WEBmikey

Latest Flickr


Disneyland Resort: Imagineering the Magic : 3 of 5
5.08.2008 7:38 AM \| Link	This is a new two-disc DVD set available only at the Disney parks, but I was lucky enough to read about it and order it directly from Disneyland! When I first looked at the packaging, I was worried that this would be a simple rehash of the material included on the Disneyland: Secrets, Stories & Magic DVD set, but it's actually all new material organized into each of the Disneyland lands with brief Imagineer interview clips. There were no new surprising facts revealed for me here (this is kind of a "junior" look at Imagineering), but I was amazed by some vintage black & white footage that I had never seen before that was pretty spectacular! My favorites were watching test rides of Peter Pan's Flight (when it was just the seats suspended from the track), as well as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (without all the flats separating the building into rooms). My only complaint about the documentary is that several old clips are presented in the wrong aspect ratio - I guess they wanted the whole show to fill the screen on HDTVs, but I hate seeing squashed video. Besides the hour-long feature, there are some bonus segments on the second disc about new attractions (unfortunately all old news, since everything is already open, even though this is a brand new DVD!) and a ridiculously easy quiz, plus a quick look at Disney's California Adventure, which will all be irrelevant someday as they redesign the park. I really enjoyed watching this DVD (most of it with my Disney pal Melinda), so I'd definitely recommend it to Disney park maniacs just getting started on their obsession with Imagineering! Labels: disney, dvds
Cat Girl Kiki : 2 of 5
5.07.2008 6:36 PM \| Link	I guess I'm continuing with this embarrassing trilogy that started with Legend of the Doll, but at least these movies are short and silly enough to get through quickly! This movie has a really similar plot to the last one, featuring a lonely guy who takes in a stray cat, only to find it transformed into a cat-girl (fully human with kitty ears, but no tail) named Kiki. The first half of the movie is just what you would expect - drinking milk, playing with toys, and even learning how to speak (and don't forget trying on a maid costume), but then the plot quickly changes as we realize the guy is a shut-in whose life has fallen apart, and it becomes apparent that no one else can see Kiki. It's crazy how dramatic it gets, and the acting isn't half-bad actually, since the guy really stirs up a lot of emotion. This movie definitely has an amateur feel to it, but not as bad as Legend of the Doll - I'm pretty sure it was shot on video, but at least they used high-quality cameras and tripods this time! The editing and camera angles are better, too. Discussing the filming techniques of a simple otaku fantasy flick makes me sound like I'm trying to turn Cat Girl Kiki into art, but I'm definitely not! I just enjoyed watching it because it's fun to see the stereotypes of Japanese culture portrayed so boldly, which will be my same excuse for watching the third and final movie in this series soon. Labels: dvds
All Monsters Attack : 3 of 5
5.06.2008 7:56 AM \| Link	After a long pause in their release schedule, Classic Media is back with more definitive Godzilla DVD releases, which I bought as soon as they were available! I decided to watch All Monsters Attack first, even though it has a bad reputation as the worst Godzilla movie ever made, and I can see why. This particular film was actually targeted at kids, so it has a young boy as the main character Ichiro, who lives his life as a latchkey kid who has a scuffle with some bank robbers. All of the monster action takes place in Ichiro's fantasy world (on Monster Island), where he dreams of watching huge battles with his pal Minilla (the goofy son of Godzilla), and then uses various fighting techniques he observes to outwit the robbers (and a bully who has been giving him trouble) in a kind of Home Alone style! To top it off, most of the monster battle footage was lifted from previous Godzilla films, so there are crazy inconsistencies like three different Godzilla costumes (the changes are subtle, but you can definitely tell!). Thankfully, Classic Media can make even a so-so movie like this one into a fantastic experience, since it's always fun to see these movies in the original Japanese, and their commentary tracks simply cannot be topped. This time the commentary discusses where all of the reused footage comes from, and talks directly about each scene as we watch it, mentioning lighting, sets, and so on. There's also a brief documentary on director Ishiro Honda included. Actually, I still had a blast watching this film - the child acting is pretty amazing to me, and I certainly don't mind a silly movie from time to time. I'm just glad there are new DVDs for a Godzilla fan like me to devour! Labels: dvds, godzilla
High School Musical 2 : 3 of 5
5.05.2008 7:38 PM \| Link	For a Disney fan like me, it's taken way too long for me to get caught up the huge High School Musical phenomenon, but now I can say I'm ready for the third movie when it comes out! I completely forgot to review the original movie, but I promise I did rent it soon after seeing the local stage production, and I thought it was really fun - I especially loved he fact that Kenny Ortega, who worked so hard on the Disney bomb yet cult favorite Newsies, finally has a real hit on his hands. This second movie pretty much takes the plot turns you would expect - after high school, you've got to have summer vacation, and after Sharpay lost Troy to Gabriella, of course she has to spend the whole movie trying to get him back. The location for everyone's summer job is a gorgeous country club with some spectacular scenery, and the outdoor shots really have a fantastic color palette! There are some great songs this time around, such You Are the Music in Me, which is a nice ballad that gets hilariously Sharpay-ized, and I was also really impressed by Bet On It, since Zac really knows how to go all out on his performance (and if anyone can offer me his hair, I will pay out the nose). Unfortunately, there are some total dud songs, too, like I Don't Dance (singing on the baseball field just doesn't work), and the goofy Hawaiian number (apparently only available on the DVD version) is flat-out embarrasing. The whole thing is just under two full hours, which is pretty long for a Disney Channel movie (which still has the annoying pauses for commercials), but I had a great time watching the whole thing. It definitely made me want to get outside in the sun and pretend I'm one of the cool kids! Labels: disney, dvds
Hello! Project 2008 Winter / Kettei! Haropuro Award '08 : 4 of 5
5.04.2008 7:59 AM \| Link	After being a little disappointed with Morning Musume's fall concert, I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed this giant winter concert by the full Hello! Project arsenal. This is the kind of show I wanted to see, held in a giant arena overflowing with fans, and the moment all the girls started filling the "race track" stage gave me goosebumps! Seeing old timers like Nacchi and Yuko singing side-by-side with Berryz Koubou is so sweet, and gave the concert a nice sense of history. The camera work was pretty good, and I love the fact that the girls definitely know where the cameras are so they can ham it up! There were lots of earpiece monitors in use, but that sure didn't stop them from lip synching way too much. Of course, Aya and Nacchi completely out-class everyone else by sounding terrific totally on their own, but I still enjoyed everyone else's performances, too. In "news from the past", Biyuden makes a quick apology for their sudden breakup, and Ongaku Gatas announces their new album. The concert is themed as an awards show, so the usual MCs Makoto and Mari go through these goofy announcements for categories like Best Smile and even Best Yay Yay. Morning Musume gives a nice performance of Love and Peace (with plenty of cute kisses), and it's really fun to see Lin Lin and Jun Jun speaking Chinese, since they can really rattle it off. During the finale, I always enjoy seeing the older Musumes get emotional and let a few tears fall - it really reminds me that these performers for the most part really love what they do, give it their best, and are actually thankful to their fans and staff for the opportunity to sing and dance in such a huge show! It's this kind of mutual fan/performer admiration that makes Jpop my favorite form of musical entertainment! Labels: dvds, jpop, morning musume
Yo-Yo Girl Cop : 3 of 5
5.02.2008 7:46 AM \| Link	Even though I already downloaded and watched Sukeban Deka back in 2006, I was so surprised to see this movie get a US DVD release that I wanted to buy it just to support the cause! In case you don't know, Yo-Yo Girl Cop is an action-adventure about a yo-yo weapon-wielding school girl, staring the Jpop talents of Matsuura Aya and the Biyuden gals. I wasn't overly impressed with the movie the first time, but since then my Jpop fandom has grown and changed a little, so it was really fun to watch it again with new eyes. I also wanted to check out the "official" subtitles, since I thought the translations I had seen before were hilarious with tons of F-bombs, but the Japanese is just as loose this time around. I noticed many more genre techniques (like woosh sound effects for camera zooms!), and I thought Rika was much cooler than before (I guess I'm a bigger fan now!). Of course, I still enjoyed Aya's legs and her action scenes are great, but I was more impressed with Yui's acting - for her first (and maybe only) movie, she does a nice job playing such a sad introverted character! I was a little more moved by the brief dinner scene where Aya has dinner with her father (though she doesn't know he's her dad), so overall my movie watching experience was better this time. It was cool to watch the long Making Of segment with subtitles, and I think it's awesome that Aya did her own stunt work, even the difficult wire flying moves! The best part is watching Aya have a brief conversation with the actress who played the first Sukeban Deka, as they compare yo-yo props and talk about the difference in film making techniques. Yo-Yo Girl Cop isn't a great movie, but I'm glad I gave it a second chance - it's still a fun way to enjoy being a Jpop fan with a tokusatsu flair! Labels: dvds, jpop, tokusatsu
Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story : 3 of 5
4.26.2008 5:30 PM \| Link	Even though I've been a Family Guy fan for quite a while, I neglected to rent this DVD when it was first released, so for all this time I was under the impression that this was entirely new material only available on DVD. Well, I finally got around to watching it, only to find that this is really just three episodes (which were new back in 2005) cleverly tied together with a few extra scenes that didn't appear on TV. So, I was a little disappointed, but it was still fun to watch the now classic story of Stewie's time travel adventure with the adult version of himself. I should also mention that there's actually around 30 minutes of DVD-only material via some special opening and closing segments for the "movie", so it's worth renting to see these scenes. Actually, the best part of the disc is the commentary track, which features Seth MacFarlane along with other creators and voice actors, and everything they say is hilarious! It's especially interesting to hear Seth switch to character voices - he seems to avoid doing Stewie, but finally gives in at the end after everyone keeps bugging him about it. This DVD would have been awesome to see a few years ago when Family Guy was just starting to become popular again, but now I would only recommend it for serious fans of the show (even though you've already seen the included episodes 10 times each like me!). Labels: dvds
Legend of the Doll : 2 of 5
4.24.2008 8:23 AM \| Link	Every now and then Netflix will come up with good recommendations for me, and recently it kept suggesting some new DVDs billed as an Akihabara Trilogy, so I thought I would give one a try, It turns out these are extremely low budget, short movies shot on video (about the quality I could make!), distributed by the Asian Pulp Cinema label, so they are pretty sketchy - but to tell the truth, that's what made watching it kind of fun! This is the story of an otaku (big surprise) who builds female anime figures, and suddenly one comes to life. Actually, it's not much different than the plot of Weird Science with some elements of Chobits thrown in, but of course it takes a serious turn, as expected of a Japanese movie. Later we find out that the guy's girlfriend was killed in a traffic accident, so there's some mystical stuff about the doll being some kind of incarnation, but I enjoyed the goofy scenes much more, such as when the guy invites his cosplay friend over. The friend's reactions are pretty funny, and the fashion show isn't bad either! Legend of the Doll is a pretty crappy movie, but if you enjoy Japanese culture, language, and the otaku scene, you might find it worth watching! Now I have to decide if I want to rent the next two DVDs, but how can I refuse a movie called Cat Girl Kiki? Labels: dvds
Blade Runner / Ultimate Collector's Edition : 5 of 5
4.15.2008 7:41 AM \| Link	Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is an incredibly made, genre-defining film that any self-respecting geek loves, so when I heard about this new five-disc set, I just had to order it as a Christmas gift to myself! The set is packaged in a cool briefcase with several collectible items, including a miniature Spinner car, along with the DVDs containing five complete versions of the movie. The real star is the definitive Final Cut, completely supervised by Ridley Scott with enhanced shots, and the result is amazing! Zhora's terrible stunt double and Deckard's out-of-sync mouth movements were painstakingly fixed by filming Joanna Cassidy and even Harrison Ford's son to restore the footage, and it looks perfect. This is all explained in detail in Dangerous Days, a three and a half hour documentary which is the best (and definitely the longest) behind the scenes look at a film I've ever watched. Another disc contains even more mini-documentaries, covering interesting topics such as a comparison of the film to the original novel, plus an innovative way of presenting a huge set of deleted scenes. All of the scenes have been cut together like a movie of their own, running about 45-minutes, so you can actually follow new angles of the story, which is brilliant! Of course, there's a segment specifically covering the question of Deckard being a Replicant, and it's fascinating to hear everyone's differing opinions (although Ridley Scott is pretty clear with his answer). And I haven't even mentioned the rare Workprint version of the movie, or the multiple wall-to-wall commentary tracks! It may sound crazy, but I loved watching Blade Runner over and over during the course of a week, so this terrific set has certainly made me an even bigger fan of the film. Labels: dvds
Walt Disney Treasures / The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit : 3 of 5
4.14.2008 7:35 PM \| Link	I've been looking forward to this Walt Disney Treasures set for quite a while, since just like every Disney fan, I've always been curious about Oswald, the character that was stolen from Walt Disney and caused the creation of Mickey Mouse. There are only 13 existing Oswald cartoons, but even that number is incredible when you consider their age from the 1920s, along with the fact that they were terribly preserved since Disney didn't own them (some of the shorts could only be found on old 16MM home movie versions!). Oswald is a funny character, acting with broad pantomime in these silent shorts, along with his cat girlfriend and his villian Putrid Pete (what a coincidence that Mickey's villain is Peg-Leg Pete!). The best short by far is Oh What a Knight, which has a hilarious sword fight where Oswald keeps running off to steal a few kisses from his girl. There's an all new documentary that covers how Oswald became a success and how he was stolen, including some nice Bob Iger interview footage explaining how he made a trade to get the character back (such an incredible move for a new CEO that really won me over). Unfortunately, the second DVD isn't as exciting, since none of the material was new to me. Since the incredible Ub Iwerks was the sole animator on many Oswald and Mickey cartoons, they included early Alice and Mickey shorts for comparison, all of which have been released already. The rest of the disc has the beautiful documentary The Hand Behind the Mouse, but this was shot in 1999 and I had already seen it, although it's still nice to have in my collection now. But even with the weak second disc, this set is still a must for Disney fans, and it was a pleasure to finally meet Oswald! Labels: disney, dvds
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer : 2 of 5
4.09.2008 8:10 PM \| Link	Even though I pretty much hated the first Fantastic Four movie, I was kind of excited about this one when I saw the footage of the Silver Surfer, and I was impressed with the life-size figure of him I saw in the theater! I still ended up missing the film though, so I finally got around to renting the DVD, and now I realize that it's no big deal that I waited so long. Just like the original film, this movie is just barely entertaining, but it's even worse if you're a comic book fan and hate seeing your heroes spoofed. The whole wedding plot is really dumb (but not as dumb as Jessica Alba looks in every scene!), and the ridiculous "power swap" idea only adds more farce to an already silly movie. As I hoped, the Silver Surfer is the best part - he looks good during an exciting chase with the Human Torch, and he even looks cool when his power is drained and he's played by an actual person rather than CG. I also enjoyed the appearance of the Fantasticar, since it was a nice nod to the comic book, but the insane revival of Doctor Doom and forced team-up is pretty unforgivable. Of course, they didn't have the guts to present Galactus as anything more than a disembodied force, either! I can only recommend Rise of the Silver Surfer if you're a huge Silver Surfer fan, or if you're looking for a movie to laugh at with your buddies. Labels: dvds
Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald Vol 3 : 4 of 5
4.08.2008 7:54 PM \| Link	Continuing with 2007's wave of Walt Disney Treasures, I really enjoyed this latest volume in the Chronological Donald series. It's amazing that there are so many Donald Duck shorts (now filling six DVDs!), especially since Donald has already been around ten years when these cartoons start in 1947. Most of the shorts on this set feature a co-starring nemesis, such as the ever-popular Chip & Dale, or more obscure characters like Bootle Beetle or the Aracuan Bird (which I've never really liked!). I always enjoy watching Chip & Dale though, since it reminds me of eating at Crystal's Pizza with Mom & Dad when I was a kid, watching Disney cartoons on their little movie screen! There are some really unique shorts in this collection, such as Donald's Dilemma, where Donald becomes a Sinatra-esque singer after getting hit with a flower pot, and Donald's Dream Voice, which a has a similar plot, but with "voice pills" this time. I also like Crazy Over Daisy, since it has the song that eventually became Meet Me Down on Main Street for Disneyland (with new lyrics, of course). The bonus features include some quick documentaries with Jerry Beck and Donald's official voice, plus a segment on a maquette sculptor, which is interesting, but doesn't have much to do with Donald at all! Even though the bonus material on Volume 3 is a little thin compared to the past two sets, the cartoons here are still essential for any Disney fan. I definitely enjoyed singing along with Donald's theme song before watching each and every one! Labels: disney, dvds
Morning Musume Concert Tour 2007 Aki Bon Kyu! Bon Kyu! Bomb : 3 of 5
