I’m pretty late in seeing this movie, but that doesn’t lessen its impact on me. As bloggers, we watch a lot of anime. TV anime especially. And we tend to get tunnel vision when it comes to tropes, clichés, shortcuts, harems, flags, etc. etc. It’s fun, but it’s rarely… real.

Sometimes it’s nice to get real sad about something for real, and sometimes it’s nice just to watch a rocket take off.

Kind of forgot about that for a while. I was at Fantastic Fest all week, seeing mostly the Japanese stuff. If you’re into the splatter-crazy style of directors like Takashi Miike, check out Tokyo Gore Police. It’s written, directed, and edited by the guy responsible for special effects in everything from big budget horror (like Ju-On) to the wild mess of Miike. It also stars the girl from Audition. And it couldn’t have a more apt name.

Thai action flick Chocolate was another winner. It’s about an autistic girl who, instead of having Rain Man’s uncanny skill with numbers, can re-create kung fu maneuvers just by watching them in Bruce Lee movies — and uses her skills to get revenge for her bankrupt mother. I hardly think of Thailand as an action powerhouse, but this movie puts some of Hong Kong’s biggest-budget films to shame with jaw-dropping fight choreography. During the credits, a reel of cast injury footage played.

Best of all, perhaps, was Gachi Boy, which focused on an underdog pro-wrestling club in Hokkaido. I’m not a big sports movie fanatic, but Gachi Boy was hilarious, emotional, inspirational, and somehow not cheesy at all. One of the best sports movies I have ever seen, and a great movie period. And get this, there was a trace of ef: a tale of memories in there, I shit you not, but no spoilers.

In other news, I’ve been working closely with the people behind Oi, Hayaku! to help make it a one stop shop for awesomeness on the web. I’m happy to be a part of the process, and I hope it gets rolling soon.

In other other news, I’m waiting for Macross F subs so I can publish my scathing review and lend balance to the aniblogosphere which will probably collapse in a Ranka-love-fest after this week.