Au revoir Heroes...

I just rewatched the final three episodes of Heroes (again!) and I have a few things I want to get off my chest. Honestly, the last season wasn't all THAT horrible. I mean, it wasn't good, but it wasn't the worst thing on TV.

First off, now knowing the series is officially cancelled, the ending isn't all the horrible overall. I know they didn't intentionally mean to leave it at that, but it works. The whole point of the show was that the world could not find out about "those with powers", and in the end they finally did...by the cheerleader. The one person who brought them all together (remember season 1? "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World?") destroyed everything they worked so hard to protect. The show sets you up for the next Volume, but it is only 3 minutes long. Kinda like a chapter in a Dan Brown novel. Plus, it leaves the show open to interpretation about what could happen next...not like the traumatic experience that was the ALF finale (http://www.cracked.com/article_18490_the-7-most-soul-crushing-series-finales-in-tv-history.html).

Secondly, as with a lot of shows on TV now, the series as a whole wasn't horrible if you watched it back-to-back and without a week break in between where you forgot all but the last three minutes of the previous week. The season flows pretty well, and although their aren't any truly new memorable characters, the whole point is that the ultimate evil is no longer evil! That's pretty conclusive.

And finally...at least the season was different! I mean...circuses and carnivals bring out the best and worst in people, our strengths and fears, a sense of belonging yet needing to stand out. I mean...there were no vampires! (nor mention of them) so that's always a plus!

I watched every episode of the show, which is something I haven't done in a long time. I was engrossed in the show and added to the fact that I would watch it every week with my parents added to the special feelings I harbored for the show.

So, Heroes...you will be missed. At least I don't have to listen to Milo Ventmiglia whine and hyperventilate anymore...

Almost done...

So I am STILL playing Final Fantasy I. I gave myself an extra challenge and tried to do a highest stats game. I managed to do the class change at level 11 and have continued along since.

Only issue if that they new dungeon they added is a pain in the ass...Labyrinth of Time.....sucks that my team that let me barrel through the game (two Knights and two Red Wizards) aren't all that useful against the final bosses in the extra dungeon...and you gotta fight him 8 times to full the BESTIARY! Still gonna try to plod through it...

In other news, DRAGON QUEST IX COMES OUT SUNDAY!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!

Pretty sad Glee is over for the summer...I mean it's not the best show on TV but it sometimes has some really moving scenes. Especially the finale! I love Sue Sylvester! I think that before shows go off the air for the summer break, they should also film a two hour movie or something to play midway through the summer so that we don't forget about shows halfway through (Heroes... :()

Also, started watching True Blood. It's the most realistic (?) vampire thing I have seen in a while. I am almost done with the first season and can't wait to watch more! Once again, not the best show on TV but I am intrigued.

Also DROP DEAD DIVA is back for the summer! This is mine and Lary's show...yes we are that gay :)

I am about halfway done with Final Fantasy 1, playing the iPod touch version which is lengths ahead of any version out there. I did forget that the game kinda stinks though...lame story, no stand out characters (except the villain) but I am enjoying this experience again. Can't wait until I get to II. I have beat 1 a few times on different systems but never actually made it all the way to the end of 2...

I am on a slight anime hiatus at the moment. My brain kinda hurts from it all, but I am going to be starting up Full Metal Alchemist soon. I finished Ouran High School Host Club and it was adorable! I just wish some series weren't so long so I could watch multiple ones but I am so far behind...

The Musical Side of Josei - Nodame Cantabile

The iPod Touch/iPhone has some really interesting apps, one of which is called "Manga Rock" (there is also "iMangaX" but I prefer the first). Basically you can read free manga anytime you want! Well...as long as you have WiFi.

Now the selection isn't that great and most of the big names aren't available (no Naruto, Bleach, etc.) but hey, it's free!

From the Top 50 Manga of Japan list, only three or four are available. One of the ones I am reading now is called "Nodame Cantabile", ranked 14. It's a Josei music series.

For those of you unfamiliar with the different genres of manga, josei, literally translated as 'ladies', is mainly for women in their late teens to adult. (As opposed to shojo, which is for mainly for girls 10-18).

