Quick Anime Review

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! (2017) | Rating: 3.5/5
Ever since the debut of this delightful group of magical boys, I've understood why anime fans of the 90's were so into Sailor Moon and the like. Sure, there are some exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, magical girls never really heavily interested me. At least, not as much as magical boys have. After watching two full seasons of random and hilarious shenanigans, it was nice that they decided to give fans one last hurrah with the cast in a near hour long OVA. A staple of most high school anime series is saying farewell to the seniors, which is what this OVA focuses on. Not only do the juniors deal with the departure of their precious seniors, but the viewers get to share the feels of the Earth Defense Club and student council moving onto the next chapter of their lives. Expect plenty of recaps from past seasons accompanied by musical numbers from each character and, of course, the “monster of the week”.



Boku no Kanojo ga Majimesugiru Sho-bitch na Ken (2017) | Rating: 3/5
If you really know me, then it was obvious that I was drawn by the suggestive cover, then a little bit of the story. What I got was a constant perverse misunderstanding of a relationship. This show has a pseudo-harem feel to it as almost every female character has something inappropriate to say to or about our main character, while his girlfriend and he are simply trying to learn each other and their relationship. This series is one that I wouldn’t honestly recommend to anyone as its storyline is a complete trainwreck and the perversions are a constant, which could be annoying for some viewers. But the trainwreck aspect is what kept me watching, which is kinda sad. Despite that, I did find myself entertained and laughing at how ridiculous everything was.



Gantz (2004) | Rating: 3/5
In my daily rotation of anime, outside of the new seasonal series, I try to have a variety of genres and tones; there has to be at least one dark series in the mix. This was it, at the time. I’ve been meaning to watch this series for a while and I honestly haven’t heard too much about it. All I know is that it has a live action movie, it’s kind of a dark and mature series, and VampyBitMe has cosplayed from it. In other words, I had no expectations going into it. I must admit that it did take me a while to really get into the story as I was confused about what the heck was going on and how their tasks worked. Over time, I did get a better grasp of their mission, but there were still times outside of their mission work that I was a little lost on what was reality and what wasn’t. By the end of the series, I did look forward to moving onto the second season and possibly the Japanese live action movie and Netflix series/movie.



Kakegurui (2017) | Rating: 3.5/5
The high energy, visual aesthetics, and gambling premise really drew me into this show and I wasn’t disappointed in the entertainment value of this show. Sure, there’s some values in the actual gamble aspect and the stakes aren’t all that high, if existent at all at times, but I still had fun with each episode I watched. Honestly, I didn’t recognize the flaws in the gamble mechanics until Mother's Basement pointed them out, but I liked watching these crazy characters. The illusion of risks being made was enough to keep me occupied and entertained, so I guess I didn’t have any major problems with such a flaw. In the end, I’m hoping that they will give us a second season, because it seemed like there was more madness to come for a group of unique characters.



Koro-sensei Quest! (2017) | Rating: 5/5
I really love and enjoy Assassination Classroom! The second season brought a lot of feels for me and it made me look forward to reliving that journey and emotion through the manga, which I believe is still publishing in the U.S. While streaming on Rabb.it, I wanted to watch a short running series and this was the perfect fit running at 10 minutes. This easy to binge animated treat retells the storyline from the first season and sets it up as a RPG which includes small, annoying monsters for leveling up, side quests, and adding party members to the group. So, expect some inside jokes and comical RPG tropes throughout this alternate story with plenty of laughs.


If there's something you want me to review, check out my Patreon on how to submit requests.

