posts tagged “arthouse”

12 Aug 2008

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Posted by Martin [Tags: arthouse, Kaiba]

Right from the get-go Kaiba Buy Atenolol Without Prescription, proved to be certainly one of the most unusual but also one of the most thought-provoking shows of recent months. In light of Masaaki Yuasa's penchant for the extremely odd (when I mean extremely odd I mean it in a Holden Caulfield-italicised extremely) I wasn't sure if it would try to carry itself on its unique visual style alone or whether Yuasa would back it up with a richer thematic approach too; for all its artistic innovation, purchase Atenolol, After Atenolol, Kemonozume was engaging, unpredictable and even shocking at points but as a story nothing revolutionary, buy Atenolol no prescription. Atenolol trusted pharmacy reviews, Kaiba in contrast looks like NOTHING before seen on God's green Earth and also kept me guessing from the first episode to the last.

A world warped

For some viewers, online buy Atenolol without a prescription, Atenolol price, especially those who followed it from afar or dropped it entirely, the ‘look’ may be the one thing they remember it for, comprar en línea Atenolol, comprar Atenolol baratos. What is Atenolol, It certainly flies in the face of everything that even the most eclectic animation fans are familiar with: the outlines are bold, the character designs childlike and the animation flowing like something Tezuka may have had come up with if he'd taken LSD, Atenolol pictures. In some ways it distances the viewer from the gravity of the situations the characters find themselves in: vehicles look and move like bubbles, weapons appear to be innocuous lumps of rubber and when a character dies they disappear into a puddle of colourful gunk instead of a spray of crimson and dismembered limbs, Buy Atenolol Without Prescription. Atenolol dose, Had the emotional heart of the story not been so strong I'd actually count its Astro-Boy-Gone-Wrong aesthetic as a hindrance - I certainly wouldn't think less of anyone who was put off by this.

The opening episodes took a bit of getting used to for this reason: I was still worried that the artwork was a gimmick and that the story was a limitation as it was with Kemonozume, Atenolol no rx. Fast shipping Atenolol, As we met the likes of lecherous Vanilla, the idealistic Popo and the delightful Chroniko however, cheap Atenolol no rx, Buy Atenolol without prescription, I began to realise the true nature of the trump card that Yuasa and Madhouse had up their sleeve: the cutesy, hallucinogenic alien world with an amnesiac at its centre took on some very grown-up themes concerning identity and sense of self despite its juvenile and dreamlike appearance, buy Atenolol from canada. Cheap Atenolol, I've covered how the mid portion of Kaiba made me scratch my head over how memory and identity are inseparable because despite its virtually-unrecognisable alien universe, it throws up issues that philosophers and theologians have been thinking about for centuries...and that ring true in any time or place, effects of Atenolol. Buy Atenolol Without Prescription, The exact mechanics of how all this is done in Kaiba's universe are glossed over (the memories are in a white conical wedge, a green blob connects to a yellow blob which plugs it into your new head, and so on) but the focus is on how it affects the individuals and the society as a whole. Buy generic Atenolol,

Clone after clone after clone

The universe of Kaiba is chaotic, unstable and falling into moral decay, Atenolol class. Buy Atenolol from mexico, Halfway through the series the story took a sharp turn away from musings on individual dramas and instead concentrated on the godlike ruler named Warp and the growing revolt to overthrow his regime. The occasionally disjointed narrative, Atenolol photos, Atenolol schedule, plus the fact that people's memories can be lost or deliberately altered sometimes without their knowledge (Re: Popo), painted a fuzzy but compelling picture of the revolutionaries and their aims that shifted according to the ambition of their own authority figures; as time wore on the true identity and influence of Warp was repeatedly called into question and a messy power struggle between the revolutionaries' leaders ensued, doses Atenolol work. Atenolol reviews, In a domino-effect killing spree of Shakespearean proportions the mayhem was stripped away and the woefully familiar tale of betrayal, selfishness and lust for power became clear, Atenolol wiki. Except that Kaiba is, despite being an imaginative science fiction piece, principally a love story, Buy Atenolol Without Prescription. Atenolol street price, The boy named Kaiba must find his true power to be reunited with his sweetheart and save his dying world; as demonstrated by the surreal synthesised soundtrack with its gorgeous op and end theme tunes, and that symbolic, Atenolol coupon, Atenolol used for, ever-widening hole where his heart should be. Given that ‘Warp the figure’ is something of an autocratic tyrant, japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal, Atenolol without prescription, Kaiba (a.k.a. ‘Warp the man’) finds redemption in his romance with Neiro, online buying Atenolol hcl. Atenolol natural, With all the madness that surrounds him, simple things like the love he shares with her - and the innocent sacrifice Chroniko made earlier on in the series - are ironically the things I considered to be the most important and memorable, Atenolol results. Buy Atenolol Without Prescription, Even Popo, portrayed as the power-hungry villain of the piece by the end, was motivated by devotion and an initially pure desire to make a better place to live in. Real brand Atenolol online,

