posts tagged “Bokurano”
[Anime Reviews]
15 Dec 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: ABC, Bokurano, Twelve days of Christmas]
Synthroid For Sale, Day 2: Uninstall, uninstall...
The series that launched a thousand flames...mainly in the direction of the hapless director, it has to be said. Online buying Synthroid hcl, The choice of Hiroyuki Morita as director for Bokurano was an unexpected one considering the feelgood family-friendly nature of The Cat Returns, and as it turned out it was also a healthy source of controversy with his decision to deviate from a manga whose plotline he wasn't too keen on, ordering Synthroid online. Is Synthroid addictive, Cue fans of Mohiro Kitoh's manga being up in arms and cries of sacrilege when he said he was going to change the ending. Wait a minute, generic Synthroid, Order Synthroid no prescription, guys...wasn't the manga actually unfinished at the time of broadcast.
First impressions are misleading...
"Hold out/My own reflection/I’ve found out/Less than perfection/I’m hoping and praying/There’s one life worth saving..."
After the dust had settled Bokurano proved to be, buy Synthroid online no prescription, Synthroid long term, with a few faltering moments and minor details that didn't quite fit into the bigger picture, one of the most thought-provoking and startling series of the year, Synthroid steet value. I tried to distance myself from the nay-sayers who believed that Morita was blindly butchering the story, and those who assumed it would suck purely because Gonzo were animating it, Synthroid For Sale. Where can i buy cheapest Synthroid online, It was a leap of faith really but I don't regret it for a minute - you know why. Bokurano was actually quite brilliant, buy Synthroid without a prescription. Japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal, For sure, some parts were changed when they may have been better left as they were; on balance however the TV incarnation managed to be a worthy stand-alone entity all to itself, Synthroid from canada. Fast shipping Synthroid, From the calm before the storm in the beach cave to the climatic battle that endeared a previously detestable character to even this cynical viewer, it was a powerful and sobering journey, Synthroid dose.
the terms 'rock' and 'hard place' spring to mind Synthroid For Sale, The roll-call of teenagers chosen to defend the Earth in a giant mecha that would claim one of their lives with every consecutive conflict was a cross-section of walks of life, points of view and facets of the human condition. Synthroid from mexico, In a situation of absolute hopelessness and certain death, we saw some crack and some become heroes - I'll remember them all as ordinary young people forced into a conflict beyond their control and understanding, Synthroid without a prescription. Australia, uk, us, usa, As much as it was allegedly a toned-down take on the original story, Bokurano ventured into some pretty sensitive territory with a number of powerful moments that will stay with me for a long time afterwards; I believe it deserves this special recognition for taking on a number of issues concerning today's society that is all too often taboo in film and TV, Synthroid overnight. Synthroid duration, Memorable moment
Possibly the final battle in which Jun, an annoying and selfish brat, order Synthroid from United States pharmacy, Synthroid pharmacy, understands the meaning of family and fights for the last time in a moment of redemption, the likes of which I've never seen since Asuka went out swinging in End of Eva, Synthroid price. Cheap Synthroid, Most surprisingly, I didn't hate him any more, my Synthroid experience. Throughout the series I couldn't understand how he could be such a little bastard...second only to Dung Beetle (who thoroughly got what he deserved...ha!) but by the end of the series I understood, if not agreed with the validity of, his mindset, Synthroid For Sale. No prescription Synthroid online, It would have been nice to give all the kids as much attention as this but in terms of character development, Jun wins out in this show, purchase Synthroid online. Synthroid no rx, There wasn't much of an emphasis on the mecha battles themselves, which is no surprise really when the show was fundamentally about the characters, Synthroid recreational. Synthroid steet value, Nevertheless, the combat action was occasionally exhilerating from a mecha nut standpoint as well as an emotional one, Synthroid for sale. Buy cheap Synthroid no rx, Jun's long, drawn-out battle was a lonely and draining one that felt somehow different from all the others but suited his own individual struggle and inner conflict very well indeed, Synthroid wiki. Buy Synthroid no prescription, As much as I was expecting a bad ending, this was a very fitting way to go after seeing Jun effectively redeem himself, canada, mexico, india. Synthroid street price, Who would have thought such a little arsehole, or for that matter, such a shitty situation, would have any sort of positive outcome.
Other ABC bloggers' posts for the Twelve Days of Christmas
Drop your url into the comments section below if I've inadvertantly left you out. ^_^.
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[7 Comments]
[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]
20 Oct 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription, So, Bokurano finally reaches its conclusion. It's disappointing to see so few of us have followed this show to the end after all that controversy, because all things considered the ending isn't too bad at all, Cephalexin gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release. Hopefully these musings will help you see the show in a better light, Buy cheap Cephalexin, or at least understand how its shortcomings are not necessarily as disasterous as they appear to be. I've also added a READ MOAR tag because this post is going to be a long one.
