final words before i go

dammit, lost my voice really bad today. as in it's totally hoarse and you won't be able to hear me from 4 metres away ah well whatever lar. and thanks for posting chih hung, though i totally beat you today! HA! EAT YOUR WORDS!!

playing bridge today is some bomb. i think yanheng got most of the brunt of it since he was declaring some 3/4 of the entire session... i can actually count the times i declared on one hand -.-" oh and the club coined a new phrase. next time you pick up a hand an you get 4 points or less (not counting distribution) you have a "cz" hand. =D and you know in contract bridge you can't wash >_<

nothing much else happened today, bridge seems to take up most of my time... must be some addict liao heheh... oh, but before another review got a couple of quotes from "the last vampire"

"where there is hate, there also exists love. the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference"

"The sixth centre of the body is where life energy flows. A high energy force results in intense creativity, while a low energy force results in intense lust"

Ok i'm not too sure about the reliability of these things, but it does give ya something to think about in the two weeks of my absence =D and while we're on vampires i might as well move on to the next review!

Karin

Summary: Karin, elder daughter of the Maaka family, is a vampire holding a dark secret. while other vampires suck blood to sustain themselves, Karin overproduces blood to the extent that it is transfused into her victims. If a transfusion is not done in time, the excess blood comes out in the form of a violent nosebleed (um, if you know the connotation of a nosebleed, this has got NOTHING to do with that -.-") how will her life change with the introduction of a new transfer student, Kenta Usui?

Storyline: gee, we have a solid storyline that got completely destroyed at the end. The story itself is great and truly enjoyable. every episode had a purpose, there wasn't once when i had the feeling it was a "filler" type of episode. the progression of events was also good, i was quite disappointed when the series ended. however, the last couple of episodes left a lot to be desired. just be forewarned.

Characters: whee... one thing that marks good drama, good anime from bad shows is the characterization. one cannot have a story with flimsy characters, it just won't work. the truly great novels and movies put effort into their characters, and this one is no exception. the characters are portrayed well, no extreme stereotypes, no characters that were just "there". overall, you'll get to know everyone portrayed.

Graphics: the graphics are nothing special, really. your standard anime-quality. one thing that i pretty much enjoyed was the "still-frame-paintings" of some of Karin's nosebleeds, and how they drew the flowing blood into a flow of flower petals... no i do not have a sick mind, it's just the way that they draw it that made something iffy into something beautiful.

Music: i decided to dedicate one section to music this time. for the simple fact that it rocks! it golds the record for the ONLY anime to date that made me listen to BOTH the opening and ending songs each episode. usually after the first 3 episodes or so i'll skip it, and shave 3 mins off my viewing time =D i tried dang hard to look for it on the net, and i got it... along with the karaoke version. geez, if this made it to the karaoke... well you just KNOW how pro it is. and the ending song "Mou Hitoshi no Birthday" is a bit too close to heart for comfort (go figure out that one yourself)

Other comments: This show somehow managed to combine touching moments, supernatural stuff, comedic elements and other things into one "blockbuster" drama hit! simply put, this is a romance tale, taht's all there is to it. but it's so sweet it made me cringe once or twice. as in when you're watching you don't believe that someone could pull this off. it flows so well! i tried damn hard to get it because of its uninformative title... but i don't regret spending the time. and it is the second romance-genre anime that succeeded in making me FEEL for the characters, the first being Inuyasha. maybe i've been watching too much of that stuff. and i'm trying to memorize the OP and ED... they're... relevant, let's just say (^_^")

Conclusion: GET IT. a couple of mature-related themes, but nothing a kid of twelve can't handle. even if you can't get your hands on it (i'm surprised they haven't licensed it, really, it's so good!) at least get the songs. "scarlet" and i already told you the ending song.

oh yeah, i'm going off for two weeks. check back in a fortnight. have fun everyone =D

anticipation... and something a little different

yupz, tomorrow is the long-awaited CJC bridge competition heh. yeah yeah it's not as important or grand-scale as interschool tournament held at NUS but what he heck, it's still important to us! hmm, i wonder how we will play since yannie is super-shaq and i'm not at my best. heh. must go sleep a bit.

was talking with paul about how we have changed over the years. must say i don't know where i went off, but i guess ther's no turning back. i was taking the bus today and sitting across this hyperactive couple of kids. damn, i was once cute and hyper like that. what changed me exactly? i can't tell. when you're quiet in primary school, you're called mature. when you're quiet in secondary school, you're called withdrawn, and when you're quiet in JC you're called anti-social. what exactly is the difference?

