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froochiz
Reviews
Kôkyô shihen Eureka Sebun (2005)
The One
Eureka 7 seizes the day as my favorite story of all time. I've seen and loved many of the great anime: Full Metal Alchemist, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Cowboy Bebop, Code Geass, Death Note, Dragonball Z, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Rurouni Kenshin. Yet if I were to give any anime my heart, I'd give it to Eureka 7 (and rightfully so, because it did win it, when the other ones could only come close).
From the first episode I knew that I was in for something wonderful. Enigmatic is the essence of this bright yet dramatic story -- from the characters, to the setting, the plot, music, art, and dialogue. Every aspect is just so beautiful, especially Renton and Eureka's (the two main characters') relationship -- it captures the heart of young love (no pun intended, honestly) and melds in the very grim consequences of the war they have found themselves in. But despite the hardships Renton and Eureka endure, and despite Renton's realization of what Eureka actually is, the love between them bonds them forever.
Eureka 7 is the story that speaks to me. Everything just fits perfectly together into a mosaic of story and soul.
My final recommendation is to take the time and watch at least 5 episodes. It's a story that ages like wine; each episode is better than the last. I hope you enjoy Eureka 7 as much as I have.
The Hunger Games (2012)
Lazy and lacking emotionally
Adapting a first-person story as a third-person film takes out a majority of the story. Katniss's thoughts are what drive her characterization and it's through her that we grow distaste for the Capitol/Panem. If you take out her thoughts, you may as well not bother making the film. Yes, having voice-overs in a movie becomes draining after a while, but not when those voice-overs actually link you emotionally to what's being depicted. Katniss's dialogue, (important when it comes to talking with Peeta) does not deliver enough during most other parts of the story. The Katniss on screen is just a shallow representation of the book's Katniss. Without her viewpoint, Prim, Rue, Cinna, Haymitch, and even Peeta are pointless. You just see people moving on screen.
I don't feel pity for the districts nor for the tributes. Death in the movie, in the end, is just death. But in the books, each death furthered hatred towards the Capitol and President Snow; you want to destroy them and you want Katniss to win. It was that desire that makes the series so endearing and addictive.
The visuals were okay, though. As was the acting. And the countdown was exciting. The costumes, however, were too bizarre without the explanation for them. And the climax was abysmal.
It was just lazy, and laziness is easy to spot in art.