Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) (Special Fourth Year Anniversary Review)

As children, Edward and Alphonse Elric lost their mother to illness.  In an attempt to resurrect her through alchemy, Alphonse lost his body while Edward lost an arm and a leg bonding Al’s soul to a suit of armor.  Years later, the two travel the land searching for a way to restore their bodies.  The answers they seek lie in the fabled Philospher’s Stone, one of the greatest relics of Alchemy capable of even bringing the dead back to life.  But dark traps have been set for the brothers and even darker truths threaten to shatter their resolve.  That wont stop Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist.  To restore his brothers body, he’ll risk everything, even if the ultimate cost is everything he has.

Live Action adaptations of Anime are tricky.  There are some things you can only do with Anime as your key storytelling tool, from character behaviors to feats of epic awesomness.  Sometimes, filmmakers can get it right.  I’ll always look to the 2006 Death Note Duology and the first Rurouni Kenshin film as the gold standards of making good adaptations (the second and third RuroKen movies were good but not fully great).  But for every win, there’s a colossal failure.  Just look at last year.  2017 gave us two highly anticipated Live Action Anime films in Ghost in the Shell and Netflix’s America Death Note.  Both fell flat on their face for various reasons (I gave both semi ok reviews that seem more generous in retrospect).  That same year, we got a Fullmetal Alchemist movie.  To say it’s the best of those three films that came out in 2017 is hard to say…cause even when it tries to do things right it doesn’t take things in the positive direction Live Action Anime films need to go.

 

Let’s start with Ed and Al, the heart and soul of this entire story.  Both in the film and Anime, they go through a tragic ordeal that would leave anyone broken beyond repair.  What makes them both so endearing are two things: their optimism, which is often tested but never fully broken; and their amazing brotherly banter.  Neither are fully present in the film.  The Ed that we know is fully aware of his guilt in what happened to him and his brother but in the Anime and Manga, he masks it behind sharp wit and a fiery temper.  Ryousuke Yamada plays Edward in the film with all of his guilt and depression on full display.  The film has a couple moments of lightheartedness, though few and far between, and even there Ed acts less like his normal, short fused self…and in truth he probably wouldn’t raise too much of a fuss that I used the “s” word just then, he is that out of character.  This dramatic approach works on rare occasion, especially during the infamous Shou Tucker scene (you know what I’m talking about if you know the franchise).  Otherwise, I feel like the casting is more to blame than the writing as I could see Anime Ed saying a lot of these lines in his usual form and acting his usual self while doing so.  It’s actually hard to tell if Al is equally or much worse off.  Sure he looks awesome and taken right from the source material with his armor design.  But Al doesn’t really do much for most of the film and sounds even more depressed than Ed…when he’s actually talking.  I swear, Al is mute during several moments when he could easily speak but I guess chooses not to?  That bugged the hell out of me.  As a result, Ed and Al feel like shadows of the characters we know and love.  Their live action portrayal officially, for me, ranks up there with Nat Wolff’s take on Light Turner in Netflix’s Death Note.  If the film cant be supported by its iconic leads then it is bound to fail in the end.

 

Clocking in at a little over 2 hours, you can feel the Fullmetal Alchemist movie dragging on, even when it’s jumping from one important part of the story to the next.  Unless you are well versed in the universe already, the movie doesn’t give much time to digest things and even less emotional impact to keep you invested.  Even the Shou Tucker storyline, while the climax is ok, fails to deliver the full gut punch of the Anime or Manga (both of which told the story in one or two episodes or chapters with a much better handle on events).  At the end of the day though, this movie is meant to be an opener for a franchise, nothing more or less.  As such, it has a beginning but kind of fumbles around deciding how much it wants to get in before it wraps up.  A couple of the Anime’s more memorable epic moments feel less than stellar as a result and definitely lack the “hell yeah” enthusiasm they instill when youre watching them in the TV series.  Actually as the film went on, I could only wonder why I don’t just pop in the 2003 TV Series or Brotherhood and watch those vastly superior stories right away. 

 

Possibly one of the biggest flaws of the film lies in its greatest strength: the visuals.  This movie looks like Fullmetal Alchemist.  From the sets to the costume design to the Alchemic effects.  Everyone looks like they came from the Anime, especially Al and Hughes.  Ryuta Sato brings all the warmth, humor and seriousness that makes Hughes the guy he’s always been.  He is the one shining beacon that kept me hoping this film would right itself.  But, just like Ghost in the Shell, Fullmetal Alchemsit relies too much on nodding to the source material and, as a result, tries to mask its storytelling flaws behind it.  Even moments taken directly from the Manga or the Anime feel like they lack the fun or heart that made them so memorable and epic in the first place.  I was fooled once by Ghost in the Shell (I think I even praised being able to spot most of the many references), I was not going to be fooled this time by Fullmetal Alchemist.

 

It’s funny.  There have been two Fullmetal Alchemist series (the 2003 TV Anime and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood).  Both are shows with very long episode counts but never once will you hear anyone complain about that.  The shows (and even their respective films: Conqueror of Shamballa and The Sacred Star of Milos) are a roller coaster of emotion, heartache, excitement and hope.  Those are four emotions I felt next to none or very little of while watching the live action movie.  Ed and Al aren’t acting like they should and suck up all the hope and fun from the narrative.  The moments when the action should kick in feel half assed or bare boned.  The emotion is kept of full on depressing with nary a sent of optimism or hope.  I will say I felt heartache.  Cause in the wake of Ghost in the Shell and Death Note, 2017 needed a big win in the Live Action Anime category.  Fullmetal Alchemist was not that win.  And that’s kind of sad.

