被评为五星级的片子有:

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-2-4 14:36:46编辑过]

翻译不准哦~因为有很多没见过的作品

The Castle of Cagliostro

The Castle of Cagliostro is the quintessential Lupin III flick, which comes as no surprise considering it's directed by the master of Japanese animation, Hayao Miyazaki.

Things open with Lupin and Jigen scoring a major haul from a ritzy casino. As they make off with the dough, however, Lupin notices that it's all counterfeit. He then quickly decides to hatch a new plan: find the source of the bogus cash. This leads Lupin and Jigen to the country of Cagliostro, where they suspect the fake money is being produced. As they are traversing the countryside, a girl in a wedding dress goes speeding by while being pursued by a bunch of thugs. Lupin, being as gallant as he is, decides to help this damsel in distress. His rescue attempt goes a little awry, though, and leaves him with only a mysterious ring for his troubles. From there, Lupin uncovers that the girl is actually the princess Clarisse set to wed the vile count of Cagliostro. Once again, the gallant Lupin plans to intervene.

From there on in it's a madcap adventure as Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, Fujiko, and yes, even Inspector Zenigata, all become involved in an intertwining plot involving the princess Clarisse, the evil count, and the promise of a wondrous treasure.

The plot is rather zany from start to finish as Lupin tries all manner of tricks to rescue the princess Clarisse. A lot of very inventive situations arise, including a nifty car chase involving Lupin's gravity-defying auto, a spectacular escape from the Cagliostro castle in an autogyro, and a clever finale within the gearworks of a clock tower. Lupin always has a trick up his sleeve for virtually every situation that arises. It's a blast just watching what zany stunt he'll pull next, and rest assured, he pulls plenty.

While the story, characters and situations are wholly eccentric, the theme itself is a simple tale of a heroic knight rescuing a damsel in distress. While the damsel in distress part is completely believable on the part of Clarisse, it's not often an international thief is cast for the role of the heroic knight. Of course, Lupin is just charming in every conceivable way, and fits perfectly in the heroic role into which he's thrust.

The background art is nothing short of excellent, and the animation, while lacking in detail, is quite fluid. Manga's re-mastering of this classic certainly enhanced the visuals compared to the old Streamline release. The new Manga dub is pretty good, as well. While I thought the original Streamline dub was pretty good for its time, Manga managed to capture the same feel, while providing a more accurate translation.

Quite possibly one of the funnest and most charming anime I've seen, The Castle of Cagliostro is a blast from start to finish. I highly recommend it to anime fans of all ages.

The Verdict: * * * * * (excellent)

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-2-4 15:01:02编辑过]

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

When propaganda for Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade began surfacing, I paid blissfully little attention to it. Through word-of-mouth, I heard the film was supposed to be quite good, although I had very little details of the actual content. I assumed that the often-depicted Jin-Roh figure dressed in fierce battle armor with glowing red eyes was some kind of Waffen-SS super-soldier. Images of fierce World War II battles began dancing through my head, as I prepared to watch this movie. I quickly learned, though, that my assumption was incorrect, but I was hardly disappointed. For in expecting one type of movie, I was ripe for a pleasant surprise by Jin-Roh's dark, but fascinating tale.

Set in Japan following World War II, Jin-Roh's version of history is slightly different than what our books record. Instead of U.S. occupation following the war, it seems Germany was the victor. It's been a decade or so since the war, and while the German occupation is over, there are plenty of signs that it took place. German-brand vehicles, including the ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle are everywhere, and the police forces are well equipped with German-made weapons. During this period, Japan's social and political climate is rocky, with organized revolutionaries known as the "Sect" carrying out violent protests against the current political practices. To combat the rising civil unrest, a special police unit, the "Capital Police", is formed to suppress the terrorist activities by any means necessary.

Jin-Roh opens in the middle of an uprising, with the regular police confronted by dangerously armed protesters. While the uprising in the streets catches most of the public's attention, another battle is being secretly waged beneath the city. Sect members are using the sewers as a method of transporting weapons and explosives to rioters in the streets. The Capital Police are aware of this and dispatch their own heavily armed unit to deal with the problem. One of the special forces members is Kazuki Fuse, who encounters a young Sect member during the mission. Rather than give herself up, she detonates the explosives she is carrying, killing herself in the process.

