Fanboy Scribbles

#Gintama #GinpachiSensei. Not sure if I understood the announcement right, but something big is coming for their 20th anniversary! Earlier today, it was announced that Gintama's making a comeback for its 20th anniversary. Since it has already wrapped up both its anime and films, they're bringing to life Gintama: Class 3-Z, Ginapachi Sensei, which places entire Gintama universe in school. And in true Gintama fashion, they took the chance to make a quick parody of Spy×Family with Gintoki as Loid, Shinpachi as Yor (with oranges for boobs), and Kagura as Anya. Another spin was on Jujutsu Kaisen 0 with Gin as Gojo, Shinpachi as Yuuta, Kagura as Rika and Sadaharu as Panda. I honestly didn't know where the video announcement was going. All I had in mind was how much I missed hearing Tomokazu Sugita as Gin and he's even talking to himself with Ginpachi-sensei. That and the parodies, really. The last I can remember was Sorachi-sensei making a parody poster of Demon Slayer's hashira and replaced Gyomei with Gin because they're both voiced by Sugita. It was then given away to those who watched the final Gintama film in cinemas. Not quite sure if it'll be released this 2023 or in 2024, but A M E N to more screen-breaking, copyright-infringing, and comedy gold chaos! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp-JdTJvujV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Suzume. Saw this again and I take back what I said. I'm placing this on the same level as Your Name because of the art. Seeing Suzume for the second time really made me appreciate how beautiful it was. But the thing that I couldn't stop raving about was the running chair. No, seriously. At the end of the day, a chair is just a chair, but what this film did, they gave it a life of its own. From the subtle nuances of expressing reactions and emotions to the fast-paced movements during the chase, even the way it tried to hold down Daijin. I am in complete awe of how creative they got in animating Souta as a chair and still have his personality intact. Must say that the voice acting definitely had a large part in terms of bringing out personality. Then again, just seeing this chair travel with Suzume from Kyushu to Tokyo, it's crazy. And Souta, well, this second round reinforced my thoughts about him being the Howl Pendragon of the Shinkai-verse. Also have to credit Hokuto Matsumara and Nanoka Hara because their voice acting was spot on. I'm even more surprised that this was their first voice acting credit according to MAL. Another thing, as much as Suzume and Souta were at the center of this film, it's the side characters that helped build the gravity of what Suzume is doing and how big an impact her actions have on her relationship with her aunt. It may seem fun, exciting and all, but having Tamaki there grounds Suzume's identity. So yes, overall, I'm making a bold claim because of the lengths they took Suzume to both as the lead character and the film itself. It's nice. It's really, really nice. Just superb. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp6jhdqPT1y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#VampireHunterDBloodlust. Saw this classic for the first time last night and the art alone is enough reason to do so. There's really something about the art of older anime titles that make them stand out. The direction is simply spot on and you can tell the great attention to detail that was placed on the character designs, action sequences, even the backgrounds and settings. Sure, the vampire hunter storyline has been reimagined many times over. It's heavy and very much plays into the medieval vampire stories that have been popularized in the west. Which is why the art becomes your bottomline. Mind you, this was released in 2000 so imagine the amount of work put into each frame to produce this film and bring it to the big screen. This poster barely scratches the surface. If you want to appreciate the brilliance of its art, watch it. Its running time is a little over 100 minutes. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp4AmGCPHhe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Been through some tough times over the course of #Winter2023 so I haven't been raving as much, but this season is really killing it. Here are my recent spotlights. #BlueLock. By now, the hype already speaks for itself, but as we near the finale, I just love how we've circled back to Bachira. The second cour started with Isagi losing him. The last few eps really drilled down on how they're all "devouring" each other on the field, and now it's Bachira's time to shine again. Watch for the hype, the art, and the out of the box take on soccer/football. I'm so invested!! #HandymanSaitouInAnotherWorld. As far as my isekai picks of the season, this is at par with Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill. Seriously, I'd even compare this to Tensura in terms of story and progression. I'm not sure how this one has been doing in the charts, but it's definitely a must-watch in my book for the laughs, the fun, and the magical arts. While the big battle happened a couple of eps back, the latest one sure didn't hold back either, which is why I love it so much. Just look at Morlock-san looking all cool, then not-so cool. LOL #NierAutomataV11a. A-1 is doing wonders for this game-adapted series. The story's definitely on the heavier side, but then again it's the art that's really making a killing for this one. While the latest ep isn't quite as eventful as the previous ones, it's nice to see and learn more about the world of androids and sentient machine lifeforms. Though, I'm quite curious how gamers feel about this adaption. Thoughts? #BuddyDaddies. THIS WEEK'S EP WAS SO WHOLESOME, OK? I just love seeing how Rei, Kazuki and Miri are growing more and more as a family. This family day ep was just so fulfilling and heartwarming. But the cliffhanger had me worried. Hmmm. That's it! This is something new I'm trying so let's see if I can sustain it on a weekly basis. Kinda like a round up or standout picks for the week since I sort of have or found time for it. