Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (TV 2004)
So I think I'm starting to develop a habit of writing entries once I finish a series. ^-^ I wouldn't call these "reviews" but more like at length rants on them.
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. I have to admit, I started this series YEARS ago. I REALLY enjoyed it but stopped at around episode 9, I believe. Why? I'm not too sure myself. Actually, it was probably because I couldn't find episodes in good enough quality/they were in mkv back when I used to hate mkv. (Now I love mkv files. xD) I always meant to pick it back up but, since I never quite remembered where I left off, I never did. Until this week when I finally got around to buying the box set. (For $20. Can you say "hell yeah!"?)
Now, admittedly, I just started the book. The series actually MOTIVATED me enough to get my hands on it. (Although it's been on my "To Read" list for a while, along with War and Peace and several other works.) So I won't be talking about the series as compared to the book all that much.
My motivations for starting this series all those years ago: I cannot tell a lie, I definitely sensed ho-yay. (According to a friend of mine, Haley, I seem to have a sixth sense for this sort of thing. Gay-dar I guess. Except it doesn't work in real life. It only works in regards to anime/manga/t.v shows. It's a wonderful gift and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Then again, my brother was able to tell about the ho-yay the moment he laid eyes on the first dvd cover...). And since I sensed ho-yay, of course I knew I had to give it a try. At the same time though, the story in and of itself was enough to grab my attention. The Count of Monte Cristo...an anime? This could either be really good or really bad! (This is the same reaction I had to the Iron Man anime...actually, no, I lied, when I heard about that my first and only reaction was “this can't be good” even WITH the help of Madhouse. Good animation can do everything but get rid of a sucky plot after-all...well that and make my burger better. Except I'm still eating it because that thing cost me $7 and no way in hell am I throwing it away...orz But I majorly digress.) But the animation was what really grabbed my attention. It was so different!
The animation is pretty fun, IMO. The backgrounds are pretty detailed, sometimes with tons of CG going on as well, while the characters themselves, apart from their clothing, are pretty simple. Some people say this takes getting used to but I was absorbed into this world just minutes into the first episode. (Which has some of my fave animation sequences.) The mixing of the simple and complex really makes this stand out. It almost feels like a picture book, something I think is quite fitting for such a classic as The Count. Added to the futuristic setting, it just WORKS. If the animation had been more “traditional,” though still enjoyable, I don't think I would have felt that special “charm” from it. I've read complaints about the backgrounds and clothing being distracting, making them lose track of the dialogue, but I didn't find that to be the case. Then again, I was also watching this dubbed. (I can't find the remote for my dvd player and have no way to maneuver around the menu...) So I didn't have to focus on the subs. (Speaking of the dubbed voices...the Count's voice is that perfect deep tone that just makes me swooooooon. xD) Although, I DID think they went overboard with the CG sometimes. (Not that big of a fan. orz)
I liked the music too!. The opening is so depressing but it fits so well. There's also this one piece that poked its head out in all of those “shit's getting unreal!” moments and it was just <3<3<3<3<3
Now...characters...OMG, CHARACTERS. I loved them all. (Ok, with a few exceptions but those characters I typically ended up feeling sorry for, etc.) And can you say, finally a female character I don't dislike. Go Eugenie! But OMG, how much do I adore the three that are Albert, Franz, and the Count. Soooo much, it's not even funny. Soooo much. And pff, “pleasure cruise.” Not subtle at ALL guys. No wonder people think this is a BL series. Pairing wise...It's CountAlbert all the WAY! (YAY FOR MESSED UP-EDNESS!) Even though the Count is his father's age. XD (Really, that's the tip of the iceberg but I don't want to say more.) Although FranzAlbert...it tugs at my heartstrings, the poor guy. Ungh. Sooooo much. But even AlbertEugenie is pretty adorable. >.< Even though Eugenie is definitely the one who wears the pants in that relationship. Albert is just so freaking naïve.
Needless to say, I totally went looking for fanfiction after I finished. But there are like none. Orz Granted, I didn't look for the lj community yet. (Edit: Just did and found sooome!) I found one that was sort of promising but the characterization of the Count made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I settled for many facepalms, unfortunately. Also looked for doujins, but yet again, not many. Why fandom, whyyyyyy.
