Should I Watch Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection "F" / Fukkatsu no "F"

Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection "F"

So when a movie like this comes out there are often two sides. Side A) Die-Hard Fan Boys who will bleed at the nose like Master Roshi at the mere mention of new DBZ Material. Side B) Purist Fan Boys who consider the original series as complete (and awesome) and are skeptical about something new thinking it won't live up to the original (not even going to mention GT). People felt this way when Battle of the Gods (BoG) came out last year. I was afflicted by both sides but since the original creator Akira Toriyama was involved my mind was put at ease. Battle of the Gods was a brilliant movie!

BRIEF HISTORY LESSON: Dragon Ball, the story of Goku as a kid, was an adventure comedy. Dragon Ball Z (which we all know and love), is more action/fighting focused.

These movies (BoG and Res F) did the fusion dance. It has the face melting fights of DBZ but the hilarious Dr. Slump style humour of Dragon Ball. Which makes it refreshing. I am a die-hard and a purist. If someone even mentions GT I need a senzu bean. *eats a senzu* But even as a purist I must admit that many of the latest DBZ movies before BoG and Res F were a bit serious. Wrath of the Dragon for example was awesome but didn't have that signature funny/gag style. Don't get me wrong, I love the movies but these ones included Akira Toriyama's touch and you can tell! So whether you are a die-hard or a purist this movie will not disappoint. I was lucky enough to see it at the movies on 8 August with a bunch of other fans.

So, I can't really analyse this movie like I analyse anime series or Studio Ghiblis so this review shall be more free form, based on what I've seen and come to expect from DBZ!

Fan Service: 
If you've watched, read or even heard about DBZ before you will not be disappointed and will most likely kill yourself laughing like I did. All the good 'ol characters worth appearing are there including the new ones. Example: Master Roshi goes into his Max Power/ Buff mode which was only previously seen in Dragon Ball and the Broly Movie, also he shot off an awesome Kamehameha. On the note of the Kamehameha, yes, there is an awesome beam struggle. Also pretty much every signature move of note shows up.

Comedy:
This is probably one of the funniest DBZ movies I've ever watched, everyone in the cinema cracked out laughing all the time. There are many comedic interactions and relationships. Goku and Vegeta's rivalry, Beerus and Whis's "Who's-the-Deity" relationship, Bulma smack-talking Frieza, the hilariously stylish Jaco and more than could be mentioned. If this question is: Will I laugh? Yes, if you know the story and characters you'll laugh even more.

Fights:
As a person who watched Dragon Ball Z religiously as a kid I can say I felt like I was rushing home from school again to have my mind blown by the appearance of a super saiyan for the first time. With tech having advanced the fights were indeed epic. With a nice contrast: Fighting against vast mobs of one-hit-one-kill noobs and of course evenly matched boss fights will cause heart pulpatations. Alas, if there was one thing I wasn't so hot on it was the CG, every now and then they would use CG in a fight scene, only briefly but long enough to notice. It takes away some of the hand-drawn authentic magic but hey if it means the fights can be more intricate it's some super holy water I'm willing to drink! I noticed that the fight with Frieza this time had several similarities to their first fight back on namek.

Story:
Some of the old DBZ movies had become quite formulaic and predictable.
1) Everyone's chilled
2) Bad guys show up
3) Z-Fighters fight valiantly but are on the brink of defeat
4) Goku (and sometimes Vegeta) shows up and puts the bad guys in their place.
 Oh... wait... OKAY SO MAYBE IT IS MORE OF THE SAME BUT IT'S STILL GREAT. Because Akira Toriyama is involved the movie ties in with the original story and makes sense. It feels like Akira Toriyama sat down and wrote the next chapter of DBZ, furthermore the characters are actually moving forward too! Dragon Ball Z is not only being refreshed by this movie it's advancing!

Doubts/Questions: WARNING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Wouldn't Frieza be weak in comparison to the Z-Fighters now?
Anyone who's done the math will have realised that the old Frieza (who Super Saiyan Trunks made short work of) would surely be easy pickings for our Super Saiyan 3 Goku or even Piccolo! So what's so special about Frieza coming back? In the Janemba movie Frieza comes back to life and Gohan takes him out with one punch! However, one must realise that these movies are not part of the original story! Things such as Cooler's 5th form don't exist in the regular DBZ universe. Without spoiling too much Frieza basically comes back to life and trains to achieve his new form. He arrives on earth with his motley crew of Frieza soldiers but has powered up significantly, he even makes short work of Gohan (quite ironic due to the previously mentioned Janemba movie). But I won't say more than that, essentially he has powered up and when you watch it you'll realise it isn't actually too much of a stretch. One must remember that when Frieza fought Goku the first time Frieza had basically never had to try before and underestimated everyone. He wasn't going to make that mistake this time!

