It's the End of the World As We Know It

Or of a franchise, at least. Sort of.

The two-movie reimagining of Attack on Titan wrapped up this past week, showing the second and final (?) film in select theaters. I was fortunate enough to attend this screening in addition to last month's event, and I was of course curious to see how this ending would fare, being original and all. The short answer? I thought this movie was great! Better then the first without question.

There is room for debate, however, and those who enjoyed the first part's horror aesthetic may be let down by this one. Part Two is not a horror movie. Part Two is straight-up action. With characters and stakes already established, we're treated to big reveals, plot twists, and shit hitting the fan. The quite character moments were honestly the first part's greatest weakness, so their lesser presence here is a good thing in my book; there's only one really weird scene in Part Two, and it comes across as more funny than awkward.

The action itself is great. “Normal” Titans barely make an appearance here, so the high-flying maneuver gear sequences are replaced by good old-fashioned fisticuffs between “special” Titans. Sure, it's a little more Hollywood-y to follow most important character moments with “Now you must fight so-and-so!”, but keep in mind that great action was a major selling point of the anime series. Besides, at least you know each rubber-suited guy is actually fighting another rubber-suited guy and not a mass of soulless computer graphics. Man, that Shin Godzilla movie can't come soon enough!

Probably the best thing about Part Two is we finally hear its overarching message loud and clear. Because, you know, there is a point to all the violence and despair. While the series did have a passing interest in totalitarian government and its effect on the people, this movie makes it a top priority. In fact, for all intents and purposes, government seems to be the answer to the oft-asked question: “Who is the real enemy here?” Luckily for us, the movie's also smart enough to stress that anti-authoritarian extremism is just as undesirable because that, too, tends to hurt innocent people. It ain't Shakespeare, but for a pretty short action movie, that'll do just fine.

Lest I start sounding too optimistic, there were also some not-so-great aspects. The couple of awkward scene mentioned above, and the unavoidable simplification of all characters. The first movie is required viewing to understand this one, which I count as a minus; it's a much harder sell to anyone outside horror junkies. And the music, sadly, is about as obtrusive as before. One very bizarre song choice towards the beginning balances out the lack of a hip-hop beat over the end credits. Still, there's so much ominous chanting choirs where they're not needed, I have to wonder if Shirou Sagisu is caught in a rut. Maybe he caught it from Hideaki Anno?

Despite some roughness, I think the Attack on Titan live action film duology is a worthy addition to the franchise because it gives us something we're seldom given: answers. Closure. A sense of fulfillment, unless you count the fucking hilarious post-credits stinger. Though certainly not as well-written or plotted as the true series, it's an intriguing and well-intentioned experiment while we wait for the real ending. That's all I ever wanted to see, and that's just what I got.

Summer 2015 Overview

Another season's gone, a season full of surprises both good and bad.  Luckily there were some continuing shows I could cling to for sanity.  Let's get right to it!

The Heroic Legend of Arslan

Well, at least it tried to tell an epic story. But then, so does your average elementary school play. A combination of bad animation and gimmicky characters robbed me of any enjoyment the story may have given, padded though it may have been. Definitely look up the old OVAs instead; they're far from perfect, but much more memorable.

Ore Monogatari!

I know this show is nothing but comfort food. Conflicts are few and far between, while the stakes are always the same. But the characters are just so enjoyable to watch, dammit! I can't help but want things to go well for everyone, just like I can't help but hope there's a second season in the future.

Ninja Slayer

Once you get used to the idea that this show is not, and was never intended to be, the second coming of Kill la Kill, Ninja Slayer can be a fun little series. Sure, its sense of humor is on the weird side, the action intentionally inconsistent, and the designs way over the top (in a good way, I'd argue). But all in all, the half-episode length works with that oddness to keep things from getting to be too much.