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpu2EnkP5EQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#JennifersBody. I honestly don't know what the beef is with this film. Honestly, I think it's quite good. It's not the best, but surely it isn't the worst. Watching this again after many years is like a validation of what I felt when I first saw it back in 2009, at a friend's birthday party. It was thrilling and it really fueled my curiosity over the dark arts. Maybe it was too ahead of its time? Or maybe it was too hyped because it was top-billed by Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried? I genuinely don't understand. Needy's character development was, I must say, quite spot on. From being a wallflower to becoming her own and standing up to Jennifer - that's empowerment. And the revenge twist? Well-deserved. Like even after what Jennifer did to her, she still avenged her. I'm sorry. I might just be babbling here. But yes, I still like it, and in fact, I appreciate it more now. What's your take? https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpr5hiPvbX-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Suzume. Makoto Shinkai does it again with a new film that's fueled by magical realism. Spoiler-free review up ahead! This is the story of how Suzume Iwato got caught up in all the chaos after crossing paths with Souta Munakata. Follow Suzume as she chases after a talking chair and a mischievous cat from Kyushu to Ehime to Kobe and all the way to Tokyo. Ok. There's a lot to breakdown but I'll try to keep it as high-level as I can so it doesn't spoil the fun. Art. If you want sceneries, Your Name still trumps everything. While there are breathtaking stills, the art is heavily focused on Suzume's chase and all the action that took place throughout the film. It's definitely more eventful and high-adrenaline than Your Name and Weathering With You. Then again, it doesn't take away from the fact that it is such a visually stunning feature from start to finish. Music. Suzume breaks the mold and doesn't introduce any kind of song until the last quarter of the film. It's just mainly instrumentals done by RADWIMPS and the haunting intro of Toaka's 'Suzume' which was featured in the trailer. Story. This has much to do with resolving the chaos that threatens Japan than any love story, unlike Your Name and WWY. The conflict takes front and center early on and unfolds accordingly while you learn more about both Suzume and Souta. Must say though, Souta gave off such strong Howl vibes before becoming his own person later on. Magic. In previous features, magic has been more fun and playful than an actual weapon. In Suzume, this is probably the most purposeful that magic has been used and more responsibly at that (I'm looking at you Hodaka. LOL). Yes, there are still playful elements to it, but it takes on a more functional role like other magical anime out there. Overall, this needs to be warched at least twice to properly appreciate the visuals. I do have some unanswered questions, and I even thought it'd lead to a sequel because it felt like the conclusion was still far off when the film only have about 20-min running time left. Gladly, they made it just in time, but again, still have questions to ponder on. Giving this one an 8.5/10 and in between Your Name and WWY. https://www.instagram.com/p/CpkNQ5Tv6kL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#AttackOnTitan #ShingekiNoKyojin. Thank you, MAPPA, for giving Hange the Levi Ackerman treatment. Shinzo wo sasageyo! 🥺🔥 https://www.instagram.com/p/CphlpRBP9_X/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#AManCalledOtto. If Up had a live action feature, this would be it, minus the fantasy part and more of the community. Otto Anderson is your grumpy old neighbor who likes to maintain order in his daily routine. He pulls his own weight and tries not to bother anyone, unless they disrupt the order that he keeps. When Marisol and her family move in across his home, his life takes a different turn -- one that snapped him back to life and what it means to live. It's a heartwarming film, plain and simple. Nothing extra or over the top. You just learn why Otto was the way he was and how Marisol and everyone in the neighborhood changed him for the better. I mentioned Up because I genuinely feel like this was Carl and Ellie Fredricksen's story but in a different universe. Carl is Otto with his cranky attitude and Ellie is Sonya who gave meaning to his life. Russell is Marisol and Dug is a cat, not a golden retriever. And instead of going to Paradise Falls, Otto is steering his life to be Sonya, but everyone just seems to get in his way. You really just need to be patient with this one, especially with Otto. It'll take a while before he warms up, but he'll get there. 