Anime Movie Review: If You Want an Anime Experience, See Inu-Oh!

^{Taken from Anime News Network}

A Little Information Before We Start the Review

Hi, Everybody! I’m back from a little hiatus because my old laptop finally died on me. Luckily, I already had a new laptop being worked on for me and it is running great! Those of you that read my last post know that I recently celebrated my 10th year anniversary with my man. Last night, we went go see the new anime film, Inu-Oh.

^{Here’s me right before we left.}

^{Here’s us being all in love and waiting for Inu-Oh to start. Not the best picture of me, but he’s always handsome.}

The Story

So, I’m not going to go too much into spoiler territory, in case you want to see the film. But here’s what I will tell you. The movie takes place in 14th century Japan and is based on the novel Tales of the Heike: INU-OH by Hideo Furukawa.

The story centers around Tomona (a blind biwa playing priest, man I didn’t know what a biwa was before seeing this and I’m not going to forget it) and Inu-Oh (a deformed young man who calls himself “the king of the dogs”). They strike up a friendship and start a musical troop together that greatly surpasses that of Inu-Oh’s despicable father, who is enraged by this.

The Music

Like I said in the title, if you want an anime experience, see this movie. The music is just as gorgeous as the visuals and you won’t be getting the songs out of your head anytime soon. I’m still humming “The Burial Mound of Arms.”

The movie is described as a “rock opera” and my metal head hubby will agree. He was bopping his head all through the songs. However, before we even get to the part when Inu-Oh’s troop is formed, we are treated to a lot of traditional Japanese music. These songs are soothing and a feast for the ears. However, the rock songs are the real stars of the show.

The soundtrack is available on Spotify and I would highly recommend checking it out.

The Visuals

Most anime fans think that Japan is light years ahead of America when it comes to animation, so I’m probably biased. I don’t care. This film is GORGEOUS.

Just go watch the trailer. Right now. I’ll wait.

Final Thoughts

This amazing film truly made our 10th anniversary special and we’ve been blasting the soundtrack ever since. I would recommend Inu-Oh to any Japanophile, anime fan, or rock music lover.

Additional Musings

Of course, after the movie, we had to go to the ramen shop next door.

And then I spent way too much money in the bookstore.

But I needed Lore Olympus Volume 2 and the Aggretsuko (I love that anime!) game was on sale for $10! I also bought hubby a game for $7. Even though I spent all my current cash, it was a very enjoyable evening.

Have you seen Inu-Oh? What did you think? Do you know of any other anime movies we should see? Let me know in the comments.

Resurrected?

It has been a long time since I have written on WordPress, but since my whole livelihood depends on writing now, I figured it may be a good idea to bring the old blog back. Let me briefly get you up to speed from my last post.

The Alternanerd venture failed. I couldn’t earn enough money on Kickstarter to produce a box. But that’s okay. I learned from the experience.

Since 2018, I have been running my own (somewhat successful) freelance writing business, it pays the bills, but I’m left wanting to do more. I mainly specialize in resumes, cover letters, SEO content, business proposals, professional stuff like that. What I really want to do is write articles about things I am really passionate about. It’s a long list, but it includes, anime, film and television, pop culture, beauty, music, books, manga, and theater. I’m sure there’s more, but those are the big ones.

When I’m not filling orders for my business, I’m cold pitching my article ideas to websites. So far, I’ve pitched to Buzzfeed about a beauty piece and an article about Blockbuster Video. I’ve also hit up Anime News Network and some other anime sites about some pieces I want to write about School Days.

Image taken from Wikkipedia

To try and buzz up some interest about my writing, I am currently active on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

I think that pretty much sums up everything I currently need to say. Once I hit submit, I’ll be able to see if I still have some readers on here. Maybe I’ll even get some new ones. I’m actually really excited about getting back here and connecting with people with similar interests again. Maybe I’ll even drum up some interest in my business as well.

If you are interested in getting an order done from me, feel free to visit my website. I am also very interested in writing about the topics mentioned in this post.

Until next time!

Wishing

I think it’s kind of funny that you guys gave me a lot more likes on my latest book review than my entry about meeting a bonafide celebrity. I mean I know Everclear hasn’t been mainstream since I was a kid, but still it’s freaking Everclear! This band was huge when I was a kid and their music provided a lot of happy moments for me. As a young adult in college, the music helped me even further by getting me through the hard times that life has to offer. I was shocked I didn’t even get one comment. But hey! I know you guys are busy.

I didn’t write up this entry to scold anyone though. There’s a reason the title is called Wishing. Let’s go back to that entry about me meeting Art Alexakis. I didn’t write down our whole conversation of course, so there is some stuff missing. I mentioned that the album Invisible Stars was totally razor and he naturally said thank you and asked me if I had heard the new album yet. Unfortunately, at this point in time I hadn’t. Well, the day after the show I ordered it. It is called Black is the New Black and it is glorious.

Now, I am a naturally meek person, but I decided to message Art on facebook and tell him how I felt since he had asked me about the album. An hour later, I received a message saying thank you and it was great meeting me. Wow. What a nice guy!

Unfortunately, there was something that had been bugging me since his show. I’m sure for those of you that read the entry, you remember him asking me what my favorite song was. He did this so he could play a song just for me during sound check. But I was just so flustered meeting one of my heroes that I gave the standard radio hit. But in “I Will Buy You A New Life’s” defense, it is a wonderful love song!