 

3/10

(Jeez, im calling this right now: Next Anniversary im picking something a lot more positive to review…maybe not something live action either…dammit why’d I have to review the Rurouni Kenshin Trilogy back to back).

The Gundam Anime Corner 4th Anniversary

March 31, 2014.  In an effort to work on more short story writing, I set forth on a weekly assignment for myself: review Anime.  My strategy was simple-if it’s a set then review one disc a week; if it’s a movie review it and if its part of a set then review one movie a week…simple really.  My first title was one I had just purchased: Eden of the East, which I reviewed in 4 weeks (the entire series plus the two sequel films).  Four years later, ive covered a total of 141 titles from TV Series to Feature Films from all across the Anime spectrum.  Ive even had a chance to review several live action films too, some based on Anime and others that have impacted or been impacted heavily by the genre.  I know this blog was created itself in 2015 but I often think back to when my first review was written on this day 4 years ago that it really was birthed…plus its my blog so there.  There have been times where ive felt pressured by myself to deliver good reviews and commentary, even when I didn’t want to finish a title because I got bored with it or because it was bad (there have been a couple).  In the end though, I still get a thrill out of taking time out of my week to watch a disc of Anime and jot down my thoughts, feelings and general observations.  Some reviews hold a special place in my heart.  Others could have been done better and some have turned out surprisingly well when they turned into pure rants.

It’s been a long 4 years.  Much has changed with me, both good and bad.  But this blog definitely sits on the good side of my life.  And if you’re reading this little blurb from me, I just want to say thank you.  Even if you don’t leave a comment, I hope that whatever you’ve glimpsed on my blog either got you interested in a title, changed your mind on something, or just seemed cool enough to check out for a quick second.  I’m not sure who’s reading and who isn’t but I appreciate anyone stopping by anytime.  Ive got some fun titles and features ready for Year 5 of this blog and I hope everyone is looking forward to more good times.

Here’s to 4 years and more to come…and as always, Welcome to the Gundam Anime Corner.  Thanks for stopping by.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos

When a mysterious and powerful prisoner escapes from prison in Central, Edward and Alphonse Elric trail him to a valley near the city of Creta.  Here, the brothers find themselves caught up in a web of intrigue and danger as the struggling people of Milos plot an open rebellion against the military that has oppressed them.  At the center of this chaos is Julia, a beautiful girl who catches young Al’s eye.  To free her people, Julia will cross any line necessary, including harnessing a forbidden power that Ed and Al have first hand experience dealing with.  With fighting on the horizon, it’s up to the Elric Brothers to stop the total extermination of the Milosian people.

It’s hard to believe that Fullmetal Alchemist has been around for so long and yet its only had two films on its resume.  I guess that’s not so bad considering how most Anime based on TV shows can run their series of films into the ground by overstaying their welcome (Dragon Ball Z, Bleach).  While The Sacred Star of Milos isn’t anything truly groundbreaking for the franchise, it is a much better theatrical outing for Ed and Al than The Conqueror of Shamballa.

The film boasts a totally stand alone tale that could either fit in or outside of the main storyline (which I guess would be Brotherhood considering this came out after it was finished).  With that advantage, Milos acts as a much better entry point for new fans of the seires.  It’s a good sampler of the best of Fullmetal Alchemists storytelling abilities (adventure, the bonds of family, and self sacrifice amongst other things).  It definitely feels like this could have taken place during the series (especially the 2003 series as that allowed more time for filler tales like this one), which is probably the movie feels like a 2-3 part story rather than a movie level event but its still pretty good.

I really enjoyed the setting of the valley.  The Milosian people may have been trapped down here through terrible means but man they built a really amazing looking settlement.  The caverns and homes built inside and along the outer perimeter of the valley walls are great feats of human ingenuity and spirit, definitely places id love to visit if they existed.  Likewise, the Milosian’s are a pretty likeable bunch, especially Julia.  And man is it nice to see Al having his eyes on a girl for once, cause there’s only but so much you can do with teasing Ed and Winry being paired up (good as they may be).  In fact, the tragic tale of Julia and her brother, Ashley, could be viewed as a mirror experience for Ed and Al.  Both pairs end up after the same thing (spoilers I guess but come on, if everything is connected to The Philosopher’s Stone, cause Fullmetal Alchemist, it’s easy to predict what the titular Sacred Star of Milos actually is).  But whereas Ed and Al are well established on a mutual goal, Julia and Ashley’s priorities couldn’t be further apart.  Could Ed and Al have gone down this route?  It’s a scary but fascinating thought. 

One thing of immediate note for Sacred Star of Milos is it’s animation style.  While the film is done by Bones, the studio behind all things FMA, the art bears a very strong resemblance to Studio Gainax and Studio Trigger, which grew out of Gainax.  The emphasis on how unique the cave system of the valley works made me think a lot of Gurren Lagann (hell this could have been a Gurren Lagann tale if you added in some mecha).  Still, I went back and forth on whether or not I liked the animation.  On the one hand, it certainly helps the movie stand out.  But it also feels more art house style than I think Fullmetal Alchemist is meant to be, especially when the style of both the 2003 series and FMA: Brotherhood looked great.  Heck even Conqueror of Shamballa only had some minor touch ups from the 2003 series for a theatrical release.  At some points it bothered me, at others I was so invested in the action I didn’t really care about it.  The animation is divisive, ill say that much.

