I Can't Lie...I Love Ouran Highschool Host Club

Roses...Roses everywhere...

Let's get one thing straight; I cannot stand romance animes. They just don't work for me. I've never understood harem animes. I think I watched one shoujo once (Revolutionary Girl Utena) which was good but utterly confusing and ridiculous. (Actually, I'm not even sure Utena really counts, if it is a romance anime it's a pretty messed up one at that.) When I watch anime I want something with compelling storylines and characters, not animes in which the main storylines revolve around several girls competing for one dude's love and most of the time failing spectacularly. So, with such a stance like this; WHY CAN'T I STOP WATCHING OURAN HIGHSCHOOL HOST CLUB? Is it the fact that it's so utterly ridiculous to the point that it comes back around and becomes good again? Is it that it has this ability to turn really silly story lines into meaningful character development? Maybe it's just the fact that behind it's ridiculous outer layer there's actually something really awesome and meaningful deep down. (Either that or it's just someone's dream reverse harem...could be either one honestly.) Either way, it's really good. This is coming from someone who loves Evangelion with a burning passion so how can I love something that's so damn happy and silly? (the literal antithesis of Evangelion).

There is a plot in Ouran, this one pretty homely student named Haruhi is looking for a place to study at the prestigious Ouran Academy. It's a school made for rich kids so that they can basically do anything they want. Haruhi on the other hand is a scholarship student who really doesn't mesh well with the general of atmosphere of Ouran. In attempting to find a quiet place to study Haruhi wanders into an empty music room and ends up breaking an expensive vase. Turns out the room is home to Ouran's Host Club, easily the school's most popular and powerful group consisting of bishounen boys who spend their free time romancing the women of the school. (really all of their time, I'm convinced Ouran is really a country club thinly veiled as a school. Seriously, WHEN DO THEY DO WORK?) Since Haruhi can't afford to pay for a replacement vase, the Host Club decides to make Haruhi into a host to cover the cost because well Haruhi turns out to be an adorable and successful host. Oh wait...there's something I forgot to mention...Haruhi is a girl. However, Haruhi being a female host in an all-male Host Club is hardly the most ridiculous part of this anime. There's the eccentric and excitable leader of the club Tamaki who probably has an unhealthy obsession with Haruhi. There's the club's eldest member, Honey-senpai, who has the mentality of a five year old. Theres the twins Hikaru and Kaworu, who almost seem more interested in romancing each other than they do women. (Seriously, WHAT THE HELL ARE PUNISHMENT GAMES?) There's Mori-senpai, who might be the strangest in the respect that he almost never talks. Then lastly there's the calculating Kyoya, who is probably the most straight edge of the group (other than Haruhi) but isn't without personality quirks of his own. Then there's the realization that this is a Host Club that involves one girl and several guys, IT'S A REVERSE HAREM!!!

So what actually makes Ouran such an appealing and entertaining show? Obviously it's not my usual cup of tea, especially considering that on MAL I list Evangelion and Steins;Gate as my two favorite animes ever. I guess the best way to explain this would be to posit an example of one episode. During this episode, Honey-senpai is no longer allowed to eat sweets because he gets a cavity. This cavity mind you is treated like a fatal disease and sweets are kept away from Honey as if eating a candy bar would cause him to combust into an explosion of sugar (and most likely roses, given this show). Meanwhile, Mori-senpai is literally punished himself for forgetting to tell Honey to brush his teeth one night, this being cited as the main reason for Honey getting a cavity. Yes, one night of not brushing his teeth, ignore the fact that Honey's diet probably consists only of cake and candy. However, Ouran is able to turn this into an extremely emotional and heartfelt episode. The crazy part is you start to feel the same way the characters do about everything. Suddenly, everything becomes a big deal, every situation has to be solved in the most dramatic way possible. No other show can turn an episode about a character getting a cavity into real drama without verging on narm. Ouran on the other hand knows that it should never take itself too seriously which is perfect for it's subject material. Given that the premise is a girl caught in the middle of an all-male Host Club, can it really take itself seriously?. The thing is though, it does. Everything is serious business on this show, even the most silly events and yet it is able to turn this into serious drama. Not to mention is already hugely entertaining to start with. Perhaps the reason I enjoy Ouran is that it really is a parody of the romance genre. It knows that it's ridiculous and it has no shame doing so. Sometimes it's just fun to watch a show like this, especially when it's this good.