The title is taken from the main female protagonist, Megumi Noda (a.k.a. Nodame) and the word Cantabile means "singable or song like" in Italian.

The story follows Nodame, a classical piano college student who can't read music but is able to play almost perfectly by ear. Her relationship with a senior piano player, Chiaki, is the love basis for the story. Chiaki is a piano and violin prodigy whose dream is to be a famous conductor. Due to his fear of flying and the ocean, Chiaki is stuck in Japan and is unable to fulfill his dreams of conducting in Europe. Even though Nodame is constantly attacking (literally!) Chiaki for his affection, he seems to not care about Nodame in that way, though he love for the piano is forcing him to continue to inspire her.

Even though Nodame is supposed to the be the lead, the story seems to revolve more around Chiaki (as of Volume 6). Chiaki is kind of a divo and a prick to everyone, but eventually opens up to his true feelings about music due to the passion and support he gets from Nodame, his teachers and other students. This story also focuses a lot more on comedy than love, making it a decent read for guys. There is a lot pf physical humor too and lots of other information about music and musicians so fans of classical music will also get some interest due to the background knowledge.

Bleach : End of Part 1 (Spoilers)

So after 63 episodes, 3 seasons and a special, I have finished the first part of Bleach.

Yes it is an amazing series, but as always, it started to get really drawn out with the fights, wasitng about 5 min on each episode recapping the end of the previous episode...and once again NO ONE DIES!!!! People get stabbed and basically ripped to shreads but they all come back to life.

There was a twist I didn't see coming: ---------->

One I did see coming:

And the freakiest thing I have seen in the series so far:

I am going to be taking a break from Bleach so I can finish up on some of the other series I have started (Ouran High Host Club and Pani Poni Dash!) but I will be watching a few episodes here and there while I catch up in the Manga. There is a season or two of filler episodes in Bleach so I am not in any rush to start catching up.

Slam Dunk!

Now beginning my journey to the 50 greatest manga series, I started with number one on the list: Slam Dunk!

In case it isn't obvious enough, the manga is about a high school basketball team. I am only one volume into the series and it takes some getting used to. The art work is a little sketchy at first and the style reminds me of GTO.

The series centers around Hanamichi Sakuragi, a red-haired tough guy who only wants to find a girlfriend so they can walk home from school together (yeah, he is kinda lame...lol). After his 50th rejection, a girl named Haruko Akagi catches his eye, but she seems to only like basketball players. He decides to join the school basketball team, who's captain actually turns out to be Haruko's older brother Takenori! Add Kaede Rukawa, Haruko's crush, to the mix and the drama begins to unfold!

Being inexperienced, Hamanichi is forced to watch from the sidelines while the rest of the teams plays...but his natural skills are gonna be something to reckon with!

The Different sides of (Japanese) High School

So in trying to continue with my watching of the 100 Greatest Anime and 50 Greatest Manga, I have reached out

In the anime department, along with Bleach, I have been watching Ouran High School Host Club, which is ranked #71 on TV Asahi's 2006 list. There were two reasons I chose to watch this anime. The first being it is available on Hulu so I can watch it all for free (without downloading) and secondly...at quick glance I thought the anime was called Ghost Club and I was looking for a horrorish anime...boy was I wrong! ( I need to work on my reading skills...)

The Cast of Ouran High School Host Club

Mori, Honey, Haruhi, Kaoru, Hikaru, Tamaki and Kyoya

Now for those of you not well-informed with Japanese culture (though some other cultures, including the US) have what are known as Host Clubs. These clubs are basically the equivalent of 'male companions' in the US, but these kinds of clubs are non-sexual. Men or women can go to these Host Clubs and spend their money to enjoy the company of beautiful members of the opposite sex (though I am sure same sex ones exist, I have only ever come across one series that had a Transvestite club). In these clubs, the hosts play a certain role to cater to the whim of their guests.



The Ouran High host club is no different. All seven members have their specific role.



Mori - the 'oniisan'. The quiet, older brother figure.
Honey - the 'boy Lolita'. The shorter, younger looking male to appeal to older woman
Haruhi - the 'androgyne'. The could-be-a-boy, could-be-a-girl.
Kaoru and Hikaru - the 'twins'. Look exactly alike and portray an almost incestuous relationship.
Tamaki - the 'king'. The leader who has mastered the art of power and manipulation.
Kyoya - the 'cool guy'. The cross between intelligence, money and presence.

