My two current obsessions
So, I just have to post about my two current obsessions.
['The Returned' Synopsis]First of all, The Returned (Les Revenants); a French horror/drama about a small, Swiss Alps village where the dead begin to return, apparently alive and well, and with no memories of the events that killed them, believing instead that only a few hours have passed.
Teenage Camille returns home to her parents, bemused to have woken up alone on a steep mountain hillside, her last memories being of her school coach plunging over the side of the mountain. An old man is petrified when his long-dead wife arrives at his doorstep, and a young Doctor is followed home by a strange, silent little boy. A 'dormant' semi-cannibalistic serial killer picks up where he left off, and handsome young drummer Simon returns in search of his pregnant fiancee after failing to make it to their wedding day, and is left confused and frustrated to find her no longer living at their shared flat, and when she responds with panic and terror when he knocks on her door. He soon discovers the reason, however, in the form of his gravestone; stating that he died ten years ago.
You know those series where you watch the first ten minutes and think 'You know what? I think I'm going to love this.' I had that experience with Sherlock. I had that experience with Eden of the East. And I certainly had it here.
Where does the praise end for this series? The acting is incredible. All the acting is utterly superb, but the acting of the child actor playing 'Victor' (the little boy), as well as the young actress playing Camille, particularly stand out. Whether or not he will later on prove to be an example of such, the actor playing Victor is pulling off the 'creepy/possibly evil child' performance to unsettling perfection. The 'window-jumping' scene made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
The music, largely composed by the band Mogwai, is brilliant (I've downloaded the opening and ending themes off of Amazon), the cinematography is amazing, and the plot is brilliant beyond words. Highly recommended. The show is currently airing on Sunday evenings on Channel 4 in the UK, but is probably available to stream online. It's been a long time since I've followed a show where I've so eagerly waited for each new episode.
And now for my second current obsession; the manga Girl Friends by Milk Morinaga.
['Girl Friends' synopsis]Now, I'm not usually someone who goes in for romance mangas, but I loved this beyond words. This tells the story of shy, bookish Marika, a clever and pretty but quiet and somewhat withdrawn girl, who doesn't know how to speak to other people, and avoids social situations. So it is much to her surprise when she is suddenly befriended by Akiko, a beautiful, popular, outspoken girl in her class. Quietly, gently, Akiko brings brings Marika out her shell, drawing her in to her group of friends, and guiding her to find a previously non-existent confidence in her appearance and likability as an individual.
Marika and Akiko's relationship quickly becomes very close, but as time goes on, Marika begins to realize that her feelings for Akiko go deeper that that simply of close friendship. What follows is a beautifully handled, bittersweet, heartbreaking and just oh so good love story. The artwork is lovely, the characters brilliant. and so many elements and moments ring so true to life. Marika's confusion over her feelings, the awkwardness of social interaction, the happiness but unease you experience when your own group of friends merge with another group, the worries about friends being separated from you by new classes, the bittersweet way that friendships change and drift away as time passes. The author has stated previously that the series is partly based on her own experiences as a teenager, and reading this that is very easy to believe.
This is quite possibly my favorite romance manga of all time, as well as one of my favorite mangas overall. I'm halfway through the series at the moment, and really hope to read some more of Milk Morinaga's work. If you are a fan of the shojo-ai genre, then you seriously do not want to miss this. Simply fantastic.
Also, I've finally got round to reading the 12th and final (English edition) of Twin Spica.
[Spoilers for Twin Spica volume 12]
My baby made it to space T-T. I'm so happy. My baby made it. I'm so proud of you Asumi.
The amount of emotional pounding you get in this volume though, ugh T-T. It never let up from start to finish. I'm so happy I read this work though. I know I say this every time, but I simply can not recommend it enough. Probably one of the most moving mangas I have ever read, right up there with Fruits Basket and With the Light. It feels kind of melancholy now it's over.
['The Returned' Synopsis]First of all, The Returned (Les Revenants); a French horror/drama about a small, Swiss Alps village where the dead begin to return, apparently alive and well, and with no memories of the events that killed them, believing instead that only a few hours have passed.
Teenage Camille returns home to her parents, bemused to have woken up alone on a steep mountain hillside, her last memories being of her school coach plunging over the side of the mountain. An old man is petrified when his long-dead wife arrives at his doorstep, and a young Doctor is followed home by a strange, silent little boy. A 'dormant' semi-cannibalistic serial killer picks up where he left off, and handsome young drummer Simon returns in search of his pregnant fiancee after failing to make it to their wedding day, and is left confused and frustrated to find her no longer living at their shared flat, and when she responds with panic and terror when he knocks on her door. He soon discovers the reason, however, in the form of his gravestone; stating that he died ten years ago.
You know those series where you watch the first ten minutes and think 'You know what? I think I'm going to love this.' I had that experience with Sherlock. I had that experience with Eden of the East. And I certainly had it here.
Where does the praise end for this series? The acting is incredible. All the acting is utterly superb, but the acting of the child actor playing 'Victor' (the little boy), as well as the young actress playing Camille, particularly stand out. Whether or not he will later on prove to be an example of such, the actor playing Victor is pulling off the 'creepy/possibly evil child' performance to unsettling perfection. The 'window-jumping' scene made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
The music, largely composed by the band Mogwai, is brilliant (I've downloaded the opening and ending themes off of Amazon), the cinematography is amazing, and the plot is brilliant beyond words. Highly recommended. The show is currently airing on Sunday evenings on Channel 4 in the UK, but is probably available to stream online. It's been a long time since I've followed a show where I've so eagerly waited for each new episode.
And now for my second current obsession; the manga Girl Friends by Milk Morinaga.
['Girl Friends' synopsis]Now, I'm not usually someone who goes in for romance mangas, but I loved this beyond words. This tells the story of shy, bookish Marika, a clever and pretty but quiet and somewhat withdrawn girl, who doesn't know how to speak to other people, and avoids social situations. So it is much to her surprise when she is suddenly befriended by Akiko, a beautiful, popular, outspoken girl in her class. Quietly, gently, Akiko brings brings Marika out her shell, drawing her in to her group of friends, and guiding her to find a previously non-existent confidence in her appearance and likability as an individual.
Marika and Akiko's relationship quickly becomes very close, but as time goes on, Marika begins to realize that her feelings for Akiko go deeper that that simply of close friendship. What follows is a beautifully handled, bittersweet, heartbreaking and just oh so good love story. The artwork is lovely, the characters brilliant. and so many elements and moments ring so true to life. Marika's confusion over her feelings, the awkwardness of social interaction, the happiness but unease you experience when your own group of friends merge with another group, the worries about friends being separated from you by new classes, the bittersweet way that friendships change and drift away as time passes. The author has stated previously that the series is partly based on her own experiences as a teenager, and reading this that is very easy to believe.
This is quite possibly my favorite romance manga of all time, as well as one of my favorite mangas overall. I'm halfway through the series at the moment, and really hope to read some more of Milk Morinaga's work. If you are a fan of the shojo-ai genre, then you seriously do not want to miss this. Simply fantastic.
Also, I've finally got round to reading the 12th and final (English edition) of Twin Spica.
[Spoilers for Twin Spica volume 12]
My baby made it to space T-T. I'm so happy. My baby made it. I'm so proud of you Asumi.
The amount of emotional pounding you get in this volume though, ugh T-T. It never let up from start to finish. I'm so happy I read this work though. I know I say this every time, but I simply can not recommend it enough. Probably one of the most moving mangas I have ever read, right up there with Fruits Basket and With the Light. It feels kind of melancholy now it's over.