Ouran High School Host Club is a fantastic show. There's hilarious Ho Yay for days and tons of awesome humor here to enjoy. At first glance, it's definitely not the usual show that I take on for anime watching but it's so freaking good. There's really a lot to enjoy here especially how well it parodies the romance genre. I can't wait to watch more and even more excited to see how the whole thing ends. And seriously, what the hell are punishment games?

TIme to See What the Hype Is About - RWBY Review

The anime community, while many times being divided into it's separate groups, occasionally has times where it comes together and collectively squees over something new. This was pretty much the standard reaction to RWBY, the cel-shaded anime that the entire anime community has been freaking out over the past few months. RWBY is made by Rooster Teeth, the team known best for their work on the popular internet series Red Vs. Blue. RWBY was released in a series of 5-minute shorts on a weekly basis and as I said earlier, caused the anime community to freak out and collectively cream their pants (might have also been a mix of Attack On Titan and Kill la Kill too). I had only seen trailers for the show and believe me I was pretty excited for it. Unfortunately, the summer came and went, in which I didn't have internets for most of that time. So I decided that I'd just watch it when it had come to a conclusion. So after watching it, what did I think? Well, it certainly deserves the hype.

Our story begins with our protagonist, Ruby Rose, caught in the middle of a store robbery. Feeling no other choice but to step in, Ruby garners the attention of the Headmaster of Beacon Academy, a school which trains young men and women to become Huntsmen and Huntresses, defenders of the world against monsters. Luckily for her, Ruby's older sister, Yang, is also in her year at Beacon thanks to Ruby being skipped ahead two years because of her skill. During her time at Beacon, Ruby meets a whole cast of characters. After the traditional anime bonding moments she ends up being assigned to her own team to fight monsters known as RWBY (an acronym for each member's name: Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang). The plot is paced pretty well. The action is what draws people to the show but it also makes sure to do the traditional anime service of fleshing out characters and developing them as well. Watching the series in film form was definitely the way to go as well, watching it in one sitting from start to finish gave it a more uniform feel and it was certainly easier to keep track of everything that was going on. The whole thing has an runtime of just under two hours which makes it easy to digest in one sitting. The whole thing feels a lot like Soul Eater in the fact that it's school which trains kids to use weapons and it has a similar cast of goofy characters. It should also be noted that this is only the first season of the show so the first season feels more like establishing the framework of the show rather than moving along a consistent plot. It's more about seeing the girls of Team RWBY figure out how to get along with each other and fleshing out each of their individual characters. There is a plot in the background about a group called "The White Fang" and a race of people known as "The Fawness" who have animal features and are looked down upon by society. So there's plenty of potential for an outstanding, overarching plot but it looks like we'll have to wait for the second season to really see it. Regardless of this, I still thought RWBY's plot was really entertaining. It's clear that this is an anime made for a western audience but it's good to see that it retains the Japanese charm that makes anime so great. The show certainly can take a serious tone but it's at it's best when it's lighthearted and the characters are messing around. I'm sure the second season will get a lot darker but I really enjoyed the light tone of this season.

The four members of Team RWBY from left to right: Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang

This being an anime, it's not surprising that each of the main characters fall under typical stereotypes and tropes. Ruby is the classic ditzy but strong protagonist. Weiss, the friendly rival and tsundere, Blake the quiet one, and Yang the loud and boisterous member of the group. However, in this series that's hardly a bad thing. The character's interactions with one another are fantastic, each feels like they bounce of each other. Conversations are quick and snappy, this show is certainly not afraid of being snarky and even parodying itself at points. If I could come up with any comparison, it feels very Buffy the Vampire Slayer or anything Joss Whedon. I really do like Ruby as a protagonist. For one she's absolutely adorable but can quickly flick on her badass switch when the situation calls for it. In fact, you can say that for all the characters. Theres also a whole cast of supporting characters: the bumbling knight Jaune, the silent Ren, the wacky Nora, and the intelligent Pyrrha. Nora might actually be my favorite character, not to mention that her weapon is absolutely amazing. Once again, you can say that about pretty much every character. Everyone's weapons turns out to be a firearm of some kind in addition to whatever other weapon it already was. RWBY's strength really does come from it's characters and like I said earlier, since this season is all about establishing the show's premise and it's characters. I found Blake to be a bit of a boring character, at least in comparison to the other characters on the show. Yang on the other hand was an always exciting character especially in scenes where it's just her and Ruby. Theres no easily dislikable characters on the show, unless you count the bully Carden but I don't think you're really supposed to like him. The characters really stand out and that is a credit to fantastic design and writing.