Monster Musume

Probably one of the season's more hotly anticipated shows, this was a fun fanservice romp for the most part. Having already read the manga, I knew pretty much what to expect, and kind of wished the director would branch out from the source material a bit. What I saw was good, but the show could have taken the concept and really run with it. The sub-species descriptions after the end credits were a nice touch in that respect.

Gate

I wrote a brief article describing why this show, or rather its rotten, irresponsible message pissed me off so much. It hasn't changed its tune since; the good guys are still perfect because they're perfect, and their actions are never presented as anything less than morally righteous. I'll still watch the second half when it starts next year, but just to see how bad it gets.

Gatchaman Crowds: Insight

I'd have to classify this series as a guilty pleasure. Like the first season, this show was a little too sure of its own message, dismissing opposing arguments a little too readily. Also, its real-world applications are a bit limited; succumbing to groupthink is dangerous, but dissenters are not likely to get eaten by striped thought-bubble monsters. Still, it's always visually interesting. And I like how carefully plotted it is, how every episode has a purpose. You've got to respect the amount of thought and effort going into the series, at least.

Overlord

Another guilty pleasure; I love the idea, but damn is Overlord light-novel-ey. The main character's invincible, and the exposition-to-action ratio really favors the talking. I won't lie, it's slow as hell when it shouldn't be. What saves it, in my eyes at least, are characters that are more or less fun to follow. The world's nice, too, and the show has a sense of humor about itself that saves it from being garbage. I'd have to call this a miss, though, unless there's an upcoming season that lives up to the concept's potential.

Gangsta

Well, that was underwhelming. Gangsta had a lot of characters, with a lot of tragic backstories, but I have no idea what the show wanted us to care about. I guess everyone was sympathetic in one way or another, but very little is actually done with anyone; they all feel like darts thrown haphazardly at a wall to see which ones stick. As for me, I'll stick with Black Lagoon.

Prison School

This show is trash. And it is brilliant. Festering shit. And I love it. Whenever this show didn't have me at the edge of my seat in suspense, it had me laughing. It's like if Alfred Hitchcock ever decided to direct a porno, or an exploitation film. The resulting film would still be garbage, but it would still be the most competent, gripping, entertaining garbage you'd ever seen, goddammit!

Jitsu wa Watashi wa

Though it had its moments of genuine hilarity, they were few and far between. I suspect it wouldn't have stood out even without the similar premise of Monster Musume as direct competition, because the characters just suck. They're all dumb stereotypes turned up to eleven, they don't have enough good traits to compensate, and the drama feels forced since it focuses on inexplicable attractions and stupid misunderstandings. Can't say I'm a fan.

Gakkou Gurashi

Probably one of the smarter shows of the season, this one knew exactly how to get to you; I can't remember the last time I've rooted for a do-nothing-at-school club. Although it can be a little too dramatic or silly at times, there's always a great atmosphere that usually helps sell the world. Also, there are some harsh twists. You'll know by the end of episode one if this show is for you.

Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace

Again, my review more or less sums up my thoughts. A disastrously confused show that tricked the Noitamina timeslot into thinking it was smart with its eccentric visuals and respected source material, only to end up as dumb and pandering as anything I've seen. At least it was only eleven episodes.

Charlotte

Though I enjoyed this show for the fun characters and found the drama passable, the plot could be a bit odd. Several times throughout the show some crazy serious thing will happen out of nowhere, and shit will get very real for a while. But then the situation gets resolved, with surprisingly little fallout, making me feel like I'd veered into a different show for an episode or so. Not that the series was bad by any means, but I think it would have benefited from a gradual, consistent buildup of tension rather than game-changing surprises.

Ushio and Tora

Proof that the most worn-out of concepts need only a fresh coat of paint to work again. Despite being about as generic-90s-shonen as you can get, the sheer passion put into the animation and design is undeniable; I don't know the last time I've enjoyed a monster-of-the-week show so much. Just watch the opening credits and you'll have a good idea of the manic glee that went into this production.