and speaking of difference, why can't SOME people get into their thick skulls the difference between ecchi and hentai? dude there's so much difference it's like comapring your math with chemistry (ok that wasn't such a good analogy)
ecchi is just a bit perverted. you get your fanservice (if you don't know what that is, please go check it up) your odd-angled shots and maybe hinted "relationship" but IT ENDS THERE. hentai, on the other hand, is very obvious. it's cartoonish pornography, pure and simple. it's too damn obvious to miss. it hits you straight on in the face. dammit if you can't tell the difference between pure porno and ecchi. i don't want to explain myself again, ok?

ok, i'm giving you people somehting different today, not going to give you an anime review, but a manga review. why? because i think uite highly of this particular series and although i'm not a great manga fan, there is an anime derived from the managa which isn't as good, thus we shall go straight to the source material, k?

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne (Heavenly Wind Thief Jeanne)

Summary: By day, Maron is an average, everyday schoolgirl. When duty calls, she changed into Kaitou Jeanne, collecting demons residing within various paintings around the world. While doing so, they rescue the human owners of the paintings, who are influenced by the devils. How will the situation change when a transfer student appears on the scene, along with... Kaitou Sinbad?

Storyline: ok storyline is solid as usual, not really much to complain about here... but it seems that the "monster of the day" syndrome has hit once more. the first few books you get more and more exploits of the pair of them gathering the demons, but at least it's not as bad as some of the other filler episodes i've seen before. (SM comes to mind) each episode at least contributes to give us a deeper insight of each character, and that's where this really shines.

Graphics: it's a manga. that means comic book. obviously there isn't going to be any sound. the graphics are higher than average for your manga. garments and hair flow really well, and that includes tears at the appropriate times (come to think of it, how many artists you know can draw flowing tears?) one complaint i have is that sometimes certain scenes are squeezed into too small a frame, but other than that the magical special effects, the character designs are solid.

Characters: whoof... Maron has got to hold the record for the most emotionally-disturbed female lead in a magical girl series. I don't want to give the story away here, you have to read the book to understand fully. but it is not common i feel for the characters, and this is one of those rare occasions. those of you who tear easily may tear at the end of the 6th book. and when you read about the betrayal... well that's quite the final straw. the side characters are also depicted well, even Maron's best friend and Jeanne's arch-enemy (ironic innit?) Miyuki.

Other comments: i always thought kamikaze was suicide, until later i found out that "kaze" could stand for "wind" as well. oh well new things to learn everyday. the drama and romance in this series is heavily done, and you will feel the full force of it by the last two books. if you're looking for drama, you can't get much better than this, unless you're looking for tragic drama, in which case i recommend Vampire Princess Miyu (more on that later) the main leads are depicted very well, and you're given the full picture as well as the individual perspectives (which is quite difficult to do i must admit)

Conclusion: if you're a drama fan, get this. if you're a fan of the magical girl genre, you might want to consider this but it's nothing like others in the same category (e.g. Magikano or CCS or Sailor Moon). if you're an action fan, give this a miss. due to the emotions involved, as well as one or two suggestive frames, i'd suggest ages 13 and up.

for an alternative review, go here: http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=152

review #5

feeling slightly better now... maybe i'll actually be attentive in school tomorrow! heh. i told you being happy and optimistic does wonders for your spirit.

ok, i'll post another review here since today was rather a boring day with me being stuck in bed most of the time. this hour is actually the first time in many that i've been able to stand properly. heh.

yeah, today's one isn't so good, it's an OVA but i PROMISE to post GOOD ones the next two days, so i can go on my vacation on a high tone.

Battle Angel Alita (Galli)

Summary: Imagine this, a giant metropolis city floats in mid-air, and living within this lap of luxury are all the high-classmen with influence and money. so where do all the low-class people and dregs of the society go? to scrap-iron city, situated below the giant floating metropolis. it lives of scraps thrown down by the metropolis, thus its name. one day a scientist finds a living cyborg within the piles of scrap discarded by the metropolis. he re=programmes it, but apparently it has lost all sense of its history, except for the formidable fighting skills it posesses. thus Galli (the cyborg, also known as Alita) sets out to learn more about everything. and there's a lot of desperation and sorrow to learn when you're in scrap iron city...