4.05.2008 2:25 PM \| Link	I always look forward to watching new Morning Musume concert DVDs, so even though I had read lots of blah reviews of this show, I figured some fans were just being too negative. Well, now I can agree - this is my least favorite concert since being a serious fan, although it still had some nice moments. I was surprised it was shot in one of the smaller arenas - I didn't think it would make much of a difference, but I guess those quick crowd shots do have an effect on me. This show was just missing "spectacle", and the drab stage with the giant pretzels didn't help either. My eyes were on Sayumi as usual, and I loved the messy way her hair was styled for the opening numbers! Reina was eating up the attention as always, Eri got more singing lines than I've ever seen before, Aika's solo was really sweet, and Koharu was incredibly annoying. In general, the girls all had tons of energy, but I think they need to dial back on all the "Oi" yelling - the fans can handle that alone just fine! The camera work was pretty good this time, with lots of interesting side angle shots, so maybe they were able to try new camera spots since the stage was smaller. I really enjoyed seeing Biyuden perform as well, and even though they were selling sultriness, it didn't overcome the typical positivity of a Morning Musume concert. I have to mention that the intermission video "puppet show" was an incredible waste of time - I can't imagine even the Japanese fans enjoying that junk! Of course, I still had a good time watching this performance, and sang along with glee - I just don't expect this show to be very high on my "watch again" list. Labels: dvds, jpop, morning musume
Superman: The Animated Series Vol 1 : 4 of 5
4.02.2008 11:09 AM \| Link	I decided I couldn't collect the Batman Animated Series DVD sets without also getting the fantastic Superman series by the same talented creators, and watching this actually had some nice synchronicity with seeing Space Ghost, since Alex Toth and Bruce Timm ended up in a huge fight over Superman's design! I've always loved the look of this show, keeping the same feel as Batman, but adding a much brighter, science fiction palette, and every character looks great (except for Jimmy Olsen, with his mini-mullet!). The series had the guts to begin with a three-part retelling of Superman's origin called The Last Son of Krypton, and they really did an incredible job of making the classic tale fresh and exciting. I especially enjoyed the Jack Kirby influences in the design of Krypton, as well as in the episode The Prometheon, which features a huge monster right out of Kirby's brain. Superman's regular villains are nicely done, such as Brainiac and Parasite (even though they aren't as cool as Batman's bad guys), along with new characters like Lex Luthor's S&M bodyguard Mercy. There are a few nice commentaries on this set, as well as two 10-minute documentaries, which should be much longer of course! I've been a huge fan of this series for a long time, and it was great to watch these episodes again and remember my favorite moments. I'll never forget when I first saw Lois looking at Superman's photo and exclaiming "Nice S!" - one of the boldest lines in Saturday morning cartoon history! It's going to be fun collecting the next DVD sets of this series. Labels: dvds, superman
The Jungle Book : 4 of 5
4.01.2008 6:55 AM \| Link	It feels strange to be writing about the last Disney Platinum Edition DVD when a new one is already out, but I'm happy to say that this is a great presentation of the last Disney animated feature with Walt's involvement. There's a nice 45-minute documentary included (which is nice since so many recent DVDs barely squeeze out 15 minutes of information), and I learned a lot about the development of this movie! I never knew about the former "dark version" (closer to Kipling's original) written by Bill Peet, or the subsequent argument with Walt that made him leave the studio, after which Walt changed the story into what we all love today, including the girl from the man village at the end, which was originally controversial among the animators. There's plenty of animation discussion with Andreas Deja looking over some original drawings (I love that stuff!), plus conversation about the first use of "star voices" and the replacement of the original set of songs - The Bare Necessities was almost dropped! There's even footage of Louie Prima's band going nuts in their recording session, which is great stuff. Of course, the movie itself is wonderful, and has some of the best character animation on film. I always cringe a little when they repeat gags to save money (such as Ka's accordion joke which is in twice, cel for cel), but they definitely make up for it with scenes like Baloo tucking Mowgli into bed with leaves, and of course King Louie's dance is pretty awesome! The Jungle Book is really an enjoyable movie, and learning about its history and rocky development makes me appreciate it even more. Labels: animation, disney, dvds
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters : 4 of 5
3.25.2008 10:50 PM \| Link	This documentary received a lot of press in Austin, since it was shown at a special sold-out screening at the Alamo Drafthouse, so I've been anxiously waiting the DVD release, which I watched with my Sunday night pals recently, and we all loved it! The film is about classic video game high score record holders, specifically the well-known champion Billy Mitchell and his underdog competitor Steve Wiebe and their quest to hold the record on Donkey Kong. It turns out Donkey Kong is one of the hardest video games out there, and it's even more difficult because of the "kill screen" which ends the game (essentially a software crash!) after about 2-3 hours of play. The movie is jam packed with interviews with these two video athletes, along with just about everyone they've ever met, and even covers the quirky Twin Galaxies organization, which officially verifies and records all video game scores (and is even sourced by the Guinness Book of World Records). I can't begin to express how well this film is edited - it's certainly one of the best documentaries I've ever seen, and definitely among the most entertaining! It's incredible how much you begin to root for Steve, especially after observing what an arrogant jerk Billy is, and the ever-building tension is fantastic! I usually don't bother watching bonus features on a rented DVD, but I actually had to keep this disc an extra day to enjoy them all, including and incredible side-by-side Donkey Kong playing comparison with professional commentary! The King of Kong is fantastic on so many levels, and it made my pals and I so nostalgic that we had to play a few games of Donkey Kong on my Nintendo Wii afterwards! Labels: dvds, games
The Taste of Tea : 5 of 5
3.24.2008 5:48 PM \| Link	This fantastic DVD was my Christmas gift from my pal Dae, which I had put on my Wish List because it has the same director as Kamikaze Girls, which I loved so much. I didn't really know what to expect from this Japanese movie, but it was much more enjoyable, inspirational, and touching than I could have imagined! The genre is hard to describe, because it's filled with surreal elements such as a girl being followed around by a giant version of herself only she can see, but it's also down to earth at the same time, and takes a lazy pace that really makes you stop to watch a scene closely. An example of this is the family of main characters will often sit quietly together on their porch, and watching these segments made me realize that these simple moments are what life is all about - stopping to enjoy the "taste of tea" (at least that's what the title means to me). The story has several subplots involving each member of a rural Japanese family, all of which are wonderful. The son joins the Go club at school to be near the girl he adores (played by Anna Tsuchiya, looking younger than her years), and the daughter needs to learn how to do a backflip to get rid of her giant self I mentioned before (yes, it's crazy, but it makes sense as it unfolds). The mom is a budding anime artist working on her own scenes, and the grandpa is completely nuts, but of course turns out to be a genius in the end in one of the film's most amazing moments. There are even more characters to follow, including the dad and his brothers, and there's even a bit of Yakuza to keep things interesting. This is definitely a unique movie with its own style, so I'm sure it's not for everyone, but I completely fell in love with it and I'm sure I'll be watching it again when I'm feeling the mood for some quiet wisdom with a touch of comedy. Labels: dvds
Nerima Daikon Brothers Vol 2 & Vol 3 : 3 of 5
3.22.2008 6:55 AM \| Link	This hilarious musical anime series is only twelve episodes long, so I rented both of these DVDs fairly quickly and finished it fast. Although it was still lots of fun, I have to admit that this show is much better in the earlier episodes, before you've heard the same song variations over and over. But aside from that, the second DVD includes tons of hilarity, while the third DVD tries to wrap it up with a really bizarre ending. Yukika the "gadget policewoman" really shines as her character is developed, and her crazy panda fetish is awesome (I always laugh out loud when she goes nuts and screams "Switch on!"). She also has a funny scene where she dresses up in a pink Darth Vader costume to go undercover! Most of the plots involve a complex parody of something or someone in Japanese pop culture (explained very well by the popup note subtitles), but there's even an episode with a deranged Michael Jackson look-alike (who sings a tender song about his dream amusement park, filled with random vocal interjections like "Ow!"). The ending is a huge spoof on former Prime Minister Koizumi, where he sends his lion troops to fight an army of pandas on the daikon field. It's totally bizarre, and I would have much rather seen the band just build their dome and fulfill their concert dream! Each DVD contains some excellent Japanese commentary tracks with the directory and voice actors, who are all enthusiastic and lively - really a joy to listen to! Shigeru Matsuzaki, the famous singer who plays Hideki, is a real firecracker with an amazing attitude. Be prepared to watch each episode three times - once normally, once with commentary, and once with the notes subtitles! Even though it went a little downhill towards the end, Nerima Daikon Brothers is still a series I wouldn't mind watching again someday - and singing along! Labels: anime, dvds