Visually, RWBY is a fantastic looking show. The cel-shaded style certainly seperates RWBY  from anything else out there right now. At first you might think you're just looking at another show like ReBoot or Code Lyoko but RWBY better than leaps and bounds. The animation is smooth and fluid and the action scenes are beautifully done. In slower scenes the animation can sometimes feel a little gofy but it adds the charm of the show. The character design is phenomenal as well. Sure, I assume some guy somewhere had a lot of fun designing all the beautiful girls in the show but just saying that is insulting to the brilliant character design. It has a style all it's own which is something rarely seen in anime nowadays. You can watch the series for free on YouTube, however, if you have a Blu-Ray player, I highly recommend putting down the 15 bucks for a copy. The Blu-Ray definition really does the series justice and to be honest, it's the best way to watch it. The voice acting as a whole is great, however there are some moments when the dialogue feels a little stilted. However, those moments are few and far between. The voice actors clearly had a lot of fun with their roles and every character feels alive and entertaining. RWBY's soundtrack is fantastic as well, really setting the mood and stepping up when the action shifts into overdrive. From an AV standpoint, RWBY really is one of the best out there which says a lot considering this wasn't made by an anime studio but a crew who's most famous for what they've done on Youtube. Rooster Teeth really impressed me with their work on this series.

RWBY, without a doubt deserves the heavy amount of praise that it has received from the anime community. Sure, it's not perfect and can be rather goofy at times but RWBY possesses a great charm that keeps you plugged in. I really have to hand it to a group like Rooster Teeth for going above an beyond here. Theres enough here for anyone who's a huge anime fan or someone who has a casual interest in the genre. It's clearly meant for a western audience and isn't afraid of parodying itself frequently. If you're looking for a fun, action-packed series with fantastic visuals, look no further than RWBY.

My Score: 5/5

Morality and Vegeance - Batman: Under the Red Hood

In comparison to Marvel, at least Marvel's Cinematic and Animated universes, DC Comics has always held the edge in presenting dark and mature storylines to it's audiences. One of the darkest storylines that DC had to offer was in the 1980's when Death In the Family was published. Death In the Family depicted Batman's greatest failure and took the Batman franchise down a darker road. The run of comics told the story of the second Robin's, Jason Todd's, death and today it remains one of the most shocking moments in comics. If you follow comics however, you also know that Jason Todd was reborn (because nobody stays dead in comics) and took up the persona of the Red Hood. The clash between the Red Hood and Batman is a fascinating philosophical debate and has elevated the Red Hood to one of DC's most popular characters. So in 2010, the Red Hood finally got his movie debut in Batman: Under the Red Hood.

The film's plot opens up with a reimagining of Jason Todd's death. Most things are the same, Jason Todd, as Robin, has been caught by the Joker, who proceeds to beat him savagely with a crowbar. Batman is on his way to save Jason, but gets there right as the warehouse explodes. Finding Jason't body in the wreckage, Batman is overcome with grief. It's a good opener for the movie, unfortunately it's worth noting that it gets a few things wrong from Death In the Family. It streamlines this part of the story and leaves out that Jason's death came in Ethiopia while looking for his biological mother. That he eventually found his mother, but she had been blackmailed into betraying him and so they died together in the warehouse. Not to mention that Under the Red Hood makes it look like Jason went after the Joker by himself when in actuality his hand was forced because he saw his mother go into the warehouse with Joker. So yes, he was supposed to wait for Batman but what else was he supposed to do? Anyways, back to the plot. Basically, 5 years later a figure calling himself the Red Hood arrives in Gotham and starts an unorthodox crusade against crime which isn't above killing people. It doesn't take long for Batman to deduce that the figure is Jason (or anyone who has a somewhat decent comics background) and things start getting interesting from there. Sure theres a second plot all about Jason's gang war with Black Mask but we're here for Batman vs Red Hood. The movie does a masterful job weaving in between the past and present, reminding us exactly how things have gotten here and to show that Batman can truly never forget how he "failed" Jason. The film also makes sure to address one of the biggest themes of the Batman universe, how Batman can never kill the Joker, despite all the lives that he's taken. The plot is intent on establishing the Red Hood as a character and never seems to aspire to anything more. This isn't a bad thing, in fact it's exactly what it needed to do. The film's runtime is a cool hour and fifteen minutes and theres no bad or unnecessary scenes to speak of. It's an efficient plot and it will make Red Hood fans squee with delight as they see their favorite character finally depicted in animated form. Overall, Under the Red Hood is excellently paced and is a somewhat faithful adaptation of the original storyline.