Don't feel sorry for him, cheap Cephalexin no rx, guys. He deserved it, Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription. What is Cephalexin, OWNED.
As Son Gohan predicted, Machi took Kana's place for the next battle but what was even more surprising was the long-overdue demise of Dung Beetle. I'm not vindictive by nature so wouldn't wish undue suffering on anyone but given his insults, where to buy Cephalexin, insensitivity and downright cruelty that he wilfully aimed at kids who already had enough to deal with, Cephalexin online cod, Dung Beetle thoroughly deserved to meet the end he did. He was betrayed in the worst way possible and I take no shame in feeling satisfaction that it hurt: someone who inflicted pain on others deserved no less than feeling even a part of it for himself. Machi on the other hand felt responsible for a lot of things that had happened but I don't believe she necessarily deserved a cold and lonely end in the snow; nevertheless its sad nature evidently gave her a sense of atonement and release that she felt she needed, Cephalexin from canada.
Machi bows out in style Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription, So, things turn towards Kana and Jun. I'll deal with Jun first but both are deserving of some attention. After Cephalexin, Right from the outset I loved to hate Jun: he was selfish, weak, spiteful and a whole lot more; by the end though he had become a better person and died doing 'the right thing' and avoiding the path of further selfishness that would have led him to becoming the next Dung Beetle, online buying Cephalexin. The final battle was suitably epic and brutal: a sensation reinforced by Jun's repeated attacks, Buy Cephalexin no prescription, parries and periods of exhaustion. He even had to stop to eat at one point - the whole event lasted thirteen hours or thereabouts. THIRTEEN HOURS, Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription. I even felt a bit more tired just watching the toll it was taking on Jun and his unseen opponent, Cephalexin wiki. Despite its length, Cephalexin from canadian pharmacy, this final battle actually reminded me a little of Asuka's mindblowing last stand in End of Evangelion. In both cases, a thoroughly unpleasant and troubled young mecha pilot, where can i find Cephalexin online, who the viewer dislikes all the way through the series, Where can i cheapest Cephalexin online, makes one final push in the face of certain death and somehow wins over our affections in spectacular and heart-rending style. As the battle progressed, you could see Jun understand the significance and cost of what he was doing - he even found some meaning of his struggle and the terrible price that was paid; in these final episodes we were finally offered signs of his character developing and maturing, Cephalexin for sale.
Never forget... Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription, The structure of the series gave a shifting focus that hovered over each child in turn so some didn't always get the attention they deserved. In Jun's case though, Is Cephalexin addictive, we saw a late-in-the-day change that, like many of the kids who fought, led him to confront his demons, ordering Cephalexin online, make peace with them and wind up a better individual. Cephalexin cost, his arc was a surprise highlight in the series which placed it alongside a myriad of memorable faces, all of whom had a fascinating tale to tell.
Kana is left as the sole survivor so it's heartening to see her growing up and getting on with life, canada, mexico, india. The scene towards the end, Cephalexin brand name, where she meets one of the Daichi's brothers, offers opportunity to explain the significance of their sacrifice and, hopefully, effects of Cephalexin, make a difference for their lives in the future in doing so. Because it was sacrifice, Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription. Kjøpe Cephalexin på nett, köpa Cephalexin online, With the only other option being annihilation, these kids all decided to fight for the right for their world to survive, even though they were certain to die, order Cephalexin from mexican pharmacy. Kana's final retelling might seem cheesy but it carried on one of the central messages I took from the show: they learned from the mistakes and flaws of those who had gone before and broke the cycle of bad judgement and unhappiness that had blighted their own short lives - despite personal problems almost all of them found it in his or herself to stand up and defend what was precious to them. No prescription Cephalexin online,
You'll feel sorry for him by the end. Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription, No, really, you will
Unfortunately the series was far from perfect. Where can i buy cheapest Cephalexin online, I've gone over my own criticisms and potential justifications already but I will say this: THIS IS MY REVIEW FOR THE ANIME, NOT THE MANGA. As such, cheap Cephalexin no rx, I'm judging it as a completely separate work that takes the same premise but in its own direction - I'm hoping to check the original story out sometime soon since I've heard so many good things. Cheap Cephalexin, Nevertheless, some sticking points of this adaptation still stand. The Tower was reduced to footnote which offered little more than reiterating the folly of the Bokurano world (i.e, Cephalexin maximum dosage. grown-ups are idiots, which we knew already), Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription. More seriously, Purchase Cephalexin, the introduction of the Masterminds became a huge loose end that was never tied up; there's no satisfying middle ground between explaining the point adequately and leaving it out of the equation in the first place. The whole idea offered nothing to the story and served no useful purpose. It just felt out-of-place and unecessary, herbal Cephalexin.