How does Frieza come back to life? Trunks obliterated him!
Explained in the movie.*SPOILER* Regeneration Pod much like those seen healing Goku on Namek but more advanced.

What is that funky symbol on Goku's Gi?
Explained in the movie. *SPOILER* It's Whis's signature which he puts on both Goku and Vegeta.

Why is Gohan wearing that funky green tracksuit?
Explained in the movie. *SPOILER* He was in a rush and couldn't find his Gi. I think if people saw Gohan in the turtle Gi everyone would expect Ultimate Gohan to come out, perhaps it was a metaphor for how Gohan has changed (grasping at straws).

Does it stay true to the story?
Yes! Much like the Battle of the Gods it has advanced the original storyline and brought back some old characters (Pilaf and crew who have been transformed into children which I believe is a respectful if undeserved nod to GT).

Blue Super Saiyan?
I personally prefer Bluper Saiyan (I refuse to call it Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan). It isn't terrribly specific in the movie but essentially it is their way of channeling Super Saiyan God without having to go thru the 5-Saiyan Ritual seen in BoG. Goku never goes classic super saiyan in the movie. In fact quite humourously the colour pallet of Frieza and Goku's battle has switched, now Frieza is the golden warrior!

DYK/Interesting&Funny Facts:
-Breaking away from tradition Gohan steps in to save Piccolo, in most of the old DBZ movies Piccolo saves Gohan at the last second. Gohan finally pays back his debt!
-Jaco is from Akira Toriyama's series: Jaco the Galactic Patrolman.
-Bulma's sister "Tights" is a main character in Jaco the Galactic Patrolman but wasn't previously known in DBZ.
-The movie's original title: 'Fukkatsu no "F"' was chosen by Akira Toriyama because he was listening to Maximum the Hormone's song "F" which is about Frieza.

Sad Face *SPOILERS*
- Neither Trunks nor Goten show up in the movie :(
- No one cares about Super Saiyan 3 anymore :(
- Ultimate Gohan is no more, Gohan manages to beat some Frieza soldiers but is pwned by Frieza

Should I watch this?
YES! Whether you are a die-hard, purist or casual fan you'll love it! It is a great movie with an enjoyable mixture of story development, fights and laughs. In my opinion, an absolute must for any DBZ fan. NOTE: You should watch Battle of the Gods before watching this if you can as Beerus and Whis play a big role in the movie.

Extra thoughts:
Hey maybe in the next movie Goku will go Super Saiyan Green! RGB ALL THE WAY, oh wait Broly sorta did that already. OH WAIT BROLY! LEGENDARY SUPER SAIYAN GOD! But would he look buff or like his normal chilled state... He is the only super saiyan with non-gold hair so maybe he'll break the rules again.

If DBZ is advancing that's cool but if Goku will fight stronger opponents will there be something above Super Saiyan God? Super Saiyan King Kai? Super Saiyan Supreme Kai? Super Ultra Mega Turbo Street Fighter Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Five-Star Bankai Saiyan? Superior Saiyan?

Also, frequently throughout the movie they refer to Goku and Vegeta being stronger if they fought together. Could this be foreshadowing? If Frieza could come back stronger who's to say others won't, that's right you know who I'm talking about! Dragon Ball Z: Zarbon's Revenge coming 2016 :P

From Up On Poppy Hill Review

From Up On Poppy Hill

Umi is a hard working girl who lives on Poppy Hill in Yokohama. Every morning she goes about her usual routine of raising a flag. She doesn't know it at first but someone is replying to the message she is sending. She meets a boy named Shun who runs the school's newspaper club. They decide to clean up the school's old clubhouse in hopes of preventing it's upcoming demolition.

Director: Goro Miyakazi
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki & Keiko Niwa
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Music: Satoshi Takebe
Released: 2011

Language Preference: Japanese (Sub)




Story

It was based on a manga of the same name but
the manga was set in the 1980s

Umi and Shun's story is a romance however it is not the sole focus of the film. A familiarly recurring theme Progress vs. Culture, where the advancement of 'modern society' comes at the cost of the past monuments and culture which is what Umi, Shun and their friends are trying to protect in their clubhouse. At first glance the story may seem like a corny melodrama (which Shun actually points out) but the story unfolds to have more depth to it as it progresses with realistic emotional reactions and moral dilemmas.

