...way out on the corner of fucked up and evil...

Advent Children, oh my God! It's totally better on a second viewing, because the first time around you're all, hoping for AWESOME PLOTNESS but also harbouring the secret fears that it will be another Spirits Within, so it's like OMG TEH TENSION, but the second time around you can sit back, relax, and laugh yourself stupid at Kadaj's Oedipus complex. And also be relieved that the dubbed version omits the creepy leather noises. Why God, why?!

I was kind of suprised to hear Crispin Freeman playing Rude, as I automatically assumed he would be Sephiroth. I love Crispin Freeman, but he has this tendancy to make all his characters sound really, really pervy. Sometimes it works (Alucard, Rosiel, Touga-may-he-die-horribly-in-some-kind-of-accident-with-the-Akiocar) and sometimes it doesn't (Zelgadis). And on Rude, it just doesn't. Although I nearly pissed myself when he and Reno are talking about the bombs and Reno's like, "Flashy, huh?" and Rude goes, *pervy Crispin Freeman voice* "Yeah, you love it." I bet he does.

Of course, I completely forgive the casting directors because oh my God, Vincent Valentine is Shishio! This is awesome on a level beyond my comprehension, and completely makes up for the fact that Andrew Francis was somehow not cast as Kadaj. Because you know Kadaj is just movie!Dilandau five years down the line. Although I'm not sure I'm over casting Quinton Flynn rather than David Matranga as Reno. Way to pick the wrong Orphen, guys.

Plotwise, yeah whatever. "Oh my God, the Geostigma is being cured by the rain!" Yes, that's because it's dirt! Take a shower, you smelly bastards. Of course, if Yami and Deadwood have taught me anything - and they've taught me so much - it's that severed heads can make or break your affection for a character. In Kadaj's case? It totally makes it. And also Rufus's, because it's just hilarious to carry a dead alien head around in your wheelchair and not tell anybody about it.

So in conclusion, I guess there's really only one thing left to decide: does Sephiroth/Cloud qualify as incest or masturbation?

Playing the first Gungrave game is like having the batteries on your vibrator run out right before you reach orgasm - lots of fun while it lasts, but ultimately leaves you feeling unfulfilled and extremely grumpy.

I mean, seriously. What the fuck, Harry? I've just played through forty-five minutes of computer-generated carnage to get to you, and you just stand there? No backstory, no explaination, not even so much as a "Oh, hi Brandon, listen, I'm real sorry about that time I shot you in the face, threw you off a building, then laughed about it like the crazy bastard I am!" You son of a bitch.

Gungrave the anime, however, is damn cool. Feel those slashy Harry/Brandon vibes. But Jesus, how many aliases do some of these voice actors have? At least I can always rely on Lex Lang not to change his name on me. Was driving me mad not being able to figure out where I'd heard Lee's voice before.

Tis the disadvantage of there being so much interbreeding in dubbed anime. Listening to Gungrave is almost like listening to Kenshin - you got Saitou (Brandon), you got Anji (Big Daddy - man that never fails to make me laugh), you got Shishio (Lee) and best of all, you got Toramaru, the sumo wrestler, as Harry MacDowel. Also, Bear Walken was the narrator for Outlaw Star. His voice is ridiculously deep.

My throat hurts. I think I'm starting with a cold. This displeases me.

Went to see Layer Cake with Anne-Marie yesterday; not as funny as the Guy Richie films by which it was clearly inspired (and had almost the exact same cast, too, except for Jason Statham, who Jonathan informs me is now "a proper actor who gets to be in actual American films") and while the level of violence is about the same, it's much more serious than the shoot-outs and boxing matches of the Lock, Stock universe. Couldn't help wincing during the scene with the teapot in the cafe.

Anyway, it was very good and has an amusing ending that I completely didn't see coming. Not sure that I'd actually buy it on DVD, but a fine way to pass the time.

Had a two-hour dissertation lecture today - the girl sitting next to me had RANCIDLY bad breath. Brush your teeth, damnit!

Still watching Kenshin: Poor Katsu. Felt so sorry for him during that scene where he's all, "I'll tend your wounds, Sanosuke!" and Sano starts muttering Kenshin's name, and Katsu's like, *heartbreak face*. Of course, I'm biased, since I'm a sucker for Captain Sagara, and I always get weepy over the Sekihoutai storylines.

Am forced to conceed that yes, the guy that does the voice for Chou the Swordhunter is indeed the same guy who voiced the Digimon Emperor. Actually he pops up quite a lot in Kenshin, as Sano's friend with the floopy fringe and smily eyes as well as various minor characters.

What exactly is the point of Iwambo? He's just a big fat stupid pink guy. Why is he one of the Juppongatana? Is Shishio on some kind of political correctness kick where he has to have a representative of big fat stupid pink guys? This annoys me.

On a more positive note: Sejiro Hiko! Squee! Excuse me while I fangirl shamelessly. I love his scenes with Kenshin; the abortive hug scene, the handing on of the white cape, the reminiscing about Kenshin wetting the bed, the scenes where he's all superdeformed and floating on a little cloud while Kenshin sulks in the background, and the scene where Kenshin goes on about there being something wrong with his master's personality.

And of course: "To live without any of those annoying social obligations, the life of an artist is ideal. And a true genius like me can accomplish anything he sets his mind to."

Siiiigh... they just don't come any cooler than him.

Behold, the sexiness of my new icon. Get on your knees and worship him.

I really want to see Digimon 02 again. I miss the Kaiser; his whip and his evil giggle and his cappachino obsession... le sigh.

Not to mention, "Seeing you squirm is so delicious." Aaah, Ken. How we loved you.

Does anyone else remember the episode where they were in a Western-style town and this sheriff digimon (who may actually have been called Sheriffmon, now I think abotu it) arrested the DD and Sora and in his lunchbox there was a sticker of a chibi version of the Kaiser with a heart around it? I want a screencap of that scene.

Today has mostly been spent watching Kenshin. Haven't seen some of the earlier episodes in years, so quite enjoying getting reaquainted.

Had totally forgotten than Sanosuke used to call himself Zanza. Did, however, remember the Zanbatou, source of many off-colour penis metaphors during my college days. Aah, youth. Had also forgotten that really bizarre episode where Kaoru trains a sumo wrestler, and that very early on in the series, Sanosuke wasn't the uber-uke he became during the Kyoto arc (I blame Saitou for this. He's a bad influence on Sano. Actually, he's a bad influence on just about everyone).

God, Aoshi annoys me. He can act as honourable as he wants, it doesn't change the fact that he's working for a fucking arms/drug dealer. Shut your damn mouth, Aoshi, nobody wants to hear you talk.

The Kyoto arc is still my favourite, being home to the Holy Trinity of Cool - Saitou, Sejiro Hiko and Shishio - but the first series isn't as bad as I remember it being, though Jin'e is still Evil Gambit.

How girly is the Battosai? Poor Kenshin - his violent alter-ego actually manages to look more effeminate than he does. That's quite an achievement.

Yutaro is so damn cute. That scene where he walks in on Yahiko in the bath had me choking with laughter.

Also: Naked. Kenshin. Hotsprings.

"Reverse-bladed sword, huh?"
"Yup."