Artistically Bokurano wasn't outstanding but it still wasn't particularly shabby; if nothing else it was at least consistent. Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription, The incidental music score and the second end theme were pretty good too, although I prefer the first end tune over the second. Generic Cephalexin, The opening theme on the other hand was one of my favourites to date - utterly beautiful and carrying a lot more meaning when you read the translations of the lyrics.
In closing, I'd like to draw attention to a point that helped me come to terms with the series' flaws, Cephalexin for sale. The title (I'm hoping the hiragana shows up right) was ぼくらの, Cephalexin coupon, which if I'm not mistaken translates as 'of us' or 'ours'. It's very vague, which is possibly deliberate, Cephalexin photos. I took it to mean that the story is centred not on a whole universe or a whole country, but the circle of friends who were involved: 'our' fate, 'our' struggle, Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription. Any politics, side-characters and so on that are relevant are relevant because they are important from the children's perspective. So what if we never find out who the Masterminds were. Sure, it's a nuisance but the important things were the kids' families, their friends, their hopes and their dreams.
A more grown-up Kana
Bokurano was never a mecha adventure, although it featured mecha. Buy Cephalexin Without Prescription, It was not a political or military thriller, although politics and the military were involved. It was focused on how a situation affected fifteen ordinary lives, fifteen innocent young people who were unfairly given the task of fighting for a cause they did not understand, paying a price that was unfairly high. The anime of Bokurano was not a perfect portrayal of this but nevertheless for me at least it adequately conveyed their story which was in turns tragic, cruel but strangely hopeful. It also hit the viewer with cold, hard, reality (within the realms of the decidedly unrealistic mecha genre, no less!) while asking, but not necessarily answering, the question: is our world really worth saving when innocents suffer for our sake. This question is indeed Ours to answer.
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[7 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
17 Oct 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
Temovate Cream For Sale, And so, we lose one who is possibly one of my favourite characters in the show. His family issues are brought to a head and after a period of 'they can all just die' syndrome, buying Temovate Cream online over the counter, Real brand Temovate Cream online, he finds it in himself to fight for her sake - or rather, which is more telling, Temovate Cream reviews, Buy Temovate Cream no prescription, fighting so she can continue her work and allow the other kids to be freed from the contract. It echoes Kirie's battle in some ways but crucially maintains the human element which could so easily be lost when there's an entire universe at stake, australia, uk, us, usa. Temovate Cream from canadian pharmacy,
Under the circumstances it's a darned good question, Temovate Cream dosage, Temovate Cream use, actually
I've always thought Kanji was a cool guy, and he went down in style accordingly - it was a really emotionally powerful exit, Temovate Cream from canada, Order Temovate Cream online overnight delivery no prescription, which is just as well since there isn't likely to be another one unless Kana ends up fighting (a prospect that will depressing more than anything). The unexpected effects of the Zearth program, Temovate Cream schedule, Where can i order Temovate Cream without prescription, which I must confess found to be a bit confusing, reference the opening credits sequence too, japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal, Buy Temovate Cream without a prescription, which makes me inclined to believe that the writers knew where the story was going from the beginning(?). The whole Masterminds thing is leaving me a bit worried though, since it's clearly a crucial aspect to the story but, with only a couple of eps to go, they've not been introduced properly yet, Temovate Cream For Sale. I foresee a rushed ending, buy cheap Temovate Cream. Purchase Temovate Cream for sale, Not a pleasant prospect.
Dung Beetle's up to his tricks again
After Kanji's demise the series inevitably turned its attention towards Jun and Kana and went further back into Jun's life to explain just why he became such a bullying little shit, about Temovate Cream. Comprar en línea Temovate Cream, comprar Temovate Cream baratos, Actually, it didn't explain why, buy cheap Temovate Cream. Temovate Cream For Sale, Sure, his (adoptive) dad was pretty inattentive and any effort he made was misunderstood by Jun, but still...that 'neglected elder sibling' argument he seemed to give just didn't hold water. Temovate Cream for sale, I have two younger sisters but I don't resent either of them, or my parents - Jun's attitude was that of an unpleasant little kid, Temovate Cream online cod, Temovate Cream pictures, not some virtuous lad who's been wronged. While I didn't see his upbringing as a justification for his behaviour, Temovate Cream without a prescription, Temovate Cream dose, it did allow me to understand him a little better - as so often happens in Bokurano, I found myself thinking, Temovate Cream mg, Temovate Cream without prescription, "you're wrong to think that way but I understand your reasons for doing so." Or something along those lines.
