Change Your Image
gray_pixel
Reviews
FLCL (2000)
robots, rock and roll, and the essence of growing up
this is what dreams are made of.
FLCL is a 6-episode japanese anime production that impresses and entertains beyond explanation. those who find their way through it's layering of bizarre beauty will realize what it truly is: the greatest thing ever.
FLCL, also known as Fooly Cooly or Furi-Kuri in Japan, centers around Naota, a Japanese kid whose beloved older brother has recently moved to America to play baseball. As if that wasn't hard enough for him, he now finds his brother's shattered (and much older) girlfriend Mamimi latching onto him for support. In the midst of it all, Naota (or as Mamimi calls him, ta-kun) finds his already troubled life turned on its side as a strange girl named Haruko rides into town on a Vespa scooter and smacks him on the head with her trusty, electric-blue, motorized Rickenbacker bass guitar. From here, things spiral into a wonderful insanity.
If the plot seems odd so far, you will probably find yourself in a few seizures by the end. In the first episode, a TV-headed robot sprouts out of an anxiety-fueled horn that grown on Naota's head. After an amazing battle, this robot comes to live with Naota and does his laundry. Things like this happen every day in the world of FLCL.
Unfortunately, this may be a bit too much for some. But those who enjoy it will be thoroughly rewarded by the cleverly weird plot advancements and hilarious visual gags. And if you sift through it all, you'll find something even more amazing: a wonderful story of growing up that, despite it's giant robots, is moving and easy to relate to. Kids who want to be adults, adults who can't grow up. These heavy topics line this gorgeous show and add a stirring quality to it.
Besides the content of the show itself, the production of FLCL is absolutely mindblowing. Sickly slick animation coupled with an amazing musical backdrop provided by Japanese punk-rockers The Pillows proves to be a winning combination. The English dub is very impressive as well, especially for Haruko.
It is unfortunate that FLCL's 6 episodes are spread out onto three expensive DVDs, because it limits people's access to it. Thank god for Cartoon Network, which periodically plays FLCL on it's adult swim block. And while i'm not exactly advocating piracy, i would suggest going to whatever lengths you need to see FLCL.
FLCL has affected me more than any other movie or show i've ever seen, animated or otherwise. Those who lack the open mind to filter through the madness will find the show to be quirky if nothing else. But on every level, FLCL is a truly mind-blowing achievement.
Oh, and you may be wondering about the title. Fooly-Cooly? Yeah. No one else knows either.
FLCL
10/10
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Revolutions & Reloaded, you, your family, your dog.
Rejoice. Why? Revolutions didn't suck. It didn't suck so much that it crosses to the other side of the spectrum. Once there, it runs as fast as it can until it reaches Amazing. Because that's what it is: Amazing.
When the matrix came out, i was blown away. The story, effects, directing, all top notch. Then i entered a fetal state, with the rest of the world, as we endured the long haul until the next installment. Then it came, it was average, and it became hip to rag on it. Unfortunately, somebody somewhere decided to spread those ill feelings to the final film. Because of this, many people watched Revolutions with the same spite generated by Reloaded, and it warped them. Let me assure you, Revolutions is in every way a worthy conclusion to the saga begun by the first film.
The story is actually somewhat simplistic once it gets gathering up the loose ends from Reloaded. As soon as it gets beyond the rekindling of conflicts presented in the last film, it neatly divides into a few major conflicts: the machines are coming for zion, and smith is a baaad, baaad program. From there, things thought impossible are made possible.
A 17 minute battle sequence that is confined to one little underground base? surely it was tiring? no. actually, your mother is tiring, and the battle sequence is absolutely amazing. This is one of the many feats that helps revolutions put superman to shame.
For those who enjoy insulting the special effects and CGI in every movie they see, here are the basic details:
the effects are probably the best ever. the digital cinematography (the technology that made the 100-Smith burly brawl possible) from the second film is much more rare and yet used to greater effect. Every effect in the real world is jaw-dropping. Kudos to the people specifically behind the robots piloted by the humans. They looked amazing.
The script doesn't push itself TOO far from the story, but this turns out to be a good thing. Unlike Reloaded, it dodges the hordes of pretentious philosophy lessons and keeps only those necessary, plus adds some witty lines to the mix. The in-matrix action scenes are greatly reduced, thanks to the huge uber-battle over zion and a skirmish with bane. The kung-fu scenes present, however, are fabulous. Let me make this clear: the final battle with Smith is absolutely drool-worthy.
The matrix deserved four stars. Reloaded... about two and a half. Revolutions? back up to four. Between them, it forms a "V" shape. "V" for ReVolutions.
Yes that was cheesy as hell, and no i don't care. Because while i may have a terrible sense of humor, the final Matrix film didn't suck. It didn't suck a whole lot. And i am happy.