The violent blast brings the activities of the Capital Police into the limelight. Requiring a scapegoat to cover up their mess, they demote Fuse for failing to prevent the explosion during the mission. Sent back to Academy training, Fuse is troubled by his encounter with the Sect bomber. With the help of a friend, he learns the identity of the girl and soon meets her sister, Kei Amamia. The two strike up a friendship and begin seeing each other on a regular basis. Their encounters are a little one-sided, with Kei often waxing philosophical about life and Fuse simply absorbing what she says. But while Fuse and Kei are enjoying each other's company, high-ranking members of the Capital Police and regular police are making political moves behind the scenes; moves that seem to directly involve the actions of Fuse and Kei.

At this point it becomes difficult to describe any more of Jin-Roh's plot without giving away too much, and this summary doesn't begin to do the film justice. Jin-Roh moves along at a methodical, deliberate pace, blending political intrigue, suspense, action and even romance into a wholly engrossing story. The line between the protagonists and antagonists is not clearly defined, and as the film progresses, it becomes harder to tell who is playing who. Most of the focus remains on Kei and Fuse's relationship, and they make an odd pairing; Kei's light-hearted cheerfulness contrasting Fuse's melancholy attitude.

Early in the story, Fuse is given a copy of "Rotk鋚pchen" from Kei. The book is a rather morbid version of "Little Red Riding Hood" and becomes an important metaphor in the film. As events unfold, passages from the book are narrated until both the film and the book reach their pivotal climaxes. Likewise, strong symbolism is evident, with both wolves and Red Riding Hood referenced numerous times.

The level of production in Jin-Roh is outstanding, and reminiscent of other great animated works like Ghost in the Shell, Blood and Perfect Blue. Colors are deliberately muted, giving the whole film an appropriately dreary look. Characters are rendered to look Japanese, and while minimum shading gives the art a flat look, they move in a fluid and realistic fashion. Backgrounds are exceptionally detailed, as are many of the various vehicles, weapons, and equipment used throughout the film. The background music is quite haunting, adding nicely to the atmosphere.

With a tense, gripping plot, superb attention to detail, and a powerful climax, I have no hesitation in recommending Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. Released as a both a standard DVD and special edition (the latter includes an extra disk of interviews, production art, and trailers), this film belongs firmly in any fan's collection.

The Verdict: * * * * * (excellent)

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-2-4 15:03:09编辑过]

Key, The Metal Idol

Key, The Metal Idol is an anime I've had my eye on for some time, but never really got around to investigating. I'm always a little nervous about beginning lengthy series for the fear that I may not enjoy it and end up watching it in its entirety solely for the purpose of writing a review. That's probably the reason why I was so hesitant with Key, but now having watched this masterpiece I realize that my hesitation was in vain. Key, the Metal Idol is a gem of an anime.

Key is the robot daughter of Murao Mima, an incredibly brilliant scientist who passes away leaving behind a mysterious message. With his final words he tells Key that she can become human if she can gather together 30,000 friends. Key decides she must undertake this monumental task and complete this goal if she is to survive without Mima. Journeying to Tokyo, Key soon discovers the scope of her task and the adversity she will have to overcome to achieve her dream.

While the premise of Key having to acquire 30,000 friends in order to become human may sound a little strange, it is merely one of the unique aspects of this anime that makes it so compelling to watch. The story delves into a much deeper and intricate plot. In addition to the mystery surrounding Mima's final words and the nature of Key herself, there are many shady characters with hidden agendas. A rich historical background is generated with insight into the backgrounds of many of the characters and detailed explanations for their motives and actions. It's very enjoyable to follow every twist and turn in the plot and piece together the clues to Mima's final request.

Even with an intriguing story, Key wouldn't hold its own without endearing characters. Fortunately, the cast of Key is explored to the deepest of levels. The story centers on Key herself, the antithesis of everything human. She is, after all, a robot; emotionless, naive, fragile. Yet, there is something odd about her manner; something which generates sympathy and remorse. I'll admit quite honestly that I've never quite felt this attached to an animated character. Key's supporting cast is equally strong. Sakura, Key's childhood friend, reunites with Key in Tokyo and decides to help Key with her quest. Sakura acts almost like a big sister to Key, and she cares about Key very deeply. Over the course of the series a very strong relationship develops between the two. Tataki, a friend of Sakura also assists in Key's task and ends up getting embroiled in a mystery he hadn't bargained on. On the flip side, there are several nemesis with motives that aren't entirely clear at first glance. Ajo and his right-hand man "D" seem to a vested interest in Key and strange ties to the deceased Mima. Pieces of the puzzle are slowly revealed until their true nature becomes apparent; a truth that is somewhat startling. There are also a handful of odd characters with whom you're not quite sure which side their on. Prince Snake-Eye, leader of a religious cult, is the most obvious of these and it's tricky deciding whether he's trying to help Key or hurt her. Truly the entire cast is a collage of diversity and a very enjoyable one at that.