Storyline: um... the one i got was only a two-part OVA, so i can't really comment about the storyline, although i doubt that they released any more of the series. the story primarily revolves around Galli, and we move with her as she learns about the various emotions, notably despair, helplessness, deep sorrow etc.

Graphics: no sound, so graphics only. and boy are they graphical. be warned: before you even think about starting the series, you have to have a very strong stomach for gore. think happy tree friends was bad? this is 10 times worse. i was totally unprepared the first time i watched, so it's fair i give you a warning beforehand.

Characters: woo... for a two-part OVA the characterization goes pretty deep. deep enough for me to feel the various feelings and complexties of majority of the characters. Galli is developed quite well in particular. Cycling through her emotions of temporary happiness, despair, love and hate... sigh

Other comments: be prepared, be very prepared before you start this film. this film focuses on the ugly side of human nature when survival is not guranteed, and a society where every person fights for himself. a wide variety of emotions are used, most of them tragic though. i've heard at least people who commited suicide after watching films like this one. and not forgetting the graphics. VERY graphic. be warned.

conclusion: watch in company, not alone. and don't eat during or directly before the show. other than that, it's a good film. solid storyline and solid characterization. just don't get sick or depressed.

being sick is not a nice feeling

whee... i get to stay home from school today. actually that's not such a good thing because i can hardly drag myself from my bed... and i'm supposed to be training for my bridge competition on Friday dammit.

heh, chih hung you'd best prepare yourself hey? can't wait to play you. ahhah got nothing much else to post today.. feeling too weak. maybe i'll post a review tomorrow. oh, and i'll be away for two weeks starting saturday, so don't be surprised if there's an extended period of abscence, ok?

okaiz...

apparently people don't read instructions... i specifically said no anonymous posts. someone doesn't have brains either... if i don't know who you are how am i supposed to give out anything?

hmm, ok ranting over. not in that good mood today, which is a rarity for me. but then again, i'm sick. you can excuse me for that right? heck, i'm so sick i had difficulty breathing the last 30 mins of my comprehension paper. dammit i don't even feel well enough to go on my OG outing to watch the premiere of X3 sigh guess we all take and give according to the great scheme of God.

but the mark of a true optimist is to find little joys of life even when you're all the way down. case in point: today while waiting for the bus i saw a group of girls waving to a taxi across the road. apparently they wanted to go to redhill for some reason. since the busy road outside RJ is such a quiet environment (yeah, right) the taxi driver couldn't make out what they were trying to say. so they shouted themselves hoarse repeating their request 5 times in 3 different languages (they tried hokkien, english and succeeded with chinese) and the ol driver shook his head, reached bhind and took out a sign reading "Geylang" the four guys sitting there, we just looked at each other for a second and started laughing like some bomb. (if you can't get the humour, maybe our sense of humour is different from yours)

instead of taking the bus back today, i walked all the way back. nice exercise shoudl try it sometime. i bet nobody ever walked 4-5km in one go without break before. wait, the uniform groups might have gone hiking, but you know what i mean. and solitary walking is best for doing reflective thinking. Has anyone ever noticed how much our life changed since primary school? what shapes us, exactly? certain people? a particular experience? is the change gradual, or can it be noticed? so many philosophical questions, so little answers. i read a book called "the 5 people you meet in heaven" and each of these people play an integral part of your life. if you were in the book, which 5 people will appear in front of you? note: not the people who were most important to you, but the people who made the largest change in your life.

Life has also got a lot more complex, and i don't mean just the academics. what happened to the days where you can strive and give your 100%, do your best and have no regrets? there was once we could score and be envied. now if we score we might get ostrasised (sp) by our very own peers. where do we draw the line?

oh yeah, someone wants to share the blog with me. i have no problems with that, i'm more concerned about him because as those who visit my blog everyday will know, i update daily. that guy'll probably be forgotten soon enough unless he's some mad poster like me heheh oh wells, to each his own then.

one day to go...

keh. one day to GP common test. must'nt get stressed out over it =D thus, no review today, i wanna concentrate more on the topics at hand. although i must admit it's pretty difficult to gues the topics that are gonna come out... then again, maybe i'll be my usual self go there without any preparation whatsoever and blast through the thing heheh. don't know why, but it seems i've not been doing badly for GP thus far although my English grades were always at the bottom of the class the past two years...