I never thought I'd say this but...kudos to him
What was great about Jun's portrayal though is how the Zearth affair brought out his protective 'brotherly' feelings towards Kana, low dose Temovate Cream, Temovate Cream photos, choosing to beg for Machi's help instead of taking up Dung Beetle's offer; just as well really, because Kana's willing to put herself on the line to save him so I'd be disappointed at him for doing otherwise, Temovate Cream schedule. Temovate Cream from canada, It's this that leads me to believe that, unless something really unexpected happens, order Temovate Cream no prescription, Buy Temovate Cream without prescription, he's managed to redeem himself; he even tells Machi that he doesn't blame Kana for her mother's death any more (about bloody time, too), Temovate Cream coupon. Temovate Cream overnight, At any rate, I'm hating Jun a lot less and hope that Machi is able to save Kana somehow, buy Temovate Cream online cod.
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[3 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
06 Oct 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
This series really has shifted its focus and tone during its run. Whether or not I'd have noticed had the adaptation debacle not surfaced is a different matter entirely. That is to say, I expected a change in direction and therefore noticed one: it's departed quite markedly from the episodic structure of the earlier days.
Tamotsu has a heart-to-heart with Jun
Ep #19 follows in the wake of Tanaka's tragic death in which Tamotsu explains everything to Jun. It was a really enjoyable episode in that it offers some new storytelling and gives a break from the main plotline; after learning about his brave and noble parents I find it hard to understand why he turned out to be the boy he is. I mean, his biological father was as honourable as a gangster could be, right? What went wrong? I have to say though that I don't think Jun deserved to have that sort of thing happen to him; this makes it all the more important I think that Tamotsu decided he needed to know the truth.
So they weren't siblings after all
In addition to this, it turns out Kana knew all along! All those years of being bullied and treated like dirt...I guess she was too scared to tell him, which is fair enough. It also shows what a good kid Kana is - she's been devoted to the little brat even though he isn't her real brother. All in all it was a fantastic episode that explored Jun's and Kana's backgrounds really well.
Ep #20 brings things back into the 'present' and presents a lot more information as well. This is where my confidence in the anime-only story gets a bit shaky but it nevertheless clears up quite a lot of nagging questions and contains a lot of tragedy which makes it gripping in a different way. Even as a human, Dung Beetle is a thoroughly detestable character, just like Jun coincidentally (judging by Psgels' assessment of this episode, the parallels between Dung Beetle and Jun weren't lost on him either). It explains a lot about how the game works to a certain degree, but I suspect what's going on as far those Masterminds that Kanji saw are concerned is being saved for later.
So Machi really IS Dung Beetle's sis. Damn.
I felt pretty sorry for good old Kanji too, especially when Dung Beetle spills the beans on who's been betraying them. My guess at this stage is that his mother sold the info off somehow to further her research but since I'm in the throes of life-threatening man-flu I may not have been paying enough attention to notice. The only problem I had with this episode is the socket in Machi's neck, which she used to convey her memories. I know it's important to explain the info but the way in which it was done felt too convenient, almost as if the writers were pushed for time and thought "We have to portray the flashbacks somehow." and opted for a hasty approach. Still, it did the job and now we know (some of) the truth about Kokopelli, Machi and Dung Beetle.
Bokurano 'feels' a lot different to how it did at first but in all honesty it would have got repetitive, no matter how interesting the pilots' back-stories were. That said, there appears to be a battle looming on the horizon so maybe this very informative exposition segment is now at an end.
[1 Comment]
[Anime Reviews]
20 Sep 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
"...in the back seat there was a gun/Words were passed in a shotgun blast/Troubled times had come..."
Wow, talk about plot progression! There appears no downtime from my change of domain name host either (I figured that since my web host now does domain names too, I might as well transfer the domain name over to them) so it's business as usual. If there is any downtime this week, it's not lupus. It's because the transfer didn't go as planned. So...happy second birthday to CB.net (hence the temporary celebratory banner image) and back to Bokurano and the angst. And more of why I fucking hate Dung Beetle.
Machi confers with her asshole brother...I can't believe they're related at all.
First up is Aiko, who exhibits a bit of a poorly explained an unexpected emotional attachment to Kanji. In one memorable scene he comforts her after she learns of a shocking family development; he reaches out and I expect him to force a kiss out of her as a guy of his age (in an anime show at least) would be expected to...but instead he just hugs her and says "I'll be there for you." Kudos to the guy. She shows an inner strength in the face of domestic strife that is reiterated in the following episode by Takami, but more of her in a minute. Aiko comes through in battle - helped by Machi, who as we learned in the previous episode is in a very informed position - anyway, Aiko does well and dies in a dignified fashion. A bit on the melodramatic side for some perhaps, but then this is the successive ending of young lives we're seeing here.