The film does an excellent job framing the conflict between Red Hood and Batman

Unfortunately, this is probably one of the blandest and weakest portrayals I've seen of Batman in any form ever. Bruce Greenwood voices Bruce Wayne in this incarnation and to be perfectly honest i really couldn't take it. Even with the bad voice acting, Batman felt poorly written and almost like a bit character in comparison to everything else that was going on. Even Roger Craig Smith's Batman from Arkham Origins was better. I guess this just goes to show that Kevin Conroy will always have the best voice for the character. This movie is supposed to be an expose on how guilty Batman feels over Jason's death and his struggle to come to terms with what Jason has become. Visually, you really do feel for Batman in these reflective scenes but even those can't compensate for Greenwood's poor voice acting and the bad writing. Thankfully, every other character in the film is done well. Jensen Ackles (most notable for his work in Supernatural) voices Jason Todd/Red Hood and he does a fantastic job, especially during the film's climax. Jason Todd comes off exactly how he is in the comics and Ackles is really able to convey Jason's anger and lust for revenge in every scene. Not to mention that he's able to pull it back occasionally and bring back some snarky quips from his Robin days. There aren't many things that make my eyes water when it comes to watching Batman, but the flashback scenes to when Jason Todd was Robin really got to me. Seeing Jason so innocent and loving his role of Robin so much was almost too much emotionally. The movie certainly conveyed this aspect exremely well. The Joker is done very well in this incarnation, except when he opens his mouth. His lines are well written, but John DiMaggio just can't seem to deliver them with the same skill that Mark Hamill always did. Something feels missing from the Joker, despite this he remains menacing and serves his role well in the plot. I was most excited to see how Neil Patrick Harris (a personal favorite of mine) would do voicing Nightwing/Dick Grayson and he does a fantastic job. Of course, the actual character doesn't really serve much of a purpose during the story and is quickly written out of the plot after the film's first 30 minutes or so. I really thought this was a missed opportunity since a meeting between the two former Robin's, Grayson and Todd, would have been a really intriguing addition to the plot. However, I still thought that Harris' voice work for Nightwing was phenomenal and really captured the character's snarkiness, always important when voicing a former Robin. Black Mask is really just there to provide another medium for the plot to move along and this is definitely one of the most faithful portrayals of the character I've ever. However, I can't help but point out how poor his character design really is but since he's a relatively minor character, guess I can't really complain. Ra's al Ghul shows up simply because the plot requires him to and he's done well but theres nothing too spectacular here.

Visually, the film looks like any other DC Animated Universe work, however I can't help but feel nostalgic for the days of Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series. The style of those shows felt more refreshing as opposed to the style shown here. Some characters feel kind of chunky, especially in their faces. Joker and Black Mask were probably the only two characters whose character designs made me angry. Nightwing and Red Hood really stood out to me as characters who's designs were done very well. Sound-wise, it's mostly the standard Batman orchestral backing tracks. It sets the dark mood really well but otherwise isn't anything we haven't heard before. I've already voiced my disappointment with the voices of Batman and the Joker so I'll let that be. Otherwise, the voice cast is phenomenal and Jensen Ackles really should voice Jason Todd in any future Red Hood work.

"This is the best day of my life!" Goodness, make me cry a little harder

I really enjoyed Under the Red Hood, it's definitely a good film. In comparision to other Batman animated movies it didn't pack the punch of Mask of the Phantasm but I certainly found it better than both parts of Dark Knight Returns. If you're looking for some quick Dark Knight action you could certainly do worse than Under the Red Hood. Sure I could nitpick this film and point out the inconsistencies between this and Death In the Family but that's really a non issue. If you're a Batman fan, Under the Red Hood certainly isn't perfect but it's greatly enjoyable.

My Score: 4/5

Internet Explorer as a Magical Girl Anime?

