Behind the Scenes – I Am Legend
More behind the scenes fun for you today. Here’s a look inside the new film I Am Legend. Larger version available inside the Full Diagnosis along with an interview from star Will Smith and director Francis Lawrence. Enjoy, and make sure you come back on Friday for our review of the film!
I Am Legend
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Behind the Scenes – Juno
You’ll have to wait two more days for our review of Juno, but until then enjoy these short behind the scenes looks at Jason Reitman‘s new film. First up here’s Ellen Page discussing how much she’s like the character of Juno, as opposed to the character from her last film, at a Q&A from the Toronto Film Festival. Funny stuff! Larger version available inside the Full Diagnosis along with Michael Cera and Jason Bateman discussing their reunion, and Reitman, Page and screenwriter Diablo Cody answering questions at a post-screening Q&A session. All that, plus Page and Cody discussing the film, track runners, taking risks, and more! Enjoy and make sure to come back Friday for our review of the film!
Juno
N/A
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Faith the Vampire Slayer
Five by Five. Another piece of Buffy Season 8 is put in place with the conclusion of the Faith arc in “No Future for You” Part 4. A slayer will die, Giles will kill, and Faith with get an offer she can’t refuse. Oh, and there’s a cameo by everyone’s favorite former mayor of Sunnyville. If that’s not enough to make you pick-up this issue I honestly don’t know what to say.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #9
Custom Rating
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“No Future for You” part 4 brings the end of Faith‘s story arc, but thankfully not the end of our beloved “bad” slayer. The final chapter starts with a memory of Faith and Mayor Wilkins. Equally parts sweet and creepy it reminds us again just how fucked up this girl has gotten over her short life (and what a terrific villain the Mayor really was). From there we jump right into a slayer vs. slayer battle and some magic thrown in too (see Giles isn’t just watching anymore as he lets a little of the old Ripper loose).
We also see Buffy and Giles haven’t completely made up after the Spike incident from Season Seven and glimpse a new partnership between Giles and Faith which might be something worth pursuing in future issues. And we finally get a peek at the name and face of this season’s big bad – Twilight (okay, so it’s the masked face, but that’s something right!). From the short ending scene with his minion we are given more hints about his plans and the lengths he will go to obtain his goal, the “coming purge,” and the focus of all his plans – the death of Buffy Summers.
In many ways Faith is a more compelling character than Buffy and I’m glad she got her own story arc here, but is some ways I wish they would spin her off in her own book which could deal more in-depth with emotionally screwed-up sex pistol who can take care of the world, but isn’t quite sure how to take care of herself. And I must admit I loved the flashback and always enjoy some of Mayor Wilkins.
We get what we need from this issue. Although there are no surprises there’s plenty of hurt to go around including Buffy’s bruised ego at Giles’ dismissal, Faith once again forced into a role she seems uniquely suited for, and, finally, the appearance of our villain. It’s not all it could be, but it moves the season along and with Whedon returning for the next issue it looks like a promising new year, maybe not for Buffy herself (knowing Whedon’s joy in putting his beloved creation through pain), but definitely for her fans.
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Justice Society of America #11
“Thy Kingdom Come” continues as the Kingdom Come Superman takes his first steps trying to fit into a new world. Plus some new and returning heroes, more with the Cosmic treadmill, a kick ass battle or two, and a tender moment between two lost super-humans without worlds of their own. It’s Justice Society of America issue #11 folks, and this is the review!
Justice Society of America #11
Custom Rating
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“The Second Coming,” part two of “Thy Kingdom Come” finds the Justice Society and the Kingdom Come Superman coming to grips with each other. I really enjoyed the early uncomfortable scenes as different members of the JSA react to Superman in their own ways. I like Johns too-short take on Batman in these scenes and wonder if he might get to take a stab at one of the Bat-books in the future. We learn that Earth-22 has been destroyed and there is no home for this Superman to return to. It’s a fun ride as the “new” Superman takes his tentative steps to be part of the new world and the JSA.
We also get a new Judomaster (which was okay but nothing special). When you fill the pages with more and more heroes as this version of Justice Society is doing many of these marginal heroes just don’t make the cut. I’m a little concerned the cast is getting too big (it will grow even larger next issue), what I liked about the previous JSA was Johns making the group just big enough to emphasize their characters but not going overboard. We’ll have to see how this plays out.
Also in this issue: Wally and Jay play with the Cosmic treadmill (which didn’t really live up to the promise from the teaser in the last issue), plus a very touching between Superman and Power Girl – both lost heroes from other worlds now gone, and the re-appearance of Mr. America. All these moments are laying ground for stories to come, and I like the idea of teaming up the two lost souls together in Supes and Power Girl, and any mention of Barry Allen makes me happy (but is anyone else wondering, with all the Countdown tie-ins why hasn’t a Barry Allen shown up from any alternate reality??). Oh, well.
