Monday, October 16, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
MONSTER
Genre: Drama | Mystery | Psychological Thriller
Year: 2005
Format: TV Series
Runtime: 25 minutes x 74 episodes + 1 special
To define in a simple and concise manner, "Monster" is a deep psychological rollercoaster that will let your mind hang at some point and slaps you with an amazing twists of plots. It's a riveting piece of anime that it actually attracted a lot of people to see it. "Monster" originally created as a manga series by Naoki Urusawa in Big Comic Original and was published by Shogakukan around 1994 until 2001. This has become his greatest piece of novel and one of the most successful manga of all time in Japan, so it was naturally and not surprisingly to be adapted to the anime genre.
The story unfolds with the main protagonist named Dr. Kenzou Tenma, a japanese neurosurgeon genius in Eisler Memorial Hospital, Germany. He was just living his daily routine until one selfless act of saving another life caught him on a web of mysterious murder. It also comprises of several stories among several characters which interconnects to each other and leads to one end. It's practically a very serious anime that caters sensitive matters and there are also some mild adult contents, so these is not intended for children. I dont want to practically spoil anything but if you'll read articles or summaries over the internet, you'll be surprised who are doing these murders... and the question as well is why are these murders being done? what are the reason behind these? As far as i could suggest you if you're unaware completely about this series, dont read any articles, just start reading the manga or the anime!
The series started in April 2004 and was completed in September 2005. Aired in NTV in Japan, it played on national television with 74 episodes (aint that a headache to count for one season?). The novel is now scheduled to be released on the big screen, acquiring the rights by New Line Cinema last 2005 and is set up for a premiere in 2007.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
R.O.D. The TV (Read or Dream)
Genre: Action|Drama|Mystery
Year: 2003
Format: TV Series
Runtime: 25 minutes x 26 episodes
In the previous articles i made back then on the historic Cartoonopia site, i had the opportunity to review an anime called "Read or Die". It's an OVA (Original Video Animation) with 3 episodes fortelling the adventures of Yomiko Readman, a young lady with an ability to manipulate paper. With her sparring partners Nancy Makuhari or simply codenamed "Ms. Deep" and Mr. Drake Anderson, they tried to save the world from the evil plans of the I-jins.
In relation to that OVA, a TV series was spawned from this concept and was named "Read or Dream", also known as R.O.D. the TV. The story revolves around 3 sisters namely Michelle, the eldest sister, a blonde girl that seems like a very happy-go-lucky type of person... always smiling and always jolly. Maggie, a shy type person, strong and freakishly tall... second eldest among the three who likes to spend time on very small spaces. And Anita, the youngest sister who unlike her two sisters, hates books... but there's a reason why she despise books a lot.
In connection to the OVA series, the sisters gets involved to an author named Nenene Sumiregawa (talk about weird names) which is a very close friend and mentor to Yomiko Readman, whom at that time, Yomiko is missing and Nenene is in deep search for this person. The series' storyline timeframe exists 6 years after the OVA, so there's a lot of thing to know about on what happens after the events in the OVA. That would somehow tell that in order to appreciate the essence of the TV series, you have to see the OVA first... but the TV series can be independent by itself, it's just the character relationship would be much obvious and clear if you've seen the 3 part OVA. This is a more dramatic approach rather than action packed series, but you'll have both pleasures like in the 3-part series, so it's likely you'll enjoy it.
Created under the production of Aniplex, J.C. Staff, and Studio Orfe, with the astonishing music of Taku Iwasaki that ressembles of a 007's type of orchestration with the modern beat, delivered a 26 part masterpiece to the small screen in 2003.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Isashiburi, Minna-san! (Long time no see, everyone!)
It's been a while since the great Cartoonopia took a deep sleep like that of sleeping beauty,... and like her, the beauty hasn't faded a bit. So now, i think it's appropriate to wake up and say hello once again to everyone and will do try to make some articles... just like before. Full battle mode for some anime fun!
