"NANA 2"

Just watched "Nana 2" and I really liked it although I think it's cause I like anything related to the "Nana" manga by Ai Yazawa. Actually, I have only been lazy and watched the fansubs of the anime and never read the manga. But, I must recommend the anime and the two live action movies. They are about two 20 year old women who happen to meet on their way to Tokyo and both are named Nana. Nana Osaki is trying to make it big as a rock singer and Nana Komatsu is following her boyfriend to Tokyo. Mika Nakashima is really good as rocker Nana. She's got the tough-but-fragile-inside gothic thing down. Catch her song which played on the ending credits on my IMEEM J-pop and anime playlist.

"Cloverfield"

It's Godzilla meets Felicity meets the Blair Witch Project. JJ Abrams is good at finding scruffy looking, but handsome, sad sack actors and really pretty actresses (see Michael Vartan, Scott Speedman, Jennifer Garner, etc.) and setting them up with awkward romantic situations (see entire run of "Felicity.") So the movie begins with Rob and Beth (both atractive), in said awkward situation, and then heads into science-fiction fantasy when Manhattan becomes invaded by Godzilla with longer arms. The tension of the buildup to the appearance of the monster is well done. The "Oh crap, oh crap, what are we going to do, we're trapped in a disaster" feeling is well done. And you do like Rob because he is trying to rescue Beth. But the narrator who carries the wobbly digital camera is really annoying after a while. I half wished the movie was just told in a conventional way so that the narrator Hud would not be necessary anymore. Movie does well with tension, but do we really care much about these characters? Not really. It feels like a director's exercise in teasing the audience more than anything else.

"Umineko no Naku Koro ni"

"Umineko no Naku Koro ni" (When Seagulls Cry) is a new summer anime of which I just saw the first episode. From the overly dramatic gothic OP to the strange ED, it's a nonstop supernatural mystery ride. You can smell the Agatha Christie-like set up pretty quickly, in that there's greedy sons and daughters, a crazy patriarch about to kick the bucket, suspicious looking servants, and an island. There is also a witch thrown into the mix. I wonder if I'll continue to watch this.

WOOT OFF!

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End of "Eden of the East"

Just finished watching the eleventh and final episode of "Eden of the East." It was an entertaining mystery and I still don't get all of it. But the lead Akira Takizawa is an appealing character. And all of the group of "Eden" are likable as well. Two theatrical movie sequels are coming out in November and January 2010, so it looks like loose ends will be tied up late!

"Cross Game"

A spring anime series that doesn't seem to get much respect is "Cross Game." The first episode has you reaching for the Kleenex and makes you want to watch more. It's about baseball and young love and doesn't have weird panty-flash fan service to embarrass you. Try it at http://revolution-anime.net/index.php?/Cross-Game/.

Another streaming site

Recently found a new site for streaming current anime episodes called Revolution Anime. Here is the link to the latest episodes page: http://revolution-anime.net/index.php?/new-episodes.

It seems to be updated very quickly, unlike anime fuel, my old favorite. And no interrupting commercials like on veoh.

"Star Trek" reboot

Finally saw the new "Star Trek" movie yesterday. I think I was expecting too much of the movie. I still enjoy the familiarity of the old characters from the hammy Shatner to the weird diction of Patrick Stewart. This Kirk was all right, and the the other actors really did a good job making the characters their own while keeping the essence of the originals. Uhura has a waaay larger part which is cool and her attraction to Spock hinted at in the original series is played to the hilt. The movie has a "Back to the Future" element in it which can be way cool or just plain confusing. At the end I am still confused. But it was an enjoyable 2 hours spent with loads of action and hey, decent science fiction.

Please click below

Check out "Ristorante Paradiso" on crunchyroll by clicking here and I will also get a chance to win $10 gift card to Olive Garden. Shameless plea.

Hiro Mizushima to star in "Beck" live action movie

According to Anime News Network, Hiro Mizushima will play Ryusuke in live adaptation of "Beck" manga. I only watched the anime and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's weird they will make the main character Ryusuke instead of Koyuki, but if Hiro is in it I'm gonna watch it.