Oscars. And Peacemaker Kurogane
Mar. 6th, 2006 12:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieHmmmm, Oscars last night. I confess we only watched the monologue and a bit after. Shortly after the nice guys won for Wallace and Gromit, we switched to Peacemaker instead, only switching back in time for BP announcement.
Crash, hmmmm? I thought the movie was a contrived, preachy, simplistic piece of Oscarbation, but then Brokeback Mountain, the odds-on favorite was rather dull. I liked the first half better than the second but it dragged on and on and ooooon, making me wish for a ff button in the theater. It was sort of like Bridges of Madison Country only with two men, and (to be fair) Heath Ledger being a deal hotter than Clint Eastwood. My favorite of the nominees, Good Night and Good Luck. has a snowball’s chance in hell anyway, and none of my Top 10 movies were even nominated so…yeah, there is a reason why we were watching Peacemaker instead.
And speaking of Peacemaker, I’ve fallen in love. I’ve liked most of the anime I’ve watched (Last Exile and Marmalade Boy being the only exceptions. LE left me cold and I loathed MB), but as to loving it, that’s a much rarer matter. But Peacemaker Kurogane is LOVE. And not just because it gave me my only slash ship so far besides Clark/Lex (well, there is also Ralph/Laurie in Renault’s The Charioteer, but that’s canon, so it’s not slash, right?)
I love the animation which is beautiful and fluid and somehow 3D-ish. I love the continuing storylines. I love the gorgeous fights and the funny, funny humor. But most of all, I love the characters. PK is chock-full of these amazing, complicated, cool characters (yes, I even like Tetsu now, though he is still least interesting of the bunch). And I love that not all backgrounds/histories are explained, though there are dribbles as things come up in conversation. It feels natural, as if you’ve been given a peek into a continuing life of a number of people, and it will go on after you’ve stopped watching, just as it went on before.
I also find it interesting how PK draws a parallel between the Shinsengumi and their opponents. Look at the parallels between Toshi and Tetsu and their opposite number, Suzu, the white haired page and his master, Yoshida. Yoshida is the one who killed Tetsu’s parents, but after all, is it too different from the Shinsengumi who killed Suzu’s elder brother? It’s civil war, and it sucks. Both boys join to avenge, but I can’t see it working out happily. But I think the real difference comes when we meet Souji’s evil look-alike. Because the Shinsengumi kill readily, for a cause. But they don’t get their jollies that way. The double is shown to revel and get off on hurting people. And that makes all the difference.
I also really like Souji, the blue-haired (???), rather delicate looking guy who is deadly but also very kind. Tetsu is, after all, his pet, and it’s basically for his sake that Toshi has taken the kid on as his page. And I get the feeling Souji spoils Tetsu a bit (e.g. by buying him candy) because he sees something of himself in Tetsu (the same desire to keep on coming and fighting no matter how many times he loses). Maybe he is living his non-existent childhood (Toshi gave him a sword at 9??!!) through Tetsu. Of course, he is kind in general: he is kind to the little spy-girl who crushes on him. And that kindness is a huge asset, as it’s she that innocently tears down all the paper charms and this saves the lives of Souji, Toshi and Saito. Yup, like him a lot. I do think his ‘cheeriness’ is both natural and a way of coping with his life.
Oh, and my OTP for this show? Toshi/Souji. Mmmmm. *sigh* I am amused at how Souji is the only person at the compound who is not in the least in awe/fear of Toshi. He treats him as someone who is grumpy and needs to be brought out of it. I think in part, it’s because Souji fears nothing, period. He doesn’t fear death, except for the mild inconvenience that dying would be. He is very (and it’s not a very often used word any more), blithe. And that’s totally cool. And the aloof, uber-reserved Toshi becomes very human and tender with Souji.
My favorite scene so far was when Toshi was mixing medicine he had Tetsu buy (because apparently, prior to this, he was a medicine seller. He must have had good business. Half the customers would buy because they’d think he’s hot and the other half because they’d be scared to refuse). And Souji is in his room, and he asks him to drink it. And then drinks some himself. And that whole scene is just so quiet and beautiful and intimate and guuuuuuh. And of course there is the scene where Toshi is flashing back to his conversation about giving Souji a sword when he was 9 and yeah, he keeps feeling horribly guilty about that and it keeps gnawing at him.
