Actor, Writer, Jedi, Singer,

Actor, Writer, Jedi, Singer,
You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Attack on Titan review



I dedicate this review in memory of my cousin who passed away this last Wednesday.

                                "You can't expect a horror story to have a happy ending"

This review won't pose any major spoilers- I might mention a couple of things, but they won't be anything too important.

              Unlike my sister, I am not sure I'm what you'd call an Otaku. I really love anime- I love almost all of the Studio Ghibli films, Children Who Chase Lost Voices, Romeo X Juliet, Attack on Titan(of course), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Fruits Basket, and what I've seen so far of Death Note- but I'm not as obsessed as she, and several of her other friends, are. However, due to her showing me several funny fan-dubbed silly videos with this anime, I just felt the need to watch this series- which hasn't happened with that many shows- anime or otherwise- before. It looked exciting, I was drawn to the cool character design, the idea of the plot, and the super awesome uniforms(and maneuver gear). Armin also looked like a really interesting character, as did Levi and Jean, and so I went and found the show and basically marathoned it in a little over a week and a half- watching it whenever I wasn't doing school, going to an activity, or something else on my computer(I tried to watch at least two episodes a day).
        And I have to say, this TV series is AWESOME!! :D Even if one isn't a fan of anime, I think many people could enjoy it- it doesn't have too many of the different things used in anime that can turn some people off, and for the most part it is serious and dark. Also, another thing I appreciated was that there isn't any 'fan service' or 'male gaze' in the series, and that the girls are portrayed as real people- some powerful fighters some not, and basically having the complexities of the male characters- and wear the same uniforms as their male comrades, which I greatly enjoyed seeing(yay!).

       As you may know, the story takes place in a almost-alternate earth- it takes place in the 800s, yet the setting seems to be a combination of medieval times(the castles, swords, and such) and the 1600/1700s(since they have rifles and cannons); it also, taking into account the way everything looks and some of the characters last name, seems to take place in Germany.
     In the story, a hundred years ago a monstrous foe appeared, that of the Titans, which are basically human-like giants that eat humans(even though they don't need them for sustenance). By the time our story starts, humankind has nearly been wiped out and, as far as we know, only exist in a three-walled city. Humankind has lived safely in these walls for many years until one day....

    As a show, it has quite a lot of things going for it- not only does it have realistic people(which I'll get to more below), but it has an overall sense of realism that makes the story feel a whole lot more real. In fact, I can think of only one instance where something happened that I found unlikely and that unlikely thing is really my only complaint about the series. Another positive trait this show has is the epic action sequences by the use of the maneuver gear. It is a very imaginative, unique way of showing action, and is one action-fans of myself really appreciate- can't wait to see more of it in season two(which, from my continued reading of the manga, is going to be even better than season 1! :D). Also, both theme songs are AMAZING! I keep listening to them, in fact XD.

      Before I talk about the shows positive traits in detail, I wanted to bring up my only complaint, so I could get it out of the way. And that would be that, somehow, two nine year old children are able to kill three grown ups. It is shown in a way that makes it plausible, but as someone who has been around kids of that age, sparred with kids of that age, and remembers being that age, it was something that made me go "ummm, I don't really think I can believe that." Not only are nine-year-olds physically a whole lot weaker than grown ups are and will definitely be overpowered by said adult, I have fought people who were this age in class and I could easily overpower these kids(even the bigger ones who have more muscle mass than a typical nine/ten year old) if I wanted to. Not only are pre-pubescent incapable of physically besting an adult, they aren't mentally able to either. I mean, unless they are sick in the head, a child won't be able to intentionally kill someone. I remember being nine and, even though I would sometimes say that I wanted to beat up a really bad person, I definitely wasn't capable of actually killing someone(now, if it was in self-defense or to protect another person from being killed/raped- I could, but only as a last resort). And neither are most kids- heck, some adults can't even kill a person. So, I don't know, that just didn't seem to fit with the otherwise very realistic set-up this show has.


