the dubbing is superb - arguably the best I've come across. The voices fit the characters perfectly, and you could be forgiven for thinking it was originally done in English! If W is even half as good as CAM, it's well worth the fiver. I've already put in an order for my copy!  |
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Post by Travis on Jan 25, 2007 11:52:26 GMT -1
I've already got a backlog...... Akira, Laputa and My Neighbour Totoro, all to watch.  |
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 25, 2007 11:57:22 GMT -1
Akira really is one of the first films to show anyone who wants an idea of what anime is like. It's quite spectacularly violent, but it's probably the best summary I can find if you watch a comedy afterwards. Bear in mind, it's achieved its near-legendary status for a reason!
Be sure to watch that one before the other two, unless you're planning to make a full evening of it - in which case it has to be the crowning glory! ;D
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Post by Travis on Jan 26, 2007 14:48:31 GMT -1
My Neighbour Totoro. One of Miyazaki's less ambitious films in terms of scale and story, but also undoubtedly amongst his very best. This is the tale of two girls (Satsuki and Mei) who move to the countryside with their father, taking up residence in a near-derelict house. As time passes by, the two girls explore their surroundings. Then one day, the younger of the two girls (Mei) sees a strange creature collecting acorns, and pursues it into the woods. The chase leads her to their den, and an encounter with the largest of them all. The creatures prove to be Totoro; forest spirits, which befriend Mei, and later her big sister. Invisible to the typical human eye, they lead the sisters on a number of magical adventures. Although it's undoubtedly the most 'child-centric' of the Ghibli films I've seen to date, it's still one of my very favourites. The simplicity of the storyline contrasts sharply from the at times near incomprehensible narrative 'Howl's Moving Castle', and the characters are amongst the most endearing I've encountered. 9/10 PS. It also has a killer title theme, Neko. You'll love it..... www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntjUp_ewJkU |
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 28, 2007 10:45:27 GMT -1
Lol! The sad thing is, I do!  And it had the little sootballs in too! ;D |
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Post by ade on Jan 28, 2007 12:31:46 GMT -1
Takeshi's Castle fooking brilliant program espally while on the beer... ;d
Anyone ever seen endurance uk?
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Post by Travis on Jan 28, 2007 14:02:27 GMT -1
Soot sprites I think you'll find, Neko. Lol! The sad thing is, I do! And it had the little sootballs in too! ;D |
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 28, 2007 15:13:19 GMT -1
Soot sprites I think you'll find, Neko. Lol! The sad thing is, I do! And it had the little sootballs in too! ;D Bah, picky details  |
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 28, 2007 15:14:10 GMT -1
Takeshi's Castle fooking brilliant program espally while on the beer... ;d Anyone ever seen endurance uk? Fookin' class program ;D |
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Post by ade on Jan 28, 2007 15:16:31 GMT -1
Takeshi's Castle fooking brilliant program espally while on the beer... ;d Anyone ever seen endurance uk? Fookin' class program ;D It was and 2ond series you had to be mad to go on it... |
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Post by Travis on Jan 28, 2007 15:21:41 GMT -1
AKIRA Having come to Akira on the back of a raft of Ghibli output, my hopes were high, especially in view of the reputation it holds. For the most part I enjoyed the film, they were countless inventive ideas, and it's influence on The Matrix is undeniable. The animation was also very impressive for the most part (albeit dated in comparison to the likes of Spirited Away), although it must be said that at times the screen was so busy that it was hard to decipher just what was going on. My other my problem was in the narrative. At times strands within the story were nigh on impossible to comprehensively grasp, often leaving as many questions as were answered. Repeated viewings I would assume are essential to completely grasp and appreciate the entire story. Although I'm sure that by the nature of the film, there is an intenyion that some ambiguities would still remain. I think I preferred Ghost In The Shell myself.  7/10 |
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Post by Neko Bazu on Jan 28, 2007 22:19:20 GMT -1
Oooh, harsh review of Akira there! A second viewing really is essential to comprehend what's going on properly - as you said, there's a lot that happens - but I certainly think that one aspect of the film that attracts so many fans is (to put it simply) the high-octane thrills and sheer brutality of it. Definitely one for the lads!
Interesting trivia point; did you know that a fully-working, lifesize replica of Kaneda's bike has been produced, right down to the exact specs and the hydraulics on the front? Neko desperately wants a ride on that!
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Post by Travis on Feb 6, 2007 11:16:32 GMT -1
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE.
Another Miyazaki film, and another joyful viewing experience. Kiki is a young witch, and having turned 13 she must go out into the world by herself, find herself a town, and take on the role of resident witch for a year as part of her training. Lacking as she does, any special powers, she decides to serve the town in the role of a delivery girl.
A marked improvement in terms of animation on his previous work, My Neighbour Totoro, it is however very comparable with Miyazaki's former work. Aimed primarily at children (albeit primarily, of a slightly higher age), Kiki's Delivery Service is again a pretty simplistic tale that's full of charm and humour. Not quite as good as Totoro, but very close.
8/10.
NB. The personality of Kiki's black cat, Jiji, appears to have been a huge influence on the makers of 'Sabrina The Teenage Witch'. The cat in that show appears to have had it's entire personality based on it.
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Post by Neko Bazu on Feb 6, 2007 12:00:24 GMT -1
NB. The personality Kiki's black cat, Jiji, appears to have been a huge influence on the makers of 'Sabrina The Teenage Witch'. The cat in that show appears to have had it's entire personality based on it. Well observed that man! It's essentially a public secret among those who've seen both, or who've taken the time out to read reviews about Kiki's Delivery Service - the creator of Salem (Sabrina's cat) hasn't gone on record to say it, but they've hinted at it several times. By all accounts, they've never denied it anyway! |
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Post by Travis on Feb 6, 2007 12:10:32 GMT -1
Nice one Neko, saves me the trouble of looking it up.  Even the voice in the English dub is remarkably similar. NB. The personality Kiki's black cat, Jiji, appears to have been a huge influence on the makers of 'Sabrina The Teenage Witch'. The cat in that show appears to have had it's entire personality based on it. Well observed that man! It's essentially a public secret among those who've seen both, or who've taken the time out to read reviews about Kiki's Delivery Service - the creator of Salem (Sabrina's cat) hasn't gone on record to say it, but they've hinted at it several times. By all accounts, they've never denied it anyway! |
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Post by Travis on Feb 8, 2007 12:22:41 GMT -1
THE CAT RETURNS
At 74 minutes, the shortest of the Studio Ghibli offerings, and probably the most derivative.
The film tells the tale of Haku, a young girl, who one day saves a cat from being killed by a speeding truck. When the cat involved proves to be the prince of the Cat Kingdom, the grateful King decrees that Haku should take the prince's hand in marriage. Haku is then abducted against her wishes by the King's feline servants and taken through a portal to reluctantly face the ceremony, with only the Baron and Yuki (two further cats), on the trail to save her.
Essentially the film is a parable about finding your own identity, and the importance of believing in yourself. In terms of the story, much of it has an air of familiarity to it, albeit the ingenoius little Ghibli touches are present to elevate it beyond the ordinary, while the closing chapter does include a stunning final act in the rescue sequence. Probably the weakest Ghibli offering I've seen, but still very watchable.
7/10
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Post by Neko Bazu on Feb 8, 2007 12:55:30 GMT -1
Which says a lot about that studio's quality!
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Post by Travis on Feb 8, 2007 13:13:09 GMT -1
As long as Disney don't get Adam Sandler on board to do a character dub, then I can't see them going far wrong in the near future. |
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Shame about H&S regulation really 
