I am extremely excited for the Uzumaki anime. I am fascinated to see what they do to squeeze it into a four episode mini-series as Uzumaki is sprawling and in my eyes could easily span an episode count double or triple its measly four. I enjoy the animation style from the clips I’ve seen. I know folks get upset about 3D anime, but this looks perfect in crisp black and white. I hope we get some color moments like the opening of a couple Uzumaki stories, kinda like the color shots in West Anderson’s The French Dispatch mimicking a color photo in the paper. I’m totally open to them doing original stuff in the anime too as some of my favorite stories in Uzumaki are the horrible day to day things that happen before its cataclysmic finale. I hope the love story where the couple turns into a spiral at sea is included as this is my favorite example of this sort of unusual Inaka (田舎) horror. If they do something new with the anime, I just hope it makes sense within that world. Heck toss in that short Lost Chapter where Kirie is freaked out by a guy who looks at stars.
One time I told an anime buddy I had just finished Uzumaki and he was like “Naruto?”
It’s out, isn’t it? Might just start watching it now. (Edit: Guess it’ll be up on Max tomorrow.)
I don’t consider myself a Junji Ito mega-fan (maybe that’ll develop over time, ha ha), but I’ve picked up some of his manga and can appreciate that there isn’t anyone who does horror quite like he does. He’s also pretty atypical in the manga-sphere for almost always doing single-volume stories, or collections of shorts—which I think is cool. Arguably you can’t drag a horror story out too long, I suppose.
Hopefully this will finally be a good Junji Ito anime adaptation? The director, Hiroshi Nagahama, happened to direct my personal favorite anime Mushishi.
Although I’m excited, I struggle to really imagine what they could do to really to transform the manga. The best adaptations don’t just translate one medium to another, they utilize the strengths of the new medium to reveal new things about the original work. If the adaptation is just a scene for scene approximation of the book, I’m sure I’ll be entertained but part of me will wonder what real value that brings to the text. Especially since we are starting with a text in a visual medium, so the film adaptation is already bringing a lot less to the table in terms of new artistic vision. I’m genuinely curious if the adaptation will be captivating for the new dimensions it brings to the film, or if will just be a pleasant reminder of a superb book.
Well, I liked the first episode at least (apparently it’ll be weekly releases, rather than all episodes at once). It’s been a long time since I read the manga, but this feels like a very faithful adaptation. The style of animation they used works great for Uzumaki’s uncanny absurdity.
My wife and I talked about our children’s poo as parents are wont to do and she told me that the one kid’s poo was so long that it coiled around the toilet bowl, and I responded with “An Uzumaki?!”*
The first episode was a fine execution of two and a half of the short Uzumaki tales. I really hope they finish the slug boy story as I love the part when he turns into a slug and the boy who bullies him also turns into a slug and then the two slugs mate. I love the original manga so maybe my expectations are too high, but I so far would recommend the manga over the anime as I think these stories could use a bit more breathing room. That being said, I am still very excited to watch the rest of it, especially the apocalyptic ending which would naturally fit into the final episode if they continue with the current pace.
*Blurred for those who don’t want to read a description of poo
I finally finished The Walking Dead. The last couple seasons seem kinda… directionless. Like they still have villains and stuff but it all seems so small scale or uninteresting compared to some of the previous stuff. And the last season back half seemed crushed in there to finish it off, like maybe they were expecting another season.
Possibly. Sounds like a thing they might try. It wasnt too bad but then like, the last 6 episodes or so just feel insanely paced, especially the finale. And they introduce some stuff that could be huge but barely has impact in the end. Like usually anytime they get into a tight situation its then like heres a couple more episodes focused on this daring plan and escape or whatever, and the finale has one of those moments and a character goes “okay heres the plan” and then fades out, it does like a 20 second montage and then its over. Its so weird compared to how the show is usually paced.
Anyone else watching Agatha All Along? The Internet ™ seems to be loving it, but I’m finding it pretty average at best. It’s not a particularly original story and most of the secondary characters, while well acted, I’m not finding very interesting (“Teen,” has never been a particularly interesting character anyway).
The highlight so far is Aubrey Plaza. She totally steals the scene every time she appears. However, it seems like they are combining two characters together with her, which I’m honestly a bit annoyed at because both of those characters are pretty cool in their own right.
Anywho, I’ll watch the rest. Hopefully it’ll improve a bit so then The Internet won’t label me a MAGA neckbeard for not loving the show, regardless of how legitimate my criticism might be.
I’m interested in seeing it only because it sounds so bizarre from what I’ve heard. A lot of people being just flabbergasted by it.
But Francis Ford Coppola is a horrendous piece of shit so I’m kind of glad the movie is doing so poorly.
Legion is amazing. The last brilliant thing Fix did with X-Men. It’s by Noah Hawley, the show runner of Fargo so you can expect weird things to happen. Plus weird things because of the characters and the nature of many of their powers. I loved it, but fair warning it gets super weird. As long as you are fine with weird, you’ll probably like it. It doesn’t play it as safe as Disney tends to.
Plus I love Dan Stevens who is pretty much great in everything he does. And the rest of the casting is superb.
I loved it, but fair warning it gets super weird. As long as you are fine with weird, you’ll probably like it. It doesn’t play it as safe as Disney tends to.
Mate, have you met me? The Doctor Strange films aren’t weird enough!
I am 100% there for weird. Speaking of which, has anyone seen Dave Made A Maze? Such a great movie.
