posted
An anime, english dubbed afaik, with Samual L Jackson as the voice actor for the titular character.
At first glance it seems one of the more exaggerated styles of animation, but not to extremes, exaggerated I mean in a matter of saying of how movement tends to have exaggerated contortions and things such as body proportions and clothing tend to be.
While it seems odd having ghetto slang in a japanese feudal epic it rubs off on you, its unique a warm relief I geuss considering all of the Kenshin clones out there.
The story and plot is fairly linear and fairly well trodden you have the tragic hero wandering around killing endless numbers of villainy for the sake of avenging his father. To say this is unique is like saying the ocean is dry. But at least there arent any convoluted plots or complicated story telling there is beauty in simplicity, it means we can sit back, relex, and enjoy the blood gushing slaughter of vermin with some fairly pretty swordplay paying homage to the "manslayer" idiom of sword fighting. The sword is a weapon meant to kill, swordmanship is learning how to kill. To be a swordsman is to be a killer.
The hero is tragic or is that a tragic hero? He's not one of those perfect do-gooders that tend to populate cheaper mainstream Anime's he flawed, hes inperfect hes a murderer although one can rationalize hes only killing vermin and low lifes and never once does he kill an innocent he is still taking lives and arguable it is through his path of revenge that led to the deaths and maining of his childhood friends. As I said he is not perfect, he is a tainted hero. He may be reducing the amount of low lives in the world, but he isn't doing it to seek justice for the weak and quite possibly couldn't care less, it is hard to sympasize with him but then again with the aura of awesomeness Samual L Jackson brings to the character why would we need to?
I haven't finished watching it yet, I am on the last mini-movie of the epic and I am looking forward to it, but one of the events that just happened made me feel that I must jogg them down now before I lose my train of thought.
While I think awesomeness aside we can agree that Afro samurai is more of a stock by the book tragic hero who we want to win mainly because he's cool and not really because of his single minded quest for vengence, however its the side characters that witht the style of the epic peques my interest.
The traveling stereotypical ignored and down trodden side kick is who really interests me, as a writer of RPG story lines once told me if you have an ensemble cast of characters any reaction from a character is better then no reaction at all. Doesn't matter what the reaction is, hatred/worship etc.
I must say that admittedly I found the side kick while funny at times annoying at the same time in that whiny sort of way, mostly because he reminds me of me. And you tend to sympathize more with him as hes genuinly good intentioned, follows Afro for no rational reason but then again when your me/him you don't need a reason to follow, you just do you can't find the reason why you just know that Afro and to an extension people like him shouldn't be have to suffer alone, maybe just maybe by being there supportive albeit in a counter productive way you may be able to pry open his heart the way ***Road of the Patriach Artemis Entreri Spoilers*** Jarlaxle pried open Artemis's heart with idalia's flute.
***end spoilers***
About 3rd minimovie in I effin' called it, he was obviously not human not because of his personality I mean beyond that he just exuded the spirit guide feeling, he had to be some sort of spirit or conscience or soemthing and in the last movie this is concerned when out of the blue he jumps into the way of Gino's attack on Afro defending him.
I literally stopped breathing then, for a anime that tried intentionally seemingly to get us the audience to deslike Spiritguy it figuritivly hit hard in the stomach when he did that act of heroism, I couldn't believe... What is this sensation I cared for that character, then again how could I not care for myself? But anyways the point I'm trying to make I don't know how really but the director/writer of Afro Samurai is brilliant, its sad to see Spiritguy go don't get me wrong but the FEEL of what happened was a slap, ina good way it didn't feel contrived, it didn't feel cheap it felt good it belonged and it made me sad even to the point that I shed some tears, to me a anime deserves top marks the moment it makes me care greatly enough for the character albeit in a betrayed sort of way (my mind was annoyed with him but somehow my heart held him close) to make me cry is when I KNOW that it did a good job.
Grave of the Fireflies made me sad, but then again what proper war-is-bad film isn't? It didn't make me cry, I had a much deeper reaction with Hayao Miyuzaki films and they had generally happy endings, since when is a happy ending supposed to make you sad!?
My only regret is that this series has to end really soon, as I am on the last mini movie. The only thing that could ruin it now is a snake on a plane reference.
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Have you seen any Full Metal Alchemist?
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
I've seen it, my problem is that I feel that considering the movie it has not tied up all the loose ends for us sufficiently. There are a number of things that I wanted to happen, for one where's nicholus flamel? I could easily imagine a flamboyant flippant alchemist with nearly god like powers who developed a "true" sorcerors stone, I do not consider even the one made by Edwards father to be "true" it is powerful but I do not believe that even that is the real thing.
For two, whatshername, the merchanic girl there I really wanted to see something develop there and not only does nothing develop shes gets separate from the brothers, the brothers end up in a completely different universe.
for three following the above there in our world now while that is concievably a good way to end it it leaves plotholes and loose ends that I would like tied up, maybe the manga goes into deeper detail following the events of the movie but I tend to avoid mangas as there hard to read.
