How Animated Fight Scenes Should Be!

I can't help but revel watching the fight scenes of my fave animated shows. Compared to the punch-grab-throw-kick stuff that American animation gives, the Japanese animations are more awesome. And I don't just say 'awesome' lightly. Here are the opening fight scenes of two of my favorite anime.. and I tell ya, this is how animated fight scenes should be!

Seirei no Moribito follows the story of a spear-wielding bodyguard named Balsa and the young prince she has to protect from the assassins sent by his own father, the emperor. It's an anime series made of 26 episodes, and contains great graphics and evolving characters. One of the best animes I've seen, both in visual effects and storyline. It made me appreciate the strength of a spear, too, as I have always viewed this weapon as rather inferior to a sword back then.

This is the opening of the Sword of the Stranger, wherein the star weapon is the sword. Many have said the fight scenes in the movie are badass, awesome, even godly, and I will not be one to disagree. For every synonym of these words, I say yea yea YEAH! Once you've seen the whole movie, how can you say otherwise?

In the video clip, the guy in the red cloak is the villain. As it's the opening fight scene and it's the villain on it, you can only imagine how the next fight scenes would be and how the protagonist of the story is going to kick some serious ass.

Japanese Animated Movies: Short Reviews

One of my goals in life is to have a collection of my favorite animated movies. Me and my anime madness.. tsk. As I collect, I select what to collect, of course. Here are a couple of Japanese animated movies that I have watched these past few weeks as I go trek and check one movie to another:

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: I already made a post on this, concerning time leap. I'll just reiterate my thoughts on the movie by saying that it's certainly one of the great feel-good animated movies from Japan. It's definitely a must-watch --- great story, great animation, believable emotions.

Howl's Moving Castle: Hayao Miyazaki shows how he's one of Asia's most talented artists and storytellers. This guy really has a vast imagination to be able to cook up the many settings and "magical advances" in Howl's Moving Castle. This movie was nominated for the Academy Awards, understandably. The movie reflects a lot of emotions and all the characters are really brought out to life by the flow of the story. Christian Bale voices the childishly charming Howl, although I can only remember little of how Bale's voice sounded so smooth.

Spirited Away: This is perhaps Hayao Miyazaki's most successful film, as it won the Academy Award, again understandably. The movie tells the story of a girl plunged into a world of magic and sorcery, all the while trying to cling to her identity. I think perhaps the morale of the story is to always remember who you are, even if the others try to rule over you. Miyazaki again brings out his big imagination here. He's really impressive.

Vampire Hunter D: Given the fact that this movie was made many years ago, I guess I can excuse the bad drawing (very thick outlines, and that's bad when the movie's setting is already dark). Still, this is not a movie I would want to watch twice. It follows Vampire Hunter D in one of his missions to rid the world of vampires, even with the knowledge that his father is the great ancestor of all vampires, Dracula. While the story remains the same, the book is still more catching.

Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust: Another Vampire Hunter D movie.. but this time, there's improvement in everything --- drawing, storyline, effects, etc. It features another one of D's missions as a vampire hunter, and lightly touches on his views as a half-vampire. This one is better than the first, no doubt, with a far more intriguing flow and more believable characters (at least in the sense that it's in a vampiric setting).

Sword of the Stranger: I saved the best for last. This movie is so cool! Dramatic cool, like Rurouni Kenshin and Seirei no Moribito mixed in one. The story follows a boy chased for his blood (not clear in the movie why him specifically), and a stranger who turns out to be a very skillful swordsman. The action scenes were impressive, with detailed movements and awesome moves. The drama was equally moving and heart-warming. I even fell in love with the dog, among other things. This movie is definitely one of my favorite animated movies.

Time Leap

Two of the movies I watched yesterday had time as an important concept. Time leap is where we get to take a short travel or a kind of jump into another time, whether in the past or in the future. The movies reiterated the importance that time can either heal or hurt us and those around us. It also emphasizes the notion that you've got do what you've got to do.. as soon as possible and as right a time as possible. In the words of Chiaki Mamiya in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, "Time waits for no one!"

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: This Japanese animated movie has been in my collection for weeks now, but I've only had the chance to watch it yesterday. It has a very flowing plot, and the story is very heartwarming. There were scenes that made me cringe, particularly the episodes where the main character, Konno Makoto, and her friends are supposed to be killed in an accident. But I guess it was part of the impact that the movie wanted to give to the audience. Time leaping, when used in an irresponsible and careless acts of selfishness, can cause hurt to others. Makoto was really hapy about being able to leap back into the past to correct her unlucky cicrumstances, but in every episode she changed there was always a person who gut hurt. And they get hurt harder than she was. A fellow classmate was constantly bullied, and her friends got killed. And before she knew it, she only had one more chance to leap through time and fix everything.