Uhm, wait what? I meant this isn't exactly anything new that anyone has heard about in the past few days but I couldn't let this just sit and NOT say anything about this. Essentially, Microsoft's internet browser, Internet Explorer has a a new anime, Magical Girl mascot. I'm having a really hard time deciding whether this is absolutely ridiculous or absolutely amazing. The actual anime in the commercial is pretty good and it's clear that Microsoft is putting a lot of effort into this advertising campaign. My only question is: why exactly does this have to involve Magical Girl anime? That's a question that will probably never be solved but either way, the advert does a good job of projecting the image that Microsoft wants for it's browser (even if said browser lags behind Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and basically anything else in popularity). The animations is smooth and fluid and if this Magical Girl, known as Inori Aizawa is any indication, it's going to be a powerful browser. At least this is what Mircrosoft wants us to think it's browser is going to be like this. Either way it's a pretty interesting advert and it should be interesting to see how successful their new mascot is. As someone who thinks that Magical Girl animes are silly, I'm not entirely sure about this. But to each their own I suppose.

Counting Down the 20 Coolest Characters in Anime - #1 Spike Spiegel, Cowboy Bebop

"Bang"

Let's be real here; was there ever really another contender for the number one spot on this list? I mean, sure this is completely cliche, but theres no character that comes close to matching the level of cool that Spike Spiegel has. Pretty much every scene he's in he is the definition of cool. The detached personality, the ability to glide through a world of lawlessness and chaos as if he didn't have a care in the world. Yes, Spike Spiegel is the coolest anime character of all time and theres a reason why he tops many lists like this one. The best anime character in history from the greatest and most influential anime of all time.

Boss status

Spike really requires no introduction, seeing as he's one of the most beloved anime characters of his time. His influence as the main character of the show that introduced anime to western audiences is undeniable. He's the quintessential ace of the Bebop crew, well versed in martial arts and gunskill. He also has the ability to make everything he does effortless and without a care in the world. Seriously, no character is as cool as Spike Spiegel. From the numerous ass-kickings he give out to the badass lines he spits on a regular basis, there can only be one character suitable for the top of this list. While I've written this list I have mentioned that there is more to being a character than simply being cool and or badass. A character should have layers underneath how many feats of badassitude they perform. Spike is the perfect depiction of this. I mean, just look at how smooth this scene is. I think what makes Spike such a great character is that he's the definitive Western protagonist. He has an aura of cool that just relates to his demographic. He glides through the lawless world of Cowboy Bebop in the same way one would glide to jazz or blues, one of the series' main motifs. However, Spike's level of cool never comes off in that he's uncaring or just simply distant from the world. He just possesses this ability to take on any situation, no matter how dangerous and never bat an eye. Sure, there are many protagonists who have this same ability, but none do it nearly as well as Spike does. He's the original, a badass in all aspects of the word. He's the kind of hero that Western audiences want, the kind who does everything with that don't care attitude that shrugs his shoulders in the face of danger. Spike redefined how protagonists in anime are shaped, with a western audience in mind. Not much more really needs to be said here.

So that's it, I've finally finished the list and it's been a pretty fun (and long ride). I hope that I've opened up some readers eyes to some really awesome and many times unappreciated characters. I've noticed that I often gravitate to supporting characters rather than main characters. I think this is because many times supporting characters add such different and vibrant personalities to the mix. Either way, in terms of protagonists you really can't get much better than Spike Spiegel. Anyways, if you missed the list, here's it in entirety:

20.) Kittan, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
19.) Gohan, Dragonball Z
18.) Amane Suzuha, Steins;Gate
17.) Balalaika, Black Lagoon
16.) Misato Katsuragi, Neon Genesis Evangelion
15.) Mugen, Samurai Champloo
14.) Isaac & Miria, Baccano!
13.) Haruko Haruhara, FLCL
12.) Claire Stanfeld, Baccano!
11.) Alucard, Hellsing
10.) Sousuke Sagara, Full Metal Panic!
9.) Utena Tenjou, Revolutionary Girl Utena
8.) Seras Victoria, Hellsing
7.) Yusuke Urameshi, Yu Yu Hakusho
6.) Kamina, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
5.) Shinobu Sensui, Yu Yu Hakusho
4.) Kallen Stadtfeld, Code Geass
3.) Simon, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
2.) Asuka Langley Soryu, Neon Genesis Evangelion
1.) Spike Spiegel, Cowboy Bebop

