Cutie Honey

Overall Rating: A+
Synopsis: The live action Cutey Honey is based on the long running media franchise of the same name. Created by Go Nagai and is considered the prototype for the transforming magical girl. Honey Kisaragi is a regular Catholic schoolgirl, until the day her father is murdered by the "Panther Claw" Organization. After his death, she learns she is actually an android created by him and within her is the Fixed System of Air Elements. By saying "Honey Flash!" she can transform into the sword-wielding red-haired superhero, Cutie Honey. Also, according to the theme song, she has the tiniest butt.

Cutey Honey is ridiculous. Ridiculously awesome. Cutey Honey gets her energy from eating...a lot, and she loves onigiri. The movie is basically campy fun, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good laugh and a great time. Just don't expect to take it seriously.

Train Man

Overall Rating: A+
Synopsis: Based on a true story, Train Man, or Densha Otoko, is the story of an Otaku who intervened when a drunk man was harassing women on a train. Train Man has a huge crush on one of the women being harassed, which likely resulted in him trying to stop the drunk man. After the incident, Train Man begins awkwardly dating the woman he has a crush on with advice from his online friends. Through the course of the movie, he goes from geek to...well not exactly chic, but definitely less of a geek.

I can sum up Train Man in two words, awkwardly adorable. Watching the main character struggle with his otaku personality, and trying to figure out how to impress the girl he is in love with reminded me of when I first started liking girls. Fortunately for me, I didn't have quite so far to go, and I didn't have to resort to help from my equally inept online friends, but I had my moments.

At any rate, the real fun of the movie begins when Train Man starts posting his story to a board he frequents and starts getting advice from his online friends. They consist of a student-age shut-in, three other otaku who hang out in internet/manga cafes, a married couple who don't realize they are both on the same board because they have grown so distant, and a nurse. These 7 "friends" give Train Man advice on hair cuts, places to eat, and more to try to help him win the girl. There are moments of geeky excellence, where TM is able to overcome his otakuness and do some very sweet things, and some moments where it becomes a train wreck, where you keep watching even though everything is going wrong. It all comes together as a movie that feels like it really happened (probably because it did ;-) and had me going "Aw!" a lot and clasping my hand over my mouth. Definitely worth seeing if you like geeks and romance.

Paprika - Anime / Movie Review

Rating: A+++

Synopsis: Dr. Tokita has created the DC Mini, an unstable device still in testing that allows psychological researchers, such as Dr. Achiba, to look into the dreams of patients. Paprika is Dr. Achiba's younger, sassy alter-ego, who appears in dreams to assist neurosis diagnoses. An unknown villain steals three DC Mini's and begin wreaking havoc on the researchers by invading people's minds and dissolving all dreams into one. The mystery of the missing DC Mini's gets deeper as the world gets more surreal.

Quick History of Paprika:
Paprika is based on a science fiction novel of the same name by Yasutaka Tsutsui. It's a futuristic science fiction story he began in the late 80's/early 90's, and began serialization in the Japanese woman’s magazine Marie Claire in 1991. Tsutsui had many offers from other directors and producers, but chose Satoshi Kon to create an animated film of the Paprika story. The two bartenders in Paprika are voiced by TsuTsui and Kon.

Paprika is an amazingly beautiful movie. If you are in one of the U.S. cities showing Paprika, just GO SEE IT NOW! Now now now! Ahem, back to critiqueing - The brightly colored animation style lends itself perfectly to the surrealistic backdrops, and the story, though uncomplicated, definitely has some twists and turns.

The story follows Paprika/Dr. Achiba's efforts in reality and dreams to investigate the disappearance of the DC Mini. As the movie primarily explores realm of dreams and the cross-over between dreams and reality, some parts of the plot could be missed if you're not paying attention. Some of the characters are a bit stereotypical (beautiful uptight genius Dr. Achiba [and her beautiful uninhibited alter-ego Paprika], grey-faced sourpuss chairman, etc.), but it didn't bother me, as it helped keep the story going even in the midst of the most over-the-top craziness.

The consensus of the viewers I know is that they wished there was more. We did not feel like we'd been cheated out of our money, but rather, we could have spent twice as much time watching more and more dreams, more Paprika investigations, more everything. It is a gripping and awesome movie and I hope you all get to see it. Paprika (the character) has been one of Tsutsui's most beloved characters over the past 16 years, and having seen the movie, it is easy to see why. Paprika is perpetually courageous, young, excited, and whip-smart.

Pictured (l to r): Paprika and Dr. Achiba
In the opening sequence, we follow Paprika as she goes in and out of reality to travel around the city - hopping in and out of advertisements, skipping across the road, stopping time and traffic for fun - she's brilliant and bright. Then she changes into Dr. Achiba, yawning as she drives in to her office early in the morning. It gives the audience exactly the right idea about the characters in relation to each other and their surroundings.

In lieu of being able to buy you all tickets (which I would sincerely love to be able to do), here is a link to a free download of the theme song from Paprika "The girl in Byakkoya" provided by the creator Susumu Hirasawa's website. Susumu believes the song should be released for free.

So, in case you didn't get the drift, I think you should go see the movie because it's absolutely awesome.

Kamikaze Girls - Manga/Movie

Overall Rating: A++
Synopsis: A story about a Lolita and a Yanki who become friends despite both of them thinking the other is weird. Hilarity ensues.

Ok, this is a little complicated, but bear with me. Kamikaze Girls started out as a book by Novala Takemoto titled Shimotsuma Monogatari, which was translated to the English title Kamikaze Girls for the movie adaptation. The Manga is a series of stories set in the same world as the movie, adapting some of it for manga, adding some new stories, and even some new characters.

I haven't read the novel, but the movie is amazing. I can sum it up with the following equation: Rococo Lolita + Bikergirl Headbutts = Everything Good About Japan! A more detailed description might be "Kamikaze Girls centers around two students, Momoko Ryugasaki and Ichigo "Ichiko" Shirayuri, who are from completely different backgrounds: one is a Lolita girl, the other a Yankī," but who cares about details?

After you watch the movie, pick up the manga. It's not as brilliant and fun as the movie, but it definitely captures some of the things I love about the film, and develops the characters. If you like fun manga with cute girls in it, then check out Kamikaze Girls. If you don't, then there is something wrong with you.