Frequency: There wasn't exactly a person leaping through time in this movie. But if you consider talking to a person from another time through a battered old radio as leaping through time (like I do), then let us consider time leap as one of the modes in the movie. John Sullivan gets a chance to talk to his father, Frank Sullivan, who died in his fireman duties when John was still a child, through a radio control system that his father owned when he was still alive. Through this, John was able to warn and save his father from getting killed in a fire accident. But while his father got to survive to see John grow into a cop, his mother was gone and murdered years ago instead. In a race through time to save his mother, both John and his father track the serial killer who killed his mother. I especially like the ending of the movie, where both father and son were assaulted by the killer in their own times.

It goes without saying that time leap can have disastrous consequences. There will always be a losing end to the bargain. But it also shows us how time can help and heal. In John's case, they were able to save his mother and keep their family intact. In Makoto's case came the knowledge that time still flows and balances equations even if you go back and make yourself an addition, thereby realizing that in every happiness there is pain. All we can do is learn how to cope with it and flow with time.

"Time waits for no one!"

Sleeping Beauty ... Not Me, Mind You...

So I like to sleep a lot. But the Sleeping Beauty I refer to is the real Sleeping Beauty (or maybe not real, just the original fictional character) made by Disney. I just watched the whole cartoon movie again earlier, and I still say it's one of the best Disney movies. It's old, and maybe too sugary sweet.. but it's a fairy tale, and back then people were fond of singers of the opera enough to cast one for Princess Aurora's singing voice.

Sleeping Beauty was made in 1959, so the quality of the film may be a little antique for our modern tastes. The graphics are obviously from that time as well. But I daresay if we lived in that time we would've been impressed by all of it.

I would just also like to say that Maleficent's voice actor was magnificent. I'd also just like to say that Prince Philip and Princess Aurora are among my favorite Disney couples.

Here's a clip of the main theme song of Sleeping Beauty: Once Upon a Dream. It's when Princess Aurora and Prince Philip first met as adults. I used to sing this song whenever I felt like a classical singer (no, I never felt like a princess).

Animes, TV series, and Quotes

I don't know why I'm so hooked up with quotes, but I am. I especially like to go over the Japanese animations because they've got intellectually, and emotionally, stimulating character lines. From my last posts, it's sort of obvious I'm on the quest of writing down quotes I can find from animes. Right now, my specimen is the Bubblegum Crisis and AD Police series and OVAs.

I finished watching Bubblegum Crisis, Bubblegum Crash, and Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040. I've only got to work on the quotes from the original Bubblegum Crisis and Crash OVA then I'll be done with the series. The AD Police series and OAV are next on my list.

I'm also trying to find AD Police: Parasite Dolls. I want to complete the AD Police series just as I completed the Bubblegum Crisis series (it's an obsessive-compulsive kind of thing, I guess). I couldn't find even a torrent of it in English subs.

I'm also trying to control my pace with the animes and TV series. Right now, I'm watching Supernatural. Then tonight (if I can hound the computer away from my brother) I'll be starting on the AD Police series.

Naruto Shippuuden Movie Quotes

"There are some things you can't learn by training."
- Shizune -

"Never give up, no matter what happens. You rarely see anyone as determined as him."
- Tsunade -

Naruto:
You guys are, like, super worried that I'm gonna die after hearing that, right? So I thought I'd wear this to help put everyone at ease!

Sakura:
We don't have time to worry about you dying when the fate of the world is at stake!

Naruto:
Can't you avoid death if you know how you're gonna die?

Tahuro:
No. No matter how hard you struggle, when fate decides it is your time to die, there is no avoiding it.

"Who doesn't feel grief when someone close to them dies? I'm not allowed to cry. If I do it'd be an insult to all those who died for me."
- Shion -

"Whatever happens to me, you mustn't let our heart waver."
- Miroku -

"Someday I will disappear from your sight. For we are transient, as is the world we live in."
- Miroku -

"You don't have to accept a destiny you don't want!"
- Naruto -

Ninja Techniques used in the movie:

... by the villains ^_^

Kyouka Shohou Chakra Chuunyuu : Chakra Injection of Fortified Medication
Katon Ninpou, Hibashiri : Fire Element Ninja Art, Racing Fire
Fuuton Ninpou, Kamikaze : Wind Element Ninja Art, Divine Wind
Doton, Tsuchi Kairora : Earth Element, Earth Corridor
Fuuton, Kami Oroshi : Wind Element, Holy Jet Stream
Suiton, Mizu Kamikiri : Water Element, Water God Slicer
Suiton, Suiryuuben : Water Dragon Whip
Doton, Kouka Jutsu : Earth Element, Hardening Technique
Masui Sejutsu : Secret Anesthesia Technique
Suishuu Gorugon : Powerful Blasting Rain Trench
Ninpou, Mizu Kawarimi : Ninja Art, Water Replacement Technique
Ankoku Ijutsu: Dark Medical Arts