Throwing Down in the Badlands - Trigun: Badlands Rumble Review

It's all about reviving old classics these days right? Remakes and bringing old school shows into the new millennium with flashy new animation and new plotlines. Apparently, the anime classic Trigun is no exception. It's usually inevitable that any famous anime will get a movie adaption or a one-shot special at one point so it's actually impressive that it's taken so long for a show like Trigun to be adapted into a movie. So with all that being said, that leads us to the 2010 movie adaption of the series Trigun: Badlands Rumble. (You can check out my review of the original 1998 series here)

It's awfully unclear where exactly Badlands Rumble fits into the continuity of the series. Anyone looking for answers as to what happened at the end of the TV series will find themselves awfully disappointed. This is a one-shot plot with all the characters you know and love plus a few new ones. Basically, a bank robber named Gasback, who's had dealings with our main character Vash the Stampede before returns after 20 years. A series of events leads all of the show's main cast to the same town where Gasback is planning a big heist to get revenge on some members of his crew who have betrayed him. Along the way we meet a new character named Amelia, who, like Vash, has a connection of her own to Gasback and plans on taking revenge. The plot is pretty much an extended episode of the series, never attempting to do anything more than that. Most movies that are adapted from the TV show will bring the plot up to an epic level fitting of the big screen. Badlands Rumble on the other hand just feels like a special episode rather than a movie. That being said, Trigun the TV series was incredibly entertaining so I certainly wasn't complaining. However, it is a shame because the plot really isn't memorable. The main characters are only there mostly because it's a Trigun movie and they have to be there. The plot just feels like it's going through the motions, pitching the same ideas that the TV series did. It does a good job hammering home the contrast between Vash's idealism and how cynical the world around him is. However, this still isn't something that wasn't present in the TV series. It's all well and good that they kept the themes that made the series so good but theres nothing here to really distinguish the two. Lastly, the plot never seems to hit a climax at any point, it's stagnant throughout. Sure, there's some entertaining scenes thrown in from time to time but never anything that stood out in my memory.

Sure you'll get a few laughs out of this but it's nothing you haven't seen before

As I mentioned earlier, the characters felt as if they were simply going through the motions of the movie and were there simply because they had too. The insurance girls, Milly Thompson and Meryl Stryfe do absolutely nothing but provide comic relief throughout the film. This bothers me because in the series, they were always shown as being competent even if they were playing a comic relief role at times. It just feels like a disservice to their characters considering their role in the TV series. The same could be said for Nicholas Wolfwood, a main character that ends up embroiled in the main plot for extremely loose reasons that add up to "Wolfwood needs to be in this movie to please all the fans". He's awesome in pretty much every scene he's in but it never feels like his presence makes the film better or worse, he' just there. The movie's plot focuses entirely on the relationship between Vash and the new character Amelia and Vash's efforts to keep her from taking Gasback's life as revenge. This would be alright if Amelia wasn't such a bland and boring character. Sure, she has her backstory and her motivations but other than that she's just a typical "out for revenge character who resents the main character until the end". I suppose it is rewarding to see her character develop and change at the end but it doesn't make up for the rest of her appearances. Gasback as a villain is pretty terrible. He's pitched as a somewhat honorable thief who spits a couple pseudo-philosophical lines of dialogue. The villains in the TV series were so varied and interesting. Each one was unique and had dialogue and weapons that fit them and only them. Gasback feels generic and thats a world that should never describe anything having to do with Trigun. It's such a unique anime series that really changed the way that anime was done over the next several years. The TV series was filled with such lively and colorful characters, so why such boring ones in the movie? Vash is the one character who feels the same as he always was; being a goofball but turning into a serious badass when the situation requires it. As always, there's plenty of hilarious interaction between Meryl and Vash which is always appreciated.

Badlands Rumble, having been made in 2010, is a huge visual step up from the TV series. This is only natural since the series was made in 1998 and animation has come a huge way since then. However, something just feels off. Maybe I'm just nostalgic, maybe I just love the original show a lot but the new animation doesn't make the show feel like Trigun. It feels too clean and too nice. I understand when certain shows get an animation bump. Neon Genesis Evangelion got a small bump in End of Evangelion and a huge bump in the Rebuild movies. However, while those animation bumps felt necessary, I felt as if Trigun's took away from the general feel. It doesn't feel like I'm watching Trigun, it doesn't feel unique to me. In a completely unbiased judgement however, the film does look really nice and there are times where the animation does make the action a small grade above the original series. The music is well done, continuing the trend established in the original series. The moment in the film's final scene where Vash appears with the show's trademark theme song in the background was a moment that will make any Trigun fan squee with delight. Funimation has also improved their voice work greatly since 1998 and the results can be seen here. Jonny Yong Bosch plays Vash just as well as before but it feels more refined like he has a better grasp on his role. Same with the other voice actors, most of whom returned to reprise their roles.