The protagonist is Haruhi, who is trapped into joining the club in order to pay back a debt of breaking a vase. But, gasp! Haruhi is actually a girl! (not a big surprise so don't be angry if this is spoiled...I mean they reveal it in the opening credits before the series even starts). The series follows Haruhi as she struggles to pay off her debts, tries to hide the fact she is is a girl (otherwise she'll have to leave the male host club) and fight off the advances of the other members of the club, especially Tamaki!

I am only on 6 (out of 26) episodes, and I have a deep love for this series. It is one of the funniest animes I have seen in a while, like actually laugh out loud funny. So far the one issue I have about the series is there is little continuity between the episodes, aside for the fact that Haruhi needs to pay off her debt. Other than that, I recommend it! Will post more soon...

What I'm Watching: Bleach (#7) (episode 50), Ouran High School Host Club (# 71) (episode 6)

What I'm Reading: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (Seth Grahme-Smith) Eclpise (Stephenie Meyer), Shin-Chan (Volumer 11) and Slam Dunk (Volume 1)

What I'm Playing: Silent Hill: Origins (PSP), Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS)

Bleach: Anime's Time of the Month...

I reason for this...let's say pun...

I am only 50 episodes in, and I was talking to one of my friends about the series and, while under the influence of a Capt. and Coke, described the series as "The Period of Anime"....basically there is blood in every episode. People being cut up, monsters being slashed, characters jump in in the way to protect other characters....etc.

Yet no one has died....yet. I am sure it's coming....but it's really hard to believe in something that bleeds for 50 episodes and no bodies to show it...

Seriously, in one battle, the villain gets his ass handed to him and is left with a gaping hole in his body, blood pouring everywhere! But he manages to escape and I know will come back....it's pretty annoying crap if you ask me...

FYI, this character, Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi (seen here with his Lietenant Nemu) is one of the creepiest characters I have ever seen in any series. Without spoiling too much, he basically experiments on people/animals/whatever he gets his hand on until "There is nothing but pulp left"....Seriosuly....this dude is pretty fucked and I hope there is more of him to come!

Bleach Rocks!

Not gonna lie, Bleach is one of the greatest animes I have seen in while!

The fighting scenes are awesome, the VA is great (not in English so much but it's passable) and the characters are pretty badass! Even Uryu, the dude in the white coat, turns out to be a cool/dork character.

I didn't think I'd like anime with too much blood, and there's a lot of it, but it's pretty awesome and it adds to the haunting atmosphere.

I am only on season 3 and it's awesome...though I do see one downfall in the future. It's what I call "Yu-Gi-Oh Syndrome", where in order to make the anime last longer they stretch out battles to 3, 4, 5+ episodes and it gets really annoying...hasn't happened yet but I am sure it will...

First set of goals

My first set of goals is:

1. To play (and finish) Final Fantasy I-XIII
2. To watch the top 100 anime according to TV Asahi (http://darkdiamond.net/web-notes/top-100-anime-of-japan/) (or attempt to...some of these don't exist in subtitle form so there is no way to watch it)
3. Read the top 50 manga (http://darkdiamond.net/web-notes/top-50-manga-of-japan/) (same disclaimer as above, some are not availble to read in English)
4. Research different novels to compile a possible book.

What I'm Watching: Bleach (#7) (episode 41), Ouran High School Host Club (# 71) (episode 2)

What I'm Reading: Bleach (vol 17), Nana (vol 20), The Devil in the White City (Erik Larson), Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (Seth Grahme-Smith) Eclpise (Stephenie Meyer)

What I'm Playing: God of War: Chains of Olympus, Patapon 2, Pokemon Soul Silver

And your point is...?

Quite simply, the point of this part of my blog is to to accomplish two things:

1. I am a geek at heart so this is to talk about the Shows, Video Games, Anime, Manga and other books I am reading.

2. To set a few goals for myself. I usually achieve my professional goals, but a lot of times I give up on certain personal projects.

Hopefully I'll stick with this...