Blogcritics Author: Lindsay Beaumont

Movie Review: Appleseed - Ex Machina

Lindsay Beaumont — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:44:55 EDT

A must-see for any fan of the cyberpunk genre.
In the first Appleseed movie, we were introduced to Shirow Masamune’s creation that featured Deunan Knute, Briareos, and the city of Olympus where cyborgs and engineered Bioroids walk side by side with human beings. In this latest installment of the saga, a crisis has hit Olympus. A virus has infected a technological gadget that a vast...

Movie Review: Apartment 1303

Lindsay Beaumont — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 09:11:48 EDT

... people looking for a taste of Japanese horror may find that this movie will pique their interest into trying other titles.
Sayaka has just moved into her first apartment. While having a housewarming party with friends, a strange force comes over Sayaka making her act oddly before hurtling over the balcony railing to her death from the thirteenth floor. Her older sister, Mariko, is set about the task of disposing of her sister’s belongings. As grief begins to take...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Book Review: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Lindsay Beaumont — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:28:20 EDT

Magic, mystery, monsters, and a witty, fire-wielding skeleton are all elements that make up of Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant. It all begins with the mysterious death of Gordon Edgley. He was a noted author of fantasy novels that captivated his niece, Stephanie. His death triggers Skulduggery’s investigation of the Scepter of the Ancients, an all-powerful relic that exiled the old gods. But Stephanie is now the target of forces in search of the Scepter that are looking to manipulate its power to their own evil needs. Will Stephanie discover who’s behind her Uncle’s death? Will Skulduggery get revenge on his arch nemesis? Is magic all it’s cracked up to be? The first thing that caught my attention with this in this fun new novel was the cover: a picture of a skeleton wearing a suit with a fire ball being conjured in his hands. Of course I’m going to check it out and see what this is about! This also begins to illustrate what a creative cast this book holds. Skulduggery Pleasant, first and foremost, a “living" skeleton with the use of magic at his disposal; Stephanie Edgley, a stubborn twelve year old; Nefarious Serpine, an evil sorcerer bent on obtaining ultimate power are only a few of the characters that come to life.The plot is not complicated and is easily followed with intense fighting sequences, and enough twists in the story line make this an enjoyable read for both children and adults alike. Though for younger readers I would recommend it for ages thirteen and up because of the action scenes. Also, the official website is highly amusing, with a Skulduggery music video, character profiles, an interactive game, and even an interview with Skulduggery!A fun and enjoyable read, Skulduggery Pleasant has something for everyone. It will also help encourage reluctant readers with its gripping battle scenes, intriguing characters, and creative plot development. I am looking forward to future installments of this promising series.

Graphic Book Review: Translucent by Okamoto Kazuhiro

Lindsay Beaumont — Sat, 12 May 2007 10:15:08 EDT

What would happen if you slowly began to disappear? What if you couldn’t see your boy/girlfriend’s face? Enter Shizuka Shiroyama, who is afflicted with a rare, incurable disease that is slowly making her body invisible. She is an introverted high schooler who keeps to herself. Her friend, Mamoru Tadami, is fascinated with her, not just because of her condition but for who she is. His endearing qualities include an immaturity that makes people smile and always seeming to be able to do the right thing at the right time. As the story progresses, Shizuka must deal with the stresses of her condition along with everyday high school life. Unbeknownst to her though, she seems to affects the people around her. The drawing style is simple and keeps the characters within realistic proportions. The Omake at the end of each chapter, however, seem a bit flat. Omake are comedy skits generally used as filler pages. Unfortunately, these Omake, featuring Tadami, fall short on the humor aspect. The main plotline is stable though, and really lets the reader feel the emotion and heartache that Shiroyama faces each day. Tadami’s goofy antics and sincere affection lends hope to Shiroyama to see the light at the end of the tunnel.This manga, a Japanese graphic novel, is written and drawn by Okamoto Kazuhiro. and has been licensed by Dark Horse Comics for U.S. distribution. Dark Horse may be known for their graphic novels such as Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, and Conan but are now expanding their manga collection, which currently includes Ah! My Goddess, Gunsmith Cats, and Berserk.In the end, this book is an enjoyable, light read. The humor of the main story lends a helping hand to the serious moments, balancing the plot, so the reader is not overwhelmed. The plot is steady, not fast but not lagging either. If you prefer a more action-based story or one where the plotline focuses on an oddity this will probably not interest you. This manga relies on the emotion of the characters and moral decisions. So the questions with which you are left are: Will a cure be found for Shiroyama before she completely disappears? and will Shiroyama and Tadami be able to find happiness together?

