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“Right art tells right people the right things"

I don’t remember exactly in which movie did I hear this phrase, but it has haunted me ever since the first time I heard it. It contains in itself an irrevocable truth about human mind, that tastes are not "universal", but rather contained in each individual.
Thus some people would manage to enjoy stuff like Rosario to Vampire and Miley Sirius music, while others might rather puke at mere mention of them.

Where does the difference lie? In the intelligence of the one who enjoys it, perhaps? I doubt it. If such were the case, it would be reason, not emotions, the one that would makes the difference, and its a well know empirical fact that don’t "think" you like something, you just "know". (It is more probable that intelligent people might be reluctant to be lumped up with "the stupid" and avoid everything that’s "main stream" like not long ago the aristocracy rejected that which was done by those not belonging to noble class. )

I think the difference falls into the capability of the subject to relate it self with the art. Once it become something similar, akin to experience, one can truly understand its meaning and able to get its true message. Think of this: love songs will often sound "shallow" and "stupid" until you fall in for the first time. Then, Oh! everything make sense. In fact , Too much sense

When one "gets" what they are talking about, then you can move on to the next phase. The art cannot only speak of what you have already experienced, but leave you with a new perspective of the situation. It might affect your way of thinking altogether and change you for good. That is right art, one that is not only a passive object, but one that becomes part of the observant and modifies him into something new.

With that in mind, I can say with out regrets that Ef- a tale of memories/melodies ( I must consider both, since they actualy belong to the same game) is not only a piece art, but "right art". It tackled to of my favourite topics (God and death) and managed to give me new perspective into those issues, and some little changes in my view of my life as a whole. (it may sound exaggerated and melodramatic, but think how many people had their life changed because of Evangelion. That one did screw up my entire generation, and almost every generation after that one. Compared to that this one is just a mere breeze )

With that in mind, I must lay down a warning. You might find it either a Masterpiece or no more than a cheap soap opera with around 15 minutes of talk and 10 minutes of Songs. It depends on your capacity to relate to the story, which in itself depends on the way you had lived your life so far. It will also depends in the reason you have to watch anime as a whole, or even in your emotional states as you go throught the episodes.
Then, I specially recommend trying it if had ever thought you are fucked up and hated God, if you had loss someone you loved, or if you like pretty drawings and shiny colourful scenes that have nothing to do with the story. If you are not one of those, I could still recommend it if you have nothing else to watch, if only so you can brag about it later and write condescending reviews to mocks those who didnt like it so they can see how cool you are. read more

Death note was great, wasn’t it?
So you may sit here and see those 100 hundred recommendations and think that you may give Code Geass a try.
Don’t.
Code Geass is nothing like Death note. If you watch it expecting for it to be like DN, you may end suffering a lot.
Then why so many people recommend it? Are they all nuts?
Well, it’s because the main character looks and acts like kira.
But believe me , he’s no kira.

Don’t get me wrong, this show not bad at all, and its has a little voice of his own. But if you keep comparing it to Death note, you will realize some its obvious mistakes, like when a "plan" its half assed, or when it was impossible altogether, or the constant feeling that you might be smarter than the main character ( something that in DN will be a heresy) because you could had it done better.
Worse of all, DN needed no mechas, no wars, no fan service nor bishoujo characters (well, just one) to be entertaining. It was the pure intellectual combat that made it so thrilling and that kept you asking for more, just that.

There’s nothing of sort here. Lelouch intelligence is constantly unmatched, and only his own screw ups keep the plot flowing. His enemy is not another genius but a guy who could have been the main character in evangelion. Destiny replaces long term strategies and Mecha fights replace deep thinking.

Basically I am saying that you can put lipstick in to a Gundam, but its still a Gundam. And that’s what’s this series is , just another Gundam arc( Gundam Geass, if you like) and the only difference with it predecessors is that a guy like Light is the good guy in stead of the bad one. Thats not change we can believe in.

Yet, even if its not as good as Death note, its still better than most of the things out there. There’s a whole in the market for something like DN , and this is as good as its gets right now. And it might be worth giving it a try if only for the fact that everyone else has seen it and you will look like an ignorant if they start making geass jokes or adding Li Brittania to their names and they find you staring blank.
And it might mark the beginning of something, an era where intelligence and not emoish behaviour while piloting a giant robot is admired, and where thought replaces sticking fingers into some ass as the weapon of choice. CG isn’t there yet, but it might be the first step.
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