Buy Clomid Without Prescription

[Categories: Specials]

17 Nov 2008

Buy Clomid Without Prescription

Posted by Martin [Tags: Detroit Metal City, Live events]

There's a reason why I haven't had chance to catch up on posting or replying to comments in the past couple of days: I met up with the UK-A crew for a weekend of socialising (for a change!) and cinematic viewing at the 22nd Leeds International Film Festival Buy Clomid Without Prescription, . There were some great pieces of J-cinema on offer this year (I missed L: Change the World because I wanted my lunch), Buy Clomid online cod, some of which were interesting anime movies I'd been looking forward to watching.

This isnt me. Cool artwork though
This isn't me, Clomid australia, uk, us, usa. Cool artwork though

Leeds is a great place for this sort of thing: there are some great venues (The Light is nice and central, Clomid interactions, while the Hyde Park Picture House is wonderfully retro), it's only an hour's train ride away from where I live and the prices of tickets and food/drink are slightly cheaper than those in London. It might lack the glamour of the capital but it's a great event to keep me going until the next Sci-Fi London weekend, Buy Clomid Without Prescription. In any case, buy Clomid no prescription, this year I caught Sword of the Stranger, Order Clomid from United States pharmacy, Mind Game, 20th Century Boys and Detroit Metal City. Not bad for 24 hours, Clomid wiki.

Sword of the Stranger

Ive never wanted to own a dog. Order Clomid from mexican pharmacy, Until now
I've never wanted to own a dog. Until now Buy Clomid Without Prescription, I knew precious little about this one beyond the historic setting and the presence of plenty of samurai action, so didn't really have high expectations. Unlike the Kawajiri-directed Madhouse efforts this one was produced by my old friends Bones though, which basically means it still looks consistently pretty and slick from start to finish, Clomid gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release, and the character designs are good too. Clomid use, The action scenes, arguably the main draw for many viewers I suspect, are superb, Clomid coupon. I also enjoyed the soundtrack, Clomid steet value, not to mention the most awesomely bad-ass dog ever to grace the world of anime. Seriously.

As much as Sword of the Stranger is a cracking action adventure, it does get predictable at times and the child protagonist might grate on your nerves, Buy Clomid Without Prescription. On the plus side, japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal, it sets out to something simple and straightforward and does it well; it doesn't pull its punches in showing blood spillage and body parts fall victim to the sword either, Clomid long term, but at the same time injects enough humour (some of which is very dark indeed!) to avoid taking itself too seriously. In the end it looked and sounded excellent, and was a lot of fun to watch, Clomid canada, mexico, india. I think it's a licence that will serve Beez well. Buy Clomid from canada,

Mind Game

More off-the-wall Yuasa fun

I'm not sure what to say about this one, apart from three letters: W, T and F in that order and with a huge-ass question mark afterwards, where can i order Clomid without prescription. How exactly can Buy Clomid Without Prescription, you judge something that you're not sure you understand. I actually expected it to be experimental and hard to follow since I've already seen Masaaki Yuasa's directorial skills in Kemonozume and Kaiba; Mind Game is every bit as weird as these, Clomid no prescription, and will probably polarise opinion as much as they did. You'll either be fascinated with the innovation and daring to ‘do different’ like I was or absolutely hate it.

The story goes off at tangents and seems to go in a big circle, Clomid reviews, but I think the whole point of the viewing experience is to revel in the oddness, Purchase Clomid online, enjoy the imaginative visuals and unpredictability, and ruminate on the more general and all-encompassing issues it addresses rather than get caught up in the details. We see gangster bosses with mechanical dogs, Clomid schedule, henchmen armed with chainsaws, Clomid street price, old geezers and giant whales; all I think trying to tell us to seize the day because you only live once. Probably, Buy Clomid Without Prescription.

20th Century Boys

You can't help but admit that it looks epic

Like Mind Game, I went into this on the back of its pedigree, Clomid blogs. Coming from the same original author as the ever-wonderful Monster, Clomid from mexico, 20th Century Boys was one thing I was really looking forward to. It picks up on the fear of religious cults and domestic terrorism that reminds me of the Tokyo subway gas attack at the hands of Aum Shinrikyo, adding a Stephen King-esque premise of the present linking to childhood memories; it's bold, order Clomid no prescription, big-budget (¥6 BILLION!!), Clomid for sale, pretty long and generally a massively ambitious film. It also references the T-Rex song that inspired the title within the first few minutes and has a wonderful guitar-playing scene that seems to serve no purpose to the story whatsoever apart from being awesome to watch. Buy Clomid Without Prescription, Win.

