Lost At Sea (Graphic Novel)

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The general idea of Lost At Sea

I am a big fan of Scott Pilgrim.  I really was blown away by the film.  The film led me to the popular graphic novels written by Bryan Lee O'Malley.  The 6 novels were even more astonishing.  The way O'Mally was able to incorporate so many '90s references while creating an epic love story out of mundane settings was so unique and masterful.  So I've been paying attention to O'Malley and any other work he has.  I bought 'Lost at Sea' as a Christmas gift for a friend, knowing I would be able to borrow it eventually.  Well the time came and I made the call.  While sitting in Dallas Fort Worth Airport during a last minute business trip, I was able to read this whole book in one sitting.  This was the highlight during my one day in Dallas.  

'Lost at Sea' follows Raleigh as she is on a road trip from California to Canada.  On board with her are some classmates from her high school days - Stephanie, Dave and Ian.  They were never really close in high school but random chance and a random phone call brought these four together.  The book follows Raleigh as she sits in the back seat, watching the scenery go by while she dissects every minute of her life.  She randomly introduces parts of her life in no particular order, as if Tarantino were cutting the movie about her.  We learn about how she has no soul and how she may have lost it.  Raleigh explains how cats are following her everywhere she goes and that she has no clue way.  All of these snippets are the small parts of the book but help explain the big point.

Good - I really enjoyed this book, though in not the way I expected.  As mentioned above, I read this book with Scott Pilgrim in mind.  With that said, this book is devoid of the over the top jokes and ridiculous situations from Scott Pilgrim.  Instead, we are treated with slice-of-life sincerity from the eyes of an unsure teenager.  Raleigh cracks jokes that get the whole car roaring, but we sit there with her trying to figure out what's so funny.  'Lost At Sea' presents a moment in Raleigh's life, a key moment.  She doesn't necessarily turn into an adult by the end of the novel, but she finds her way.  She finds a way to deal with the insane, mundane nature of life.  She learns things aren't as bad as they are. This book really brings back that time in your life that you weren't sure about anything, even who you were. The emotion that is conveyed is both subtle and palatable.  O'Malley did an amazing job making the reader feel everything Raleigh was going through, from turmoil to triumph. 

Check out Lost At Sea on Wikipedia

Bad - I couldn't find anything wrong with this book.  The art is cute and fun, especially the attention to detail in terms of the fashions of the characters.  The length I felt was appropriate to the subject.  Everything about 'Lost At Sea' was spot on here. 

Overall -  This book is a solid read for anyone and everyone.  For Scott Pilgrim fans, its a nice change of pace from the outlandishness O'Malley infused into his first series.  For readers clueless about Scott, you are still in for a heartfelt journey with Raleigh.  For anyone whose every felt unsure or lost, 'Lost At Sea' is a great reminder that in the end, everything will be okay. 

Review: Another (Anime)

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Aloof Mei Misaki

Looking to fix your anime needs? Well you came to the right place! I watch it all so you don't have to!  For today I'll be telling you about a short horror anime - Another.  The haunting images of Mei were enough to get my started on this anime.  The weird premise and interesting developments where what kept me going.

Another follows Koichi Sakakibara as he moves into a new town.  The same town his mother was from.  Koichi never met his mother due to her death at childbirth, a event that plays it's part later on.  As Koichi arrives at his new school, he meets new friends.  Friends who share a shared concern they dare not speak.  As Koichi explores his new surroundings, he runs into a strange girl, Mei Misaki.  It seems she is a ghost haunting him everywhere he goes.  Eventually, truth reveals itself and a whole new strange reality shows through.

Good - Another is a unique ride of chills and suspense.  When watching this anime, you and Koichi are trying to piece together why the residents, namely the students of class 3-3.  The series has a sharp turn in the middle of it that I honestly did not see coming.  So much so, I had to watch that episode a second time to make sure I caught it.  This anime starts off slow and creepy but builds up to an intense stand off, full of madness and blood.

Koichi Sakakibara

Bad - I wish the anime was a bit longer.  Also, the story can be a little to subtle.  Trying to follow it can be difficult at times.  But since it's an online anime, I think that such a trait will ultimately only help you enjoy the anime more.

Overall - I think this is a great anime.  I wasn't expecting it to be as complex and violent as it was.  I was pleasantly surprised with tho one.  It was like When the Cicadas Cry but in a more digestible manner.  For anime and horror fans alike, spend some time with Another.