While Sacred Star of Milos is better than Conqueror of Shamballa overall, the film isn’t without its problems (some of which both share in a way).  Once again, series mainstays are shooed in for little more than fanservice.  I get maybe having Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye in there to give Ed and Al their mission.  However, Winry’s presence is totally unnecessary and Mustang’s big action scenes take place all off screen.  Come on, you don’t put Roy Mustang into a tale and don’t show off his bad assness when you get the chance.  Elsewhere, the movie does have some slow parts which made me wonder if it could have been 15-20mins shorter.  And while this is accessible to newcomers, some of the plot elements of the film, particularly towards the end, are borrowed from other key points of the main FMA storyline, so it feels sort of unoriginal.  It didn’t hurt my overall enjoyment, personally, but it was hard not to ignore similarities when they popped up.  Lastly, there’s a particular twist towards the end that’s just meant to pad out the runtime and the movie did a poor job building up to it with a poorly used villain who barely had any screentime or even an introduction for that matter.

Thankfully, the pros outweigh the cons on this one.  Even if it has some not so new ideas and could be a filler arc slipped into the 2003 series (Brotherhood follows so close to the manga it would be hard to find a spot this could fit into), Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos is a much more enjoyable outing for the Elric Brothers than the full on fan service extended ending that was The Conqueror of Shamballa.  At the very least, I enjoyed much of my time checking this one out and am glad that, if this is to be it for the Elric Brothers movie run for a while, they have one film that I would recommend to fans and newcomers as a good entry point for one of Anime’s most beloved tales.

8/10

Well there was one misfire and one better attempt but those were just the Anime films.  The bigger question lies ahead…can Ed and Al’s shot at live action stardom steer more towards Rurouni Kenshin greatness or will it end up on the Ghost in the Shell/Death Note 2017 side of the spectrum.  Good or bad, the review of Fullmetal Alchemist 2017 marks the 4^th Anniversary of the Gundam Anime Corner.  Fingers crossed it’s good.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie-The Conqueror of Shamballa

It’s been two years since Edward Elric was transported to Munich, Germany, the ultimate price of restoring the body and soul of his younger brother, Alphonse.  As a potential new globe spanning conflict looms, a secret society seeks to unlock the gate to a world known as Shamballa…which happens to be Ed’s alchemic homeworld.  As two worlds begin to collide, Ed sees his chance to return home and just in time too.  It’s going to take two prodigees of Alchemy to stop a menacing force seeking to conquer their home.  Once more, the Fullmetal Alchemist and his brother head into battle, reunited again…possibly for the last time.

Fullmetal Alchemist’s first Anime series back in 2003 was a huge hit both in Japan and in the US.  Naturally, such success meant that FMA would find its way to the big screen and did so a year after the series concluded.  And while it does have a lot of the magic that made the series work, mostly thanks to its indomitable lead brothers, Conqueror of Shamballa ultimately collapses from too much expectation, too many ideas clashing, and a need to satisfy fans and newcomers which results in a bit of a mess, an entertaining one but a mess nonetheless.

I’ll just say this right away: you have to watch the series before you see this movie.  Though the movie tries to get viewers up to speed on why Ed is in 1923 Germany and kicks things off with a nice montage of series events (complete with a L’arc En Ceil theme song, they also supply the end theme as well).  But let’s face it, there’s more to Ed’s predicament than a couple of short scenes can explain.  Likewise, characters appear throughout the film who are here for little more than fan service.  Characters like Roy Mustang, Alex Armstrong and Riza Hawkeye barely have anything to do other than be there for the fans to cheer on occasion (though Mustang’s entrance into battle is bad ass).  If this is to be the absolute final chapter of this iteration of Fullmetal Alchemist, I guess the writers wanted to wrap up everything thread they left dangling at the end of the TV Series (which I think ended pretty well considering).  Still, people looking for a stand alone story will find themselves lost and wondering what the heck is going, for the most part anyway.

As I said, there are some really good ideas here trying to fight for room in a very crowded movie.  Ed being a wanderer in 1923 Germany is fascinating and seeing him interact with some familiar faces isn’t without its rewards (though Hughes as a Nazi will never sit right with me).  Likewise, there’s a lot of potential in Eckhart’s storyline, being the wide eyed explorer who ends up transforming into the titular Conqueror of Shamballa.  Their clash of ideals makes for some great back and forth.  And yeah, the concept of two Earth’s heading into a conflict is definitely a movie level event.  But again theyre competing for time when we need to check in with characters like Winry, Wrath and even Gluttony back in the Alchemic World.  If anything, this is why Conqueror of Shamballa might’ve worked better as another season of the show, to give everything room to breath, get its messages out fully and wrap everything up on a satisfactory note.  Really, this story could have gone to just Ed and Al on both worlds with one or two characters popping in.  But I guess to make this an epic world war level conflict, everyone has to get involved somehow.

Where Conqueror of Shamballa does work is where Fullmetal Alchemist has always worked: The Brothers Elric themselves.  Ed and Al continue to boast some of the most likeable moments of “Brotherhood” in any Anime.  My favorite moments of the film though did happen when we got a bit of retro Ed and Al (Al in his armor and Ed reacting to being called small).  Their reunion isn’t a letdown and its clear that time has not dulled their connection.  If anything, you can always see one beside the other, even when apart.  I did like Ed’s relationship with Alphonse Heidrich, the Al of Germany.  He’s a lot like our Al but a bit naieve when it comes to who he ends up working for.  Still, he and Ed do have a good report when it comes to stories about other worlds.  The action is also pretty stellar, much like the TV series.  Though he does play an important part that doesn’t get explained until much later, Wrath does get in an epic fight scene with a mutated Gluttony.  And Ed, Al and Mustang are all on the ends of really good showdowns of their own.  When the action is happening, it’s easy to forget the films shortcomings but they don’t stay forgotten for long.  Also, a special shoutout goes to the films soundtrack.  Many of the shows themes return, including the tear inducing Elric Brothers Theme.  But we also get the two aforementioned L’arc En Ceil themes plus the Gypsy songs are gorgeous (helped a bit by a cute Noah dancing to them).

