Biggu Nyuuzu
Mar. 15th, 2008 12:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blodeueddThe end of January and the beginning of February were tough on me. Not only was I sublimating "OMG I've been on my own for a year!" feelings and vaguely wondering what I was going to do with my life (or at least the next little bit of it), I was letting myself fall into a rut of not doing anything: not sewing, not cleaning, not cooking (not that I do much of that anyway, but I was especially lazy), not even going outside much when I could avoid it. I could lay the blame on Prince of Tennis, but I'm not one to let such obsessions overpower my other wants, and it's just as well something so enjoyable came into my life right when I needed the distraction. And a wonderful distraction it's certainly been, what with the insanely long anime, the movies, the music, the manga (which I'm only just starting to read, now that it's ended!) and the fanfiction. Oh gods, the fanfiction...! Anyway, it gave me something to focus on while my subconscious did its job and worked on my issues*, and for that I'll forever be grateful.
All that to say that while I may have gone through a rough spot, things have been looking up. I've gotten myself out and about, been meeting people, been washing the dishes, and now have a new job! Starting next month, I'm going to be Ms. A (because Ms. M-A would be too hard for the kids to say, and I prefer the A part of my name over the M part) at an English-language preschool. The kids, all Japanese, are adorable, and it looks like it'll be a lot of fun.
I'm not naive enough to think it'll be all sunshine and kittens, but I'm really looking forward to the change. For one thing, I'll actually be working almost full time, rather than teaching classes at odd hours the way I do now, so I know I'll be absolutely exhausted for the first couple of weeks, but I'm hoping that just as lethargy begets lethargy, activity will beget activity and I'll be more productive in my spare time than I've been for the past while.
As an added bonus (though whether I'll be saying that at rush hour remains to be seen... ^_^) I'll be spending more time using public transit, so I'll be reading more books, which means that the one book per week average I'd like to attain this year looks like it'll easily be surpassed. Of course, I could just as easily surpass it by reading more at home, but then when would I read all that Prince of Tennis fanfiction, I ask you?
* Now that I think about it, my two other true anime obsessions, namely Fushigi Yuugi and Kenshin, played a similar role in my life. Interesting...
And now, reviews!
Prince of Tennis (first OVA series, eps. 1-13):
It was something of a shock to the system, to see tennis matches start and be resolved within one episode! An even bigger shock than seeing the even more ridiculous moves that the boys pull off -- like seeing Eiji perform mitosis! *covers her eyes in shame* Oh god, please tell me that doesn't actually happen in the manga! I was thinking that the episode should really have been titled "Eiji Plays With Himself" (huh huh huh!), but after his little speech to Oishi, I changed it to "Eiji Proposes". I mean, later on, Fuji even says it was "a love call from Eiji to Oishi"! *blubbers at the cuteness of the Golden Pair* And then there's the whole Synchro thing (scary glowing eyes!), which I suppose is as close as you can get to achieving... I don't know, simultaneous orgasms on a tennis court with your partner.
So occasionally I feel guilty ascribing less than innocent motives to this show and its characters, but come on! As if it had never occurred to the writers/directors/animators! Which is why the beach volleyball episode's running gag of "priority seats" traumatized me for life. >_< *does not want to think about it* Not even the Seigaku boys as zombies made up for that!
Oh yeah, I guess I should say something about Higa Chuu, eh? Like how anytime anyone says "Higa Chuu" my brain automatically supplies, "Pikachu!" Aside from that, they were interesting enough as adversaries, even though their coach was psychotic. Their uniforms were pretty funny-looking, too.
Final verdict: 8.5/10 -- All the Golden Pair love makes up for the silly, silly moves, the lousy animation and the fact that precious episode time was wasted by having Tezuka wander around Kyuushu (who cares about him? He's only the captain!).
Prince of Tennis (manga volumes 1 & 2, in English):
[I'm reading this in scanlation, because I'm too lazy to read it in Japanese, to my chagrin, and I'm too lazy to type out a proper review, especially when I've got another 40 volumes to go.]
Just as Miaka is so much easier to bear if you're only reading about her saying/thinking/whispering/shrieking "Tamahome!" as opposed to hearing her, manga!Ryouma (not to mention manga!Karupin!) is a lot more likeable off the bat (or should I say racquet? *snicker*) than his cocky, surly anime self. In the same vein, Sakuno is not as useless and Tomoka is not as irritating. On the other hand, Shiba (the photographer) is way pervier about young boys than she is in the anime. XD Also, Nanjirou smokes.