8/10 for me. https://www.instagram.com/p/CphG8dNvWWs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#TechnoroidOvermind. Androids for idols was an interesting concept for a series so I opted to give it a try and it's still on my watchlist surprisingly. Watching this series, I learned that there are things that I can tolerate for the sake of the storyline. In this case, it's the use of 3D for the performances. It never sat well with me because it didn't fit my aesthetics. Then again, I still watch it for the plot. The reason this has been surviving is because of the mystery that surrounds the death of a man who was allegedly pushed by a robot. It remains unsolved and the four leads continue to be under suspicion even if they were only mere witnesses. The latest ep dives into the relationships that those robots had with the man that died. It really boggles me as to where this will lead and how it's connected to the discoveries of these four androids when it comes to human emotions. So yes, the plot overrules my negative feelings towards the performances in 3D. Just putting it out there that this is probably my wild card for the #Winter2023 and it's been keeping with the strong isekai and slice of life picks. https://www.instagram.com/p/CpbmChnvZSI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#TeasingMasterTakagisanTheMovie. Three seasons' worth of teasing has finally led to a full-length feature that makes you laugh, gush, and feel young. While Takagi and Nishikata are still very much into their teasing game, we now see a clearer and better picture of the future. We discover new sides to our main leads as they prepare for their transition to high school, creating more memories one last time. What's nice about Takagi-san as a series is you also get to see what the other supporting characters are up to. Whether it's Sanae, Yukari, and Mina -- who have more airtime in the film -- or Nishikata's friends Kimura, Nakai, Takao, and Hamaguchi (and Houjo), they've become a big part of why it's much more enjoyable to watch the series because you see the kids be themselves. Can't say that it's twice the chaos, but it's definitely more heartwarming and sentimental. Add to that the closing credits where they show snippets from the series. Oh to be young and innocent, it's nice to be reminded of life's simpler times. Then again, watch out for the post-credits. Mapapa-#SanaAll na lang talaga. 10/10 forda kilig. Luh https://www.instagram.com/p/CpMwVHVPooN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#GoodNightOppy. "It's just a documentary. They're just robots," they said. Then why do I find it so hard to stop myself from sobbing at the end? This was a solid one. Well done. Good Night Oppy tells the story of the mission to Mars of two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Estimated to only stay online for 90 days, they were tasked to find evidence that drinking water once existed in the red planet. Space exploration has always been among my deepest fascinations. That's why Interstellar holds a special place in my hard. Most of the time, documentaries tend to pack a plethora of data and facts in such limited time. While it leaves me in awe, sometimes, there are moments of information overload. What's nice about this one is that they didn't drown us with scientific facts. This is Spirit and Opportunity's story -- their mission, their birth, the team behind them, and how they exponentially exceeded expectations before they went to sleep forever. It's a story that, in a way, humanized Spirit and Opportunity. Their accomplishments, struggles, and eventually, their aging and slow deterioration. I couldn't help but root for them. This kind of storytelling allows you to be with them in their journey, and also somehow relate to them and the scientists and engineers that led the mission. Good Night Oppy is nice because they made it sentimental, and it was as it should be. 10/10 https://www.instagram.com/p/CpIBoIUvdFL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Sharper. Loved the storytelling because it surprises you with each character perspective. Watching the story unravel was as heavy as I thought it would and I ended up loving the twist and turns. Sharper is a story told through different perspectives. It's like Black Mirror's Crocodile episode minus the tech, and reminded me a lot of Natsuo Kirino's Real World, but not as disturbing. They treated the film like a book and had the characters be its chapters. With every change in perspective, the story gets deeper, bringing you closer to what the real theme of the film was. Just as when you thought they'd get away with it, it takes another turn and I am all for it! In terms of film references, this really reminded me of A Simple Favor. I guess, it's because of the pace and how unexpected some of the twists were, except for that one scene which was so similar. This was nice. Missed seeing Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan. 8/10 for me. https://www.instagram.com/p/CpHkyhSPrBC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Doukyusei (Classmates). Found the perfect film to cap off the day. I'll keep this next to Given and Stranger by the Beach. A coming of age story that blossoms between two summers where Kusakabe and Sajou find themselves stupidly in love for the first time. That's all there is to it. No heavy drama, and no over the top plot twists. It's nice, light, warm, and kind of plays with your emotions a bit on the will they or won't they. But ultimately, they did, and now I'm curious what happens next. Will Sajou pass and get admitted to Kyoto University? Will they do LDR? Will Kusakabe follow him? What other conflicts or misunderstandings will they run into next? The art surprised me because this kind of light and unconventional style isn't something I'd normally watch. But really, it grew on me. The color grading, the relaxed palettes, even the funny exaggerations in the drawings. It's simple, easy to appreciate, and a temporary escape from the noise out there. Can't believe it took me 7 years before I saw this. It's been on my watchlist since last year. Glad to have finally found the time for it. 8/10 for the feels, the art, the musical score, and the soundtrack. https://www.instagram.com/p/Co98ienPeSo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#ShotgunWedding. From one comedy to another, this one is crazy messy, but it's a crazy mess that I enjoyed so very much. What do you do when your destination wedding gets crashed by a group of pirates? Well, this film makes a great list of what not to do because it doesn't even take itself too seriously. Maybe it's the age talking, but I really went into this one blind because it's Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel. Genuinely curious how this pairing would work, and well, it was just as chaotic as I had hoped it would be. Leny Kravitz was also there, but good lord, I was so happy to see Jennifer Coolidge. I went back to my 2 Broke Girls phase recently because I need a good pick-me-up, so seeing Jennifer in this film just filled my heart with joy. Out of everyone, she's the one who really hits the mark on the comedic timings. Overall, it's a mindless watch that I gladly ate brunch to earlier today. The script doesn't try too hard, and the story, again, is crazy messy, but will keep you guessing on the next absurdity. Seriously, I really enjoyed this one. And what a great follow-up to Your Place or Mine in terms of my watchlist. 