Death Note Vol 2 & Vol 3: 4 of 5
3.17.2008 9:44 PM \| Link	I've recently rented both of the next Death Note DVDs, and I'm still enjoying watching this series a second time in Japanese, even though I'm currently watching the newer episodes on Cartoon Network. The Volume 2 DVD contains the genius plot to kill all of the FBI agents through Raye Penber, which is absolutely chilling, and then quickly moves on to Light's cruel manipulation of Raye's fiancee. In both of these plots, Light tells his victim he's Kira just before it's too late, which is pretty devastating! Light's character really reveals itself as a creepy combination of perfection and evil, which is part of what makes this series so fascinating! On Volume 3, L decides to confront Light by entering the same college, and they begin a high-tension relationship that can only be explained by long thought monologues. When I read the manga I expected this to be a big challenge for the anime, but they really pull it off well with some dramatic artwork! Misa Amane is finally introduced as the second Kira (and of course her voice is cute in the way only a Japanese's girl's voice can be!), but the real stand-out moment of this DVD is when the Shinigami Rem tells the story of the other Shinigami who loved Misa and gave himself to save her life - it's presented like a bittersweet fairy tale! Unfortunately, now I have to wait for future DVDs of this series to be released, but I'm definitely going to keep renting them until the show ends. I'm curious to find out if they plan on continuing the plot past the L story arc! Labels: anime, dvds
Batman Beyond / Season One : 4 of 5
3.13.2008 7:30 PM \| Link	I remember being really skeptical when Batman Beyond was first on TV, but I soon realized that the creative team of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini could make Batman cool even set in the future! Now this series is respected on its own (at least by me), so I was shocked to learn it was originally green-lighted by Warner Bros. purely as an idea to get younger viewers - the show was put into production with almost no pre-production development! They really came up with a cool premise quickly, though, with an elderly Bruce Wayne hanging up the cape because his ailing body forces him to break his "no guns" rule. Soon Terry McGinnis becomes Bruce's assistant and the new Batman, and begins to fight crime in his amazing powered suit and ultra-sleek Batmobile (with awesome red lighting in the interior). The future world (with Barbara Gordon as the new commissioner!) has some great new villains, such as Inque, whose liquid movements make for some fantastic animation, and Shriek, who fights with sound waves (this episode also includes a daring sequence with no sound at all). The show really has a unique feel to it, starting with its frenetic opening titles (created with no CGI, amazingly) and ultra-modern theme (I enjoyed the music so much I even bought the soundtrack CD years ago). This DVD set has a few commentary tracks and a super-short documentary, but at least I learned a lot of fun tidbits listening to them. I think I enjoyed this series even more than when it was first broadcast, proving that Batman is simply timeless! Labels: batman, dvds
Walt Disney Treasures / Disneyland: Secrets, Stories & Magic : 5 of 5
3.12.2008 6:59 PM \| Link	I've finally watched the first of this year's Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets, and I have to say that Disneyland: Secrets, Stories & Magic may be the best set they've ever released, especially for a Disneyland nut like me! There's so much packed onto these two discs that I can barely mention it all here, but I'll give it a try. First, there's a new huge documentary shot just for this set, filled with wall-to-wall Imagineer interviews (most with the legendary Tony Baxter) and several other celebrities (including George Lucas!), as well as tons of rare footage I had never seen before, such as the Mickey Mouse Circus once held in Holidayland, and a quick look at the Submarine Voyage live mermaid try-outs. There's also a nice John Lasseter anecdote about his days as a Jungle Cruise skipper, including his favorite "headhunter" joke! Next up is the newly restored People and Places feature Disneyland USA, which is phenomenal not only for the incredible helicopter footage of the new park, but also for Winston Hibler's great narration that makes a trip to Disneyland seem like a True Life Adventure. There's also a fantastic trivia game, which I played 15 times in a row, and the questions were actually difficult! The second DVD contains three Wonderful World of Color episodes, including an entire performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue, which is cool to see knowing that I've sat in those seats so many times. Operation Disneyland shows the crazy work ABC had to do to broadcast the opening of the park live - they couldn't even rehearse their camera moves with all the construction going on! Finally, there's some amazing bonus time-lapse footage taken from tall towers as the park was constructed, so you can watch it appear from the ground up. This DVD set is probably the most essential item a Disneyland lover could own, and I plan on watching it often before each trip! Labels: disney, dvds
Ratatouille : 5 of 5
3.11.2008 5:40 PM \| Link	Still working through my Christmas DVDs, I recently spent the morning drinking coffee and enjoying this Pixar masterpiece! I love to watch the bonus features first, but unfortunately this isn't a two-disc set, so they could only fit a few things on a single disc (and there's not even a commentary track!). The only thing close to a documentary is a short conversation with a chef and Brad Bird, comparing their arts, but there's still some nice background information, and it's always fun to hear Brad's geeky way of talking. The deleted scenes are wonderful just because they animatics are so darn incredible - I would pay to see an entire movie in that style! But the best of all is Your Friend the Rat, a special short made just for this DVD, that really blew me away. Not only is it funny, but it combines 3D animation, 2D animation, and even stop-motion techniques! I loved the movie just as much as the first time, and I noticed some new details like how Ego's office is shaped like a coffin and his typewriter looks like a skull. The character design for the rats is super-expressive, but their eyes keep making me think of the Muppets! I really enjoyed the build-up to Remy and Colette's kiss as well - such a fantastic moment in the animation of human characters! I'm sure someday there will be another DVD release of Ratatouille with more of the bonus stuff I'm craving, but for now, this is a wonderful DVD that every animation fan should own. Labels: disney, dvds, pixar
Easy DVD enjoyment
3.07.2008 12:04 PM \| Link	I really like my new Philips DVP5982 DVD player! My old player bit the dust, but my new one arrived quickly from Amazon with free shipping, and I had it hooked up in two seconds. In another two seconds, I already had the region-free hack working, and it tested out perfectly with some Morning Musume DVDs! I've been doing a lot of DVD watching lately, and there are several features I'm enjoying. When you power it off and on again later, it remembers exactly where you were on the DVD, and immediately picks up from that point! This is such a huge help, especially when I'm watching a DVD of 40 or so Jpop videos - I used to have to remember which chapter I was on, but now the player can remember it for me. Speaking of Jpop, my old player had a little overscan problem that made it tough to enjoy subtitled music videos, but this player seems to get it right and I can read more text now. I can't wait to try out the upscaling feature when I get an HDTV later this year! Labels: dvds
Space Ghost and Dino Boy / The Complete Series : 4 of 5
3.05.2008 8:08 AM \| Link	I remember watching Space Ghost cartoons when I was much younger, and even drawing a few pictures in the same futuristic style. I used to love the space ship designs and weird creatures created by the genius Alex Toth, so I was really happy to see this DVD set was released, and even happier to receive it as another birthday gift from Matt & Kumiko! Space Ghost was one of those cartoons from the late 60's in the "limited animation" style that Hanna-Barbera did so often, full of cheesy plots and goofy dialogue, but it's still exciting to watch. Along with Jan & Jace, two teenagers who help fight galactic crime, and their monkey Blip, Space Ghost romps around the universe battling classic villains such as Zorak and Brak. There's so much to enjoy here, from the cool artwork (I love how space is always deep blue) to the hilarious one-liners (such as when a scientist says "I don't know what I've created, but it's ten times larger than it should be!"). Each episode has three parts - two seven-minute Space Ghost stories plus a Dino Boy in the Lost Valley cartoon. Dino Boy isn't as interesting, but it's still enjoyable - Ugh the caveman is always there for the rescue (or to be rescued) and Bronty the baby dinosaur's voice sounds like Scooby Doo. Along with all this cartoon fun is an incredible documentary about Alex Toth - I was stunned by the length and quality of this bonus feature, which easily tops the wimpy documentaries on most other animation DVDs! It runs a full 1.5 hours, and covers Toth's early days at DC Comics and follows his career through tons of interviews and correspondence. I was really impressed with this DVD set, and my interest in Space Ghost is definitely renewed! Labels: animation, dvds
Nerima Daikon Brothers Vol 1 : 4 of 5
