Anime

Samurai 7: Box Set (Viridian Collection)
$49.98
Overall it was a relatively good series. I've seen better. The animation was fine and so was the character development as far as episodic anime goes. However some of the characters abilities were a bit to 'unbelievable' especially in the beginning where you see Kambe make a clean slice completely through an entire floating city. There was no explanation of this ability other than that 'they were samurai'. Also it seemed way to easy for them to dismember huge mechanized samurai called 'bandits', it just was a "what's going on" moment in the series.

There was a single episode where the first half was VERY badly animated in a completely different style. I'm amusing that the studio was having employment problems; and allowed an assistant to conduct the entire scene.

In the end however you become accustomed to the small oddities and get more into the story. Sadly characters die that you don't expect will, and the ones you think would die end up living. That perhaps was a nice twist on conventional samurai storytelling.

Revoltech : Fraulein No.004 Pocco Action Figure
$34.99
it was pretty much exactly what i expected when i bought it. I collect these things and to be honest i am rather pleased with the quality/price of the Revoltech dolls. As far as shipping goes it was shipped promptly and arrived on time in perfect condition. Like i said the toy was exactly as advertised...however you should be warned that this one is mostly for display purposes rather then playing with and constant reposing due to the fact that her parts seem to be less well attached than others of this series. In short she makes a wonderful addition to any collection but not a very good toy for playtime.

Maison Plaisir
$24.99
Wanna play house? The mistress of an erotic boarding house entertains her new tenant in an exciting fashion. He must rise to the challenge left by her previous bondage master and tame her insatiable lust for naughty games, domestic debauchery, and outrageous sex play! DVD Features: Scene access, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for English and Japanese dialogue, with English subtitles. Plus: Anime Artform and previews.

Princess Mononoke
$22.99
To appreciate how exceptional 'Princess Mononoke' is, just try to imagine Disney doing something like this. Imagine how overbearing and preachy its message would be, or how sickly cute and perfect they would make San, or how the owner of the ironworks would be a ruthless, ugly, rich old guy. In contrast, `Mononoke' is a thought-provoking film that refuses to settle for easy answers, and contains very complex and well-drawn characters.

One thing to note is that this is quite adult-oriented compared to some Miyazaki films such as `Kiki' or `Totoro'. Although there's nothing gratuitous, there is a surprising amount of violence, and some mature themes. That apart, this film explores typical Miyazaki themes; including environmentalism, alternate history, Japanese mythology, and feminism. And like all Miyazaki films, `Mononoke' is superbly drawn and animated, incorporating some fairly subtle CG effects for the first time. In the original Japanese, the voice acting is universally excellent. (Although people have problems with some performances in the English dub, I can't comment as I always watch anime in its original language).

For the characterisation, the movie aggressively turns history on its head by having strong, capable women in powerful positions (even if Ashitaka is cast as the traditional `hero'). Lady Eboshi especially is a fascinating character, as she is a genuine antagonist. Her position puts her in direct conflict with Ashitaka and San not because she is evil, but simply because her needs clash with theirs. San herself is extremely aggressive for a heroine, and the various forest animals are even more ruthless and determined. The film constantly blurs the line between protagonist and antagonist; Eboshi destroys the forest but provides work and shelter for social outcasts, San and Moro defend the forest creatures but resort to violence to do so. There is no `right' and `wrong' in this movie, just competing agendas. Such depth and thoughtfulness is welcome, and is one reason why I consider Japanese animation to be above its American counterpart.

If I had to make one criticism of this film, it's that there might be one too many competing agendas. We have Ashitaka and his quest, San, Eboshi and the ironworks, Moro and the wolves, the boars, the monkeys, the forest gods, Jigo, and the Emperor's mercenaries. There is an awful lot happening in this movie, and the various alliances and battles do require some concentration to follow. This alone means `Mononoke' is more suited to an adolescent/adult audience than for children. The pacing and storytelling is perfect, though, meaning the movie is not really difficult to fully appreciate or understand, provided you put in a little effort.

In my opinion, `Princess Mononoke' is Miyazaki's best film, and that's saying something. Outstanding animation, well-drawn characters, intricate plot, and some thought-provoking themes, all presented in a more mature and complex style. An amazing piece of work, and one of the best anime ever made.

Five stars all the way.