DVD Review: Smallville Season 5

Lindsay Beaumont — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 09:47:48 EDT

Superman has been seen at different stages through the ages on television. The latest visage brought to us is Smallville. Featuring a youthful Clark Kent experiencing the development of his powers in his hometown.The fifth season thickens the plot as Clark begins to fully grasp his destiny and the fate the viewers are gripped to see come about. The season begins with a dark omen for Clark when the scale with life and death begins to slide. Clark also gets a taste of the future when he becomes acquainted with A.C. a.k.a. Aquaman and Victor Stone a.k.a. Cyborg. In addition there is the attraction between Clark and Lana escalates and Jor-El meddles with Clark's life in an effort to mold his son for his destined future.One of the best elements about this show is the dance the lead characters have with each other. Where the majority of the public knows Clark Kent becomes Superman and Lex Luther is his archenemy, the show tries to divert the viewers’ knowledge of this with a touch-and-go hinting to the future. With Clark and Lex destined to be enemies, the series begins with them becoming friends. Clark and Lois are destined to be together, so Clark's relationship with Lana becomes that much stronger. All of this makes for a delicious mix of emotional turmoil and underhanded acts.Season 5 has strong plot, while it does play with "future hinting," Clark begins to realize what the future has in store for him. This underlying feeling is spread throughout the whole of the season. He realizes people are trying to steer him down different paths for the future but in the end will Clark allow them to steer him or will he guide himself? Will he do something to protect the people he loves at the risk of exposing his secret or will he chose a quiet life trying to fit in and lead a normal life? As for the nuts and bolts of the show the acting is well played by the leads, though Aquaman could have been better. The actor had little charisma in his voice and little emotion to his voice. If he said "Bro" one more time... One of the highlight performances, though, is that of James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer/ Angel) as Prof. Fine. But what are Fine's motives for steering Clark toward a certain path? What are his plans for the future? The music is fantastic and greatly adds to the flow of the show. Season 5 has all twenty-two episodes on six overlapping DVDs with special features on each DVD ranging from deleted scenes to commentary by director, writers, and actors to Superman and Making Of documentaries.This set is a great way to relive some of the trials of Clark Kent as he takes another step towards his destiny of becoming Superman.

DVD Review: Justice League Season 2

Lindsay Beaumont — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:01:36 EDT

Justice League Season 2 brings the adventures of Superman, Batman, Wonderwoman, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, J'onn J'onzz and The Flash home with solid voice-acting, stylish animation, and a memorable music score. In this season, many "What if" questions are answered instead of the viewer just being presented with random villain and monster attacks. Some questions: What would happen if the League encountered an android that can copy their powers? What happens when a villain attacks the members in their dreams? What would happen to the world if Superman died? What would happen if the Joker made a reality TV show featuring the League? One of my favorite episodes is "A Better World", in which two dimensions collide as do two versions of the League. All in all the episodes, all of which are two-parters with the exception of "Comfort and Joy," have entertaining plots with character development and plenty of action.This set includes 26 episodes on four DVDs presented in matted widescreen format. The extras on the discs include commentary on three episodes, Behind the Voices with Phil Lamarr (voice of Green Lantern), Trailers, and Excerpts from a new Superman documentary. One thing to note is the packaging has a mistake on it. Episodes "Hereafter" (parts 1 & 2) and "Secret Society" (parts 1 & 2) are switched, "Hereafter" is on disc 4 and "Secret Society" is on disc 3.The voices of the characters hold strong throughout the season. During the feature "Behind the Voices" you learn that they record each episode as a group so the actors can really play off of one another. I found it amusing when they are discussing making various noises. The script says they are attacked. The actor has to question how are they attacked? Are they stabbed, electrocuted, punched in the jaw, gut, or leg? Are they being stepped on, gassed or slammed against a wall? That each action in turn has a varying sound. Speaking of voice actors, the hosts many guest actors. Such guest actors include Michael Ironside, Keith David, Mark Hamil, and Brad Garrett. In the episodes "Wild Card" you might recognize the voices of Scott Menville, Khary Payton, Greg Cipes, Hynden Walch, and Tara Strong, the Teen Titans as the Royal Flush Gang.Over all this is quite an enjoyable show. It is family-friendly with bloodless action and captivating storylines. With an added bonus of a free pass to see Superman Returns this set is well worth the money.