Hayao Miyazaki described it as immature

Characters
There are plenty of lovable and diverse characters! The clubhouse is chock full of passionate students who are more than willing to fight for it. One of my personal favourite characters is the Philosophy club guy who is unperturbed by the fact that everyone ignores his club and goes on expressing his thoughts. The characters range from the youthful and energetic to the wizened and mature. An interesting bunch indeed.

It Won "Animation of the Year" at the
11th Tokyo Anime Awards

Presentation
It takes place in Yokohama, a port town, in 1963. As I mentioned in the SIWFACTOR, I loved the soundtrack, lively and upbeat! The 60s are idealistically portrayed but who cares about historical accuracy, it's a work of art, so enjoy. Also I just love the Gold School vibes. The look and feel of the port/harbour town was fantastic. The markets were bustling with people, the ships floated past peacefully on the ocean and the school was full of energy and life. A pleasure to watch and listen.

Final Thoughts
Yes, you should watch it! I enjoyed it very much for many reasons. It was Goro Miyazaki's second film that he directed for Studio Ghibli but at no point did I feel the film was substandard. I am biased because I love this particular era but that's just because its so fun! Sorry, I've gotta go raise my flags.

After the Fukushima Nuclear failure there was a risk that the film wouldn't be completed but the film was on time
 thanks to the hard work of those involved, many worked night shifts to compensate for the black outs.

Arrietty Review

Arrietty Review

Arrietty is a 10 cm tall 14-year old girl. She and her similarly tiny parents, who live under the floorboards of a beautiful mansion, survive by borrowing everything that they need to survive from food to gas. Her life takes a mysterious turn when a boy named Sho arrives at the house she is borrowing from, although he thinks he's only going to his aunt's house there may be much more in store for him than either he or Arrietty can imagine.

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Music: Cécile Corbel
Released: 2010

Language Preference: Japanese (sub)

Story

This movie was Hiromasa Yonebayashi's first time directing although he was
an animator for Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo

A fantasy adventure that happens in an otherwise realistic world. The story was inspired by The Borrowers by Mary Norton.  At first glance it might seem like a countryside mansion in Japan is old hat but it changes completely coming from the perspective of small people. A new perspective is an important theme not only for the film but for Studio Ghibli with a new, younger director. There are themes of romance in the film although the main focus is on adventure. Arrietty starts borrowing with her father and thus features the coming of age theme. Curiosity overcomes prejudice and relationships are formed between unlikely people.

It won "Best Animation of the Year" at the
10th Tokyo Anime awards

Characters
Arrietty is a typical Ghibli Heroine. Hard-working, brave, passionate and kind. Despite her parents telling her to keep away from humans she is still young and curious. Sho is a quiet boy who is deeply interested in small folk who his mother spoke of seeing when she was younger. Pod, is Arrietty's man-of-the-house father who does all the borrowing and adventuring in order to support his beloved wife and daughter. Homily is Arrietty's worry-wort mother who spends most of the movie being scared. Sadako is Sho's kind old aunt. Haru is a housemaid who tries to capture the mischievous small people. Spiller is a badass nomad and the only other borrower we see in the movie. As you can see, the cast is small in this story!

The film had an American English Dub and
a British English Dub

Presentation
What a beautiful world and what makes it unique is not the setting itself but the perspective! The mundane becomes useful and interesting, adventures happen underneath floorboards and behind walls, a leaf becomes an umbrella, a nail becomes a step, pesky rats become fearsome creatures and don't get me started on the cats and crows! It takes place in a country mansion in Japan with lush gardens surrounding. We see almost every inch of the mansion, inside and out including parts that have been altered by the borrowers with unique style that mixes a hand-made feel with the inventive use of ordinary items. I was instantly entranced by the music in this film which Cécile Corbel matched so perfectly to the story and characters, not to mention the fact that it is simply lovely to listen to!

Final Thoughts
Yes, you should watch this, but I'll be honest, I thought the film was too short. There was so much undiscovered depth to the fantastic story that had been created for us and I didn't want it to end. I would not have minded if this movie was 120 minutes!  All the characters in the movie were quite serious and although there were several funny moments none of the characters were particularly happy people. Nonetheless, an enjoyable film set in ordinary world from a fresh perspective with a fabulous soundtrack.