     Okay, now that that's out of the way, I now want to talk about the awesome parts of this show!
As I mentioned earlier, I really appreciate the gritty realism the show projects. Titans, if they were real, would scare anyone shitless, so showing everyone(except for a select few) being terrified, messed-up, and panicking was, as a person interested in psychology and how PTSD affects others, very effective and made me believe that humanity was on the brink of extinction and caused me to get very invested in the plight of the characters. Scenes from a survey corps leader breaking down in front of a grieving mother to a soldier panicking and refusing to go back and fight Titans were all powerful and really showed the other side of war and battle that a lot of shows exclude- not everyone is going to be gung-ho and rush into battle without a glimmer of terror, and in doing this, it shows true bravery in those who, while scared-sick, still go out and fight. And that's something I think is important to show- bravery isn't the absence of fear, it is overcoming that fear and being able to act in spite of it.
     Not only does Attack on Titan show the heroics of humanity, it also shows the dark aspects of it as well. Hate, greed,  and cruelty are all explored and not only in designated 'bad people' (like the merchants), but in some of our main characters. No one on the show is perfect and that is good, because even the best people can have their cruel moments.




      The show(and the manga) has a pretty large cast, and even though there are three designated leads, the story explores each of them in turn and we get to know them all fairly well. They are all different and, from my experiences in watching movies and television and reading books, they don't completely conform to any stereotypes.

First off, we have Eren Jaegar(or Yaeger), who is our lead characters. Eren is a pretty unique lead in several ways, especially the fact that he isn't the best at everything. In a lot of not-so good works, the main character are often the BEST out of EVERYONE and will almost always be stronger, better, smarter, etc than everyone else(especially if they are a guy). Eren however, isn't; sure, he can fight and has the determination it takes to be a soldier in this world, but he is pretty much average in most things- he has friends who are physically stronger than him, who are smarter than him, who are more skilled then him, etc. Yet, it does make sense that we are primly following his story- as not to spoil anything, I won't give away how he is important to the overall plot, but the way he is is very well done and actually doesn't make him annoying. Another trait I like is that of his single-mindedness. Even in the darkest of shows, most people are romantically interested in someone. Not Eren- he is so focused on VENGEANCE that during the entire show and manga so far, he hasn't shown any interest in anyone at all, which I think is quite unique for a lead. In fact, the anime/manga is light on romance in general- there are a few instances of people liking others(Ymir is in love with Christa, Jean is attracted to Mikasa, Reiner is attracted to Christa, Levi was going to get married to someone, and a couple of other small ones that get a passing mention). I like a well-written romance as well as the next person(though I don't read romance novels or watch romance movies, since I don't like those types of things), but having a show like this that doesn't really really go into it are nice to see :).

The second lead is that of Mikasa Ackerman- quiet, reserved, and the probably the second best fighter in the entire series(after Levi, who is the best). I have to say, it's nice to see a story where the girl is the better fighter in a trio(here the trio is Eren, Mikasa, and Armin) of characters, which is quite rare. She practically can scare anyone if she wants to, is one of the few characters I don't get worried about when fighting a Titan, and yet, she doesn't fall into the 'stoic, unemotional tough girl' that is a common stereotype. Strong women(just like strong men), can be vulnerable, cry and care about others deeply, which brings me to another great thing about this series- the lack of shame for tears. Almost everyone cries- Eren, Armin, Mikasa, Jean, Hannes, and even others in the Survey Corps(which goes out and fights Titans in their own territory), and that is great. Because, all too often, tears and crying are believed to be considered weak or pathetic and I am glad that shows/movies/books like this are beginning to show that everyone cries and that there isn't anything wrong with it.

