Everyone who has an opinion on Courtney Love should first check out the doc on Kurt Cobain, "Kurt and Courtney," generally available in Blockbuster. Very eye opening, and if nothing else, it will demonstrate Love's genius at manipulating the media attention and hype.
This is just a stunt, she is smart enough to key in on hot issues and figure a way to promote herself with them. Still, it might be a good thing for her to do this anyway, as it is a funny and ironic, highly public, twist on the MP3 debate.
Actually this is not true. Grave of the Fireflies was directed by Isao Takahata. Princess Mononoke was directed by Hayao Miyazaki. These two have very distinct styles of direction in my opinion and should not be glommed together because they both work out of Studio Ghibli.
Which reminds me, one of the best anime movies ever was Takahata's Only Yesterday. This is possibly one of the most touching movies I have ever seen. A Japanese office woman travels to the countryside on vacation to revisit nature, and she is visited by many random memories from her youth. This movie is the pinnacle of Takahata's and Studio Ghibli's many depictions of childhood.
Because the memories of her childhood are not anchored to a continuos past storyline, they play directly on her modern life in unexpected ways. The also seem to abstract the nature of chldhood far more succinctly than even a movie such as Totoro. The use of memory in the place of fantasy, and then anchoring those to a life which is possibly not the one the woman would have chose, brings out those universal emotions of childhood in all of us.
Plus it has a happy ending, unlike Grave. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Unfortunately, it is not released in the US of A and you will have to keep an eye out for Studio Ghibli animation film festivals to be able to see it (of course, a movie like this should be seen on the big screen anyway. Miyazaki has been said that watching his movies on TV the same as listening to the soundtrack. I wholeheartedly agree.)
Disregarding plot weaknesses, the first time I saw the Fifth Element, I was really stunned at how much I felt as if I had just watched a live-action Anime movie.
Something about the design of the characters, the design of the spaceships, and the nature of the action. I mean, it definitely didn't remind me of Star {Wars | Trek} at all. I consider the 5th E. to be the first of these Anime live-action, but that's just my reckoning.
Please don't call "Perfect Blue" a thriller on Hitchcock's level. That is almost offensive. I have to say that in almost all aspects, Perfect Blue was below par compared to most anime.
The plot was weak, the visuals ineffective, the themes poorly developed. I heartily dont recommend this.
And I wouldn't bag on a movie like that unless I really meant it. I'm not a big fan of Evangelion or some others that were mentioned in the comments, but goddamn Perfect Blue sucked. Just want to let everyone know.
As far as reommendations, Almost any Studio Ghibli film (Miyazaki and Takahata, directing.) My Neighbor Totoro is the obvious favorite, but Princess Mononoke is equally incredible. Almost all anime scholars agree anime doesn't get better than Studio Ghibli.
Macross Plus, if you dont see any other Robotech/Macross based anime, you should definitely see this series. For me it defines the Macross universe. The first and third Macross series are also indispensible, but not quite as accessible as Plus.
A series I checked out recently, Visions of Escaflowne, was very good, if derivative. Basically a mechs meet castes and magic kind of story, very entertaining.
Also I have started checking out a series called "Kenshin." Basically a swords and honor type, so far it is pretty good.
Please don't call "Perfect Blue" a thriller on Hitchcock's level. That is almost offensive. I have to say that in almost all aspects, Perfect Blue was below par compared to most anime. The plot was weak, the visuals ineffective, the themes poorly developed. I heartily dont recommend this. And I wouldn't bag on a movie like that unless I really meant it. I'm not a big fan of Evangelion or some others that were mentioned in the comments, but goddamn Perfect Blue sucked. Just want to let everyone know. As far as reommendations, Almost any Studio Ghibli film (Miyazaki and Takahata, directing.) My Neighbor Totoro is the obvious favorite, but Princess Mononoke is equally incredible. Almost all anime scholars agree anime doesn't get better than Studio Ghibli. Macross Plus, if you dont see any other Robotech/Macross based anime, you should definitely see this series. For me it defines the Macross universe. The first and third Macross series are also indispensible, but not quite as accessible as Plus. A series I checked out recently, Visions of Escaflowne, was very good, if derivative. Basically a mechs meet castes and magic kind of story, very entertaining. Also I have started checking out a series called "Kenshin." Basically a swords and honor type, so far it is pretty good. Maybe more later. Peace!
