Showing posts with label My reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My reviews. Show all posts

Friday, October 9, 2009

My reads this Puja....

reviews form the net.....
1> Dan Browns new

Guide Review - 'The Lost Symbol' by Dan Brown - Book Review
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown is Brown's third Robert Langdon thriller. In Brown's first two Langdon books -- Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code -- Langdon uncovered conspiracies within the Catholic church that involved art and science. The Lost Symbol takes place in Washington D.C. and explores the secrets of Freemasonry.
Brown is not the first to use the Masons as a launching point for a thriller. Indeed, I couldn't help but compare my experience reading The Lost Symbol with watching National Treasure. I enjoyed the movie more because it took itself less seriously than The Lost Symbol and enjoyed a visual advantage (always nice to be able to see the symbols and buildings involved in a conspiracy). Still, there is plenty of Mason folklore to go around, and The Lost Symbol does a fine job of creating another mystery in our nation's capital.
So why do I consider The Lost Symbol merely an average read? First, Brown does not create anything new -- no new character development, no big surprises in plot trajectory. Furthermore, his signatures "twists" are not nearly as tantalizing as in his previous books. After so much build up, I found myself let down by the reality of the secrets revealed in the end. Finally, there are several points when it seems as if Brown is trying to make his book more intelligent or profound than it actually is. Langdon's rants about religion and truth, when not directly tied to the mystery, are tedious and even a little preachy. In fact, the last 50 pages of the book try a little too hard to be enlightening.
2)The Hard tales of the Geisha.....

Memoirs of a GeishaArthur Golden
I decided to read this book because I was curious about what a geisha actually was. I know most 'westerners' think them to be prostitutes, but to me that didn't seem to be the whole story. While they did strive to be ‘kept women’, they were also very skilled and cultured, who for the most part entertained men with dance, music, witty conversation and seduction of wealthy patrons. The word geisha does not mean ‘prostitute’ but ‘artisan’ or ‘artist’. However, sexual intrigue is part of the job description, namely in the ritual known as ‘mizuage’, the selling of their virginity. This book is surely different and unlike any other book I've read, because of the theme and the way it's written. The pace and quickly changing conflicts leave no room for boredom. It's characters are vivid and the wording is clear and elegant. Personally, I've never became so emotionally attached to a book. I'd often find myself crying or laughing. There are many ups and downs in life that this book couldn't explain better. It's poignant, emotional and delves into the nuances of erotic maneuvering. It gives the reader a totally new perspective of history and a respect for the dramatic life of Japanese geishas. Readers experience the obstacles and triumphs of a highly successful geisha known as Sayuri, from the time she was sold by her parents to a geisha family, to the triumphant auction of her mizuage and her reminiscent old age in Manhattan. Most of the story centers on the geisha's coming of age in Gion (the geisha district), struggles with rivals and her search for love during the 1930s and 1940s. We witness her struggle from maid, to apprentice and finally an actual geisha, and learn just what it is like to live solely to entertain and be perfect. Arthur Golden portrays the story through the eyes of a young girl, allowing us to experience the thoughts and feelings of a woman in her world, as well as the characteristic grace, stoicism and politeness of Japanese culture. However, the annoying thing about this book is the ending. It’s so abrupt and simple. It undoes all of the sympathy and warmth I felt for the character. She becomes very shallow and manipulative. It’s like the writer got bored, or was behind on his deadline because the last pages were very weak, as if gave up and wanted to end the book. I can understand why she ended up where she did.....how else would she be able to tell her story? But it’s disappointing because here is a woman with so much potential - she's beautiful and intelligent - but she is also trained to be manipulative, deceitful, and opportunistic. It seems to condone that the end justifies the means. The ultimate message of this book is; rely on yourself because everyone else will fail you. Not that this is surprising, based upon the environment and upbringing she experiences. It could be argued that she made the most out of her circumstances. For a book like this, with an incredible build up where you want to see everything wrapped up, there is no adequate ending. I still recommend the book, but warn against the end - what a letdown


The metaphors in this book delve into the meaning of life. My favorites include; ‘I felt as a bird must feel when it has flown across the ocean and comes upon a creature that knows its nest.’ ‘Was life nothing more than a storm that constantly washed away what had been there only a moment before, and left behind something barren and unrecognizable?’ ‘We lead our lives like water flowing down a hill, going more or less in one direction until we splash into something that forces us to find a new course.’ I was amazed at times with the writing and the detail of it. At other times, however, I felt the author sacrificed the story for style. In the beginning the metaphors were well-placed and clever, but as the story went on I wished that just once, Sayuri could say something without comparing it to leaves or butterflies. It's a novel that's full of passion, feelings, and sadness which made me want to keep reading to discover what was going to happen next. The setting is what makes this book readable and enjoyable. By using original Japanese words and detailed descriptions the author draws the most incredible pictures in the readers' mind. I liked that the heroine was not flawless, it helped me sympathize with her situation. But what captivated me was the subject matter, it's a rare and enlightening look at a secret culture that's both elusive and seductive. The book closes with an image Sayuri constructs, describing the choices she has made: "But now I know that our world is no more permanent than a wave rising on the ocean. Whatever our struggles and triumphs, however, we suffer them, all too soon they bleed into a wash, just like watery ink on paper." Although the ending was a disappointment, the rest of the story more than made up for it and anyway, what’s wrong with fairy tales?


Thanks for reading.......(:))

Monday, October 13, 2008

Reviews again

Sorry guys. its been ages since i last posted and i got some pretty angry mails about it too so i'll be posting like bfore again. Exams just kept me busy.
Its review time so i'll post a review on my latest seen anime and latest read manga....

ANIME

Hajime no Ippo

1)What can I say? It’s the best sports-themed anime I’ve seen so far! The first episode didn’t impress me much, especially Ippo, but I was sure glad I watched till the end.
Our hero, Makunouchi Ippo actually starts out as a wimp, but after being saved by boxing champion Takamura and taking up boxing, his life changes forever. Of course a lot of times he’s still a wimp, but he really packs a powerful punch! He’s not invincible either, and it makes it more realistic.
The stories. You really don’t get bored with Hajime no Ippo. Sure, I think there was recap episode or two, but it’s more than 60 episodes so it’s fine. The comedic moments are great too! They really gave me great laughs. There’s also a love story too, but it’s not the focus here.
The fights. They’re awesome, and with the energetic way the announcer covers the fight, you find yourself absorbed into it. The moves are awesome too! I never knew about Dempsey Roll or Gazelle Punch, and that they even existed!
The characters. What I like about the anime is that Ippo’s foes also get their own screen time–their stories, why they box, their aspirations, etc. I could go on and on, but I think I’ll save that for another time. I don’t think it’ll be enough just to mention them here, I wanna save it for later! =)
The animation. The drawing style is basically makes most characters look chubby, even the girls. But with many entertaining matches and stories, I’m not complaining.
Favorite Boxer. Miyata. I really wanted to see a real match between him and Ippo.
Favorite Funny Guy. Takamura fits the role nicely.
Best Fight. Sendo versus Ippo, the rematch. Yeah, they really saved the best fight for last!
Whew! When I get around to recomposing my all-time favorite anime, I’d sure think about this one too.

