Please Teacher! Review

Kon'nichiwa min'na!

Please Teacher!

Ah man. Talk about expectations letting you down! 12 episodes and one OVA later, and I actually regret watching this anime. Now don't get me wrong, it's not a terrible anime, it has it's funny moments, and at times is genuinely interesting. It's just so damn boring!

Okay, so here's the deal. There's this kid called K, yes, just one letter, and he has this "disease" where he blacks out periodically which he calls "Stand stills". To cut a long, boring plot synopsis short, he ends up finding about the existence of an alien, this alien being a young, beautiful woman who ends up being his teacher as well as his neighbour. At this point, something happens, and the end up having a relationship and getting married. I don't know what happened exactly, because this anime failed to hold my attention for longer than 10 minutes at a time. Through the 12 episodes, K and Mizuho Kazami (That's the hot alien) try their utmost best to hide their relationship, some shit goes down and memories get erased blah blah blah...

Now, down to the important bits, the animation is top notch. It really is one of the most beautifully animated series I have watched to date. In 1080p Blu-Ray the colours are crisp and bright. This is no action packed anime, and so there aren't any real fast paced sequences, it's more of an ebb and flow anime, with smooth, slow paced shots. There are a few dream/memory sequences too which in themselves are beautifully created and a joy to watch. There really was a lot of love and dedication put into this piece.

As for the sound, it's always fresh and upbeat, save for the more sombre scenes. The english voice acting is much to be desired as a lot of the english voice actors sound very similar, but that doesn't change the feeling that each characters voice fits their personality perfectly. The music is soft and mellow and isn't distracting from what's happening on screen like other anime have been known to do.

Honestly, I'm biased to this anime as it's not my usual genre, I don't often watch "Slice of Life" anime, and watch even less Ecchi. Overall this is an anime that will definitely not suit everyone's taste, but if it's the genre that you're honestly interested in, you won't go wrong by watching it. The story progresses very slowly for a 12 episode anime and feels very drawn out, which could make you not want to bother finishing the series. Bottom line, watch it if you want, give it a miss if you don't.

Story - 50/100

Dialogue - 60/100

Animation - 90/100

Entertainment - 60/100

Overall - 65/100

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition Review

Kon'nichiwa min'na!

Hello everyone!

How is everyone doing? Right now where I am we’re experiencing some really cold weather! It even snowed for the first time in around five years. What does this cold weather mean for us? Well, it’s perfect for us gamers who love chilling in bed or on the sofa under blankets playing out favourite games.

And game I am. A while back I entered a competition on twitter with Xbox 360 South Africa, and I was one of two winners! The question was, if we were given the chance to get a download code for XBLA for the newest release Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition, what would we build? I answered Nelson Mandela’s face. I won. LOL. So I got the code, got connected to the internet, and downloaded this amazing little gem of a game. I’m probably a few months late with this review, but it kinda didn’t occur to me to review this game until now.

Minecraft is an open-world sandbox game where you play as “Steve”. Now, if you’re expecting Crysis or Skyrim like graphics, you’re gravely mistaken. Minecraft is all about the blocks! Literally, there are absolutely no smooth textures anywhere; it’s all made up of cubes, the whole game. Seriously. Minecraft was originally released for PC’s in multiple alpha and beta releases; currently the PC version is 1.3. The Xbox 360 edition however was ported to C++ and thus they had to start from an earlier version. Enter Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition v1.6.6 beta. It was updated recently to a later version (v1.7.3) which brought with it a bunch of bug fixes, as well as many new items.

Now, about the items, Minecraft is essentially, as the name suggests a game in which you mine! Shock, surprise! You start every new world, which is randomly generated using seeds, with two things, yourself and a map. At this point it’s completely up to you that to do next. Before you start the world you’re given the opportunity to change the difficulty slider, you can choose Peaceful, in which there are no monsters and your health regenerates automatically, or Normal and so forth where you will have to battle with Spiders, Skeletons, Zombies and those Damned Creepers at night! Once you’ve started the game, you literally have a world at your hands with which you can create what you will. Chop down trees and get some wood, use that wood to then make wooden planks and after enough wooden planks have been created you can start building shelter. Or take a different approach and create some tools that you can use to get better items. Create a shovel to collect sand, which is then used to make glass, or craft a pickaxe which is used to mine stone. Once you have stone, you can use it to create a stone pickaxe, which is used to mine faster and better materials. There are a whole bunch of materials in Minecraft, from stone to iron ore, gold and the rarest and precious material, diamond. There is only a handful of diamond in any given world depending on the random world seed.

