*Blog started on March 24, 2013.
I guess I am one of the lucky ones. My two jobs have both been deemed essential. Unfortunately, a lack of computers with Internet browsers at
the retailer and catching up on how things will operate with two less
hours (those still being paid thankfully) means that the Monday blog did
not even get started.
So again Morrisey confirms that he is a dick. He lied, everyday feels
like Monday. With an ex-girlfriend whose job has deemed unessential,
everyday will be silent and grey. That may be a bit of hyperbole.
Actually, it is a fuck up because I thought the lyric was "everyday
feels exactly the same". I guess I am the dick. How dare I not pay close
enough attention to Moz.
It is a good thing that my secondary website (MainEventOfTheDead.com), NinetyForChill.com is
dedicated to shorter movies. The only problem I have is it takes so
much time to find them through all the streaming services. Amazon Prime
has come through for me many a time when it comes to haste, but with
on-demand Rifftrax, finding these less than 90-minute gems makes me feel
like I am missing something, besides "Fleabag". It is still offers
plenty of the familiar, especially in terms of the post-apocalyptic, so
"Demon City Shinjuku" seemed right for a revisit.
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Demon City Shinjuku
Since the film suggests peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors,
lets just say in the not too distant future, the primary district of
Tokyo, Shinjuku, is a wasteland controlled by vile lowlifes and vengeful
spirits. This was the result of a pact made between the demons of hell
and Rebi Ra, a practitioner of the chi-dependent martial art of Nenpo
who envies any human that possesses more power than him. As a result of
his rival Genichiro's sacrifice in battle, the district was separated
from the rest of the city, but once Ra regains his strength, the world
is doomed.
10 years later, the world's president Kozumi Rama and daughter Sayaka
come to visit Japan for the first time. Upon arriving, a bouquet of
flowers meant to welcome the president turns out to be a trap from Ra.
This attack requires Ra's former master Aguni Rai to be at the
president's side as protection, so it seems that no one will be able to
stop him from fulfilling his pact with Hell. The only person who may
have the knowledge and skills of Nenpo to contend with him is
Genichiro's son, Kyoya.
Kyoya was barely a teenager when his father disappeared, and had no time
to master Nenpo. Since this seemingly makes him no match for Ra, why
should he sacrifice his life only to change nothing? His reluctance to
take on the war he just now became aware of seems steadfast, but if he
will not go, Sayaka is more than willing to take the task on herself. He
cannot just let the girl do this on her own, so despite his better
judgment, he will go to war with a realm of demons. Fortunately for him,
there are demons and residents who are opposed to Ra's rule, but will
that be enough to survive and restore the Monster City?
"Demon City Shinjuku" is the fourth feature by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. If
there is any director who I associate with all the negative stereotypes
of anime (graphic violence and excessive nudity), it would be him. That
maybe an insult to him because I think he has one of the most notable
character designs in the industry. But this design serves as a warning
that an anime may go over the top in a hurry.
"Demon City" is definitely one of his more restrained features. The
first version of this feature that I saw was on the SciFi Channel in the
late 1990's. Revisiting it kind of shocked me at moments of blatant
sexualization of women, but it turned out that these took nothing away
from the story. It leaves you wondering if there was much to take away
from to begin with.
The OVA's narrative is rather straight forward and you can tell that
they crammed the original novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi into this 82-minute
package. Action sequence after action sequence just happens, and that
totally takes away from the quest that an unlikely hero is suppose to
experience. When it comes to the action, aside from the first demon
battle, there is not much to it as a well-placed blow will solve any
problem.
There are some great scenes that show you how to cut corners, but only
if you want to know how to make a cartoon on the cheap would make this
film worth studying. That is kind of a shame because for the year it was
made, 1988, it might be the best-looking anime outside of "Akira" and
Studio Ghibli. As I said, this was done on the cheap, so I really would
like to see another/updated take on "Demon City Shinjuku." At least a
version with a English dub that is not used as a voice acting exercise
for its cast.
If you can watch "Demon City Shinjuku" with subtitles, this is worth a
watch. Too bad finding a free version of that is going to be a
challenge. $3.99 for misplaced poor Mexican and British accents is too
much.
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