2.29.2008 7:47 AM \| Link	I saw an episode of this series on a Newtype preview DVD, and it was so wacky that I actually remembered to put it in my Netflix queue, and I received the first DVD recently (apparently the next Death Note was unavailable!). This is one of the craziest anime series I've seen in a long time, but I have to say I thought it was fantastic! The main characters are Hideki, his cute cousin Mako, and Ichiro (oh, and there's a panda who follows them around, too!), who dream of being a popular band performing huge concerts. Unfortunately, they're poor, so they live next to their daikon field, apparently their only source of income, and somehow end up fighting against injustice in their town (though always hoping to steal a little cash along the way). But the real concept of the show is that every episode is a musical! That's right, each plot is wall-to-wall songs, and they are totally hilarious! There are several themes that are repeated often (with lyric alterations) - Mako's sexy song, the money-lender's song, a fight introduction song, and so on. It's too bizarre to believe, and it's so much fun to watch! Of course, this show is one of the biggest subtitle challenges ever attempted - it's really fast-paced (tons of quick lines that only appear on screen for a second), and on top of that, there's a second set of subtitles to explain all the cultural references and humor. The explanations are super-interesting, but you need to have the pause button ready at all times! As expected, there are lots of raunchy jokes and adult humor (in a funny, PG-13 style), and the plots on this first DVD are pretty good, involving everything from Korean pachinko parlors to sexy nurses in a scam hospital! I don't know how they can continue filling each episode with songs for the whole series, but I definitely intend to find out! Labels: anime, dvds
Meet the Robinsons : 3 of 5
2.28.2008 8:54 PM \| Link	It was really nice to watch this Disney CGI animated feature again, and of course, I enjoyed it more the second time around, especially after watching the bonus documentary (only 20 minutes long, but well done). I thought the discussion about the original book was interesting, and I really appreciated the director's intelligent comments about how the story became personal for him since he was an adopted child. Amazingly, this entire film was created as a story reel from start to finish to see if it would fly, and could have been shot down before actual production began! I still think the character design could have used more work (Lewis' head to body ratio really bugs me), but I noticed many more things to appreciate, such as the incredible future-world sequence after the bowler hat takes over! I also enjoyed the writing during some of the tender moments - the part when Lewis accidently says "mom" is a particularly subtle, yet touching, scene. My favorite sequence for laughs is the big Robinson food fight, with the great color palette change and all the Asian cinema cliches. I still think the frogs are ridiculous, but I suppose I can overlook them! I was really impressed with the music this time around, too - I had forgotten that Rufus Wainwright had some songs in it, and I completely forgot that Danny Elfman did the score, which is pretty spectacular (I might have to buy the soundtrack now!). Disney's CGI work will never capture the magic of traditional animation for me (and Pixar will always do it better), but Meet the Robinsons is still a fine movie that I'm glad to have in my Disney DVD collection. Labels: disney, dvds
Batman: The Animated Series Vol 3 : 5 of 5
2.27.2008 7:07 AM \| Link	For the past couple years I've been enjoying this series as one of my Christmas DVDs, and this year is no exception! This set once again proves that the amazing talents of Bruce Timm and Paul Dini produced the best version of Batman ever created, and it was fantastic to watch these episodes toward the end of the original series run. Once again, there are lots of introductions, beginning with the two-part Shadow of the Bat which contains Batgirl's first appearance, as well as the original episode featuring Scarface (the Ventriloquist). Speaking of Batgirl, I've always loved Batgirl Returns, since I have a limited edition cel from that episode, so I loved seeing this classic Catwoman/Batgirl team-up story again! There were even a couple episodes that I'm fairly sure I hadn't previously seen, including the hilarious Harley's Holiday, as well as Showdown, with an interesting appearance by Jonah Hex. It was sad to see the show change to The Adventures of Batman and Robin near the end, since they switched to a new opening title sequence that wasn't nearly as effective as the original. There are fewer commentaries on this set, which is a shame, although one episode includes a "video commentary", which is kind of silly, since there's nothing special about watching people talk in a small inset box! As always, I really enjoyed learning new things about the show - my favorite fact this time is there was a rule to never have background music in the Batcave (even though the show is fully scored), and the ominous ambient sound effect used was recorded inside Hoover Dam! I may not be able to wait until Christmas to check out the next DVD set, since my Batman fandom has been kicked into high gear! Labels: batman, dvds
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End / Two-Disc Limited Edition : 4 of 5
2.21.2008 8:11 AM \| Link	There was never a question that I had to have the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie in my DVD library, even though it was my least favorite of the trilogy. But as usual, I actually enjoyed the film much more this second time around, and I even understood many of the more subtle plot points (although I think it's hilarious that the DVD insert actually has a "Top Questions" section to explain some of the story, which is a sure sign they just made the thing too confusing!). I had kind of forgotten about the beautiful slow-motion destruction of the Endeavor, and I really appreciated the significance of the Hoist the Colors song (which is woven throughout the soundtrack if you listen for it), and it definitely gave me the urge to watch the first two movies again! Strangely, there's no commentary track at all (shameful!), but the second bonus DVD contains some nice material (though it still seems a little short for a limited edition). There's a great mini-documentary about the filming of the maelstrom scene, which included full size ships on giant gimbals in a huge studio - I had no idea it was such a spectacle! I enjoyed the Masters of Design section, which covered important props in detail, such as the rotating map and the cool pirates code book, and there's also a nice quick look at each of the pirate lords, who have interesting backgrounds. I definitely had a lot of fun experiencing this movie again and appreciating the filmmaking process, and of course I'm thrilled that my favorite ride at Disneyland inspired such a popular series of films! Labels: disney, dvds
Animaniacs Vol 1 : 5 of 5
2.07.2008 6:53 PM \| Link	I hadn't watched an episode of Animaniacs in years, so it was so great to see this fantastic show again! I think I appreciate it even more then I did back in the early 90s, now that I'm more of an animation buff and I can appreciate the way this series really captured the wacky style of the classic Warner Bros cartoons. Each episode is made up of smaller cartoons featuring a huge cast of original characters, so besides Wakko, Yakko and Dot (who are hilarious with their enthusiastic "Hello Nurse!" for every hot girl), there are also stories featuring Slappy Squirrel, Runt & Rita, and of course, Pinky and the Brain (who later got their own show). There are so many inside jokes written just for animation fans, covering everything from Popeye to the Jetsons, but my favorite was when Slappy sits down to watch the "Wonderful World of Walnuts" and the theme is a parody of the old Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (I'll bet not many kids picked up on that one!). Speaking of music, this was the only series to be using a full orchestra at the time, and it sounds utterly incredible and the scoring is perfect. Of course, everyone knows some of the amazing songs from the series, such as Wakko's World (where he sings all of the nations of the world), and Bernadette Peters sounds great singing Rita's heartfelt tunes (I wanted to use subtitles so I could sing along, but unfortunately they didn't include them in English!). One of the DVDs includes some nice interviews with the actors, and it's really fun to watch them speaking with their character's voice! Animaniacs was actually a big budget production, especially with Steven Spielberg producing, so they were really able to create a truthful tribute to the genre, and I had a wonderful time becoming a fan all over again! Labels: animation, dvds
Spider-Man 3 / Two-Disc Special Edition : 4 of 5
1.31.2008 12:50 PM \| Link	I neglected to mention here that I finally bought Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 on DVD last year, mainly because I was excited about the release of Spider-Man 3. Of course, I had to complete the set, and without a doubt I needed to own the movie with my pal Jerry's screen credit! It's true that Spider-Man 3 was disappointing in some ways, mainly because they tried to tie together too many plots, making the film too long (not to mention including more musical numbers than any superhero movie should!), but that doesn't mean I'm not a fan of the movie! There are lots of incredible sequences that I could watch again and again, many of which are covered on the second disc of bonus material. I was more amazed than ever at the effortless (looking) 60-foot jump that Pater makes after his fight with Harry, and I appreciated the emotion during Harry's death scene a little more, too. The collection of mini-documentaries included are pretty good, especially the segments that explore the CG techniques behind the Sandman and Venom, but unfortunately many of them are wall-to-wall interviews with the producers, which definitely gets old after a while. I totally love trivia subtitle tracks, which were wonderful on the previous movie DVDs, but I was sad to see they weren't included this time. However, you can watch the commentary subtitles along with the movie soundtrack, which provides a similar effect (ironically, the producers' commentary is far more interesting than the director's commentary, since Sam tends to talk about broader topics rather than about the actual scene on the screen, which is what I prefer!). With so many bad superhero movies in the history of cinema, it's great to have a few gems that reveal the power and excitement of these characters, and the Spider-Man trilogy (even with its faults) certainly is a jewel! Labels: dvds