People from all around the world have built some amazing things in Minecraft XBLA, from Old Trafford to the Colosseum. Others have created majestic looking works of art such as the Mona Lisa. The amount of freedom that a person has in this game is astounding; you can create and craft absolutely anything that your heart desires. I’m currently working on a Pokémon project where I plan on building some buildings from the iconic games as well as some of the actual Pokémon monsters.
It’s not all fun and games however (Except that it is, haha). There is some form of action especially when it comes to the monsters. Skeletons will shoot arrows at you and Zombies will eat your brains all of which will decrease your life, represented by hearts. If your health is low, you need to regain it by killing a pig, collecting the pork chop and eating it. If you cook the pork chop first, you get more health. Pigs aren’t the only animals there are though, there are also cows which are used for leather which can then be made into armour. Chickens give you feathers which can be crafted into arrows as well as eggs which are used in the baking of bread and cake. Yes. Bread and cake. Squids give you ink sacks and sheep give you wool which can be used to create a bed to sleep in.

Mojang and 4J Studios, the creators and developers of the game, have said that the XBLA version will soon be on par with the PC version and that all future updates to the PC version will be ported to the Xbox 360. The game can be bought for 1600 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live, and it’s definitely a good decision to buy the game because it will give you hours upon hours of fun as well as an outlet to let your creativity run free!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make coffee and carry on playing Mass Effect. Much love.

Black Butler Season 1 Review

Kon'nichiwa min'na!

HOLY SHIT. Almost literally. Black Butler is one strange, twisted, fuck-with-your-mind (do excuse my French, will you?) anime, it’s unexpected and absolutely random, while watching you never know what’s going to happen next.

Set sometime during the 1800’s in upper-class England, this anime revolves around the Earl Lord Ciel, a 12 year old Lord who demands the respect and fear of his family name, as well as his “Hell of a Butler” Sebastian. Ciel is an orphan, suffering the loss of his parents in a dreadful fire that claims not only the lives of both his parents, but also his home. That doesn’t keep him down though, Ciel becomes a hard, cold child, forgetting how to smile, but gaining the respect from those many years his senior, particularly the Queen Mother of England as she entrusts him to become her Royal Guard Dog, keeper of the underground crime lords.
This anime isn’t really suited for any one particular genre as it encompasses many in its 24 episodes. I think the best way to describe it would be to say that it’s a Slice of Life anime, with Supernatural, Horror and Comedic sub-genres. It’s Slice of Life because it focuses on the loss of ones parents, something many children around the world deal with on a daily basis, but it takes it to the next level with Ciel becoming vengeful and full of hatred to those responsible for killing his parents. Ah, it should be said now that Sebastian is no ordinary Butler, but in fact a Demon, entered into a contract with Ciel to protect him from al harm until such a time that the people responsible for his parents death are dead. The revenge however is somewhat of a sub-plot running concurrently with the main plot of the anime, a great battle between Good and Evil, Heaven and Hell, Angels and Demons. A twist however is that it is in fact a fallen angel causing the most damage. This is one anime where Evil defeats Good. The demon Butler prevails over his angelic counterpart for the good of England. That just shows you right there that you cannot judge a book by its cover.

Visually this anime is an epic example of how an artist can balance both light and darkness and have it mix so perfectly that it never feels as if it’s too dark and dreary or overly pronounced and “loud” as it were. The characters are all drawn amazingly, and all of them having their own specific trademark, especially noticeable with the hair. Except Tanaka, Tanaka is awesome in his own right. The sound of this anime is as if it comes directly out of the 1800’s with subtle tunes that complement the nature and art style of the anime. Not to mention the great voice acting, this is one of those anime that is best watched in the English dubbed version rather than its Japanese counterpart as the English accents really add a lot to the effect the anime tries to bring forth, from the sophisticated aristocratic accents of the Lords and Ladies to the Cockney London accents of the East-Enders.

This is definitely an amazing anime and is well worth well to watch, but I did find that one or two episodes didn’t catch my attention as much and I was left feeling a bit bored. But don’t let that stop you from watching this amazing anime and learning something from its sombre tones. I can’t wait to watch the second season and I’m going to start downloading it ASAP. You’ll notice I’m going to give it a few rating under the review, this is a new addition I’m adding to the overall reviews of Anime, Movies and Games.

Story – 90/100
Dialogue – 95/100
Animation – 98/100
Entertainment – 95/100
Overall Score – 94.5/100

Link to download:
http://anime-access.com/anime/B/Black_Butler_(TV)

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS review

Kon'nichiwa min'na!

Okay guys! WOW, two posts in one day? What's going on? Well this is a review for a game that was actually for a competition in NAG Magazine, South Africa's leading Video Game lifestyle magazine. I highly doubt that I have won the competition, so I have decided to post the review here on my blog. Read it, and let me know on the ://HACKtheworld facebook page whether or not you think I deserve to win this competition. (If I do win, it will get published in the NAG June issue.)