I found the direction to be a bit stilted and awkward at times however, herbal Clomid, and the dark colours of the finale (which I suspect could be the transfer/encoding of the copy being shown at the time) made the supposed climax lose the impact it would otherwise have had. Ordering Clomid online, Nevertheless, the promise of a sequel means I'm expecting an epic conclusion and the way in which the timeline jumps back and forth, linking old friendships and rivalries with the current state of affairs concerning the mysterious cult leader ‘Friend’ were masterful, buy cheap Clomid no rx. It was frustrating at points for the aforementioned reasons but otherwise I really enjoyed it for Urasawa's storytelling. Clomid cost, I hope I can read the manga before seeing the cinema adaptation through to the end actually, because I got the feeling that time constraints forced some events and characters out of the spotlight in the movie.

Detroit Metal City

Go, Buy Clomid Without Prescription. To, australia, uk, us, usa. DMC. Online buy Clomid without a prescription, Go. To. DMC!
Buy Clomid Without Prescription, Go. To, order Clomid online overnight delivery no prescription. DMC. Clomid images, Go. To. DMC!

How does the concept of DMC translate to live-action, Buy Clomid Without Prescription. Very well actually, purchase Clomid for sale. Considering how much I'm loving the animated OAV and how it was a series of shortish skits in manga form to begin with, Buy Clomid without prescription, it feels like a story that is destined for live-action. The comparison is quite interesting since the two adaptations play to the strengths of their respective formats and are as funny as hell in both cases.

Ken'ichi Matsuyama's turn as Negishi paints him as an even more awkard and dorky character than I'm familiar with, while Yasuko Matsuyuki seemed to thoroughly enjoy hamming up the character of the obnoxious record manager. A nice surprise was a cameo appearance by none other than Gene Simmons, which adds to the outrageous nature of the comedy and makes the whole experience an absolute riot. The audience were almost rolling in the aisles during this, and I can only concur that it was one of the weekend's highlights. Nice tambourine.

[8 Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

23 Jun 2008

Buy Vibramycin Without Prescription

Posted by Martin [Tags: Live events, Makoto Shinkai, Unashamed fanboying]

Buy Vibramycin Without Prescription, In case you're wondering why things have been quiet in recent days, I've been out of town. Given the time and expense involved I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing in getting the train all the way to London just to see a movie (admittedly I also met up with one of my closest friends who lives in London now, Vibramycin used for, Vibramycin gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release, but still...I actually booked an afternoon off work for this) but as it turns out the hassle was worth it: 5cm Per Second looks great on the big screen. Fantastic actually, order Vibramycin online c.o.d. Where can i buy cheapest Vibramycin online, Shinkai is also really modest and down-to-earth when talking about his own work, which is evident in recorded interviews but all the more noticeable when you meet him in person - I made handwritten notes of the hour-long interview that followed too, generic Vibramycin, Vibramycin australia, uk, us, usa, which I've posted on the Nakama Britannica blog for those interested.

Chobi cameo FTW
Now imagine this projected onto a cinema screen...

Amongst the expected questions regarding his early career, Vibramycin dose, Real brand Vibramycin online, influences and so on, there were some fascinating details regarding how he goes about making an animated feature and his plans for his next project, where can i buy Vibramycin online. Vibramycin description, And how he misses his cat. In any case, Vibramycin from canadian pharmacy, Where can i find Vibramycin online, it's not only great to see a movie like this in a full-sized cinema but it was an honour to meet one of the most talented new film makers in the industry and hear him giving his own views.

Oh yeah, japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal, Order Vibramycin no prescription, go bookmark the NB RSS feed sometime too, because my co-writers are doing a great job, order Vibramycin from mexican pharmacy. Vibramycin for sale, ^_^. Buy Vibramycin online no prescription. Vibramycin samples. Order Vibramycin from United States pharmacy. Vibramycin forum. Purchase Vibramycin for sale. Vibramycin street price. Vibramycin without a prescription. Vibramycin alternatives. About Vibramycin. Vibramycin results. After Vibramycin. Vibramycin use. Purchase Vibramycin online no prescription. Cheap Vibramycin no rx. Online buying Vibramycin hcl. Effects of Vibramycin. Buy Vibramycin without a prescription. Doses Vibramycin work. Vibramycin duration.