It was rather odd as well because i just recently started watching anime a few weeks back. It's like it was already destined to be like that for this moment. In the near future, i'll put up some articles on the animes i've concluded watching.
Isashiburi, minna-san! :)
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Went to watch Monster House!!
Ok, I am no Stelios, so I won't be really reviewing... I'll be commenting haha..
Monster House was a very well done movie, with a beautiful 3d work in it, a nice plot, nice characters, etc... but for sure it wasnt kiddie stuff... I mean I am 23 and I enjoyed it, and even got grossed out a couple of times, so go figure the smaller ones around me!!!
While watching the movie kids in the cinema hall were crawling to mum or dad's lap, and saying stuff like "I don't like it", "Why did she die mum?"... etc... Not something you want to offer to your own 6 year old child...
Beyond that point, it was an interesting 3d movie, specially since it didn't come from Pixar or Dreamworks... With a Halloween theme, released a bit too early to me, our 3 protagonists (3 children of course) have an obscure haunted house experience...
But this is no normal haunted house, its a MONSTER HOUSE!! Yes, the house is alive!! And if you think I said too much so far, let me say you find this out right from the beginning... The real secret juice of the movie is in the why of the mounstrosity!!!
The neighbourhood they move in is cool, even tho it's always the same blocks... And regarding to the characters, most of them look cool from some distance, but when the close ups come, you see its no shrek... I mean, its not in that level... That's why ey! we thought this was a movie for the little ones!! It looked for sure like one!! But then you start watching, and in the beginning of the movie the parents -that can't stop arguing- leave the kid with a adolescent babysitter, that is half dark, half a pain, who calls her bf over... and of course, he's freaky scary (and drugged up!!)
Back in those negative points, the movie wasn't just scary for small children, but is a bad influence!! The children act alone, and do lots of "don't do this at home" stuff, that really wasn't necessary for this movie to be interesting...
What else can I tell you? be ready for a "tolkien-resembling-character"!! Yeah... someone in the first half hour of the movie will look resembling amazingly to a tolkien character!! Check it out and let me know!!!
One thing is for sure, you won't fall asleep while watching the movie, but hey, you may consider first puting the kids to bed!!!
Monster House was a very well done movie, with a beautiful 3d work in it, a nice plot, nice characters, etc... but for sure it wasnt kiddie stuff... I mean I am 23 and I enjoyed it, and even got grossed out a couple of times, so go figure the smaller ones around me!!!
While watching the movie kids in the cinema hall were crawling to mum or dad's lap, and saying stuff like "I don't like it", "Why did she die mum?"... etc... Not something you want to offer to your own 6 year old child...
Beyond that point, it was an interesting 3d movie, specially since it didn't come from Pixar or Dreamworks... With a Halloween theme, released a bit too early to me, our 3 protagonists (3 children of course) have an obscure haunted house experience...
But this is no normal haunted house, its a MONSTER HOUSE!! Yes, the house is alive!! And if you think I said too much so far, let me say you find this out right from the beginning... The real secret juice of the movie is in the why of the mounstrosity!!!The neighbourhood they move in is cool, even tho it's always the same blocks... And regarding to the characters, most of them look cool from some distance, but when the close ups come, you see its no shrek... I mean, its not in that level... That's why ey! we thought this was a movie for the little ones!! It looked for sure like one!! But then you start watching, and in the beginning of the movie the parents -that can't stop arguing- leave the kid with a adolescent babysitter, that is half dark, half a pain, who calls her bf over... and of course, he's freaky scary (and drugged up!!)
Back in those negative points, the movie wasn't just scary for small children, but is a bad influence!! The children act alone, and do lots of "don't do this at home" stuff, that really wasn't necessary for this movie to be interesting...
What else can I tell you? be ready for a "tolkien-resembling-character"!! Yeah... someone in the first half hour of the movie will look resembling amazingly to a tolkien character!! Check it out and let me know!!!
One thing is for sure, you won't fall asleep while watching the movie, but hey, you may consider first puting the kids to bed!!!
