Forum - View topicWhat are you watching right now? Why? (please read 1st post)
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DuskyPredator
 Posts: 15524 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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In the hype of Pokémon fever, I decided to check out Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, since I a while ago got back into Pokémon by watching its Sun and Moon series, and kind of stopped a bit into the second season. Was kind of curious by its alternate setting, a retelling of the very beginning of Ash's setting, making it extra different from the S&M series, while what might be a retread. But, I actually loved it. Starting with an awesome song of Gotta Catch 'Em All, which I totally sang along with, no shame.
The movie made me feel like a little kid again, watching events I was familiar with, it all done in a way to be of a coherent single movie, Brock and Misty kind of replaced by Verity and Sorrel as distinct characters. And also bringing Pokémon other than the main 150 in, which I appreciate as part of despite how much of a nostalgia trip the movie is, the extended cast of different Pokémon are just as valid. I also take notes that Ash's character, such as his first interactions with Pikachu, felt more in line with some of his later characterisation over the more arrogant parts of actual first episodes, and also Pikachu too being filled with personality. As an also game fan I think I also had appreciation that of the few gym leaders shown, Erika had her more game friendly character, and not the sexist version she was in the tv series. The movie was just super effective with me. As a combined fan of the games, and especially the early anime. I think I even noticed that some of the music felt like a blend, I think even noticed that the music at times felt like a blend of the anime's with bits that felt like the games. A few of the action scenes had me repeat to watch them again, as did noticing certain details in backgrounds, like a girl with a Squirtle having a turtle backpack. I am seeing other comments of the movie as less favourable, but for me it just touched all of the right notes. I give this movie a rating of Excellent (9/10), totally admit I am having a bit of nostalgia blindness, but I think that was a point of the movie, and it was using it as a tool not a crutch. All Pokémon fans should watch it. I also got The Power of Us, and I Choose You left me on such a high note, I think that I will watch it immediately, regardless of how late it is. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15524 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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And indeed, I watched Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us, and I do have some things to say about it. First that it feels a bit like it has a slight titled perspective away from general Pokémon series, it starting off in what actually looked like a very normal school, rather than some sort of Pokémon school. Kind of like a bridge between the familiar and the more fantastical elements of Pokémon that feel like it is its own world not even counting the magical creatures. One character even having a smartphone. But I kind of feel a big mention should be on the title of the movie, which I think is 100% something done on purpose.
This movie kind of feel reminiscent of the second Pokémon movie, although I think it is still in the continuity of I Choose You, and a thing to note is that Pokémon 2000 also had the name of "The Power of One", the general story as often the case of a chosen one, Ash having to save the world on his shoulders. Sure a good deal of that movie had all these characters able to help push forward, but this movie kind of feels like it subverts that movie, because Ash is not some chosen one, but just one person amongst a bunch who each do their thing. I think there is a strength in that, where we get used to a hero being the only one to save the day, but it isn't time. Ash is joined by the glossed up Risa, the quick talking Callahan, the scientist Toren, Old Lady Harriet, Little Margo and her mayor father. And what I also liked about all these characters is it kind of felt like they subverted character tropes a little. Risa was a character I had seen images of in places, and her character is strange for Pokémon as someone who wears makeup, coloured hair and fashion that points her as the type of person who cares about her looks. She kind of feels like the exact character certain people might discount being too girly or shallow, but nothing about her character portrays her as arrogant, and actually feels very genuine, making me wonder about her pairing with Eevee, which is known a good deal for great potential. Callahan can tell quite the fib, his smooth talking creating tall tales a bit, but the majority of his character is just trying to make his sick niece happy. Harriet is grumpy and kind of feels like the sort just done with everyone and behind in the times, but she too comes around to showing a strength that makes her cool, even being commented on. With Margo and her father, well specifically her father looks like the exact kind of politician or business man who is so preoccupied with having things work and do business, that he has forgotten to be empathetic to plghts of the individual and taking responsibility, which turns out to not be true at all. But my favourite character in the movie would have to be Toren, who as a scientist even in Pokémon could give the initial thought of the type to think too much with his head instead of his heart, but again entirety not the case. I especially think it is cool that his partner Pokémon of all is actually Chansey, one of the most feminine and caring/maternal Pokémon in the franchise, that it is synonymous with the caring female nurses (Chansey being an only female Pokémon), and yet it feels like a perfect match for him. Toren, as far as shown, is male, but there is kind of little too him that feels like what you would call traditionally masculine, but despite that and his clear anxiety, none of it feels like it makes him a weak person. I am sure the audience could be up to which character they thought stood in front as the hero they most connected with, and for me I think Toren was the coolest, kind of specifically because he lacked the type of traits that would normally be cool. Like nothing about his character needing to be tough, no need to be masculine, and as a geek of the games, he also feels strangely reminiscent of the aroma ladies. This movie did not have the strong nostalgia feels of I Choose You, and overall I will probably rate it as Good (7/10), but I do think that it certainly had strength in its characters. Weaving together a bunch of separate stories into a big one with a bunch of likeable people who felt like they grew. Pokémon Sword and Shield comes out soon, and I am totally going to be ready to dive back into a Pokémon game. |
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gileyeyo
Posts: 2 Location: Wheaton |
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I've seen clips of Aho-Girl on YouTube, and while the clips are amusing enough, it doesn't look like the sort of show I would sit down and say, "Yeah, I'm enjoying this -
https://freeporn.ooo https://camjke.com https://pornsites.pro Last edited by gileyeyo on Mon May 16, 2022 5:46 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11454 |
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I don't suppose anyone but me is watching Stand My Heroes? While watching the latest episode, I realized just how little of the plot is actually sinking in, and I have no idea what the hell is going on. Wikipedi doesn't have an article on it, and everything else I find online is either about the game or just the blurb.
