Reviews
Morozko (1965)
What the hell is wrong with all of you?
Look, let's face facts here. This is a kids' movie. So, once we understand THAT, let's face another fact: not everyone will like it. Yet another fact: that's understandable, because the movie SUCKS. No, seriously, it's not about not UNDERSTANDING the movie's plot (how stupid do you think I am? A blind baby monkey could understand the morals and other elements of this movie.) The acting quality is not at all good, and too many shots are quite redundant, even for CHILDREN. So yeah. These people who all of sudden took it upon themselves to look down at those (sometimes American) "uncultured simpletons" need to get off their pedestal and face the facts: the movie is mediocre (but unique, it's true) .... at best. But it IS my all-time favorite Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode ever... as well as "Final Sacrifice" (I think that's the name? With the Zap Rousdower guy?) Anyway, yeah. Wake up, people. Just because it's a tradition does not mean it's a good movie (look at some Disney movies. Ick.)
Shôjo kakumei Utena: Adolescence mokushiroku (1999)
Oh good Lord, it's breathtaking!
Let me just say it outright and explain later: This is a GREAT movie! I would even dare to say that it is one of the best anime movies I have ever seen! The artwork is wonderful; the backgrounds are astoundingly elaborate, the characters' modifications work so well (Anthy's a fox!), and the animation is smooth, fast, and just as elaborate as the backgrounds. That's not all, though! The way they modified the manga and TV series's storyline was appropriate because it was so creative. Before I saw the movie, I read a critique in which part of the end is mentioned and thought to myself, "God, this movie's going to suck if they made the ending be like that!" But once I saw it, I realized that the way they pull it off is so creative AND it works so well! SEE THIS MOVIE! You will not regret it, trust me!
Shôjo kakumei Utena (1997)
This is such a good series.
I love this series! Not only is it visually pleasing and funny (in its own way sometimes, I must admit), it makes the viewer THINK in order to get the story behind the characters and their odd behavior, something most anime fans today are forgetting to do. One thing needs to be clear for those whose interest has been piqued... this is NOT Sailormoon, despite the fact that it is directed by the same (talented) man and despite the fact that it is a shoujo anime. Don't get me wrong, I love Sailormoon. But, Shoujo Kakumei Utena does have weirder (eerie) twists and mysterious (eerie) characters. So if you want something different, something not one-dimensional,like Dragonball, let's say, take a look at Shoujo Kakumei Utena. It's one of the best shoujo series around; after all, the girls in it all rule in some way or another.
Sailor Moon (1995)
Japanese version, gooood!!! U.S version, baaaaaad!!!
Gosh darn it all, DiC!! Do you HAVE to destroy everything you touch?!!! See, this series is very good (though sappy at times, a bit annoying when the episodes are badly animated)... but with bad voice-overs and horrid editing (thanks to those narrow-minded, bigoted people who think homosexual undertones and other religions are "occult" and "perverse") this series bites... no wonder so many people hate Sailormoon. It's too bad, though, because the Japanese version is incredibly better. It's funny, sweet, and intriguing at key points in the series. And yeah, the girls are scantily clad... but hey, it's anime. Everybody's scantily clad in most anime. And it takes nothing away from the series unless you are a) a puritan idiot, or b) a perverted idiot who is too busy trying to look up their skirts that you take no time to appreciate the series. This is a good cartoon. Don't knock it till you've seen it... in Japanese.
Gekijô-ban - Bishôjo senshi Sêrâ Mûn R (1993)
An amazing movie
I love this movie. I really do! I's fast-paced, beautifully animated (for that time), and... oh yeesh, I don't know what else to say it's filled with!! Every Sailormoon fan must go out, find the SUBTITLED version (Damn you, American version!! What's this "Power of Love" crap you crammed in there in "Moon Revenge"'s place?!!!)and WATCH IT. Then they can appreciate the beautiful background music, beautiful animation, amusing silliness, and yes, the plot. The relationship among Mamoru-san, Usagi-san, and Fiore (the villain) is deeply and gracefully looked into and linked. Oh!! And the confrontation between Fiore and Sailormoon (just them) is amazingly scary and touching at the same time. This is a well put together movie and should be watched by Sailormoon fans everywhere...in Japanese. You've been warned about the U.S one... after that, anyone who watches the American version is to pay the price.
Bishôjo senshi Sêrâ Mûn (1992)
This is a good cartoon series if you want to have fun!
It's the truth. Granted, this is not the BEST example of anime out there, but it's good! It's comedy, drama (yes, most of the time too much drama), and "girl-power" (I hate that phrase; if someone comes up with better, PLEASE contact me!) in a cute shoujo series. The group of girls cracked me up every time (that is, when I wasn't watching the god-awful Sailormoon Super S and Sailorstars...). It's a great anime to watch if you're going through a bad, bad spell of PMS, having a bad day, or if you're just in the mood to see cute girls kick butt and save the world. It's true that all the characters have their "assigned personality" but hey, it's anime! Don't we have some degree of that in a lot of other anime series? It's just what the author of the manga preferred and so it was transferred to the anime series. And yeah, the animation is lacking at various points, but this was directed toward a younger audience when it was made, and (most) kids don't notice that (unfortunately, I did when I was younger, but oh well)... and when their best animators are at work, this series is a wonderful thing to watch. This is a fun cartoon, ladies and gents. Watch it if you're in the mood. (By the way, I'm taking about the JAPANESE version, not the American ones. The U.S butchered Sailormoon horribly, and the voices couldn't be more annoying... )