Slashdot Mirror
Everyone who has an opinion on Courtney Love should first check out the doc on Kurt Cobain, "Kurt and Courtney," generally available in Blockbuster. Very eye opening, and if nothing else, it will demonstrate Love's genius at manipulating the media attention and hype. This is just a stunt, she is smart enough to key in on hot issues and figure a way to promote herself with them. Still, it might be a good thing for her to do this anyway, as it is a funny and ironic, highly public, twist on the MP3 debate.
Actually this is not true. Grave of the Fireflies was directed by Isao Takahata. Princess Mononoke was directed by Hayao Miyazaki. These two have very distinct styles of direction in my opinion and should not be glommed together because they both work out of Studio Ghibli.
Which reminds me, one of the best anime movies ever was Takahata's Only Yesterday. This is possibly one of the most touching movies I have ever seen. A Japanese office woman travels to the countryside on vacation to revisit nature, and she is visited by many random memories from her youth. This movie is the pinnacle of Takahata's and Studio Ghibli's many depictions of childhood.
Because the memories of her childhood are not anchored to a continuos past storyline, they play directly on her modern life in unexpected ways. The also seem to abstract the nature of chldhood far more succinctly than even a movie such as Totoro. The use of memory in the place of fantasy, and then anchoring those to a life which is possibly not the one the woman would have chose, brings out those universal emotions of childhood in all of us.
Plus it has a happy ending, unlike Grave. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Unfortunately, it is not released in the US of A and you will have to keep an eye out for Studio Ghibli animation film festivals to be able to see it (of course, a movie like this should be seen on the big screen anyway. Miyazaki has been said that watching his movies on TV the same as listening to the soundtrack. I wholeheartedly agree.)
Peace,
23_Elders
Disregarding plot weaknesses, the first time I saw the Fifth Element, I was really stunned at how much I felt as if I had just watched a live-action Anime movie.
Something about the design of the characters, the design of the spaceships, and the nature of the action. I mean, it definitely didn't remind me of Star {Wars | Trek} at all. I consider the 5th E. to be the first of these Anime live-action, but that's just my reckoning.
Peace,
23_Elders (of Anime)
Let me reformat:
Please don't call "Perfect Blue" a thriller on Hitchcock's level. That is almost offensive. I have to say that in almost all aspects, Perfect Blue was below par compared to most anime.
The plot was weak, the visuals ineffective, the themes poorly developed. I heartily dont recommend this.
And I wouldn't bag on a movie like that unless I really meant it. I'm not a big fan of Evangelion or some others that were mentioned in the comments, but goddamn Perfect Blue sucked. Just want to let everyone know.
As far as reommendations, Almost any Studio Ghibli film (Miyazaki and Takahata, directing.) My Neighbor Totoro is the obvious favorite, but Princess Mononoke is equally incredible. Almost all anime scholars agree anime doesn't get better than Studio Ghibli.
Macross Plus, if you dont see any other Robotech/Macross based anime, you should definitely see this series. For me it defines the Macross universe. The first and third Macross series are also indispensible, but not quite as accessible as Plus.
A series I checked out recently, Visions of Escaflowne, was very good, if derivative. Basically a mechs meet castes and magic kind of story, very entertaining.
Also I have started checking out a series called "Kenshin." Basically a swords and honor type, so far it is pretty good.
Maybe more later. Peace!
Please don't call "Perfect Blue" a thriller on Hitchcock's level. That is almost offensive. I have to say that in almost all aspects, Perfect Blue was below par compared to most anime. The plot was weak, the visuals ineffective, the themes poorly developed. I heartily dont recommend this. And I wouldn't bag on a movie like that unless I really meant it. I'm not a big fan of Evangelion or some others that were mentioned in the comments, but goddamn Perfect Blue sucked. Just want to let everyone know. As far as reommendations, Almost any Studio Ghibli film (Miyazaki and Takahata, directing.) My Neighbor Totoro is the obvious favorite, but Princess Mononoke is equally incredible. Almost all anime scholars agree anime doesn't get better than Studio Ghibli. Macross Plus, if you dont see any other Robotech/Macross based anime, you should definitely see this series. For me it defines the Macross universe. The first and third Macross series are also indispensible, but not quite as accessible as Plus. A series I checked out recently, Visions of Escaflowne, was very good, if derivative. Basically a mechs meet castes and magic kind of story, very entertaining. Also I have started checking out a series called "Kenshin." Basically a swords and honor type, so far it is pretty good. Maybe more later. Peace!