February Updates

Patreon: The New Frontier

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V-log: A-Kon 28

Movies Watched in 2018

Starting date: January 1, 2018
Finishing date: December 31, 2018

1. The Wailing [Gok-seong] (2016, South Korea)
2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017, USA)
3. The Room (2003, USA)
4. Flatliners (2017, USA)
5. Proud Mary (2018, USA)
6. 68 Kill (2017, USA)
7. Friend Request (2016, Germany)
8. The Basement (2017, Hungary)
9. Leap! (2016, France)
10. Asura: The City of Madness (2016, South Korea)
11. Another You (2017, USA)
12. Feed the Light [Lokalvårdaren] (2014, Sweden)
13. The Girl with All the Gifts (2016, UK)
14. Mother! (2017, USA)
15. Gender Revolution (2017, USA)
16. The Foreigner (2017, UK)
17. Kill Another Day [a.k.a Dead Rush] (2016, Canada)
18. The Mountain Between Us (2017, US)
19. Blade Runner 2049 (2017, USA)
20. Despicable Me 3 (2017, USA)
21. The Shape of Water (2017, USA)
22. Serial Killer 1 [L'affaire SK1] (2015, France)
23. Tell Me How I Die (2016, USA)
24. Bitch (2017, USA)
25. The Villainess [Ak-Nyeo] (2017, South Korea)
26. Night Catches Us (2010, USA)
27. I, Tonya (2017, USA)
28. Juice (1992, USA)
29. The Snowman (2017, USA)
30. Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017, USA)
31. Geostorm (2017, USA)
32. The Ghoul (2016, UK)
33. Happy Death Day (2017, USA)
34. Jigsaw (2017, USA)
35. Surburbicon (2017, USA)
36. Winchester (2018, USA)
37. Serpent (2017, South Africa)
38. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017, UK)
39. It (2017, USA)
40. Ingrid Goes West (2017, USA)
41. Black Panther (2018, USA)
42. Landline (2017, USA)
43. Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017, USA)
44. Hounds of Love (2016, Australia)
45. Spa Night (2016, USA)
46. DRIB (2017, Norway)
47. The 13th Friday (2017, USA)
48. Puzzled Love (2011, Spain)
49. Wolves at the Door (2016, USA)
50. Hustle & Flow (2005, USA)
51. All I See Is You (2016, USA)
52. Game Night (2018, USA)
53. Whose Streets? (2017, USA)
54. Anna (2017, USA)
55. The Red Turtle [La tortue rouge] (2016, France)
56. The Little Hours (2017, USA)
57. Amelia 2.0 (2017, USA)
58. Mayhem (2017, USA)
59. Murder on the Orient Express (2017, USA)
60. Phantom of the Theatre (2016, China)
61. Thor: Ragnarok (2017, USA)
62. Lady Bird (2017, USA)
63. Alena (2015, Sweden)
64. The Disaster Artist (2017, USA)
65. Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017, USA)
66. Ferdinand (2017, USA)
67. One of Us (2017, USA)
68. Delirium (2018, USA)
69. Acrimony (2018, USA)
70. The Breadwinner (2017, USA)
71. We Are X (2016, USA)
72. Circle (2015, USA)
73. 13 Cameras (2015, USA)
74. Truth or Dare (2018, USA)
75. Downsizing (2017, USA)
76. Insidious: The Last Key (2018, USA)
77. A Quiet Place (2018, USA)
78. Verónica (2017, Spain)
79. Tunnel [Teo-neol] (2016, South Korea)
80. Bad Apples (2018, USA)
81. The Doll (2017, USA)
82. My Friend Dahmer (2017, USA)
83. The Boy and the Beast [Bakemono no ko] (2015, Japan)
84. Child's Play (1988, USA)
85. Deviant Behavior (2018, USA)
86. As the Gods Will (2014, Japan)
87. Ouija House (2018, USA)
88. Avengers: Infinity War (2018, USA)
89. The Game Changer (2017, China)
90. What Happened to Monday (2017, USA)
91. Breaking In (2018, USA)
92. The Florida Project (2017, USA)
93. Blade of the Immortal [Mugen no jûnin] (2017, Japan)
94. Kung Fu Yoga (2017, China)
95. Compliance (2012, USA)
96. Den of Thieves (2018, USA)
97. Beauty and the Beast (1991, USA)
98. Coco (2017, USA)
99. Descendants (2015, USA)
100. Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie (2017, USA)
101. Fifty Shades Freed (2018, USA)
102. Diverge (2016, USA)
103. Mercy Christmas (2017, USA)
104. It Takes From Within (2014, USA)
105. The Age of Shadows [Mil-jeong] (2016, South Korea)
106. Days of Power (2018, USA)
107. Men in Black (1997, USA)
108. Deadpool 2 (2018, USA)
109. Ocean Waves [Umi ga kikoeru] (2018, USA)
110. Descendants 2 (2017, USA)
111. Teenage Cocktail (2016, USA)
112. Tokyo Ghoul (2017, Japan)
113. The Phantom Detective [Tamjung Hong Gil-dong: Sarajin Ma-eul] (2016, South Korea)
114. Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994, USA)
115. Upgrade (2018, USA)
116. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018, USA)
117. Red Sparrow (2018, USA)
118. Fireworks [Hana-bi] (1997, Japan)
119. Death Wish (2018, USA)
120. Delirium (2018, USA)
121. The Feels (2017, USA)
122. Murder on the Orient Express (1974, USA)
123. Tag [Riaru onigokko] (2015, Japan)
124. Fixed (2017, USA)
125. Hereditary (2018, USA)
126. The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018, USA)
127. Thoroughbreds (2017, USA)
128. Every Day (2018, USA)
129. Phantom Thread (2017, USA)
130. Wonderstruck (2017, USA)
131. Call Me By Your Name (2017, USA)
132. Love, Simon (2018, USA)
133. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018, USA)
134. Annihilation (2018, USA)
135. She's All That (1999, USA)
136. The First Purge (2018, USA)
137. Tomb Raider (2018, USA)
138. Unsane (2018, USA)