While most of the episodes are the standard half-hour, the final two are actually "full-length features" as Viz puts it. They are, in fact, much more theatrical in production than the previous episodes which were, well, episodic. This may be a mixed blessing to some, especially with regard to the fourteenth episode which is made up of almost nothing but conversation (and a really long one, at that). Some may find this episode quite tedious, especially since it's nothing more than a detailed revelation of the mystery surrounding Key. The final episode was very enjoyable despite being more action-oriented than everything prior to it. It's both heartwarming and bittersweet at the same time; touching, yet sad. The fact that it lasts an hour-and-a-half made it all the better.

The artwork isn't terribly flashy, nor does it try to be. If anything, the lack of rich color fits the mood of the series quite well. Animation-wise things are adequate, but again, not outstanding. The music, on the other hand, is simply beautiful. There are many wonderful themes in this series, from the opening song "In the Night" to Key's own "Lullaby". Any one of the songs is worth owning the soundtrack for. The only real technical flaw comes in Viz Video's subtitling of the series. In the first few episodes there are some missing subtitles, and some grammar mistakes cropped up later in the series. It's not a glaring flaw by any means, but seems to leave the impression that Key may have been rushed out the door.

I can only think of a few times when the words "anime" and "brilliant" come together. But there is no other way to put it: Key, the Metal Idol is a brilliant anime. It's somber, moving, compelling, and ultimately, quite enjoyable. And that's all that truly matters in the end.

The Verdict: * * * * * (excellent)

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-2-4 15:05:00编辑过]

Princess Mononoke

When Princess Mononoke was first announced to be hitting North American theaters, fans everywhere were heralding a new age for anime (well, those that weren't decrying Disney as being the greatest evil in the world, but that's something else entirely). Princess Mononoke was supposed to usher in a new age when anime would finally go mainstream; when fans everywhere could show the non-believers that anime was more than just Sailor Moon or Pokemon. Anime was finally supposed to gain mainstream acceptance.

It didn't go quite as planned, mainly due to severe under-promoting of Princess Mononoke on the part of Miramax. This doesn't mean, however, that fans got to miss out on what many consider to be the greatest anime film ever.

Princess Mononoke begins with a young man named Ashitaka encountering a hideous boar covered in writhing worms. The boar is on a rampage and threatens several members of his village including his younger sister. Ashitaka bravely battles the boar and successfully kills it, even though he is wounded in the process. The wound is no simple one, for the boar had become a demon and Ashitaka now bears its curse. He is forced to leave his village to look for a way to free himself from the curse and hopefully discover why the boar had become a demon.

Ashitaka's journey eventually leads him to a fortress-like town named "Irontown". The people of Irontown, under the rule of Lady Eboshi, have been mining iron from within a nearby mountain. It is with this iron that they are able to manufacture early forms of rifles, crude by today's standards, but very devastating nonetheless. The mining, however, has resulted in the destruction of the forest which once covered the mountainside. The creatures of the forest are none to pleased with being driven from their homes, none more than Moro, a giant wolf god, and her adopted human daughter, San. San has been repeatedly attacking the humans of Irontown in an attempt to drive them away. Ashitaka, though, believes that the humans and animals can get along peacefully and this lands him squarely in the middle of the conflict.

While the story seems like a simple tale of humankind versus nature, there are many layers which complicate things. For starters, there are no outright evil people in this tale. Even Lady Eboshi, the ruler of Irontown and person most responsible for the destruction of the forest, is quite compassionate when it comes to other humans. She takes in lepers and women from brothels and gives them a place a work and live. There's also Jigo, who, while being quite self-centered, still exhibits very human traits and even helps out Ashitaka in the early goings. And, of course, I mustn't forget San, whose relentless drive to protect the forest leads her into deadly conflict with the humans. Yet, while she is an enemy of the humans, her intent is merely to save her own homeland.

Studio Ghibli has truly created a wondrous work in Princess Mononoke. Multiple conflicts abound with humans against humans, humans against nature, and even nature against itself. The conflicts are such that they are woven into an incredibly deep and satisfying plot. It's very refreshing to see a movie that is capable of such story-telling without resulting to simple cliches and tired rehashings of the same old story lines.