My personal favorite character, is that of Armin Arlert. Armin is different than your typical male character. He isn't physically strong, yet he is very smart and, unlike what I've heard from other shows who have a similar archetype, he actually does do his part in the narrative and is, in fact, extremely vital to how things turn out. Since he isn't the best fighter, he has to use his brain to survive and, in the process, has ended up saving many people. He has figured out a myriad of things his officers and peers didn't even notice. It always surprises me that people call him names, since even though isn't the strongest physically, he never came across to me as a weak person. Sure, he froze up in his first battle but who can really blame him? Most people did(like I said, actually being near a Titan would be scary) and he does get past it and ends up being one of the most badass characters on the show(really, it makes him all the braver, since he isn't the best fighter, yet he still goes out and fights for humanity). Also, he is very tactical, wise, and a philosophical, deep thinker- seriously, sometimes he reminded me of the Greek Philosophers of long ago.

Other great characters in the series include
Levi Rivaille- Humanity's best soldier, stoic yet caring, 5'3(which I love!) in height, scary to some of the main characters, and a clean freak. He is definitely a very interesting character and one I look forward to getting to learn more about and see more of.

Sasha Braus- A good soldier, easily excited, loves eating(like, she's obsessed, especially potatoes and meat), an excellent archer and hunter, and pretty high strung. Also, very creative and imaginative, which really helps her out. And, hilarious, of course XD.

Jean Kirschtein- At first a bit of a jerk, he ends up becoming one of the more interesting characters in the series. A good leader, a caring person, and very passionate, he is definitely someone you want on your side in a fight. His friendship with Armin is also something I really enjoy seeing.

Christa Lenz- She isn't in the anime as much, but her role gets very important one you get into the later sections of the manga. A nice, kind person who harbors several secrets, and is very impulsive and reckless, she's definitely an interesting character and doesn't fall into the Mary-Sue trope, which is nice.

Connie Springer- Compassionate, brave, resilient and determined, Connie has definitely grown on me, especially since starting the manga and he looks to be having a really interesting story-line coming up.

Ymir- Hardly shown at all in the anime, she really starts to become an interesting character in the later parts of the manga. She is apparently uncaring and selfish, yet she deeply cares(and is in love with, according to the author) Christa. She is fulfilling a role typically seen only with male characters, so that's something I find fascinating.

Reiner Braun(and his friend Bertolt)- Nice guys who also, like Christa, harbor secrets. Their characters are very interesting and are integral to some important plot points.

Annie- A very powerful fighter, mysterious, and a total badass(5 foot and can take down people an entire foot taller than herself- love her!). She is also very integral to the overall plot and has some great backstory(what little we see, that is).

Others characters I enjoy are- Petra, Marco, the rest of Levi's squad, Erwin, Hannes, Hange, as well as other characters. :)

Overall, I would definitely recommend this show to anyone over the age of 15 who can handle gore, violence, and cussing(because there is a LOT of it). So if you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for!?
Then, once you are done, I would recommend starting the manga where the anime left off- it's really exciting so far and I can't wait to see where the story leads! :D
Fun watching!
Jedi me signing out :).

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day Megapost :)




Happy Valentine's Day everyone! :D As most of you probably know, I'm not that much into romance(though I do like shipping when it's good), but I do enjoy Valentine's Day(I mean, who doesn't love getting chocolate?) and this year I thought I'd do a fun post :)

Like I did last year, I thought I'd make a short list of my favorite ships and then I'd also make a list of some of my so-called 'fictional/celebrity crushes'(I don't count them as actual crushes, since I don't have an actual crush on anyone, real or fictional, at the moment).

For ships, I almost always ship canon ships(since they tend to actually happen instead of me just WAITING :P). However, I will ship a pairing if it appears that it has a good chance of becoming canon.

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Siri Tachi from Star Wars(Secrets of the Jedi, Jedi Apprentice, Jedi Quest, etc).