Cars : 4 of 5
1.27.2008 2:06 PM \| Link	This DVD has been available for a long time, but I was holding out in the hopes that a special two-disc edition would be released. Since that's not going to happen, I made sure to put it on my Christmas list, and it was great to finally watch this movie again. Although I would put it in last place if I had to rank the Pixar features, it's still a fantastic film, and as usual, I love it so much more after enjoying it for a second time! I was immediately blown away by all the incredible Pixar touches and details that they include in all their films, such as the cars in the racetrack audience doing "the wave" with their headlights, the funny Japanese news broadcast, and even the "Jay Limo" show. Actually, all of the TV graphics spoofs are dead-on hilarious, completely capturing the excitement and ridiculous hype! From an animation standpoint, it's pretty amazing how they applied just enough flexibility to the cars to give them expression without making them seem implausible, and I love watching Lightning race by with the feel of surfing or skateboarding. I even appreciate the story more, and I have to say, Mater is pretty darn funny (even if you don't really like hick humor). Even though is this a single DVD with minimal bonus features, the short documentary is really nice, and definitely gives you an appreciation for what the movie means to John Lasseter. Of course, I wish the segment were about four times longer, but I'll take what I can get. I'm certainly more of a Cars fan than I was before I watched this DVD, and continue to be blown away by the magic of Pixar! Labels: disney, dvds, pixar
Death Note Vol 1 : 5 of 5
1.22.2008 6:19 PM \| Link	Since I completely enjoyed reading the entire series of Death Note manga, I've been watching the anime on Cartoon Network and marveling at how well the story has been adapted to animation. But of course, I have a big problem with the English dubbing (Light's voice isn't too bad, but L's voice is horrendous), so I decided to rent the series on DVD as well. As I expected, it's so much cooler watching the series in Japanese - everything just has the right feel and emotion that I don't think a dub can ever capture. The story itself is just as fascinating as I remember, and I'm really enjoying seeing it unfold even though I know everything that's going to happen. The anime is able to grab the viewer in ways the manga couldn't, especially in interesting scenes like Ryuk's journey from the Shinigami world to the human world, or via some masterful montages (my favorite is when Light really gets going on writing names in the Death Note, with huge arm gestures and quick cuts to the suffering criminals that flow perfectly with the dramatic music!). The artwork is completely on-model compared to the manga, and often uses interesting camera moves and lighting that I know must be a pain to draw! In this volume I thought the exciting bus-jacking scene (where Light manages to get the name of the FBI agent Raye Penber) was well done, as well as the explanation of Light's trick hiding place for the Death Note. Overall, the series has really captured the same tone as the manga (and the cool opening and closing themes don't hurt the mood either), so I'm looking forward to the rest of the series! Labels: anime, dvds
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya / Vol 4 : 4 of 5
1.18.2008 6:53 AM \| Link	This final DVD contains the last three episodes of this anime, which are by far the best of the entire series! Finally I can start to understand why this series started such a fan phenomenon, since these episodes have something to offer not only in humor and fun animation, but even show some inner feelings that have often been hidden for the rest of the story. The first plot on the DVD covers the school arts festival (which ties in with the very first episode's home video by the SOS Brigade), with all the expected elements (such as Mikuru in a maid cafe), but then shows Haruhi and Yuki filling in for a rock band with some absent members. The concert is fantastic - not only is the music great, but the animation both of the guitar playing and drumming is totally realistic (possibly rotoscoped!). This scene really shows Haruhi experiencing true joy, and it finally made me like her character! Next we have a fun video game duel with the computer club, which takes place mostly in the fantasy world of the game itself. There are hilarious Star Blazers references, and even a polka-dotted space ship for Mikuru, and this story reveals a nice side to Yuki as well. The final episode is really amazing, since after so many frenetic plots and situations, it completely slows down and covers a lazy winter day in a completely touching way. There are even moments where the camera will stay in a long shot for a full minute, just observing Yuki reading or Kyon napping. It was so minimalist that I completely loved it! There's also a cool bonus feature of Aya Hinano touring the Kyoto Animation studio, and seeing all the animators hard at work is pretty fascinating. Even though it took a while to grow on me, I enjoyed Haruhi enough to hope for another season, and at least I now understand what all the buzz has been about! Labels: anime, dvds
The Muppet Show / Season Two : 4 of 5
1.17.2008 7:29 PM \| Link	Since I really enjoyed watching the Season One DVD set last year, I was glad to finally see Season Two available, so it went on my Christmas list right away! I've been enjoying watching every episode for the past week or so, and it's fun to see the show evolve with new regular sketches like Pigs in Space, and also to see bigger name guest stars (even though some of them really seem to bomb their performances, such as Rich Little, who does impressions of Kermit and Fozzie that my pal Francis could top in his sleep!). It was fun to see Steve Martin back in his stand-up days (even though his talent seems wasted in a weird auditions episode), and moments like Rudolph Nureyev singing Baby, It's Cold Outside with Miss Piggy as she chases him around in a steam room are just priceless! My favorite episode was truly bizarre, where the pigs kidnap Kermit and take over the whole show, which includes pig versions of tons of characters such as a pig-Fozzie and even a pig-Swedish Chef! My biggest complaint with this set is the lack of bonus material, especially the loss of the trivia subtitles that I totally loved on Season One. Instead, there's just a music video, a Valentine's Day special (which is interesting, but weird), and some brand new interview segments with the Muppets, which have some funny lines, but unfortunately make it really obvious that these are not the original performers we know and love (Gonzo's voice is especially terrible, and even small details like mannerisms are just all wrong). But overall, having these great shows available is the important thing, and I really enjoyed laughing at the best variety show ever! Labels: dvds, muppets
Pixar Short Films Collection / Vol 1 : 4 of 5
1.13.2008 11:14 AM \| Link	This DVD is a collection of all of Pixar's short films, which is wonderful for animation fans, since while watching them you're able to see CGI techniques evolve right before your eyes. Although most of these shorts are available as bonus features on other Pixar DVDs, there were a few I had never seen, and the commentary included here is really fantastic (except for Mike's New Car, where they decided to let the filmmakers' kids talk, which is cute but not very enlightening!). It was great to watch favorites like Knick Knack and Geri's Game again (which are incredibly far apart because of the feature length films made in the interim), and this was my first time to see Mater and the Ghostlight, and I was amazed by the chase sequence - it's absolutely incredible to compare something like that to Tin Toy! My favorite part of this DVD is the excellent documentary that provides a brief history of Pixar, since I had nearly forgotten they used to be a hardware/software company, who happened to hire John Lasseter to produce demonstration films for graphics conferences! It's wonderful how they transitioned into a full time animation studio - certainly a unique beginning for such a groundbreaking company. I'm really fascinated with the early days of any art form, so listening to Lasseter talk about sleeping in his office and meticulously animating the way the cord ripples in Luxo Jr. is incredibly inspiring to me. Seeing this history unfold makes me so glad that Pixar is part of Disney, and that someone like Lasseter is at the animation helm! Labels: disney, dvds, pixar
Looney Tunes / Golden Collection Vol 5 : 5 of 5
