Wolf’s Rain- Humanity has fallen, the world is dying, and the end times have arrived. For such an oppressive world to birth an inspiring journey around friendship, brotherhood, love, and faith would seemingly be out of place. Leave it to Cowboy Bebop veterans Keiko Nobumoto (creator/writer), Tensai Okamura (director), and Yoko Kanno (composer) to pull such a tale off against all the odds.
Initially the meager setting explanation and how four wolves came to be able to shift back and forth between their human and lupin forms is slightly off putting. Fortunately the mystery surrounding what happened and what’s going to happen is reason enough to carry on. By the fifth or sixth episode there are enough breadcrumbs to become engrossed in the sympathetic cast.
Giving human forms to the wolves could have been a lazy and cheap tactic for character relatability, but their lupin core is at the forefront. Wolves are not played up as this downtrodden minority grasping for acceptance in society. The dynamic is inherently beneficial at avoiding cliches and thusly each episode ends on a profound high note.
When getting into a groove of several episodes, you’re not watching from the comfort of your home. You’re apart of the journey. Kiba, Tsume, Hige, and Toboe’s struggles and successes are your own. You not only desire to see what happens next; you want to watch them reach their ultimate goal: Paradise.
For lack of a better term, the 30 episodes provide an extremely heartfelt story. Not a single character is a weak link, and the ever-amazing Yoko Kanno captures all the right moods with the expertise you’d expect from one of the best composers in anime.
Clearly no compromises were made during production. There was a vision and it was achieved near flawlessly. So commit Wolf’s Rain to memory. It quickly became a favorite of mine and I’m positive many of you will enjoy it too.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.- I’ve been known to harp on American action in the television format fairly often. It’s been some time since I’ve been captivated by such a thing, but I went into Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. with an open-mind. I do enjoy The Avengers- and much of Joss Whedon's work- so what was the worst that could happen?
Imagine The Avengers and Firefly having a child? Sounds pretty terrific right? That’s the clear intentions here, but the result is a mildly lovable bastard.
The above picture is actually rather helpful in explaining. See those outer most, generic looking folks? Well, they’re exactly what I expect out a CBS show. Not too risky, and cliched as could be. Then the pair on the left, well they’re not too bad. Whedon’s scripts are often known for their wit, and the scientific duo manages to hold their own. The Chinese women,- she’s actually Chinese, I’m not being ignorant- well she’s obviously a stone-cold badass and master of the martial arts. Really flexing those creative muscles there, boys and girls.
There is of course Phil Coulson, chosen solely because everyone else of note from The Avengers would have put them in the poor house or are too busy. Of course they forgot he died and now some sort of silly narrative retconning is being used as the big tease.
Despite these fairly significant flaws, I’m still willing to watch the second half when it comes on in 2014. Watching an inconsistent cast fly about the world and attending to matters Iron Man and friends couldn't be bothered with is surprisingly fun. The mystery surrounding the shadowy Centipede operation carries enough drama to keep from starvation. As much as I harp on the lack of creativity behind the cast, they do get the job done, albeit in a spectacularly average manner.
Can I recommend AoS? Not easily, but if your access to a variety of shows is limited and you’re dreadfully bored, give it a whirl.
Outbreak Company- If pandering can be done right, then Outbreak Company has achieved such a goal.
In the world of OC, young otaku Shin’ichi has been hired as a diplomat and sent to a fantasy world, with anime and manga in hand. Why? Because the Japanese government desires to profit off the export. That’s as complicated as the story ever gets and the comedy is almost entirely reliant on hyperbole of the very culture it focuses upon. Chances are if you’re a more casual anime fan, Outbreak Company isn’t for you.
However if you are a member of the insular community, you very well may get a kick out the inside jokes. Are they terribly clever? No, it’s mostly “Ha ha ha! The boy who was a hikikomori, is now surrounded by the real versions of the 2D things he idolized.”
Early on there did seem to be some sort of message. Not terribly deep, mind you, but more than most comedic anime. In the fantasy world there is all sorts of racism and classism, but otaku culture brings them together. Considering the mudslinging otaku are subjected to from time to time, this is a right bit of irony, but quickly dissipates by the halfway point and then reappears in the final two episodes for a rushed conclusion.
Outbreak Company isn’t great by any stretch of the imagination, but the cheap jokes are entertaining, even if they mostly boil down to having a laugh at one’s self. In 12 episodes not a whole lot of note happens. So if you’re looking for something lighthearted and self-indulgent, by all means, watch Outbreak Company.
The World’s End- As a fan of both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, it seemed certain I’d enjoy the final piece in the Cornetto trilogy. And surprise, surprise I did.
TWE is your standard fare of friends getting drunk, and causing a ruckus. Thing is, while reluctantly revisiting their old stomping grounds, they uncover an alien plot to assimilate Earth’s population. By Cornetto standards this is nothing too unusual and certainly gives way for plenty of hilarity.
Unusual though is the semi-serious tone the movie takes in the latter portion. I won't outright spoil the intended message of the social commentary. Think a more modern Dr. Strangelove. Although I’m sure plenty will call me crazy for comparing anything to the “holy grail” of comedy.
Holistically, The World’s End keep the laughs going at a steady pace with the occasional dry spell, and brings a fitting end to a strong trilogy of films.
World War Z- My expectations were low. Another zombie flick is not exactly something we so desperately need, and opinions were mostly negative. I came out the other end kind of surprised though. It’s not great, or even good really. Now applauding a film for being average may seem odd, but I mean it when I say my expectations were low.
The plot of Brad Pitt’s character globe trotting runs out of steam thirty minutes in and there’s not a whole lot of substance to speak of, but man did they nail those moments of mass hysteria. In the initial Philadelphia outbreak and subsequent Jerusalem one, when the shit hits the fan, it hits hard. The cinematography and set designs give a great sense of scale. There’s not only up-close streets shots, but sweeping ones encapsulating the fear of an entire city.
Oh, and bonus points for not pretending the concept zombies has never existed in the film’s universe. It’s more of a pet peeve of mine wisely avoided, but it always seems silly when you hear everyone asking “what are these things?” Zombies you dolts! Don’t pretend like you’ve never heard of them.
While I’m not suggesting you go and watch World War Z right this second, it wouldn’t hurt to catch it on a rainy day.
No comments:
Post a Comment