2)
Hajime no Ippo Anime Review
Written by: Enishi on 10/16/2004
Introduction
Hajime No Ippo is a series about boxing. But then again, its much more than that. It is a series that involves everything that makes anime great. It has the depth to continue forever (as seems to be the case, since the manga is on Volume 70+ in Japan). From the superbly conceived characters, to the hysterically funny moments that are widespread throughout, this anime gets a number 1 ranking in my book.
Review
At first glance, the main character, Makunouchi Ippo, doesn't look like much. Indeed, after the first few episodes, you might even get a bit annoyed with him. But you will be surprised at how fast your opinion of him changes. It is a complete turnaround. This turnaround is the theme throughout this series. The story follows Ippo as he begins his long walk down the path of a pro boxer in Japan. Ippo starts out as a weakling who doesn't seem to be able to stand up for himself. However, this changes one day when Ippo meets a pro boxer. Ippo is in awe of the power and confidence he sees within this boxer, and so he chooses his path to become one. Along his way, Ippo picks up friends, and the list of his opponents grows. One of the really cool things about this anime is that it introduces a pretty large cast of characters that really grow on you. You gotta root for Ippo, but at the same time, you will end up rooting for even his opponents. The fights are typically better animated then the non-fight scenes. You notice this phenomenon a lot in series like DBZ and even Naruto. Ippo typically stays the same, and the only changes come noticeably half way through the series. The animation takes a turn for the better, and the coloration of each panel is improved. Overall, character designs rock in my opinion. This is perhaps the best "funny face" anime ever, with GTO following it. Just remember this: A-O-KI! This series has some great intro songs, but at the same time, it has some really lame ones. The opening song for the last part of the series is pretty lame, but Ippo's theme is pretty cool. Takamura's champion song is perhaps the funniest thing I've ever heard. The sound effects during the fights are great, and give each punch thrown their own personal dimension. I have seen a good amount of anime in my life. I consider myself a pretty big fan of anime, and this is one of the few series that I have seen literally 6+ times. I enjoy this series so much that I have just seen it again in its entirety to write this review. This series has so many good points that I really just want to say that much. But since James Lin wants some substance, I will say that the fight scenes are great, the humor is topnotch and the few songs that have recurring roles in the series are composed very well. The TV series is also so well done that I would recommend it over the manga for the up to where the anime ends. Until the rest of the fights get turned into OVA's, the manga is all we Ippo fans have. But, don't get me wrong, the manga is well done, and really shines now that the mangaka can focus solely on the manga and not both. I am rambling now. Ippo is great.
Conclusion
Come on, if you can't figure out what I think about this series, then you must have been hit one too many times. Hajime No Ippo is perhaps one of the greatest anime series I have encountered. It ranks up there with Rurouni Kenshin, Evangelion, and I enjoyed watching and reading it as much as I enjoy watching/reading Naruto and Full Metal Alchemist right now. Now if you will excuse me, I think I hear the sound of the gong.


MANGA

Midori No Hibi

Info on Midori no Hibi Manga on AnimeNFO.com:

Other Names : Midori Days

Total Volumes : 8

Total Chapters :85

Year Published : 2003

Author : Inoue Kazuro

Publisher : Shogakkan

Story:Sawamura Seiji, Second year student at Sakuradamon High School, known as "the Devil's Right Hand" & "Mad Dog". The strongest Fighter around, he is feared by Everyone. He has always wanted a girlfriend, but he has been rejected 20 times in a row because of his Reputation. One Day, a girl called Midori Suddenly appears on his Right hand and Confesses to him, as a "Right Hand Lover". Now How will Seiji's Life turn Out? Will Midori stay on his Right Hand Forever??? Characters...The Cast of All the Midori no Hibi Characters. There are many characters. So I won't explain em'...My Review on Midori no Hibi Manga...Okay, So I think the idea & Storyline of Midori no Hibi was quite Unique & Different. Though i think Seiji (the main character) and Ichigo from Bleach Look almost alike... <_< id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256658641374475506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqa0QUD8HY6iCs_rSzBGSMviyolLpi8eUBZI8eRRxkxgXJ4v0tv-X3B73Aedg2SGY_d07ABOjkH16LT9AiFKIyUOAmvlxhwdQQ5jYjxi7zAJwGhyphenhyphenexOG4tQnqBpSW0o5RAkc5nz64Yyw/s400/midori_no_hibi_011.midori02_cover.jpg" border="0">

Now, Let's get onto Rating.. x)

My Rating:9/10

Art & Design: 7

Comment: The art is pretty Decent. Nothing extremely pretty or detailed... but decent.

Story: 9

Comment: Unique Storyline with LOTS of Comedy and Some Emotions... a 9!

Characters: 9.5

Comment: don't have to repeat myself... 9.5 for the Great Effort in Explaining the characters to great detail... =)

ALL THE CHARACTERS

See ya..........

Saturday, September 20, 2008

BRISINGR on the line

Oaths Sworn . . . loyalties tested . . . forces collide.
Following the colossal battle against the Empire's warriors on the
Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.
First is Eragon's oath to his cousin Roran: to help rescue
Roran's beloved, Katrina, from the evil clutches of the Ra'zac. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength - as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices - choices that take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.
Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once-simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?
Rich with a thoughtful examination of Eragon's maturing psyche, "Brisingr" explores how Eragon must come to terms with his role as a leader and the moral obligations that weigh heavily upon his young shoulders as a Dragon Rider."

(as written on the back of the book)

Hi friends Brisingr just released a few hrs ago and this post is for those who have not received paolini's 3rd book yet. Here is a little glimpse of what the book has. I won't tell u the secrets of the books except those given on the internet(except that the 3rd rider is not revealed in this book> it was obvious bcos the pic of the 3rd dragon was not drawn for the book)>