I wished I would have told him a certain song off of Invisible Stars and that song is called “Wishing.” So, I messaged him again and explained myself. That song got me through the worst break up of my life and I’m honestly not sure if I will ever be over it. He hasn’t answered and I don’t expect him to. He’s a rockstar! I didn’t expect him to answer the first time! Here’s the song if you want to hear it.

Art also did a recent interview with Spin magazine:

http://www.spin.com/2015/06/everclear-art-alexakis-sparkle-and-fade-interview-summerland/

“Under the Bridge and Over the Rail”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are my favorite band. In 2012, they came to my state. I had been dating my boyfriend (now fiance) for three months at the time. My dad had bought 4 tickets back in December of 2011. One for me, one for him, one for his girlfriend, and one for the guy I was dating that would dump me 2 weeks later.

Dad agreed to give the ticket that my ex was going to take to the present fiance. Besides, it gave an excuse for my dad to meet the new boyfriend.

The day finally came. The show wouldn’t take place until night fell and I went through the entire day feeling like I was going to explode. I went to my college courses practically bouncing in my wheelchair. Once classes let out after 2 pm, I raced home to shower and change into a pair of ripped jeans, a Red Hot Chili Peppers shirt, Converse sneakers, and my fake lip ring. I had always wanted to get my lip pierced, but I’m chicken. By the time I was done, my love was sitting in my living room and we just had to wait for dad.

It was a long wait to actually get into the arena, but I was smiling the entire time. Dad stood behind me, holding her hand with one hand and my handlebar with the other. My own partner stood next to me holding my hand.

Once we got into the arena, a group of photographers asked us if we wanted to take pictures. The pictures were going to be displayed during the final song, Give It Away. Dad urged my love and I to do it. So we did. I was so excited that my smile was huge and radiant. When the photographer did his job he left me with a comment, “Perfect.” I was confident enough about the photo. My ringlets were styled in a way that made them look attractive in a wild way.

At the souvenir booth, I bought a light blue shirt that had all the guys on it. Blue is my favorite color. I pulled the shirt on over my first shirt. I didn’t care if I got hot.

The crowd exploded with passion when they played “Under the Bridge.” He’s not as big of a fan as me. He prefers metal where I prefer 90s alternative. But he shouted with me. We stood up together as the opening chords floated into the audience. I gripped the rail tightly to hold my balance and he shifted his weight so I could lean on him  We began to sing and I knew I loved him.

What he didn’t know is that I always had a romantic fantasy of attending a concert with a significant other. That fantasy had finally happened and it had happened with my favorite band.

The Adventures of Pete and Pete, Polaris, and “Everywhere” (Orginally Posted November 13, 2013)

This morning I listened to a new CD I recently got for my ipod. It’s a little known gem from a band called Polaris. Never heard of Polaris? I’m not surprised. Sit back and relax, kiddies, we’re going through another 90s flashback.

Polaris is a fictional band made up for the 90s Nickelodeon show, the Adventures of Pete and Pete. Does this ring a bell?

How cool is it that a TV show had its own house band? Anyway, Polaris wrote nearly all the music for the show, including the opening theme and were featured in the opening credits.

If you’ve never seen the show or don’t remember it too well, I highly recommend it. When it was on the air, I wasn’t old enough to appreciate its amazing qualities. Pete and Pete was a quirky show about two brothers that shared the same name. The show wasn’t a teen show with drama and stuff like that. It was all about highlighting what it was like it to be a kid, growing up, and blowing up those little details to momentous proportions.

The cinematography was also beautifully done and the music, well there’s no other way to describe it but beautiful. Pete and Pete never really caught on to main stream success (though now it has a cult following). So the makers had to find obscure music that wouldn’t break the bank. Other bands provided songs for the show as well.

The music of the Pete and Pete is very 90s-esque and alternative. It’s not as heavy as grunge though and is more melodic. The funny thing is Polaris never wrote any songs that actually had to do with the show or episodes. But whenever a track was put in, it fit the scene PERFECTLY. It takes true talent to do that.

Back when the show was on the air, Wheaties cereal was having a promotion that if you sent in box tops, you would get a cassette tape with songs by Polaris from the show. The cool thing about it was that Big Pete gave an opening and closing to the tape.

Well, they finally released a CD called Polaris: The Music from the Adventures of Pete and Pete. It’s also available on iTunes for 10 bucks. There’s one track I want to talk about because I relate it to what is currently going on in my life. It’s called “Everywhere.”

A couple of weeks back, my boyfriend told me that “he carries me everywhere with him.” Truth is I couldn’t really feel that feeling as well until I opened up myself to it and heard this song. Now, I get it.

The song really sounds like it could be a break up song. But everyone has their own interpretations of songs and arts of the like. I will bold the lyrics I find relates to my situation. Now I get misty-eyed every time I hear it. So, give the show and music a try.

“Everywhere”:

 I put your photograph away
I can’t look at you today
I put your letters upstairs
But it’s no good because you’re everywhere

I can try to hide,
But why waste my time?

You left your glasses behind
And somebody said you were doing fine
I play a game, but you’re not there
But it’s no good, because you’re everywhere

I can try to hide,
But why waste my time?
Center round of you
Everything I do says you’re everywhere
Everywhere

I hear a song that you sang
It hits my head like a circus train
I cried out when you were there
You were there because you’re everywhere

I can try to hide
But why waste my time?
Center round of you,
everything I do
I can try to hide
But why waste my time?
Center round in me,
Everything I see says you’re everywhere
Everywhere
Everywhere
Everywhere

Pete and Pete Reunion, Polaris playing “Everywhere” :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFXx4Ae—go