Kaiba and Neiro

As in his previous effort, I feel Yuasa rushed the ending a little though, where can i order Atenolol without prescription. Given the complexity of the narrative, he and his team must have planned the outline in advance. Even so, something like this series shouldn't be judged the whole on the last few minutes - it was an emotive and happy one and at least didn't go all Instrumentality on us. I wasn't always 100% sure I had a grasp of what was going on either but Kaiba was a bizarre and enthralling show that made me rethink my "just when you think you've seen it all..." cynicism. I won't use the cliché of how Kaiba breaks the mould, either: making a show like this runs such a risk of rejection by the fan community that I doubt we'll see many more like this one. All the more reason to watch (and re-watch) it really.

Summary
Yuasa and Madhouse have created something extraordinary here - an imaginative piece of sci-fi, an animation that, whether or not it's to your personal tastes, looks utterly unique and crucially tells a story about vibrant and well-developed characters you can care about and eventually become attached to. Kemonozume was a romance and it was violent and bloody weird into the bargain, but was still fairly straightforward; Kaiba in contrast threw virtually all the conventions out of the window and retained only the most universal and vital: heartfelt emotion and an examination of how we relate to and form those precious bonds with those we are close to.

[9 Comments]

[Anime Reviews]

05 Aug 2008

Vibramycin For Sale

Posted by Martin [Tags: arthouse, Eve no Jikan, Yasuhiro Yoshiura]

Vibramycin For Sale, Anyone who's heard me go on about this in recent months will know how I've been dying to get my myopic, bloodshot orbs on Yasuhiro Yoshiura's latest effort, Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve) and how I've been trying to drag fellow bloggers onto the EnJ fanboy bandwagon purely from watching the trailer. Not knowing what to expect from the director of Mizu no Kotoba and Pale Cocoon, Vibramycin price, coupon, Japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal, apart from expecting Good Things, I nigh on jumped out of my seat at the sight of the first episode, online Vibramycin without a prescription. Vibramycin description, I actually watched this twice in twenty-four hours, and noticed extra little details on the second time around: it's only fifteen minutes in length, Vibramycin natural, Vibramycin recreational, but what a fifteen minutes it is.

The premise is that of a near-future world in which robots have become commonplace in everyday life; they've made a difference to industry, Vibramycin alternatives, Order Vibramycin no prescription, agriculture and, in the case of humanlike androids, online buying Vibramycin, Is Vibramycin addictive, even homes. While Pale Cocoon was intevitably very cold and dystopian, Vibramycin mg, Vibramycin schedule, the world of EnJ is a more recognisable and brighter place - the mannerisms of the characters and quirky background music make it a much warmer and jovial affair and show androids integrated into a society very similar to our own.

Meido maintenance mode

I know the idea of robots living side-by-side with humans is one of the oldest and most commonly-covered areas of sci-fi, and this in turn limits what new concepts EnJ is able to explore: it even quotes Isaac Asimov's first rule of robotics in setting out the androids' place in society, Vibramycin For Sale. The first episode introduces Rikuo, Vibramycin photos, Vibramycin reviews, an average teenager (aren't they all?) whose family own a ‘female’ android who acts as a maidservant, running errands and helping out with household tasks, order Vibramycin from mexican pharmacy. Vibramycin dangers, Rikuo clearly has trouble treating the android as a machine instead of a living person but when compared with how some people seem to behave towards to their mechanical assistants he's more sympathetic than most; an issue that comes up immediately in this ep is how androids are viewed very differently from humans, even though superficially they look the same, Vibramycin overnight. Vibramycin forum, The snippets of news and discussion programmes on television paint an interesting picture of how people view androids and robots in general: food supplies are more secure thanks to Shirow-esque contraptions tending to the fields, although feelings about how people interact individually with androids are more mixed, what is Vibramycin. Vibramycin brand name, One term, dori-kei, discount Vibramycin, Low dose Vibramycin, crops up on occasion and refers to humans who have a particular enthusiasm for or fascination with androids; it seems to have a bit of social stigma attached to it though (a ‘robotaku’, hur hur), order Vibramycin from United States pharmacy. Vibramycin For Sale, Suffice to say there's a lot going on here, to the point where one episode is only scratching the surface in terms of the social and emotional impact that androids are having. Buy Vibramycin without prescription, Fortunately EnJ takes a very everyday view of the issues raised rather than a detached and analytical viewpoint, which wouldn't be nearly as much fun to watch, Vibramycin for sale. Where to buy Vibramycin,