Overall, if you’re just wrapping up the 2003 TV Series, then Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie-Conqueror of Shamballa will no doubt fulfill your desire to see the loose ends from the series tied up, along with a tale that fits nicely for the universe.  For newcomers, I think the clash of new ideas and fanservice wont do you any favors.  This is a movie for the fans and fans alone and the effort made to be accessible to anyone else is poorly done.  The action and some of the story will keep you watching til the end, along with that good old Elric Bros magic.  In the end, this is a fair movie level event that should have been as mindblowing as the TV series.  Better luck next time I guess.

6/10

Speaking of better luck, will the Elric Bros. second round at big screen stardom be the success Conqueror of Shamballa ended up not being?  Check back tomorrow for my review of Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos.

 

Ready Player One

In 2045 AD, the Oasis is the place to be: the ultimate gaming paradise where you can be whoever you want to be and play however you want to play.  Wade Watts aka Parzival is one of the many players on a quest for the ultimate prize of the Oasis: an Easter Egg left behind by the games creator, James Halliday.  Whichever player finds the Egg first will inherit Halliday’s massive fortune and control of the Oasis itself.  Wade knows the history of Halliday inside and out and teams up with the beautiful Samantha aka Atremis, to win the prize.  But others want the Egg for their own nefarious ends and will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means literally killing the competition.  Wade came to the Oasis to escape the crummy reality of life.  But now he’s found a reason to stay: save the Oasis and keep the dream of its creator alive.

You know its funny.  After almost a decade of making mostly historical dramas, I was wondering if Steven Spielberg had lost the ability to make an epic scifi or adventure genre flick like the ones that made him famous (Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T. The Extraterrestrial).  Low and behold, not only is Ready Player One a return to form for the game changing director, it’s also one of his most special films to date: A film directed by a nerd, written by a nerd, made with nerds in mind.  As im sitting here staring at the screen, im wondering where the heck to even start approaching this one.  I guess we can start with the Oasis, the main setting of the film, which could lead into everything else I suppose. 

The Oasis has a lot in common with the world of OZ from Summer Wars (my favorite Anime film).  It is one of the more likely possibilities of social media merging into one entity likely in the future.  Granted OZ handled a wide variety of daily routines.  The Oasis is more focused on gaming and as such, avatars are based on original designs (like Artemis’ punk gamer whose weapon of choice is a Pulse Rifle from Aliens-complete with proper sound effects mind you) or various characters from across all pop culture.  And man are there a lot.  I swear this movie was tailor made for Blu Ray Players to freeze frame everything and play “Where’s Waldo” with how many characters this movie managed to fit in.  Naturally, Tracer from Overwatch is there (she’s been seen a lot during the promos) but there’s also Master Chief and his fellow Spartans from Halo; Batman, Supergirl and Harley Quinn from DC Comics; even an appearance from Speilbergs own Jurassic Park T-Rex.  And that’s just scratching the surface, nevermind my favorite appearance that officially makes me say, despite its flaws, I freaking love this movie (those who know me will know of what im talking about and YES I did flip right the frak out when it went toe to toe with MechaGodzilla…AHHHHHHH!!!!)  And on a visual level, Ready Player One rocks.  Sure its obviously all CGI but that never bothered me at all.  Every time we set foot in one of the Oasis’ many locations, I was just ensnared by it all.  The movie had my attention from the moment Wade boots up the game for the first time.

The stunning visuals and all the kick ass moments that come with them can only get you so far.  Thankfully, for the most part, the characters playing these Avatars are pretty likeable.  Wade and Samantha play off each other really well, even if there might be signs they might be playing each other to get to the grand prize of the Oasis.  Even so, there’s a genuine connection made between them that is the driving force of the film.  And really, there is an equal connection to be felt between Wade and his fellow gamers: H, Daito and Sho.  However, while everyone gets their moment to shine, there isn’t as much time dedicated to getting to know the latter three compared to Wade and Samantha.  There are even a couple of characters introduced in the last act, interns at IOI, who I feel would have made more of an impact were they introduced earlier on in the film…and given names.  However, for all their lack of character development, the bond between Wade, Samantha and their friends is great and a true example of how meeting friends online and subsequently in real life can have surprising results (both good and bad but im not here to preach on that subject.  Special shoutout to Ben Mendelsohn, who plays yet another higher up d-bag (last time I saw him was as Director Crenic in Rogue One).  He’s having a great time playing a guy seemingly in charge of an evil corporation who, in reality, doesn’t really know everything he should know about the Oasis or Pop Culture in general.  Same cant be said for his right hand Mercy Graves inspired Lieutenant who just looks like shes trying to hard to impress in the film.

The story of Ready Player One has a lot of heart but does hit a roadblock or two during its run.  There could have a been a bit more of an exploration into how the Oasis does affect its player base (even if it is more instances like a hilarious Japanese worker almost jumping out of a window because he got owned in a gaming tournament…they say it’s a regular thing which is both funny and terrifying at the same time).  The Sixers Program (one of the more darker elements of the film) could have been explored a bit more besides how it connects to Samantha’s personal story line.  Likewise, the mini rebellion against IOI probably needed more time to be fleshed out a bit as it is an interesting concept.  After all, if most people are living it up in the Oasis, what about the others who don’t have such a great real life and need to fight back against the oppressors inside the game world?   There are a couple of sequences that, while entertaining, do tend to go one a bit longer than they should.  I will say that Ready Player One doesn’t feel like an almost 2.5 hour flick (the pacing isn’t bad) there’s just a thing or two I would have cut.  Though, if im honest, either id need to see the movie again to try and add more to this list, or im for once not really up to talking bad about this movie.  It’s not perfect but at the end of the day…I don’t care.