Aiko, a reluctant heroine, steps into the breech
Takami's battle, or more specifically the impressive way in which she retaliates, depends heavily on understanding the background to understand its significance. The subplot concerning the leaking of the Zearth Report and Takami's father going public over the affair has been progressing pretty quickly; I've brought up the mercenary and generally crappy attitude that certain parties have been showing towards the kids' struggle but after what happens to Takami's family it's easy to see why she took the stance she did - equally I can see how she may have momentarily decided, like some of the others, that their world isn't worth fighting for.
Fortunately, courage is hereditary in this family...
There's a lot going on in these episodes that takes attention away from the mecha battles a little. Tamotsu's proving to be a little odd but pretty likable 'anime only' character, and even Ushiro is turning from a little shit to a kid with a conscience. Dung Beetle is still the bastard of the piece though, so it amused me when Kanji said "screw you!" and got him a bit riled up. The mention of the 'masterminds' struck me as almost cheesy though - I don't know why but it reminded me of Robotech for some reason. Hopefully it isn't a sign of an impending train wreck, because I've been enjoying the plot twists so far.
...See what I mean?
This post's lyric quote, by the way, just popped up as I was writing this review. I happened to be listening to the Boss (I like to have something playing in the background as I write) and it seemed to fit. If the choice of quotes was always this easy, I'd have the motivation to do it more often. :)
[2 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
15 Sep 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
I now know what Peter S meant when he said in his comment that episode #15 had a plot twist! It all comes out after a gangster named Tamotsu is released from jail and returns to his former employer. The old boss suggests he 'goes straight' and sets off to look after an old friend and her kids instead of returning to a lifestyle which is apparently not what it was in the good old days.
This is a great change of pace and atmosphere, which offers new information regarding the characters and, thanks to this new cast member, it has a bit of humour too. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and strikes me as the well-meaning but rather clueless type - I can see how he not only got dragged into the criminal world but also wound up getting caught! It all confirms what I suspected after #14 but as is so often the case with this show I'm reluctant to jump to conclusions because nobody is what they appear to be at first.
So, this was Kirie's fight. To be honest I can understand why he didn't want to save the world at first: earlier on in the series I was really critical of
Kako's reluctance when he was next up but for some reason I'm a little more sympathetic towards Kirie's point of view. He too wasdealt a bad hand in life and had to put up with a lot of crap that wasn't his fault. He was a harmless and pleasant kind of guy as well, but came across as a little slow on the uptake at times. I felt so sorry for him when he said how unhappy his mother was, yet didn't fully comprehend what was going on during her suicide attempt. It's here that I can even give myself a break from calling Ushiro a bastard because he actually did the decent thing and helped Kirie out. Anyway, it's not surprising that Kirie didn't believe his world is worth saving at this point. I'm more sympathetic towards him than Kako though because Kirie is such a decent, harmless guy: he doesn't knowingly hurt other people or offload his emotional baggage - he reached a logical conclusion based on his own unfortunate experiences.
The first battle was a surprise though, not to mention a monumental stroke of luck if only from the kids' point of view. With Kirie's sentiments and our prior knowledge of how the pilots are chosen, we can only guess at why the opponent went even further than Kirie did and forfeited the contest (boy, is that a euphemism). What was going through his or her mind? What exactly brought him or her to the conclusion of overriding all instincts of self-preservation for their sake? This pilot knew nothing about Kirie or the others, and they (and we) knew nothing about the nameless, unseen individual who sacrificed themselves and their world...nor are we ever likely to find out. Even though it saved the kids' lives, I can't help but think that it was utterly tragic.
Episode #16 was one heck of a turnaround, even discounting the earth-shattering revelation at the end; Kirie goes from being hopeless and lost to a more confident character who is able to find a reason to carry on. Our friend Tamotsu is to thank for all of this after he helps Kirie's mother find a job and gives the lad an inspirational pep-talk prior to the battle. After this, Kirie is able to go into battle with quiet confidence...and what a battle it is. Kirie's final hour reminded me of the first time I saw Eva unit 01 clobber the third Angel - it was meticulously executed feral savagery, with a timid and unassuming soul at the centre of it. I take back everything I said about Kirie being slow!
There were some other bits going on in the background too, such as the Zearth Report being leaked and so on but I couldn't really give that my full attention until I'd seen Kirie give it his all. It certainly makes me glad that the Triad have been able to sub recent episodes so quickly because this series is really hotting up. Additions such as the character of Tamotsu feel a little odd but he at least had a positive effect on the story; I'm hoping it can maintain this level of quality through to the end, even after so many changes from the original.
[No Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
12 Sep 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
"You hide your eyes but the ugly truth just loves to get in the way..."