The Wiki Page

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: Marvels (GN)

After reading Kingdom Come,  I was very eager to read the Marvel equivalent.  Marvels was the answer to that.  I had originally bought this for my friend as a Christmas gift.  He finally let me borrow it and it as worth the wait.
Marvels follows Phil Sheldon, a young man in the beginning his life and career as a photographer.  He is faced with the choice of leaving to cover WWII.  Unexpectedly, he decides to stay in NYC, following a hunch that greater things are to be seen in his home town.  Soon he finds himself witnessing the Torch escaping the cement prison he is entombed in.  Later on, a battle engulfs the city between the Torch and Namor, the Sub-Mariner. Phil begins to see how quickly the public can turn its opinion so quickly.  The books goes on as Phil is there to witness first hand the rise of the mutant menace, the attack of Galactus, and the new era of heroes.
Likes - First off, the art is done by Alex Ross.  If you aren't excited, read more comics!
The story was really fascinating.  For once, we see the world  of Marvel through the eyes of a man, an everyday man, Phil Sheldon.  We see him as we see everyone else at the beginning.  During the unveiling of the Torch, he falls into wonder, awe, and fear.  Later on, the Torch proves himself to be a champion of justice and a creature of virtue.  Soon, mutants begin coming to light.  This was the best part of the story.  Phil plays into the fear of mutants, the normal reaction at the time.  In the same day, events both professional and personal persuade Phil to see things in a different light.  Phil is us, showing us how easy it is to follow the mob and showing us the logic that we all need to follow.  Following Phil is as exciting as seeing Spider-Man foil any caper.  Phil grows so much, you can't help root for him.

Dislikes - I can't really point anything out that I didn't dislike.  This was a solid piece of work.

Overall - This was an amazing introspection into the Marvel Universe. A great read, especially for long time Marvel fans.  You see first hand what life would be like living in a world of "Marvels".  More so, we see Phil grow as a person.  From overcoming his fear of the Marvels, to understanding the reality of mutants, to recognizing that failure even comes to a super hero.  Marvels not only provides a slice of life in an amazing era, it also shows us a man becoming the person he needs to be.  That is the biggest thing you can take away from reading this graphic novel.

Atrocious (film)

I had been getting Atrocious as a recommendation for some time.  I read the reviews and wanted to watch something on the shorter side of things.  Finding out this was a found footage horror film that wasn't terribly long, I had every reason to spend an evening watching this film.

Eldest Son Christian

Atrocious follows Christien and July (pronounced Julie), brother and sister, while their family is away at their mother's childhood home.  Avid amateur ghost hunters, they had been tipped off about legends concerning the woods nearby.  A young girl, Miranda, was lost in the woods and never found.  Some stories say she will lead those who are lost in the woods.  Others say how she is seeking revenge for her own lost life.  During their search for the paranormal, a much harsher reality rears it's ugly head.
Likes - I liked what was done with this film.  It's not for everyone though.  To begin with, I really enjoy the found footage approach and Atrocious approached this tactic better then most.  The filming felt much more natural to what a person would film while in a panic or were distracted.  There are moments of long pauses and when they are running, with only trees and brush in sight.  Not being able to see the cause of the commotion adds a greater depth of benson and terror.  Atrocious made you scared for what you couldn't see.  They also incorporated news reels near the end, adding to the idea of how real and well known the event was.

July

Another aspect of the film I enjoyed was the pacing.  This was a slow burn type of film.  It takes it's time to build up the scares.  I appreciated that.  I don't like slow moving films, but I think the molasses run with this film is to it's advantage. Once the shit hits the fan, things happen so fast you can't process what's going on.  Hell, the film itself revisits parts so you can see what actually happened.  This is definitely a film you have to pay attention to while watching it.

Young Josè

Dislikes - There isn't nothing I didn't like about this film.  It's not new in anything of it's method or story.  Things were just executed well.  It does it's main job well - scaring you.

Overall - I think this is a great film.  A part of me wants to say this is what Paranormal Activity wanted to be.  It's thought out and believable on many levels, making it much scarier.  You are there in the rooms, lost in the dark with Christain, unsure what's happening.  You are with July as she tries to navigate the woods her mother told her to stay out of.  You are there, in the middle of it all, scared of what will happen to you.  That is how it should be done! 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Pontypool (film)

Pontypool was recommended to me while out drinking with friends, new and old.  After watching the mess that was In Dreams,  I wanted to watch something that was worth my time.  I went with Pontypool and I was quite impressed.

Stephan McHattie as Grant Mazzy

Lisa Houle as Sydney Briar

Pontypool follows Grant Mazzy, a shock jock out of his element.  For reasons not fully explained, his over-the-top nature has forced him to the rural and remote town of Pontypool.  On his way into the studio, a stranger comes to his car stammering "blood", and seemingly evaporates into the winter darkness.  Disturbed but not undeterred, he heads into the radio station.  There, he begins his normal cast, trying to wake up the sleepy town smothering him.  As the broadcast moves on, he slowly comes to realize that the townsfolk are being consumed by some unknown force.  As he and his crew try to piece things together, they realize they can't keep up.  Too much is happening and not enough clues are coming in.  Before long, they realize the most important thing to hold onto is not information, but their lives.