And omg, I really DID write a novel this time...it's because I'm booooooored! (: Classes have been over for what will be 2 hrs and I still have another half an hour until I have my meeting.)
Other News:
Other random things: Started Highschool of the Dead. PRETTTTYYYY. But...the fanservice...is too much...I haven't been motivated enough to watch the next episode...it'll probably happen once my mind finally goes through all that UNEEDED fanservice. (I mean, really, they ARE BEING EATEN! NOT SEXY AT ALL...at least not when they're being eaten literally. gets shot) My brother liked it though. He actually watched all the way up to episode 6. And he's not really that big of an anime fan. Even though he later told me that there were times when the fanservice really annoyed him. And times when he thought it was hilarious. Nice, little brother, nice. And of course, there isn't even ho-yay to help get me through...maybe I'll pretend Boyfriend!dude's still alive so I can hook him up with BestFriend!dude. Even though it makes absolutely no sense as a pairing. Or maybe I'll find one that might work if I twist it enough in the later episodes. Oh, and yeah, the music at the end of the episode is TOTALLY based on the theme of 28 Days Later. LOVE IT.
Also started watching Gosick. (Is that supposed to be Gothic? I feel like it is but they messed up the romanization...) Not much to say. Might be interesting, also by BONES but...I never seem to get into series with deceivingly young girls/lolitas as part of the main cast. I guess they annoy me. And I find no pairing!appeal even though I'm already going “Ah, there's going to be something between her and the main!” Even though I might be completely wrong and that would be awesome. Oh, started Level E as well. The animation is really nice to watch. BUT THE MAIN DRAW IS THAT IT'S HILAAAAAAAAARIOUS! THE PRINCE IS A TOTAL TROOOOOOOOOOOOOOLL. I LOVE IT! Oh yeah, and some people cry “ho-yay!” for this series too. I don't quite think so. At least, not from the 3 episodes that are currently out. (Actually, the fourth one might have come out on Monday. Don't know the release schedule.) Still need to get around to watching episode 17 of Stardriver. (I can't watch it on my netbook...so I have to do so when my brother isn't on his.) Have to get watching the next episode of this other anime as well. (Don't judge me, the name is in Japanese and I have NO IDEA what it translates to so I can't be expected to remember. It's about these two transgendered kids and the first episode made me go T-T) Kaichou wa Maid-sama Special also came out and I STILL have to watch it...what else...Oh yeah, popped in the first Hell Girl DVD. Pretty cool, though that episode about the dog made me go “you're selling your soul for A DOG!? WTF!” Guess I just don't care about animals enough...AND I re-picked up my Gunslinger Girl DVDS and attempted to get past episode 6...and got tired by the time episode 7 was starting. (Episode 6 was the last one I watched when I first got them.) It might be a “classic” but I can't seem to get into it and FINISH it...it bores me...and I got the box set TWO YEARS AGO. Oh well, maybe one of these days...
School + Kichiku Megane
Totally continuing this to procrastinate~ My pronunciation clinic went well. My teacher says my pronunciation/understanding is good. ^-^ I just need to work on speaking faster. It takes me forever to say something...orz I get so freaking nervouuuuus. (Lillian, we should totally practice and I give you permission to whack me over the head if I'm taking too long/my grammar fails!) And I find it quite annoying that whenever I ask about something like “what did you do this past weekend” I either forget to end it in past tense or forget to ask it as an actual question. T-T Oh, and test went well, I think. Except I completely wrote down the wrong plain form for one of the adjectives because I forgot it was an いadj and not aな...And, over the weekend I got so excited while playing Kichiku Megane because of this:
We just recently learned that sentence pattern so I freaked out. Oh, and from what I remember, it was something around the lines of 2 people being more effective than just one (Katagiri was looking for some documents and supposedly couldn't find them. He lied. xD) Yes, Lillian, I will continue the Kichiku spam! (Pfff, “megane” is on my vocab list for this new chapter. I cracked up so badly.)
And yeah, that's pretty much it. Also checked out some books from the Doheny library at school for my research paper. MAN, I HATE THE BOOKSTACKS! So freaky. And the elevators too! They're that sickly green/blue color and they creak so much. Really, one of these days I WILL find a dead body and go "I KNEW IT!" Now I go back to doing homework. (To be read: reading Gankutsuou fanfics.)