So here is the plot followed by an excerpt from the book>

Plot
The story opens with Eragon, Roran, and Saphira travelling towards Helgrind, the dwelling place of the Ra'zac and where Roran's betrothed, Katrina, is being held prisoner. They infiltrate the city, rescuing Katrina, but Eragon finds Sloan, her father (who betrayed Carvahall to the Ra'zac) in a nearby cell, barely alive. He is faced with a moral dilemma: should he kill Sloan in cold blood or not? Eventually, needing time to plan, he tells Saphira to go back to the Varden with Roran and Katrina, who think Sloan is dead, while he further explores Helgrind (and plans what to do with Sloan). He eventually decides that he will force Sloan to go to the elves (with the permission of Izlanzadi), and be banished from seeing Katrina ever again. He is very unhappy with this, urging Eragon to kill him instead , but with the revelation of Eragon discovering and speaking his true name, he goes.
Eragon then begins to journey back to the Varden, taking great care as he passes through the cities. Meanwhile, Saphira has arrived back at the Varden, and Arya, concerned for Eragon's safety and whereabouts, has set off in pursuit of Eragon. Arya and Eragon meet up again, and together they escape the city and return to the Varden, where Roran asks Eragon if he will marry him and Katrina in two days' time. Eragon is flattered, and agrees. He then mines three gold spheres with magic, and gives one to Carvahall's leather hide tanner (whose hides he stole when leaving Carvahall), then one to Jeod's wife, Helen, in the hope she will start up a business and prosper in her accustomed wealth. He also allows Jeod to ride Saphira, and Jeod tells Eragon of his father, Morzan, and his mother, Selena. He also visits the Varden's weapons master. On the morning of the wedding, a small batallion of soldiers from the Empire march on the Varden, who are puzzled at the size before they see Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn, and conclude that the army is only a small distraction from the real event: their capture of Eragon. But with the help of elf spellweavers that have been assigned to aid and protect him, Murtagh is driven away. The marriage takes place that evening, and Eragon gifts Snowfire to Katrina and Roran, as well as two magical rings that will help them when they need it, and allow them to always know where the other is.
No sooner are Eragon and Saphira reunited, however, when Nasuada orders Eragon to attend the election of the new dwarf king. She tells them that Saphira must remain behind, for if she didn't, then Murtagh learn of it and would crush the defenceless Varden. Eragon reluctantly leaves her behind, with the conditions that Saphira be permitted to come to the new king's coronation, and he be allowed afterwards to go and continue his training with the elves, and they mourn the severance of their connection. Once again among the dwarves, Eragon is reunited with Orik, the new clan-chief of Durgrimst Ignetium, and his new wife, Hvedra. When the counsel starts to vote on the next king or queen within the clans, the power struggle between the thirteen of them soon becomes evident. Debates on unrelated topics, such as farming land allocation, are debated over for far longer than Eragon is comfortable with, especially in Saphira's absence. We also see the story from Saphira's point of view during this time: she is very lonely. Soon after, an attempt is made on Eragon's life by unknown dwarves, which is investigated and found to be the work of Az Sweldin Rak Huin, ('The Tears Of Anhuin') who have shown open hostility and anger towards Eragon and Saphira. Orik presents this evidence to the clan-chiefs, and a vote is taken, in Orik's favour. Therefore, he becomes the new dwarf king. Eragon and Saphira are joyously reunited, and she mends the Isdar Mithim ('Star Rose') that was broken as Eragon slayed Durza, much to the dwarves' deilght.
Eragon and Saphira then return to the Varden, and then from there to Ellesmera, the elves' capital. When they arrive at the hut of their masters, Oromis and Glaedr, Eragon becomes frustrated at the fact that neither of them divulged the knowledge they had that Morzan was his father. But then, Glaedr tells him that Morzan was never his father, but Brom. He is also told about the source of Galbatorix's power. A 'Heart Of Hearts' is a dragon's heart, which can contain their consciousness if separated from their body, and exist forever. Glaedr explains that Galbatorix has hoarded and controlled hundreds of these for many years, and these are the source of his power. They also discuss Eragon's need for a new sword - the weapon he had been fighting with was unsuitable for a Rider. He tries a dead Rider's sword now belonging to one of the noble elf families, but it does not suit him very well and he turns it down. He visits Rhunon, a master craftswoman, who he asks to forge a new blade for him, but she refuses, saying that he would need a special material called brightsteel before she would consider forging one. Remembering how the werecat Solembum had told him 'When the time comes and you need a weapon, look under the roots of the Menoa tree, Eragon retrieves the brightsteel and, using his body, she forges him a new sword, which he names Brisingr. Unusually, anytime he speaks its name, the sword will burst into flames. He continues to be instructed by his tutors, and when the time comes to leave to help the Varden's siege on one of the Empire's cities, he is amazed to find that Oromis and Glaedr are leaving it too. Oromis explains that the time has come to oppose Galbatorix directly, joining Izlanzadi in Gil'ead, which he can now do because he has finished his task of instrucing Eragon. Glaedr gifts his Heart of Hearts to Eragon and Saphira, just in case he and Oromis are killed, before they go their separate ways.
Eragon and Saphira join the siege, where they are reunited with Arya and rescue her from attacking soldiers. Eragon and Arya race to find the leader of the city, who they hope to keep hostage. However, she informs them that magicians have decided that they know the city will fall to the Varden: they just want to create as much as possible - so they have set about trying to create a Shade. Horrified, Eragon and Arya race to the magicians, slowly bypassing their wards and killing each one in turn, but one transforms before they can reach him. Eragon and Arya fight him, with Arya eventually stabbing him in the heart. While fighting him, however, Glaedr's heart of hearts sends messages of Oromis and Glaedr fighting Murtagh and Thorn in Gil'ead, which has been attacked. Oromis dies in the fight, while Glaedr is driven to death with grief. The story concludes with Eragon telling Nasuada about all of his training, ad the fact that he is not Morzan's son. Eragon feels hopeless, but is then comforted in the knowledge that he has hope, and many comrades in his fight against Galbatorix.
Paolini>>>>>>
EXCERPT