While not very well known, this one IS canon(it appears in Jude Watson's Star Wars books, and it was before the terrible, and uncanon, Satine and Taria, so it is the first and only one). Basically, this is my favorite pairing ever and I will defend it completely(I know it has a smaller fanbase, but it is very much real. Plus, this was one of the first romances that didn't gross me out, and in fact, I was able to enjoy reading about(which was a first at the time). Overall, it's a great story and I wish we could have gotten more of it, since Jude Watson was so amazing at writing it :D.


Belle/Rumplestiltskin from Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time is one of the shows to actually write romance correctly(most of the time). Usually most romance in fiction seems to get in the way, but on this show, most of them actually add to the plot and the character development, which is always nice. And of course, this one is the best on the show- the actors are both very talented and the writing is, usually, amazing.



The Doctor(9 and 10)/ Rose Tyler from Doctor Who



I was surprised by it, but I absolutely loved Rose and the Doctor's relationship in Doctor Who- it had a nice build up, it didn't overtake the plot of the show, and it helped make both characters even more endearing. Russel T. Davies sure has talent...love his shows :) Also, I liked her interactions with Nine and Ten equally :)


Qui-Gon/Tahl from Star Wars(Jedi Apprentice).


My second favorite Star Wars pairing- good story and very sad(I tend to like sad ones...weird...). Wish we could have seen more of it.



Dean/Castiel from Supernatural

This one isn't canon currently, but the way the show is going(from what I've heard on tumblr, I've only seen the first three seasons), it seems very likely that it will eventually. And really, I think it would work so well and would be really interesting to watch unfold.


John/Sherlock from BBC Sherlock


I know it won't be coming canon any time soon(unless we find out Sherlock likes him or something), but I'm okay with that, because I like the relationship as it is and, really, I don't like Sherlock needs to be in a relationship with anyone anyway- he's not a sociopath(he cares for people, so that gets rid of his diagnosis), but he obviously has a lot of trouble with empathy and relating to others and even though he has improved, I don't think he's ready for that kind of commitment(though, of course, I wouldn't object if it were to eventually become canon ;) ).



one in my book series

Some of you might know what I am referring to, but I can promise you it will be good! :)


Jack/Ianto from Torchwood


Russel T. Davies and whoever he has with him always write good romances that, while developed, don't take away from the plot(The Doctor/Rose, Toshiko/Owen in Torchwood, etc), and Jack's relationship with Ianto Jones is one them. It isn't in it that much, but I really do like that. One thing that I appreciated was that both were fully developed and that them being interested in guys wasn't their main character point, it was just naturally a part of who they were, which often isn't the case in other shows/books/movies where a LGBT character's only character trait is their orientation. Anyway, they had a great connection and a sad, but fitting, ending.



Anna/John Bates from Downton Abbey

I love Downton Abbey and the two characters of Anna and Mr. Bates are probably the nicest, so of course seeing them end up together, with some very good writing I might add, was a satisfying experience and one of the most tightly written romances I've come across. But, if you have seen season 4, poor Anna! :( I really hope that evil Green guy gets PUNISHED! :(



Percy/Annabeth from Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus



I guessed it was going to happen from the get go, but with what I've come to expect with Rick Riordan's great writing, it was humorous, fun ride. I've liked them from the beginning and I can't wait to see what happens with their characters in "The Blood of Olympus".
Even though I don't ship them together, I am also very interested in Nico's crush on Percy and I can't wait to see where the plot lines leads!



Anakin Solo/Tahiri from Star Wars (Junior Jedi Knights series and New Jedi Order series)


Another one of the first romances I shipped as a younger kid- I loved them since Junior Jedi Knight's first book and I was saddened to see how it ended.

Ferus Olin/Darra Thel-Tanis (Jedi Quest)

Not technically canon, but I could see it happening.

Alek/Deryn from the Leviathan Trilogy


One thing I really liked about this series was that, unlike most shows, Alek didn't find out Deryn was a girl til the last book of the trilogy. Because of this, I felt the eventual 'getting together' was much more satisfying.


