 "Run my Ninja!" | 2009-09-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2GMDQY51XHH5Q |
| Classic animae! This is a must have for anyone who enjoys animae, the scenes and art work is fantastic. Story line is solid, and characters are well played. Pay attention the the rating as this is not Inuyasha so not for the kiddies, but older animae fans will enjoy it. |
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 "Could have been better" | 2009-08-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2959QT6UFCOMP |
| Its about a ninja whose for hire trying to cure himself of poison in his body. It has excellent details and graphics but the plot colud have been longer and less sexual. |
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| "Interesting, but not for children or sensitive audiences" | 2009-08-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: AK0CENM3LUM28 |
Ninja Scroll / 6305014140
*Spoilers*
We first watched "Ninja Scroll" because we're working our way through the anime section now that we've seen all the Miyazaki movies. I understand that this is a movie tie-in to a popular series but being as always late to the bandwagon, I haven't seen the series and can't comment on that aspect of this movie. Let's get one thing straight - this movie is not for children or for people sensitive to blood or violence. Limbs and body parts are frequently hacked or torn off, and the blood spurts seem on par with a Tarantino film. There's also some graphic sexual content here, with a female ninja almost-raped by an opponent, some frank discussions of sex and sexual orientation, and one snake-themed villainess produces vipers from unusual bodily orifices.
If you're still reading after that content warning, then I will note that this is an extremely interesting film, if the content doesn't turn you off. "Ninja Scroll" can't seem to decide how important ninjas are seen in the society at large around them - on the one hand, the officers of the army treat them as expendable and disposable, but on the other hand, the "techniques" that the ninjas (both good and bad) have mastered are nothing short of magical, and dangerous deadly magic at that. In no particular order, we have a female so steeped in poison (by fate or by choice, we don't know) that her very touch kills; a man who willingly hosts deadly hornets in his body and uses them as a weapon, as well as a woman who does the same with vipers; men who can turn their bodies into stone or knit their bodies back together after losing limbs; and much more. All this makes for some extremely interesting battles, many with surprising or unusual endings.
Which isn't to say that "Ninja Scroll" is perfect. Like pretty much all anime movies, you have to watch it at least twice just to really understand what's going on. The English dubs and the English subtitles do not match at all, a cardinal sin of anime for those (like me) who are partially hearing impaired but not completely deaf, and while the subtitles are usually better dialogue than the dubs, it sometimes seems necessary to have *both* in order to be completely clear about the situation onscreen. Some of the violence seems a bit gratuitous, and at least one major plot 'twist' is as predictable as the sun rising in the morning. Having said *that*, however, there's quite a lot here that is surprising and unpredictable, and it's very nice to see heroes who behave in a sane and sensible manner, although I have to deduct mental points for having the heroine rapidly descend into hormonal whininess because the writers weren't sure how else to script dialogue for a tortured woman doomed to loneliness.
I have to recommend "Ninja Scroll" just because it's so fantastical and unusual - I've honestly never seen anything quite like it. I honestly much prefer films with less graphic violence and sexual violence, but if you can get past the graphic content (and the worst of it seems to be in the first 20-30 minutes of the film), there's a good chance you'll enjoy it as I did. |
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 "It's good, but something's missing" | 2009-05-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A38Q2KE8E6QY3A |
| Always has been a great movie. It seems the 10th anniversary edition is a little edited in areas the original was not. I wish I hadn't spent extra for this version. I bought it used and there appeared to be a booklet missing also. No biggie. The best anime ever! It seems Hollywood has been flirting with the idea, but I hope they finally make the live action version. |
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 "Fairly Warned" | 2009-05-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3A1K9T1T4XRZW |
I wouldn't recommend this unless you enjoy watching women being raped (I don't) and women being raped by monsters (I so very don't). Do not be swayed by claims of deep and meaningful plotlines, nor by claims that the rape scenes are necessary for said deep plot. The rape scenes in this show are NOT deep or meaningful in any way, shape, or form. They do not add to the story, except that *one* of them reveals the fact that the woman being raped has a body full of poison that kills the people who rape her. Which is such an incredibly stupid plot point I really can't imagine where "deep" or "meaningful" would come from or how it could *possibly* justify the scene, which involves the woman in question being graphically raped by a monster. And it certainly doesn't justify any of the other abusive sex scenes that take place, all of which are equally or even more unnecessary.
None of the other plot points in the anime are any more interesting. Indeed, the plot feels horribly clichéd and weak, and the ending was mind numbingly stupid. The main character *is* a good guy and a mildly interesting character, but nowhere near on a level to save the awful script. Pretty much the only times I wasn't bored watching this was when I was too busy being repulsed by the aforementioned rape scenes. (As a side note, guys? Showing that one character in the world treats this woman like a human rather than an object or weapon does not make this an awesome show, especially when the woman in question behaves like a whipped dog that's just been given a pat on the head for the first time. It is pretty sick, and definitely misogynistic.)
If you are looking for a dark or bloody action anime with an actual plot, try the Hellsing Ultimate OVA (though be warned, bloody is an understatement). If you want something that really is deep and/or meaningful, I would advise trying Twelve Kingdoms. If you want dark AND deep, try Kannazuki no Miko. If you like rape porn, well, maybe you will get something out of this anime. I surely did not. |
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| "good anime" | 2009-05-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1F94D7N1WCJ8 |
| I first saw this movie playing on the sci fi channel late night. I was lucky enough to catch it in an action scene, and it was a good action scene. The plot is well made, and what i really liked about it was that they made the main character not so powerful, but still kick a**. Only one complaint, i thought that fight scenes should be longer. |
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