[2 Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

10 May 2008

Buy Cipro Without Prescription

Posted by Martin [Tags: community]

Buy Cipro Without Prescription, There are a number of things I could do as a reaction to burn-out (if that's what I have) but I think recommending new additions to my own feedreader is the most constructive. Is Cipro safe, My answer to everything at the moment is "I can't be arsed." Do that post on Kurenai I promised to write. Can't be arsed, Cipro blogs. Generic Cipro, Reply to a week's worth of other blog posts that I promised myself I reply to after reading them. Can't be arsed, Cipro used for. Mow the lawn, Buy Cipro Without Prescription. Buying Cipro online over the counter, Can't be arsed. You get the idea, online buying Cipro hcl. Cipro dosage,

get out moar
The QFT-ness of the subtitles speak for themselves

Since I Can't Be Arsed to write a proper blog post I'll instead point you in the direction of other blogs who still CAN be arsed. They're on my blogroll and/or feedreader but since they're 1, ordering Cipro online. Buy Cipro Without Prescription, new and 2. My Cipro experience, especially good I think they deserve a special mention. The support of the Empire of Britannia in these recommendations is purely coincidental, doses Cipro work, Order Cipro online overnight delivery no prescription, honestly.

Lostlink

I'm not sure where the name comes from but a combination of good writing and my own stance on Brit Blog Solidarity encourages me to recommend you Teeif's blog, Cipro schedule. Real brand Cipro online, Debate the episodic approach all you like but as long as they're high on commentary and low on summary I don't see this as a problem at all. The good humorous blogs always carry some thought-provoking points amidst the lulz of course, and Teeif's is no exception - his posts on Kurenai for instance draw attention to the funny bits but also draw from the writer's knowledge of far-Eastern culture, which gives those posts a bit of an edge on the insight front, Buy Cipro Without Prescription. He is also the only anime blogger I've met socially IRL at the time of writing...the internet's a funny thing, Cipro from mexico. Cipro from canada, Hanners' Anime 'Blog

Guess what. Another Brit who does good episodic blogging, Cipro without prescription. Taking Cipro, It's reassuring to know that this country is still good at something I suppose. Buy Cipro Without Prescription, Anyhow, Hanners is another new kid on the anime blogging block but also understands that recurring issue that if you're going to blog episodically, make it witty and insightful and add your own personal spin if you want it to be worth reading. He reviews for UK-A too if memory serves, Cipro long term, Buy Cipro online no prescription, so rest assured that his writing is solid, mature and consistently entertaining, Cipro without a prescription. Buy Cipro from canada, He got me watching Chi's Sweet Home too.

Claiming Ground

Because editorials are fine too, Cipro steet value. Order Cipro online c.o.d, I only sumbled on Coburn's blog after he linked to my old Love Hina post but that one act of courtesy on his part alerted me to a high quality blog that I really ought to post comments on more often. It's a healthy mixture of new and old shows, going in-depth without feeling tl;dr or confusing; someone who's a fan of the Nausicaa manga is always going to score a bonus point in my book, Buy Cipro Without Prescription. Not to mention that rare and wonderful feeling you get after reading a particularly thought-provoking post: that sense of "I never thought of [instert topic here] in that way before..."

Anime wa bakuhatsu da!

For some reason blogs with Japanese names make me feel stupid, Cipro trusted pharmacy reviews. Cipro cost, Anime Wa Bakuhatsu Da sounds like a cool name, if only I knew what it meant, Cipro online cod. Get Cipro, Anyway, OGT is a lucky soul who works in a library (how cool is that?) and first came to my attention after reviewing the original Battle Royale novel and echoing my own comparisons between that and Bokurano, what is Cipro. Cipro samples, *bonus point* A quick look down the categories list screams "Good taste!" and I quite like the writing style too.

I was actually going for a top five of new blogs but...guess what, australia, uk, us, usa. Cipro maximum dosage, I can't be arsed right now. Epic Win have made a welcome return, purchase Cipro online no prescription, Cipro photos, if that counts. My low motivation is annoying in the extreme so I'll do what I can to get up-to-date this week - Allison to Lillia and Kurenai are top priority right now but I'm suffering from a lack of energy that no amount of complex carbohydrates can fix, Cipro recreational. No prescription Cipro online.

[7 Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

04 May 2008

Lipitor For Sale

Posted by Martin [Tags: Live events]

Lipitor For Sale, How hardcore am I. Apparently hardcore enough to sit for over eight hours between midnight and the break of dawn in the name of cinematic entertainment...my head aches, cheap Lipitor, Lipitor no prescription, I'm sore all over and badly in need of a shave and a proper night's kip and my eyes look like bloodshot piss-holes in the snow. This year marks my third successful attempt at the notorious Anime All-Nighter that forms part of the annual Sci-fi London festival; this year I dragged along one of my friends (the brave soul who's marrying one of my sisters next year, Lipitor price, coupon, Lipitor for sale, incidentally) for the ride, which made an already entertaining evening even more fun, cheap Lipitor no rx. Buy Lipitor without prescription, I'd already seen three of the evening's offerings in some format or another but it was still great to experience them in the AAN setting. This year's running order was an impressive one: Appleseed: Ex Machina, herbal Lipitor, Buy generic Lipitor, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Tekkonkinkreet and Vexille, Lipitor pics.