Trigun: Badlands Rumble is a really confusing film for me to evaluate. On one side, I really love Trigun. But on the other hand, this film didn't really live up to my expectations for what a Trigun film would be like. I still has a lot of the charm that the series possessed, but it lacks the colorful characters and the excellent plot. I think that any fan of the original series should definitely give this movie a look however if you haven't, there are plenty of other better anime films out there.

My Score: 2/5

Twas the Night Before Christmas - Batman: Arkham Origins Review

Finally, I'm back from this unexpected and prolonged hiatus which was completely unintentional. Basically a combination of computer trouble and schoolwork has kept me from posting here. This is truly a shame because this blog is something I love doing and yes I know that my countdown of anime characters has extended into November. So now that I'm back, let's talk about one of the other things that has been preoccupying my time, Batman: Arkham Origins for Xbox 360 and PS3. It's the third installment in the Arkham video game series.

So in Arkham Origins we have the third game in a series, expect for the fact that it's acting like a prequel to the the first two games: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. The group that worked on the first two games, Rocksteady, decided that they wanted to work on a future Arkham game and so they passed the torch over to WB Games Montreal. Basically, the game takes place in Gotham, with Bruce Wayne having taken up the mantle of Batman for only about two years at this point. Gotham still isn't sure if Batman is a hero or a criminal at this point and some aren't even convinced that he's even real. On Christmas Eve, big-time crime boss, Black Mask, decides that he wants to spoil Batman's Christmas Eve and send 9 assassins after him, all in search of a $50 million payoff. So it's up to Batman to stop Black Mask as well as the many other villains who want Batman are dead but are willing to let the main story conclude before actually trying to execute their plans (how courteous of them!). This being a prequel, there's plenty of continuity porn for players to digest. "Oh my god, it's a 15 year old Barbara Gordon! Look at how young Captain Gordon is! Riddler still calls himself Enigma!!" There's enough here to make Batman fans squee with delight as all their favorite characters have been brought back to a surreal Arkham/Year One era where everyone is still making up their minds about the Batman.

Can't help but think that Arkham Origins missed a really cool opportunity here

The plot is the best selling point of Origins and it's much better plot-wise than the last two games in the series. Those felt more like excuses to collect all of Batman's rogue's gallery and put give them their own fanservicey time with the World's Greatest Detective. This plot is all about establishing Batman's relationships with Captain Gordon and The Joker all while bringing up the debate as to whether Batman's methods really are effective or not. It's the heaviest hitting plot of all the Arkham games so far. So that's the good, let me brace you for the bad. Notice how all my praising of the plot came without mentioning how great Black Mask was as a character? It's a rather major spoiler to throw in but it's worth mentioning that Black Mask simply gets tossed aside so that the game can have you focus on everyone's favorite, The Joker. Seriously, I love the Joker as a character, but does he really need to be the main character, final boss. of every Batman game? Ever since The Dark Knight came out in 2008, everyone has had this obsession with the Joker. I will admit, the Joker fits much better in Origins than he did in City but it just feels like a missed opportunity. The trailer for Origins teased Black Mask and Deathstroke heavily as the main two villains of the game. Deathtroke is in the game for a single boss battle before disappearing sans two cutscenes towards the game's close and feels more like fanservice than anything else. Black Mask meanwhile becomes incredibly insignificant as it was the Joker the whole time blah blah blah. I wouldn't mind this so much if Joker didn't feel like such a crutch for Batman writers to lean on. Not only that but Joker takes away from the 9 assassins, another plotline which gets thrown into the wind upon Joker's appearance. Each assassin offers some variety in characters similar to Asylum and City. bringing some of the lesser known characters of Batman's rogue's gallery. Unfortunately, the game never really expands on any of the assassins as characters and they end up being there just because the game requires them to be. Hell, 3 of them wind being completely insignificant to the game's plot. This is disappointing considering that the assassins were one of the game's facets that was marketed heavily.