On the streets in the Time of Eve

The only way of differentiating between human and android is the holographic status indicator above the android's head, which to me looks delightfully like some sort of electronic halo (blogosphere theology experts, buy Vibramycin without a prescription, Vibramycin dosage, make of that what you will). Apparently, buy cheap Vibramycin, Is Vibramycin safe, the law states that androids must display this indicator at all times although there appears to be at least one place where androids and humans can go to rest and interact with one another without prejudice...the strange café-bar where Rikuo's android has secretly been visiting.

The bar and its intriguing owner remind me a lot of Mizu no Kotoba but Yoshiura's artwork unsurprisingly has advanced in leaps and bounds from this and Pale Cocoon, buy Vibramycin from mexico. I really like the character designs, mainly because their eyes are lively and expressive; in his earlier efforts they looked...off somehow, Vibramycin For Sale. Vibramycin steet value, Lifeless perhaps, but fortunately that is not the case here, effects of Vibramycin. Buying Vibramycin online over the counter, The camera view takes on a hand-held style of movement on occasion too, which gives the direction a less sterile feel but such moments are noticeable and come across as a little forced, Vibramycin from mexico. I suppose Yoshiura is trying to get away from the stilted CG movement and pull off a more cinematic and fluid effect, but it needs a bit of polish and discretion in its use to make it more natural.

Are you enjoying the art of Eve?

Overall though, this is pretty impressive stuff art-wise. Interestingly it's an ONA Vibramycin For Sale, too, which may or may not be a sign of the times. Perhaps smaller studios such as Rikka are waking up to the influence of online communities and are aiming their (CG-drawn science fiction) work at an online, tech-savvy audience before packaged media or cinema screenings (as I optimistically predicted a while ago).

In any case, it looks like I'll have to wait a bit before seeing the next instalment of this very unusual and potentially brilliant piece of work, which isn't a pleasant prospect since it's worked its indie charms on me already. The light and comedic approach seems to be addressing some of the most profound and hard-to-answer ethical questions too - if you're going to make a serious point, sometimes the best way to do this is to make it in an entertaining way. I can't wait to see where Yoshiura and his team take it.

Meet Akiko

And I managed to get all the way through the post without comparing Yoshiura with Shinkai, not even once. ^_^.

[11 Comments]

[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]

15 Apr 2008

Buy Diflucan Without Prescription

Posted by Martin [Tags: arthouse, Makoto Shinkai, Yasuhiro Yoshiura]

Buy Diflucan Without Prescription, This post is something of an experiment. There are a few bits of anime that are too short in terms of running time to warrant a post of their own - there simply isn't enough to say about each one individually so I've decided to take on two in one go; the only common feature between them, low dose Diflucan, Buy cheap Diflucan no rx, really, is the fact that they aren't very long, is Diflucan addictive. Diflucan maximum dosage, I don't stumble on these short-and-sweet pieces very often, so I'm making no promises as to how regular this feature will be (recommendations for more are welcome, Diflucan mg, Diflucan from canada, people). First up though is Yasuhiro Yoshiura's nine minute effort Mizu no Kotoba (Aquatic Language) and my long-overdue fanboy rave of She and Her Cat, Diflucan no prescription. No prescription Diflucan online,