"Saphira kneaded the soil beneath her feet. Let us be off! Leaving their bags and supplies hanging from the branch of a juniper tree, Eragon and Roran clambered onto Saphira’s back. They wasted no time saddling her; she had worn her tack through the night. The molded leather was warm, almost hot, underneath Eragon. He clutched the neck spike in front of him—to steady himself during sudden changes in direction—while Roran hooked one thick arm around Eragon’s waist and brandished his hammer with the other.
A piece of shale cracked under Saphira’s weight as she settled into a low crouch and then, in a single giddy bound, leaped up to the rim of the gulch, where she balanced for a moment before unfolding her massive wings. The thin membranes thrummed as Saphira raised them toward the sky. Vertical, they looked like two translucent blue sails.
“Not so tight,” grunted Eragon.“Sorry,” said Roran. He loosened his embrace.Further speech became impossible as Saphira jumped again.
When she reached the pinnacle of her jump, she brought her wings down with a mighty whoosh, driving the three of them even higher. With each subsequent flap, they climbed closer to the flat, narrow clouds that extended east to west.
As Saphira angled toward Helgrind, Eragon glanced to his left and discovered that, because of their elevation, he could see a broad swath of Leona Lake some miles distant. A thick layer of mist, gray and ghostly in the pre-dawn glow, emanated from the water, as if witchfire burned upon the surface of the liquid. Eragon tried, but even with his hawklike vision, he could not make out the far shore, nor the southern reaches of the Spine beyond, which he regretted. He had not laid eyes upon the mountain range of his childhood since leaving Palancar Valley.
To the north stood Dras-Leona, a huge, rambling mass that appeared as a blocky silhouette against the wall of mist that edged its western flank. The one building Eragon could identify was the cathedral where the Ra’zac had attacked him; its flanged spireloomed above the rest of the city, like a barbed spearhead. And somewhere in the landscape that rushed past below, Eragon knew, were the remnants of the campsite where the Ra’zac had mortally wounded Brom. He allowed all of his anger and grief over the events of that day—as well as Garrow’s murder and the destruction of their farm—to surge forth and give him the courage, nay, the desire, to face the Ra’zac in combat.
Eragon, said Saphira. Today we need not guard our minds and keep our thoughts secret from one another, do we?Not unless another magician should appear.
A fan of golden light flared into existence as the top of the sun crested the horizon. In an instant, the full spectrum of colors enlivened the previously drab world: the mist glowed white, the water became a rich blue, the daubed-mud wall that encircled the center of Dras-Leona revealed its dingy yellow sides, the trees cloaked themselves in every shade of green, and the soil blushed red and orange. Helgrind, however, remained as it always was—black.
The mountain of stone rapidly grew larger as they approached. Even from the air, it was intimidating.Diving toward the base of Helgrind, Saphira tilted so far to her left, Eragon and Roran would have fallen if they had not already strapped their legs to the saddle. Then she whipped around the apron of scree and over the altar where the priests of Helgrind observed their ceremonies. The lip of Eragon’s helm caught the wind from her passage and produced a howl that almost deafened him.“Well?” shouted Roran. He could not see in front of them. “The slaves are gone!”A great weight seemed to press Eragon into his seat as Saphira pulled out of her dive and spiraled up around Helgrind, searching for an entrance to the Ra’zac’s hideout.Not even a hole big enough for a woodrat, she declared. She slowed and hung in place before a ridge that connected the third lowest of the four peaks to the prominence above. The jagged buttress magnified the boom produced by each stroke of her wings until it was as loud as a thunderclap. Eragon’s eyes watered as the air pulsed against his skin.A web of white veins adorned the backside of the crags and pillars, where hoarfrost had collected in the cracks that furrowed the rock. Nothing else disturbed the gloom of Helgrind’s inky, windswept ramparts. No trees grew there among the slanting stones, nor shrubs, nor grass, nor moss, nor lichen, nor did eagles dare nest upon the tower’s broken ledges. True to its name, Helgrind was a place of death, and stood cloaked in the razor-sharp, sawtoothed folds of its scarps and clefts like a bony specter risen to haunt the earth.Casting his mind outward, Eragon confirmed the presence of one of the slaves, as well as the two people whom he had discovered imprisoned within Helgrind the previous day, but to his concern, he could not locate the Ra’zac or the Lethrblaka. If they aren’t here, then where? he wondered. Searching again, he noticed something that had eluded him before: a single flower, a gentian, blooming not fifty feet in front of them where, by all rights, there ought to be solid rock. How does it get enough light to live?Saphira answered his question by perching on a crumbling spur several feet to the right. As she did, she lost her balance for a moment and flared her wings to steady herself. Instead of brushing against the bulk of Helgrind, the tip of her right wing dipped into the rock and then back out again.Saphira, did you see that!I did.Leaning forward, Saphira pushed the tip of her snout toward the sheer rock, paused an inch or two away—as if waiting for a trap to spring—then continued her advance. Scale by scale, Saphira’s head slid into Helgrind, until all that was visible of her to Eragon was a neck, torso, and wings.It’s an illusion! exclaimed Saphira.With a surge of her mighty thews, she abandoned the spur and flung the rest of her body after her head. It required every bit of Eragon’s self-control not to cover his face in a desperate bid to protect himself as the crag rushed toward him.An instant later, he found himself looking at a broad, vaulted cave suffused with the warm glow of morning. Saphira’s scales refracted the light, casting thousands of shifting blue flecks across the rock. Twisting around, Eragon saw no wall behind them, only the mouth of the cave and a sweeping view of the landscape beyond.Eragon grimaced. It had never occurred to him that Galbatorix might have hidden the Ra’zac’s lair with magic. Idiot! I have to do better, he thought. Underestimating the king was a sure way to get them all killed.Roran swore and said, “Warn me before you do something like that again.” Hunching forward, Eragon unbuckled his legs from the saddle as he studied their surroundings, alert for any danger.The opening to the cave was an irregular oval, perhaps fifty feet high and sixty feet wide. From there, the chamber expanded to twice that size before ending a good bowshot away in a pile of thick stone slabs that leaned against each other in a confusion of uncertain angles. A mat of powder-gray scratches defaced the floor, evidence of the many times the Lethrblaka had taken off, landed, and walked about thereon. Like mysterious keyholes, five low tunnels pierced the sides of the cave, as did a lancet passageway large enough to accommodate Saphira. Eragon examined the tunnels carefully, but they were pitch-black and appeared vacant, a fact he confirmed with quick thrusts of his mind. Strange, disjointed murmurs echoed from within Helgrind’s innards, suggesting unknown things scurrying about in the dark, and endlessly dripping water. Adding to the chorus of whispers was the steady rise and fall of Saphira’s breathing, which was overloud in the confines of the bare chamber.The most distinctive feature of the cavern, however, was the mixture of odors that pervaded it. The smell of cold stone dominated, but underneath it, Eragon discerned whiffs of damp and mold and something far worse: the sickly-sweet fetor of rotting meat.Undoing the last few straps, Eragon swung his right leg over Saphira’s spine, so he was sitting sidesaddle, and prepared to jump off her back. Roran did the same on the opposite side.Before he released his hold, Eragon heard, amid the many rustlings that teased his ear, a score of simultaneous clicks, as if someone had struck the rock with a collection of hammers. The sound repeated itself a half-second later.He looked in the direction of the noise, as did Saphira.A huge, twisted shape hurtled out of the lancet passageway. Eyes black, bulging, rimless. A beak seven feet long. Batlike wings. The torso naked, hairless, rippling with muscle. Claws like iron spikes.Saphira lurched as she tried to evade the Lethrblaka, but to no avail. The creature crashed into her right side with what felt to Eragon like the strength and fury of an avalanche.What exactly happened next, he knew not, for the impact sent him tumbling through space without so much as a half-formed thought in his jumbled brain. His blind flight ended as abruptly as it began when something hard and flat rammed against the back of him, and he dropped to the floor, banging his head a second time.That last collision drove the remaining air clean out of Eragon’s lungs. Stunned, he lay curled on his side, gasping and struggling to regain a semblance of control over his unresponsive limbs.Eragon! cried Saphira."

NOTE

The three spoilers given out bfore the official release were>


"In a July 1, 2008 newsletter from Alagaesia.com, Paolini revealed that Brisingr will have a subtitle: "The Seven Promises of Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Bjartskular ".
A Spoiler has been released on the official inheritance site stating that Eragon will meet a god in this book.
On May 12, 2008 a spoiler video was released on Alagaesia.com that Eragon will meet "an enemy that laughs a lot, and not in a good way."
On July 14, 2008, a third spoiler was released on Alagaesia.com, stating that "In Brisingr, one of the characters will become pregnant".

An important character will die in the closing chapters of the book"

As my plot suggests the 4th spoiler reffers to Katrina and the last one tells us about Orosmis. To solve the other spoilers get your own copy.....(Har! har!)