By the time the film began to hit the end credits, I think I was crying and I had the biggest, goofiest smile on my face the entire last act too.  As a guy who grew up in video game and nerd culture, Ready Player One feels like FLCL, a movie made for longtime fans of a genre.  If you’re quick, you can catch a lot of the references.  You can thrill at the sight of Doc Brown’s DeLorean from Back to the Future racing side by side with Kaneda’s Bike from Akira.  You can hum every single track that is straight out of the 80’s, cudos to any production looking to go the distance and include more 80’s in their soundtracks.  You can dance alongside Wade and Samantha in their little dance sequence.  Or you can just let your jaw drop when the last thing you ever expected to see on the big screen, nevermind a Steven Spielberg film, actually happens and you cant help but go nuts.  I really don’t know if the general moviegoing public will enjoy Ready Player One compared to geek culture and gaming enthusiasts.  Which is a shame because for all of its flaws, this is a special movie that I think deserves to be seen.  And I’m greatful the man who gave us such legends as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, was able to bring some of my childhood back to life for a good couple of hours.

Again, it aint perfect but this Oasis is one worth checking out.

8/10

T5W#137-Top 5 Favorite Live Action Anime/Manga Films Ive Seen

Don’t think we need much of an intro this week.  Last week we looked at the worst.  This week we’re looking at the best.  These are the films that give me hope that one day we can see a proper Live Action Mobile Suit Gundam film, so long as it’s in the right hands.  These are the Top 5 Favorite Live Action Anime/Manga Films Ive Seen.

#5-Oldboy

You know, for the longest time I never knew this was based on a Manga.  All I knew about Oldboy when it was released was that it was a movie beyond compare and beyond belief.  And man were they right.  This wasn’t just a simple revenge flick, this was something else entirely.  The amount of psychological drama at work was incredible.  That hallway sequence is the kind of movie making magic that’s no doubt inspired every Hallway fight in the MCU Netflix universe.  And the twist ending is the stuff Shamylan wishes he was still capable of.  Seriously, the end of Oldboy will mess you right up and is one of the reasons it’s still held in such high regard today.

#4-Pacific Rim

No this is not based on any preexisting Anime title.  It’s based on multiple ones.  Pacific Rim is Guillermo del Toro’s love letter to the Giant Robot Anime Genre and sees inspiration drawn from Godzilla, Neon Genesis Evangelion, The Big O, Voltron and probably dozens of other titles.  And it shows.  The level of detail put into each Jaegar, how each part moves, how big theyre built, how theyre piloted, there’s so much care put into every visual shot of this film.  Granted the story isn’t the greatest but the Jaeger v Kaiju battles more than make up for it.  Honestly I don’t think the sequel looks like it could live up to the groundbreaking visual brilliance Del Toro brought to the screen.  Really, it’s an underrated classic.

#3-Space Battleship Yamato

I never saw Star Blazers when I was younger and by the time I knew of its existence I was very much a more or less Robotech/Macross fan.  Still, the original pioneer of scifi space battle combat is a title I hope to see someday and this movie helps fuel that dream.  Yes, it bears a heavy visual resemblance to the 2004 Battlestar Galactica series but that doesn’t change the overall feel of the film.  Yamato’s story and characters feel like they were plucked right from the original Anime.  The character drama is well done, the costumes are very flashy and very 70’s scifi, everyone looks like they belong (particularly Captain Okita).  The ending might have a ton of issues but everything up til that point is classic Anime gold brought to life nicely.

#2-Death Note and Death Note 2: The Last Name

For a long, long time, this two part adaptation was my gold standard of Live Action Anime.  I literally spent an entire summer watching one or both films at least once a week.  By then I had seen the Anime all the way through once and can easily say that both Live Action Films do somethings I wish they had done in the Anime, even in regards to that legendary ending.  Tatsuya Fujiwara and Kenichi Matsuyama are perfect as Light Yagami and L and everytime theyre on screen (especially together) the film shines.  Ryuk looks amazing and seeing his visual still made me want to check the movies out in the first place.  While both films equal to a little over a 4 hour feature, the pacing will make you forget all about that, especially with the longer Death Note 2.  While I haven’t had a chance to check out the “forbidden sequel” that is Death Note: Light Up the New World, as much as I want to see it, I doubt it holds a candle to the brilliant masterpeices that are Death Note and Death Note 2: The Last Name.

#1-Rurouni Kenshin

Otakon 2013.  I sat in a viewing hall packed to capacity. I sat alongside a new friend who told me her anticipation for this film was on par with The Avengers…and she was right.  Rurouni Kenshin looks and feels every bit like its Manga and Anime inspirations.  The set design alone deserves props for transporting us to a mid 1800’s Japan and making it look so damn real.  The characters act every bit like the ones we know, especially Kenshin and Sanosuke.  And the action, if you haven’t heard how good it is, then believe me, they hype is real.  The sword battles make Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon look like a fight amongst five year olds and they would continue to be the one shinning constant through the other two films as well.  I remember cheering literally every few minutes with everyone else seeing this legend come to life.  Even though I hadn’t read or watched RuroKen in ages, it was all coming back to me watching a movie that could have been a botched project and it still remains a movie experience I would never forget.

Kakegurui Part 4 Episodes 10-12

As an intense game rages on with Student Council member Kaede, Yumeko feels herself inching closer to her ultimate desire: a chance to gamble with the most powerful person in Hyakkyu Academy: Student Council President Kirari Momobami.  The odds have never been this stacked against her and Yumeko might even find herself drawing newfound friends and allies into her chaos.  For the ultimate rush, the thrill of the gamble and the nirvana of pleasure it brings her, Yumeko will risk it all.  In the end though, her final fate may fall to the hands of Ryota, Yumeko’s first and closest friend at Hyakkyu.  Behold, the ultimate gamble is about to begin…place your bets.