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of those games that gamers will remember forever, especially the older folk. The problem with this title being an N64 title is that many younger gamers don’t have the chance to play older amazing games. Insert LoZ: OoT 3DS.

Less than an HD remake, and more of a port, the gameplay remains wholly similar to the original N64 version with only a few changes being made to gameplay. One of the major changes is the control and button scheme, gone are the C-buttons and added is the analogue circle pad. The touch screen inventory is a much appreciated aspect of the new 3DS version of the game, making item changes on the fly super effective (see what I did there Nintendo?).

Visually this game is as beautiful, and maybe even more so, than the original. Not only does Link and others look much smoother and less ‘blocky’ than the N64 version, but the scenery and landscapes have also had an impressive face lift. The music in game remains unchanged, which will please hardcore fans of the franchise with its stunning compositions.

As with all LoZ games story plays an imminent part of the game. And as with all LoZ games (Except a few) this iteration is no different. The story is compelling and keeps the player immersed until the end. The dungeons and puzzles are challenging and engaging at the best of times, but can be somewhat frustrating (Water Temple). Some puzzles are definitely more puzzling than others, but the feeling of accomplishment that you get after beating a Boss Battle is welcome.

After beating the game the player is given access to the Master Quest, which gives players an extra challenge. Playing the game the second time is a must, because you’re sure to miss out on a few things on your first play through, also for those who want 100% game completion a second play through is definitely needed. Another cool aspect is the Boss Challenge Mode which lets you battle all your favourite Bosses over and over again.

Review by Matthew Loom

Pros

Sticks to the original, amazing 3D graphics, challenging

Cons

Challenging, Water Temple

Summary

This is a must have for new and older fans alike. This is an excellent attempt at a remake and is well executed. This will keep newer fans intrigued and older fans of the series happy with the unchanged gameplay.

Score

95/100

The Green Mile movie review

Kon'nichiwa min'na!

Hey guys! So finally i have a new blog post for you all! It's been a while since I've posted, I hope you all haven't missed me to much. Anyway, this is a film review of the 1999 film The Green Mile. You'll notice that it isn't in my usual review format, and that's because I wrote it as a speech for my English class. Enjoy!

The Green Mile is a 1999 American drama adapted  from the 1996 Stephen King novel of the same name. The film is primarily portrayed using flashbacks to the past. The film tells the story of Paul's life as a death row corrections officer during the Great Depression in the United States, and the miracles that he witnesses thanks to an inmate John Coffey.

The story revolves around flash backs of the character Paul Edgecomb during his time as a death row corrections officer, he as well as the character of John Coffey, are the main characters of the film. They are however supported by other characters such as Brutal, Pauls best friend, and Percy, a man who can be likened to a mouse as portrayed in one seen where Percy is styling his hair while at the same time Mr Jingles the mouse is behind him grooming himself, a somewhat accurate comparison. Percy, whom no one likes and who seems to like no one, lands up in the very mental hospital as a patient where he was intending to work after John shows Paul the truth about what happens to the girls, also a fitting judgement for Percy.

John, an inmate who has been convicted for the rape and murder of two girls is sentenced to death, lands up on E Blocks’ “Green Mile”  and befriends the guards save for Percy. Paul first comes to see John as harmless when John uses his miracle gift of healing to heal Paul’s urinary infection. Throughout the course of the film many relationships are built, and many are extended. Paul and Brutal become even better friends because of the actions that have happened, the group of guards come to love and care for the wrongly accused John, and even another inmate, Del, a Frenchman, befriends a mouse. The relationship between the Warden Hal and his wife is also worth mentioning, although not focused much in the film. Hal has learned that his wife has a tumour and is going through a deep internal struggle of how to tell her she is going to die before she is eventually healed by John.

By the end of the film, we learn that because John has given Paul some of his “Gift”, he has also granted him an exceptionally long life. Being over the age of 100, Paul wonders to himself when he is going to die, wishing it upon himself too. He sees his friends and family die around him, and sees it as his punishment from God for letting one of God’s miracles die.

One of the main topics of the film is perhaps the evils of the world we live in. Other socio-economic topics are briefly mentioned or portrayed in the film as well, for example the fact that the film takes place during the Great Depression, a time when many people were out of work and were doing the best that they could to get by. The film also takes place in the stereotypical “Southern” states of America where racism was commonplace and not frowned upon in the least. The supernatural or religious topic is also present in the film, a man with the power to heal the sick and mend the injured. Although the supernatural is not primarily what this film is based around, it adds to the emotion the viewer feels when the unjust action of killing John takes place.

A topic throughout the film is the evil around the world, the character John Coffey talks about the matter in excess, especially towards the end of the film where he is scheduled to die. John asks to be killed, because it is a way of him being released from the curse of being able to feel all the pain and anguish around the world.

