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fullmetalalchemistthesacredstarofmilos

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos

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Alternate Titles: Fullmetal Alchemist: Milos no Sei-Naru Hoshi

Original Japanese Release Date: Jul 2011

Episode Length/Run-time: 110 Minutes

Summary:

The Elric brothers are back and they are sent out to a boarder city known as tower city persuing a fugitive who escaped from prison with only a few months left on his sentence using strange alchemy.  When they arrive they learn there’s more going on that meets the eye as they learn of the people who have been stripped of their ancestral lands and now live in the valley floor at the boarder of the two cities, struggling to regain their homeland by any means.

Review:

I think Kimiko said it best when she said movies like this are basically official fanfiction.  This movie has no real place in the FMA saga and it is basically a mini vignette where everything returns to how it was when its done. But, that doesn’t mean it was a bad movie.  The movie had excellent pacing, between the engaging characters, interesting story, and top-notch fight scenes you will not be bored.  Fans of the series will be pleased in how all the fan favorites have been placed in the movie, sometimes a little forced – Winry did not need to be in there – but not bad.  The original characters for the movie are also surprisingly deep and loveable for only knowing them a short time,you quickly find yourself invested in their plight and cheering for them in their struggles.  One of the main criticisms is the animation in some of the fight scenes seems a little rough for an anime movie, normally the budget is so high everything is flawless. Its not bad though, just not as good as one would expect.  But it is overall a very enjoyable watch no matter if you are an FMA fan or total noob.

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scryed

S-Cry-ed

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Alternate Titles: S.Cry.Ed

Original Japanese Release Date: 2001

Episode Length/Run-time: 26 Episodes

Summary:

Due to a strange environmental phenomena an area of Japan has broken off from the mainland and during this humans are given the ability to use Alter, a power which allows them to combine metal alloys to their skin and use magic like powers.  The area in which this phenomena occurred is known as “The Lost Ground.”  Kazuma is one such native alter user and lives as a mercenary in The Lost Ground.  One day a group known as HOLY is dispatched to collect native alter users and Kazuma must defend his freedom against them.

Review:

Shown on Toonami a bit this anime is likely one which many people are familiar with. What’s nice about this anime is it actually has some kind of plot, unlike many anime that are being put out today.  Don’t be fooled by it seemingly have themes of uprisings, oppression, and liberation.  Those are there, but they’re really not too flushed out or not as much as you want them to be.

The first problem are the characters.  They’re either unlovable.  Or they’re just silly, for example a character who fight with watermelons.  Beyond that the characters get out of hand to almost a Dragon Ball Z scale where they just get overpowered and just go around fighting and blowing things up.  This goes with as the series shifts from the oppression to just combat and the rivalries, loosing a lot of the plot along the way.

So while the plot is interesting there are a lot of other things that drag it down making it just average, which isn’t as good as it could be.

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initial D

Initial D

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Alternate Titles: Initial D: First Stage

Original Japanese Release Date: 1998

Episode Length/Run-time: 26 ( 25 mins ea. )

Summary:

Takumi Fujiwara, a high school student, works at a gas station during the day and as a delivery driver for his dad’s tofu shop at night. Little does he know, the driving skills he has developed driving his dad’s Toyota Sprinter AE86 Trueno on deliveries has made him the best amateur street racer on Mt. Akina’s highway. As word gets out, racers from across the Gunma area challenge him to see if he is really the awesome racer that he is made out to be.

Review:

AWESOME! I loved Initial D so much. Biased as I am, since I am also a car junkie, I still think most everyone will at least find this anime exciting and entertaining! The CG cinematics of the car racing may appear awkward at first, but it plays its role nicely throughout the anime. I can imagine hand drawing all the racing scenes could have potentially made them appear less streamlined. However, whats great about this anime is that a lot of the car talk within it is true to life, and not crazy like stuff from the movie Speed Racer. The cars in Initial D are also pretty accurately portrayed from the real life versions. Theres nothing more that I love than seeing a mid-90’s FD RX-7 racing an oldschool AE86! The suspense of each race and some of the daring stunts that Takumi pulls to stay on top of his game will keep you on the edge of your seat, guaranteed! A must watch, especially if you love cars like I do!

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dragon ball

Dragon Ball

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Alternate Titles: None

Original Japanese Release Date: 1986

Episode Length/Run-time: 153 episodes ( 30 minutes ea. )

Summary:

A girl named Bulma is on a quest to find 7 magical dragonballs that when brought together will grant the wish of the person who “summoned” the Dragon. Along the way, she bumps into a boy named Goku, who owns one of the balls. Together, they set out to find the Dragonballs together and become more powerful. Along the way, they must overcome different recurring villains that constantly try to take their dragon balls away, and deal with puzzles and problems thrown at them from out of the blue.