and i just finished another smashing series. damn, why did it have to end... but i suppose it's good, otherwise if it drags on like some series *coughpokemonnarutocough* it's gonna turn out bad. maybe i'll post something about it another day. but one thing i find why we prefer asian romance flicks to western ones... they actually allow the relationship to mellow for some time. it's not like BOOM and they get married within the month. that doesn't work, seriously. well if it works in america it kinda explains the divorce rate and broken family thing -.-" as i quote a certain teacher "it's more like lust at first sight than love at first sight. i never believed in the latter".

reading the GP notes also... well made me reflect a bit. there's one in particular, about the differences in manner of speech and approach between men and women. i never noticed it before, but i suppose what the article does say is true. i'll have to be a lot more careful with my speech patterns, i guess... now that i read it in black and white i'm asking myself why i didn't notice the differences sooner. i guess there would've been many people that has been offended thus far... well i wouldn't remember all, but i hope i won't fall into that situation again. heck, i'll more than hope, i'll make sure of that.

yeah, that's about all i have to say today... good luck for GP common test everyone.

edit: yahoo! got a tagboard finally. thanks to yannie for it. door prize to anyone who posts on it first =D

why is everyone to tense?... and review #4!

keh. it's the exam period, we all know that. it's the period where we pressurise, like composite volcanoes do when their vent gets blocked. doesn't mean that we have to show it. not much point going around with a stony or black face all day, is there? besides, happiness and enthusiasm is largely contagious, and when you make an effort to be lively people will feel it. lemme quote a certain stanza from a certain campfire song:

it only takes a spark
to get the fire going
and soon all those around
can warm up in it's glowing

be that spark. the CIP volunteers keep asking us to make a difference in other people's lives. i agree, but charity starts at home. why not start by making your peers happy first? i don't think you'll be much of a help if you go serve your CIP hours with a super-tired and unwilling face.

hmm... doncha hate it when something you put a great deal of effort into turns out to be nothing? that's what i thought when i was watching this:

Uta~Kata

Summary: Ichika forgets a valued gift in a classroom as the holidays are about to start, and when she goes back to get it, she meets Maikafrom an alternate dimension (yeah, stay with me) which tasks her with transforming to various djinns through the power of her keychain (i don't really get it either -.-") apparently it's some homeowork assignment and Maika has to write a report on each transformation... sounds like a magical girl anime? that's what i thought... WRONG

music/graphics: you'll notice i didn't start with evaluation of storyline as usual. i thought i'd better start with the good points first before i go off-track from ranting how terrible this is -.-" ok if i could give 6 or 7 upon 5 for this section i would. simply put, the music and graphics are superb. i never get tired of listening to the opening and ending tracks. in fact i have it on MP3 ^_^ the graphics aren't chopped liver either, they're without a doubt top-grade. some of them even look like portraits that can be put into a museum exhibition! and the character detail... well it's good. never before has mythical figures and billowing uh... garments been more life-like.

character development: for a twelve-episode flick, i wasn't expecting a whole load of character development, although there were exceptions in which the producers managed to pull off a fantastic job. in this case though, character development was just about not there. perhaps they did put on the accelerator later, but i wouldn't be bothered to find out. i couldn't stand anything more than 7 episodes. in any case, the personalities are so... bland no quirks, no pet peeves, no nothing. just random characters doing random things. sigh...

storyline: before i start, have a guess at what genre this belongs to. go on, look at the summary again. ... done? what was your answer? half a point for saying "magical girl anime" 0 marks for either comedy or action, and if your reaction was "eh? what are they trying to say?" go to the top of the class. when i watched the first episode i thought it was going to be something like the sailor moon series, ya know blasting monsters saving crisis etc... oh no, no more of that cliched stuff. in fact we're going to be treated to how Ichika cmpletely WASTES her new found powers in (get this) hanging out with friends, reconciling two classmates, looking for a watch she dropped in the sea... gee if there were real monsters they'd be cooked. sorry, i just didn't see anything resembling a storyline.

Other comments: if you want lots of fanservice, you can consider getting this one, although i think you're better off with love hina or magister negi. if you know what usual magical girl anime transformations are like, add that to a show which focusses on artwork and lingers during these scenes... well you pretty much get a good overall picture of what i'm trying to say. i'd highly recommendyou get the opening and ending themes, but other than that don't touch this with a ten-foot pole.

