Your viewing journal

ayase said:
alexrose1uk said:
Watched EVA2.22, from the point of view of someone who's never watched the original its a bit of a strange one and it definately feels like part two, more so than a standalone.
Click to expand...
Now that will make your thoughts very interesting to read. I don't think I know of another person who's following the rebuild but hasn't seen the original. At least, not around here. I could be wrong though.

I don't recall noticing an audio drop - where exactly does it take place? I'll check my BD.
Click to expand...

The audio dropout was near the end where 'pilot X' finds Shinji accidentally. Luckily it wasn't at an important part. I mean potentially it could also be my player, but seems for audio to be fine completely and just drop out once :)


I figured I'm probably one of the smaller group who hasn't seen the original now given it's status as one of the 'classics'. It's always been one of those titles I've just not got round to as I only got into anime a few years back and the backlog of stuff I wouldn't mind checking out is pretty epically long.
I'd been planning to have a Mecha season run next year and slot it into that. I'm also somewhat ambivilent to the whole Mecha genre as a whole; if it's a good show that features mecha, I'll enjoy it, like I enjoyed FMP, but I don't typically go out of my way for mecha purely for mecha's sake unlike some. (although what guy under 50 wouldn't love a potentially sentient, sometimes talking, bipedal war machine?)

Iit's been quite some while now since I saw 1.11, so I may be missing connections I shouldn't have and wouldn't if I was marathoning the films, which is something I entend to do after all 4 have arrived.

Unfortunately Evangelion is one of those shows you can't avoid but at least hear something about because of it's status, so even having never seen Evangelion, I went in to both films with some sort of vague idea of who the characters were, and what people typically though of them, even if I knew very little about the plot; especially as so many people liken the show as to founding some of our current stereotypes
- the introverted, 'emo' protagonist
- the quiet, educating, sometimes sickly (usually female) side character
- the tsundere

Anyway, going back directly to the film itself.

The animation itself is nice, if stylised, and the animation is smooth, I can't criticise it on the visuals, although I get the feeling the animation style probably harks back to the original series; as the series is a strange blend of modern art style and what seems to be an older style. I wouldn't say that's necessary a bad thing, just it doesn't perhaps always look how you'd expect an ultramodern anime film to look (example: Dissapearance), and reminds me more of Akira and Ghost, although slightly more colourful.

Unfortunately, I can't give an amazing amount of feedback on the audio mix. Whilst I have decent 5.1, as it was late I had to keep it quiet, and thus I can't really say what I thought of the mix too well, as I wasn't able to go 'full throttle'.

The musical choices were sometimes reasonable, othertimes however I did think the choice of musical score was somewhat disasterous. The whole point of ambient scoring is to try and develop the mood of the scene, and to enhance the emotion and connection the audience are feeling; and unfortunately, incredibly serious scenes with completely disconnected music just aren't a favourite choice of mine. This was a point both me and my brother whom I watched it with felt strongly on; as it very nearly took away some of the impact of the scene.

It was like watching Jaws, but with the Harry Hill theme tune playing to give an example. Now this may have been deliberate given the somewhat surreal feel of the end of the movie, and if so, that's fine, but personally, I didn't like it, and would have opted for something more stirring and fitting of the mood.

In terms of characters; well Shinji is much as I'd expect based on the stereotype; although admittedly he does seem to have far greater reason for it than most of his equally depressive contemporaries; so I swing from finding him sometimes a little frustrating and indecisive, to actually understanding his mindset.

Ayanami, again having been introduced in the first movie, you have an idea of what to expect, and you can see where, providing she acts similar to the original series as I understand this film and the following films are meant to diverge from the original, does seem to almost in a stereotypical manner convey some of the character preset with other later characters like Nagato are based on.
That's not to say she's without charm however; and I think sometimes she does well portray what a shy, somewhat socially inexperienced person many well do thrust into such circumstances, and I can understand the popularity of the stereotype as there's a quiet charm about it.

Asuka, being new to this film, was the character I was perhaps most interested to meet, as she's the completion of the famous trio from the originals.
Without spoiling too much, I found her interesting, although rabidly antisocial yet with deep insecurities, which felt somewhat forced given the period of time we were given to get to know her and the rate at which some of these mood swings occurred.
I also found her role in this movie depressingly short, and am hoping she'll return for a larger role in the next film as I think she'll benefit from the exposure and getting to know her better, it felt like she was barely in half the movie which is quite limited for what is meant to be a main character, and limited our chances to get to know her, and the amount of character development that could be employed without it starting to feel a bit forced.

In terms of overall plot, I think all the movies will benefit far more from being able to be watched as a marathon whole. Whilst they're interesting diversions in thier own right, a lot feels missing and you can tell they're something longer cut into sections.
Whilst I agree with the timing of these cuts roughly based on what has happened, it does leave you heavily feel like you're just watching part of a story, only to be left on a cliff hanger and have to wait years for the next one. It works well for some films, but typically those films have more of a self contained subplot which allows them to work well as a film, wheres Evangelion 2.22 literally is part 2 of 4, and feels like it.