There are more ikemen in this than UtaPri, and they're grouped in factions that make no sense. The heroine Izumi is supposed to be recruiting random guys for STAND, a special anti-drug group with the police I guess, but since she's not a member, they won't tell her anything she needs to know to do her job of recruiting for them, and generally treat her like dirt. There's another group of supposedly shady guys she keeps meeting up with in a bar with a pool table, and I can't tell whose side they're on, but they keep feeding her bits of info. There's the DCD, which is some other division of the police who act like she's a member of their group, even though she's not, and they coordinate investigating with her and she seems to have a desk in their offices, and one guy acts like her boss, but I'm not sure if he is or not. Then there's the rich drug company heir and his posse, who she's sort of investigating while trying to recruit him to STAND (wth?). And a couple of other random hotties who are involved somehow, plus a recent twist that throws all the relationships into question now. If anyone else does happen to be watching this, could you explain to me what's going on and what I've got wrong about all the groups? It's not like it really matters, since I'm obviously not interested enough to rewatch any episodes or spend a lot of time trying to figure it all out, but I'm still kind of curious if this makes sense to anyone else. 
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15524 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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I am sort of half watching. It kind of loses my attention, I think that I have the general idea of what is going on, but end up confused over what exactly her job is. Apparently recruiting for something for STAND but not a part of the group, like she is not as credible as the shady people. Then I am not sure if they even know who she is. And there was something about two brothers having career problems because one of them was involved in police proceedings, so she is trying to fight to clear their names from media gossip. And everyone is surprised that kind of shady people might have shady things like making a new drug.
In all honesty I am probably going to need someone else explain to me what has been going on despite having watched. I think that I would have a better chance explaining what happened in Azur Lane, and it has been a rare case that I stopped watching after several episodes from realising I would not care if I saw any more of it. I think that I am only watching because I am not watching anything much along the lines this season, the closest being Outburst Dreamer Boys. Like I watch it after PSO2:EO, because I think that show is dumber and gratuitous, before the actual show I want to watch that day, Average in the Next Life. |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11454 |
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I don't feel so stoopid now. I think we're going to have to wait for a season-end or BD-release review, or maybe a This Week in Anime, to 'splain it for us.
I'm enjoying the Chuuni Bros one though. It usually gets at least a good laugh or two per episode from me, and I hope they haven't forgotten to explain what was going on in the earlier episodes where she seemed to be having premonitions or something going on with her. She hasn't had those in awhile, so I'm worried it's dropped off their radar somehow. |
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Cam0
 Posts: 4896 |
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I don't really get what's going on in Azur Lane and the enjoyment I got from it in the first few episodes quickly wore out. It has kinda turned into one of those "Ugh, gotta watch the latest episode of that" shows. I think it still has some cool moments (helped by the quite cool soundtrack) even though I'm kinda out of the loop with the story. All I know is that the show seems to love the "War never changes" line. Has a cool opening though. Oddly I look forward to the High School Prodigy Isekai thing (Choyoyu) every week. It's positively absurd and not particularly good or anything, but there's something oddly entertaining about its absurdity. Somehow I really like the samurai girl and her samurai speak. Seems to be a very new VA, I like her voice. On another note I'm a bit disappointed by the lack of conversation Blade of the Immortal has. Turtle James is quite slow with reviews and the review thread gets very little traffic it seems. Maybe people just don't watch it or maybe anime only viewers are staying away from the thread because the manga readers have laid the thread with a spoiler minefield (I'm totally innocent though). |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15524 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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The characters I think are at least entertaining. You have the guy who is chaotic good with any situation, despite thinking he is keeping the peace. The pretty boy who is not insufferable, probably one the better examples of guy dating 2d waifu I have seen. Super cringe edgelord, who can be hard to watch but synergising great with his parakeet. The badboy, who somehow is likable as a softy that is no harm. The guy I would probably describe as a reverse weeaboo, or maybe actually one. And then the main character, a snarky straight man, being an audience surrogate, while having enough character that she is not just a pushover.
