013: Review 黄昏乙女×アムネジア (Dusk Maiden of Amnesia) Anime

The review is certified spoiler free.

Ghost stories are more fun with fan service...

Years: Apr 2012 - Jun 2012 (anime)

Media: Manga, Anime

Release: Sentai Filmworks (US)

S/D: Sub

Where: Hulu+

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 13 (13 is not on Hulu thus I did not see it).

Synopses: Rated MA: Yuuko-san is a ghost of many tales for the school that Niiya attends. He stumbles across this ghost with no past memories in the paranormal club in the old wing of the school. Niiya vows to help Yuuko find her lost memories as the club investigates the supernatural stories revolving around the school.

Fan service meter: 2/5 : Extent? Yuuko is naked at some points but with no detail.

Overall: It is befitting that my 13th post should be about something ghosty/horror driven. I'm reminded of a cross between XXXholic, Hell Girl, slightly like Dance in the Vampire Bund and Corpse Princess (maybe?). It's like Ai Enima grew up and inherited Yūko Ichihara's personality.

Beware of Hulu+. They have their episodes miss named and I'm not sure if I truly watched it in the correct order or not now. But on Hulu I ended up watching the one labeled as episode 2 first, then episode 1 but as far as the story goes it seems like I watched them in the correct order. However I cannot be too sure because the flow of the series isn't linear like most shows. By the third episode a character you meet and supposedly know in the 2nd episode is finally revealed as to how she met the main character and how she relates to the paranormal club. So....it is confusing.

Upon further watching the flow of this show is just weirdsauce all over the place. I'm not not sure how the manga goes and if the series was squashed into 13 short episodes for the entire manga series or what.

I really like the ending song (especially because Yuuko is actually singing it in the video) and the opener kind of grew on me but it was just okay. Visually stunning and the characters are drawn well. There are some parts that are too dark, you can't really make out what you're seeing.

Future: Considering the manga looks as though it is ending this year with it's 9th volume I don't think there will be another series.

Watch/Not: If you're bored then I would say to watch it, otherwise I don't really recommend it. NOT.

012: Review 神様はじめました (Kamisama Kiss) anime

This review is certified spoiler free.

Classic high school girl turned god.

Years: Oct 2012 - Dec 2012 (anime)

Media: Manga, Anime

Release: Viz media (US)

Sub or Dub: Sub

Where I saw it: Hulu+

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 13

Synopses: Nananmi's no good gambling father abandons her, leaving their home for repossession. As fate would have it Nanami meets a mysterious person called Mikage in a park. Upon receiving a kiss to her forehead, Nanami becomes a land god unknowingly and is offered to take over Mikage's place for living arrangements. After seeing the place is a shrine she meets Tomoe, a fox spirit familiar of Mikage's. She eventually seals a contract with Tomoe and assumes the role of land god.

Overall review: So when I first started watching this show I was in a foul mood. It has been an entirely bad week so far and an even worse day so I wasn't expecting much. I found it through a process I like to call "chaining" which is essentially just me finding a title I hear good things about/like the look and then looking at what else Hulu recommends if I like that first thing. I haven't watched the first thing yet but I picked this one on the look, not the name. It wasn't until I started watching it until I noticed the name. In the beginning, right off the bat it reminded me of a mix of Fruits Basket, Magical Detective Loki and the manga Black Bird.

This is your classic, average high school girl turned god. It is also a classic love story, of which I picked up on right away (second episode). I really, really love the closer and I liked the opener right from the start too, being able to read the lyrics makes my like it more because it's a little provocative. Over all it is pretty predictable but I did really like the  pace. Near the end of the series (yes I one shot this in a single night, don't judge me) I noticed plot just sort of fell apart. There were other stories that too long to tell and the overall arching story was unresolved. This is both good and bad.With characters introduced (with little background but great importance) and others being developed deeply (who where only really the main characters) there was a lot left to be desired at the end (lots of people didn't really come back). However, I liked it. The central theme is definitely love here but the mix of other elements balances it out.

Future: There is definitely room for an other season and a movie to tie up the lose ends of the series. This is especially true because the manga started in 2008 and is still ongoing today; although I'm not sure where in the story the anime series was adapted from. Without giving spoilers there is nothing more I can say though.

Watch/Not: A simple & mindless, yet sweet: WATCH

011: TV show review: Spy

TV shows

Hulu exclusive, so if you don't pay...WAPS!