After so much build up to the most epic match of the series, it was kind of weird to feel like much of this final set of episodes kind of faltered a little bit.  Maybe the rules were more confusing than ever. Maybe more time was being taken than usual to build up a massive meltdown.  Im not sure but besides some pacing issues in the first couple of episodes, we still got a finale that seemed to act as a nice bookmark for Yumeko Jamabi’s journey while keeping us all curious about what might lie ahead in Season 2.

Listening to Kaede prattle on about how he had Yumeko figured out got a bit tiresome after the match began.  He had things down to mathematical statistics and I was just waiting for Yumeko to crush him the way she does, win or lose.  What I didn’t expect was Yumeko bringing in Itsuki Sumeragi, the fingernail girl Yumeko defeated at the beginning of the series who had just returned to get on Yumeko’s good side.  Much like Nanami a couple weeks back, we got to see Yumeko work her manipulative magic to bring out the inner gambler in Istuki and have her be the one to make the final call that put Kaede in his proper place.  Icing on the cake, The President was there too.  Yeah turns out the creepy mask wearing student we’ve seen back and forth is actually…a twin?  Idk that was a bit of a weak twist for me.  But with Kaede out of the way, it was time.

Naturally, we make it to the final episode before Yumeko and Kirari finally met at the table.  Once again, confusion was everywhere though using tarot cards was a cool choice to spice things up.  I will say that I didn’t believe for a moment that either Yumeko or Kirari would end up leaving the school.  What I didn’t expect was Ryota finally coming out of his shell of uncertainty and giving Yumeko the biggest rush as he held her fate in his hands.  Maybe I’ve gotta change my Yumeko love interest theory from Mary to Ryota cause he turned her on in the biggest way in the whole show.  I will say I feel like Kirari was a bit out of character, doing very little to talk down to Yumeko’s assembled group of friends: Mary, Itsuki and Ryota.  Instead there was plenty of civil banter between the two gamblers.  Could that be because her twin is the more world domination like one?  Seriously, the twin twist had better pay off in Season 2 otherwise this is just a waste of time.

And so we end the “first season” of Kakegurui very different from where things started.  The hierarchy has changed and not one character is the same from when the series began…except the creepy Umaru looking chick, she’s still a twisted brat.  Again, Ryota kind of spells out what’s obvious: Yumeko’s arrival has changed everything and everyone who’s come into contact with her.  Mary and Itsuki are on good terms, Itsuki even apparently looks in on a girl who I assume is a victim of her nail fetish.  Midari still longs for her death but longs a bit more for Yumeko to accept her.  And Nanami is walking with a bit more pride and a smile on her face.  Change has come to this Hell on Earth and even Kirari is taking steps as a result, the dissolving of the Student Council.  How will this all play out in Season 2 but Yumeko…hopefully will never change.

Final Thoughts?  The first half of Kakegurui was uncomfortable to sit through at times but always had a breakneck pace and great payoffs.  There was hardly a freak out I didn’t enjoy and watching Yumeko Sherlock her way through all deceit and methods of cheating was pretty amazing.  Yumeko herself, for all her psycho mindset, was a great Anime heroine.  She lives for the gamble but has a kind heart.  She despises cheating but takes time to listen and judge her opponents, even discovering a couple of new friends along the way.  She’s gorgeous on the outside but a demon on the inside and she’s just the kind of upheaval Hyakkyu Academy needs.  The rest of the cast was fun and I’m glad Ryota finally came into his own at the end, otherwise he’dve remained the weakest member of the cast.  And those freakouts again, man were they something.  I haven’t said much about the animation but it was pretty good, worked on by Studio MAPPA, the people behind Yuri on Ice.  The soundtrack was cool too, putting chaotic jazz to better use than Gundam Thunderbolt that’s for sure.  I’ll admit, some story similarities between this and Kill la Kill are glaring at times.  I wonder if in Season 2 we’ll learn that Yumeko and Kirari are both sisters and they’ll have to fight their mother, the head of the Academy, or something like that.

Final score for Kakegurui is 8.5/10.  The story has pacing issues during the second half and the first half has some of the most uncomfortable moments of any Anime ive ever seen.  Not to mention…the rules feel like they were made up on the spot just to make everyone sound intelligent for a moment (though the games themselves are all pretty unique in their own way).  But if you can survive it, there’s some really good payoffs and everyone gets exactly what’s coming to them…courtesy of the sexiest kind of crazy, Yumeko Jamabi.  Never since Casino Royale has gambling been so dire with the stakes and yet just as fun.

Well now we’re in the countdown to the 4^th Anniversary of the Anime Corner.  As I’ve announced that the live action Fullmetal Alchemist from last Christmas will be the celebration review, check back later this week for a double feature review of the two Fullmetal Alchemist movies, starting Thursday with Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie-The Conqueror of Shamballa, followed by Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos on Friday and Fullmetal Alchemist Live Action 2017 on Saturday, March 31, the anniversary day.  See ya all then.

 

Gundam Anime Corner-Spring 2018 Announcements

Maybe the title is a little misleading.  Given that we just had another blast of winter weather roll through are we really officially into Spring?  In any case, the weather may be crazy but the Anime Corner stands firm.  And actually, big things are getting ready to happen.  With the arrival of Spring also comes the anniversary of this blogs creation, March 31.  So to honor that great day in my life, ive officially selected the 2017 Live Action Fullmetal Alchemist to be the Special 4^th Year Anniversary Review.  And leading into that, I’ll be posting reviews of the two Anime feature films from the FMA franchise: The Conqueror of Shamballa and The Sacred Star of Milos.  Those will all be coming next week in addition to the conclusion of Kakegurui…man it’s going to be busy now that I think about it.