Something fun and absurd is better than something boring, probably the only reason I am watching Africa Salaryman. Talk about something boring, Z/X Code Reunion, not awful but somehow completely bland, where I would normally be a bit into a random battle girls anime. I do think that Radiant in its second season has improved quite a bit, the characters are far more tolerable, and the new character, Ocoho, I think is actually a good character. This compared to Black Clover, which at this point I just want to end, baffled that people like it in a way that it is the new Fairy Tail. |
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Cam0
Posts: 4896 |
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I've been watching Grand Blue Dreaming. I had a somewhat negative preconception towards this show because the manga is by the same author who did Baka and Test. I found that show quite boring, it's comedy didn't work for me at all. Yet somehow this show has turned out to be a really pleasant surprise. It's really funny and has a really good cast and a great group dynamic within its main cast. Its style of comedy is a lot more mundane and the show is a bit more focused on some slice of life style storytelling which is something I like. It works well with its cast of college doofuses. It is even capable of some genuinely sweet moments though they often get quickly interrupted by some shenanigans.
I also watched Cop Craft recently which was decent. Awful animation, but the chemistry between the main leads was good and it had an awesome opening. Some time ago I also watched Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba which was nice. Well animated, Nezuko was cute and the fights were intense and cool. There were some moments where I felt like I wasn't interested in the backstory of another demon, but the show's theme or message or something about how even the worst monsters still had some humanity in them and how the main character considered them human was something that really resonated with me. |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11454 |
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There's several pages of comments for it, though you're right, most of it seems to be about the manga and trying to predict what the next episodes will cover and what will be left out, which is utterly boring to me. The one that's disappointing me is No Guns Life, which Steve has been so behind on that it drops off the review list and has only 6 comments - half of them are mine, including one asking if it had been dropped for review, one says they aren't watching, and one is a right-wing screed defending the military-industrial complex as a communist hoax to disarm Murica! It's a decent series and deserves better. |
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Cam0
Posts: 4896 |
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Yeah, I guess it could be a lot worse. I'm more interested in reading how people who haven't read the manga feel about it (which is why I'm so interested in reading James' reviews) so I'm disappointed that the conversation is mostly dominated by the manga readers predicting future content and talking about how well it adapts the manga.
I could only glance through it because the first paragraph, being a wall of text, hurts my eyes, but that was, uhh, interesting. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15524 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Just finished Outburst Dreamer Boys with episode 11. It was actually a pretty good last episode, leaning into some of its best silliness. My favourite part of this episode in particular was an overdone of rustling plants reveal, spoiler[being the various character pets], followed by apparently Black able to spoiler[command his parakeet to attack before it was overpowered]. They also went right into Lovecraft references, showing a picture of Nyarlathotep, and that some would recognise the reference through Nyaruko-san. Mixing grounded junk with silly surprises makes it work well.
But, I would not say the show as perfect, I think there is a fair share that can turn people away. Whether really pushing the cringe that it can become a bit uncomfortable, to I would say being a bit lax in terms of a real hook, such as a character relationship. Although furthest from the gimmick of the show, I kind of found the main character, Mizuki, was the most likable in a relatable way, if only there was more of her in the likes of taking charge, or getting attacked by fish, that showed her range. Rating the show, I give it a rating of Decent (6/10), I did not really waste my time watching it, I think its good points made it stand out with some funny moments that worked, but kind of lacking in other parts overall. |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11454 |
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Good to see they didn't forget. I think my favorite part of the finale was the Dark Mage (or whatever he's styling himself as) pretty much got the blurry note right, in that vague, cold-reading sort of way. It was a reasonably good ending, mostly predictable as it was. I enjoyed it. |
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phia_one
Posts: 1658 Location: Pennsylvania |
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Outburst Dreamer Boys is in my Top 5 for the year. It's been one of the only shows this year that had me excited to watch it weekly. I loved the characters and the comedy was right up my alley. I also thought the otome-lite elements were a plus as well. I'm disappointed there won't be more of it.
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15524 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Another show finished, expect a few to come since not a lot were given their own topics, After School Dice Club finished with its 12th episode. It was a rather nice ending, maybe some would see it as a bit dramatic, but as an introvert that could empathise with the main character Miki, it left off on a rather strong note about fearing of drifting away from friends.
This was a very lowkey series, the sort of thing you could connect to cute girls doing random thing, like camping, but tabletop games. As such, I think it was a reasonably enjoyable show, that cared about showing genuine interest in its relative hobby, rather than using its girls as a crutch. It had its own drama too, that could be independent of the main theme of games, but show how a game could still help with things. I am not going to say it was the best show that no one talked about, as I hinted as a comparison, it isn't Yuru Camp levels of excellent use of hobby with characters and atmosphere, but comparing most things to Yuru Camp would be unfair. And I think the series was generally pretty good in being able to display all sorts of games without it feeling like rules bogged down the flow of episode stories. The best ones were when the games could be tied in well. For a rating, I am going with Decent (6/10), it is really not anything special, but how it balances its theme of tabletop games and its characters, makes it feel worth its time if it catches your attention a little. |
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