The city is certainly big and pretty but the doesn't feel as open and flowing as it should

So with my grievances about the plot out of the way, how about the gameplay? Don't worry, everything you loved about the past two games is still here. Nothing has really changed since the last two installments which is a good thing and at the same time a bad thing. Combat is still as fun as ever, as the FreeFlow system makes you really feel like Batman as you battle through huge numbers of enemies. The stealth maps are still loads of fun as well. Unfortunately, there's this feeling of been there done that with the series. As fun as the game can be, it's hampered by the fact that we've done this all before, the gameplay hasn't evolved since we last saw it in City. I found myself going through the motions more than anything while actually playing the game which is a shame given how compelling the game's plot was. Not to mention that the game as a whole just felt like less of a challenge than the last two games. This could be attributed to the additions of the Remote Claw and Shock Glove gadgets which make the game infinitely easier for the player upon acquiring them. Origins seems intent on holding your hand and walking you through the game rather than letting you figure things out for yourself like City did. The open world of Gotham feels incredibly limited as well, rather than being the large, immersive world it proposes to you. The world hardly feels open and flowing as it feels like there's less points to grapple and glide around the city. The game has even introduced fast travel among the districts as if it's embarrassed about hard it can be to get around the city. Sometimes the game world forces Batman to huff it on foot rather than gliding across rooftops. This doesn't make me feel like Batman (well. maybe THIS Batman). But it's ok because the game keeps you out of the open world and makes sure to keep you on the linear track. It's the same formula that City used (maybe these people really are embarrassed at how not open their open world is?). I guess in summation, Origins doesn't do anything new or improve on any of the things that were wrong with City. There's nothing really wrong about the gameplay, I just wish there was some new features to really pull me in (and I'm talking single player here for those who will argue about the new multiplayer mode). Also, I miss the ability to play as other characters than Batman. There's no Catwoman or Robin this time to change things up. This is understandable given the time period this game takes place in but this was a feature I really liked from the last game, why isn't it here? Instead we're given Deathstroke, but only as a character in challenge maps. Thus would be cool if he didn't play exactly like Batman. Once again, fanservice at it's finest.

Troy Baker does a fantastic job portraying a younger and much more unhinged Joker

The big question everyone had for the game's launch was who was going to replace Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamil as the voices of Batman and the Joker respectively. After all, the two have been staples of their respective characters since Batman: The Animated Series. The real pressure was on Troy Baker, the new voice of the Joker, since Hamil's portrayal of the character rivals Heath Ledger's in popularity among fans. I know Baker from his voice work in Code Geass and Soul Eater, both roles that show how versatile he can be as a voice actor. His Joker feels more like an impersonation of Hamil's Joker than one of his own. However, one can't really blame him because he excels at replicating the voice and it's more likely the fans would have revolted against him had he tried something new for the character. (How dare he) However, Baker's Joker does possess some distinctive features of it's own. This a younger Joker, one that is even more unhinged than his later and better known incarnations. Baker plays this role perfectly. The same goes for Smith as his Batman replicates Conroy well enough and isn't afraid to even throw in some Christian Bale if necessary. Like the Joker, this is a younger, much more aggressive Batman. The rest of the voice work in the game is very well done (kudos to them for portraying Bane in the intelligent light that the character deserves). The snark to snark combat between Batman and his butler Alfred is still present here and at times better than ever. The real highlight to me is the interactions between the young Barbara Gordon and Batman (makes me wish we could have seen a young Dick Grayson too). Visually, the game looks phenomenal. The snow effects in the open world are beautifully rendered and the character designs are all done in that same Arkham style that littered the previous two games.

In conclusion, Arkham Origins is a good game, a great one at times. However, it doesn't do anything new or special to separate itself from it's older installments. If you're looking for a great story that gets down to the roots of the conflict between the Joker and Batman, then look no further. However, just don't be expecting anything new or revolutionary in the way of gameplay. I still enjoyed the game and I'm very excited to see Rocksteady get back in the game with their next installment. Those looking for the kind of replayability that City had may end up disappointed but overall Origins is a fun experience that shouldn't be missed by any Batman fan. Just don't expect anything revolutionary or new.

My Score: 4/5

Pros: It still has the great gameplay that we've come to love over the years. The plot is fantastic for fans of the Batman/Joker relationship. Troy effing Baker.

Cons: Gameplay, while good, doesn't feel much different from the past two games. New gadgets make the game too easy. Open world doesn't feel that open or immersive.