Death Note

[Qrazy]

Just finished Madhouse's Death Note (the series, not the film). If any of you out there are a fan of cat and mouse style thrillers check out this anime. Here's the entire season, three episodes in and you'll be hooked for the duration. Has anyone else out there seen this?

http://www.tv-links.cc/anime/death-note.htm

[Philosophe_rouge]

Actually, I love this series. I have about 4 or 5 episodes left and then I'm finally finished! It's very clever, and tense. The animation is pretty damn good as well. I'm not a huge connaisseur, but it's my favourite anime series to date.

[lovejuice]

can't comment on the anime, but i quite dislike the manga, and i'm pretty sure i'll feel the same with the anime.

[EvilShoe]

I rather enjoyed the anime, until a certain plot twist occured:
The death of L.
What follows is an epilogue that goes on for too long. Decent, but not up too par with what preceded it.

[number8]

This should be in the TV forum.

And I never bothered with the anime because I read the manga and it's exactly the same.


And the movie sucked.

[Qrazy]

I rather enjoyed the anime, until a certain plot twist occured:
The death of L.
What follows is an epilogue that goes on for too long. Decent, but not up too par with what preceded it.

Yeah, they really should have kept that rivalry central thoughout. Still, I thought what followed was quite good, just end up missing L.

[lovejuice]

And I never bothered with the anime because I read the manga and it's exactly the same.


do u like the manga?

[number8]

Yes.

[Kurosawa Fan]

3 episodes in and I'm definitely hooked. Thanks for the link!

[Qrazy]

3 episodes in and I'm definitely hooked. Thanks for the link!

:)

[Qrazy]

How's it coming along KF?

I also want to take this opportunity to pimp Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, so much better than Neon Genesis Evangelion. In terms of sheer scale, the most epic anime ever created.

[Kurosawa Fan]

How's it coming along KF?

I also want to take this opportunity to pimp Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, so much better than Neon Genesis Evangelion, in terms of sheer scale, the most epic anime ever created.

I think I'm through 14 episodes. It's great, but I gotta say

I can't stand the second Kira. It's put a stick through the show's spokes. I can tell it's going to serve a good purpose, but she's annoying as all fuck and I usually can't wait for her scenes to end.

I'm sure annoyance is part of the purpose, but they pulled it off too well.

[Sycophant]

I actually got this. I'll start it after I finish The Sopranos, or need a break therefrom.

I also want to take this opportunity to pimp Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, so much better than Neon Genesis Evangelion, in terms of sheer scale, the most epic anime ever created.
Haven't heard of this one, actually. I'll look into it. Scale wasn't my favorite part of NGE, but I'm curious.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I disliked NGE pretty significantly. Every episode felt the same to me. "Uh oh, they're coming! Better get under ground while the fighting occurs!" I was bored out of my mind, but I only saw 5 or 6 episodes, so perhaps I didn't give it a good enough chance to win me over.

[lovejuice]

I disliked NGE pretty significantly. Every episode felt the same to me. "Uh oh, they're coming! Better get under ground while the fighting occurs!" I was bored out of my mind, but I only saw 5 or 6 episodes, so perhaps I didn't give it a good enough chance to win me over.

literally you are the first person i've ever known that can't stand NGE. i dislike the show although for a different reason.

[Sycophant]

I disliked NGE pretty significantly. Every episode felt the same to me. "Uh oh, they're coming! Better get under ground while the fighting occurs!" I was bored out of my mind, but I only saw 5 or 6 episodes, so perhaps I didn't give it a good enough chance to win me over.
The second half is the superior half, and on a first run through, it's easy to miss what's special about the series in the first eight or so episodes. It's one of the more exquisite explorations of notions of self-worth and depression I've seen.

[Qrazy]

I actually got this. I'll start it after I finish The Sopranos, or need a break therefrom.

Haven't heard of this one, actually. I'll look into it. Scale wasn't my favorite part of NGE, but I'm curious.

Meant to start a new sentence.

[Qrazy]

I disliked NGE pretty significantly. Every episode felt the same to me. "Uh oh, they're coming! Better get under ground while the fighting occurs!" I was bored out of my mind, but I only saw 5 or 6 episodes, so perhaps I didn't give it a good enough chance to win me over.

I felt like this... first third of the show... It's OK, but I don't feel the hype... Second third when we discover the animal/organic side of the meccas I was finally starting to really get into it, but then the last third didn't deliver for me. It wasn't a colossal disappointment but I didn't feel like it lived up to where it could have gone. Although, apparently the new film out for it is supposed to be quite good.

