Pacific Rim

One simple thing is all I ask of even the most cheesy of movies, please keep me in the world of the movie.  Once I am jerked out of the movie's world then my perception and judgement of the movie becomes more critical.

With del Toro's new movie Pacific Rim I was jerked out from the onset.  When in the opening a kaiju is simply defined as a giant beast.  Under this loose interpretation King Kong and the dinosaur from The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms are kaiju not just Gojira, Rodan, Gamera, and King Ghidorrah to name a few.

Another problem is making connections of scenes from this movie to other movies.  Riley and Mori remind me of Kodai and Yoko from Space Battleship Yamato.  The brash Australian Jaeger pilot reminds me of Iceman from Top Gun.  The Level Four kaiju dragging Gipsy Danger on the ground and carrying it into the air, too many skirmishes between Gojira and Rodan or King Ghiddorah.  When Gipsy Danger deploys it's sword, it will be hard not to think of Ivy from Soul Caliber and her sword.  The sub-sea rift is either inspired by X The Unknown or since we are talking an inter-dimensional rift then perhaps Battle Fairy Yukikaze.  The transport of the Jaegers by airlift and how the pilots synchronize reminds me of Neon Genesis Evangelion.  Once you see the ending you will go that's almost Independence Day.

The reduced science team is the most annoying thing in the movie.  Which is saying something since Ron Perlman is playing the guy who runs a black market selling kaiju parts.  One part of the team is this cliched crippled stiff upper lift British boffin, all he was missing was a pipe.  The other one the boffin called a 'kaiju groupie.'  Think of Rick Moranis' character in Ghostbusters but loves playing with the guts of alien creatures and getting tattoos of them put on his body.  At one point the boffin is madly playing with his chalkboards before the Jaeger commander while the groupie was sitting just a  few feet away without any protective gear tossing kaiju entrails on the floor.  At a guess they are supposed to be a bit of comic relief, but they are also the science team.  They might be a split version of Brent Spiner's scientist character from Independence Day. The British one is a far cry from Dean Jagger's Dr. Royston from X The Unknown or Prof. Quatermass from The Creeping Unknown.

Which brings me to another problem with this movie.  Earth has tried to seal the undersea rift before and has failed.  And until the science team rushes to Shatterdome to give the Jaegers the critical information they need to travel the rift, it seems they were just going to do the same thing they have tried before and failed.  That sounds too much like insanity and suicide all rolled into one though it could also be called a plan of desperation - a kamikaze move.

I will mention one other thing that bugged me in this movie and give it a rest.  Gipsy Danger is fighting a kaiju in Hong Kong that spits acid.  Audience goers have seen this acid partially dissolve another Jaeger and instantly dissolve the facade of a skyscraper.  So when Gipsy Danger grapples with the kaiju and Riley reaches into the mouth and rips its tongue out without dissolving Gipsy Danger's hand, it is another moment of being jerked out of the movie by a lack of internal consistency. 

Overall I would grade it as a B movie.

Laughing O Man

A Reuters photographer caught President Obama right behind his favorite crutch, a teleprompter.  So like others in the blogosphere decided to have fun with it.

Fans of Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell will recognize what I Photoshopped in.  I couldn't resist.

Armoured Women

Back in 1934 Robert E. Howard help create a whole new genre of sword fantasy, the fearsome woman warrior.  Her name was Red Sonya and the story was The Shadow of the Vulture.  This inspired the later comic hero Red Sonja and then a movie was made which put Red Sonja into the Age of Conan.  So the ring linking two Robert E. Howard characters was forged.

Red Sonya/Red Sonja had another impact in the world of fiction.  More than a new genre was created, a new term was also birthed.  From thence onwards any story that featured a woman warrior in skimpy armor was called a 'Chick in Chainmail' story.  Esther Friesner and Baen Publishing then proceeded to turn the concept on its head with the publication of Chicks in Chainmail, a collection of short stories featuring woman warriors who proceed to prove who's really the baddest warriors.