Since I've become recently single again, and feel no joy from my ever-so-precious video games, I have caught up on the countless TV shows I watched in my previous single lifetime. And by catching up I mean I've run out of things to watch. Movies aside, I've ventured further into the British telly world. I admit my experience with British television is novice at best with Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sherlock, the IT crowd, Monty Python, Merlin, being human and probably some I'm forgetting (QI is next) all on the list. I stumbled upon this little Hulu Exclusive called Spy yesterday after a sad Once Upon a Time binge, the self-promoted commercials finally started getting to me and I decided what the hay? I need something new and funny and good in my life to waste time on since watching TV is the only tolerable thing in my life at the moment. (Although I'd like to note my job is the only thing that I have good going for me right now)

Years: 2011 - ??? (facebook source says if there is a third season it will be released in October)

Seasons: 2 so far

Tagline: I couldn't find it easily so I got lazy.

Their synopses: "Tim is in a custody battle with his ex-wife, when he quits his job. He applies for a job as a civil servant doing data entry, but discovers during the job interview that he has been offered a job as a trainee spy for MI5." -it's always IMdb

I wasn't too sure at first but I did like the loathing son of the main character, Tim, antagonizing his father for recent failure of his marriage. But I knew I loved it when Tim went to his interview for a new job; it was like the exams you took when you were in high school and Tim had the most perfect sprawl, action figures, many, many pens and pencils, he even had a DS (and I'm pretty sure it had a Zelda decal)! I'm now on the second episode and completely hooker with the quirky silliness that is Tim's new life of excitement and battle to keep his son. It reminds me faintly of Chuck but with the added twist of the snarky, young son.

Why yes my gun is quiet large...


Quote so far: "Now gentlemen, if you will excuse me, Hannah Montana is on." REVAMP: Episode 5: "I will take you down, I will take you down to chinatown." -Justine (I SAY THIS)

Overall review: Witty, funny, ridiculously great and I'm only beginning on season 1. It gets a whole jar of "gold stars" (you'll understand if you get past episode 1)

A certain "WATCH"

Still no reasonable rating system so just trust me and watch it if you like witty, funny British TV shows.

PS From the commercials that came up during this show I also wanted to investigate something called "Rev."

010:Move Review: Star Trek Into Darkness

Movie Review

The least spoiler-y promo picture I could find.

How do I start this? Last Saturday night was the night for reconnecting with old friends plus two. After all the 'meaty churro' jokes had been had, we walked off into the sunset like a group of high schools headed for the movie theater. Last week in my sad, event-less life I caught the first new Star Trek movie between obsessive facebooking and being generally unproductive. As for the first movie, it was actually pretty good and I'm not sure why it took me so long to watch, but that is another review for another time. We say Star Trek Into the Darkness:

Oh, and I've kept it as spoiler free as possible even though you can just look it up on the net now.

Tagline: "Beyond the darkness, lies greatness." 
"In our darkest hours, when our leaders have fallen, a hero will rise." 
"They have one change to save us all." 
"Earth will fall."

Their synopses: "When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew."

So as I mentioned earlier the people I watched it movie with are good friends which can make or break a movie. But this one stood on its own really. There were plenty of jokes and incredible opportunities to make comments through out the movie. Keep in mind I don't remember the original movies. I know it's a sin and I should have watched them, in fact I should be rewatching the entire series, ALL OF THE SERIES. 

I thought the CG was fantastic and hard to specifically spot. One "special" actor I really enjoyed seeing in the movie played a pretty large role and I was incredibly thrilled to see he/she in the movie. At one point I said, "See, (he/she) can't really be the bad guy, (he/she) does it so poorly when put into practice." I really enjoyed all of the characters, moreso than the first movie. The story was great. At first when I saw the trailer I thought it was all based on planets which made me sad because Star Trek is about space afterall! But There was plenty of space and at one point I was thinking there would be some cyborgs in the movie (which would have just been insanity). The dynamics of the relationship between Spock and Kirk were explored to depths that really made me feel their connection unlike I had noticed before in the original series. I'm really lad they did that, it really added to the overall feeling for the movie.

I will spoil this one part though, when Kirk was relieving his crew from their duty in order to save their lives Mr. Sulu said, "With all due respect, we aren't going anywhere." And I did say "Awwwwwww yeah," pretty loudly in the theater. It was a perfectly placed, bad-ass awwwwwww yeah. I'm just saying I'm proud of myself. Also, guys, keep in mind I wrote this whole review only half paying attention.

Best Quote: "Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor, not a torpedo technician!" -Bones 
And also "Mr Sulu, remind me never to piss you off." -Bones

Overall review: If you heard bad reviews, I have no reason why. I thought it was better than the first new Star Trek movie. If you loved the old movies there are enough references to entice the old fans (see here for those references).

WATCH for sure

PS rating system still missing...please wait while loading...

My sorry for forgetting to add pictures in the beginning. WAPS.