I see a lot of other reviewers criticising the first Eden of the East movie for the same thing, and yet many of the reviewers of EVA 2.22 seem to avoid making the same criticism possibly because of the nostalgia they feel towards the original and the subject matter. Taking a completely fresh perspective though, I find it hard to ignore this.

The other slight criticism I have is that, whilst all the fights are different, they nearly always feel slightly repetetive in that its a constant 'Angel, find core, squish core, move on' in the most part. That's not really the best way to explain it but I'm a little pressed on time as writing this :)
I don't think the fights have quite the same tension and synergy as some I've seen.

My overall rating would be enjoyable, but not without flaws, especially when not tied by nostalgia, and a movie that will probably reach its potential only when watched with the others. :)

7/10 (although being more accurate I'd rate it as 7.5).
 
Rocket Girls 1-6

High school girl Yukari heads to the Solomon Islands in search of her father, who'd disappeared there 17 years earlier. Shortly after arriving Yukari--because she's small in stature--is roped into becoming an astronaut by the Japanese space association based there, in exchange for their help in finding her old man.

And this is one of the more plausible developments in the first half dozen episodes.

While I wouldn't call Rocket Girls a straight comedy, the show is aware of how ridiculous it is and plays much of what happens for laughs. But it does seem as though the fine technical details of space travel have been well researched (not that I'd be able to tell if they were blagging it).

Yukari is entertainingly spunky, though, and there's enough depth to her and the other characters to make all this nonsense worthwhile. The small dose of fanservice (mainly courtesty of skin-tight suits) doesn't hurt either.
 
Star Knight Tekkaman Blade - Bonus Episodes

A trio of short bonus episodes as part of the extras. Twin Blood is just a battle between Blade and Evil with a very nice animation upgrade and Burning Clock really should have been included in the main TV series and Missing Link is just a promo video.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
UN-GO 10

I'm really liking this series now. It's not on the levels of some of the other shows we've had this year, but it's definitely far above some of the others as well.
 
The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk Episode 4 & an alternative Episode 1*

Pani Poni Dash! Episodes 3 & 4

* The alternative episode 1 show what happens while Jil is unconscious. The episode is called Jil's Adventure and shows the events from the rest of the teams' view.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Shakugan no Shana III -FINAL- 11

Two things: KEISAKU X MARGERY?! WHAT?!

Also,Is that it for Decarabia? I mean...you appeared throughout the series being hyped as actually being a challenge...only to be one-shotted by Sophie? Nun vs Giant Sea Serpent...Nun wins!

I thought last week's bipedal camel Crimson Lord couldn't be beat xD.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Mirai Nikki e10 - This series just skyrockets in my estimation most weeks now, it seems. Why would Yukki not choose Yuno at this stage (ignoring the fact that he probably wants Akise by the looks of things)?

Gundam AGE e10 - This episode? Whatever. Next week sees the return of Yurin.

Horizon e11 - Action filled ep, somewhat trite but nonetheless endearing character work for Toori, and a well mixed blend of comic relief and cool strength from Masazumi... This might have just worked its way up my number one slot for the season.
 
Fairy Tail 110

Okay, the scene where Juvia goes apeshit would have been so much better if the soundtrack for this show wasn't absolutely terrible. It could have used a much more dramatic, possibly even orchestrated BGM.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
disc 6 of FMA and season 4 disc 5 of bleach yesterday
disc 7 of FMA and season 4 disc 6 of bleach tomorrow

FMA is still the fantastic series as its always been. i love the ending song beyond the door and i like all the openings. i cant see anything wrong with FMA its like the perfect series.

bleach season 4 its filler but its fun to watch
 
Tales from Earthsea. Oh wow what a boring film that was. I ended up drifting in and out of a nap for the last 20 minutes. Villains basically non existent, as was the story, or any sign of excitement.

Sweet merciful crap I almost wasted 2 hours on this film :<
 
Joshawott said:
Fairy Tail 110

Okay, the scene where Juvia goes apeshit would have been so much better if the soundtrack for this show wasn't absolutely terrible. It could have used a much more dramatic, possibly even orchestrated BGM.
Click to expand...

sorry what?

FT has one of the best Soundtracks around atm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
TheLasersharkKH said:
K-On! - Episodes 5 - 8
Click to expand...

Having seen much of K-On! and read the manga, a thought struck me about Mugi. She is seen most of the time making and serving tea. If anything, she is almost the anime equivalent of Mrs. Doyle from Father Ted, which is a slightly distrubing thought.
 
Ian Wolf said:
Having seen much of K-On! and read the manga, a thought struck me about Mugi. She is seen most of the time making and serving tea. If anything, she is almost the anime equivalent of Mrs. Doyle from Father Ted, which is a slightly distrubing thought.
Click to expand...

Is there a Speed 3 episode in K-On! too?



Teo
 
Back
Top