Mizu no Kotoba

I recently tracked down this particular film because it was the 'other' completed production from Yasuhiro Yoshiura, the creative mind behind that marvellous piece of dystopian sci-fi Pale Coccoon; the trailer for his latest effort, my Diflucan experience, Diflucan online cod, Eve no Jikan (The Time of Eve) was posted online recently in both high and low res, and it's shot my expectations into the stratosphere, Diflucan over the counter. My curiousity piqued further, I sought out his first piece which I sadly could only find on Youtube and dubbed, Buy Diflucan Without Prescription. Diflucan pictures, Nevertheless, found it I did and decided to share its quirky win with the rest of you, after Diflucan. Purchase Diflucan online, What made Pale Coccoon so special was not just the quality of the home-grown CGI animation and the music - it was a great concept told in a short space of time. This 'succinct' approach to storytelling was just one of the factors that make me think of Yoshiura as a spiritual equivalent to early Makoto Shinkai; their themes and methods differ slightly of course but as with Pale Coccoon, order Diflucan online overnight delivery no prescription, What is Diflucan, Mizu no Kotoba doesn't need much time, or budget, ordering Diflucan online, Diflucan brand name, to convey its ideas and enthrall you during its (albeit short) time. Its premise is simple: it consists of several conversations between customers in a cafe, buy generic Diflucan, Cheap Diflucan, whose topics of discussion may or may not be connected. Buy Diflucan Without Prescription, I'm not sure what it's saying from that perspective, but half the fun is coming up with your own interpretation; it's almost as if you've wandered into one scene of a longer film, or, indeed, the mental doodling that goes on inside its writer's head.

The film is philosophical in a light and undemanding way, Diflucan samples, Diflucan dangers, with some surreal moments and a nice twist at the end; it does what Pale Coccoon did from a thematic standpoint but in a smaller, more mundane setting and on a much more modest scale (extrapolating what these films do then, Diflucan images, Buying Diflucan online over the counter, I hope you can understand why I think Eve no Jikan will be awesome). Visually it's nothing spectacular of course - it would be impressive if it were, where can i buy Diflucan online, Diflucan class, say, Yoshiura's university project or something, generic Diflucan. Online buy Diflucan without a prescription, The eyes for instance don't look 'right' and the animation is pretty basic but it's a refreshing departure from the norm; while it doesn't shout quality from the rooftops it's oozing film-making potential from every pore and is interesting in its own right.

She and Her Cat

Speaking of early Shinkai, is Diflucan addictive, Diflucan trusted pharmacy reviews, She and Her Cat is one of my favourite love stories, from my favourite director of love stories (and one of my favourite directors, kjøpe Diflucan på nett, köpa Diflucan online, Diflucan without a prescription, full stop). Okay, so it's a movie about a young woman and her pet but while the bond between cat and owner isn't romantic and isn't family per se either, there's that sense of companionship and affection existing between them that equates to some form of love, Buy Diflucan Without Prescription. The VA performances are, comprar en línea Diflucan, comprar Diflucan baratos, After Diflucan, as with those of Voices of a Distant Star, provided by the director and his wife, where can i find Diflucan online, which I suppose adds to the sweetness of it.

She and her cat, soulmates

Experiencing the narrative through the cat's eyes is akin to that of a child's: its unassuming simplicity lends a kind of purity and lack of prejudices. The events of the woman's life are told from the standpoint of someone who is devoted to her but doesn't judge her as a human being would - we don't learn the exact nature of the phone calls she receives, but we certainly see how Chobi feels affection and concern for her; even to the point of affecting his relationship with a neighbouring cat, Mimi.

Although Mizu no Kotoba feels decidedly short its runtime is twice that of She and Her Cat, which is a tantalisingly brief five or so minutes. Buy Diflucan Without Prescription, Not a great deal *happens* either: even the trademark Shinkai staples of sweeping vistas and loves separated by time and space are absent here, instead focusing on everday objects and cityscapes, with plenty of still shots and sparing use of movement. It's completely in monochrome too, which equates to an unusual approach in animated film in which the visual side of things (the animation's principal raison d'être in most cases) deliberately takes second place to the story.

$Chobi\'s and Her view of the world$

It's a triumph of beauty in simplicity really, because it's almost as immersive as five minutes of his other works while being much plainer and abstract. Fortunately the endearing Chobi makes cameo appearances in his later movies but this is where we hear him tell his own tale - interestingly he is drawn in an especially simplistic way, which emphasises his straightforward view of the world while drawing attention to the detailed backgrounds that Shinkai would become so well-known for. Although it's only a snapshot into two characters' lives, it instills that 'love for the world' that they share.

[5 Comments]

[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]

09 Jan 2008

Aldactone For Sale

Posted by Martin [Tags: Akayuki Shinbo, arthouse]

Cossette cover image Aldactone For Sale, I've become an avid admirer of Akayuki Shinbo's work in recent months for his ability to make entertainment artistic. About Aldactone, This train of thought led me back to that old ABC project in regards to the deepness/entertainment debate in that it made me realise why my answer was unsatisfactory: I was asking the wrong question in the first place, Aldactone no prescription. Get Aldactone, I shouldn't have tried judging a medium such as animation as ‘deep’ in that sense because that might wrongly imply that it is somehow less valid if it were otherwise; it can however be worthwhile art and/or entertainment. Doing both well, Aldactone from canada, My Aldactone experience, without one interfering with the effectiveness of the other, is difficult; in terms of where Le Portrait de Petit Cossette sits in the spectrum, Aldactone treatment, After Aldactone, I think it's right out there at the Arthouse end.