DVD Review: Otaku Unite!

Lindsay Beaumont — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 20:36:52 EST

The first thing I did when I picked up Otaku Unite was to see how many characters I could name that the cosplayers were posing as on the cover. A cosplayer is someone who dresses up to look like a character from a show. I am pleased to say I could name the majority of them.The DVD starts out with a short film about Kaiju Big Battel. Battel can only be described as wrestling meets foam rubber, rampage-style monsters. This event really draws in the crowds and shows the creativity of independent entertainers.The documentary then begins by answering the question "What does 'Otaku' mean?" This leads into the why's, what's, and how's of Japanese animation reception and growth in the United States. This is explored through interviews with voice actors, company execs, convention security personnel, and anime fans, to name a few. The flow between these interviews runs smoothly and the questions are answered thoroughly. I found the discussions with the executives, book writers and people in the business, though, more interesting than those with the average convention-goers, but it is nice to see their enthusiasm.The DVD is full of extras that include a director's commentary track, an interview with Eric Bressler on Philly Live, commercials, and a quite large cosplayer gallery from Otakon 2005. I particularly liked the interview as Mr. Bressler shares the behind the scenes making of his documentary. The cosplayer gallery is also fun -- it's interesting to see what lengths people go to for the characters they love. Lastly, the lively music nicely reflects the chaotic convention scenes.This DVD is a good addition to your collection if you are new to anime and want to know more or are just plain curious about the genre. Questions such as what makes Japanese animation appealing to the U.S. viewer, how was anime treated when it first showed up on the market and the growth of conventions are among those answered, thus establishing some the history behind anime. With a limited amount of time for the interviews, it makes the viewers curious about exploring further into the growth of this medium. With plenty of authors and books being used for the discussion and as examples, it is easy to look up more information. In the end this is a good resource to begin exploration of the anime genre.

Book Review: Megatokyo

Lindsay Beaumont — Sun, 5 Feb 2006 04:52:54 EST

Few things have inspired me to write reviews lately. Megatokyo, the web comic and paperback collection, compelled me to write. The story and art are by Fred Gallagher and co-creator Rodney Caston make an interesting duo.Basically the story revolves around Piro and Largo. Piro who is a basic fanboy otaku. Otaku is someone who is obsessed with anime and anime-related subjects to the point of learning the language and mixing reality with fantasy (as in Piro's case). In the U.S., this word is more often taken as a compliment. In Japan, though, it is more often used as a derogative term. Largo, on the other hand, is obsessed with shoot 'em up RPG games (Quake, Halo, etc.), Bioware games, beer (definitely beer), and something called l33t (does anyone know what this is? Can you explain it to me?). On a whim, Piro flies off to Japan with Largo. When they finally sate their game hunger in the gaming stores and figure it's time to come home, they discover that their credit cards are maxed out. Now they have no money and no place to stay in the wilds of Tokyo. Luckily, Piro, being the Otaku that he is, can speak and read Japanese. What little money they are able to beg (or blackmail) from their friends is quickly spent on more distractions. After landing a job, a series of misunderstandings occur between Piro and the local girls while Largo is busy slaying the hordes of undead that are overwhelming the city (mixing fantasy and reality here?). Anyway, these are a couple of characters that will feel familiar to most people -- we all seem to know someone who takes their passions a little too far.The story also involves some delightful and inventive supporting characters: Seraphim -- Piro's good side conscience (who kicks ass). Dom and Ed -- friends to the rescue from the States, playing on the Japanese stereotype that all Americans carry guns and are not afraid to use them. Nanasawa-san -- an aspiring seiyu (voice actor/actress) who develops a crush on Piro. Yuki-chan -- a high school student who also seemingly has a crush on Piro. Though Piro and Largo are the main figures, the supporting characters are developed at a good rate so they aren't faceless stick figures in the background.Now the characters are drawn in an anime fashion with the typical big eyes and small nose and mouth. In the beginning, the panels were cleaner looking because Mr. Gallagher would sketch out the panels then trace and ink them. This took time, time he doesn't really have to spare, so in an effort to meet the deadline and appease the online readers, he stopped the trace and ink portion. His artwork had improved to the point where it was unnecessary for the comic. I, personally, like the sketchy look. While Megatokyo started as a web comic, due to its popularity, Dark Horse comics had it compiled into three (so far) "low bandwith" (print) editions. There is also the occasional stand-in for Gallagher, which is a lot of fun. When Mr. Gallagher has writer's block, is sick, or caught up with real life work, Dom takes over the show with stick figures and amusing accounts of recent events such as their visits to Cons (anime conventions -- Otakon and Katsucon were mentioned) and comparing different points of view among the characters (quite amusing). Though Piro often threatens viewers with Dom's trackball stickfigures, Dom's rants and musings are entertaining.For current stories, visit Megatokyo.com. There are also links to past episodes, Mr. Gallagher's artwork, and other web comics in the works. Overall, I enjoy Megatokyo. The characters are relatable and the artwork is good. I also feel it's an inspiration to people who have the talent and imagination to carry the comic/anime industry into new territory or who are looking to make a name for themselves in this medium.

