Nana 11

Yup...amazing. Had some great Nana-nana moments....some ripping Shouji stuff......great look into Nana O's relationship with her friends......and finally....a scene that would make anyone want to move to Tokyo, find an apartment, build a kitchen table, and lose your job all in the same day.

Great show, y'all.

.hack//roots 9-10

Huh.....the show got really good.......

The real world came into play at the end of 10, but otherwise, we are now starting to see some politics come into play....and hopefully they'll actually explain it.

We only saw Tri-edge for a moment, but I think that the TaN people were eluding to him at the end, so we'll see how ep 11 plays out. But good stuff.

High School Girls 09 & .hack//roots 7-9

HSG:

Great show...an okay, frustrating episode with typical misuderstandings...........didn't really like the way it resolved...it was jut okay for me...still good...but missing the usual awesomeness

.hack//roots

Ok...umm...hard to sum up...but the pacing is movie along, with the Brigade searching for Virus cores, and tri-edge grinning evilly.....I'm really wondering where this show goes, and if it will ever be as good as hacksign........

See..the thing is.....hacksign dealt with the real world, and what happens in it. Roots is all about a game....like...everything i concerning the game..no real people......just....different........

Still good tho!

.hack//roots ep 6

OK...so like...after the ongest hiatus EVAR,I return to //roots. This episode was acually really good, and has lots of fun virus infections in it, which is something I have been waiting for. Can't wait till the actual premise of the show becomes clear.

It is also 2 AM, however, and pitch black....so am typing half-asleep in the darkness.....jeeez it's hard work....so I'm to bed....but long live .hack!!!

Nana episode 10

Well, this episode picks up after the "live" that Nana O gave Hachi. And it's pretty OK, as it follows the finding of Shin (the new bassist), and it furthers the fall of shouji and Hachiko, and the introduction of Sachiko...the devil bitch...BOOOOOOOOOO I HATE SACHIKO!!!!!!!!!!!

But a good ep...not the best tho.......

However.....still made me wonder about how it will end...Hachiko made a "looking back knowing what I know now" comment....which makes me wonder......hmmmmmmm

I LOVE NANA

Nana ep 9

Words don't express how amazing this episode was.......just brilliant.

And Sar....please don't go get a tatoo......

High School Girls 07

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!

So much for realism...*ahem*

A pool episode, this show had tons of summer fun to it, and a appropos dose of girly humor.  I just love how honest this show is, and how much it just takes real life...and like...shows it.......I love it more and more...looking forward to future episodes!

In Japanese News....

Today I got to speak Japanese with a player's wife who needed a badge...it was sublimely cool.....simple and stuff...but still amazing....and they said I speak really well!!

Final Fantasy: Spirits Within (Part 2)

Well, watched the 2nd half in English, and I (surprisingly) have very few issues with the dub cast.  

Content-wise......I still think it's a good film.  It's exciting and riveting, and loads of sci-fi fun.  

Now..Final Fantasy....I'd like to say that I've figured out what it's missing:   swords and magic.  These two things are present in all things FF, and without them, this is just another science fiction movie.  Guns, aliens, robots....all are good...but no combat, no scorcery....it just wasn't very Final Fantasy.  

Regardless, I still really liked it, and think it's a movie that people should give more of a chance.  The animation (while still definitely animation) is stunning...the plot is all it needs to be...I mean...it's a pretty good package.  Don't expect great character development...don't expect much info on the theory behind the "spirits", just go in, watch it, and walk away.  It's simple.  And that's why I appreciate it.  It was made to be a movie.  Not to change worlds.  

Will buy used some day.




and BTW - the FMVs in FFX and FFX-2 are far beyond even the best cinematics in FFSW...just puts it in perspective...

Nana - Endless Story

If you haven't changed your mind
I want you to stay with me tonight

I grew tired of trying to act strong
I realised that i was too young, everytime i think about you baby
But now i can say it, i miss you
It's so hard to say that i'm sorry

I just wish that i could sing this song for you
And not just anyone
An endless story with a light that never ends
Always, i long to express my love for you eternity

Memories of our time together
Don't destroy them like this, don't go away
I want to thaw them out and make them real
Droplets of your kindess explode within my heart
I'm missing you so much it hurts
Don't stop holding my hand

And just if, if it were possible, i want to sing
For you once again
An endless story with a never-ending love
Tell me why, i have to know, for all time

I just wish that i could sing this song for you
And not just anyone
An endless story with a light that never ends
Always, i long to express my love for you eternity

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Part 1)

Well, this movie had quote a miserable reputation to live up to. I listened to it in Japanese with subtitles, because I figured that it was originally in Japanese...but I feel like that was wrong. I'm getting the dub as we speak (should be done by morning), so I can write a comparative review, but for now, it's just the JPN dub.

NOTE: English IS the original language. IMDB quotes that the US release was in July 2 of 2001, while Japan didn't get the film till September. Odd...

Plot-wise, I am actually very happy with this movie. I think its very exciting and gripping, and has a nice (tho kinda flat) intrigue. I'm not expecting character development, as 50% of the way in...there has been time for none. I'm really just looking for a nice chunk of plot..beginning middle and end. And I'm getting it. I just discovered what the Phantoms are, and I'm learning how the spirits work themselves in, the world is going to be destroyed, and Aki has limited time. Sweet.

So, in Part 1 conclusion, will this movie be one of the best things I've ever seen? Probably not. But will I stick it with Wonderful Days? Probably. Is this part of the Final Fantasy canon? Absolutely. Part of what's great about FF is its versatility, and while this might not be a glorious epic, it's telling a story. In my mind, Final Fantasy is about beginnings and endings. All the games start off with something right off the bat, and everything moves along with the sole purpose of getting to the end. Sure, it may sound stupid, but this is the conclusion I've come to. Size doesn't matter. It's the beginning and ending that count.

I'll watch part 2 at some point before I head back home for my macbook, and then I can finish the review, with maybe some spot checks on the English. I'll archive both in the end, just so I can be complete.