Hey wait my post doesnt end here>


Speculations> Speculation
There is a possibility that Roran might become the new Rider, considering the title, Inheritance, and the fact that all the new Riders are seemingly "related". Though it is more likely the rider will be female considering that it is suspected the green dragon will be Saphira's mate, and if Saphira falls in love with the green dragon Eragon's affection will most likely transfer to the green dragon's Rider, because of the bond between Eragon and Saphira. Therefore, it is quite probable that Arya will be the next rider, since she is an elf and a female, and Eragon constantly lusts after her. Information that would support Arya as the new rider is that her magic and eyes are as green as the color of the supposed dragon (but this all seems more likely to happen in Book 4.) Paolini states that when someone, elf or human, bonds to a dragon, their magic automatically changes to the dragon's color, regardless what it might have previously been. Even so, other fans seem to disregard that statement, due to the fact that Arya was heavily criticised. "Antis" claim that Arya will be the next Rider because of her Mary Sue status--as the already-perfect elven warrior-princess-magician, Paolini is likely to add yet another accomplishment to the list. Orik the Dwarf is unlikely to be the next, because the pact of the dragons only involves humans and elves.
In response to disputes over Arya's already having touched the last egg, in Eldest, it is mentioned that Arya was born a year before the Fall. Oromis mentions that all elves were brought to the eggs "at the age of twenty". By the time Arya was twenty, the eggs would no longer be in the elves' hands, thereby invalidating claims that she has already come in contact with the eggs. Although it is still possible the green egg has hatched,to Arya or not, as the egg-thief fled before anyone had contact with him and could have stolen the green egg for the elves.
One of the plot points hinted at by the author was the pregnancy of a major character. Furthermore, whether or not Saphira finds a mate is also mentioned, leading to the possibility that its is in fact Saphira who gets pregnant. It is Already known that Eragon and Roran venture to Helgrind to rescue Katrina. If they succeed, it could mean a happy reunion for her and Roran. Also, the fact that the Green dragon was removed from the cover due to the 3rd book being split in two. However since Katrina most likely already slept with Roran, it is more likely Katrina will be the one getting pregnant.
The "Vault of Souls" may have something to do with how Murtagh's mind contained many voices as well as how he and Thorn were able to rival Eragon after such a short period of time. The Speculated answer is that by somehow "consuming" or in-taking souls or something of that sort, the recipient gains their experience or more power. This may also satisfy the question of Galbatorix's ever-increasing power. Concerning the location of the vault, several seemingly suitable options arise. The Razac's lair in Helrind is possible, if this is so, then it may be them who supply the vault with souls as well as providing a safe, convenient place for Galbatorix. It is possible that Galbatorix does not actually have possession, in which case, the Spine, seems possible.
Unresolved plot threads
In one of Eragon's dreams it shows elven ships leaving a shoreline while one last elf stays behind and cries. What does this mean? One possible reason is that it could be the elves leaving Alalea for Alagaesia. If so, then why did they leave and who was the one who stayed behind?
Eragon's dream where he and a female rider hold hands underneath two flying dragons that are speculated to be Saphira with Thorn or the green dragon.
Nasuada's mother - who was she?
The location of the Rock of Kuthian and Vault of Souls. When Eragon reached out to touch the mind of Murtagh he didn't feel one mind but multiple minds - maybe the magic that made them strong was taking the persons mind into yours and increasing your experience and strength.
The color and fate of the last dragon egg.
The strange beasts of Vroengard.
The reason Galbatorix lost half of his army in the Spine.
Eragon's departure from Alagaësia (predicted by Angela, possibly a reference to his death, though unlikely as it is also predicted by Angela that Eragon will live forever or for a long time)
The seven words that Brom revealed to Eragon as he was dying. Bear in mind that Brom told Eragon what these words meant and also to use them "in great need".
The fate of Roran.
The identity of the blind beggar who could speak to Solembum but asked not to have his fortune read.
The fate of Nasuada- the Varden favor Nasuada in terms of leadership at the end of Eldest, but Paolini has hinted that in Book 3 this might change.
Eragon, Saphira, Murtagh and Thorn's true names.
Saphira's mate. Possibly Thorn or the green dragon.
Selena's fortune, as foretold by Angela.
Katrina's fate, along with the fate of Sloan, the Ra'zac and the Lethrblaka.
The new Dragon Rider
The nature of the spirits that sorcerers summon will be revealed; already it has been stated that they are not the souls of sentient creatures returned from the afterlife.
More of the Dwarf culture will be revealed.
The fate of Oromis and Glaedr.
The fate of Murtagh. Will he and Thorn survive?
Information about Tornac (Murtagh's old friend and trainer) will be revealed.
All the promises of both Eragon and Saphira, and how they will do them in order.
Saphira's promise of repairing Isidar Mithrim.
Eragon's promise to return to the elves.
Eragon's promise to save Katrina with Roran.
Eragon's promise to lift his blessing/curse from Elva.
What lies beyond the borders of Alagaësia?
The name of the Ancient Language.
The fate of Orik - named as Hrothgar's heir to Durgrimst Ingeitum.
Truths about the powers Galbatorix and now Murtagh have.
How Thorn grew so quickly while Saphira took so long to grow.
The weapon under the roots of the Menoa Tree.
Whether Eragon still feels the same about Arya and what will happen between the two of them.
Whether there are real feelings between Murtagh and Nasuada.
The fate of King Orrin and Surda.
How Galbatorix continues to grow in power.
The identity of the character destined to die in the closing chapters of book.
How the Varden plan to get the last dragon egg, if it does not hatch for Galbatorix.
If Eragon will have a long awaited rematch against Murtagh being at full strength as opposed to fighting for hours before.
If the Grey Folk will appear.
If one of the Grey Folk is the god Eragon shall meet.
If the new title of the third book will affect one of the characters and if so, whom?
The truth about the woman Brom loved.
The name of Brom's sword.
The place from which Nasuada came from.
Ajihad's background.
Arya's background.
Solembum's and Maud's real names.
Whereabouts of the remaining four Rider swords which were kept by the family members of the Riders.
In what way Az Sweldn rak Anhûin will oppose Eragon.
If Eragon will ever visit the Urgal halls.
Angela's real age.
The real name of the Beor Mountains.
How Selena died.
More information about Brom's home in Kuasta.
Name and color of Galbatorix's first dragon.
Whether there are any other Riders and dragons still alive and hidden.
What lies to the east of Du Weldenvarden and the Beor Mountains.
What Shruikan's fate will be when and if Galbatorix's hold over him is broken, and what would happen to him if Galbatorix will die.
If the elves will ever forge Eragon a new sword.
The identity of King Evandar's murderer.
The identity of the dragon-egg thief and why they chose to flee on their own rather than giving Saphira's egg to the Varden.
The meaning of Blagden's riddle, when Eragon asks the raven if he knew his father.
Whether Blagden really knows Eragon's father. If so, then how does Blagden know?
How Oromis escaped from Galbatorix after being tortured and having his magic-using abilities weakened tremendously.
Was Morzan Eragon's father?
Whom is the female who gets pregnant and who is the father?
What is the name of the dragon chosen to represent it's race during the pact between the elves and the dragons, and why can't it be spoken in any language?
Who was Arya's first love?
Will Roran's arm be healed?

Many of these speculations were proved wrong in the 3rd book and some unresolved plot threads were discussed in the book.