139. Attack of the Southern Fried Zombies (2017, USA)
140. The Vault (2017, USA)
141. Like Me (2017, USA)
142. A Wrinkle in Time (2018, USA)
143. Ocean's 8 (2018, USA)
144. Howl's Moving Castle [Hauru no ugoku shiro] (2004, Japan)
145. Get Out (2017, USA)
146. Incredibles (2004, USA)
147. Incredibles 2 (2018, USA)
148. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986, USA)
149. Hackers (1995, USA)
150. Traffik (2018, USA)
151. In This Corner of the World [Kono sekai no katasumi ni] (2016, Japan)
152. Rampage (2018, USA)
153. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018, USA)
154. Isle of Dogs (2018, USA)
155. Disobedience (2017, USA)
156. L.O.R.D: Legend of the Ravaging Dynasties [Jue ji] (2016, China)
157. The Invasion (2007, USA)
158. The Invitation (2015, USA)
159. Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017, China)
160. Ready Player One (2018, USA)
161. Odd Thomas (2013, USA)
162. Pop Aye (2017, Singapore)
163. Extinction (2018, USA)
164. The Darkest Minds (2018, USA)
165. The Satellite Girl and Milk Cow [Uribyeol Ilho-wa Eollukso ] (2014, South Korea)
166. Behind Some Dark Cloud (2015, USA)
167. Dark Crimes (2016, USA)
168. Tully (2018, USA)
169. Christopher Robin (2018, USA)
170. Slender Man (2018, USA)
171. Hallows Eve (2016, UK)
172. Spawn (1997, USA)
173. Hellboy (2004, USA)
174. Altered Hours (2006, USA)
175. I Feel Pretty (2018, USA)
176. Crazy Rich Asians (2018, USA)
177. Revenge (2017, France)
178. The Forbidden Kingdom (2008, USA)
179. Cruel Summer (2016, UK)
180. November Criminals (2017, USA)
181. The Twelve Chairs (1970, USA)
182. BlacKkKlansman (2018, USA)
183. The Phantom (1996, USA)
184. Charlotte (2017, USA)
185. The Perfect Score (2004, USA)
186. How to Talk to Girls At Parties (2017, UK)
187. First Reformed (2017, USA)
188. Searching (2018, USA)
189. Mom and Dad (2017, USA)
190. The Bobby Brown Story (2018, USA)
191. Jaws (1975, USA)
192. A Kid Like Jake (2018, USA)
193. You Were Never Really Here (2017, USA)
194. Life of the Party (2018, USA)
195. The Bad Seed (2018, USA)
196. The Wrong Friend (2018, USA)
197. The Nun (2018, USA)
198. Bad Samaritan (2018, USA)
199. Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018, USA)
200. American Animals (2018, USA)
201. Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017, UK)
202. The Ninth Passenger (2018, Canada)
203. SuperFly (2018, USA)
204. Tragedy Girls (2017, USA)
205. Blood Ransom (2014, USA)
206. Better Watch Out (2016, Australia)
207. Ghost Stories (2017, UK)
208. The Female Brain (2017, USA)
209. Overboard (2018, USA)
210. Hush (2016, USA)
211. Mute (2018, USA)
212. Tag (2018, USA)
213. Car Wash (1976, USA)
214. Venom (2018, USA)
215. Turistas (2006, USA)
216. The Den (2013, USA)
217. Ryde (2017, USA)
218. Smokin' Aces (2006, USA)
219. Bad Times at the El Royale (2018, USA)
220. The Glass Coffin [El ataúd de cristal] (2016, Spain)
221. Baskin (2015, Turkey)
222. Unbreakable (2000, USA)
223. Leave No Trace (2018, USA)
224. Hotel Artemis (2018, USA)
225. Split (2016, USA)
226. Skyscraper (2018, USA)
227. The Tag-Along [Hong yi xiao nu hai] (2015, Taiwan)
228. Horror Story (2013, India)
229. Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives (2010, USA)
230. Desolation (2017, USA)
231. Happy Hunting (2017, USA)
232. Eighth Grade (2018, USA)
233. Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town (2017, USA)
234. Unfriended: Dark Web (2018, USA)
235. Don't Watch This (2018, USA)
236. 14 Cameras (2018, USA)
237. Truth or Dare (2017, USA)
238. Tales from the Hood 2 (2018, USA)
239. Tales from the Hood (1995, USA)
240. Tales of Halloween (2015, USA)
241. Whitney (2018, USA)
242. Sorry to Bother You (2018, USA)
243. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001, USA)
244. Where the Skin Lies (2017, UK)
245. The Evil in Us (2016, USA)
246. Simon Killer (2012, France)
247. Proxy (2013, USA)
248. Shelley (2016, Denmark)
249. Antibirth (2016, USA)
250. The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018, Canada)
251. The Hate U Give (2018, USA)
252. Overboard (1987, USA)
253. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018, USA)
254. The Assignment (2016, USA)
255. Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018, USA)
256. The Meg (2018, USA)
257. Three Identical Strangers (2018, USA)
258. Fruitvale Station (2013, USA)
259. Beware the Slenderman (2016, USA)
260. Never Goin' Back (2018, USA)
561. Sicario (2015, USA)
562. Instant Family (2018, USA)
563. Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018, USA)
564. The Happytime Murders (2018, USA)
265. Once Upon a Deadpool (2018, USA)
266. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018, USA)
267. Peppermint (2018, USA)
268. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018, USA)
269. God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness (2018, USA)
270. McQueen (2018, UK)
271. Aquaman (2018, USA)
272. The Little Stranger (2018, UK)
273. Welcome Home (2018, USA)
274. Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018, USA)