Conclusion: conclusion? i have nothing more to say... if you really want to get this.. go ahead but don't say i didn't warn you.

some more stuff about video games

mood's pretty good today. mostly because of the rather awesome anime freshly downloaded. heheh still got a ton of work behind me but i'm going to quote the opening song "even if i can't finish my work on time i'm not going to bother about it" =D

ok as promised i won't be posting review today, but just talking more about the stuff happening at arcades. actually, mainly only the shooting ones. i'm not all that into the arcade stuff... oh wait, i need a disclaimer ^_^

now i know there are many people out there who are much better than i am. in fact i know some people who may be reading this and they are pretty good at it. i just wanna offer my suggestions and pointers based on experience, as well as observation. in my younger years (say pri school to sec 2) i mostly take on the role of the observer, or "kibitzer" in bridge terms. basically you stand behind a player, watch his progress over his shoulder. sometimes you pick up pretty good stuff, especially if they are nice and notice your interest in the game =D

ok, here are the tips:

#1: know thyself
obviously if you're easily scared, have a weak heart or something like that please don't pick up these games. you're just going to damage yourself. Also, trigger and reaction speed is another thing to consider, although it can be trained. however if you're going to shoot at the screen at three shots per second (sps) sorry man, you're better off somewhere else, perhaps a racing game. pick a machine with a comfortable height level, psyche yourself up somewhat, and delve in.

#2: know thy gun
it's a shooter, what do you think you'll be playing with, a steering wheel? the gun is a very important aspect of gameplay, so before you even start playing you should be comfortable with it. make sure it works properly, i've come across a few that won't shoot at all. and here's another thing: make sure to hold it properly. it's beneficial in the long run, let me tell ya that. for example, when you hold a light gun, which is the most widely-used gun, hold it with one hand at the trigger and one hand at the barrel, Not one-handedly and NOT two hands at the trigger. your aim goes off horribly, and your aim is one thing you cannot lose in a shooter. when holding someting like the shotgun in house of the dead 3, DON'T hold it like a hunting rifle, with your arms straight out in front of you. the gun is heavy, and before stage two is over it'll start sagging and you'll be sweating buckets. oh, and don'tbe cheap like some people where you reload the gun by convering the lens. that's loseristic -.-"

#3: know thy game
before you start a game, either watch someone playing, or at least watch the opening intro so you know how the game mechanics work. if you're gonna barge into a game not knowing anything and hopong to pick up your skills along the way, sorry, you're just gonna get your ass handed to you on a silver platter. on that note: most proficient players will know the route inside-out, and can even draw a pictorial diagram of your route ,when enemies appear, and how many. it's the only way to be pro.

#4: know thy skill
different games focus of different skills. virtua cop is eaaassssyy, but you can train your aiming due to the bonusus as afforded by accuracy and hitting certain vital spots. crisis zone and time crisis trains your reaction speed, how you deal with surprises. operation tiger is a notch higher in the difficulty combining reaction speed with prioritizing. and house of the dead is the big momma of the genre, combining everything to give you the most difficult shooters ever known. pick your game according to which skill you need to improve, and when you complete stuff like HOTD2 without any continues, you KNOW you're there.

complete newcomer: 3 shots per second (sps) or less
accuracy: one in 4 or 5
these people are those you want to laugh at. they have a lot of money, and they won't hesitate to spend it. it's easy to spot them on account of their inaccuracy and nonchalant attitude. you'll probably want to increase your accuracy before doing anything else.

novice: 3.5 sps
accuracy: 1 in 2.5
getting better. now you need to improve your trigger speed. here's a tip: use the middle finger of your writing hand, and keep your other hand firmly on the barrel of the gun, if it is a light gun. your middle finger pulls and releases the gun faster than usual.

veteran: 5sps
accuracy: 1 in 2
you should have no problems facing easier games like ghost squad, virtua cop or the first two time crisis. improve accuracy a little and you'll be in high heaven =D (brw, i think i'm about here)

expert: 6sps
accuracy: 1 in 1.2 to 1.5
whew, i've seen quite a fair number of experts in my time. the thing that distinguishes experts from veterans and the rest are the bosses. you'll see experts dispatching them faster than you can say "oh my *** that was good!" when you're getting pummeled by a stage boss the answer isn't to pump credits into the machine. it actually means you have to improve your skills. when you're at this level, go for it and take on the HOTD series!

handgun god: 6sps and reloaded
accuracy: almost 1 in 1 except for bosses
these are the rare ones. when you see one, be prepared to jostle with a crowd of other people. when you're here, people will literally kiss the ground you walk on =D (exaggerating) now for the ultimate challenge of a one-credit run through the toughest game of HOTD2!