But yeah as much as I admired elements of the examination of depression, etc in the last third of the show, sometimes it felt more indulgent than effective to me... one of the reasons Tengen Toppa works better in my opinion... the lead character in Tengen is full of self-doubt as well but he overcomes it in a real way and the show doesn't just drop it's narrative to become lost in metaphoric lala land. NGE might have more interesting animation in some of it's fight scenes (just the way muscles stretch extra) than Tengen but still overall Tengen has much stronger aesthetic cohesion.

Tengen Toppa is a mecca show too and so it is itself somewhat repetitive and in ways formulaic, be warned, but it also recognizes and subverts that formula more often than not, executes that formula amazingly well and sometimes explodes past the formulaic element with pure unadulterated energy.

[lovejuice]

I felt like this... first third of the show... It's OK, but I don't feel the hype... Second third when we discover the animal/organic side of the meccas I was finally starting to really get into it, but then the last third didn't deliver for me. It wasn't a colossal disappointment but I didn't feel like it lived up to where it could have gone. Although, apparently the new film out for it is supposed to be quite good.


you pretty much sum up what i don't like about NGE. i respect its impact on anime culture, but by itself, i can't stand it.

[EvilShoe]

Has anyone here seen Welcome to the NHK?
I just started on that one.

[[ETM]]

On NGE - doesn't anyone appreciate the design, atmosphere, pacing, direction anymore? I got really immersed in the rich world of Evangelion, and the insane ending didn't bother me that much, especially after watching the End of Evangelion film, which literally replaces the final episodes both in terms of plot and visually, tying it to the series.

I saw one random episode of Death Note and was bored out of my mind. I appreciated the ideas and the overall feel of it, but I can't stand so much dry pointless exposition, even with a really good translation. It looked like the entire episode cost nothing to make, too, since 95% of it were people and various creatures sitting and talking for minutes at a time.

[lovejuice]

;54825']On NGE - doesn't anyone appreciate the design, atmosphere, pacing, direction anymore? I got really immersed in the rich world of Evangelion, and the insane ending didn't bother me that much, especially after watching the End of Evangelion film, which literally replaces the final episodes both in terms of plot and visually, tying it to the series.

strangely enough, i do. i don't deny there're a lot to appreciate, but the ending ticks me off. perhaps watching EoE will make me forgive the series, but that imo defeats the whole point.


;54825']I saw one random episode of Death Note and was bored out of my mind. I appreciated the ideas and the overall feel of it, but I can't stand so much dry pointless exposition, even with a really good translation.

yes! you exactly nails down what i dislike about the show and the comic. not to mention, those dialogues are not half as smart as people who write them think they are.

[Qrazy]

strangely enough, i do. i don't deny there're a lot to appreciate, but the ending ticks me off. perhaps watching EoE will make me forgive the series, but that imo defeats the whole point.



Believe me it won't. It will only irritate.

[[ETM]]

the ending ticks me off. perhaps watching EoE will make me forgive the series, but that imo defeats the whole point.

Well, considering that the writer had a nervous breakdown and that the crews had no time to finish it properly, opting instead for the strange mix of hallucinations and real world footage mixed with thick exposition - yeah, I think there's room to forgive the series and forget the way it initially ended. Where in the original closing episodes you had abstract representations of events and ideas, EoE tackles them head on, with little remorse. It jumps right in and takes no prisoners. It's actually pretty emotional and brutal. I could not get myself to watch all of it again.

[Qrazy]

;54825']
I saw one random episode of Death Note and was bored out of my mind. I appreciated the ideas and the overall feel of it, but I can't stand so much dry pointless exposition, even with a really good translation. It looked like the entire episode cost nothing to make, too, since 95% of it were people and various creatures sitting and talking for minutes at a time.

That's why I was hesitant on the show when I first read the synopsis and after the first episode or two but it gets really, really intense, the tension gets ratched through the roof. At first you think to yourself how interesting can an anime about a piece of paper which can cause death be? But the series capitalizes completely on it's premise and delves quite deeply into countless moral and social quandries in relation to this essentially new form of mass murder.

But as I said, aside from the engaging subtext (in the same way the subtext in Battlestar Galactica is terrific)... the show's premise allows for suspense which just never lets up... when absolutely anyone can die at any instant (compared to other hero worship type animes, where there is never any real worry for the protags safety) things become much more interesting all of a sudden.