... by Naruto:

Buushin Tiatarie : Clone Attack
Tajuu Kage Buunshin : Mass Shadow Clone

... by Rock Lee:

Konoha Senpuu : Leaf Whirlwind
Konoha Dai Senpuu : Great Leaf Whirlwind
Omoto Renge : Initial Lotus
Ura Renge: Primary Lotus

... by Hyuuga Neji:

Hakke Kuushou : Eight Trigrams Empty Palm
Hakkeshou Kaiten : Eight Trigrams Divine Spin
Jyuuken Hou, Hakke Rokujuuyonshou : Gentle Fist, Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Strikes

... by Taruho:

Shadow Mirror Shapeshift

... by Kakashi:

Raikiri : Lightning Edge

... by Shikamaru:

Kagemane no Jutsu : Shadow Mimic Technique

... by Temari:

Kirikiri Mai : Double Slashing Dance

SAO / Blade of the Phantom Master Quotes

"Miracles don't happen for those who do nothing but appeal to salvation."
- Munsu -

"There are things that don't go away even when a country has fallen."
- Munsu -

"I'm sorry I couldn't save him. When we were attacked it was all I could do to keep myself alive... Just an excuse, isn't it?"
- Munsu -

"Jushin fell because people believed too much in everything that was visible right before their eyes."
- Munsu -

"There's no such thing as a miracle in this world. When you write the word "miracle," you spell it F-R-A-U-D."
- Munsu -

Yuite:
There's no way you, an ordinary human being, can defeat me. What's your reason for taking things so far?

Munsu:
It's because even I've got a chance at winning.

"If I could die from something like that, my pain would be eased, too."
- Yuite (after getting shot in the head) -

"You're counting on me, right? I can't just watch you die."
- Sando -

"Still trying to do something?"
- Munsu (stepping on Yuite's decapitated head) -

"If you haven't got a body there's nowhere to go back to, is there? Give it up and die."
- Munsu -

"Don't cry. I'm sure they'll go where they were meant to go... to the place they were meant to go a long time ago. That's the way of nature."
- Munsu -

"That's all right, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Human beings are such weak creatures, you know. It's natural that we hope for miracles. But it's because we are human that we can dispel the lies, too. Even when you died, you didn't lose your humanity."
- Munsu -

"I wonder if what human beings need is the confidence to stare straight into this blue sky. Don't you think so?"
- Munsu -

"Certainly, you are powerful. But there'll be times when, confronted with cunning miscreants who have pushed aside the good men, you become powerless. If you act on your own in that kind of situation and you die on me too, even a guy like me is going to have trouble sleeping at night."
- Munsu -

Shin Angyo Onshi movie: Blade of the Phantom Master

I would have preferred a TV serial but there's nothing we can do if ADV Films opted to make a movie instead. A movie just doesn't satisfy enough, especially if it's a movie based on a Korean manga that exudes a balanced blend of dark drama and light humor. The Shin Angyo Onshi manga also showed breathtaking scenes and graphics - all the sorcery and action were awesome! - and there were a lot of them that I'd like to see on screen. Blade of the Phantom Master (English version of Shin Angyo Onshi) just spans less than two hours though.

Nevertheless, Blade of the Phantom Master still delivers! The movie focuses on the first two adventures of Munsu, the protagonist of the story. The first arc is when he met Sando, a lethal female warrior. Scenes include some serious butt-kicking action on Sando's part, and also showcases Munsu's straightforward and unmoving principles. The second arc brings about an introduction of Munsu's past and his vengeful goal in life.

I would looove to tell all I know about the manga and the movie. But I myself don't like it when other people offer spoilers. I'm refraining myself right now. ^_^ Besides, I have yet to read the last volume of the manga so I do not have all the answers to questions pertaining to how the story ends.

Blade of the Phantom Master stays true to the first two stories of Shin Angyo Onshi. I definitely recommend all of you to watch the movie. Personally, the manga still offers more action and has a darker aura (which is the right atmosphere of the story, I must say). But the movie also gives us extraordinary effects (like when Munsu calls on his phantom soldiers) and breathtaking action.

Sources:
You can download the Shin Angyo Onishi manga at et-caetera.net.
You can view the Blade of the Phantom Master at Veoh TV.