1.05.2008 9:17 PM \| Link	For the past few years I've been keeping the post-Christmas tradition of watching the latest Warner Bros. cartoon DVDs first out of my pile of booty, and this year was no different! This collection was fascinating to me, because after five years of restoring and releasing these shorts, they seem to have gotten to some more obscure cartoons that I don't remember seeing as a child (or at least haven't seen 100 times before!). The first disc is filled with Bugs & Daffy, including A Pest in the House, which is one of my favorites (where Daffy won't let the guy get any sleep in the hotel)! On the other hand, it also includes Transylvania 6-5000, which is simply terrible - if you need to appreciate the incredible music of Carl Stalling, just listen to the horrible soundtrack of this cartoon (which Stalling did not do, of course!). The second disc contains all fairy tales, which means lots of Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk gags, but also has interesting shorts like Tom Thumb in Trouble, created by Chuck Jones doing his best to capture the Disney style of animation (and it looks great!). The third disc is all Bob Clampett hilarity, including another favorite of mine, Buckaroo Bugs (who could ever forget Red Hot Ryder?). It was also nice to see Beaky Buzzard again! The final disc is all older black & white cartoons, some with incredible live action (photograph) backgrounds, which I had never seen before! Eating Off the Cuff and Wholly Smoke were both incredible on this disc. Once again, the bonus material is fantastic, and the commentaries are priceless (as always, I enjoy hearing John Kricfalusi declare his undying love for Clampett). There's also a nice semi-recent (from 2000) Chuck Jones documentary, a few short Behind the Tunes features, plus three old TV specials (which are actually pretty lame). I think the restoration process was a little lacking this time around (my eyes kept finding hairs and scratches that I know could have been removed), but in general everything looks spectacular, and once again, I can't recommend these Golden Collection DVD sets enough for any animation fan! Labels: animation, dvds
Morning Musume Tanjo 10 Nen Kinentai Concert Tour 2007 Natsu / Thank You My Dearest : 3 of 5
12.16.2007 10:28 PM \| Link	I pretty much ordered this DVD as a reflex, and then suddenly remembered that even though I've enjoyed the singles by this special 10th anniversary group, I'm not a total fan of the line-up. I love Nacchi and Gaki-san, but I don't care for Maki and Koharu is just a little too much for me. But I decided to just enjoy the show, and it was pretty enjoyable! I was wondering how a group with only two singles would fill the time, and the answer is by singing lots of old classic Morning Musume tunes (definitely appropriate since they are an anniversary group). They opened with Morning Coffee and continued with several other ancient hits that were all great since the older songs have such nice harmonies and counter-melodies (sung really well by Maki). Everyone took the stage to do solos and duets, and even though Koharu had to do yet another anime tune, at least it was a ballad (she always sings like she's spitting out the words, so it was nice to hear her calm down for once). Risa and Kaori really showed her up with their duet, though, trading harmonies and performing with style. Near the end of the show everyone did a particularly great rendition of Daite Hold On Me (everyone was super-smooth on the rap section), plus a pretty nutty version of Love Machine. It seemed like didn't start having fun together until the end of the show, which says to me that this selection of members really doesn't work chemistry-wise (but at least they sound nice). Overall, seeing a five member group in a small venue was a great change of pace, and if you happen to be a fan of one or more of these gals, you'll definitely enjoy the show. Labels: dvds, jpop, morning musume
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya / Vol 3 : 3 of 5
12.13.2007 7:33 AM \| Link	The third DVD in this series went by even faster than the first two, since there are only three episodes! The first episode is almost too weird to be comprehensible, and was probably my least favorite so far. Haruhi designs the SOS Brigade logo, which somehow wakes-up another "thought entity" (or something that Yuki barely explains), and they end up having to battle with a monster version of the computer kid that Haruhi blackmailed earlier in the series. After that there's a two-part story where everyone takes a little vacation on a secluded island, which ends up turning into a murder mystery. The plot is pretty interesting, but it all boils down to trying to keep Haruhi from getting bored, since if she's bored she will think something into existence! Besides the typical "bikinis at the beach" anime scene, this story also featured a really weird technique for reenacting the murder - it was shot in live action and displayed with various filter effects, which looks cool, but still kind of jarring in the middle of the show. The bonus features include more footage of Aya Hinano (the voice of Haruhi), who is super-cute in her photo session and signing books for fans, but to tell the truth, I still have yet to see why this show has become so popular! So many people have declared this anime one of the best, but right now I don't see it. It's definitely fun and I enjoy it, but I'm not getting a huge emotional charge out of it or anything. Oh well, at least it's fun to keep up with the phenomenon, so bring on the next DVD (after Christmas, of course)! Labels: anime, dvds
Hello! Project 2007 Summer 10th Anniversary Dai Kanshasai - Hello Pro Natsu Matsuri : 4 of 5
12.09.2007 7:08 AM \| Link	I used to be a little overwhelmed by these giant concerts that gather the entire Hello! Project arsenal on one stage, but now I look forward to them and enjoy how they combine all the groups in interesting ways (although it is a little crazy when so many performers are out dancing at once - full Jpop sensory overload!). This concert was a blast to watch, since it had some unique Morning Musume moments, such as Jun Jun and Rin Rin's performing debut on Onna Ni Sachi Are, and they were fantastic! Their introduction was super cute, although I'm already starting to groan at the language jokes. Jun Jun seems kind of like a giant when they are all dancing together, but that gives her a nice edge that she doesn't have when they aren't singing. After watching some boring Koharu lip syncing and surviving some ugly butterfly wing costumes, it was awesome to see Yossie and Konkon perform with Ongaku Gatas! All of the "mix and match" numbers were cool, and Reina seemed to be particularly enjoying herself and all the attention. I really enjoyed seeing the under-used but totally cool Ayaka in Dance and Chance, but nothing can top Sayumi's performance of Momoiro Kataomoi, which was hands-down some of the best ultra-cute camera-hamming ever! The entire price of the DVD is worth it just to see Sayu say the opening "Iku yo!" (I just about fell out of my chair), and it's so much fun to see her get some spotlight time! The end of the concert has a nice moment where they bring back former Morning Musume members for a few songs, which is a pretty incredible considering it was the hard work of these gals 10 years ago that made it possible for me to enjoy this concert today! On top of all this entertainment, this is actually a two-DVD set (since the show is so long), so the second DVD had plenty of room for backstage footage. This was definitely an incredible concert experience! Labels: dvds, jpop, morning musume
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya / Vol 2 : 3 of 5
11.30.2007 7:29 AM \| Link	I hardly ever continue watching an anime series so quickly (I usually watch other things between volumes for variety), but Netflix was super-fast and these episodes are so short that it's been easy to breeze through this show during study breaks! These four episodes take a big turn from the last volume as the plot goes from weird to completely bizarre, and at the same time the situation gets more serious as Haruhi's "cosmic powers" are revealed. Somehow she actually creates reality with thought (unknowingly), so the fact that she's bored with everyday life means she might just end the universe to start up a new one! There's a nice Haruhi monologue where we get to see past her tough exterior for a moment, which leads nicely into a great episode where Haruhi and Kyon find themselves in another reality, and Kyon has to convince her to give the "real" reality another chance (with an unexpected kiss!). After all that drama, the other episodes lighten up with the SOS Brigade entering a baseball tournament, which is pretty hilarious since Yuki, the alien representative of the Thought Entity (yes, that's pretty weird), helps them win the game by changing the physical properties of the bat. There's some funny cheerleading from Mikuru in this episode, too! I should also mention that these DVDs have a lot of bonus material, the best of which is some Japanese-produced behind the scenes segments with the voice actors for the show. Watching the recording session for one of the show's songs was really interesting! Now that I can kind of see the tone of this series, I'm a little more into it than I was after watching Volume 1, so of course the next DVD will be on its way to me soon. Labels: anime, dvds
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya / Vol 1 : 3 of 5
11.26.2007 6:07 PM \| Link	I've had this series in my Netflix queue from way back when I was still subscribing to Newtype. They were constantly gushing about what a great anime series this is, and it's definitely got a ton of attention online and everywhere else, so I'm glad I finally got the time to give it a try. Recently my taste has been leaning towards more serious anime and manga, but I have to say that Haruhi was pretty funny, so I'm definitely going to keep watching! I was really impressed by how the series begins, since the entire first episode is nothing more than a homemade film created by the characters (but it does reveal some interesting hints, in a way). In the next three episodes, Haruhi and all the members of her new SOS Brigade are introduced, and they are soon revealed to be exactly what Haruhi is devoted to finding: aliens, future people, and ESPers (psychics)! The only normal guy is Kyon (his nickname), and the story unfolds from his point of view, which is great since he's just as confused as the viewer! There are some really outrageous moments dealing with Haruhi's "handling" (literally) of Mikuru, the super-cute girl of the group, especially when she's forced to wear crazy outfits like a bunny suit! This entire DVD went by really fast - the episodes seem a little shorter than average, but it kind of helps the story move along. I'm worried that if they don't bring a little true emotion into all this craziness that I will get bored with the series, but for now I'm content to giggle and enjoy the hilarity! Labels: anime, dvds
Nooooooo!