Ah, back to normal. My fave subbing group for this show seems to be really on a roll with releasing new episodes so expect more angst-ridden Bokurano goodness before the week is out. Anyway, these episodes reveal quite a bit about the nature of the war the kids are fighting, and it sure as hell knows how to twist the knife.
I'm sure we've all had an inkling about what - or more specifically who - the enemy is for a good couple of episodes or so but it's confirmed now; the really heart-wrenching thing is
how the series shows us. That is to say it doesn't pull its punches is depicting crowds, families and individual HUMAN BEINGS watching the events unfolding, knowing all of their lives are hanging in the balance (interestingly, I don't think the government of the kids' home world has allowed its populace to be as well-informed as the people in this universe are). As much as I despise Dung Beetle and his tactless tone, his explanation does make cruel, but good sense: it's us or them, a basic Darwinian law of natural selection. Whichever way the battle goes, one planet Earth with its human inhabitants will vanish, so why not fight to save the Earth that contains the humans you know and love? Isn't achieving that preferable to favouring a different world, which contains nobody you care about? Of course, this is pretty logical when you're detached from the situation but it's a painful realisation that I don't envy the kids for having to understand.
The battle was pretty good to watch actually, which made me feel just a little bit guilty. For sure, it has huge mecha slogging it out but in
Bokurano more than most mecha shows, the fact that this war is killing an entire universe every time comes back to slap me around the face. I was expecting everyone on board Zearth to avert their eyes and get the nasty business over and done with but strangely Maki looked inside the capsule first, which showed what we'd feared was inside. Morbid curiosity perhaps? Some 'honour' issue unknown to me that requires a warrior to look their vanquished enemy in the eye before delivering the final blow? Maybe it's some Japanese thing related to the battlefield traditions, I don't know. Explanations welcome, guys.
Episode #14 was completely devoid of this sort of stuff, choosing instead to bring up issues surrounding the kids' situation and the war. The issue of tracking down info regarding Kana's mother certainly piqued my interest (I've already forgotten what we were led to believe about her whereabouts or what's happened to her) and Tanaka's obviously a mole of some sort who has worked her way into the military; I wouldn't hazard a guess as to who she's really working for though. Regardless of their identity - or her link with Kana - they've provided her with a second leaked Zearth Report, which states how the metaphorical vultures of financial corporations are circling the whole affair, waiting for their cut.
Being the eternal cynic, I was shocked but not unduly surprised that, even in a situation like this,
someone is always looking for an opportunity to work things for their own benefit. If these faceless organisations were aware of the gravity of the predicament no doubt they'd have their priorities set a little differently...but yeah, that's human nature for you. And as I'm rapidly learning,
Bokurano likes to hammer home how bad human nature can be.
On a more general note, the technology used in the hacking chips was a bit far-fetched. If that stuff was kicking around in labs today we'd have found a medical (or business! :p) use for it by now. This and little details such as vehicle designs or the
Frank Lloyd Wright-esque building in which the lab is housed leads me to believe that the world that the story is set in is not ours. Maybe placing the whole series in a different universe may be a lead-up to Morita's infamous altered ending. Just thought I'd toss that idea in. ^_^
[5 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
14 Aug 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
Once again, I've left it for too long before continuing this show. Unlike the other fansub series I'm currently following, Bokurano is so powerful and tragic I can't really sit through too much in one go - for that reason, this review took two days to write. I find it best to watch one episode, let the events sink in and think about it for a bit before moving onto the next one. But maybe that's just me.
Three friends...and tragedy
#11: Moji's Sacrifice
Anyway, Moji is the next up, and he comes across as being a thoroughly good guy. Like Daichi, he's selfless and makes use of the lousy hand he's dealt to bring some good out of it. Unlike Daichi, his predicament has its origins in the misfortune of illness, rather than the human nature-induced suffering that we've seen so far. It's nobody's fault that his best friend Nagi's ill; nor is anybody's fault that both Yoji and Nagi fall for their childhood friend Tsubasa. Yet, Moji feels guilty for, in his eyes, not feeling enough pity for Nagi and also for his feelings of jealousy (the jealousy may not be particularly heroic but mere mortals among us will at least see it as understandable). In the end though, Moji understands the best thing to do and offers Nagi the ultimate gift: the chance of life and the chance to make both of his lifelong friends happy. What a guy. Seriously. I was genuinely impressed with his selflessness and maturity.
Yoji, hero of the week
Aside from the 'shed a manly tear' pathos of Moji's heroic gesture, we also learn a little about the enemy too. I'm guessing the physical forms of the monsters have some sort of significance, being different shapes (in the same way that the shapes of the Angels of Eva reflected their namesakes); anyway, Moji defeats a two-part alien but his tactics strongly suggest that the enemy is not just a machine. In fact, I suspect that they are similar to Zearth in many ways, right down to living, sentient life forms who lose their lives when they pilot. If true, this possibility adds a whole new dimension to the proceedings.