Every year the AAN has a special sort of atmosphere, this time around aided by a guest appearance by the Alien (yes, the Alien) and the Predator (yes, the Predator) who wandered into the downstairs foyer beforehand, hugged my future brother-in-law among others, danced to Yoko Kanno's Voices and left via the lift, Lipitor For Sale. Lipitor interactions, Where's a camera when you need one.

Need...sleep...so...zzzz

The free tea, purchase Lipitor for sale, Fast shipping Lipitor, coffee, Red Bull and various types of ice cream were on offer as in previous years and it was also good to see that the seat allocation system was repeated, Lipitor duration, Lipitor without a prescription, because it saves a lot of hassle. The venue is pretty posh by cinema standards too, cheap Lipitor, Lipitor blogs, so the wide variety of stuff on offer is hosted in a clean and classy location - always pleasant and comfortable in my experience. Incidentally, rx free Lipitor, Lipitor steet value, we had time to kill beforehand so caught a special showing of the live-action French cyberpunk movie Chrysalis, which was really quite impressive; well worth a watch if you get the chance, Lipitor long term.

Appleseed: Ex Machina Lipitor For Sale, The first up was the main reason for attending this year: I'm impatient for the DVD and was looking forward to a follow-up to Aramaki's first foray into the Appleseed franchise ever since seeing that teaser trailer and the mention of John Woo in the production credits. Lipitor overnight, To be honest, I'm not an expert on the guy so beyond being thoroughly impressed with the action scenes overall I can't say how much he brought to the table, canada, mexico, india. Lipitor coupon, Aramaki and his team deliver the same shiny goods as last time though, with the edge-of-your seat combination of shiny mecha, buy Lipitor online no prescription, Lipitor forum, futuristic cityscapes and a gutsy woman with a gun.

The plot is satisfactory enough but I doubt many viewers will place it as a high priority since it's all about the adrenaline rush and the ‘Wow’ factor that stems from Shirow's city of Olympus being given the cinematic CG treatment, japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal. Lipitor no rx, The visuals are a tad above those of the first movie too, which, after Lipitor, No prescription Lipitor online, let's face it, set the bar pretty high to begin with, Lipitor from mexico. The character expressions are still a bit off, mind, although the designs (Athena's in particular) are slightly more convincing, Lipitor For Sale. Lipitor price, An additional member of ESWAT, with the resulting issues that have a knock-on effect on the way the unit operates, Lipitor cost, Buy cheap Lipitor, added some spice to the mix and shaking up the Deunan/Briareos dynamic a bit. All in all it was an enjoyable follow-on from the first outing; expect proper reviewage when the DVD comes out, Lipitor recreational. Lipitor canada, mexico, india, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

I don't know where to begin with this one since I raved about it not once but twice here already; I have the fansubbed version but seeing Hosoda's debut feature on the big screen was a marvellous experience (although it's out on DVD soon from Manga Ent too...go preorder it already). So, Lipitor alternatives, then, it was the highlight of my evening in terms of entertainment value but the surprise was that my buddy thought the same, despite sharing my initial expectation of Ex Machina being the most memorable. Lipitor For Sale, As a matter of fact, it got the most enthusiastic audience reaction of the lot which I guess can be put down to the combination of genuine drama and feelgood comedy. Being in turns enchanted by the bittersweet nostalgia and rolling in the aisles at Makoto's teenage antics with a theatre full of other people just reminded me what a stunning movie this is.

Tekkonkinkreet

Black and White...in glorious colour

It's the nature of sleep deprivation I guess that I don't appreciate some films as much as others under these conditions. The unusual art style of Tekkonkinkreet is a refreshing change, which makes it worth the price of admission alone; it's a brave approach that I wish anime studios would try out more often. The movie has its moments but the dialogue-heavy narrative and the somewhat unsatisfying ending didn't lend themselves to well to a room full of hardcore sci-fi nuts who were struggling to stay awake (and in one or two audiable cases, failing). The lukewarm reaction as the end credits rolled suggested to me that most of the viewers who hadn't seen it already didn't quite know what to make of it, Lipitor For Sale.

Vexille

Another effort that I'd had the pleasure to see at the cinema once before, Vexille still feels to me like Appleseed's younger sibling. The dystopian futuristic settings are similar, as are the CG motion-capture art style and a significant proportion of the production crew. My first thought of this movie was "Wow, those snowflakes on that car windscreen look so lifelike!", which sums up the whole thing pretty well. Lots of neat little details and impressive CG, which draws attention away from the derivative premise and numerous plot holes.