So where is this going this post?  Is it supposed to be just on fiction and fantasy?  Not really.  Like the authors in Esther Friesner's book, the United States Army has come to a realization of a different sort, body armor designed for men really does not properly fit all the women in the military.  So they have gone back to the design board to address this uncomfortable matter.  I just have a problem with the Army invoking another fictional female warrior in their attempt to sell the new designs - Xena.  One thing I can say is, if the new armor is based on the Xena armor then the US military won't see any chicks in high-tech chainmail.  I am reserving judgement on the whole idea after the Army finally realized that the $5 billion ACU program was a dangerous bust.

Looking forward in time, if the Army is successful in creating more female friendly body armor, will the Knight Sabre HardSuits be far behind?

Oh! My Goddess

Here is Hild as she appears in the opening for the show in her adult form. Someone not to mess with don't you think? Though still a stunning looking lady.

For Jewels who wanted to see how Hild looks in her normal and chibi forms. For a demoness she is pretty cute when chibi. I will probably rate a fireball for saying that. Here she is spying on her daughter Urd and the others who live in the old Buddhist temple - Belldandy, Keiichi, and Skuld.

Anime Brain Bleach

I was not expecting this from an anime. The show is called Nana to Kaoru. The above picture is of Nana Chigusa, top flight high school student. Her secret way of relaxing is soft S&M with her frankly scary weird boy friend[not sure if real boyfriend or just master - I quit less than halfway through], so she ends up acing tests afterwards. Did I mention both main characters are in high school yet? Well they are. I so need a neuralizer and brain bleach now.

Ah! Megami-sama!

There are certain animes that just make you smile, even when the characters have to deal with serious situations. Others are just plain silly fun. Oh My Goddess fits both very nicely. It is the story of college student Keiichi Morisato who one day dials the wrong number, instead of reaching the take-out place he gets the Goddess Help Line. And the goddess Belldandy responds to grant his wish. After much hesitation, he admits he wishes he had a girlfriend as nice as Belldandy. Flash of light and wish is approved by the Almighty. Luckily for Keiichi Belldandy is sweet, honest, true, and simply wonderful. Unluckily for Keiichi she is all the above and a goddess, so the series centers around Keiichi trying to muster the courage to express his love for Belldandy. Along the way Belldandy's sisters, Urd and Skuld, come to Earth to find out what is going on, further complicating Keiichi's life. He can't expect anyone, even his sister or the likes of Tamiya, to believe Belldandy is a goddess. Then Peorth of a rival Goddess help line enters the picture and so does Urd's mother Hild. And I mention Keiichi is a college student with a strong mechanical aptitude, is a member of the college's motor club, and his sister is also attending the same college.

I just finished watching the first episode of a new Ah! Megami-sama! TV series. It's about Keiichi and Belldandy going on a date to an amusement park that is closing. Naturally things look dicey for our love-birds as Hild, who is a demon, tries to use their love to remove the need for the Goddess Help line on Earth. If you stop and think about what is going on, there is a lot to think on in this episode even as it maintains a light and frantic energy. And all I can think about is the people of Japan who are still without power and shelter. I am hoping they are finding happiness in the small things they do have while working on recovering.

The picture at the top? Where did it come from? It came from the closing credits of the new series and I fell in love with it. It shows Belldandy embracing the world with her love. Her hands are touching Indonesia and Japan. Notice the lilies, in this season a sign of resurrection. A very appropriate image for this time. Let us use our love for our fellow man to help Japan rebuild.

Scramble Wars

For some anime retro silliness that is in homage to various crazy movies like Gumball Rally or Cannonball Run, here is Scramble Wars. In these modern anime times, almost all the shows who make cameos in this OVA have become unknown. Still enjoy the mayhem as everyone pulls out all the stops out to win the race.

An Enchanting Voice from Tibet

Alan was born in Tibet, which if you read the comments on her songs has sparked a bit of a flame war. People tend to forget that the People's Republic of China invaded Tibet. Please enjoy her music.

Major Tom, Coming Home

I am sorry but ever since I heard the Lincoln commercial set to Shiny Toy Guns version of Bowie's classic, have fallen in love with it. So here it is along with Bowie's original and STG's set to the same anime. Enjoy.

Retro Anime - The Venus Wars

For those going to comic stores looking for something different in the late 1980's, translated Japanese comic, or manga, fit the bill perfectly for many. From Studio Tron came Silent Mobius via Viz while Studio Proteus and Dark Horse gave the reader Shirow Masamune's Appleseed. Another manga that came to the US was Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's gritty science-fiction series called The Venus Wars and The Venus Wars II.