The mythical world in Princess Mononoke is ripe with lush forests, sweeping landscapes, and incredible vistas. The sheer beauty of the locales is one of the best reasons to watch this film. The creatures which inhabit it are truly fantastic and could only come from a very creative mind. From the frightening, twisted boar in the beginning to the diminutive, yet bizarre kodama, every creature has a magical nature to it and melds seamlessly into a rich mosaic of the strange and wonderful.

The visual and aural qualities of this movie make it a true feast for the senses. The artwork is simply some of the most beautiful work I've seen in an animated movie, and the animation quality is excellent. Everything is rendered in painstaking detail, the highlights being the teeming forests in which the movie takes place. Everything is so vivid and detailed that I often sat in silent wonder simply absorbing the stunning visual imagery.

And as if this wasn't enough incentive to watch this masterpiece, the DVD release most certainly is. It not only includes 5.1 Dolby Digital audio tracks for English and French, but the original Japanese audio as well. Hooked up to a surround sound system it sounds very nice indeed. The original opening and ending credits are also included, along with two separate subtitle selections, close captions of the dub and a literal translation of the original. The DVD visuals are quite gorgeous, bright and crystal clear. The only real area the DVD lacks is in the extra features department, but that's only a minor quibble. The Princess Mononoke DVD is something every fan should have in their collection.

The Verdict: * * * * * (excellent)

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-2-4 15:08:29编辑过]

The Vision of Escaflowne

Wow.

It's been awhile since I've seen a good, epic fantasy anime, and was actually miffed that anime like Record of Lodoss War were small in number. However, after watching The Vision of Escaflowne, a new standard has been set.

As of writing this, this epic series is my all-time favorite anime. Everything about it, from the down-to-earth characters, the exciting action, to the extensive story line, Escaflowne does it *right*. Nothing feels contrived, nothing is out-of-place, nothing goes wrong. And it's been awhile since I've seen an anime like this.

The story line, while not the best I've seen, is still a good piece of fantasy fiction. Hitomi is just your average high-school student, trying to excel on the track team. However, one night while she is practicing running the 100-meter dash, a mysterious portal opens, and young knight named Van appears before her. Hitomi is then taken with Van into the mysterious world of Gaea, which is only the beginning of her epic adventure. There's a good balance between plot and action, with some episodes focusing on developing the characters, and others simply depicting epic battles. A lot of mystery regarding Gaea and the evil forces of Zaibach is developed early on, and there are quite a few plot elements which don't get fully resolved until the end. This certainly helped in holding my interest throughout the entire series. And I must say, the ending was one of the better and more fulfilling endings I've seen in an anime.

While the story is good, the characters really make this series come alive. Hitomi is so incredibly unlike anyone else in the series that she truly feels like she was plucked from Earth and placed in the magical world of Gaea. Van, the young king of Fanelia, is driven by anger and revenge, and he makes a truly fearsome pilot of Escaflowne. Allen is a more typical medieval fantasy character, fulfilling the role of the gallant knight. Merle is the utterly adorable cat-girl, who provides the comic relief. If I had a list of cutest anime characters, she'd easily make the top five. The villains are truly excellent, as well. Dilandau and Folken are the two main adversaries, and both are as different as night and day. Dilandau is a bloodthirsty psycho with a hidden past, while Folken is quite somber, cold and calculating. Of course, there are many other characters as well, and all are fully developed and believable.

And you if you happen to think things like plot and character development are secondary to white-knuckle action, don't worry. Escaflowne has plenty of exciting, adrenaline-filled battles to satisfy you. The action combines standard medieval warfare, giant mecha duels, and even a few aerial ballets. The battle choreography is quite good, and the attention to mechanical details on the mecha made them seem almost real.

Even though this is a TV series, it has some very impressive production qualities. The artwork is superb, the animation top-notch, and some nifty computer effects are seamlessly blended in. Even better than the visuals is the wonderful music. I can honestly say that Escaflowne has one of the best soundtracks I've heard in an anime, ranging from light J-pop to thundering orchestral battle themes.

Unless you have a complete aversion for fantasy, then you've no reason not to check out this incredible series. The Vision of Escaflowne is currently the best fantasy anime available, and should not be missed.

The Verdict: * * * * * (excellent)

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-2-4 15:10:11编辑过]