Vexille, not Deunan
The fact that I have to point out that this is Vexille and not Deunan highlights the problem of similarity

Now that I've seen it at the cinema twice and found the two Appleseed Lipitor For Sale, films to be more enjoyable I'm not sure if I'll be picking this one up on DVD. When you feel the need to switch your brain off in order to concentrate on keeping your eyes open though, this is the sort of straightforward blockbuster entertainment that's appropriate for the occasion. Definitely worth the rental, although I found Sori's live action sports effort Ping Pong to be considerably more satisfying.

That's all for now. I need sleep. Just out of interest, were any of you guys there too.

[4 Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

25 Dec 2007

Buy Celexa Without Prescription

Posted by Martin

Buy Celexa Without Prescription, NOTE: this is a pre-timestamped post since I'll be away from the 'net all day. My final Twelve Days post, buy Celexa without prescription, Celexa trusted pharmacy reviews, the subject of which ought to be obvious given the alphabetical listing and my Gainax fanboyism, will come on Boxing Day instead, Celexa pictures. Celexa images, Just so you know.

I actually suck at festive greetings because there's always someone I forget...and feel guilty about later for forgetting them, purchase Celexa online, Australia, uk, us, usa, hence I never send cards for fear of leaving someone out. So, buy Celexa online cod, Celexa schedule, to the awesome fellow bloggers who have made me laugh, cry, Celexa long term, Purchase Celexa, scratch my head and offered endless inspiration and lively discussion, Happy Christmas to you all, order Celexa online c.o.d. You guys rule, Buy Celexa Without Prescription. Order Celexa no prescription, A blanket greeting that reaches everyone equally may not seem like much but I really mean it when I wish you all the best for the festive season.

Happy Christmas...see what I did there?
See what I did there?

The problem these days is that there's so much commercialism and tacky, get Celexa, Celexa recreational, meaningless crap attached to the Season of Goodwill that even those of us who aren't devout Christians can't always enjoy it. So, Celexa results, Celexa online cod, when you've read this post, remember that this season isn't supposed to be about spending money on buying meaningless stuff, online buy Celexa without a prescription. Where can i buy cheapest Celexa online, It's about chilling out, being happy and sharing a bit of the festive spirit, Celexa recreational. Buy Celexa Without Prescription, So, in the most polite way possible, I say STEP AWAY FROM YOUR COMPUTER AND SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Celexa long term, As another blogger rightly pointed out (I'll link to you when I remember which post it was), the internet is here all round; that pile of mince pies in your living room probably won't be...and nor will the family members and old pals who all get together for this one special time of year before going their own separate ways until next year, low dose Celexa. Celexa natural, Stuff yourself stupid. Drink like a fish, Celexa over the counter. Is Celexa addictive, Complain about how the movies on TV are rubbish again and if you're so inclined, celebrate the birth of that guy who started the whole Christianity thing, Celexa description. Comprar en línea Celexa, comprar Celexa baratos, Above all, I hope you have a great Christmas and a fantastic 2008, kjøpe Celexa på nett, köpa Celexa online. Celexa maximum dosage, ^_^

As a final note, here's a little extra courtesy of A Stone and a Small Ripple, is Celexa safe. Buy Celexa without a prescription, Merry ef-ing Christmas indeed. Celexa dose. Order Celexa from mexican pharmacy. Online Celexa without a prescription. Purchase Celexa online no prescription. Order Celexa online overnight delivery no prescription.