009: My real life stats

I Am A: Chaotic Neutral Human Druid/Ranger(2nd/2nd Level) Ability Scores: Strength-9 Dexterity-14 Constitution-13 Intelligence-13 Wisdom-14 Charisma-13 Alignment: Chaotic Neutral A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist  first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn't strive to protect others' freedom.  He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. A chaotic neutral  character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy.  To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others)  or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). A chaotic neutral  character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as  likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it. Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you  can be because it represents true freedom from both society's restrictions and a  do-gooder's zeal. However, chaotic neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to  eliminate all authority, harmony, and order in society. Race: Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for  migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often  unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and  the like. Primary Class: Druids gain power not by ruling nature but by being at one with it. They hate the unnatural,  including aberrations or undead, and destroy them where possible. Druids receive divine  spells from nature, not the gods, and can gain an array of powers as they gain experience,  including the ability to take the shapes of animals. The weapons and armor of a druid are  restricted by their traditional oaths, not simply training. A druid's Wisdom score should  be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that they can cast. Secondary Class: Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial  skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft  of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type  of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often  accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His  skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings,  and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced  ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine  spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions.  A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he  can cast. Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?,  courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)

---

Detailed Results:

Alignment:
Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13)
Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (19)
Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (21)
True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (22)
Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (28)
Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXXXXX (9)
Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Chaotic Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (16)
Law & Chaos:
Law ----- XXXXXX (6)
Neutral - XXXXXXX (7)
Chaos --- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13)
Good & Evil:
Good ---- XXXXXX (6)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (15)
Evil ---- XXX (3)
Race:
Human ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
Dwarf ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Elf ------ XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Gnome ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Halfling - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Half-Elf - XXXXXXXXX (9)
Half-Orc - XX (2)
Class:
Barbarian - (-4)
Bard ------ (-4)
Cleric ---- (-4)
Druid ----- XXXXXX (6)
Fighter --- (0)
Monk ------ (-19)
Paladin --- (-21)
Ranger ---- XXXXXX (6)
Rogue ----- (-6)
Sorcerer -- XXXX (4)
Wizard ---- (0)

008: DO WANT

Of course they are Japanese and for tiny girls, but just look at them! They are awesomesauce! That's all for this post.


From: http://www.geekalerts.com/cat-tights/
Buy: http://www.japantrendshop.com/cat-tights-p-1743.html?a_aid=121

007: Movie Review: Oblivion

MOVIE REVIEW
So it isn't really a secret, I don't like Tom Cruise at all. That being said, I forced myself out of the house tonight to see some long lost friends that I've been meaning to reconnect with for a few months now. I planned a movie meet-up since it is neutral and I have no idea what everyone is feeling like. The only okay candidate for movie choices was Oblivion. I have been having trouble with movies lately, even though I love to watch them and I want to continue to keep up with them (I've even began putting movies that look interesting on my Google Calendar). So here is what I think about the movie (as spoiler free as possible):

The tagline of the movie is actually the following: "Earth is a memory worth fighting for." -IMdb

Their synopses: "A veteran assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself."

That seems like a reasonable, objective space-like movie that probably has something to do with aliens and some hero human or band of humans rebelling and saving the planet or something. They actually do a good job of incorporating the 'memory' component from the tag line. I usually know what is going on in movies, but there are actually a few mind blowing (okay maybe only one) scenes that caught me off guard (or maybe I'm rusty). I was very pleased when I saw none other than THE Morgan Freeman in the movie. I didn't even remember his name coming up in the trailer when I first heard about it. Also, Game of Thrones fans? Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is the bad guy who turns good? What? Or something so they throw you another bone there. 

My personal view? It was too much a love story, and not enough about humanity. Well now you're saying to yourself, but love is a big part of humanity blah blah blah. Sure, maybe my current situation in life is swaying my opinion a bit, but I found it to be a love story more than a cool spacey, save-the-human-race story. The CG and such was actually pretty good. I don't remember a time where I was like, 'wait....that looks weird. ew cg...' so it gets good grades for that. But I really still hate Tom Cruise. There is an unnecessary naked shower scene TWO times with him in it, so unnecessary. Yes, unnecessary said twice there. Also I noticed the music was waaaaaaaaaaay more dramatic than it needed to be in more than on scene (but it didn't get to my feels). I got some Independence Day vibes at the end, which might be a spoiler but oh well.

Best Quote: "Fuck you Sally."

Overall review: I still hate Tom Cruise. Visually appealing. Gets at all you true love go-getters. Has some cool people in it.

"A WATCH" for certain but not at full price in the theater. Student discount on a Saturday night? Good enough.

PS I will find a better rating system when I'm better at this shit.