Miyazaki-san is uncertain about the future of Studio Ghibli and hand-drawn animation
 but if this movie is what the next generation has to offer, it's not looking too bad to me

Kiki's Delivery Service Review

Kiki Review

Kiki is a 13-year old girl who has come of age and needs to leave her home in order to learn how to become a witch. She and her trusty black cat, Jiji, ride on her broomstick to find a town of their own. When they finally find a town things are very different to how she thought it would be and people don't treat her as she thinks a witch should be treated. She will have to find a way to live in her new surroundings and on her journey she meets some interesting people and does some truly amazing things along the way.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: Hayao Miyazaki
Music: Joe Hisaishi
Released: 1989

Language Preference: Japanese (sub)

The movie won numerous Best Film awards and was
the highest grossing film in Japan in 1989

Story
Kiki's tale is one of adventure, meeting new people, adapting to an unfamiliar world and facing tribulations. In the original book that the film was inspired by Kiki didn't deal with much adversity but Miyazaki-san said that he wanted to make the story about growing up which isn't just an easy ride and thus introduced challenges into her life that would develop her character.

The film was adapted into a manga
and a musical

Characters
Kiki is a lovable girl who keeps her word and always does her best, she is not impressed by people who she thinks are rude. Tombo is a determined, courageous young boy who is fascinated by Kiki's ability to fly. Osono is a kind lady who owns a bakery, she is a caring mother-type figure. Ursula, is a young artist who Kiki encounters and becomes friends with. These and all the other characters help Kiki ro grow. They introduce Kiki to some interesting ways of life, perspectives and opportunities.

Jiji, Kiki's cat, has a completely different personality
in the English version

Presentation
Set in a fictional European-style town (where it is believed World War II never happened) the story already starts with a distinct style. It was described by Miyazaki-san as "a mishmash of various locales, like Napoli, Lisbon, Stockholm, Paris, and even San Francisco." It even features two oceans, the Mediterranean and the Baltic. Many beautiful things concentrated into one place. But what caught my attention in this movie was not this fantastic mixture of places but the soundtrack. My goodness, what an adventure it takes me on just listening to it.

Final Thoughts: Yes, you should watch it! This film is absolutely fantastic. I had this thought in my head: "I can't wait until I have kids and show them this movie." It is a fun adventure about growing up which I was able to relate to on a personal level and learn a few things from.. New favourite song: Rouge Message, but don't you dare listen to it before you watch the movie! Sorry I've gotta go and get something delivered (my heart to Studio Ghibli).

The name of the Bakery, Guchokipanya, is a play on words.
Guchokipa (Rock-Paper-Scissors) and Panya (Bakery).

NEWS 21 May 2015

CHANGES INCOMING

Hello viewers! I shall be making a few changes to my blog, as you may have already noticed. This is an attempt to make the site more user-friendly and easier to view! I shall also be going over and changing several of my previous posts, going into more depth and other general editing.  I have recently been getting involved in Pixel Art so there will be a trend in that direction with the changes. I hope you like the changes. PEACE!

The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya Review

The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya

A bamboo cutter finds a mysterious young girl inside a bamboo shoot. He takes the small girl to his wife and decide to raise her. She grows quickly and she is soon out playing with neighbouring family's sons. Her adoptive father believes that heaven sent her to them in order to make her a princess. What follows is a tale of how the girl faces the life of a "noble woman", with its posturing, discipline, suitors and restricting customs.

This story is based on a Japanese folktale from the 10th Century. The art style is different from the usual Ghibli style, it has a brush-stroke feel to it but it still captures the Ghibli charm. The style feels somewhat more free, more vibrant and more artistic. At one point she runs away from the palace and the ensuing scene where she ran through forests and fields was hypnotically beautiful. The story is not a particularly happy or feel-good one. It follows how Kaguya's childhood freedom is systematically replaced by the strict life of a noble. It is debateable whether it is a happy or sad ending. But hey, this is based on a folktale from the 10th Century and I can't criticise it for not satisfying my 21st Century narrative desires. Tales like this are untouchable classics and I believe it was suitably Ghiblified in such a way that even a Eastern-Culture noob like myself can appreciate it. But sorry I've gotta go to the moon. Lil' Bamboo!

Ponyo Review

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

Ponyo, a fish, leaves her home to explore the outside world. When she approaches dry land, Sosuke, a young boy, finds her and promises to look after her. But Ponyo is more than just a simple gold fish, as Sosuke suspects but she may be even more magical than he thinks!

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Music: Joe Hisaishi
Language Preference: Japanese (sub)