All posts tagged: Shaft

Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Rebellion – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

  Beginnings, Eternal, and Rebellion: These three are the names of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica films, and the productions that brought the story of the much-loved Anime to the silver screen. The gruesome tale of five Magical Girls, this series is known to most if not all fans of Japanese pop culture as a horrific look at the sub-genre first made popular by series’ like Sailor Moon. Written by Psycho-Pass‘ Gen Urobachi, it’s was hard to deny myself a chance to experience these films. Though the first two left me with a bad taste in my mouth, the universe-altering storyline of the third (Rebellion) had me very much intrigued so, thanks to Madman Entertainment, I decided to take one more trip into the world of the true Magical Girls. Whether or not I’d come out alive, well…that was up to the universe to decide.   Were all the magical girls truly saved from despair? Now… the great “Law of Cycles” leads the magical girls to their new fate. Madoka Kaname – a girl who once …

Good Smile Company’s Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade Figure Now Up For Pre-Order

Published by Frank Inglese

This is literally THE figure I’ve been waiting for ever since I first started watching the Monogatari Anime series. The greatest character of all time; Shinobu Oshino, also known as Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade, is almost always seen in a form that is less womanly and more childish than what she’s used to, but only due to the fact that she’s not quite the vampiress she used to be. Now attached to a half-breed, she spends her days lurking in the shadow of Koyomi Araragi and feasting on donuts, but it is her past life that is the most intriguing and, in fact, the most exciting. Most, if not all, of the Shinobi Oshino figures or figurines on the market right now are of her in her child form but the awesome people over at Good Smile Company are changing that today by opening up pre-orders for a new figure that shows the buxom Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade in her full iron-blooded, hot-blooded, cold-bloodedness! Standing at an almost fourteen centimetres tall and setting you back roughly $126, this …

Otorimonogatari – Review (DVD/Blu-Ray Combo)

Published by Frank Inglese

We, as simple humans, go through life fulfilling our own prophecies. Ones that, whether or not we like, we’re destined to reach. They may not even be that existential, in fact they’re most likely trivial but that doesn’t make it any less real than the ground you walk on. We’re all products of our own environments meaning that, depending on when and how we were raised, we all turn out different. This is basic self knowledge, I know, just bare with me because I’m getting to a greater point. Some of us have grown up tormented by the negatives of life. Hardship and adversity are very real and they mold people in a limitless number of ways. Some of us grown with a need to be loved, others grown in solitude. Some of us play the part of the victim almost too well, whereas others consider themselves somewhat of a hero. These are the prophecies I speak of, these are the parts of the puzzle we as pieces fit into perfectly. Nadeko Sengoku, she’s always …

Tsukimonogatari – First Anime Preview Released

Published by Frank Inglese

The end of the year is quickly coming and thanks to this brand new piece of news I want it to come around even quicker! Japanese citizens are by far the luckiest in the world, this is according to a huge fan of their culture…me. Not only do they get all the coolest stuff before anyone else but, well…I suppose that’s enough to be jealous of, right?! Getting to the point; it was only just announced that an Anime adaptation of ‘Tsukimonogatari’ will soon be released and already we’ve been given a look at it through the very first preview trailer that was released but yesterday. For those of you not in ‘the know’; ‘Tsukimonogatari’ is the next story to be told in the ‘Monogatari’ series. It is the tenth book in the light novel lineup and has also been noted as the first story of the final season…of books. Our assumption is that it is pretty much considered the same for the Anime adaptation. This story will, once again, revolve around series protagonist Koyomi …

Kabukimonogatari – Review (DVD/Blu-Ray Combo)

Published by Frank Inglese

Time travel is far too fickle of a subject for just ‘anyone’ to be writing about. Few have written a story involving speeding through the fabric of our time and pulled it off perfectly. I, as a ‘wannabee writer’, would never go near such a story topic but I look to those who’ve done it with a level of deep respect, that is…if they do it right. The ‘Monogatari’ series, both the Anime and the light novels, revolves around supernatural occurrences in a town full of crazy characters. The series up until this point has been strictly about paranormal apparitions but has stayed true to its fantasy-type routes. ‘Kabukimonogatari’, the four episode section of what was originally called ‘Monogatari Series: Second Season’, takes somewhat of a turn to instead deal with the more science fiction issue of time traveling and the ways it can all go wrong. Much like the rest of the series, it is much more beneficial to have watched ‘Bakemonogatari’ before heading into ‘Kabukimonogatari’. Having watched the entirety of the series would …

Nisemonogatari – The Complete Series Review (Blu-Ray)

Published by Frank Inglese

To begin watching the ‘Monogatari’ series is a commitment comparable to that of marriage. There are ups and downs, smiles and frowns, things you may like and things you may not. It also seems as though it’s going to last forever and the only way you can possibly perceive getting out of it is through death. It’s a series I wasn’t too keen on many years ago when I first watched ‘Bakemonogatari’, the trailblazer for what is now one heck of a beloved series, but it seems as though I’ve come to love it. It was an odd experience: I didn’t know what to think about it, I thought it was great but then terrible. I thought the characters were good but then bad. I was going through one big mental contradiction but I stuck with it. Eventually I came to this season which just continued my introspective conflict. Titled ‘Nisemonogatari’, this season follows the story of series protagonist Koyomi Araragi’s younger sisters; Karen and Tsukihi. ‘Nisemonogatari’ switches gears, instead focusing on the younger of …

Nekomonogatari White – Review (DVD/Blu-Ray Combo)

Published by Frank Inglese

The interesting thing about cats is that they always land on their feet. I suppose heights don’t really bother them that much. It’s not like they can easily die of head trauma due to falling. Even better is that they’re also thought to have nine lives so if one of those times the cat doesn’t live up to its reputation and unfortunately is killed, at least they have another eight to enjoy before true demise. That’s great…when the cat is a simple family pet and not a supernatural presence brought about by extreme stress. To be completely honest; I’m more of a fan of dogs. Cats aren’t really my thing and I think I have an idea why: They’re conniving, they’re sneaky and they’re elusive. They also, according to ‘Nekomonogatari White’, make for some pretty dangerous apparitions. Come on. It‘s time to wake from this nightmare. Tsubasa Hanekawa’s curse has just morphed itself into a tiger. A great white beast, that seems to only bring misfortune to Tsubasa in its wake. It’s first victim? Her …