[5 Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

11 May 2007

London Sci-fi Anime All-Nighter 2007

Posted by Martin [Tags: Live events]
The Anime All-Nighter event has become a regular and very popular fixture in the annual Sci-Fi London event. As with previous years, it was a back-to-back showing with only breaks to answer the call of nature and load up on caffeine before the next one. Things kicked off at midnight and wrapped up at around 9a.m. Quite an experience! GitS SAC: Solid State Society First up was the new feature-length sequel to the excellent Stand-Alone Complex series. My expectations were high but initially it was a little lacklustre by the show's own, very enviable, standards. The opening theme lacked the energy and focus of the series' efforts and the story took a while to get off the ground; things picked up in the second half though, and the finale was a suitably heady mixture of action and intrigue. The end theme made up for the opener too, which can only mean I have another OST to save up for. Paprika I had seen this once before already at the Leeds Film Festival but it was still going to be the high-point of the evening for me. It may lack the social commentary of Paranoia Agent and the Hitchcock-esque psychological slasher vibe of Perfect Blue but Paprika is a sharp, funny and superbly imaginative piece of cinema. Millennium Actress is still my favourite Satoshi Kon movie but Paprika is a reminder of what the medium of animation (and Kon in particular) does best - it seamlessly blends dreams and reality in way that conventional film simply cannot do. Highlander: Search for Vengeance "There can be only one!" That's right, there's an anime sequel to that classic fantasy adventure! To its credit, the film is directed by Ninja Scroll's Yoshiaki Kawajiri and is animated by my perrenial faves Madhouse so it's a slick and stylish action movie; the 'quickening' scenes looked authentic and its non-stop action didn't leave me bored. The problem was, it was often entertaining for all the wrong reasons! Honestly, the script was so cheesy - I lost count of how many times I nearly spilt my coffee in laughter. The writers must have been aiming for a tongue-in-cheek effort because that's how it came across...since when is Scotland located in (I quote from the on-screen captions here) 'Northern England'?! Le Chevalier D'Eon ADV's new release for May is, in my opinion, a bold and wise move of a type that they don't seem to do very often any more. It's a period piece set in pre-revolutionary France, where a young nobleman named D'Eon sets out to uncover the secrets behind the murder of his sister Lia. It will probably be a sleeper title on DVD because of its unusual premise; the dialogue exchanges sound authentic for their time, which makes them rather stiff and formal. Because of this and the low-key visual style it takes patience to get into but I think the historical setting and dashes of the supernatural will make it a title to look out for this summer. Full Metal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shambala I really wish I'd had chance to see the series beforehand because, although it was really fun to watch, I had no idea about what was going on in this movie! I know a little background surrounding the Elric brothers but the supporting cast were completely unfamiliar and the 'parallel worlds' theme tied me up in knots. It did look spectacular though, and L'Arc~En~Ciel delivered the goods with the energetic, rocking opening and ending themes. If nothing else, it has made me want to watch the TV series and I especially liked the way in which real events of Twentieth Century history were worked into the story. Existing FMA fans will love it - the DVD release is well worth looking forward to. In Summary So, that's it for another year. Thanks should go to Manga Entertainment and ADV Films, as well as the Sci-Fi London team at Piccadilly's Apollo Cinema who worked hard all though the night to keep things running smoothly. The new seat allocation idea made it a lot easier to queue up and find somewhere to sit with a lot less hassle than last year too - looking at fellow cinema-goers that evening, it proved once again to be an enjoyable night. I'm an all-nighter survivor!!

[No Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

15 Oct 2006

Serial Experiments Lain artbook

Posted by Martin [Tags: Yoshitoshi ABe]
I'm not usually into the large artbooks that are heavy on pictures but lacking in adding to the stories that inspired them; I like to read books, not merely look at the pictures. In the case of Yoshitoshi ABe I'm willing to make an exception though, because Reload an Omnipresence in Wired, like everything else he's done, is a little bit special.

cover image

I'm not an art expert but ABe is my favourite graphical artist, bar none; the appeal that Serial Experiments Lain holds for me comes as much from his artwork as it does from the multi-layered storyline. Therefore, not only was I interested in getting hold of a compilation of images he created for the show, I was willing to go to invest the extra time and expense in the hardcover special edition.I haven't seen the regular edition but the hardcover one is outstanding in its presentation. The book itself, with a matte black finish on the cover, comes in a card slipcase along with a small poster of the slipcase's image. The whole book is Japanese style in fomat, i.e. right-to-left, with translucent endpapers that give an impression of either a figure of Lain in front of the background of the page beneath, or a blank background on its own when you turn the page. It's the only book I know of that does this, but it's a nice effect. In terms of content it's quite a mixture. Promo art from prior to the TV series' airing; cover images used for domestic and internal releases of the DVDs, videos and CDs; manga format side stories (in colour!); snippets of text from the screenplay writer; and both professional and personal timelines for ABe's career. There are no screenshots from the TV series here though: instead it's a comprehensive folio of images associated with the Lain project that are well nigh impossible to find elsewhere. His art style is detailed but atmospheric and quite unnerving, and in this case it shows a depth and professionalism that is often lost in the rushed and simplified interpretations that come through in its animated form. My personal favourite bonus feature is a collection of short written interviews with ABe concerning how he went through the process of creating the pictures, along with pencil drawings of the preliminary versions. It turns out he's one of those artists who keeps hold of his rough drafts for future reference; a working practice that this book utilises to the full. Summary If you're a fan of the Lain TV series, or even a collector of ABe's stuff in general, start clearing some space on your coffee table for this book right now. Those who are looking for answers to the TV show's story, on the other hand, will have to look elsewhere but otherwise it is a well-presented and thorough compilation of one of Japan's brightest artistic talents. I've been drawn back into the world of the Wired all over again... More pics, linked to rather than inserted into the paragraphs to save on screen loading time:

[No Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

24 Sep 2006

Love and Pop: Hideaki Anno’s live action debut

Posted by Martin [Tags: Hideaki Anno]
The tagline 'schoolgirls by day...call girls by night' has to be one of the most misleading sales pitches of any film I've yet seen. Ignoring the sensationalist waffle on the DVD case, this is a film that is innovative in the extreme and explains why I think Hideaki Anno is one of the best film directors of recent years.

screencap

Love and Pop is based on Ryu Murakami's novel Topaz II that addresses the questionable practice of enjo kosai, or 'compensated dating'. A group of sixteen-year-old school leavers are drawn into this bizarre and occasionally disturbing world for a variety of reasons that boil down to boredom and, in the case of one of them, a simple desire for more pocket money. It is essentially teenage prostitution in all but name but the film tackles the issue head-on without coming across as exploitative or evasive in the portrayal of the characters and their situations.

screencap

The film is (in)famous for the visual style, which almost exclusively uses hand-held digital cameras that are shot from peculiar angles and viewpoints (under tables, inside household objects and clothing, and so on). While it could be argued that this approach was taken for budgetry reasons, it gives a documentary feel that is ideally suited to the film's subject. As we follow Hiromi and her friends during their misadventures, we go where they go, see what they see, from their own point of view: I don't think any other film draws the viewer in so literally or so effectively.

screencap

Aside from the dizziness-inducing cinematography this shows more trademark 'anno-isms' in its underlying themes, namely the deep character introspection and soul-searching. It explores the reasons why the characters are doing what they are doing - believe me, some of these things are quite shocking and require an adequate explanation - which inevitably gives it a strong social commentary aspect. The girls each have their own reasons for hanging around with older and decidedly odd men but it is motivated by the ever-present peer pressure, teenage naivety and a society that, like our own, revolves around materialism and money.

screencap

Love and Pop has several messages to convey including those of growing up and drawing attention to a serious social issue. It is certainly not intended to make enjo kosai look fun or exciting, nor make eye candy of its stars - in fact, it isn't even entertaining in a conventional sense at some points, although the eccentricities of some men they meet raise a smile occasionally. This is a film that falls squarely in the 'indie' and 'arthouse' categories; morso than Anno's follow-up movie Shiki-Jitsu, which at least uses conventional cinematography and tells a story more typical of a feature film. Summary Personally I found Love and Pop to be quite uncomfortable viewing in places and less enjoyable than the likes of Shiki Jitsu. That is not to say it is an inferior film - quite the reverse in fact. It is more unconventional, more daring and hard-hitting in the nature of the subject matter and the way in which it is shown. The 'chick flick' atmosphere of first half (the other reason why I found it heavy-going at first) is merely the setting-up of the film's principle themes that, thanks to that notoriously quirky camerawork, take the viewer firmly by the arm into a seedy underbelly of contemporary society. If you're an Anno fan this is essential but anyone who appreciates originality and innovation in their movie viewing will find this a challenging but extremely interesting experience.

[No Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

12 Jul 2006

Shiki-Jitsu: Hideaki Anno, live action director

Posted by Martin [Tags: Hideaki Anno]
Anyone who remembers the second half of End of Evangelion and various bits of Kare Kano may have suspected that within the mind of Hideaki Anno lurked a live-action director anxious to get out. I was interested to see how his own distinctive style (complete with what I've come to call 'Anno-isms') transferred from animation to live action, which includes the feature Shiki-Jitsu, a.k.a. 'Ritual'.

screencap

A burnt-out film-maker returns to his home town where he meets a strange young woman who has a habit of saying "It's my birthday tomorrow!" every day. She is clearly suffering from some form of mental illness, and the nameless film-maker (referred to simply as 'Director') spends a month with her, filming their daily experiences as he tries to make sense of their respective situations and feelings.

screencap

If you've seen Anno's direction in action you'll immediately recognise the techniques and recurring themes that appear in Shiki-Jitsu, such as the odd camera angles, emotional exploration and so on. Unlike his animated work, this film has a less confident feel to it, as if he is still not entirely comfortable in the different medium. Nevertheless it is quite stunning from a visual point of view with the vibrant colours contrasting with the bleak industrial cityscapes and the up-close feel to the camerawork. The girl's home is a surreal and bizarre place, reflecting her own disjointed mind: I actually felt quite unnerved while watching it and started to doubt my own sanity!

screencap

For the majority of the film I wasn't sure if it was a love story or not: the Director is drawn to the girl's eccentric charm and feels somewhat responsible for her wellbeing, while she is simply lonely, insecure and deeply troubled. It is not made clear until quite late on why she is this way but all the way through he is questioning why he is with her, and what the consequences would be if he left.

