THE WIND RISES Watched via theater/BD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: The Wind Rises is a semi-biographical historical drama centering around the life and work of Jiro Horikoshi, a famous designer for fighter planes in World War II. It seems rather fitting that Hayao Miyazaki would pick a biography as the subject matter for his last film. … Continue reading
MILLENNIUM ACTRESS Watched via DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Millennium Actress is Satoshi Kon’s ode to Japanese filmmaking. The story follows Genya Tachibana as he hunts down and interviews Chiyoko Fujiwara, the most famous actress of early and upcoming film in early 20th century Japan (while dramatized, she really is based off of one or two … Continue reading
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA Watched via BD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Before there was The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, there was the second season of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya television series. We’ve already spoken about the latter’s pacing issues in a separate review, but they really go hand-in-hand with this movie as well. While … Continue reading
REBUILD OF EVANGELION: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone & 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance Watched via BD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Rebuild of Evangelion is a four-part movie franchise that takes another look back at the classic anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. For those familiar with the original series, the first “episode” covers roughly the first … Continue reading
PRINCESS MONONOKE Watched via VHS/DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Princess Mononoke is a historical fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. While the title would suggest the story follows the “spirit princess” (San), we instead find ourselves exploring an alternate ancient Japan through the eyes of a young Emishi warrior, Ashitaka. Prior to the storyline, … Continue reading
This is our 100th review on Stereo Otaku! For a special review we decided to have our significant others write the review this week. Both Dustin and Jeffrey are huge Ghost in the Shell fans (bigger than either of us), so we thought it would be only fitting to have them take a look back … Continue reading
GUNDAM WING: ENDLESS WALTZ Watched via fansubs/DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz originated as a three part OVA sequel to the Gundam Wing series. With the addition of some footage and an update to the soundtrack, it became the movie it is known as today. Or I should say was known as, since … Continue reading
FROM UP ON POPPY HILL Watched via fansubs/BD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: From Up on Poppy Hill takes a turn to the nostalgic by looking back fondly on the early years of the 1960s, prior to the 1964 Olympics. Umi, a young teenage girl and main protagonist of the film, works in a boarding house when … Continue reading
ADOLESCENCE OF UTENA (Movie) Watched via fansubs/DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Adolescence of Utena is a movie “remake” of the television series Revolutionary Girl Utena. While the characters and main premise are the same, the story functions in a slightly altered way. Additionally the time constraints of the movie have led to the film being a … Continue reading
AKIRA Watched via DVD/BD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Akira is a movie adaptation of a cyberpunk action manga series featuring a motorcycle gang. Because of the manga’s six-volume, dense plot line, a lot of the story had to be condensed and cut out in order to make Akira into a feature film. Honestly I think it … Continue reading
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