[[ETM]]

Yes, I keep forgetting Match-cut is first and foremost a community of horror fans... I'm certain I'd enjoy Death Note more if I was one, which isn't the case at all. As I said, I appreciate the idea, but the execution is not up my alley.

[Qrazy]

yes! you exactly nails down what i dislike about the show and the comic. not to mention, those dialogues are not half as smart as people who write them think they are.

That all depends on how smart you think they think they are. The plot twists and reveals are only partially the point. You're not supposed to be completely blown away by ever reveal, although personally I think the cat and mouse games played out over the course of the show are for the most part fairly satisfying. The subtext, the tone (tense! tense! tense!) and fairly complex character psychologies (Light, L, Light's father, even the Shinigami are ripe with pathos) are the strengths of the show.

Oh and the show is very well animated people, it just doesn't have an action scene every five minutes. Case in point, when characters obsessively write down names in the Death Note... awesome animation!

[Qrazy]

;54860']Yes, I keep forgetting Match-cut is first and foremost a community of horror fans... I'm certain I'd enjoy Death Note more if I was one, which isn't the case at all. As I said, I appreciate the idea, but the execution is not up my alley.

Fair, I couldn't stand Perfect Blue because of the nauseating slasher tone which permeated the entire film... yet I love Death Note... but still based on the former I think I can see where you're coming from.

[Sycophant]

;54860']Yes, I keep forgetting Match-cut is first and foremost a community of horror fans...
Wait. We are?

[Kurosawa Fan]

Wait. We are?

No.

[number8]

I keep thinking a lot of people don't like it (and this is actually the reason given by film critics who saw the movie but not the anime and manga) because the set up promises a story about playing God and the effects of vigilantism in society, but instead it's really just a cat-and-mouse thriller.

[[ETM]]

No.

Compared to me - oh yes. Bigtime.

[Kurosawa Fan]

;55072']Compared to me - oh yes. Bigtime.

Most of the people from Axis stayed over at Axis once we split. That's all I was saying. We weren't mostly horror fans. We were originally from RT's FDT, and migrated to Axis, and then split off into Match Cut. Thankfully a few have stayed with us from the Axis split, but most of us aren't horror-centric.

[[ETM]]

Most of the people from Axis stayed over at Axis once we split. That's all I was saying. We weren't mostly horror fans. We were originally from RT's FDT, and migrated to Axis, and then split off into Match Cut. Thankfully a few have stayed with us from the Axis split, but most of us aren't horror-centric.

Okay. I couldn't really follow the migration with all the name changes so I'm generally assuming most people here enjoy horror more than me.

[lovejuice]

I keep thinking a lot of people don't like it (and this is actually the reason given by film critics who saw the movie but not the anime and manga) because the set up promises a story about playing God and the effects of vigilantism in society, but instead it's really just a cat-and-mouse thriller.

freaking correct!

i know you're a fan of naoki urasawa. can you imagine how much much better and more interesting death note would be if it had been written by him? anything will be, yes, but my point is why waste such a nice potential on a -- not even a cat-and-mouse thriller -- i'll say, a stupid chess board game that doesn't hold a consistent rule.

[Qrazy]

freaking correct!

i know you're a fan of naoki urasawa. can you imagine how much much better and more interesting death note would be if it had been written by him? anything will be, yes, but my point is why waste such a nice potential on a -- not even a cat-and-mouse thriller -- i'll say, a stupid chess board game that doesn't hold a consistent rule.

Pfft, that's one of the things that's so interesting about the series, the focused attention to the rules and the way in which all the rules of the game dictate the entire proceedings.

But I do hear Monster is great a great show too.

[lovejuice]

But I do hear Monster is a great show too.

i don't even know there is a "show". :eek: but i love many things urasawa did, include monster.

[Qrazy]

i don't even know there is a "show". :eek: but i love many things urasawa did, include monster.

So what are your favorite shows and mangas?

[lovejuice]

So what are your favorite shows and mangas?

haaaaaaaarrrrrrrd to say. i have lived with these stuffs my whole life. when i read or watch japanese cartoon, it's not about appreciating art -- unlike books or movies -- it's more like living.

there is this guy, shota kikuchi, who's practically unheard of in the states and even in thailand -- you google his name, and almost nothing shows up. i love one of his manga series way back then. he still consistently produces low-key work which i adore, recognize the talent, but don't go banana over it. a hard-edge conservative and a pervert. always a nice combination in my book. :P

[Qrazy]

haaaaaaaarrrrrrrd to say. i have lived with these stuffs my whole life. when i read or watch japanese cartoon, it's not about appreciating art -- unlike books or movies -- it's more like living.

there is this guy, shota kikuchi, who's practically unheard of in the states and even in thailand -- you google his name, and almost nothing shows up. i love one of his manga series way back then. he still consistently produces low-key work which i adore, recognize the talent, but don't go banana over it. a hard-edge conservative and a pervert. always a nice combination in my book. :P

Bah, you're not allowed to critique everything mentioned in the thread without throwing up some more counter examples so we can get to the great stuff.

