Manga of the Week: Black Lagoon

The story of Black Lagoon is definitely one of the more entertaining ones that I’ve had the opportunity to watch in recent years and it goes perfectly with the genre. Even from the start you can tell that Rock has more to him than what you might expect, it is pretty obvious when he recommends that the crew take out a helicopter with a torpedo by getting the ship airborne that he might just be meant for the world of crazy pirates and Revy has some of the best lines in the series, fitting perfectly with her badass attitude. There is a whole lot of gun fighting, blood and foul language, but that is what you should expect from a series like “Black Lagoon” and without it I don’t think the series would be the same, or as fun to watch. All-in-all “Black Lagoon” is vulgar, violent and full of crotch shots, but all of that is probably what makes it so addictive. Along with an entertaining story the series is filled with characters that you love to hate and bad guys that you just can’t help but love. If you’re a fan of anime like Deadman Wonderland and Hellsing Ultimate then there is no way that you should pass up on Black Lagoon.

Anime of the Week: Full Metal Panic

Full Metal Panic spreads itself thin as it covers comedy and action, but manages to entertain when it does fully commit to either. It is by no means your average mecha anime. A more comedic premise with an excellent story sets this anime apart from the more action orientated Gundam series. Laughing is unavoidable when the naïve Sousuke attempts to protect Chidori through any means possible, using guns, smoke grenades, and live explosions. However, when the laughs stop the amazing action sequences begin, they are always top notch.  Full Metal Panic!’s unique characters and relationships places it among of my favorite series in anime. It is definitely worth checking out. The action is on par with the other mecha anime and the comedy is a good precursor for the Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu spin-off.

Manga of the Week: Basilisk

Who doesn't love ninjas or samurais? Who doesn't love historical mangas or ones set in a different time period? They are so fascinating to read and you practically learn something new from the past (like traditions and beliefs) and feel like “hey it’s still here”. Who doesn't enjoy history, drama, romance and action all rolled up into one? I mean seriously. If you have haven’t read or watched Basilisk then you’re missing out in one of the best love stories EVER. The manga is based on the novel “The Kouga Ninja Scrolls” by Futaro Yamada in 1958. It’s very much like Romeo and Juliet but with awesome and epic fighting scenes – with ninjas! The story thrives from being realistic in how conflict, love and hatred interact. It’s a sad story for sure but it’ll make your heart pump faster than you think. I finished the entire series in just 2-3 days (anime and manga), that is the addictive power of the story. I highly recommend this heart-wrenching, adrenaline-rushing, tearjerker – and a very entertaining one too. I’m sure it will keep you company and keep you busy for a time since I’m pretty sure you’ll find it very hard to let it go and stop reading it (or watching).

Rurouni Kenshin: Samurai X Live Action Review

The actual movie did not disappoint at all and covered the arc that included meeting and rescuing Megumi Takani from Kanryu Takeda. It was not only a good adaptation but also a good movie in its own right. The sword fighting is amazing, the directing is brilliant, and the story is told correctly. Going to the movie house I was expecting a mediocre, cheesy retelling of the Rurouni Kenshin story, suitable only for diehard fans of the series (think Gantz and Death Note) – but I was wrong. Dead wrong.

The movie overall is adapted very well for the silver screen. It does not mirror the manga or anime plot exactly, but given the time restraints, the plot still flowed relatively smoothly while including classic original scenes and lines. After all, Kenshin is not Kenshin without his "de gozaru" and "oro".  I am a little bit disappointed with the character Saitou though. I guess I was looking forward too much to his hair. It didn’t stand much in the movie. Boo.

Reminds you of a cockroach don’t it? Heh.

Simply put, Rurouni Kenshin may be one of the single best Japanese live-action adaptations I have ever seen. All in all, Rurouni Kenshin, although not the perfect movie, is certainly worth seeing on the silver screen.

Here’s a trailer for you to watch. Enjoy!

Anime of the Week: Another

Sometimes you can tell where the story is going just from watching a few episodes. Another keeps you from guessing. This supernatural and psychological horror story never lets you expect things. The story does tremendous wonders destroying the protagonists emotionally and putting them into despair. So it is not only about solving the mystery but also about fighting themselves and for themselves.

Anime of the Week: Sword Art Online

The most awesomest anime to hit 2012 is Sword Art Online. This is an anime based on a series of light novels which has just hit the midway point of its TV run. Although it’s not the first anime to have a MMO game setting, it is certainly funny and just oh so awesome to watch. This is such a fantastic anime series and everyone should watch it! If you’re a gamer, you will really looooove this.