BlipMasta5's 2017 Musical Notables!

We're back again for another year of great music!! Now to give the honors away to some of the standout artists, albums, and songs. Check out the video below the goods! Hopefully, next year will yield even more fantastic tunes for us music lovers.

A-Kon 28 Manga Haul

Triple Thanksgiving Movie Feature

Features: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles; Addams Family Values, & Kristy
When: Tuesday, November 21 at 7:30 pm CST
Where Rabb.it via mikosuzahiru18

Click the banner for more information and to RSVP.

Triple Anime Halloween Feature

Features: Imawa Kuni no Alice (Alice in Borderland), Perfect Blue, & Kagewani [Kagewani: Shou, if there's time]
When: Tuesday, October 31 at 7:30 pm CST
Where Rabb.it via mikosuzahiru18

Click the banner for more information and to RSVP.

Review: Berlin Syndrome

Starring: Teresa Palmer, Max Riemelt

Rating: R

Directed By: Cate Portland

Synopsis: While holidaying in Berlin, Australian photographer, Clare, meets Andi, a charismatic local man and there is an instant attraction between them. A night of passion ensues. But what initially appears to be the start of a romance, takes an unexpected and sinister turn when Clare wakes the following morning to discover Andi has left for work and locked her in his apartment. An easy mistake to make, of course, except Andi has no intention of letting her go again. Ever.

I was always taught to be careful when traveling alone whether you're going to a new country or simply a new city. Clare is a tourist who obviously didn't get that memo. She's a photographer wanting to take photos of architecture. She travels to Berlin from Australia and quickly lets it be known to a stranger that she is exactly that...alone. This probably isn't the best way to go about things even though he is someone she finds attractive. 

 Andi is an English teacher who seems to live a normal life. He works, visits his father and takes Clare out. Soon, it's time for Clare to leave and head to the next stop on her trip. Andi doesn't seem very happy with this. Luckily for him, she changes her mind and goes to find him. This leads to a night of passion. The next morning, she finds herself locked in his apartment with no way out. The movie starts to pick up here. Why has he kept her locked in? Is she the first woman he's kidnapped?


The screenwriter chooses not to flesh out either character too much. We know vague things about each person's past. Clare's mother is awaiting back in Australia. Andi's mother abandoned him when he was young. As time passes, Andi treats keeping Clare kidnapped as if nothing is wrong. He brings her flowers even when she tries to escape. He likes to tie her down and take strange Polaroids of her. How long can he keep her hidden? Her mother hasn't had any contact with her aside from the texts he sends with her stolen sim card.

It's certainly a situation where she is ultimately powerless. Eventually, stockholm syndrome begins to kick in. She starts cooking and cleaning for him as well as having sex with him willingly. There were plenty of questions for me that slowly got answered. How were there no neighbors? This is explained by the fact that Andi is renovating the building that he lives in. Why does no one go looking for Clare? A missing tourist probably doesn't matter in the long run.


In the end, it's the psychological damage done to Clare that makes this movie work. Teresa Palmer plays the wide-eyed victim quite well. It's possibly her best role to date. There were a few times when I wanted to shake her and scream at her to fight harder. The ending was definitely the most frustrating. I wanted some concrete evidence that she would be safe. What happened to her after the climax? We're meant to imagine it instead.

Rating: 3/5