Like Silent Mobius and Appleseed, Venus Wars also received the animation or anime treatment. What emerged was a 104 minute movie that dared to experiment with merging live-action with animated elements[animated Hounds rolling across a real desert landscape], a music score from Joe Hisashi, of Nausicaa and Spirited Away fame, that matched and enhanced the movie, and an array of characters that are not one-dimensional cardboard, except for the Ishtarian commander Gen. Donner but even he has a certain presence as he strides forcefully to battle while declaring he will not 'be defeated by children.'

The Battle of the Cosmoport is the climax as Aphrodian forces in exile stage their counter-attack to regain their capital city of Io from the Ishtarian occupiers. First we are treated with an internal uprising of Io police and civilians against their conquerors then the battle shifts to the Cosmoport as Ishtar forces try to keep their supply line open. Here we see one time battle-bike ace Hiro with Major Kurtz ride their Hound monocycles into combat against that dreaded symbol of Ishtarian hob-nailed oppression, the Octopus battle tank that bristles with guns as big as 200mm. For Hiro its payback for the friends killed when battle queen Miranda lead her battle-bike gang against another Octopus. If one thinks of a battle between a skillful but youthful matador, Hiro, against an enraged bull, the Octopus tank, this battle gels nicely and so does Hisaishi's instrumental score for this scene.

Technical notes - The drink the bartender gives Terran reporter Susan Somers to acclimate to the denser Venusian atmosphere could be called a gimmick, exactly how it does what it does is not explained and the viewer accepts it as part of this alternate world. Another bit of world building is the bitterness Hiro expresses at the failure of the algae farms that seek to further terraform Venus for humans, his parents ran such a plantation but we find Hiro in Io as part of a battle-biker gang because he saw no future in that.

Comedic moments - There is one that sticks in my mind from this movie. Its when Maggie's father returns from his work with the Venus Development Board. He mistakes the sandwich that Maggie was making for Hiro as his so he takes it to the table. Meanwhile Maggie's Siamese cat Andrew is very morose as Maggie forgot to get him more cat food and there is a curfew on. So as Maggie's Dad lectures Maggie on dumping that worthless boyfriend Hiro, Andrew makes a play for half the sandwich and gets whacked upside the head. At the end of the movie we are treated to Andrew, who had turned his nose up at a sardine, now eagerly carting one off.

The Venus Wars anime was first released in the United States in 1992 on VHS by Central Park Media and the DVD version was released in 1998. Now that Central Park Media/US Manga Corps are no longer in business this is a hard anime to find, but it is worth it if you are tired of Bleach and Naurto while wanting some serious science-fiction besides Ghost in the Shell:SAC.

Anime Music Videos - Record of Lodoss Wars

Record of Lodoss Wars: Adesso e Fortuna sung by Sherry - Japanese version.




Record of Lodoss Wars: Adesso e Fortuna sung by Sherry - English version.



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Lyrics by Linda Hennrick. Music by Akino Nii. 1992

Caught by the Moonlight
A silent mist
S shimmer in the trees
Oh what a night for dreams
A night of destiny
Others are sleeping
So unaware of the magic in the air
Magic you were just for me
Io sono prigioniera

Sweet fascination
Though I don’t understand
The words you say
You whisper soft and low
And I am swept away
Touch of enchantment
I tremble when you
Hold me close this way
Drawn like a moth to a flame

Io sono prigioniera
My fate is in your arms tonight
Though love is shining in your eyes
Will you be mine tomorrow
Io sono priginiera
My heart will nevermore be free
A part of you I’ll always be
From now to eternity

Deep as the ocean
With every kiss
I’m deeper in your spell
Love me again tonight
You are my one desire
Waves of emotion
I know that this
Is where I want to be
Locked in your arms with no key

This is Ergonomic?

This is so wrong its almost funny. This is supposed to be one of those ergonomic mousepads that supports your wrist while you click and slide. Twin hemispheres of silicone without Pam Anderson attached. And the image of Kuu they have in the background, she seems like a tipsy girl ready to be rolled. And the seller's mottos attached - We know what you need! and free RAM - just add to the wrongness. I would grade this as a fail.