9.30.2007 5:20 PM \| Link	This movie should be buried, not re-released as a Special Edition! Cinderella 2 represents everything bad about Disney DVD sequels - it's the worst of the worst! There have been so many other sequels that I really enjoyed, but nothing as bad as this one. Even Hunchback of Notre Dame 2, with its barely TV cartoon quality animation, completely kicks Cindy 2's butt. This marketing decision had to have been set in stone before John Lasseter or someone with a brain could stop it. Cinderella 3 was ten times the movie - I was hoping that it would make people forget about this one. Oh well, I know they will sell mountains of these anyway. Labels: disney, dvds
Morning Musume / Concert Tour 2007 Haru Sexy 8 Beat : 4 of 5
9.25.2007 7:37 AM \| Link	Even after reading some not-so-great reviews of this Morning Musume concert, I was still looking forward to sitting down and enjoying it, but dreading being sad during Yossie's graduation! While this show isn't as well-put together as some of their other recent efforts, I definitely enjoyed it and was totally entertained, as usual. The good points include some fantastic stage lighting, around five costume changes (more if you count special costumes for solos and small groups), plenty of cuteness and emotion (I was convinced they were actually enjoying themselves, which is the most important part of a performance for me!), and Shanimuni Paradise was downright amazing! The bad points include a serious change in momentum during the solos section, along with some crazy song choices. I don't minding hearing a few obscure numbers during a concert, but the bizarre food-themed medley came way too early in the show (they needed a few more high-energy singles first)! And now, I could go on and on about Yossie and her incredible graduation. While she's not one of my favorites from an idol standpoint, she's probably the one I most admire, because of her solid career, talent (both musical and comedic), leadership, and of course, coolness. The camera work stayed up in her grill the whole time waiting for some water-works, and although you can see a few moments where she wants to cry, she stands tall and never sheds a tear. The other members, however, totally lose it (and so did I!), with everyone hugging her like their own big sister, mom, or even dad. Ai-chan nearly falls down with emotion, and Gaki-san implies that Morning Musume will disappear without her. Yossie takes it all with kindness, and even makes a few cool jokes. I don't think there will ever be another leader like Yossie - I was sorry to see her go, but happy for this great celebration! Labels: dvds, jpop, morning musume
Ringers / Lord of the Fans : 2 of 5
9.21.2007 7:32 AM \| Link	I'm not sure when I put this documentary in my Netflix queue, but it was probably a suggestion based on other geek documentaries that I've enjoyed in the past. Ringers covers the history of fans of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (capitalizing on the success of the movies, of course), but unfortunately spends too much time trying to be funny and not enough time showing the fans themselves! The film begins with a long background on the writing of the books and their initial reception, all presented in cut-out cartoon Monty Python style, which is interesting for about five minutes, but terrible when you realize that this method of expression is used for most of the movie. There are lots of short interview segments, of course, but along with Tolkien scholars, Peter Jackson and his actors, other celebrities are included that seem to have nothing to do with Lord of the Rings (Why are we supposed to care about what David Carradine has to say about Tolkien?). There are also some truly overblown generalizations, including that 60s hippies were all into three things: flower power, LSD, and Lord of the Rings (and this is "demonstrated" with some hilarious reenactments of hippie kids hanging out and reading The Hobbit out loud)! To be fair, some of the movie is really interesting, and it was easy to sit through the whole thing (watching with my pals). I enjoyed the "Tolkien confessional" booth where fans expressed their feelings alone with a camera, so at least I saw a sampling of the kind of fans I like to watch. Overall, I wouldn't really recommended Ringers, but if you've watched your Extended Editions too many times and want to see something new, I suppose it's OK. Labels: dvds, lotr
Musical Ribbon no Kishi : 4 of 5
9.20.2007 7:43 AM \| Link	It seems like I'm always writing about Jpop ancient history, but I finally watched the complete Morning Musume musical of Ribbon no Kishi, and it was much better than I expected! For this stage version of Osamu Tezuka's classic manga (also known as Princess Knight), Hello! Project got together with the Takarazuka Revue, a super-popular all-women theater group famous for lavish shows with ladies playing men (based in Tezuka's home town, coincidentally). The story is about Princess Sapphire who has to spend her life as a boy to keep other evil folks from getting the throne, and of course involves romance with Prince Franz, witch's spells, and sword-fight action. Takahashi Ai does a wonderful job as Sapphire, but I have to say that Ishikawa Rika steals the show as Franz, which is amazing since poor Rika-chan is only half the singer that Ai-chan is! Rika pulls it off with sheer confidence in her role, and gives an incredible performance of the main love song Anata ni Aitai in her prison scene, punctuated by amazing tears on stage! This three-DVD set includes two other complete versions of the show with Matsuura Aya and Abe Natsumi as Franz, but I still liked Rika's performance the best. All of the other girls get large and small roles (Yossie is pretty cool as the villain), and the story is really easy to get lost in (even with a couple of Morning Musume jokes thrown in out of character). The music itself is definitely show tunes style, performed by a live band just off-stage, so it's fun to hear the girls sing with something other than pre-recorded tracks for a change. At the end of the show, there's a mini concert of the usual hits, as well as a graduation ceremony for Makoto, since this was her last performance with the group. This musical was definitely better than some of the previous shows I've seen. Of course it's cheesy and sentimental, but I love seeing the girls stretch to perform something just beyond their normal reach! Labels: dvds, jpop, morning musume
GAM First Concert Tour 2007 Shoka / Great Aya & Miki : 3 of 5
9.18.2007 8:03 AM \| Link	Part of my big DVD catch-up also includes various Jpop DVDs that I'm just getting around to watching, so now I've finally watched the first (and hopefully not the last) GAM concert DVD! I've definitely enjoyed GAM's singles, videos, and full-length album, but I wasn't too sure how they would be live, and as the concert started, I almost thought they weren't going to be able to hold my interest, since the first number had almost no choreography and they seemed to be holding back a little. Thankfully, Ayaya and Mikitty soon loosened up and started having fun, making little faces and kidding each each other (demonstrating the relationship between the two that makes GAM so interesting), and the dance routines got better, too. Their singing perform