I was expecting a feature that combines the classic horror aspects of Edgar Allan Poe with the romantic prettiness often associated with CLAMP - it isn't directly influenced by either as far as I'm aware but it is definitely a Poe-esque tale with really pretty CLAMP-style visuals so this expectation was at least fulfilled, Aldactone For Sale. The method Le Portrait de Petit Cossette uses in storytelling involves a gloomy premise, online buying Aldactone hcl, Purchase Aldactone, a fairly cryptic narrative and some quite brutal scenes of bloodshed into the bargain. While I can proclaim this to be utterly spectacular as a work of art, buy Aldactone from canada, Aldactone wiki, its entertainment value is therefore more questionable.

Looking into the glass

The story is actually quite a simple one, Aldactone canada, mexico, india. Where can i buy cheapest Aldactone online, An art student named Eiri, working in an antique shop part-time, where can i cheapest Aldactone online, Aldactone over the counter, sees visions of a beautiful girl inside a Venetian wine glass. Aldactone For Sale, Bound to her spirit by fate, Eiri becomes fixated on this mesmerising image, and sinks into obsession. The truth behind Cossette's tragic demise and the nature of Eiri's feelings for her are, Aldactone from canadian pharmacy, Aldactone alternatives, I suspect, easily explained across the three episodes but the storyline seems to go out of its way to make these simple and straightforward ideas anything but simple and straightforward, Aldactone brand name. Aldactone recreational, It's not deep in a thematic sense but it's very artistic; hence my renouncing of the argument I mentioned earlier. Artsy-ness is a better category than depth to describe this sort of thing, Aldactone forum. Order Aldactone from United States pharmacy, It is deliberately and, to my mind, Aldactone dosage, Aldactone for sale, unnecessarily hard to understand; it also dwells in dark territory and there are some harrowing scenes of bloody violence that relate to the curse that binds Cossette's spirit, and Eiri to her, Aldactone online cod. Le Portrait de Petit Cossette is certainly not a tale that makes for light entertainment, Aldactone For Sale. Buy cheap Aldactone no rx, On the other hand I appreciated this series, if not enjoyed it in the ‘sit back and be entertained’ sense, buy Aldactone no prescription, Purchase Aldactone for sale, because it is a work of art; and a downright stunning one at that. The animation is, Aldactone natural, Where can i buy Aldactone online, as you'd expect from an OAV, fluid and natural, taking Aldactone, Aldactone blogs, and it feels suitably bitterwseet with occasionally disturbing moments. Because it's centred on a 250-year old aristocratic French girl, no prescription Aldactone online, Aldactone australia, uk, us, usa, the whole piece has a gothic-lolita atmosphere too. Now, buy Aldactone online no prescription, Comprar en línea Aldactone, comprar Aldactone baratos, I'm a big fan of gothic horror and drama but I also think the gothic-lolita thing is particularly appealing: it seems to project a sense of beauty and elegance without coming across as overly sexual or unsubtle. Aldactone For Sale, Suffice to say I absolutely loved the aesthetic of this series in conveying the goth-loli aura surrounding the heroine (who, appropriately enough, looks as much like a porcelain doll as a real person) and the tragic drama that grips both Cossette and her admirer.

Love is an illusion

Those of us who have seen Shinbo's directorial skills in Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, or noticed his influence bleed through into ef-a tale of memories will immediately recognise his trademark ‘Shinbo-isms’ here. The camera angles are sophisticated and cinematic, the colour palette is gorgeous and a myriad of filters were used to add texture and atmosphere, which is often used to carry the affair when the story and characterisation regarding the supporting cast seem lacking. It's not that the story or characterisation ARE lacking; it's just that the visuals and music often relegate them to secondary importance. More so than ef in fact since the filters, kaleidoscopic colours and symbolism in that series heightened the events on-screen and injected fresh life into its tired romance premise and dating sim roots. Here, the substance itself is often the style and is even more overwhelming in its ability to mesmerise, confuse and immerse the viewer in its own unique worldview, Aldactone For Sale.