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. I have to admit, I started this series YEARS ago. I REALLY enjoyed it but stopped at around episode 9, I believe. Why? I'm not too sure myself. Actually, it was probably because I couldn't find episodes in good enough quality/they were in mkv back when I used to hate mkv. (Now I love mkv files. xD) I always meant to pick it back up but, since I never quite remembered where I left off, I never did. Until this week when I finally got around to buying the box set. (For $20. Can you say "hell yeah!"?)
Now, admittedly, I just started the book. The series actually MOTIVATED me enough to get my hands on it. (Although it's been on my "To Read" list for a while, along with War and Peace and several other works.) So I won't be talking about the series as compared to the book all that much.
My motivations for starting this series all those years ago: I cannot tell a lie, I definitely sensed ho-yay. (According to a friend of mine, Haley, I seem to have a sixth sense for this sort of thing. Gay-dar I guess. Except it doesn't work in real life. It only works in regards to anime/manga/t.v shows. It's a wonderful gift and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Then again, my brother was able to tell about the ho-yay the moment he laid eyes on the first dvd cover...). And since I sensed ho-yay, of course I knew I had to give it a try. At the same time though, the story in and of itself was enough to grab my attention. The Count of Monte Cristo...an anime? This could either be really good or really bad! (This is the same reaction I had to the Iron Man anime...actually, no, I lied, when I heard about that my first and only reaction was “this can't be good” even WITH the help of Madhouse. Good animation can do everything but get rid of a sucky plot after-all...well that and make my burger better. Except I'm still eating it because that thing cost me $7 and no way in hell am I throwing it away...orz But I majorly digress.) But the animation was what really grabbed my attention. It was so different!
The animation is pretty fun, IMO. The backgrounds are pretty detailed, sometimes with tons of CG going on as well, while the characters themselves, apart from their clothing, are pretty simple. Some people say this takes getting used to but I was absorbed into this world just minutes into the first episode. (Which has some of my fave animation sequences.) The mixing of the simple and complex really makes this stand out. It almost feels like a picture book, something I think is quite fitting for such a classic as The Count. Added to the futuristic setting, it just WORKS. If the animation had been more “traditional,” though still enjoyable, I don't think I would have felt that special “charm” from it. I've read complaints about the backgrounds and clothing being distracting, making them lose track of the dialogue, but I didn't find that to be the case. Then again, I was also watching this dubbed. (I can't find the remote for my dvd player and have no way to maneuver around the menu...) So I didn't have to focus on the subs. (Speaking of the dubbed voices...the Count's voice is that perfect deep tone that just makes me swooooooon. xD) Although, I DID think they went overboard with the CG sometimes. (Not that big of a fan. orz)
I liked the music too!. The opening is so depressing but it fits so well. There's also this one piece that poked its head out in all of those “shit's getting unreal!” moments and it was just <3<3<3<3<3
Now...characters...OMG, CHARACTERS. I loved them all. (Ok, with a few exceptions but those characters I typically ended up feeling sorry for, etc.) And can you say, finally a female character I don't dislike. Go Eugenie! But OMG, how much do I adore the three that are Albert, Franz, and the Count. Soooo much, it's not even funny. Soooo much. And pff, “pleasure cruise.” Not subtle at ALL guys. No wonder people think this is a BL series. Pairing wise...It's CountAlbert all the WAY! (YAY FOR MESSED UP-EDNESS!) Even though the Count is his father's age. XD (Really, that's the tip of the iceberg but I don't want to say more.) Although FranzAlbert...it tugs at my heartstrings, the poor guy. Ungh. Sooooo much. But even AlbertEugenie is pretty adorable. >.< Even though Eugenie is definitely the one who wears the pants in that relationship. Albert is just so freaking naïve.
Needless to say, I totally went looking for fanfiction after I finished. But there are like none. Orz Granted, I didn't look for the lj community yet. (Edit: Just did and found sooome!) I found one that was sort of promising but the characterization of the Count made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I settled for many facepalms, unfortunately. Also looked for doujins, but yet again, not many. Why fandom, whyyyyyy.