that's all i can think of at present. i hope that helped you people's shooting experience =D if i think of any more pointers i'll add them later

need some advertising

hmmph... seems a little lax here... maybe it's 'cause i need a tagboard or something but i have no idea where you can go find it... if you're nice you can just leave something under comments per post ^_^

no i'm not going to entertain you with a review today. nice? heh maybe. got another philosophical question though: what do you do when you have to make a choice between having things as they are, or losing one thing in favour of another? of course, thae assumption being that both of them are of equal importance. take the gamble and go for something new?

quite a lot of new changes has been taking place in recent times. which brigns me to another uestion: when and what, in your opinion, made the biggest impact in your life? whee, these things sound something like GP questions don't they, i hope i'm not making people nervous heheh. no seriously. my bet is that everybody will have a thousand and one different opinions... but i've seen people change. from primary school to secondary school they change. from sec 1 to sec 4 they change, and from sec 4 to JC1 they change again... what gives? i hope i myself haven't changed much...

on that note, do mug hard for common test. and i hope most of us will get the H3 we want 'cause i'm pretty sure i'm not gonna get it =D

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hmm, posting this in the evening. it be pretty weird if i posted twice in a day...

just found i have some weird... affliation for arcade shooters. i won't go as far as calling it talent. only the simpler ones like time crisis though, i have a lotta problems with tougher ones like HOTD... that one needs a lot of training. i was pretty surprised alright when two of my friends who were watching the two of us play co-op was like "hey, you playing with a pro leh, must got train one right?" and i'm like "er... this like my first time playing lor" -.-"

hmm, at least i know what to post about tomorrow. after all if i post an anime review everyday people are gonna get mighty bored.

more stuff... and review #3

looks like i'm posting a review every post hey? i gotta work through this stack first anyway...
was talking about animes earlier today... actually i kinda have to agree with what someone said "we have nothing against anime, it's just the hentai..." well.. that was until another person cut in with "hey i think it's damn funny what"...

ok there are a LOT of things wrong with that statement... if that came from a deprived guy or something maybe i'd understand the circumstances but when that comes from a girl... er... i just don't know what to think. maybe you've been watching one of the milder ones. (vanilla series comes to mind) but in any case i don't see how you can find women being portrayed in that sort of light "fun" T_T

humphs, math test today was meh... i think i did quite OK overally, until someone was like "oh noes, i got 24/25, there goes my perfect score... one down!" dammit man, you really know how to put a ray of sunshine in people's lives >_>

and on that point, has anyone ever thought about responsibility? not just responsibilities you take up, but even those thrust upon you. countless number of times stuff like this happens, doesn't it? how do you cope with responsibility and adversity in times like this, whether it's a big or small issue? from what i see it appears that most people do their best for responsibilities they take on, but when it comes to those they don't have a job the quality seems to drop rather sharply. Heck, even those projects they take on voluntarily are like "chiong" for a short period of time and then lose steam...
which brings me to my next review!

Juuni Kokuki (The Twelve Kingdoms)
I've been told to add sections like summary and personal comments to my reviews, so i'll do just that

Summary: Nakajima Yoko is an every-day high school student, until one day a strange person shows up, calling her master. Suddenly Monsters begin to appear attacking her and her classmates. they all get transported to a parallel world, separated from Japan by an infinite ocean. This world contains twelve separate kingdoms, and each is governed by a monarchy. Monarchs are chosen by "heaven" through magical beasts called "kirins". and it so happens that Yoko has been chosen as the next Queen of Kei Kingdom. we follow her story as she fights for a throne and learns the ropes of governing a country.

Storyline: whew... did anybody catch what i just said at all? this series has one of the most complex storylines in anime history. think of it this way: most storylines, even in movies, are like your food chain, one straight pregressive story, with conflicts, climaxes etc. THIS series, however, is more like a food web. I counted at least 6-7 separate storylines, each told by different people (En kingdom's king, a scholar, an ousted princess, a palace slave etc), as they each relate their story to the up-and-coming but inexperienced queen Yoko. But still, take some time to digest the series, and i can tell you this has an excellent storyline, if you can understand everything.

Graphics/Music: the graphics are pretty good, or should i say standard quality. nothing much to complain here... the music wasn't really what i expected though. we have no more flashy songs, no more lyris even. indeed most of the slow, serene music present was made purely with instruments, and i've been trying to ask some of my more musically-talented friends to re-create the pieces, but meh...