James Cameron

Its amazing how much buzz James Cameron has generated with just a few trailers of his upcoming movie Avatar. Roses has a link to the trailer on her site. And this movie is not coming out until this December, simply incredible the interest.

So what is Avatar? Judging from what little I have read and from the trailer. It looks like humanity has finally made it to the stars and come across a primitive alien race on a very nice hunk of real estate. Which presents a bit a quandry it seems. What to do about the natives? So using technology they inject the minds of several Marines into alien bodies to gather intelligence. And suddenly what pops to mind from the writings of David Drake and his very lost Roman legion, "and they took barbarian wives." At least these are not Parthians.

What has everyone gasping in amazement is the blending of live-action and computer animation. The aliens look alien but totally real, not a collection of pixels animated. There is a more natural look and texture to the aliens and their environment that what was seen in such computer animated movies like Final Fantasy Spirits Within. Just hope the story is not very simplistic, or all the super effects in the world won't save it from a quick demise.

As a fan of anime, for Avatar to tank would imperil Cameron's next film which is due out in 2011. For years rumours have floated that James Cameron would tackle Battle Angel Alita as I blogged on it before. This picture taken as James Cameron tackles Avatar shows how committed to Alita he is, a t-shirt with Gally/Yohko on it as he talks it over with Sam Worthington. And look at the set they are on, very much a dressed up C-17 troop compartment it seems.

As to what is Gunnm? Might want to try the Battle Angel Alita web-site. Here is the trailer for the Battle Angle Alita anime OVAs.

For Gov. B and Wife

Just felt like it. Gov. B has political ebola so watch everyone scramble for distance.

More Lodoss Art

Pirotess, all wet from a dive.

Team Ashram with Pirotess as his Racing Queen. *wow*

The above two images were used as laser-disc covers for the OVAs.
Pirotess no bara is most fetching.

This art was used for one of the Lodoss OVA CDs.

Just for ZK at LGF.

Lodoss Art

Deederit and Parn share a warm embrace on a winter day.

Fae Deederit looks pensive in the Forest of No Return on the Accursed Island of Lodoss.

Poor Pirotess looks loss and forlorn in this picture.

For a change of pace from the usual political blather, hope you enjoy some of art from the series Record of Lodoss Wars.

Now They Are Recylcing Anime

How much is Hollywood out of original ideas? Well we have the fourth Indiana Jones movie coming out. It could be fun, even with Crystal Skulls. Time will tell if Dr. Jones can still wear his battered fedora and crack that whip to defeat the bad guys.

So where does Hollywood go next for ideas? The Land of the Rising Sun it seems. James Cameron has been toying with Battle Angel Alita for years, but has yet to produce one frame of film. On the horror front, we have seen The Ring and The Grudge remade into American films.

One new contender is a film based on a story from Japan we will be seeing is coming from Dreamworks and Steven Spielberg it seems. Spielberg said. "It's a genre that has arrived, and we enthusiastically welcome it to DreamWorks." Pretty darn strong words since the property in question Ghost in the Shell has has spawned three different comics, three animated movies, a two season TV series, two games for Playstation, plus countless other items. As for the genre allusion, cybernetics and cyberpunk actually stem from such American movies as Blade Runner.

Hollywood, scraping the bottom of the barrel again.

Lodoss AMV

AMV Test

Video Game Night

Just for a change of pace but still firmly locked into a Halloween theme, lets crank up the music while Felicia takes on the evil monsters in CAPCOM's very successful Darkstalkers/Vampire Savior/Vampire Hunter/Puzzle Fighter games and cartoon series. For a bio on Felicia and some cosplay pictures, please go here: Game Hotties.

Some of the characters spied in the following video are: BB Hood who is Red Riding Hood with an Uzi. Morrigan who is a princess of Hell - read succubi - who is so evil she spawned Lilith to handle the evil. We see Felicia several times in this video smacking the blood out of Lilith. And then there is Lei-Lei the all blue skinned girl with the red/yellow hat and humongous claws - she is a ghost.



Then there is this MUGEN video where Felicia beats up that annoying brat Naruto. Also have found one where she is pitted against Homer Simpson, Duh! Might have to setup MUGEN now.



If you now have an urge to purchase something related to Felicia, please go to SOTA Toys who have two different PVC figures of Felicia plus figures of bad guys like Dmitri and Lord Raptor.