And omg, I really DID write a novel this time...it's because I'm booooooored! (: Classes have been over for what will be 2 hrs and I still have another half an hour until I have my meeting.)
Other News:
Other random things: Started Highschool of the Dead. PRETTTTYYYY. But...the fanservice...is too much...I haven't been motivated enough to watch the next episode...it'll probably happen once my mind finally goes through all that UNEEDED fanservice. (I mean, really, they ARE BEING EATEN! NOT SEXY AT ALL...at least not when they're being eaten literally. gets shot) My brother liked it though. He actually watched all the way up to episode 6. And he's not really that big of an anime fan. Even though he later told me that there were times when the fanservice really annoyed him. And times when he thought it was hilarious. Nice, little brother, nice. And of course, there isn't even ho-yay to help get me through...maybe I'll pretend Boyfriend!dude's still alive so I can hook him up with BestFriend!dude. Even though it makes absolutely no sense as a pairing. Or maybe I'll find one that might work if I twist it enough in the later episodes. Oh, and yeah, the music at the end of the episode is TOTALLY based on the theme of 28 Days Later. LOVE IT.
Also started watching Gosick. (Is that supposed to be Gothic? I feel like it is but they messed up the romanization...) Not much to say. Might be interesting, also by BONES but...I never seem to get into series with deceivingly young girls/lolitas as part of the main cast. I guess they annoy me. And I find no pairing!appeal even though I'm already going “Ah, there's going to be something between her and the main!” Even though I might be completely wrong and that would be awesome. Oh, started Level E as well. The animation is really nice to watch. BUT THE MAIN DRAW IS THAT IT'S HILAAAAAAAAARIOUS! THE PRINCE IS A TOTAL TROOOOOOOOOOOOOOLL. I LOVE IT! Oh yeah, and some people cry “ho-yay!” for this series too. I don't quite think so. At least, not from the 3 episodes that are currently out. (Actually, the fourth one might have come out on Monday. Don't know the release schedule.) Still need to get around to watching episode 17 of Stardriver. (I can't watch it on my netbook...so I have to do so when my brother isn't on his.) Have to get watching the next episode of this other anime as well. (Don't judge me, the name is in Japanese and I have NO IDEA what it translates to so I can't be expected to remember. It's about these two transgendered kids and the first episode made me go T-T) Kaichou wa Maid-sama Special also came out and I STILL have to watch it...what else...Oh yeah, popped in the first Hell Girl DVD. Pretty cool, though that episode about the dog made me go “you're selling your soul for A DOG!? WTF!” Guess I just don't care about animals enough...AND I re-picked up my Gunslinger Girl DVDS and attempted to get past episode 6...and got tired by the time episode 7 was starting. (Episode 6 was the last one I watched when I first got them.) It might be a “classic” but I can't seem to get into it and FINISH it...it bores me...and I got the box set TWO YEARS AGO. Oh well, maybe one of these days...
School + Kichiku Megane
Totally continuing this to procrastinate~ My pronunciation clinic went well. My teacher says my pronunciation/understanding is good. ^-^ I just need to work on speaking faster. It takes me forever to say something...orz I get so freaking nervouuuuus. (Lillian, we should totally practice and I give you permission to whack me over the head if I'm taking too long/my grammar fails!) And I find it quite annoying that whenever I ask about something like “what did you do this past weekend” I either forget to end it in past tense or forget to ask it as an actual question. T-T Oh, and test went well, I think. Except I completely wrote down the wrong plain form for one of the adjectives because I forgot it was an いadj and not aな...And, over the weekend I got so excited while playing Kichiku Megane because of this:
We just recently learned that sentence pattern so I freaked out. Oh, and from what I remember, it was something around the lines of 2 people being more effective than just one (Katagiri was looking for some documents and supposedly couldn't find them. He lied. xD) Yes, Lillian, I will continue the Kichiku spam! (Pfff, “megane” is on my vocab list for this new chapter. I cracked up so badly.)
And yeah, that's pretty much it. Also checked out some books from the Doheny library at school for my research paper. MAN, I HATE THE BOOKSTACKS! So freaky. And the elevators too! They're that sickly green/blue color and they creak so much. Really, one of these days I WILL find a dead body and go "I KNEW IT!" Now I go back to doing homework. (To be read: reading Gankutsuou fanfics.)