screencap

There are plenty of symbols and metaphors in Shiki-Jitsu: the 'birthday' theme for instance exemplifies how the girl is looking forward to a brighter future, but is at the same time wishing it will never arrive. Music is used sparingly but effectively with piano lines for the most part with only a couple of more dramatic moments. The ending song, Raining by Cocco, is a beautiful way to accompany an emotional and moving ending. That's right: Hideaki Anno has remembered how to do a great ending again! Summary Although I thoroughly enjoyed this film, I wouldn't call Shiki-Jitsu the best I've ever seen: the claustrophobic, almost-insane atmosphere is quite challenging to sit through at times and the photography is certainly in the indie/experimental category. It is however very intriguing and the two leads (the Director is a real-life film-maker and the girl wrote the book on which this is based) play their parts well. Shiki-Jitsu is a thoughtful but sometimes unsettling examination of love and loneliness as well as being a visually spectacular piece of cinema: there's certainly a lot more to Hideaki Anno than angsty teens and giant robots!

[No Comments]

[Categories: Specials]

21 Jun 2006

Miyazaki’s Laputa: A Tale of Two Dubs

Posted by Martin [Tags: Hayao Miyazaki]
Nine times out of ten I'm a subs-only guy. In rare cases (Cowboy Bebop for instance) I listen to the English language dub and Miyazaki's Laputa is one of them. There are however two different dubs for this film and since I have two copies I have both versions so thought I'd share my comparisons with you. The 1986 film was originally dubbed by Streamline Pictures in the 1980s but, for whatever reason, Disney redubbed it when it was distributed under their Buena Vista label. The Disney dub (which is what I'll refer to their version from here on in) is the one that's on the official region 1, 2 and 4 DVDs; the Streamline dub is on the region 2 Japanese DVD discs that are available on import. Confused? Ok, the Disney dub is on more or less every Western release and the old Streamline one on the Japanese import release only. Unless you have a bootleg (in which case, burn it NOW lest you not learn the error of your ways), there should be the original Japanese dub as well, with English subtitles. With all this out of the way, on with the review bit.

screencap

The script The Disney dub features a lot of background 'chatter', ad-libs and loosely translated dialogue. On the other hand the Streamline has a few bits of dialogue of its own that sound forced and out-of place. The naming of the crystal as 'etherium' is mentioned in the Disney version only so overall the Streamline dub is a little more convincing and sticks closer to the original script, as far as I can tell (my own Japanese is limited to literally a dozen phrases).

screencap

The Lead Characters This is where the Streamline dub wins hands-down. The VAs for Pazu and Sheeta in the Disney version aren't badly acted, they just sound too old. The characters are intended to be in their early teens: the Streamline dub portrays them as being much younger than their Disney counterparts and crucially closer to the original Japanese VAs. In both dubs the quality of the acting isn't too bad at all though. Supporting Characters Disney wins by a nose on this one. The pirates in the Streamline version sound a bit 'goofy' and the old guy in the mines is a little hammed up. In addition the VA for Dola in the Disney version sounds a little more convincing and Mark Hamill (yes, the Mark Hamill!) plays Muska to perfection. Although such things are subjective, the Disney dub's supporting VAs sound a little more professional and polished.

screencap

Other factors The Western DVD editions all have dubtitles which means there's no real way of avoiding the mistranslations and moments of Japanese text/English dialogue that don't match up. In terms of sound quality the Disney sounds better but purists will favour the original score of the Japanese audio track. UK folks should note that while the Japanese discs are region 2, they use the NTSC format instead of PAL. You won't notice the difference but your TV might!

screencap

Conclusions I watched the Streamline dubbed version on TV years ago and it was this that I remember (it was also my first ever anime, but that is another story). I even went to the trouble of importing a Japanese DVD to hear the film as I remembered it, just to recapture the fond memories and see if my view of the older dub was as rose-tinted as I'd feared. Overall I do prefer the older Streamline version but there are one or two aspects of the Disney dub that prevent me from getting rid of that edition entirely. Unfortunately the dubtitles irritate the hell out of me so my pricier import version will be getting more play in future. Extra Notes The newer version with the Disney dub as the English language track is, in the UK at least, now distributed by Optimum Entertainment instead of Buena Vista. I could give links but I've taken up enough space already. It is also important to note that, regardless of my criticisms of Disney's handling of their distribution of Miyazaki's films, any change they make has been officially approved by Studio Ghibli themselves before it is out in the cinema or on DVD.

[1 Comment]

Buy Amoxicillin Without Prescription

[Categories: Specials]