So yes I have seen it, I do really like it but I'm bummed at how they ended it so soon.
posted
I've enjoyed what I've seen of FMA. Apparently, I haven't seen as much as you have.
Grave of the Fireflies is that type of film where when you watch it once, it makes you more human. If you watch it twice, it makes you a masochist.
I admit a real feeling for Miyazaki's movies; Spirited Away in particular. I like Princess Mononoke fine, and My Neighbor Tortoro, too, and Kiki's Delivery Service...but Spirited Away touches on so many themes that are important to me, it felt like the movie was made just for me.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
quote:Originally posted by Scott R: I've enjoyed what I've seen of FMA. Apparently, I haven't seen as much as you have.
Grave of the Fireflies is that type of film where when you watch it once, it makes you more human. If you watch it twice, it makes you a masochist.
I admit a real feeling for Miyazaki's movies; Spirited Away in particular. I like Princess Mononoke fine, and My Neighbor Tortoro, too, and Kiki's Delivery Service...but Spirited Away touches on so many themes that are important to me, it felt like the movie was made just for me.
posted
Don't worry about it. I don't have enough context to know the specifics of what you're talking about.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
wanna add me to msn we can discuss more then
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posted
"I could easily imagine a flamboyant flippant alchemist with nearly god like powers who developed a "true" sorcerors stone, I do not consider even the one made by Edwards father to be "true" it is powerful but I do not believe that even that is the real thing."
Such, Blayne, is how fiction works, unfortunately.
If the creators say it's the real thing, then it's the real thing, unless the creators say otherwise. While yes, you have the right to your own opinion on the story, well, they story is the story.
"For two, whatshername, the merchanic girl there I really wanted to see something develop there and not only does nothing develop shes gets separate from the brothers, the brothers end up in a completely different universe."
They didn't want anything to develop there, apparently. It sucks when the creators of a show take it in a direction you didn't prefer, but even so, that's their right, and throughout the series, there didn't seem to be, really, much more than a sisterly relationship between her and the main characters.
They didn't want to go there, so they didn't.
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Anyway, all series end up with plot holes, and particularly loose ends.
See: Shadow of the Giant for more details on loose ends.
Regardless, in reality, the anime and the manga are two completely different entities. There are similarities, yes, but the manga veers off into an entirely different direction.
There's no Dante, for one. The bad guy is much less pathetic. Lots of different characters, totally different situations, and very different secrets. I don't believe there's even a gate in the manga.
Basically, everything after episode 25 is totally different.
And manga isn't any harder to read than any other comic book, so... yeah!
Posts: 1577 | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Thanks for the info on Afro Samurai Blayne. It's a title I've heard about, but never checked out as I was already watching Samurai Champloo....I thought one funky samurai series was enough (And I love Cowboy Bebop, so I didn't think Champloo could go wrong ). I'll be sure to get my hands on it.
Also, agreed on Grave of the Fireflies and FMA. I really, really need to start reading the manga again....I only got as far as the third volume because I loved the anime so much and preferred watching it. Once I finish the episodes I think I will start rereading from chapter one. As sad as I am that it's not finished yet, the fact that the author intends a different 2nd half of the entire storyline is exciting.
Posts: 349 | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Blayne, have you read the Earthsea series by Ursula K. LeGuin?
I highly recommend the first book, A Wizard of Earthsea. The second and third books, The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore aren't as good, in my opinion; they're a little too...mmm... boring.
Tehanu is the fourth book, which I haven't read, alas.
The film, 'Tales from Earthsea,' was not loved by the author.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
ya but it was made by Goro Miyazaki, and i deeply enjoyed it. The question though, can Therru transform to a dragon at will? And why was she able to come back to life as one?
Posts: 1567 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Hey I just finished listening to A Wizard of Earthsea. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and I've never heard a narrator get out of breath from reading with such enthusiasm before. Unfortunately I am in The Tombs of Atuan, (with a new narrator no less) and am reading about Arha, wishing Ged would get back in the story.
Blayne: There is no way anybody who has not seen the movie could tell you what you want to know. The movie according to LeGuin is VERY different than the books she wrote. Also the movie takes from books 3 and 4 apparently.
*Spoilers* The book does involve shape shifting and even people transforming into dragons, but I can't say whether the movie makes that more of a feature or emphasis than the book does. In the book shape shifting is just one of many different schools of magic.
posted
Here's the thing: The Farthest Shore is absolutely brilliant, and Tombs pays off eventually (IMO). I'd struggle through Tombs just so that The Farthest Shore can be appreciated properly.
None of the first three are as weak as the later two, which are basically polemics (and dragon porn.)
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: Here's the thing: The Farthest Shore is absolutely brilliant, and Tombs pays off eventually (IMO). I'd struggle through Tombs just so that The Farthest Shore can be appreciated properly.
None of the first three are as weak as the later two, which are basically polemics (and dragon porn.)
Alright I'll take on books two and three. So no no on 4 and 5?
Blayne: I'm sorry Blayne but you walked right into this.
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). I'll be sure to get my hands on it.
