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Reviews
Akagi (2005)
A Mahjong anime, but even if you hate mahjong still watch it
Akagi is a Mahjong anime. Mahjong is a popular game in many Asian countries (it also frequently played in the West though) which involve using tiles to build certain hands, and ones that contain patterns are worth more. Now before you go "Ugh, I don't want to learn all this rules to this game to understand this anime" you don't have to. Most of the concepts are well explained, and there's enough of other non-tile related things going on to keep you occupied. In fact, I initially disliked mahjong until I saw this anime. The series is very dark; its setting is in the seedy underground Yakuza lairs in Postwar Japan. Playing Mahjong has become a big deal in Yakuza dealings and many would aspire to gamble it up and perhaps become ruler of this dark world. As to be expected gang members and leaders are not the nicest people, and thus one would need a great amount of wits, street smarts, and just plain courage. Enter Shigeru Akagi, a teenage kid who is completely fearless. He has no qualms over driving over cliffs or cheating angry Yakuza members right in front of them. One thing he does lack though, is any knowledge of mahjong which quickly changes as he inadvertently helps a poor losing player on the edge of being killed by the Yakuza by offering bold advice. The loser, Nangou, pleads with Akagi to help him as the kid has shown great intuition and possibly great talent. Akagi's cleans house without even knowing all the rules. But intuition and fearlessness is not all he has; Akagi frequently messes with the heads of his opponents. Sometimes they actually pass out-- that's pretty hardcore. And a legend begins...
Despite the strange looking animation, everything is done with a certain style that fits in well with the dark climate of the story without looking contrived. The music is also pretty catchy. Near the end, the story gets a little weak, but I can say this anime was a unique experience that you couldn't get elsewhere.
Shin seiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Shito shinsei (1997)
Style without substance
Evangelion is a good series, but stay away from this. If you've seen the anime before, there is really nothing you can get out of this. Most of the film "death" is just recycled footage rearranged in cool ways. There are also violin solos in between "intermissions" that are very nice, but I came here to watch a psychological mecha anime, not to hear people play music. It might be useful to someone who hasn't seen the anime, but I feel they're better off watching the TV show. All that rapidly flashing text isn't going to be very helpful, and might knock seizure prone people out.
"Rebirth" is something new, but it's made redundant by End of Evangelion so if you've seen the series, head to that instead. Like many before me have said watch the series first, or else it will really mess with your head! One thing that rebirth has that EoE doesn't is the ending song "Tamashi no Refrain" which is a very cool song sung by the same woman who sang "Cruel Angel's Thesis," the title song of the series. Speaking of that, you're much better off watching the series as I really love that song.
For the Lazy:
Pros: Violin Solos are pleasant Ending song is great Interesting way of organizing the events
Cons: You can get most of this content elsewhere Mainly recycled stuff, making you feel you got ripped off
Check the CD's out for the music, check the series for the story, and check the End of Evangelion for the ending. But don't check here, unless you are a devoted fan and MUST have everything eva-related.