And I love, during the episodes with the Souji-impostor, when Toshi sees ‘Souji’ coughing, he is immediately and instinctively concerned, and he automatically jumps in front of Souji when Souji flips on seeing someone who looks just like him. And of course, there is the clincher of him telling people demanding Souji’s head on a platter because of people the impostor has killed that Souji was in his room until late last night so he couldn't have been the killer. Guuuuuh. Definitely OTP.
And speaking of OTPs, I am absolutely and absurdly in love with Vice Commander Yamanami. Maybe it’s the fact that he wears glasses. Or the fact that he carries an abacus because he finds calculations relaxing. Or the fact that he is so kind to Tetsu. Or the fact that he is so burdened by their killing of their Commander on the orders of their Lord (together with Saito, Toshi and Souji). His confrontation with Toshi (who, how revealing, practices his sword-fighting in secret) over Yamanami’s unease in this matter and his conscience (with Toshi, of course, unwilling to give an inch) is one of my favorite scenes. He does come out of it, of course.
And then there is the cool, angsty affair he is carrying on with Akesato, a geisha. I love the scene in her house where they are in a room, and he has his head in her lap and even though they are discussing Tetsu and Saya (a little geisha in training who is Tetsu’s OTP), it is clear that Akesato speaks for herself when she says that maybe Saya will be lucky some day and someone she loves will take her away and Yamanami says that he promises her that when he can, he will. Awwww. And then of course rowdy guys break in and Yamanami gets up and says it’s really unrestful and defeats all of them pretty quickly (with his ever present abacus, heee. I love him holding the abacus to the guy’s throat and going “Hmmm, my sword is over there”) And then when Yamanami’s friend, after the fight, goes “shall we go” and turns around, and Yamanami is once again lying with his head in Akesato’s lap, eyes closed. Mmmmmm. Of course, unless I am losing my mind, Akesato might be a geisha by day, but she is a ninja/spy for the Shinsengumi opponents by night. And Yamanami is the Shinsengumi’s VC. So this love story, whatever it is, cannot end well.
I also love Tetsu’s friendship/puppy love with Saya, the adorable, mute geisha-in-training. I love them playing cards and games, such children. And when Suzu joins them, it’s rather adorable. They are all such kids. Though what is with Suzu crushing on his master? Ummm. Though he is bright enough to tell Tetsu that it seems his (Tetsu’s) master is taking care of him for someone (indeed he is. Toshi has only taken Tetsu on for Souji’s sake. Expiating guilt much?)
I also like the Three Jokers (or whoever) who keep on teasing Tetsu but also help him out with practice etc etc. And Tatsu is an excellent elder brother. And the weird guy with a gun and glasses (who is a little bit Vash-like and design-wise reminds me a bit of Dryden in Escaflowne) amuses me though I am a bit mystified by him.
Funniest bit so far? Finding out that Toshi’s way to relax and to blow off steam is to write Haikus. Apparently appallingly bad ones. And the only time we see the steely Vice-Commander lose his calm is when Souji steals them and a mad chaise with Tetsu at the center ensues. I do think Souji did it as much for Toshi’s sake (hey, he needs to relax and not be so serious all the time :P) as for Tetsu’s.
I have 8 eps to go, and I am quite loath to finish.
My OTP!!!
My favorite character! Mmmm, Toshi:
Toshi at practice. And not happy with Yamanami:
I don’t think Toshi has ever mastered the art of the smile:
Souji:
Akesato and Saya:
Yamanami sleeping in Akesato’s lap:
Tetsu and Saya, being adorable:
Tetsu and Yamanami:
Tetsu and Tatsu (I guess their parents just weren’t that creative with names):
Suzu:
Akesato and the accompanying servants:
Yoshida the Antagonist. What I want to know, how does he even have any depth perception with that hairdo?
