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Link to Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y55MuH3wOQc

This is a short surreal film, probably inspired by stream of consciousness. I can't say this is for everyone, taking into account a number of different factors, despite its style and age.

The film illustrates what can only be described as the alcohol and heat-induced nightmare of a sun-bather, who is overwhelmed by phenomena occurring on the beach around him, namely naval carriers and aircraft.

Judging by the soundtrack, if you couldn't discern anything from the overt symbolism, one can concluded improvisation and is the driving force behind the film. Because of this method of story-telling, there is not much be said about the character except that he is borderline and anxious, and the plot leaves its viewer much the same way.

Overall I can't say I enjoyed this too much, its seems to be an attempt to explore consumerism and militarism, if anything. But I can appreciate the attempt. read more

Link to Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkgA9mU5Uw

"Life no color" plays with no dialogue against a sparse IDM soundtrack, opening with a boy who is being put-down by a group of his peers. It is about 4:00 and worth watching twice, if you appreciate it.

I think the film did a great job of placing you immediately in a real world situation with a character that was accessible. I also thought the cell shading of the carousel and the choice of background art, and how it ties into the character and back-story, was smart, impeccable and interesting, enriching the "contained" environment. I enjoyed the metaphor for return and meetings with the carousel under the bridge, and soundtrack went hand and hand with the pacing to punctuate the plot's climax.

Overall I think its a great short story about chance meetings, and possibly young love. More so, I like how it ended with the kind of mystery it started with. read more

"If it aint broke, don't try to fix it."

Of course you've read how this movie completely distorts, if not entirely rapes, the beauty and subtle complexity of the series. I too feel betrayed to some degree. I'm writing this review to suggest a reason why this was done. If you are new to the story you'll find it CONFUSING BEYOND COMPREHENSION. But if you liked the series, you probably aren't going to enjoy this beyond the animation.

The producers' changes, I believe are an effort to "condense" the symbolism and themes of the series for a new audience. Taking the central themes and characters and turning them into abstractions.

Watching the movie you quickly understand that what is taking place is in a parallel universe. The plot goes onto define sub coral as a the 'image', and the Summer of Love is replaced by the Agony of Doha. There are more reconfigurations/disfigurations of the series characters and events, but I think its interesting to focus on these two, because we can come to some conclusions of what these changes mean overall.

In redefining the Summer of Love as the Agony of Doha, I believe the producers are obviously presenting a world that is even more brutal and relentless than the series. Innocence lost seems to be the condensation of the series thematic core. This becomes clearer as Eureka's character comes into view, the Gekkostate's backstory is revealed, and Eureka and Renton's relationship culminates to fatalistic dry-humping instead of self-sacrificing romance.

If anything, in redefining the Sub-coral as the image, fans can learn more of what these creatures were all about...assuming you didn't draw enough conclusion from the series. My only question now is: why recapitulate this award winning series, trying to condense it into approximately two hours by reshuffling; when it would have been more interesting to see a sequel or a prequel?

Again..."If it aint broke, don't try to fix it." read more

Memories Magnetic Rose is about a lone astronaut, who finds himself in an astro-relic.

Whats unique about this piece is how many levels of mystery it contains, the and nostalgia it employs, while being essentially a sci-fi piece. The movie does well to captivate its audience similarly to live action classics like 2001, using the space itself as a theme as well as further developing the theme of imperfect technology, by exploring the idea of the mortality/obsolescence of technology.

This is a RIVETING and PROVOCATIVE piece. A must see for anyone who calls themselves a love of sci-fi, and a necessary primer for all cyber-punk appreciators and aficionados . read more

If you enjoyed the visuals and sound design of Appleseed and Appleseed Saga Ex Machina, then you will enjoy Vexille. Indeed TBS has stolen alot from the Sega produced Shirow classic.

Alot of the mechanical design and environment design is clearly a Shirow knock-off, but it is executed fairly well. I did appreciate the thought put into the explanation behind alot of the technology represented in the movie, since technology is rather central to the plot.

But the plot was exactly the problem in this movie. Specifically around character development and motive. While the outside story resembles a crossbred of Appleseed and I-Robot and does a fairly good job of suspending disbelief, until time constraints forces open various cliches plot-holes; the inside story is what literally tanks the movie. Perhaps if the writer made Vexille and Leon's relationship more as a mystery, or one that was more ambiguous...

Oh well...the soundtrack by Paul Oakenfold, with a brief bump by M.I.A. saves the movie from time to time, along with the standard post-Matrix cinematography. Worth watching if you're starving for some cyber-punk dystopia. read more