A LITTLE ABOUT BOOK 4

Brisingr and Book 4
The Green Dragon and its Rider
possible alredy hatched to the elves as it has been stated slyly that eragon stands on a fragment of green dragon egg but this is possible an old egg that was left on mountain of broken eggs
Arya
There is still a possible chance that Arya could become a dragon rider. Galbatorix still has possession of one dragon egg, and Arya never had a chance to touch or handle the egg, meaning that she could become the next rider. Her fire is the color green like the last egg Galbatorix has in possesion. Arya also is the daughter of the queen which would be a good reason for her to become the next rider. But this is what most would consider an obvious pick, and Paolini stated that it will come as a surprise to most readers.
Orik
However, some suspect Orik to be the rider, and the evidence behind this is he was the first Dwarf to ride a Dragon. This belief can be reinforced by the fact that he wants to kill Murtagh, (avenge Hrothgar) and the task would be difficult without a dragon. However, the dwarves were not involved in the original treaty between the elves and the dragons, and were not later added to the treaty like the humans so it is impossible that Orik or any of the dwarves could be a Rider unless the elves add the dwarves. Some believe Orik will craft Eragon's blue sword.
Others
It is also possible that the new rider could be the son of one of the elven families who has a sword due to the theme of the series, (The Inheritance Cycle) inheritance. (this can be excluded bcos paolini stated the last rider will be someone we all know)
Roran
One other possible theory is Roran, because he is related to Eragon and the theme of the series is Inheritance. Murtagh, Morzan, and Eragon all received dragons. However, Roran is not a son of Morzan; he is only a nephew.
He is a blood relative only from Eragon's mother, who was not a Rider. Morzan might not be Eragon's father as it is also possible that Brom is Eragon's father, as Broms dragon was called Saphira.
Vanir
Christopher Paolini said that there were many hints to the Green Rider's identity throughout Eldest and that it might come as a "surprise" to readers. One interpretation can be that the Rider will be the Elf Vanir.
Throughout his interactions with Eragon, Vanir showed deep resentment that Eragon was chosen as Saphira's Rider instead of him; thus, he is disappointed that he wasn't chosen as a Rider. He implied that were he a Rider he would not be such a coward as he accused Eragon of being, and went as far as to allege that Saphira, tricked by Galbatorix's wiles, chose the wrong Rider. Saphira herself asserted that she rejected Vanir and many other elves during the time Arya ferried her egg between the Varden and Du Weldenvarden.
Vanir had obviously given much thought to being a Rider, evidence his lengthy declamation to Eragon about the circumstances surrounding the recovery of Saphira's egg and his assertion that the new Rider would have to more powerful than all predecessors, even Vrael, to be able to defeat Galbotorix, not a weakling, crippled human. This, however, was most likely him being arrogant and ignorant.
Despite his relative youth he was aware of the true nature of magic and was capable of doing magic without uttering aloud words of the Ancient Language, unlike Eragon. He equaled Eragon in swordsmanship, has a scholarly bent of mind as can be seen from his habit of quoting Elven texts, and Eragon observed on more than one occasion that Vanir and his peers were of a much younger generation of elves.
The colour green could represent the forest and hence symbolise Elf-magic, hence Vanir could be at least considered as a potential Rider. There are the clues that Paolini alluded to; as well as Vanir's selection would come as a surprise to most readers. This conclusion is the same for Arya, however.
Elva
Another character to be considered would be Elva. The reasons for these include the fact that she:
Carries a dragon's mark, a star on her brow.
Her growth was increased due to a side effect of Eragon's blessing/curse.
Elva obtained skills that would have otherwise taken her years to learn.
She can partially see the future which is a skill that may remain once Eragon turns her back to normal.
A hint of Elva would be Saphira's quote in Eragon: "What you saw was the beggining of another story, another legend. Do you think that child will ever be content to be a tavern keeper or a farmer when her brow is dragon-marked and your words hang over her? You underestimate our power and that of fate."
A point against Elva would be that once Eragon removes the curse/blessing, she will most likely return to her former baby state.
On the other hand, Oromis did say that the effects of Eragon's spell would haunt Elva forevermore, and therefore the effects of the curse that have already taken place would stay. He may also re-bless her, making the blessing he meant to the first time would be laced upon her, making her a great choice for the next Rider.
Katrina
Another suggestion could be Katrina. We still have no idea what happened to her mother (her mother died in the Spine which is why her father, Sloan does not want her in there), or why her father was so desperate for her to never enter the Spine. Also, she made Roran promise that he would not leave her again, as it would be more painful to be left alive than to die. Knowing that a crucial character dies in Brisingr, one could infer that Roran dies for Katrina. Also, she is a prisoner of Galbatorix, who has the last egg.
If Katrina has been moved from Helgrind to Galbatorix's dungeon then it would give Eragon a chance to get the last remaining dragon egg.
However, there is not much confirmation that last dragon eggs are in Uru'baen. Another possibility would be Helgrind, which would be another secure site to hide the remaining egg.
However Galbatorix would not trust anybody else to watch the very last dragon eggs in existance, least of which the Ra'zac.
BYE

Friday, August 29, 2008

Elfen lied...Thumbs up

Elfen Lied
Synopsis

A humanoid test subject known as a Diclonius escapes from a lab somewhere, protected by some sort of supernatural powers. She literally paves her way through a sea of blood of her own making and falls into a sea after a failed attempt of stopping her permanently with a sniper.
A while later, the two cousins Kouta and Yuka comes over a naked girl with a peculiar set of horns on her head standing in the ocean. Without the ability to say anything but "nyu" and looking quite lost and forelorn, the two take her with them to their home, name her... well, Nyu, and let her live with them.
What they quickly learn, however, is that some sort of organization is after Nyu. And Nyu herself seems to have another personality within her. Who is Nyu? WHAT is Nyu? And just what is going on?
Review
I'll admit that it was the unusual name that drew me towards this series, and the artwork that reeled me in. And Elfen Lied DOES, in fact, have quite beautiful art. The settings, while not all that much in the way of variation, paints quite the scenic picture. And the characters all look quite good. Or, in Nyu's case, quite cute.
Cute, however, is not quite the description I have in mind for the series itself.
You see, the first ten minutes of this film does, in its own way, give you clear warning about what to expect. Excessive, bloody, redshirt violence abounds. People being torn apart, limb from limb -- and literally at that -- or exploding in a red haze of blood in a showing unlike anything I have ever seen earlier in ANY title. It's a good indication of what to expect, but you better believe Elfen Lied doesn't stop there. Oh no.
In fact, much of the series itself is devoted to quite a few of the darker, more callous factors of human nature; Our need to control everything, or have everything under control if you will, whatever the price might be. Our willingness or lack of edicts regarding non-human life. How social disuse (or misuse) influences ones growth and maturity. The topic of pedophilia and abandonment is even covered through the inclusion of another character, a young runaway girl named Maya.
And that is what really made my stomach churn about this series. Not as much the excessive violence, but the way things are set up. Case in point; Nana. She's one of the aforementioned Diclonius, with an age of around 14-15, and when we're introduced to her, she's naked, partly covered in blood and chained to a wall. And then, we get to know she's being experimented on. Subsequently, she is sent out with orders to hunt down and kill the escaped Diclonius, which she refuses because she don't want to kill anyone. A compromise is made, and she finally sets out to track her down. When she does find the escapee, she makes the mistake of confronting her on her own, and gets both her arms and feet ripped off in the process. Being considered useless by her "owners", she is to be put to sleep.
So why, you might ask, am I watching this series? Well, that would be because, despite all that's wrong with it, it IS a good series in the end. And while Kouta and Yuka are your (perhaps too) typical cousins, it's the characters -- the GOOD characters -- that makes the show work despite its dark imagery. With Kouta being in the center of attention, he soon becomes the focal point for a lot of the characters in the show. He becomes the ward of Maya and later also houses Nana, the other runaway Diclonius, who was set free instead of being killed like she was originally ordered to be. And this is the moments that draw you back to the show, along with the desire to find out just what happened with Kouta and Nyu long ago, a recurring event that gets prompted by sudden flashbacks at key moments. In fact, the pacing of this series is near perfect, only hampered with reused footage later on, something that I felt stretched out certain scenes to unnecessary lenghts. This doesn't really reach the point of badness. You'll just notice it.
Another thing that sorta stuck out with me was the few times this series tried to insert some comedic moments, mainly through the antics of Nyu. And while I appreciated the chance to release some of the tension I felt from watching this, some of the scenes, like the one where Nyu sees fit to grab Yuka's breasts for seemingly no reason, felt a bit wrong. Given the happenings just moments before, it came across as more awkward rather than funny.
I guess I should mention that this series DOES contain a lot of nudity. Given the nature of the show, this really shouldn't be a big deal. Besides, none of the nudity is of any sexual nature, save for the one where Maya's pedophile stepdad forces her to strip for him. And given her general underageness, the scene came across as creepy as it was intended to be. In either case; yes, there are nudity, and no, this really shouldn't concern you more than the violence and other unsavory events happening in this series.
My last worry about this show, and this was one that drove me to download the raw of the last episode, was that the show itself was going to degenerate into a depressing cesspool of sorrow and grief by its end. Given the show's rather angsty-at-times nature, I didn't think it was completely unwarranted of me to feel that way. Now, I'm not going to spoil anything for you, but I AM going to say that my fears were completely unfounded, much to my relief. Is it a happy-go-lucky ending? Maybe.... or maybe not. But you can rest easy and hold the anti-depressant prescriptions, because you will, at least, not be needing those.
There are so much more I could have said about this show, but I really need to wrap things up soon. Besides, it's just a 13 episode show, and there are just so much I can say before I start giving away major plot points. The show is well written and paced, no question about it. There'll be some things that will surprise you and some that won't. Granted, this show will also take any remnants of innocense left in you and flay it to shreds, but there are some genuinely sweet moments to be had inbetween the extremes and enough enjoyment to justify the pain you have to go through to see this. That is, if you think you can deal with it.Rating: I can't with good conscience give it a five star rating, however much I'd like to do so. It's a very special show, good and bad parts taken into consideration, but it just isn't for everyone.-->-->
I can't with good conscience give it a five star rating, however much I'd like to do so. It's a very special show, good and bad parts taken into consideration, but it just isn't for everyone. — Stig Høgset
Recommended Audience: Adults only. Not for the rampant nudity, but for the excessive violence and the rather graphic showcases of the darker sides of human natures.
***************************************************************************
INFO SUMMARY