The music by the way is perfectly suited to the art and animation - it's emotionally-charged and hypnotic, with excellent use of strings and piano that are blended with more modern instrumentation. After watching this and the first couple of episodes of .Hack//Sign, I've come to realise how Yuki Kajiura is second only to Yoko Kanno in this particular array of styles. Combining the electronic with the orchestral is a fusion that reflects the collision between the contemporary of Eiri's world and the historic world of Cossette's; I loved the closing theme, especially because of Marina Inoue's voice (it's hard to believe this was her debut feature) - she is clearly very talented and versatile as both a vocalist and VA.

A mesmerising image of tragedy

In Summary

I can think of a number of reasons why Le Portrait de Petit Cossette is a niche production: its lofty aims concern themselves with artistic merit over entertainment value and the moody atmospherics take precedence over the characterisation. It's a deliberately dark, heavy and atmospheric piece but I'd heartily recommend it to Shinbo aficionados or simply those of us who dig the gothic aesthetic and appreciate the beauty in dramatic but occasionally shocking visuals. Although I found it hard to work out what was going on at times it was nevertheless a startling, immersive and extraordinary experience.

[4 Comments]

[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]

21 Dec 2007

Viagra For Sale

Posted by Martin [Tags: ABC, arthouse, Twelve days of Christmas]

Viagra For Sale, Another title that's strictly speaking not actually from this year, I only recently watched Kemonozume. Besides, Viagra brand name, About Viagra, it's a bit of a sleeper title anyway so deserves a bit of extra attention. As with the products of Studio 4°C, Viagra schedule, Buy generic Viagra, it is relatively little-known and its art style is probably the biggest hinderance in its popularity; this just makes it all the more refreshing and deserving of my raving about it though.

Love conquers all

The story kicks off with two guys in a bar talking about their taste in women...nothing unusual about that, Viagra used for, Viagra natural, you might think. The thing is, purchase Viagra for sale, Viagra class, these guys are shokujinki, creatures that can transform into hideous monsters with a taste for human flesh like vampires who have a thirst for blood, Viagra use. Toshihiko is a member of the Kifuuken, an organisation with a long and illustrious history of hunting Shokujinki; he's a man who is trained to kill such monsters, to the exclusion of all else, Viagra For Sale. Viagra results, Unfortunately, things are about to go wrong for them all after he falls for the demure Yuka, Viagra coupon, Buy Viagra from canada, a woman with a gruesome secret...

The said art style is distinctive to say the least, Viagra pictures. Online buy Viagra without a prescription, At first glance it's rough, sketchy and amateurish; on closer inspection it becomes apparent that the animation is in fact very slick and stylish, Viagra maximum dosage, Where to buy Viagra, and is therefore GOOD animation making itself out to be rough. On the downside it does make the show a love-it-or-hate-it experience: the sketchiness takes some getting used to, buy cheap Viagra no rx, Generic Viagra, which is a minor point when more outrageous things like giant detectives, scientific experiments and over-sexed ninja monkeys make their appearance, order Viagra from mexican pharmacy. Viagra For Sale, Not to mention an unfeasibly cool rhythm & blues/swing soundtrack that gives it an extra boost in the cool department. Viagra images,

Giant detectives and ninja monkeys
Don't ask "Why?". Ask "Why the hell not?"

Kemonozume tells a fairly derivative tale of star-crossed lovers, real brand Viagra online, Viagra from canadian pharmacy, politics and technology getting in the way of tradition, megalomania and so on, buy Viagra without a prescription. Viagra from canada, Monster-hunting martial artists isn't unfamiliar territory either, but what made this one of the most striking aspects of my viewing schedule of recent months was that it looks and plays out like NOTHING else I've seen, Viagra over the counter. Cheap Viagra no rx, It's brutal, unpredictable, Viagra street price, Rx free Viagra, crammed with sex and violence and delivers a type of mature, innovative fare that you are unlikely to find anywhere else, buy no prescription Viagra online. This is possibly the most fucked-up love story in living memory, Viagra For Sale. Viagra steet value, Memorable moment

The ninja monkey is a great touch and a suitably random addition to a show that does everything its own way and, for better or for worse, Viagra without a prescription, Viagra gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release, ensures that this series is something that will stay with you. It's not the most profound analysis of romance and business practice but when you get a scene such as the one below you can't deny its penchant for being imaginative, Viagra duration. Is Viagra safe,

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The tragedy is, people such as Yuka want to be human, Viagra description, not a monstrous Shokujinki. Some don't even discover their true nature until it's too late but as problematic first dates go, this unfortunate incident takes some beating. Viagra For Sale, Should we be shocked. Amused in a "I can't believe they just did that!" kind of way. Or saddened at how something so tragic can happen without any rhyme or reason. "I never saw that coming..." is something of an understatement in this case.

