Review: The Future Diary (anime)

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All the players of the game

Hi everyone! Long time no talk! My personal and work life has been kinda crazy the past month and a half, so I haven't been able to write much.  But here I am, at it again!  Lately, I've been needing a new anime series to watch.  Browsing through the Hulu selection, I chanced upon The Future Diary.  I started it, not sure if I was really going to get into it.  After the 1st episode, I realized I came upon a crazy, wild ride of a show.  So let me tell you all about it!

The Future Diary is a complex concept.  We meet Yukki, a young boy who goes out of his way to be unnoticed.  He prefers observing the world, rather then leave any impact on it.  He writes every moment he can into his cell phone diary, chronicling everything he sees.  One day, he meets with his imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina, who in truth is a god on the brink of death.  Deus brings Yukki into the game of the future diaries. 12 users are chosen.  The last one left alive wins.  The prize - godhood.  Each user has a cell phone diary, now capable of predicting the future in some way.  After being initiated into this deadly game, Yukki quickly meets one of the other users - Yuna.  Yuna is secretly in love with Yukki.  She confesses her feelings soon enough and her devotion to help Yukki become a god.  This is where the story begins.  

The disarmingly cute but disturbed Yuna

Good - So where do I begin?  When I started, Yukki was not the protagonist I would have expected or wanted.  He is very timid and squeamish.  As the series progresses, you see him change into something else.  In many regards, Yukki reminded me of Shinji from Neon Genesis Evangelion.  A young boy thrust into a world and role he wants no part of.  A boy who tries to grow into what he needs to be, despite the contradicting nature of it all.  The schemes played out by Yuna and the other diary users reminded me a lot of Code Geass.  Each episode ended in a cliffhanger and each episode started out with an elegant and wild solution.  It was really fun seeing the different ways Yukki and Yuno devised their escapes and progress.  Lastly, the sheer brutality and blood reminded me of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni.  There was no holding back on the violence on this one.  If you can gather, I've compared this anime to a lot of heavy hitters.  In short, I think The Future Diary is a game changer, a standard maker.  

Bad - Near the end, the story veers off into some really wild stuff.  IF you follow the series, it all makes sense but gives a very different tone the last 5 episodes or so.  But it all ends up fitting.  Also, the ending could have been improved.  I wish they would have ended it the way the manga was ended.  

Click here to watch The Future Diary on Hulu

Worthwhile? - I think this anime is absolutely worth watching.  The story is rich and complex.  The characters are all interesting and engaging. There is so much character development it's hard to keep up.  Frankly, that's just a good reason to enjoy this series a second time.  Whatever is on your watch list, clear it off and put The Future Diary on top.  You won't regret it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Review: Dream Home

Hey everyone.  I know it's been some time.  In my real life, I was away on business and wasn't able to keep the movie watching going like normal.  Don't fret though, I've returned!! And I've brought along a stellar gift in this Chinese slasher masterpiece!  I choose to watch Dream Home beucase it was a newly added title to Netflix's instant stream.  I wasn't expecting anything great or evenly remotely good.  Thankfully, Dream Home managed to surprise me.

Dream Home is the story of Cheng Lai-Sheung's pursuit of finding the perfect home.  Early on, we don't understand what drives Cheng's obsession to get a flat in a particular spot.  Despite the advice from friends, family and experts, she refuses to be deterred from acquiring her dream home (OH NO I just made a title reference!).  Slowly, we come to find what's pushing Cheng and how far she will go to make her dreams come true (I can't stop).

Likes - Firstly, the cinematography was amazing.  There were many quiet moments where panning shots of Hong Kong were showed in both vibrant and dull colors.  You can tell a lot of effort was made to show the city in both it's beauty and it's darkest corners.  It was like watching photos breathing. During the moments where there was development, there was also a sense that the setting was carefully picked.  Each scene seemed to have it's own thematic color.  I could be wrong, but that's what I remember.  It really added to the uniqueness of the film.  It reminds me of Hero, where each battle had its own special setting.  Secondly, the story telling was well crafted, detailed, and moved at a good pace.  At first we have no idea why Cheng is doing what she is doing.  The film provides us insight by going back and forth from Chengs past and present.  We go as far back as her childhood.  It's the only way to truly understand what is driving her.  In time, we come to empathize with her.  The back and forth also provides a nice break from the violence.  Lastly, the gruesomeness and depth of violence is nothing I've ever seen in any horror film.  Where most cameras look way and force us to imagine the outcome, Dream Home leaves no room for speculation.  You see each death to it's bitter end.  For someone who has seen more then his fair share of horror, I was shocked to finally see the next level being taken.  Granted, due to its foreign nature, many lines could be crossed.  But even in Japanese and Korean films, I've never seen this level of gore and maiming. It was gruesome and bloody but I was so intrigued with the overall story, I felt no need to look away.  That's pretty amazing

Dislikes - The only thing I disliked about the film was its Netflix description.  Though it gives you a very basic idea of the film, it does not prepare you at all for what you're about to watch.  To the general audience, the violence and blood maybe too much for some people.  The story is so strong though, to see anything less takes away from the obsession driving Cheng.

Overall - All in all, I was unexpectedly impressed with this film.  I wasn't expecting anything this great.  In fact, the first time I watched this film I fell asleep since I was so tired.  I made another attempt to complete my viewing and it was well worth it.  I'm glad I tried a second time since it usually takes me a few tries to really enjoy a film.  With Dream Home, the story is solid and is told in both a beautiful and grotesque manner.  This juxtaposition really shows you the purity of intentions and the dark depths we can fall into to fulfill them.  I give this film 5 stars easy.  Do yourself horror fans and watch this film ASAP!