Blog, Blog, Bloq

 The time has finally come for another Mononoke Movie. A series that I can't get enough of. There's nothing out right now that matches the creativity and chaos that makes Mononoke so unique. Even when looking at contemporaries like In/Spectre or Mushishi, Mononoke manages to take everything a step further. Where In/Spectre feels like a more violent and less complex version of Mushishi when it comes to the investigations of Spirits. Mononoke takes a more fantastical approach. A key aspect that has made the TV Series and Movies pop that much more. But this isn't a catch-all for Mononoke, this piece is about my thoughts on the second film, The Ashes of Rage.  A surprise sequel that expands on the Ooku (The Harem of Palace of Lord Tenshi) after the events from Phantom in the Rain. With the first film focusing on the Lower Rank Maid Activities and the stress that comes with the service, the second film delves into the Upper Rank Concubines. And what better way than to put the fo...

 I watched a couple movies recently, with two of them being the Until Dawn adaptation and the other being Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. While I enjoyed them for what they were, there was another film that I enjoyed more. And that was Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. A movie that can be boiled down to the idea of "People Watching." Learning where and what your neighbors are doing during each day because you just don't feel like doing anything else. While I think some of the things can feel invasive, overall the film nails a lot of writing beats for me.  The cast is likeable, the side stories are intriguing, and the concept is so unique. Not many films are willing to confine themselves to a single room like they do in Rear Window, and that's a big draw for me. I didn't need to look deeper into any other apartment because that air of mystery let me put the pieces together. A perfect storm of a film that I can't stop thinking about. So, I am going to go int...

 I was kind of at a loss for what to talk about this time around. Lot of ideas bumping around, but nothing too concrete. As a result, I am gonna talk about the recent Horror Media I have been engaging with. For what it's worth, this might just be about Sinners. But we'll see where this goes.  What else is there to say about Sinners that hasn't already been said? This film from Ryan Coogler and crew goes above and beyond the expectations for any movie. From the score headed by Ludwig Göransson to the cinematography from Autumn Durald Arkapaw to the script from Ryan Coogler himself. These pieces along with many others combined to form a film with a lot of heart and passion. Not to mention some great performances from Michael B. Jordan (Plays Smoke & Stack), Miles Caton (Plays Sammie Moore), Wunmi Mosaku (Plays Annie), and Delroy Lindo (Plays Delta Slim) to name a few. It is truly remarkable how so many elements culminated here.  Now, I am going to go into some spec...

 This past Spring, the world was treated to Apocalypse Hotel. An Original Anime from CygamesPictures that was directed by Kana Shundo, with a script penned by Shigeru Murakoshi and Sotaro Wada. And to be frank, I was enthralled. The series did a remarkable job at showcasing this hotel at the end of the world. Ultimately, I think it left a mark worth noting.  I came across Apocalypse Hotel when I was looking at the Spring Season of Anime as the Winter Season was ending. And what drew me in was the name. An "Apocalypse Hotel? I wanna know what that's about?" I didn't really need a description or trailers for viewing purposes. I wanted to just jump in and see what all the fuss was about. A method that I trust with television shows more than movies. But even then, I will just dive into any movie that mildly interests me. It builds character and insight. You can tell when something is going to careen off the edge, and when something is going to hit. And Apocalypse Hotel wa...

 This time around I had a few ideas of what to write about. And the one I landed on involves "Side Characters". Not to be confused with Supporting Characters, who are more involved with the main cast and overall story. So, why have I decided on something like this? Well, I thought it would be fun to talk about specific cases from varying genres. This also gives me a reason to talk about an unlikely candidate.  But to ease into the topic, I am going to use One Piece as a springboard. And the perfect character for this, is none other than Curly Dadan. The mountain bandit turned surrogate parent, is without a doubt one of the most slept on characters in the whole series. There's an argument for a more in-depth look at the character, but for now, I am going to focus on what makes her so great. ( Disclaimer : If it wasn't already apparent, spoilers for everything in this post.)  Prior to Dadan's physical debut in the Anime and Manga proper, she is casually mentioned by...