There’s a huge fight between Judomaster and the Ketsueki Sensei, but as with all of Geoff Johns tales the real fun comes in the characters interacting with each other and dealing with new and unusual circumstances. Sadly there’s now flashbacks in this issue showcasing the art of Alex Ross, but we do get a pretty darn good cover and a story credit for him; guess that will have to do ‘til next issue.
So far the “Thy Kingdom Come” has started out subtly. I’m not sure exactly where Johns plans on taking our new Superman, how long he will stick around, or what his role in the larger DCU will end up being, but I’m psyched to see his introduction and very pleased to see how well and naturally he fits into the Justice Society. I hope they keep him around a very long time.
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Kanon
Kanon is a story set in a snowy town of Hokkaido. The main protagonist, Yuichi Aizawa is returning to the town after being away for seven years. You discover over time that he used to visit during summer vacation back in grade school, but he does not remember anything from his past. Yuichi Aizawa moved in with his Aunt Akiko and Cousin Nayuki Minase to finish out high school.
Kanon
4 Stars
Kanon is a story set in a snowy town of Hokkaido. The main protagonist, Yuichi Aizawa is returning to the town after being away for seven years. You discover over time that he used to visit during summer vacation back in grade school, but he does not remember anything from his past. Yuichi Aizawa moved in with his Aunt Akiko and Cousin Nayuki Minase to finish out high school.
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Over the course of time, Yuichi reunites with several girls who turn out to have a great deal with his past and future. Ayu Tsukimiya, a fun-loving girl from Yuichi’s childhood reappears by running into him on the street; she is stuck in a haze, and does not remember much from her past. Makoto Sawatori shows up unexpectedly and begins attacking Yuichi for no apparent reason. After the attack, Yuichi brings her back to the house and she is welcomed into the household by Akiko and Nayuki, where they learn of her extreme amnesia. Nayuki Minase is Yuichi’s Cousin, but she also has always been in love with him. Nayuki is also a great athlete and is in the same class with Yuichi. Shiori Misaka, sister of Kaori, shows up outside of Yuichi’s school in the courtyard waiting for her sister that never comes. Over time, Shiori and Yuichi become close, allowing her to confide in him about her illness. Mai Kawasumi, a very quiet and often understood, third-year student at the same high school as Yuichi. Mai remains silent, slowly explaining herself as the series progresses. Mai’s one and only friend until Yuichi came along was Sayuri Kurata.
The main girls in the anime cause the plot to be ripped into five pieces. With a plot in so many sections it is hard to fully grasp everything, although, Kanon does a fine job at explaining things plainly. The use of flashbacks and clues allows you to follow the story with ease. The flashbacks are used to show when a memory has been rediscovered within the character. Yuichi slowly remembers bits and pieces of his past, which included Nayuki, Ayu, Makoto and Mai. Yuichi had known each of these girls, and either completely blocked out their memory or parts of it in Nayuki’s case.
Ayu, as you will discover, was a girl he had promised to return to after the school year let out again. But what Yuichi does not remember until the very end was that Ayu had an accident right before he left town, she fell out of the large tree in the forest clearing. Makoto was once a fox who he befriended before the Kanon story started. Mai was yet another friend from Yuichi’s past. Yuichi had deserted each of these girls, where they continued to think about him, creating their own insanity. Yuichi helped each of the girls in the story in some way. Ayu eventually recovers from her comatose state, kind of a sappy ending though. Makoto died but only after she accomplished every wish she ever made thanks to Yuichi. Mai, after defeating the demons she believed to be attacking her and Yuichi returned to her happier self. Shiori finally recovered from her illness after Kaori accepted her as a sister, which is all she wanted from the start. Moreover, Yuichi finally realized that he had hurt Nayuki all those years ago.
This is my first hardcore romance drama, and I have to say that it was a pretty confusing anime series all together. You never fully understand Mai’s demons, Makoto’s ability to become human then finally vanishing, Ayu’s ability to detach from her comatose-self and I am still left wondering why everyone had such horrible cases of amnesia. Kanon was sappy, tear-filled and most certainly strange. The plot was incredibly difficult to follow, especially with all the amnesia involved, although I did like the flashbacks. It seems that many people agree with the 4.5 out of 5 star rating on this anime, but I cannot seem to figure out why. I did not particularly enjoy this anime, but maybe I just need more action to enjoy something.