Review:

Dragon Ball is such a fun hearted anime. From the adventuring, to the fighting, to the suspense of the dragonballs trading hands over and over again, Dragon Ball will always keep you laughing and on your toes. If your a fan of Dragon Ball Z, you definitely will enjoy watching Dragon Ball. It is filled with familiar characters, all of which have different personalities (from fun to evil), as well as villains that are always causing problems. With a whopping 153 episodes, Goku and Bulma’s adventure drags on through epic battles, which they must overcome with either brawn or brain. Plus, who doesn’t like seeing the cast of Dragon Ball progress and develop from Dragon Ball into Dragon Ball Z, and perhaps even further? Thats a lot of development!

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major ball of friendship

Major: Ball of Friendship

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Alternate Titles: メジャー 友情の一球

Original Japanese Release Date: December 13th, 2008

Episode Length/Run-time: 104 Minutes

Summary:

Goro Shigeno returns home after his first season of playing baseball in Japan and he reminisces about a baseball tournament that he participated in when he was a child.
Review:

This movie is set late in the Major series.  Goro is reminiscing about how he played in a baseball tournament which was the site of a critical point in Goro’s life, where he pushes himself to the point of sustaining a critical baseball injury.  Just like most of the Major series, this one is filled with sports action that is totally engrossing.  There is just something about how Major presents its action that makes it a great watch.

The movie is fairly simple. It’s simply the course of a baseball game but because the viewer knows that Goro is going to push himself to injury, and because he’s pushing himself, it creates a lot of dramatic tension.  Therefore, for viewers who have been following the series especially, this one is going to be a tense ride.  Even if you haven’t been following the series however, it still ought to be a pretty good movie.

As is usually the case with Major, the music, animation and character art are all quite good.  It was interesting to see the more modern animation applied to the younger character designs in the series.　　People who like the more shounen style of art will probably appreciate the art that there is to be seen in the Major movie and the series in general.

I suppose I marked this movie so far down from the series because the movie doesn’t do a good job of standing on its own.  You really need to see the series to get the full effect of the movie.  It’s a good movie that I enjoyed but from a critical point of view, I need to make note of that.  There just isn’t much to it but the movie does a good job of highlighting what is probably the more trialsome period  of Goro’s life as well as one of the more memorable scenes in the Major universe.

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hajime no ippo

Hajime no Ippo

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Alternate Titles: Fighting Spirit

Original Japanese Release Date: October 3rd, 2000

Episode Length/Run-time: 76

Summary:

Makanouchi Ippo, a highschooler, has a problem being bullied in school.  One day he is helped by a boxer, Takamura, who introduces him to the boxing world.  Ippo turns out to be a natural talent and he falls in love with the sport, and in the process, takes the boxing world by storm.

Review:

Hajime no Ippo is simply a must watch for any sports fan.  Based on a long running manga, Hajime no Ippo follows the same plotline.  Be forewarned however, that as a manga with many hundreds of chapters, the anime does not cover the whole story.  Still, what you do see if amazing and never to be forgotten.

Hajime no Ippo does an excellent job of building up the anticipation before any and all of Ippo’s fights.  The preparation work that goes into the different bouts really will teach you a lot about boxing as a sport and in my case, helped me gain an appreciation for it.  You see so much buildup before a bout that it is almost unbearable waiting for it to start.  That being said, one might think that since there is so much anticipation, the actual fight must be a letdown.  Take it from me that this is never the case with Hajime no Ippo.  As enjoyable as watching the preparation for the bouts can be, the actual matches are twice as exciting and this cycle of preparation followed by a bout makes the show clip along at an unbelieveable pace.  Before you know it, it’ll be over and you’ll be sad. 🙂

The characters in this show are excellent as well.  Ippo has an unbelieveable amount of willpower that much like the Rocky films, is just flat out inspirational to watch.  Even partially losing consciousness in some bouts, Ippo’s fighting spirit carries him forward.  Takamura is also a great personality in the show.  As an overbearing force of power in the series, Takamura serves as a father figure for Ippo but is also a role model in the ring.  Takamura is also the source for much of the shows comic relief, which is sprinkled tastefully throughout the anime.

The shows negative attributes are probably its art style and music.  One might view the character designs to be very suitable for boxing, but it might deter some, as they aren’t the prettiest you can find out there.  The music is also not the greatest, but much like the Rocky films, there are a number of pieces in the anime that simply ooze drama and are placed at the perfect places, where they generate the most effect.  Theres nothing like a rock ballad as Ippo rises from the mat, half dead, but battling on, by way of sheer will power, to really build a powerful moment.  Also, the shows opening themes are good.  Other than that though, the show really lacks in the music department.

In summary, if you are a man, period, or if you like sports anime, Hajime no Ippo is the best of the sports genre and therefore, probably for you.  If you meet any of the criteria above, you’ll love this anime.  Guaranteed.

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