Tetsu:
Crash, hmmmm? I thought the movie was a contrived, preachy, simplistic piece of Oscarbation, but then Brokeback Mountain, the odds-on favorite was rather dull. I liked the first half better than the second but it dragged on and on and ooooon, making me wish for a ff button in the theater. It was sort of like Bridges of Madison Country only with two men, and (to be fair) Heath Ledger being a deal hotter than Clint Eastwood. My favorite of the nominees, Good Night and Good Luck. has a snowball’s chance in hell anyway, and none of my Top 10 movies were even nominated so…yeah, there is a reason why we were watching Peacemaker instead.
And speaking of Peacemaker, I’ve fallen in love. I’ve liked most of the anime I’ve watched (Last Exile and Marmalade Boy being the only exceptions. LE left me cold and I loathed MB), but as to loving it, that’s a much rarer matter. But Peacemaker Kurogane is LOVE. And not just because it gave me my only slash ship so far besides Clark/Lex (well, there is also Ralph/Laurie in Renault’s The Charioteer, but that’s canon, so it’s not slash, right?)
I love the animation which is beautiful and fluid and somehow 3D-ish. I love the continuing storylines. I love the gorgeous fights and the funny, funny humor. But most of all, I love the characters. PK is chock-full of these amazing, complicated, cool characters (yes, I even like Tetsu now, though he is still least interesting of the bunch). And I love that not all backgrounds/histories are explained, though there are dribbles as things come up in conversation. It feels natural, as if you’ve been given a peek into a continuing life of a number of people, and it will go on after you’ve stopped watching, just as it went on before.
I also find it interesting how PK draws a parallel between the Shinsengumi and their opponents. Look at the parallels between Toshi and Tetsu and their opposite number, Suzu, the white haired page and his master, Yoshida. Yoshida is the one who killed Tetsu’s parents, but after all, is it too different from the Shinsengumi who killed Suzu’s elder brother? It’s civil war, and it sucks. Both boys join to avenge, but I can’t see it working out happily. But I think the real difference comes when we meet Souji’s evil look-alike. Because the Shinsengumi kill readily, for a cause. But they don’t get their jollies that way. The double is shown to revel and get off on hurting people. And that makes all the difference.
I also really like Souji, the blue-haired (???), rather delicate looking guy who is deadly but also very kind. Tetsu is, after all, his pet, and it’s basically for his sake that Toshi has taken the kid on as his page. And I get the feeling Souji spoils Tetsu a bit (e.g. by buying him candy) because he sees something of himself in Tetsu (the same desire to keep on coming and fighting no matter how many times he loses). Maybe he is living his non-existent childhood (Toshi gave him a sword at 9??!!) through Tetsu. Of course, he is kind in general: he is kind to the little spy-girl who crushes on him. And that kindness is a huge asset, as it’s she that innocently tears down all the paper charms and this saves the lives of Souji, Toshi and Saito. Yup, like him a lot. I do think his ‘cheeriness’ is both natural and a way of coping with his life.
Oh, and my OTP for this show? Toshi/Souji. Mmmmm. *sigh* I am amused at how Souji is the only person at the compound who is not in the least in awe/fear of Toshi. He treats him as someone who is grumpy and needs to be brought out of it. I think in part, it’s because Souji fears nothing, period. He doesn’t fear death, except for the mild inconvenience that dying would be. He is very (and it’s not a very often used word any more), blithe. And that’s totally cool. And the aloof, uber-reserved Toshi becomes very human and tender with Souji.
My favorite scene so far was when Toshi was mixing medicine he had Tetsu buy (because apparently, prior to this, he was a medicine seller. He must have had good business. Half the customers would buy because they’d think he’s hot and the other half because they’d be scared to refuse). And Souji is in his room, and he asks him to drink it. And then drinks some himself. And that whole scene is just so quiet and beautiful and intimate and guuuuuuh. And of course there is the scene where Toshi is flashing back to his conversation about giving Souji a sword when he was 9 and yeah, he keeps feeling horribly guilty about that and it keeps gnawing at him.
And I love, during the episodes with the Souji-impostor, when Toshi sees ‘Souji’ coughing, he is immediately and instinctively concerned, and he automatically jumps in front of Souji when Souji flips on seeing someone who looks just like him. And of course, there is the clincher of him telling people demanding Souji’s head on a platter because of people the impostor has killed that Souji was in his room until late last night so he couldn't have been the killer. Guuuuuh. Definitely OTP.