DVD Review: Gargoyles: Season 2 Volume 1

Lindsay Beaumont — Wed, 4 Jan 2006 01:56:00 EST

Dusk falls over the city skyline. On top of the skyscrapers, the stone statues crack and light bursts forth from their eyes. The Gargoyles turn to flesh and blood as the sun retreats behind the horizon.Gargoyles: Season 2 Volume 1 is the continuation of the creatures adjustment to modern society and protection of the citizenry. At first glance, the overall story reminds me of X-Men in a sense that here you have a group of misunderstood heroes who are feared by the general populace (there the similarities stop). Coming in on the second season, one would miss out on how the Gargoyles came from 10th century Scotland to 20th century Manhattan, luckily there is a brief overview of their transference in the opening, plus brief "previously on Gargoyles" that features the characters that the current episode will be focusing on.Speaking of characters, here are the main ones:Goliath - the leader of the clan. He is the embodiment of an honorable warrior. He seeks not only to preserve his clan but also protecting the innocent.Goliath is voiced by Keith David. He just has this incredible, deep, rumbling voice that fits Goliath perfectly. David has also done voice work for Final Fantasy: the Spirits Within, Halo 2 (VG), and Spawn: the Animation (2006) etc. He has also acted in Chronicles of Riddick, Barbershop, and Agent Cody Banks etc. Hudson - the elder member of the group. He is Goliath's mentor and shares his tactical skill with the others.Hudson is voiced by Ed Asner. Asner is able to give Hudson a convincing Scottish accent with smooth consistency throughout. Asner has done voice work for The amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Captain Planet and the Planeteers etc. He has acted in Thunder Alley and Elf etc.The Trio (Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway) - they are the young trouble makers, they are more curious about modern technology and the change of landscape (from the rocky cliffs of Scotland to the sweeping NYC skyline).Brooklyn - often takes charge of the Trio, devising plans of attack when facing enemies. But, when it comes to Demona he often loses control of his reasoning. He is voiced by Jeff Bennett who does numerous voices throughout the show including Owen and the Magus. As a career, Bennett has done many voices from Looney Tunes to various Disney and Nickelodeon voices. He is even credited as the voice of The Man in the Yellow Hat in the upcoming Curious George movie according to IMDB.comLexington - is the computer literate of the group. He is fascinated by computers and machinery. Voiced by Thom Adcox-Hernandez, he is currently a voice on a Disney show.Broadway - he is loyal to his friends and quick to come to the aid of others. He is voiced by Bill Fagerbakke who is most known as the voice of Patrick on Spongebob Squarepants.One of the notable things about this shows voice actors/actresses are many of them played memorable characters from Star Trek: the Next Generation:David Xanatos - is the main villain of the show. Where Goliath is honorable, Zanatos is deceptive. Where Goliath desires peace and understanding, Xanatos desires wealth and power. He is a fun villain. When you think he couldn't want for anything, he finds something. One thing he has in common with Goliath is how well he is played by the actor, Xanatos being voiced by Jonathan Frakes (William Riker on ST:TNG).Demona - was once Goliath's love interest, she became corrupt through her own deceit and thirst for vengeance. Thinking Goliath is weak for wanting to protect people, she is determined to destroy his clan along with the humans. She is also excellently portrayed by Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troy on ST:TNG).Puck - is the mischievous fairy from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Though not really a villain, but rather a prankster he is fun especially with his rhyming spell attacks. He is voiced by Brent Spiner (Data from ST:TNG). He gives Puck this lilt to his voice that really suits him.Coldstone - was one of Goliath's 'rookery brothers'. He was destroyed with the rest of the clan back in Scotland but was reassembled with parts from two other gargoyles and with modern technology. Being made from various gargoyles there are three souls living in the one form. He is at constant war with himself, the souls vying for control of the body. He is played (mainly) by Michael Dorn (Worf on ST: TNG).The show also exhibits good values. For example the values of learning to read and of trusting in others are shown in various episodes. Another one that is shown throughout is strong female roles. There is a protagonist as Elisa Maza, who is the Gargoyles confidant and link to the human world, and an antagonist as Demona. Later on in the series, Angela is introduced as another main character. She is innocent and naive of the world but has a fierce curiosity in the outside world.Now the elements of the show that attracted me were the wonderful blend of magic and sorcery with technology. Xanatos employs his wealth to the technology aspect with robots, cybernetics, gene splicing, and robotic suits to bring the Gargoyles back to his control. The sorcery is best shown through three magic objects: the Grimoirem, a powerful book of magic, the Eye of Odin, which transforms the user into a powerful version of him/her inner self, and the Phoenix Gate can bend space and time transporting the user wherever, whenever he/she wants.The other element is the heavy Shakespearian and Arthurian influence on the characters and storyline. From Puck (Midsummer Night's Dream) and the Weird Sisters (Macbeth) to King Arthur and Avalon.Lastly to the DVD's themselves, on all three discs there are episode introductions by Greg Weisman (Supervising Producer/ Co-Creator). Here he takes a few moments to talk about the episode and what he liked about it such the rapport between to voice actors or the Shakespearian influence etc. On the first disc there is also "The Gathering of the Cast and Crew" where they answer various questions about their characters or what they liked about the show. Also on the second disc there is audio commentary for the "City of Stone" parts 1-4. On a side note, my favorite episodes are the "The Mirror" (this is a 'what if?' episode where Puck enters the picture and has fun switching everyone's species around), "Upgrade" (The Pack need some help in defeating the Gargoyles and who better that Xanatos to offer assistance?), "The Price"(I love the conversation that takes place between Hudson and Xanatos), "Avalon" (The Weird Sister's plot comes to fruitition and the truth comes out), and "Kingdom" (It's what being leader is all about).With all this said, I highly recommend this series if you want something fresh and exciting with relatable characters, and intriguing stories with plot twists. After watching this set I went out and got the first season to rewatch the episodes that aired so long ago (first season has 13 episodes, second season they were asked to create 52 episodes, whoa!). I am eagerly awaiting the second volume.