Rokka no Yuusha

Boy, what a letdown that last third was. Until then, some good characters and designs made up for the subpar animation. Some may have been disappointed this wasn't a fantasy action show, but the closed-room mystery aspect totally worked. Until we got to the answers; that payoff was terrible, and we couldn't have solved the mystery with the information given. What is it with the so-called “mystery” shows this season?

Shimoneta

I started this show just a few weeks ago; the buzz around it had slowly built up after a lukewarm initial reaction. Good thing, too. I had a great time watching it, appreciating the somewhat thoughtful social commentary, and laughing at the very raunchy jokes. Too bad Prison School is its direct competitor, one-upping this show in almost every respect. I'd hate for Shimoneta to slip through the cracks like it almost did for me. 

And that's the shape of things!  What will the fall season have in store for us all?  Can't wait to find out!

I've Been Waiting for This Day!

The other night, I had the unique opportunity to attend a showing of Attack on Titan: the live-action movie, part one. Having skipped the big-screen event that was Dragon Ball: Resurrection F due to not being a Dragon Ball fan, and later regretting the missed opportunity, I was really looking forward to this. Did the film deliver? Well, as I expected, it turned out to be a mixed bag.

First off, the designs were outstanding. The Titans looked just as scary/creepy/funny as you'd hope they would, thanks to a combination of CG and makeup that really worked. I liked how you could recognize some of the more distinctive Titans from the series, but there were some original ones that were just as memorable. Likewise, the Colossal Titan and Eren's transformation put their own distinct flair on the show's look without feeling out of place.

The setting was less recognizable as Attack on Titan. The show looked like you could plant any wall or town into any medieval European setting with no problem; most everything is wood and stone, with nary a piece of technology in sight save the maneuver gear. The movie is distinctly post-apocalypse. Everything's gray and dirty. The walls look like they're pieced together out of scrap metal, not particularly sturdy at all. Hell, the military uses vehicles in their mission beyond the wall, which threw me for a loop. Overall, though, the setting works to fit the movie's dour mood.

What didn't work so well were the characters. It's unfair to expect any but a few real-life actors to be as physically and emotionally appealing as cartoon characters, so I wasn't let down per se. Still, it's annoying to keep mixing the actors up and be unsure who died. Character arcs were watered down out of necessity; what can you do in ninety minutes with a large cast? I could fill in character quirks and backstories thanks to my familiarity with the anime, but I can't say if the uninitiated would have been invested.

Pacing was a bigger issue. The very beginning dragged its introduction of the principle cast more than it needed to. Though again, I already know their characters, I felt seconds tick by as we watched them without learning anything new about them. Sometimes you'll get a neat shot to build anticipation, like an unknown character gearing up for battle, only to cut back to other characters doing less exciting things for minutes before the anticipated cool thing actually happens. And some of the “romance” scenes in the middle? Awkward. Very awkward.

I wish the music had been better. I knew even before checking that Shiro Sagisu did the composing, because it sounds almost exactly like his work in the Rebuild of Evangelion movies; almost all ominous chanting, with a few scattered piano pieces. A little more variety would have been nice, especially since ominous chanting isn't all that effective whenever awesome stuff isn't happening to back it up. Also, what the hell? A hip-hop song for the ending credits? No.

The issue of subtitle errors, though I joke about it in the title, did not occur in my theatre. My sympathies go out to attendees who had to deal with this, as well as the Funimation employees who received the blowback.

In spite of these many flaws, I have to admit I had a great time, thanks to a pumped-up, almost-full house. There's really nothing like a theatre packed with fans to increase your enjoyment of a film. To clap when certain characters appear. To laugh at the jokes, and the Titans. To let out a collective “What?” at aforementioned action scenes. To cheer the awesomely gorey action scenes, of which there were plenty. Attack on Titan: Part One may be a flawed work, but one with a lot of skill and heart behind it that I think carried through to everyone. That's about as good a summary I can give of an experience only half complete.

I look forward to fixing that later this month.