Author: bateszi
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Hokuto no Ken: The Legend of Raoh – Demonic fist of the devil
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Hokuto no Ken: The Legend of Raoh – Demonic fist of the devilAlong with Ninja Scroll, I grew up watching the Fist of the North Star movie. I was attracted by the unapologetic gore but this was no mere action flick – set in a post apocalyptic world ravaged by nuclear holocaust, I felt in awe of the endlessly barren landscapes, the grandiose struggle for power between…
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Naruto – 219 – For the love of god, not long now
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Naruto – 219 – For the love of god, not long nowWe join the “fun” just as Gaara corners the warrior from Takumi, and given his murderous ability, a simple win for the ultra-strong sand man is expected, but the warrior turns to confidently exclaim, as diabolical villains often do, that in fact, Gaara is now “the one cornered! Muhaha…” Naruto arrives on cue just in…
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Death Note – 15 – It's been all sorts of fun, L
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Death Note – 15 – It's been all sorts of fun, LIt’s around about now that we realise Death Note is becoming more than a very good anime series. It’s becoming one of those “OMFG-WTF-CLIFFHANGER!?!” types. I can feel the hysteria surging within me. 15 episodes in and the twists and turns of the story are still as unpredictable as ever. Watching it makes me a…
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Another new blog layout, Rock Lee style
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Read More →: Another new blog layout, Rock Lee styleIt’s been nearly four months since I last tinkered with the layout, but last week I caught the designers bug again (*sniff* along with a cold too *sniff*), and so… this is the result! Of course I hope you like the fresh new look, I have to admit it’s a little more ‘accessible’ than my…
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Japan’s increasingly superficial pop culture?
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Read More →: Japan’s increasingly superficial pop culture?Superflat is a new phrase I have discovered today. It sounds like an obscure 60s rock band but is actually a growing artistic movement subverting, rejecting and critiquing Japan’s increasingly superficial pop culture; often by lampooning it with artwork that features the cute, smiling face of a young anime character surrounded by or oblivious to…
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Berserk – 3 – The Hawk that soars ever higher
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Berserk – 3 – The Hawk that soars ever higherThe moustache twiddling decadence caused by extended aristocracy is an issue central to the narrative of Berserk. Regardless of social standing, we all like to dream that we are destined for greatness, to achieve something worthwhile. Aristocracy exists to elongate wealth and protect respect no matter what the cost, and that often includes suppressing the…
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Red Garden – Only in death do they find true happiness
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Red Garden – Only in death do they find true happinessI’ve been an advocate of Red Garden since the first episode, but until this past weekend I hadn’t seen beyond episode three. Red Garden isn’t easy to watch – if the characters aren’t paralysing my brain with screaming, tearful grief, they start singing instead. I like that the show is trying something different with the…
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Berserk – 2 – Sparks fly as the wheels of fate spin
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Berserk – 2 – Sparks fly as the wheels of fate spinEpisode two introduces us to the important characters that make up the “Band Of The Hawk” – in other words, the personalities that dominate the rest of Berserk. The dark-skinned Casca is an exceptionally talented swordsman who just so happens to be a woman. That she commands so much respect amongst her comrades suggests that…
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Global culture infects the generations (with hip-hop)
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Read More →: Global culture infects the generations (with hip-hop)Later today I’ll get to watch some raw anime — episode one of Afro Samurai. And this time the Japanese can fansub it. A perverse notion if ever I’ve heard one, but quite clearly Western culture is directly infiltrating (a nicer way of putting it would be influencing) Japan’s anime industry, inevitably resulting in an…