[Anime Reviews]
29 Jan 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
Get the reference there? Please?
Um, right. I started reading around the aniblogosphere while I was waiting for the subbed versions but after getting the general “not as good as the original” gist repeatedly, I gave up on reading and commenting. Put it down to the way in which reading excessive negativity dampens my mood and spoils things for me. This series however suffers what I call the SOFAD Effect: ask any Depeche Mode fan what they thought of Songs of Faith and Devotion and the first thing would be “It wasn’t as good as Violator.” The trouble is, nothing they’ve done is as good as Violator, which detracts from the fact that SoFaD is not half bad in its own right. I guess my analogy here is, beyond recommending Violator as a masterpiece, that Gunslinger Girl: -Il Teatrino- is actually quite good. Just not nearly AS good as what went before.
It’s part of my blogging nature I guess to jump to a show’s defence when everyone else is in a state of “Zetsubou shita!” dismay and rabid disappointment (in other words, you should be used to it by now). I’m fully aware of how it isn’t nearly as gritty, realistic or eloquent as the first season, whose budget must’ve looked shocking on paper but paid for itself over and over again on-screen. Il Teatrino lacks an element of what I can only call sophistication - season #1 was one of those rare pieces of anime that was mature, intelligent and avoided all the clichés to make a show that was as far removed from the archetype of its respective genres as is possible to get. Depending on how the subject matter is handled, it could be anything from exploitative and repulsive to heartfelt and profound; while the first season was decidedly of the latter, at least the second avoids being the former. There is however a crucial dash of polish and assuredness that’s sorely lacking here but for me at least, a partial measure of the original’s brilliance has been retained…not much I grant you, but just enough to keep me watching.
Read the rest of this entry »
Reading stats: 897 words & 4 images; estimated reading time 3:35 mins
[8 Comments]
[Site Announcements]
21 Jan 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: First Impressions and Retrospectives, Gunslinger Girl, Persona Trinity Soul, Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei, Spice and Wolf]
I thought it would be a good idea to lump my first impressions of the new year’s shows in one post because I want to spend more time watching and less time flooding the aggregators with daily posts. It’s an exhausting task that I don’t feel is sustainable in the long term, and doesn’t give much time for the latest post to enjoy its time at the top of the page either. As I stated at the beginning of the year, the plan is quality over quantity from now on (hopefully freeing up a bit of time to update my other Wordpress part of the site) - plus the fact that I’m watching rather a lot to begin with. 2008’s shaping up quite well already actually, so here are the token First Impressions that I may or may not adhere to.
A burnt-out science graduate seeking solace in solitude and sake…even the hairstyle’s the same
Read the rest of this entry »
Reading stats: 791 words & 5 images; estimated reading time 3:10 mins
[3 Comments]
[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]
17 Aug 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
It’s a sad fact that truly realistic and mature anime is still relatively uncommon amongst the numerous titles that hit UK shelves these days. The likes of GitS: SAC and Noir are the exception rather than the rule, which only makes something like Gunslinger Girl all the more essential. Also drawing comparisons with Luc Besson efforts such as Leon and Nikita, it is a sophisticated and well-produced series that bucks the trend in action thrillers.
Read the rest of this entry »
Reading stats: 843 words & 5 images; estimated reading time 3:22 mins
[3 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
07 Aug 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
How often does a series with this degree of depth and sophistication come along? Allowances for the open ending aside, the final episodes of Gunslinger Girl are among the finest to grace the UK’s DVD shelves this year. As you might have guessed from the series so far, it’s not a cheery affair either…
The first half of the disc concerns itself with the fatal shooting of one of the fratellos: Elsa and Lauro were found dead in a park with the ensuing investigation drawing attention from Section 1 and those in authority. The second half focuses on a rescue mission in which the cyborgs of Section 2 run up against a group of armed terrorists who are planning an abduction of a government official’s daughter.
Read the rest of this entry »
Reading stats: 492 words & 4 images; estimated reading time 1:58 mins
[1 Comment]
[Anime Reviews]
18 Jun 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
It’s been one seriously rough week, for a number of reasons that I won’t bore you with. I haven’t had time to do more than one review for AUKN in the past seven days with another yet to write and the second disc of Gunslinger Girl has been sitting on my shelf, unreviewed as well. It was worth the wait though, because this instalment is goddamned fantastic.
Read the rest of this entry »
Reading stats: 450 words & 3 images; estimated reading time 1:48 mins
[No Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
12 Apr 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
I must admit I’m quite a fan of ‘Girls with Guns’ shows - the drama, suspense and the sight of attractive young ladies taking out bad guys and looking goddamn stylish is always going to have some entertainment value. Gunslinger Girl is very different from the flashy coolness of Noir or the dark comedy of Chrono Crusade though - everything from the premise to the realism makes it something much deeper and quite chilling.
Read the rest of this entry »
Reading stats: 403 words; estimated reading time 1:37 mins
[No Comments]
