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The Seekers▲▼
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Rating▲▼
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Comment▲▼
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| Battle Angel (OAV) |
Good |
Fairly classic tale of postapocalyptic despair, with the usual "the manga is better" caveat (except that in this case the manga is smokin' good). Good choice, Mr. Cameron, you sly bastahd. Let's see how you make Kansas City into a garbage dump (must...not...take...cheap...shot) |
| Castle in the Sky (movie) |
Excellent |
Miyazaki in cloud nine. |
| (The) Cat Returns (movie) |
Excellent |
This movie lacks most of the character and moral depth you've come to expect from Ghibli –and that’s not a bad thing. This is pure, unadulterated, distraction-free fun and joy, a fairy tale of the highest caliber decorated with the subtle beauty of always. We’ve become spoiled. |
| Chrono Crusade (TV) |
Very good |
Dang, I don’t remember Catholicism ever being this fun. Wonder what Father Ignacio would’ve thunk… An interesting dramatic device and a great baddie give this story most of its traction, and the famous ending is a major plus. Another plus is this series’ derriere fetish: it’s a welcome variation for other more common anatomical obsessions. Winner of the Razr Award for Coolest Mobile Phone Design. |
| Fantastic Children (TV) |
Good |
A well-plotted, well-timed mystery series. The Sisyphean fate of the Belfort kids is a great device for an exploration of the nature of identity and of the duty to live a life. The retro character design can be distracting, and gives a very limited repertoire of facial expressions. This is a pity, given the emotionally subtle ebbs and flows of the main tale. The well-modulated ending makes the earliest proceeding all that more meaningful. |
| Fullmetal Alchemist (TV) |
Excellent |
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| Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV) |
Excellent |
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| Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa |
Very good |
A (mostly) satisfying conclusion to the FMA saga. While the plot is a bit overladen and clunky, it does close the majority of the character arcs. Most importantly, it remains true to the morally subtle application of its world's driving principle (you breaks it, you pays it). Interestingly, it is another old alchemic principle that drives the plot forward: once bound, always bound (and it's not only brotherhood that binds). |
| Kurau: Phantom Memory (TV) |
Good |
The people at BONES either must either have had some really excellent family life, or every single one of them is an only child. This story of sisterly love on-the-run sports great artwork, animation and character design. However, its narrative just never clicks. Pity, as the premise is a good one. |
| Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (movie) |
Masterpiece |
Miyazaki has done better films, but not better characters than Nausicaa. |
| Phoenix (TV) |
Good |
Well, it is a NHK-PBS co-production, and it’s based on The Master’s lifework. Of course it will be Worthy. Of course it will be Dull. The various arcs vary a lot in terms of entertainment value, but the final result is rather disappointing: it fails to either engage as narrative, or to move as morality tale. |
| Scrapped Princess (TV) |
Good |
The Studio of Brotherly Love does its first sibs-on-the-road series. After an exceedingly promising start, it drastically loses its track, and with it, its momentum. The battle scenes are gorgeous, you do get the feel of watching gods going at it after answering Heimdall's horn. |
| Tales from Earthsea (movie) |
Good |
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| (The) Twelve Kingdoms (TV) |
Very good |
I like Luoyang in the Spring, I like Luoyang in the Autumn. The set-up is a philosophical doozy, a hyper-Confucian universe serving as the stage for a fable about self-pity and self-reliance. The strength of this series lies on its solid characterizations and elegantly ballistic character arcs: rarely has the Sophomore-to-Sovereign conversion been so convincingly realized. |
| Wolf's Rain (TV) |
Good |
Lupus homini lupus. High quality animation, interesting settings, and some wonderfully wolfy character design. The writing tends toward dullness, with the ocassional bright spot. The guys in the pack are rather boring and flat, too. The ancillary human characters, on the other hand, are refreshingly adult and worn-out. A divorced couple broken up by workaholism? Niiice. |
| Wolf's Rain (OAV) |
Good |
Roll over. Play dead. Good doggie. The ending is kind of a letdown, not surprising after such a strenuous set-up. |