8/10 for the laughs. Story's meh, maybe even down to a 6, but it's another thing to tickle my funny bone. Side note: The film is set in the Philippines, in the fictional island of Mahal Island Resort. Sadly, they actually shot it in the Dominican Republic due to pandemic restrictions. https://www.instagram.com/p/CozTQJ9PM_P/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#YourPlaceOrMine. Keeping this short and sweet, literally. When I wrote my review of What Happens in Vegas, I said they don't make chick flicks like that anymore. Well, after seeing Your Place or Mine, maybe they still do. It's just that they're all grown up now, and they're dealing with grown up problems like jobs, kids, and life, putting love at the backseat. It's fun, nice, light, and really feels warm and familiar. This one's a 10/10 and not just because it's Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher. Watch it on Netflix! https://www.instagram.com/p/CoxMFS2vVrC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#IWannaDanceWithSomebody. It wasn't the kind of celebration I had hoped for, but it is what it is -- the rise and fall of Whitney Houston. Taking the film on its own, it showed some of Whitney's beautiful moments on stage. It also revealed the problems, which I thought was ok at first to balance out the fame and glamor. Watching it several times, I'm still confused about what they really wanted to highlight because clearly, it wasn't just her music. It felt like Whitney's journey and struggles were at the core of the story, which was problematic and went against the picture they were painting from the trailer. The beautiful moments of the film are definitely the ones where Whitney was singing at her best, before she started to deteriorate. This makes the 1994 American Music Awards performance a solid end, but not necessarily to tie it all together. Rather, it felt like a last effort to win back the audience to honor Whitney's legacy, which I must say felt forced rather than earned because of how they paced the story. Regardless of the film's flaws, Naomi Ackie gave the best possible performance for the role, especially as she lip-synced Whitney's hits. It's not her that was wrong because she really did great. You can see how much she studied and prepared for the role. It's the material that failed to bring out Whitney as the brightest shining star that she was, robbing Naomi the chance to draw it all out. The film was a revalation to me because it gave me a glimpse of who Whitney was behind the camera. But again, I feel conflicted because I couldn't exactly savor her vocal prowess from this biopic. Loved Whitney. Loved Naomi. Loved the songs and performances. Loved the first half, actually. Can't really say the same for its entirety. 7/10. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cor-bKLvHX-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#AbbottElementary #TheWhiteLotus. Two new comedy series that have been brightening up my days for the last couple of weeks. Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary about the daily lives of public school teachers. It is a chaotic watch because, despite the differences in culture, it has unlocked many core memories that defined my childhood. The series helps humanize teachers and constantly reminds me how much my perspective has changed over the years. Seeing the diverse personalities that make up Abbott's faculty and staff, I do hope I wasn't a pain to my own teachers back then. I really like Melissa and her zero-fucks-given attitude, and Barbara who's always cool, calm, collected, but doubles down on her shade with class. They bring the much-needed sass to Abbott. Also, I hope there's more positive development between Janine and Gregory. So yes, I'm waiting for that Valentine's episode. As for the White Lotus, after watching two seasons, I can't wait to go on vacation and start people watching. I love the concept of the series because, normally when we're on vacation, we only care about ourselves as we should. But the show makes me want to lowkey stick my nose in people's business. The White Lotus is a chain of luxury hotels and each season featured a different location, but with the same Marites-level entertainment. It's like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, only more serious, chaotic, and satirical. Each season features different groups of vacationers, except for Fiona played by Jennifer Coolidge who has been winning awards for her performance. I love that they brought her back because Fiona is such an interesting character. If you're in the mood for satire, go for The White Lotus on HBO because you will love every bit of the drama. But if you're looking for something on the lighter side, Abbott Elementary is definitely for you. It's like Modern Family, except they're teachers. Sticking to Abbott for now since it's still ongoing. Really great and award-winning titles right here. 👌 https://www.instagram.com/p/CoRY3OaPJFc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=