Hermione/Ron from Harry Potter

Probably the first thing I ever shipped. It was pretty obvious, but I remember having arguments with kids in Sunday School about who Hermione would end up with(shipping wars before I knew what that meant- LOL XD). But anyway, it was fun to watch and I'm glad it turned out that way(especially considering that J.K. Rowling is now saying she wished she'd put Hermione and Harry together, which I'm glad she didn't since it would have been cliche, though she could have pulled it off- she is a good enough writer).

Katara/Zuko and Katara/Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender


When it comes to ATLA, I'm kind of a multi-shipper. When I watched ATLA, I shipped Katara with Aang since it was what happened in the story and it was really enjoyable to watch and well done. Then, my Mom(we got her to watch it later! XD) mentioned something about Katara and Zuko working better, and I heard other people started talking about Zutara. Soon, strangely, I started shipping them too and now I like both, though I think I might prefer Zutara just slightly.



Toph/Sokka, Suki/Sokka from Avatar: The Last Airbender


As I said above, I multiship in ATLA, and here is another example of me doing just that. I loved Sokka/Suki and it was done really well in canon. But then I started seeing Tokka all over the internet and, again, I started shipping it too. Luckily, when it comes to ATLA, I don't really get protective over one ship or the other, since I can enjoy most the ones I hear about :)



Willow/Oz from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow probably had the most stable and healthy relationships and her relationship with Oz was one of the best on the show(I wasn't really invested in most of the romance on BTVS since I preferred the platonic relationships). Oz is definitely a good guy and is one of the best male characters created by Joss Whedon and I loved how he liked Willow back before she got her complete confidence, which is how she got the other two significant others to notice her. Another pretty impressive thing about it was that, when it ended I actually CARED, which is quite impressive.


Willow/Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

While I was at first wary since I liked Oz so much, I ended up LOVING Willow and Tara together. I think they were both really good for each other and their relationship was healthy(well, as healthy as you can get on a BTVS), which is always nice to see. Tara was also a great character and her strength of character was a nice light, especially in the dark season 6, where she was the only one to remain any moral highground.
(I'm sorry I don't have many Lesbian relationships on this list, I just haven't come across all that many, which is something I definitely hope to remedy).


Buffy/Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Even though it got annoying at times, I think Buffy's healthiest relationship was with Angel(ha-ha). In between the some-what frustrating drama, it definitely had its good moments.


Revan/Bastila Shan from Star Wars

A Jedi and a Sith falling for each other? Yes, give me that story! I haven't seen much of it, but from what I have managed to see, I really enjoy it and I hope to see more of it(I just need to get the KOTOR games...)

Luke/Mara from Star Wars

I haven't seen much of them either, but hearing about them makes me love it already.


Romeo/Juliet from Romeo X Juliet

No, I am not talking about the Shakespeare play- I do love Shakespeare(he was a writing genius), but I do prefer the anime version of Romeo and Juliet(since the original version is kind of weird, gives the wrong message, isn't a romance, and Romeo, in all actuality, was a two-faced jerk). While a bit sappy in the middle, the romance ends up being amazing and the finale to the show is definitely perfect! :D


Other ships I like include- Lin/Tenzin, Tenel Ka/Jacen, Jaina/Zekk, Cordelia/Doyle, Tohru/Yuki, Tohru/Kyo, Buffy/Spike(in seasons 7 and 5 only), Angel/Spike, Wesley/Fred, Malcolm/Inara, Simon/Kaylee, Toshiko/Owen, Emma/August, and I kind of like Armin/Jean and Jean/Marco.


Fictional/Celebrity crushes list
Obi-Wan Kenobi






Thor






Tom Hiddleston(Loki)







Kili






Dean Winchester








Simon Tam



Thorin




Captain Jack Harkness





Anakin Solo



Ferus Olin






Armin Arlert