Characters: this is where it shines. all the characters present are well-presented, and all of them have something to add to the story. as i have said, the story in itself is one big complex food web, and everyone is an integral part of it. throughout the 50+ episodes or so, we go through the trials and difficulties each one of them faces, be it a simple peasant, or the King of En. all of them are well-fleshed out, and by the end of the series you'll be able to recognize each individual as a great figure.

My comments: first thing: don't miss episodes. sometimes it can get pretty boring, especially those dratted transition chapters where they basically recap everything that's happened the last 9 episodes or so. heck, when you have one of those you KNOW another person's story is coming up. still, there are times when they try to cram 2 or more important story elements into one episode so missing it will make you confused throughout the rest of the series. the soothing music is quite good too, especially for a drama thing like twelve kingdoms. For ages 13 and up, due to the fact that you have to understand the deep philosophical standing behind the story. if you're a drama fan, get this series. if you're an action fan, there's a bit of action in it but not that much. if you're into philosophy or important messages about life, get this now!

a little insight... and review #2

These few days there's quite a lot of hype about "hard gay", this guy in Japan going around doing impossible things, getting his way and making a lot of laughs while he's doing it. and his dry-humping everything doesn't help either >_>... actually, I'd watched it some time ago, when I talked about it then, nobody could relate, and now that everyone's hped up about it, I've put it behind me already. Go figure, eh?

Actually i can attribute his success to the Japanese's "tolerant" attitude as well as their resistance the sexual-related themes. Seriously, Japan seems to be one big playground for fanboys... I've got quite a lot of tales to tell.

Anyone ever been in a Japanese school (preferably elementary) please confirm the existance of the "kancho". Apparently these kids are into a sport of creeping up on people, putting their index fingers together and uh... shoving up someone's butt. not nice, but apparently it's "natural" and they enjoy it. must make for an interesting experience if you're actually there, hey?

and their arcade machines... there was this report I think three years ago that said some company managed to develop the "raping machine" and it's quite popular, apparently. basically, there's this glove you put your hand into, much like some of those arcade machiens where you're supposed to wear a boxing glove and punch something. but this glove is quite different. for one, it has got a middle finger sticking out, for two, there's nothing to punch, but there is a hole in the panel where the glove fits... i think you peope reading this should have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen next -.-" while uh, pushing your glove in that *thing* you get to see an on-screen display of someone getting raped... -.-" WOW! SO EXCITING >_< don't even get me started to the "jacking machine" that was invented a couple of years later...

and of course, it seems molestation cases are the norm too... if you've ever been on the rail system, you'll understand how packed the trains are, especially during rush hours. the fact that they have to employ people to pack passengers in during these periods tell you the extent of it, if you don't already have a full picture of the situation. so we have sardine-a-la-homo-sapien, and it's literally impossible to figure out who's who. and if you can match someone's feet to their arms to their face, you can best the monkey god at detection =D so it's under these circumstances that many people suddenly feel a hand uh... going where it's not supposed to go, and it's not on occasion, either, apparently it's a daily occurance! which brings me to my first H-title M18 review:

G-Spot Express

ok when i first got the title, something tells me this isn't going to be pretty. not that the M-18 label was prominant or anything, but the title itself sounds fishy enough. and i wasn't wrong. boy was i not.

Storyline: H-title... do you expect a solid storyline? while there are one or two which DO have a decent one, those are few and far between, and when you get one, treasure it. it may be worth million in time to come! this storyline was uber-lame... well it was a change from the school-teacher/student thing or the doctor/nurse thing but still! you have this guy that takes the train everyday for the sole purpose of molesting women, playing jackpots and molesting women again? where's the sense? there's one thing i can give it credit for though, and that it flows, at least. you don't have uh... mature scenes thrown at you any old-how, there's a beginning and an end, although i think people who watch this wouldn't be too interested in that anyway -.-"

Music/ graphics: the graphics are quite crisp and clear, and that may or may not be a good thing when it comes to titles like this. i mean, do you really want to see a high-quality video of someone peeing? eewwww... no music, which is the norm. i shudder to imagine austin power's "she's go the power" in the middle of *some* scenes...

Characters: we have one main character (the molestor) and you see him picking of his victims one at a time. and this guy is skilled... i really shouldn't be saying that but i hae to admit it. Tell me someone else who can make others uh... "hit their peak" and i'll rethink my statement. however, that's all we know about him, other than that he's also a master at jackpot machines. the rest of the cast aren't noticable, well you get introduced to his victims and the wayside "molestation gang" but nothing much is said about either. well... what do you expect out of 2-3 episodes, especially since they have to stuff it full of *those* scenes at the same time? who cares about character development when you pick up a title like this?