This film is classified as a drama for its intense emotional content and sombre tone, but that is an unfair classification. This film has any moments that are filled with romance, action, comedy and even the supernatural. This film being called a drama deeply underestimates what people of different tastes can take away from watching it. Although it is generalised as a drama it is by no means boring or monotonous, it keeps the viewer attentive at all times.

This film is most definitely a tear jerker of note, and is sure to bring a sparkle to the corner of your eye. It’s a memorable telling of the injustices of the world we will in, but also of the immense beauty and love that some of the people of the world bring to our lives.

5 Centimeters Per Second anime review for anime-access.com by Matty~~

Kon'nichiwa min'na!

Okay, this is the first time I’ll be reviewing an anime movie of this genre, so please bare with me if I seem a little obscure and judgemental. But I guess as a reviewer that’s what I’m meant to do.

So 5 Centimeters Per Second is a romantic, slice-of-life, drama anime which tells the diverse love stories of a group of people. Without going into too much plot detail, the film is split into three short stories, all based on 3 different stages of life and the challenges of love that come with being that age.

The first story is that of puppy love. A boy and girl who are best friends but are unknowingly in love with each other.

The second story is the classic love triangle. The boy and girl who are in love are separated by distance yet their love doesn’t fade. However, another girl is also in love with the boy.

The last story, and the shortest of them all being only 5 to 8 minutes long shows us the different outcomes of the characters lives. All superbly variant.

The film being set in three short stories most definitely adds another element, as you get to see hw the characters have grown and developed around their environments.

Animation wise this is a great looking anime, themed around the different seasons, summer, spring, winter and autumn, the colour styles are picked up beautifully depending on the current season. Bright and sharp colours are used for summer and spring, while colder, harder colours are used to portray winter and autumn.

The dialogue, well, there isn’t much of it to be perfectly honest. Most of what is being said is either a memory or a thought. If you are absolutely against anything even slightly sad, don’t bother watching this film as the dialogue is slow and sombre. This film speaks to us about the harsh realities of love, and does nothing to soften the notion that love does in fact hurt.

Special credit should be given to those who composed the score for this film, it has had some of the best Japanese music I have heard to date. The music in this film, especially the last song in particular is enough to make you tear up, no matter how much of a rugged Hells Angel biker you are. If the music doesn’t affect you, you have no soul.

Overall this isn’t the best anime film ever produced, it’s slow, sombre, sad, and if you have just come out of a relationship, or are currently in love with someone who might not feel the same way, or maybe it’s just a matter of distance, this film will either inspire you to change something about it, or depress you.

Review by Matty~~ ^^, for anime-access.com

://HACKtheworld

Download link here -» http://anime-access.com/anime/0/5_centimeters_per_second_(Movie)

Batman: Gotham Knight Review by Matty~~ ^^, for http://anime-access.com

Kon'nichiwa min'na!

Batman: Gotham Knight

Hey guys, new Anime review on anime-access.com, follow this link to check it out and support the anime community -> http://www.anime-access.com/anime/B/Batman:_Gotham_Knight_(Movie)/reviews/id/16979#review

This movie is a classic tale of Batman told through the styles of Japanese anime. This film is a nice stray away from the classical American cartoons that portray the character of Batman and the fact that it is produced in a Japanese animation styles makes it a nice change to see how Japanese anime artists depict The Dark Knight. Throughout the entire movie there are an uncountable amount of action sequences that really bring out the characteristics of classic Batman tales, as well as the amount of action sequences, it can also be said that the action never really dies down in that one action scene meshes beautifully into a more calm cinematographic scene which then in turn becomes another extreme action scene.
Concerning the dialogue depicted in the film it can be said that it is intriguing with not much being said about any specific topic, but let’s the viewer decide for himself what might be happening. Also, conversations between characters never becomes monotonous and is always changing in tone and style.

The visual styles used in the film are absolutely superb. The Japanese take on how classic Batman characters look is a welcome change and all the different styles of anime art bring a nice feel to the film in that the film never feels too set on one style of animation. Another great take on the Batman franchise is the different iterations of the Batman character, it allows the viewer to imagine different times and situations that these new versions of Batman could be appropriate.

To a person not familiar with the Batman universe this anime can be quite confusing as the film is not a set plot, but involves a number of different plots depending on the visual style. Another downside to the film is the “flashbacks”, some plots are pure story where others are seemingly portrayed as memories, another factor that could confuse people who have not read the original comics or watched the American cartoons and films.
At the end of the day, this is most definitely a film to be watched by those who are devout Batman fans as they can experience a “new” Batman, as well as by fans of Japanese anime as the film blends the various types of animation beautifully.