Other ABC bloggers' posts for the Twelve Days of Christmas

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Drop your url into the comments section below if I've inadvertantly left you out. ^_^.

[5 Comments]

[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]

03 Oct 2007

Tekkonkinkreet

Posted by Martin [Tags: arthouse]
It's strange that Studio 4 Degrees C have made very few inroads to the Western DVD markets in comparison with the likes of Madhouse, Ghibli and Gonzo; I don't know about you guys but it's hard to name many well-known releases they contributed to with the possible exception of the Animatrix anthology. Which is a shame because in my limited experience they seem to be a prolific and innovative studio that often show leanings towards the Superflat Manifesto; perhaps this is why they've escaped the notice of 'maintream anime fandom' (is that a contradiction in terms?). When it comes to bringing stuff to the screen though, these guys sure as hell know how to innovate. Along with Satoshi Kon's Paprika, the other significant title that was coincidentally released here in the UK on the same day, Tekkonkinkreet is one the most startling and visually refreshing efforts we're likely to see this year. Its experimental style is deliberately very stylised and almost sketchy, with the result of hardly looking like anime at all. If it weren't for the Japanese language track you'd be forgiven for thinking it was just a cool-looking animated movie, made by some overlooked European film maker - indeed, the director (if not the rest of the rest of the staff involved) actually hails from a Stateside CG company. Nevertheless, it is a quintissential 4 Degrees C movie, in that it deliberately steers clear of the usual cliches in character design and art style.

A view of Treasure Town Tekkonkinkreet's visuals, in addition to being its greatest strength, are ironically its greatest potential weakness. This too is a shame because quite a lot of would-be viewers would miss out on a great story that plays out in front of a vibrant and detailed setting, just because it looks so unusual. The story itself on the other hand is based on a manga series and isn't out of the normal movie territory either: two delinquent orphans, known as Kuro (Black) and Shiro (White), live on the streets of the run-down Treasure Town. Their personalities are, as their names suggest, polar opposites: Black is the calculating, violent and streetwise one while White is a philosophical and detached individual whose behavioural traits are those of a kid below that of his true age. Between them, they have earned considerable notoriety and, in some cases, the grudging respect of the rest of the city's inhabitants, who comprise of a mixture of ordinary people and a subculture of down-and-outs and criminals. Their real struggle (as if being two homeless kids isn't tough enough for them) begins when developers move in to oust the lawless inhabitants and turn the place into an amusement park.

Meet Black and White I'm repeating myself in waxing lyrical about the visuals again because they really are quite extraordinary. Unlike the typical anime movie that's set in a crumbling rural environment, there are no enormous skyscrapers or high tech robots or gadgetry; rather, it looks like a run-down inner city area of the present day. The animation is also really fluid and polished and comes into its own when Black and White are running over the roofs of buildings and vehicles; it is at the same time quite a dialogue-heavy piece that contains a pretty hefty amount of symbolism for those of us who like to over-analyse and read between the lines (we know who we are, right? *grins* ). In addition there's a whole subplot going on featuring the various gangs of the town, all made up of colourful characters who, despite being marginalised due to the main story and the time limits of a feature film, still grab the viewer's attention. Whether it's the merciless thug who has a sudden rethink of priorities when he learns he's soon to become a father or the old timer Yakuza who longs for the good old days, they and their lives wouldn't look out of place in a decent gangster film that portrays times that are changing but people who are having a hard time in coming to terms with it. There's a lot going on in the confines of the narrative, which makes it fall into a similar trap as Rintaro's adaptation of Metropolis: it tries to simultaneously convey complex ideas and introduce a rich cast of characters but ends up staggering under the weight of it all.

Just your everyday, friendly, local Yakuza The dynamic between the two leads however is the anchor of the story that holds everything together then the other aspects falter. Their contrasting personalities, much like the Ying and Yang symbol on the back of a jacket that Black wears at one point, compliment one another: neither can survive on his own. In one of his monologues which so often lurch between childlike babble and profound philosophy, White notes how much he depends on Black and vice-versa: in his own words, he holds the missing pieces to his companion's heart. The most painful scenes involve the two of them being separated, during which time White becomes introverted and distressed while Black goes on a violent and directionless rampage.