So while Fullmetal Alchemist closes out Year Four, Year Five is about set and ready to run right afterwards.  Kicking off my 5^th year of Anime ramblings will be the first season of the hit scifi thriller Psycho Pass.  And yes, before you ask, Psycho Pass 2 is on the review docket but don’t expect it til later this year.  Following that, the month of May will be dedicated to the Bleach Movies.  The former Shonen juggernaut is getting it’s own live action release in July.  So figured now would be a good time to roll through all four films (Memories of Nobody, The Diamond Dust Rebellion, Fade to Black and Hell Verse) and see how high or low of a bar they set for whatever comes next.  Truth be told im expecting a lot of “eh” to “unnecessary” thoughts as with the four Inuyasha Movies.  That’ll take us into early June where The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya will take over.

One other event to announce before I close out.  2018 marks the 20^th Anniversary of Cowboy Bebop, yes you just read that and yes you might feel a little old like I do.  Seeing as how I’ve already reviewed the series and the movie as some of my first reviews on this blog, I’m instead going to dedicate the month of April to a set of Cowboy Bebop themed Top 5 Wednesdays.  Ive chosen a few topics of particular interests from my favorite moments to random trivia.  Hope everyones ready for some Bebop nostalgia.

And that’s about it for now.  I may or may not try to see and review Pacific Rim: Uprising and Ready Player One as well but that’s really going to depend on time over the next couple of weeks as some real life stuff takes priority.  Til then, hope everyone has a good weekend and I’ll see ya next week for the conclusion of Kakegurui.

T5W#136-Top 5 Worst Live Action Anime/Manga Films Ive Seen

Sigh, let’s face the facts: bad Live Action Anime/Manga Films are about as frequent as bad Live Action Video Game adaptations.  We always wonder what it would be like to see some of our most beloved and cherished Anime played out in this medium…but it hardly ever turns out as good as we hoped, or its so bad it makes the world cry with rage.  And today I’m here to count down five of those bad films that can either be a buzzkill or a rage inducer after watching them.  Although, I should note that while todays focus will be on the Top 5 Worst Live Action Anime/Manga Films Ive Seen, next week will be looking at better examples with the Top 5 Favorite Live Action Anime Manga Films Ive Seen.  So, let’s get the venting out of the way.

 

#5: L-Change the World

The 2006 two part adaptation of Death Note was a huge success in Japan.  Faithful to the source material, spot on with its casting, the films were a mega hit of that year.  So finding a way to continue the success through spin off films seemed inevitable.  Focusing on a case involving L, played brilliantly by Kenichi Matsuyama, seemed like a good idea.  Set during the last remaining days of his life, L sets out to solve one more case involving a stolen bio weapon, two young prodigies and a former ally turned villain.  The biggest problem with L-Change the World is that is doesn’t seem to lack the stakes of the Death Note case.  Granted after dealing with a mystery involving Killer Notebooks, what case could ever top that?  Also, the supporting cast is pretty dull and, while Matsuyama does have some good moments, none of them contain the same amazing chemistry he had with Tatsuya Fujiwara’s Light Yagami in the Death Note movies.  Even all to brief cameos from Misa Amane and Ryuk cant do much to save what could have been a fun spin off to a great series of films.  Maybe a prequel would have been better?

 

#4: Casshern

I actually never knew this one was based of an Anime until well after I saw it.  In the future, bio weapons left for dead by their creators declare war on humanity.  The only thing standing in their way is another weapon of a different kind: the cyber warrior Casshern.  What got my attention about this film is the same thing everyone else saw right away: Casshern is gorgeous, no question about it.  However, some cool visuals and the occasional cool fight scene are hampered by a story that makes no sense, a less than likeable cast and the fact that it is seriously depressing.  Finishing watching Casshern was like finishing watching Darren Arronosky’s The Fountain, you just want to hug someone when the movie is done (and actually The Fountain is a much better movie).  Some said that Casshern was everyones answer to the abysmal Matrix sequels.  Were they watching the right movie or were they just really desperate to like it?

 

#3: Death Note (2017)

While there are one or two things I do kind of enjoy about it, at the end of the day Death Note 2017 was the trainwreck everyone expected.  From the change in scenery to the mostly disappointing cast to the equally shoddy story to the total betrayal of Light Yagami’s character, I know the Otaku community was in an uproar about this.  The film feels more like a very bad CW pilot trying to bring in the nerd crowd when the Arrowverse shows are doing just fine in that department.  Honestly, it almost makes me want to rewatch the movie and do a whole new, more honest review cause I think I was probably in denial about a lot of things I talked about in my original review.  Granted I rectified that, with the help of friends, in another Top 5.  If there were two prime reasons for the US to never bother making another live action anime, Death Note would be one of those films.  The second would obviously be…

  

#2: Dragon Ball Evolution

A American high school kid named Goku is thrust into the adventure of a lifetime when his grandfathers Dragon Ball is stolen by King Piccolo.  Teaming up with a martial arts legend, a beautiful scientist adventurer and a bandit, Goku must stop the…you know what no, trying to write a proper synopsis is too much effort for this one.  What the hell was wrong with the powers that be to let this film see the light of day, much less a final cut of the film?  The action is less than sub par.  The casting is beyond crazy to the point of insulting.  The story isn’t even worthy of a terrible Dragon Ball Anime Movie, it’s just some stupid American adventure flick with the Dragon Ball title slapped on to get people to go see it…and even then it tanked like a brick at the box office.  And the funniest thing of all?  As mad as this movie makes me, Dragon Ball Evolution is still only #2 on this list?  What Live Action Anime film could do worse for me?