I like the drawings, even though their legs sometimes look oddly spindly; at least Fuji's hair looks much better, as does Oishi's. Same style, it just doesn't look as much like a bowling ball.
Final verdict: 7.5/10, to be increased when we get the know the Regulars a bit more.
And because I try to do some reading in Japanese:
D-Gray Man (manga vol. 1):
M-P brought this back from Japan (and now I've brought it back!) when she was here in 2005, though I don't know if she just randomly picked it up or if she knew what it was. Enlighten me?
Because it's a first volume, it's mainly concerned with setting up the story. Allen Walker has a cursed hand and is an Exorcist! He spends the first few chapters helping people whose loved ones have been possessed by demons, and coming up against Sennen Hakushaku, the grinning demon guy in the top hat, who is the Big Bad Guy. Allen finally reaches the headquarters of the Exorcists, where he meets what I assume will be the core cast, and is tested to prove his Innocence. As in, his power to banish demons. There's mention of the Vatican, and hints of mysterious organisations and all sorts of other good stuff.
I liked the art, which manages to be both clean and detailed. I also thought it neat how different typefaces were used to imply speech patterns and accents. It's something I haven't seen too much of -- not that I've read a whole lot of manga in Japanese -- but I found it quite effective. I could just hear Sennen Hakushaku's voice. I've got the first 13 episodes of the anime to see if I was right!
For the moment, I'm not sure if I'll pick up any more volumes, but the anime may whet my appetite, so I'll put this on the "Maybe" list.
Final verdict: 7/10
And something not related to Japan in any way, shape or form!
Strictly Ballroom:
This is another one of those movie that my parents rented a long time ago, I joined them to watch after having missed the beginning, and went about with my life thinking I'd missed a whole chunk of. Turns out I had only missed the first ten minutes, if that.
It was an amusing blast from the past, what with the truly garish shades of eyeshadow and the super-sprayed hair. Not that those have truly gone out in the world of ballroom dancing, but at least the colours are nicer, this time around. And the costumes, oh, the samba costumes! They'll never cease to amuse me. :D
What a funny, funny movie! Not only that, it truly conveys the passion for dance that makes me both love and hate such films: love, because how can one not, when one has that same enthusiasm; hate, because they just make me want to get up and dance, and I had no convenient partner lounging around my apartment with nothing to do. ;_;
Final verdict: 8.5 super glittery sequined stars/10
Wow, the afternoon has barely started and I've already written my weekly reviews (I've still got the live action Prince of Tennis to review, as well as the second musical, but I want to do reviews in pictures for those, so they'll come later). Where is this energy coming from?!
All that to say that while I may have gone through a rough spot, things have been looking up. I've gotten myself out and about, been meeting people, been washing the dishes, and now have a new job! Starting next month, I'm going to be Ms. A (because Ms. M-A would be too hard for the kids to say, and I prefer the A part of my name over the M part) at an English-language preschool. The kids, all Japanese, are adorable, and it looks like it'll be a lot of fun.
I'm not naive enough to think it'll be all sunshine and kittens, but I'm really looking forward to the change. For one thing, I'll actually be working almost full time, rather than teaching classes at odd hours the way I do now, so I know I'll be absolutely exhausted for the first couple of weeks, but I'm hoping that just as lethargy begets lethargy, activity will beget activity and I'll be more productive in my spare time than I've been for the past while.
As an added bonus (though whether I'll be saying that at rush hour remains to be seen... ^_^) I'll be spending more time using public transit, so I'll be reading more books, which means that the one book per week average I'd like to attain this year looks like it'll easily be surpassed. Of course, I could just as easily surpass it by reading more at home, but then when would I read all that Prince of Tennis fanfiction, I ask you?
* Now that I think about it, my two other true anime obsessions, namely Fushigi Yuugi and Kenshin, played a similar role in my life. Interesting...
And now, reviews!
Prince of Tennis (first OVA series, eps. 1-13):
It was something of a shock to the system, to see tennis matches start and be resolved within one episode! An even bigger shock than seeing the even more ridiculous moves that the boys pull off -- like seeing Eiji perform mitosis! *covers her eyes in shame* Oh god, please tell me that doesn't actually happen in the manga! I was thinking that the episode should really have been titled "Eiji Plays With Himself" (huh huh huh!), but after his little speech to Oishi, I changed it to "Eiji Proposes". I mean, later on, Fuji even says it was "a love call from Eiji to Oishi"! *blubbers at the cuteness of the Golden Pair* And then there's the whole Synchro thing (scary glowing eyes!), which I suppose is as close as you can get to achieving... I don't know, simultaneous orgasms on a tennis court with your partner.