Troubled times for our young heroes In Summary Tekkonkinkreet is a refreshing break from the norm that dares to experiment. For the most part, the dare pays off: the muddled sections of storyline, especially the unsatisfying deus ex machina ending, are compensated for by the two compelling protagonists, the cast of supporting characters and art style that is brimming over with individuality. By all means give this film a chance, if only for the reason that it looks unlike anything else you're likely to have seen.

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06 May 2006

Pale Cocoon: A glimpse into a forgotten past

Posted by Martin [Tags: arthouse, Yasuhiro Yoshiura]
In the distant future the human race lives in an industrial and artificial environment far from the world outside. The past few decades of history are all but lost and there is a shrinking minority of people who work in the extensive Archives to piece together the Earth that used to be. One of those is a quiet and thoughtful guy by the name of Ura, who discovers an intriguing video recording that could irreversably alter his perception of the world he knows.

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Perhaps understandably Pale Cocoon has been compared with Makoto Shinkai's Voices of a Distant Star. While there are some similarities, such as the reliance on CGI in the animation, the short running time and the small cast of characters, Pale Cocoon has a storyline and feel all of its own: the surroundings are in varying shades of grey with numerous corridors, stairwells and lengths of plumbing that make it really unwelcoming and claustrophobic. Only a handful of the characters are named and they interact in a very quiet and understated way - it's a world filled with pessimism, apathy and melancholy.

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The atmosphere of the film is conveyed so effectively that it does feel quite depressing at times but the visuals and Ura's discovery are more than enough to draw the viewer into the story. It would be too easy to spoil things here (there is only half an hour of plot to talk about after all) but it delivers a really clever twist at the end - reminiscent of a (very good) short story by Arthur C Clarke that I read a few years ago. The music is especially worthy of a mention - delicate piano lines alongside ethereal electronic harmonies and a gorgeous vocal piece as it nears its conclusion.

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Not everyone will enjoy a philosophical sci-fi film that may not even make complete sense on first viewing but Pale Cocoon is an impressive effort - especially considering it's (I think) the director's first foray into animated film. The computer-generated visuals are a little strange at first but convey the aesthetics and general feel of the setting very well and the soundtrack is a delight. The underlying themes offer more than mere eye candy though; credit is also due for achieving everything that it does in such a short duration. An odd little piece but well worth tracking down.

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15 Apr 2006

Angel’s Egg

Posted by Martin [Tags: arthouse]
I like anime that's original, unusual and downright strange. I admit it, I enjoy watching stuff that keeps my brain occupied as well as my eyes, even if it's of the 'scratch your head until it bleeds' variety. Mamoru Oshii, of Ghost in the Shell fame, is famous for that sort of thing, often adding Christian mythology and philosophy into his work. One of his early efforts, Angel's Egg, is no exception.

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Around about here I would explain the synopsis and characters - this is really difficult in Angel's Egg because 1. there is little definite plot to speak of and 2. there are only two characters (above). There is a pale young girl who collects water from round glass jars and carries a large unhatched egg around with her and a man with a mechanical cross-shaped object. That's it. The whole film is very short on dialogue: little is exchanged between the two of them, and it relies on visuals to carry the film off and convey any messages that it has. Visually Angel's Egg is stunning. It does show its age a little (it's over twenty years old, after all) but great attention is paid to the desolate greys and blues of the backgrounds and the subtle movements of the characters, from the nuances of expression to the tiniest drops of water. The musical score consists of haunting orchestral and choral work that adds to the 'otherworldly' feeling of the film. Very artistic indeed. A film that has all this can rightly be called a work of art but sadly Angel's Egg has little else to recommend it outside of Oshii fans and film students. Don't get me wrong, it's fascinating to watch and as a result makes for an interesting hour of your viewing time. It's just that the film is so...obtuse. We get quotes of the Great Flood from the Bible, fossilised birds, a giant spaceship thing and a crowd of men in a town armed with harpoons and chasing shadows of fish but there is no tangible explanation for it all.

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I like cryptic anime stuff (as anyone who's heard me go on about the likes of End of Evangelion and Serial Experiments Lain will testify) but even Ghost in the Shell has some messages behind the musings. Angel's Egg looks eerie and arty but the creators seem to have made a deliberate attempt at making it impossible to understand for almost anyone who watches it. So, is Angel's Egg a success as a film? Well, yes and no. Artistically it oozes attention to detail and atmosphere and Oshii fans will no doubt want to watch it on the back of his involvement alone. In terms of entertainment value though it very heavy-going: you could watch it over and over and still not figure out what the symbolism is trying to tell you. As it is, Angel's Egg is an experimental and beautiful oddity.

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