Likes - Pontypool was a surprisingly intelligent movie.  It didn't rush into it's subject like a sprinter.  It took it's time, allowing you to get used to the Canadian world you were a citizen of for an hour and a half.  We get to know Mazzy, his need to push the limits and the cost he paid for it.  We meet Sydney, has she is just trying to do her job and keep her tiny town moving forward.  We meet Laurel-Ann, a recently returned war vet and hero.  The plot takes it's time, going from a sleeping pup to raging beast.  It's a smart way to get you into the story without rushing too fast and turning you off.
Another great aspect I enjoyed about Pontypool was the blood, guts, and gore.  There was some in key parts in the later half of the film. Overall though, it wasn't much on that.  Hell, you don't see anyone get eaten even! Yet Pontypool manages to get under your skin, and it takes it's time to slither around.  You become concerned, then worried, then confused.  All without seeing a thing in the outside world.  As the radio crew is trying to piece together what's happening, so are you.  This is a masterful way of creating a tension that leads to terror, with nary a drop of blood spilled.

Georgina Reilly as Laurel-Ann Drummond

Dislikes - There isn't anything I can take away from this and say I didn't like it.  It was well acted and filmed well.  Plot is paramount in this film genre but the director, Bruce McDonald, still made the film visually interesting to watch.

Overall - I highly recommend this film, especially to horror and zombie film fans.  This was a great example of how far you can take a film using very little.  This is a memorable film and I dare say, this could even be influential, in both its subject matter and execution.  Personally, this is one I'll be talking about for months.  5 out of 5 stars.

Review: In Dreams (movie)

In my never ending quest to see every movie ever made, Netflix recommended I watch this film released in 1999.  I should have said no and saved it for a later time. Being the intrepid sloth that I am, I decided to give this crazy, unfocused film a chance before bed.  It didn't pay off.

Annette Bening as Claire Cooper

In Dreams follows Claire Cooper, played by Annette Bening, a doting mother.  She and her husband have hit a rough patch when she finds some evidence showing he, Paul Cooper played by Aiden Quinn, being unfaithful.  Before they can resolve anything, their young daughter, Rebecca, becomes lost after a very strange but cute outdoor play of Snow White.  The girl who played the evil queen, by the way, was oddly appropriate with her crazy fit of childish rage.  It's worth watching the film for that alone!  While waiting to find her daughter, we find out Claire has visions in her dreams.  Visions that come true! Spooky!!!! These visions come directly from the man who has taken her daughter.  She learns that her daughter is not the first nor last victim of this disturbed killer.

Likes -  The only thing I really liked were the special effects.  There were not many displays of it but the transitions between being awake and being in a dream for Claire were good. The final scene were the killer, Vivian Thompson played by Robert Downer Jr., is haunted is also excellent.  Thats really about it.

Dislikes - This movie was a crazy mess of insanity.  The first half was focused on how bat shit crazy Bening could be.  She pulled off an amazing job in being absolutely ridiculous and lacking credibility.  The later half, we see RDJ mixing his confidence and calm demeanor with the musings of a maniac.  Between the two, I felt more scared of RDJ, rightfully.  Bening made me feel bad for women in general.  Her performance totally discredited her gender by acting so irrational and over the top.  Look, I get crazy and being driven beyond what you can handle, but from the very beginning Bening portrays her character as some delicate house wife who never learned to deal with anything more strenuous then not being able to go to the grocery store on time.  I felt such a portrayal of women was inappropriate for 1999. It makes no sense to me how Bening goes from zero to psychotic idiot in 10 minutes.

Also, the major plot point of why the killer can invade Claire's dreams is never really explained, except for they have the same power.  This is just lazy to me.  I can totally see there being a connection between them but there is no attempt to even try to create a psychic link. The overall plot just seemed rushed and made little sense how they got from point A to point B.  It's like they were borrowing sets from other films that were never broken down and tried to make something cohesive out of it.

Robert Downey Jr as Vivian Thompson

Overall - This was an interesting film.  I watched it because I felt the cast was really strong.  For this film though, it seems the big players simply phoned it in.  No one really delved into their character.  The audience is bludgeoned immediately with the neuroses of these poorly developed characters.  This was good to watch only for the fact it shows so many things that can go wrong.  For the purpose of entertaining, In Dreams does so by simply showing you the worst case scenario of an actor/actress not giving a shit.  In terms of a decent plot or character development, I would look elsewhere.  1.5 out of 5 stars.