[lovejuice]

Bah, you're not allowed to critique everything mentioned in the thread without throwing up some more counter examples so we can get to the great stuff.

oh, if that's what you want, i will raise you lain which, i think, deal with similar theme as NGE but in a more satisfying manner. a counter examples for death note is silent service which is also a chess board game but contains more social and political bearing.

[Qrazy]

oh, if that's what you want, i will raise you lain which, i think, deal with similar theme as NGE but in a more satisfying manner. a counter examples for death note is silent service which is also a chess board game but contains more social and political bearing.

Cool thanks, oddly enough I just finished watching the first episode of Lain.

[number8]

Hell fucking yes I love Urasawa.

Monster and Master Keaton are two of the best manga ever written. I was drooling over Master Keaton when my peers were reading Detective Conan (aka Case Closed here in the States).

[lovejuice]

Hell fucking yes I love Urasawa.

Monster and Master Keaton are two of the best manga ever written. I was drooling over Master Keaton when my peers were reading Detective Conan (aka Case Closed here in the States).

have you ever read or watched his comparatively more light-hearted, girl, sport series? Yawara? Happy? how's about his "adaptation" of astro boy?

[B-side]

Death Note is fantastic, especially for an anime.

[D_Davis]

Cool thanks, oddly enough I just finished watching the first episode of Lain.

LAIN is fantastic.

I bet you would also like Boogiepop Phantom.

[Qrazy]

LAIN is fantastic.

I bet you would also like Boogiepop Phantom.

Sweet... kind of unrelated but I really think you'd like Kin Dza Dza (only fansubs available so have to watch online) a Russian cyberpunk. In some ways the type of grain/palette reminds me slightly of The Ninth Configuration.

Can check it out here (in two parts):

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2251461878127683608

[D_Davis]

Sweet... kind of unrelated but I really think you'd like Kin Dza Dza (only fansubs available so have to watch online) a Russian cyberpunk. In some ways the type of grain/palette reminds me slightly of The Ninth Configuration.

Can check it out here (in two parts):

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2251461878127683608

Awesome. Thanks for the rec, never even heard of it.

I will definitely check this out.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm watching this series now. I'm on the fourth episode and I'm hooked. Tell me it gets better as the series continues and doesn't trail off.

[Qrazy]

I'm watching this series now. I'm on the fourth episode and I'm hooked. Tell me it gets better as the series continues and doesn't trail off.

It gets progressively better until a crucial plot-point and then it's still very good and has an excellent finale but it's a bit different than what came before.

[Sycophant]

Bizarrely, I think what's keeping me from watching this is that it has 37 episodes.

[EyesWideOpen]

I'm watching this series now. I'm on the fourth episode and I'm hooked. Tell me it gets better as the series continues and doesn't trail off.

I got into a few months ago also and yeah it's pretty great. It does kind of hit a rough patch for a short while but it picks up again. I'm up to disc 8 right now. I even watched the first live action movie they released and it had a few good points but overall it was a bad adaptation.

[Dukefrukem]

It gets progressively better until a crucial plot-point and then it's still very good and has an excellent finale but it's a bit different than what came before.

Sounds good.

There's also two movies related to this series right? Do they take place after both seasons?


I got into a few months ago also and yeah it's pretty great. It does kind of hit a rough patch for a short while but it picks up again. I'm up to disc 8 right now. I even watched the first live action movie they released and it had a few good points but overall it was a bad adaptation.

Oh it's a live action movie. Yeh I can't see that working for this. I still gotta check it out though.

[Dukefrukem]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLB2x9gkBXk

[Skitch]

Fuck yeah, I'm game. Adam Wingard, I'm in.

[Dukefrukem]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgGYhoiauk8

[Skitch]

So fucking in.

[number8]

Haha, turning the protagonist from an unrepentant sociopathic serial killer into a conflicted anti-hero is just the most Americanization thing an American adaptation can do.