And speaking of OTPs, I am absolutely and absurdly in love with Vice Commander Yamanami. Maybe it’s the fact that he wears glasses. Or the fact that he carries an abacus because he finds calculations relaxing. Or the fact that he is so kind to Tetsu. Or the fact that he is so burdened by their killing of their Commander on the orders of their Lord (together with Saito, Toshi and Souji). His confrontation with Toshi (who, how revealing, practices his sword-fighting in secret) over Yamanami’s unease in this matter and his conscience (with Toshi, of course, unwilling to give an inch) is one of my favorite scenes. He does come out of it, of course.
And then there is the cool, angsty affair he is carrying on with Akesato, a geisha. I love the scene in her house where they are in a room, and he has his head in her lap and even though they are discussing Tetsu and Saya (a little geisha in training who is Tetsu’s OTP), it is clear that Akesato speaks for herself when she says that maybe Saya will be lucky some day and someone she loves will take her away and Yamanami says that he promises her that when he can, he will. Awwww. And then of course rowdy guys break in and Yamanami gets up and says it’s really unrestful and defeats all of them pretty quickly (with his ever present abacus, heee. I love him holding the abacus to the guy’s throat and going “Hmmm, my sword is over there”) And then when Yamanami’s friend, after the fight, goes “shall we go” and turns around, and Yamanami is once again lying with his head in Akesato’s lap, eyes closed. Mmmmmm. Of course, unless I am losing my mind, Akesato might be a geisha by day, but she is a ninja/spy for the Shinsengumi opponents by night. And Yamanami is the Shinsengumi’s VC. So this love story, whatever it is, cannot end well.
I also love Tetsu’s friendship/puppy love with Saya, the adorable, mute geisha-in-training. I love them playing cards and games, such children. And when Suzu joins them, it’s rather adorable. They are all such kids. Though what is with Suzu crushing on his master? Ummm. Though he is bright enough to tell Tetsu that it seems his (Tetsu’s) master is taking care of him for someone (indeed he is. Toshi has only taken Tetsu on for Souji’s sake. Expiating guilt much?)
I also like the Three Jokers (or whoever) who keep on teasing Tetsu but also help him out with practice etc etc. And Tatsu is an excellent elder brother. And the weird guy with a gun and glasses (who is a little bit Vash-like and design-wise reminds me a bit of Dryden in Escaflowne) amuses me though I am a bit mystified by him.
Funniest bit so far? Finding out that Toshi’s way to relax and to blow off steam is to write Haikus. Apparently appallingly bad ones. And the only time we see the steely Vice-Commander lose his calm is when Souji steals them and a mad chaise with Tetsu at the center ensues. I do think Souji did it as much for Toshi’s sake (hey, he needs to relax and not be so serious all the time :P) as for Tetsu’s.
I have 8 eps to go, and I am quite loath to finish.
My OTP!!!
My favorite character! Mmmm, Toshi:
Toshi at practice. And not happy with Yamanami:
I don’t think Toshi has ever mastered the art of the smile:
Souji:
Akesato and Saya:
Yamanami sleeping in Akesato’s lap:
Tetsu and Saya, being adorable:
Tetsu and Yamanami:
Tetsu and Tatsu (I guess their parents just weren’t that creative with names):
Suzu:
Akesato and the accompanying servants:
Yoshida the Antagonist. What I want to know, how does he even have any depth perception with that hairdo?
Tetsu:
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no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 05:45 pm (UTC)You haven't gotten into the Susumu story line yet, it looks like. I believe that's the next major one. That one I just love because it's so real and his reaction to what happens is just so spot on and believable. Susumu is one of those characters I wasn't really fond of at the beginning, but learned to love later on as he goes through a huge and very understandable personality change.
Tetsu/Saya is adorable and I love Akesato's observation that there may be more for Saya than there was for her since she has Tetsu.
The thing with Souji is because of the TB, I think he's pretty much acclimated himself with the fact that he's not going to live long. Death just doesn't really bother him all that much, so he's going to go through life enjoying himself. There's just such a sweetness to him which is what I think Hijikata's world weary personality responds to.