Anime 101: Mythology 2 - The Four Saint Beasts

Lindsay Beaumont — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 06:25:11 EST

There are many refrences to mythology in anime. One myth that frequently appears in various forms is the "Four Saint Beasts" also known as the "Four Gods". These four were originally from China but made their way to Japan, where their names were changed to Suzaku, Genbu, Byakko, and Seiryyu.This is only the tip of the iceberg for the representation that are the Saint Beasts. In anime they are often seen in animal form: a red bird (similar to a phoenix), a black tortoise (sometimes shown with a snake), a white tiger, and a blue dragon. Direction also comes into play, Suzaku for the South, Genbu for the North, Byakko for the West, and Seiryyu for the East. The directions then in turn represent the season, Summer, Winter, Autumn, and Spring.These beings show up, in some form or another, in many anime series. The strongest and most obvious is Fushigi Yugi (Mysterious Play). Here we have Miaka, a typical, clutzy, always hungry, high school girl. To make things short she gets sucked into a book where she becomes the priestess of Suzaku and has to find a way out. We have the four gods, in their respective direction, and their followers (the seven that the priestess has to gather) have constellation names.My first encounter with these characters was in the series Yu Yu Hakusho, the Beasts of Maze Castle arc. To destroy the flute that was controlling demon insects on earth, Yusuke and company have to enter Maze Castle and confront its guardians. Though they are not named in the series it is obvious by their design who they represent. Genbu is made of rock with a turtle-like shell, Byakko is a bi-pedal white tiger, Seiryyu was a guy with a blue dragon design on his clothes. Suzaku has a red outfit and an annoying parrot lackey.In the Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuie), Tsutzuki is able to summon the Beasts to do his bidding. In the anime they pretty much attack his enemies, in the manga they are given more "air time", so to speak, where they have their own personalities and they give Tsutzuki advice.This is just a sampling of some series that show these characters. Whenever you see these animals this is the reference being made. ed/pub:NB