#12: Maki and family
Ep #12 didn't have the same level of power, although this is due to the previous instalment being so damn good rather than Maki's one being inferior. It's probably because we're so used to dysfunction and tragedy that a 'normal' character with a 'normal' family is pretty exceptional for this show. Maki's anxiety about seeing her kid brother coming into this world before she's whisked onto Zearth is given a slight twist in that she herself is adopted, so neither her parents nor her sibling-to-be are strictly speaking her family.
Maki has just cause for concern
What makes this episode so heartwarming is that Maki's adoptive parents don't make this distinction: to them, she is their daughter and her home life is perfectly happy and ordinary. What really cheered me up here is that Maki knows this fact, and goes to fight knowing she's spent her life with a loving family and, even if she never sees him, she will be fighting for their future. As with the previous episode, it's a little ray of optimism in a very dark and dismal picture.
Katsuragi discusses things with Tanaka
Speaking of dark and dismal, there are some more background developments concerning the government's attitude (I can see both sides of Katsuragi's and Tanaka's argument but as a member of the general public I like to know what's going on in the world, so wouldn't advocate the cover-up) and some character-driven stuff going on amongst the other kids. The former refers to the magazine, a copy of which was obtained by Maki's dad (a really funny scene that summed up the family's life), which explains a bit about how much the rest of the world knows. The latter sums up why I love to hate Ushiro - my ideal situation for the next episode would be to have he and Dung Beetle take on the enemies on their own with only a blunt spork to defend themselves. In my opinion, Maki could have kicked the little bastard unconscious and it still wouldn't make up for how badly he treats Kana.
Summary
I'm glad I've ignored the purists and nay-sayers to stick with this show. It's often depressing but as unpalatable as the material sometimes is, Bokurano has a knack of keeping me watching. These two episodes throw up more interesting details about Zearth and the war they're fighting, as well as some more superb pieces of tragic yet thought-provoking drama. Where have they ended up now?
[2 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
18 Jul 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
"Bless the martyrs and kiss the kids for knowing better, for knowing this..."
My Bokurano catch-up and my first attempt at a 'guess the lyric' challenge aimed at you guys...it's an album track from a double-disc record dating back within the last twelve years, which is the only clue I'm going to give you. In these three eps we get to see things from the points of view of three characters, which gives plenty of perspective on things at a personal level.
First up is Chizuru, whose end is suitably dramatic as she takes the battle to be an opportunity to seek revenge on the man who ruined her life. The events that follow take a slightly unpredictable twist and highlight what is becoming a recurring theme with the show (hence that song lyric quote above) - that of the children of
Bokurano showing more mercy and admirable judgement than the adults who have let them down so badly. There's even the possibility of Chizuru's loss being even more tragic than it appears...it's not definite, but the numbers don't quite add up...at this point, there's the possibility that not all of them are doomed to die. I was a bit confused at the latter revelation, so I'm hoping for explanations later. Anyway, Chizuru's calm manner towards her end made me feel even more sorry for her than I did before, which really is saying something - in the end her hatred ultimately turns inward which is not what she deserved.
The heartache doesn't let up with the next pilot, the stoic Daichi. Once again, it's mistakes of the parents being reflected in - and addressed - by the young, as his responsible and selfless nature shines through. What I found particularly noteworthy is how parallels were drawn between Daichi's calling and his father's disappearance: like his dad, Daichi leaves his family behind for reasons that are unknown to them, with plenty of ensuing upset. The difference with the younger Yamura of the family is that he makes arrangements to see that the rest of them are taken care of - as he had faith in his father, he urges his siblings to have faith in him. All through the series I didn't know what to make of Daichi but now I respect his mature attitude in the face of adversity that he neither deserves nor is able to change. It's another recurring theme of the show: make the best of the situation you're landed with. I agree with
Impz's view that his gestures were heroic ones.
This brings us neatly up to Mako, who learns to accept her situation and that of her mother so she is able to make peace with herself as she takes the pilot's seat. She's another innocent who's been dealt a bad hand but she maintains her sense of 'doing the right thing' to the end - interestingly it's not until she fights in Zearth that she learns that sometimes, selfless people have to remember their own interests because they owe it to themselves to do so. "Fighting for myself" is a privilege that Mako has earnt, in my opinion at least.
What I also found interesting about Mako's story is that it doesn't actually turn out to be that of a character overcoming a bad upbringing, which is what it appeared to be at first. Before the inevitable, Mako sees that within the questionable lifestyle of her mother's that has attracted the derision of the school bullies and cost her many potential friends, she is loved and her mother's lifestyle is borne from dignity and independence. My only reservation about this beautifully-realised episode is Mako's exact motivation isn't clear - did she really go down the same road as her mother for the sake of a few pieces of material?