And the haiku episode= hilarious.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 06:00 pm (UTC)So, are we still meeting up tonight? Just let me know where, when, etc. ^^
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 06:02 pm (UTC)I do like the fact that it's not a simple 'good guys v. bad guys' scenario (and the show draws the parallels between Toshi and Yoshida explicitly, when Suzu and Tetsu compare their masters).
I also like the fact that Hijikata is never really justified for having carried out the assassination...Yamanami is justified in feeling guilt just as much as Hijikata acknowledges it as just part of the job and if Yamanami is going to have issues, he'd better get out.
Yes. Just as, realistically, I am sure that a lot of people they kill are just people with different political views, not murderers of children and orphans. In this way, PK sort of reminds me of Kenshin, where it's clear that a lot of people Kenshin killed when he was the Battousai weren't nasty monsters, they just happened to be on the wrong side.
You haven't gotten into the Susumu story line yet, it looks like.
Nope. Had to break for sleep :)
Tetsu/Saya is adorable
If someone told me 12 or so eps back that I'd like Tetsu, I wouldn't have thought it possible, but I do, and in large part it's because of his interactions with Saya.
There's just such a sweetness to him which is what I think Hijikata's world weary personality responds to.
Oh yes. And the thing is, Souji is genuinely interested in everything in the world and there is a spontaneity and (despite it all) and innocence to him, in many ways.
haiku episode= hilarious.
I thought I was going to hyperventilate from laughing.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 06:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 06:05 pm (UTC)Call me?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 06:13 pm (UTC)when Suzu and Tetsu compare their masters
And if you were just going off of their descriptions you wouldn't know who was the bad guy and who was the good guy. Yoshida is really only "bad" because he killed Tetsu's parents, and I'm sure Hijikata would have done the same if given a viable reason.
PMK is very skilled at working the "war is hell" angle that a lot of mecha anime and samurai anime work. If you like Kenshin and PMK, you really should try Samurai Deeper Kyo, which works that angle well too.
I like that the characters in PMK grow on you as you find out more about them just like if they were real people. Not everyone comes across charming and likable when you first meet them. They're extremely layered characters and I love that about anime, since anime on a whole can do that exceptionally well.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 06:50 pm (UTC)Randomly, ever heard of Witchhunter Robin? I read a review of it ages ago and thought the art looked beyond stunning. Then I tried to watch it and kind of got bored by it. I kind of wondered if that is just my tendency to have little patience with anime or if I really should give it another shot.
(The review, One more review)
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 07:04 pm (UTC)In unrelated comments, I think with anime it's really individualistic what appeals. I like strongly arc-ed stories (though most of those take some time to get going because they have longer periods of time in which to develop things). It really depends on what you like (I recommend Escaflowne which got me hooked because it moves at a break-neck pace, but even with that one it takes a few eps for you to get into it). I love good artwork, but it's secondary. Last Exile had some of the most beautiful artwork I'd ever seen, but I really had no interest in it. And Trigun, my favorite, has good artwork, but purely on artwork, I can name half-a-dozen things I've seen that I liked better.
But it's really idiosyncratic. My BFF was visiting this weekend and she expressed interest in seeing some anime, so I showed her eps of a number of things and the one she likes was Ayashi No Ceres which would normally not be the one I'd rec or anything (it's bizarre and way too angsty for my tastes) as opposed to the ones I thought she'd like, knowing her live-action entertainment tastes.
So, what kind of thing do you like?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 07:06 pm (UTC)I've had that happen, where it's an acclaimed series but I don't care for it. Cowboy Beebop is really famous and acclaimed, but I just have mild liking for it, because the pace is way too leisurely and it's barely arced (when they do the handful of arced eps, I get all into in in the show, but they are far and few between).
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 07:07 pm (UTC)Exactly. It's the bad luck of war, really. Though Yoshida DID kill Tetsu's mom, which wasn't necessary whatever his beef with Tetsu's father.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-06 07:40 pm (UTC)I seem to be more of a feature film person when it comes to anime. I *loved* Perfect Blue, single most horrifying psychological movie I have ever seen. Especially since I had no idea what I was walking into back when I watched it.
I thought the concept of WR sounded really intersting, as did the descriptions of the characters/couples, but really, really way too slow.