 

#1: Ghost in the Shell (2017)

Now this…this review I wrote was an act of pure mercy in retrospect.  I did try to give an honest and professional review of Ghost in the Shell after letting myself vent for half an hour after seeing the film.  But had I written it right after I got out of the theater, you’d know that this movie is #1 on this list because I have a far greater love for the Ghost in the Shell franchise and this movie feels like a betrayal of most of what it stands for.  Rather than embracing the lore and the metaphysical nature of the story of Motoko Kusinagi and Section 9, the 2017 travesty ignores that, goes for the most generic 80’s style scifi plot possible AND what it does to Motoko is beyond criminal, it’s worse than insulting.  The fact that they had to add in the most infuriating of all plot twists to justify the casting of Scarlet Johannson as The Major is the nail in the coffin.  I wanted, REALLY WANTED this movie to be good.  Maybe I was so lenient on Death Note because this film scarred me badly and I didn’t want to believe the US could frak up twice in one year.  I know I said Dragon Ball Evolution and Death Note were the two main reasons the US shouldn’t make Live Action Anime films.  Ghost in the Shell is the signature on the bill that should make that kind of rule legal.

Kakegurui Part 3 Episodes 7-9

Yumeko’s do or die duel with Midari reaches its conclusion.  While not an absolute victory, two members of the Student Council have been left reeling from their battles with the beautiful Yumeko.  When Student President Kirari Momobami leaves on a special mission, the remainder of the Student Council plot ways to end Yumeko without her.  It all leads to an unexpected challenge: an idol competition between Yumeko and internet student superstar Yumeme Yumemite.  Are the odds finally stacked too greatly against Yumeko?  Or has the wild card of Hyakkou Academy found the ultimate in for her own plans?

You know there are times when Kakegurui is too much even for me.  There are times when the insanity seems to hit peak levels and I just cant handle how messed up this world is.  But then you get moments like the end of this weeks set, ones that break the mold and show that there might actually be a smidgen of goodness Hyakkyu Academy hasn’t snuffed out yet, no matter how hard it tries.  Sure I may be lost like crazy when it comes to the elaborate setups and executions of all of the games but its all worth it for the end results.

Yumemi Yumemite might just be the best opponent Yumeko has faced yet.  She’s a school idol and an internet sensastion with a sinister side and yet she seems the least evil of everyone so far.  Sure she has a huge ego and she wants to be something grander in life.  There’s also the fact that she hates her fans despite the love and adoration they give her to reach her dream.  And yet her defeat ended up giving us some amazing stuff.  After the most elaborate game of “Who Wants to be an Internet Idol?” (No that’s not what it’s called but it might as well be), Yumemi accepted her faults and stood ready to face the consequences of her true beliefs coming out…and she was loved all the more for it.  She cemented the respect of her fans and even earned a cute little dance number with Yumeko, who was on her A game more than ever this week.  For the first time, I actually felt good that an opponent of Yumeko’s was on the path to redemption (it’s a bit different from Nanami from last week cause she was a victim who needed hope).  And I loved that.

But just as we saw hope peak it’s head into the Academy, we also saw just how badly despair has driven some of its students.  I haven’t forgotten about Midari and the cliffhanger she left us with last week.  Her backstory was tragic and while it doesn’t change the fact that she’s an unlikeable psychopath, its hard not to feel for her tradgey.  She’s a gambler like Yumeko but was driven off the deep end by the impossible demands of Kirari Momobami.  And now her own life doesn’t matter.  Her one wish is to win a game against someone she feels is worthy enough to end her life.  Seeing Yumeko deny her that was perfectly in character.  Yumeko likes the even odds and how they tip back and forth, granting her the thrill.  Having the odds stacked entirely in Midari’s favor, robbing Yumeko of any danger or challenge, Yumeko couldn’t forgive…granted that still doesn’t mean Yumeko wasn’t ok with potentially getting shot but one crazy aspect at a time.  I’ve said it before: Hyakkyou Academy is a messed up place and this week we saw examples of the worst and how some can either succumb to it or find a way out of it.

With Kirari off on her own “secret mission”, we got to spend a little more time with the rest of the Student Council.  True to Kirari’s assistant Sayaka, the Council is losing its power slowly since Yumeko’s arrival.  Already two members have been left shaken by duels with the sexy psycho and others are now seeking to end her reign of terror for their own benefits.  It makes perfect sense that in a messed up hierarchy such as this, there’d be jerks like Kaede who’d make power plays because they feel like the President isn’t doing her job and letting Yumeko run amok.  Though, that does raise a valid point: why isn’t Kirari crushing Yumeko immedietly?  This is a woman who is very much in the vein of Ragyo Kiriuin from Kill la Kill, a would be Goddess who views House Pets as less than human.  Someone like that wouldn’t just let an upstart like Yumeko run free without a plan.  For that matter, why is Yumeko so desperate to get in a duel with Kirari?  It cant be as simple as “the ultimate rush of gambling with the Student President”.  No, kind of like Kill la Kill, I think that Yumeko and Kirari are connected in some way that hasn’t been revealed yet and hopefully will be during the finale next week.

Speaking of, WOW that ending.  This week closed with Yumeko and Yumeme accusing Kaede of rigging events that lead to their duel.  Kaede of course denies it and says he stakes his position on the council on it…oh what a dumb move.  Yumeko now has her in and im sure much of next weeks finale will be dedicated to this ultimate battle.  Yumeko might not want to be Student President, like many students think, but she’s been playing a very long game and I think we’re about to see the hand she finally gets to play…in a manner of speaking.

See ya next week for the (season) finale of Kakegurui.