AKA: Elfin Song, Elven Song
Genre: Horror drama
Length: Television series, 13 episodes, 23 minutes each
Distributor: R1 DVD by ADV FilmsInfo: Elfen Lied © 2004 Okamoto Rin / VAP / GENCO
Status: Full (13/13)-->
Content Rating: 18+ (nudity, graphic violence, gore, portrayal of the dark side of human nature)
Related Series: N/A
Also Recommended: I have no idea what shows play out like this, even sans the violence. One THEM Boards member has described this as roughly being a cross between Akira, Midori no Hibi, and Ichi the Killer!
Notes: Elfen Lied literally translates as "Elven Song". And the title of the show, as well as the titles of all the episodes are in German. Also, the opening theme's art is done in a style reminiscent of the art of painter Gustav Klimt. In fact, all the images in the opening are copies of his most famous paintings, but with characters from the show itself in place of the original characters from the paintings
Rate:4/5

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Lunar legend> Tsukihime

Here is a review of a manga my friend liked>

Lunar Legend Tsukihime
Synopsis
After being gravely injured in a car accident, young Shiki gains the ability to see strange lines on the people and objects about him. A mysterious woman gives him a pair of glasses which suppress the lines to help him live a normal life and informs him to keep them until he needs to protect someone. Years later, Shiki is to move in with a sister he hasn’t seen since the accident.
Discomfort with his new living situation is perhaps the least of his worries though. Strange murders have the town in the grip of fear and Shiki himself is plagued by a strange nightmare relating to a beautiful blonde woman. When he encounters the woman, she has more than a few surprises to tell him. She claims that Shiki killed her. If that wasn’t shocking enough, she also reveals that she is a vampire.
Dark forces are stalking the night of Shiki’s city and soon he finds himself dragged into the center of it all as the truth behind his strange childhood ability is revealed to him. All the while he is still not sure if the mysterious vampire, Arcueid Brunestud, is a friend or foe.
Review
The opening episode of Tsukihime had me very intrigued. It set up some of the background, provided plenty of mysteries to hook the viewer, and was done in a style that really communicated some of Shiki’s fear and confusion. The opening sequence and music is wonderfully evocative and I ended up having high expectations. I must admit I’m a bit disappointed. It isn’t that Tsukihime is a bad show rather that from the opening few episodes, I honestly thought it was going to end up considerably more impressive.
Overall, the plot is rather intriguing. As I noted earlier, in the beginning there are a number of mysteries hinted at both regarding Shiki’s background and the motivations of several of the people (and beings) that he associates with. Many people around him seem to be much more than they appear at first. As each episode proceeds, the show did a good job of helping to reveal small clues and pieces of information to help keep me intrigued.
About half way through, though, I realized that something just wasn’t right. There were the mysteries, but given that they had already introduced some major supernatural elements, the plot flow felt somewhat stifled. As one of my fellow THEM reviewers put it: "It seems like this show might get good at any moment now." The mystery elements and plot hints were helping to heighten expectations but it felt a bit like they were just stalling.
Once the main plot really does begin to start flowing a bit more readily, a lot of the dramatic tension and impact of several of the events is somewhat dampened by an awkward alternation between the main plot elements and certain aspects of the character development episodes. The romantic relationships between some of the main character start to, somewhat abruptly, take center stage and the episodes centered around such elements disrupted the overall plot flow. I felt they could have done a better job of smoothly integrating those aspects into the plot.
The reason behind this awkwardness probably stems from the heritage of this show. Tsukihime was based on an independently produced computer game that basically is a horror/mystery with hentai and dating sim elements. The game was very popular in Japan and the Type-Moon group has apparently produced a number of sequels (as the original game was an early work). With that background in mind, it is easy to see why the show ended up the way it did especially with the various mysterious attractive women around and somewhat awkwardly handled romantic issues. However, Tsukihime rather wisely keeps its romantic focus rather than falling into the trap of being a supernatural harem show.
Ultimately, the show just feels a bit underdeveloped. I felt somewhat ambivalent about the romance aspects. The characterization in the title contributed heavily to this. Though I could understand the motivations of the characters, they for the most part, seemed underdeveloped. The show also leaned a bit too heavily on exposition for explanation rather than actual character development. Development of the primary romance subplot seemed a bit artificial as well.
For all the built up mystery and atmosphere, when I finally got to the conclusion of the title it just didn’t have as heavy an impact as I was expecting. The earlier noted awkward pacing weakened the tension and the final episode in some ways felt like a quick exercise in tying up loose ends. Without a deep investment in the characters, I ended up being a bit more apathetic.
I felt the character design and background work was fairly good. Though the first episode had a lot of creative visual pacing, from the second episode and continuing the show was a bit more standard in that regard. The animation itself is decent enough and for the most part serves its purpose. Most of the action scenes in this show were extremely brief. They aren’t bad, but the rather basic nature of the encounters doesn’t make them all that exciting either.
In terms of music, I was somewhat impressed by Tsukihime. While the string intensive orchestral soundtrack probably wouldn’t be something that a person would want to necessarily listen by itself, it was integral in helping setting the setting the atmosphere of the show. I particularly liked their choral opening. This was definitely not the type of show where you would want to stick some random J-Pop song in as the opening theme.
Perhaps if I hadn’t had such high expectations for this title I would not be as disappointed. Tsukihime, though somewhat entertaining and atmospheric, is a title that just doesn’t fully maximize its potential. Rating: Though the show did a fairly good job of generating atmosphere, awkward plot pacing in the latter half along with somewhat weak characterization take what could have been a great title and make it instead a simply average one. -->-->
Though the show did a fairly good job of generating atmosphere, awkward plot pacing in the latter half along with somewhat weak characterization take what could have been a great title and make it instead a simply average one. — Jeremy A Beard
Recommended Audience: Well, several people die in this title. Most of the violence tends to be rather brief. In the first few episodes there are supernatural beings that tend to just disappear when killed but things get a bit bloodier later on. Some of the most vicious wounding though is never shown directly. Later on, there is a implied sexual encounter though you are only show the couple together in bed right before with some brief kissing and right after, so this is far from hentai land. Overall, it is generally safe for teens and above.