Overall, these three episodes are superb examples of why this show is a candidate for my fave of the season; the lyrics of the op theme seem to carry more meaning with every replay too.
[3 Comments]
[Editorials]
20 Jun 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano, Rants]
A recent bit of news is Hiroyuki Morita's controversial decision with Bokurano. I'm taking this on now because 1) it's still relevant and 2) it's straightforward to write with my current situation amounting to a laptop that's out of action until the weekend, at the earliest. Bah.
The problem lies in the fact that the show's director has decided to take it in a very different direction to the original story, and adds to this by stating he doesn't actually like the original in the first place. Thanks to fans' affection for the manga and the apparent ingrained lack of confidence in GONZO's ability to bring existing stories to the screen, there's quite a furore over it. I'll admit straight out that I haven't actually read any of the manga (the simple reason is that I prefer reading paper copies over scanlations so haven't had the chance) but the series so far, ep #7 at the time of writing, has led me to conclude that it's the best show this season. And there's a lot of competition. It looks like the battle lines are drawn...
The idea of taking a good story and changing it is a bad one unless there's just cause for it, that much is obvious. It's understandable then that the news of altering fundamental aspects of Bokurano was met with so much disappointment - changing the utterly pessimistic outcome is essentially turning the story into something else, which isn't necessary with something of Bokurano's calibre...or is it?
The bottom line is, the manga is ongoing so some changes will have to be made sooner or later, if only in order to give it a proper ending. Perhaps this is why the manga-ka has given permission for Morita to do so, albeit with one condition of 'not using magic'. In addition to this, I'm of the understanding that some of the scenes in episodes #8 onwards are not nearly as shocking in their content as the manga. If this is the case I actually agree with Morita for toning it down: the events of episode #7 provided all the shock and tragedy needed so for me at least, it simply isn't necessary to crank the brutality up any further in order to get the message across.
It's also worth remembering that Bokurano is intended for airing on television - while you can write my personal feelings off as being oversensitive, there's the question of what's actually allowed to be depicted on TV. Given a choice between preserving the source material's details and risking a hack-job censoring or leaving out the more distasteful parts at the production stage, I imagine most directors would choose the latter! Sure, the no-nonsense, close-to-the-bone approach is one of Bokurano's best features but even by today's standards it might prove to be too much for the broadcasters so I can't blame the writers if they are erring on the side of caution.
One detail that softens the blow for the manga's fans is that Morita publicly warned them that this adaptation will not take the direction of the original, rather than sneaking changes in without a word of explanation. It strikes me as an unusual decision but it could well be an attempt at reducing the backlash! This is a situation that is a frequent headache for directors of TV adaptations, but I always wonder about the true severity of it: after all, a bad adaptation doesn't affect the quality of the original. If readers don't like what they see on TV - and Morita himself recommends this - they should stick to the original instead. If the adaptation is so bad, it'll just get forgotten in the long run anyway.
My main criticism with Morita's decision is not what he's doing: the reasons outlined above are just those that I could think of on a weekday evening on a borrowed PC. Public announcement or no, the sticking point is why he's doing it. As the director of the project with the permission of the original author, he's within his rights to do so but altering bits purely because he dislikes them just feels wrong to me. If he finds the material too unpleasant, why take on the project at all? My only explanation could be that, at the time of being approached for the position, he did not know what direction the story would take. Combining a plot-line with very mature themes and the saddest possible outcome with a director whose previous notable effort was a family-orientated film was strange the first time I read of it, and it still looks equally bizarre now.
At the end of the TV show's run there will be two very different takes on the Bokurano story - a neater arrangement than, say, the 'redone ending' idea that was used for Evangelion; an approach that still didn't satisfy everyone and to make matters worse haunted the director for years afterwards. While this series will earn no prizes in being a faithful adaptation, is this such a bad thing? The disappointment I feel as a result of this is not that a good story is being ruined - it's that a director who I have great respect for has been assigned to the wrong project. Bokurano is dark, twisted, traumatic and not for the faint of heart. Sure, it's not for everyone but that is what makes it stand out, which is something Morita should remember even when his 'dislike' is perhaps understandable. There's still a fair chance I'll enjoy the anime version from the excellent episodes I've seen so far - in fact I'm curious to see how Morita and his team can pull it off - but if not, I'll bit the bullet and read the manga instead. Rest assured though, if I do criticise the way the anime's headed, it'll be because I'm judging it on its own merits, not some reactionary response that only goes as far as "GONZO can't do adaptations".
Thanks for reading and I hope I can follow all this up when my beloved Navi is back in working order. :)
[2 Comments]