So occasionally I feel guilty ascribing less than innocent motives to this show and its characters, but come on! As if it had never occurred to the writers/directors/animators! Which is why the beach volleyball episode's running gag of "priority seats" traumatized me for life. >_< *does not want to think about it* Not even the Seigaku boys as zombies made up for that!
Oh yeah, I guess I should say something about Higa Chuu, eh? Like how anytime anyone says "Higa Chuu" my brain automatically supplies, "Pikachu!" Aside from that, they were interesting enough as adversaries, even though their coach was psychotic. Their uniforms were pretty funny-looking, too.
Final verdict: 8.5/10 -- All the Golden Pair love makes up for the silly, silly moves, the lousy animation and the fact that precious episode time was wasted by having Tezuka wander around Kyuushu (who cares about him? He's only the captain!).
Prince of Tennis (manga volumes 1 & 2, in English):
[I'm reading this in scanlation, because I'm too lazy to read it in Japanese, to my chagrin, and I'm too lazy to type out a proper review, especially when I've got another 40 volumes to go.]
Just as Miaka is so much easier to bear if you're only reading about her saying/thinking/whispering/shrieking "Tamahome!" as opposed to hearing her, manga!Ryouma (not to mention manga!Karupin!) is a lot more likeable off the bat (or should I say racquet? *snicker*) than his cocky, surly anime self. In the same vein, Sakuno is not as useless and Tomoka is not as irritating. On the other hand, Shiba (the photographer) is way pervier about young boys than she is in the anime. XD Also, Nanjirou smokes.
I like the drawings, even though their legs sometimes look oddly spindly; at least Fuji's hair looks much better, as does Oishi's. Same style, it just doesn't look as much like a bowling ball.
Final verdict: 7.5/10, to be increased when we get the know the Regulars a bit more.
And because I try to do some reading in Japanese:
D-Gray Man (manga vol. 1):
M-P brought this back from Japan (and now I've brought it back!) when she was here in 2005, though I don't know if she just randomly picked it up or if she knew what it was. Enlighten me?
Because it's a first volume, it's mainly concerned with setting up the story. Allen Walker has a cursed hand and is an Exorcist! He spends the first few chapters helping people whose loved ones have been possessed by demons, and coming up against Sennen Hakushaku, the grinning demon guy in the top hat, who is the Big Bad Guy. Allen finally reaches the headquarters of the Exorcists, where he meets what I assume will be the core cast, and is tested to prove his Innocence. As in, his power to banish demons. There's mention of the Vatican, and hints of mysterious organisations and all sorts of other good stuff.
I liked the art, which manages to be both clean and detailed. I also thought it neat how different typefaces were used to imply speech patterns and accents. It's something I haven't seen too much of -- not that I've read a whole lot of manga in Japanese -- but I found it quite effective. I could just hear Sennen Hakushaku's voice. I've got the first 13 episodes of the anime to see if I was right!
For the moment, I'm not sure if I'll pick up any more volumes, but the anime may whet my appetite, so I'll put this on the "Maybe" list.
Final verdict: 7/10
And something not related to Japan in any way, shape or form!
Strictly Ballroom:
This is another one of those movie that my parents rented a long time ago, I joined them to watch after having missed the beginning, and went about with my life thinking I'd missed a whole chunk of. Turns out I had only missed the first ten minutes, if that.
It was an amusing blast from the past, what with the truly garish shades of eyeshadow and the super-sprayed hair. Not that those have truly gone out in the world of ballroom dancing, but at least the colours are nicer, this time around. And the costumes, oh, the samba costumes! They'll never cease to amuse me. :D
What a funny, funny movie! Not only that, it truly conveys the passion for dance that makes me both love and hate such films: love, because how can one not, when one has that same enthusiasm; hate, because they just make me want to get up and dance, and I had no convenient partner lounging around my apartment with nothing to do. ;_;
Final verdict: 8.5 super glittery sequined stars/10
Wow, the afternoon has barely started and I've already written my weekly reviews (I've still got the live action Prince of Tennis to review, as well as the second musical, but I want to do reviews in pictures for those, so they'll come later). Where is this energy coming from?!
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-16 03:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-17 12:09 am (UTC)New beginning it is, and I'm glad. Even though it'll mean being ready to leave at 7:30 *cringes* For the past year, the earliest I ever started working was 10:30(so I leave at 9:45)!