Ok! see ya around

Bye. I have been reading up new stuff. so i'll publish my latest fave list very soon.

By the way this review is more about the anime. Read the manga to gather first hand experience.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The end of Aang

AVATAR>
Finnaly Avatar the last Air Bender(legend of Aang) comes to a close and rather beautifully. I saw the last few episodes that released on the 19 th of last month. Ep 16 and 17 were realesed some days bfore while the last 4 epps were collectively shown on Nicklodean as a movie over a span of 2 hrs(the 4 parts of epp Sozin's comet)
In my post i am not going to write an eppisode synopsis since i am sure all Avatar fans out there(who haven't seen the last few episodes) know what happened and surely i am not going to go in much more details(it might turn out as spoilers) but i will list some points i liked and disliked about the show's dramatic ending>

Likes:
1) The agni kai between Azula and Zuko at the very end was amazing, although it was Katara who ended the fight with Azula. At the very end u actually feel sorry for her bcos of her disturbed past.
2) The battle between Fire lord Ozai and avatar Aang was awesome too. But it seemed more like a turn based butt whipping. First Ozai whips Aang and then aang gets into his avatar state and whips him back to win the day. But the turning point was how Aang did it. He defeated him without harming him(or killing him)> i'll let u guess!!!!!!!!!!!
3) And yes everything falls in place and we get to see a cute ending.
4)The ending was big and felt very correct.

Dislikes:
1) The mystery of Zuko's mom(as in what happened to her) was never explained although at the very end Fire lord Zuko(oops! a spoiler) asks the captive ex fire lord(moron)> "Where is my mother?".
2)For all Zutara fans, Bad luck they don't hook up.
3)For such a hyped season ending it was a bit melo. I felt it was just abrupt but anyways i felt the ending was done very beautifully(it ended with the Aang katara kiss. ewwwww! it felt so pedoish. soory about that. No hard feelings)> I know i cant make up my mind. all i wanted was that the ending just spanned over a few more epps.

Gallery:

THE END>

Jeff and his puppets

Friends have u ever seen Jeff Dunham's puppet shows. They are hilarious. Jeff has done a brilliant job as a ventriloquist. As far as i know he holds stage shows with 5 of his puppets mainly

>Peanut the pink woozle.(thats him in the pic)

>Walter the grumpy ol' man(he's there too)

>José Jalapeño on a Stick(u can guess what that is)

>Bubba J

>Sweet Daddy d

>Achmed the dead terrorist(the skeleto in the pic. Duh!)


>Melvin the superhero guy.

Learn more about him> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Dunham (this video will show a ten min show of jeff with his puppet> Achmed(my fav))

*He has released two seasons on two DVD's> sea 1: Sparks of Insanity and sea2: Arguing with myself*

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

A must read manga for all mystery lovers

I got great response for the majin Tantei review via mail and many people wanted to know about more about kindaichi case Files. Well I had posted a small link review. Here is a small extract from that site on Kindaichi>
[Some kindaichi books]
I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed a good mystery read until I tried this series. Each book is a stand-alone “fair play” case in which the reader can match wits with the detectives. The series is reminiscent of a grown-up Encyclopedia Brown with an older cast, more serious crimes, greater emotional motivation, and spooky overtones.
Hajime Kindaichi is an under-achieving troublemaker with a gift for deduction and a grandfather who’s a famous detective. His best friend, Miyuki Nanase, is the only one who defends him, even when people directly ask her “why are you wasting time with that loser?”
A model student, Miyuki is also involved with the school drama club, a connection that creates the setting for the first book’s mystery, The Opera House Murders. The club members are going to a camp to prepare for a national drama competition, and Kindaichi tags along to help with sound effects. Some nice character bits on the way there introduce all the participants and their temperaments. The group’s on edge because of an earlier death, the mysterious suicide of one of the student actresses.
The club is staging The Phantom of the Opera, and the camp location, a resort hotel on an isolated island, doesn’t help settle their emotions. One of the other guests turns out to be a police detective, a helpful coincidence when someone starts murdering the drama club members. Of course, a growing storm prevents outside contact or help.
The book’s chapter breaks start with recaps of the story so far and the characters involved. Even if the reader doesn’t get caught up in trying to figure out who’s behind the killings, the characterization propels them through the story. There’s a good range of student types, and the slow revelation of the circumstances behind the original death is gripping, illustrating the horrible consequences of unthinking teenage pranks.
As the story progresses, the chapters get shorter, building the reader’s anticipation. The book includes the traditional map of the location (for those playing along) and the scene where the cast is gathered together so Kindaichi can reveal his deductive logic and thus the murderer. A crossword puzzle provides an additional clue to solving the mystery.
There’s a strong undercurrent of the possibility of the supernatural. When confronted with a locked-room murder, some of the characters seem to seriously consider whether a ghost is involved. That coordinates nicely with the other cultural contrasts. Since Japanese readers may not be familiar with the story of the Phantom, the events of the play are recapped for the reader. It’s fascinating to see how elements from a foreign (to the original manga reader) culture are turned into mystery themes.

Full Metal Alchemist Manga: Homunculi

A lot of people have talked about the FMA anime. There seems to be a ton of difference between the anime and the manga. All I can say is, i think the manga is better, and here are the Homunculi from the manga. (I've used anime pictures where the pics are the same)

SPOILER WARNING: Post contains info on the manga storyline.




Pride a.ka. Salem : Surprise!! King Bradley's son Salem is actually Pride in disguise. Pride, the very first homunculus created by "Father", is a being of shadows. Although his movement is limited to the capital city and underground tunnels, he is insanely strong.
Below: Pride's true form.



Below: Wrath, a.k.a. King Bradley. The dictator is a ruthless being under a friendly facade, a master swordsman with a magical eye under the patch.






Lust, the sexiest of the homunculi. Her weapons were her charm, and the way she could transmute parts of her body to razor blades and edges. Destroyed by Roy Mustang.
Below: Lust to dust, courtesy Roy Mustang.




Gluttony (below): The name says it all. He can eat anything, and can even fire a beam which swallows anything in its path. His stomach is practically an alternate universe.




Below: Sloth. Unlike Gluttony, who is simply stupid, Sloth is nearly brainless. An unstoppable giant on par with the Hulk, he is used by the other homunculi as a beast of burden. His greatest ambition in life is to stop working and take a vacation.




Greed (below left): "The man who wants everything", Greed does not only want fame and fortune, he also wants love and friends, comrades, servants and followers. Since he refuses to sacrifice his followers and friends, he ends up rebelling against the homunculi.
Greed in Lin's body (below right): When Greed first rebels, the others destroy his body, wipe his memory, and plant his soul into Lin's body to try and regain his services. It works... only for a little bit.



Coming up: Envy










Envy, the shapeshifting homunculi responsible for killing Colonel Hughes.










Envy's true form




Below: Envy, after Scar and Dr. Marcoli get through deconstructing him. Sucks to be him =P