Conclusion: if you're a rabid H-fan, go ahead and pick it up, the sound quality and graphic quality is quite superb. but stay the heck away from me. otherwise, don't even go there.

Review #1

ok before i start please let me know how you add your tagboards, polls etc. i can't seem to find anything related to that on the options and don't ask me to do HTML, ;cause i won't get anywhere...

ok on to the review =D

Kimi Ga Nozumo Eien (the eternity that you wish for)

Summary: While in high school, Haruka and Mitsuki are best of friends. they even share a love interest in their classmate Takayuki. Egged on by Mitsuki, Haruka was the first to confess her feelings. However, one day Haruka has an accident that almost claimed her life. Although the doctors managed to save her, she couldn't get out of her coma. Takayuki fell into a deep depression, and Mitsuki, at that time, decides to confess her love for Takayuki, as she thought Haruka couldn't be saved, and she wanted to get Takayuki out of his depression. The two establish a relationship, and it seems not long before they will get married. however, all this will change when Haruka wakes up one day...

Storyline: Wow. just... wow. Personally, I'm a sucker for drama or romantic-themed shows, but this just blows. it can get rather confusing, especially if you miss one or two episodes like I did... I should elaborate a bit more. although the setting is a high school romance, the story of this show actually takes place in thier adult life, which changes the scenario quite a lot. Gone are the goofiness and innocence of youth, gone are the carefree, devil-may-care attitudes. these characters are really practical adults, with daily needs. and they flesh out the story well, with side characters for contrast, and flashbacks referring to periods in their high school, where the bulk of the romance was supposed to take place.

Music: wheeew... the lack of music during the episode itself cuts a point, but other than that it's pretty good! the opening theme and ending themes are a must to get, although understanding them is a different thing heh =P a good, catchy tune for opening, and a solemn ending one. Hell, they got a waltz!

Characters: The characters are really developed and fleshed out, for an anime up to about 20 episodes only. you really get an insight into their though processes, and the viewpoint that the show takes you through, experienceing the pain and trouble of each character is quite a novel experience. Those of you who tear easily, get tissues ready because you WILL tear at their plight. The valiant efforts of Takayuki, Haruka and Akane (Mitsuki's sister) keeping the reality of life away from Haruka, making her think she passed out only for a few weeks when in fact 3 years has passed, and the pain of losing a loved one, of making a choice between the two. you will feel it all. and it hurts. even the two dorky mischievious waitresses (minor characters), seemingly added in just for comedic relief, add to the story in their own way, when they later reflect the dire distress a main character.

Conclusion: when i did a little reading up, i was acutally quite surprised that this was adpated from a dating sim. animes adapted from dating sims aren't a new phenomenon, but they rarely turn out well (if you have something like To Heart you'll know what I'm talking about). this one seems to have been missed though, a definite must-get. i'd say ages 12 and up at LEAST, because it does involve a certain philosophical depth that younger viewers may not understand. and don't skip episodes. you'll usually miss out a major storyline plot and have trouble following the rest of the series. if you're a fan of drama, definitely get this one. if you want comedy or action, sorry, you'll probably want to skip this one.

Basics

ok, this is first time starting blog of any kind so pardona ny mistakes please

as I've sorta said, HTML is not my cup of tea, but the interface here seems user-friendly enough. i'll figure things out as time progresses =D

a few ground rules to start off with:
1. no annon posts please, if you're gonna say something, at least be brave enough to admit it.
2. no imposters. see above
3. you're wholly welcome to comment or say your piece regarding anything, including off-topics
4. don't get in trouble with *certain* authorities

yep, i don't think i'll be posting everyday, i don't have that much to talk about although when i do, they'll probably be quite lengthy. my life isn't THAT interesting, seriously. the highlight (if you can call it that) is probably my anime reviews. heh i'm not officially officially certified, but at times they do get appreciated, especially the very unknown anime films... and then you get the M18s, which leave you with nightmares after watchng them. Sorry, i don't watch american cartoons, weaned off them a long time ago.

on the plus side, yayness my parents finally relented and allowed me this, although MSN or chatting is still strictly off-limts. suppose must be that i gotta have an avenue of redress eh? anyways, i'll post my first review here today. got a whole stash to work through =D