The Old School Otaku Lounge

Thanks for sharing that, Greg. I think it's something a lot of people grapple with at some point in their adult lives. We are so hardwired by what we've been conditioned to do since we were young that when we try to go back and access that part of us that was weaned out years ago, it's not so easy to do. We lose that sense of intuitiveness we're born with. It reminds me of that part in the film where Taeko has trouble understanding exactly how that math problem works. She's just told to "follow the formula" but the thing with '66 Taeko is that she needs to UNDERSTAND it. When she asks her sister to actually explain the logic of dividing fractions ("I can't even picture it!"), her sister's stumped reaction never ceases to make me laugh.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do in order to grow, even if perhaps risking the disapproval of family and friends. Of course, that's easier said than done.

It strikes me that Only Yesterday is a film one only really starts to "get" after the age of 25, and seems to get better the older you are. It's a shame that it's still never seen a home release in the U.S.

ONLY YESTERDAY is a premium film. I dig it all the way. I waited for years for a US release, but threw up my hands and got the UK DVD this year. Was glad I did.

My recent watches:
WATAMOTE: funny, cute, scary as hell. 15-year-old Tomoko, after an easy junior high life and a summer spent playing dating sims, is convinced she's going to be hugely popular in high school. She's got shit figured out. Only she's awkward, slovenly, and so shy and anxious she can barely talk to anyone. Explores some of the same territory that WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE did, and only somewhat more gentle. The ratio of laffs/squirms is about 50/50.

AKAGI: Another great series from Nobuyuki Fukumoto, the creator of KAIJI-- actually, this one's a bit older. A gritty, smoky period TV series about a genius mahjongg player and the lowlifes he meets on his travels. Like Golgo 13, there's no question that the title character is going to win-- it's just a matter of how he does it. You don't need to know much about mahjongg to enjoy it, but you'll be a bit lost for a couple of episodes, before the game's circular nature, suits and honour pieces, and dealing cycles start to sink into your vernacular.

These shows are running on Crunchyroll, so you can check 'em out for free (with ads) or for seven bucks a month without. WATAMOTE has a few episodes before it wraps up, but the older AKAGI hit CR with all 26 episodes at once. I'm binging on it, it's glorious.

Oh wow, CR got Akagi?! I'll have to start that once I finish Kaiji (which is AWESOME, I'm so glad I listened to everyone on Twitter about that one.)

I've been enjoying Watamote, too. I bet the writers/animators have been enjoying working on that one. The references to older works are great. XD

Not anime but Legend of Korra Book 2 started yesterday with 2 episodes back-to-back. Capped with my Hauppage HDPVR 2 for my friends and burned to AVCHD single layer disc. The show once again looks amazing. If you aren't in the states grab this online from the usual places. You'll be glad you did!

Heads up for Canadians...Future Shop has the HDPVR 2 on sale for $149.95 down from $199.95. The pic is really amazing taken from a good source and at high bit rates (10 - 14 MBps). I didn't think you could do composite and S-video but there is an adapter cable sold separately for just that purpose. I'm still trying to figure out how to record 5.1 surround sound through HDMI or SPDIF but iit'll come along eventually. Most stuff I normally record is in mono or remixed stereo so it's not a major problem at present...

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/ ... 64299cen02

While the premiere of Korra was nice looking, I wasn't very impressed with either episode's writing. It all seemed kind of lackluster and forced. I hope it picks up, or I might be dropping it. :/

Yeah, you know where this is going in a way...the confrontation between her dad and uncle. They'll have to go back to her dad's city, etc. but it might be surprising. I love that alternate 1930s Chinese look to the bigger cities. Would make some great Cosplay costumes (but so would the Steampunk Lantern episode of the CGI Green Lantern from last year)...

_D_ wrote:Yeah, you know where this is going in a way...the confrontation between her dad and uncle. They'll have to go back to her dad's city, etc. but it might be surprising. I love that alternate 1930s Chinese look to the bigger cities.

Yeah, exactly. I hope the writing isn't as bad in the next few episodes. Mako had as much personality as a cardboard box, Bolin was reduced to being 3rd-wheel comic relief, and Korra all of a sudden is "I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR EVERYTHING, BECAUSE I'M THE AVATAR!". I mean, she was a bit stubborn in the first season, but I don't remember being THAT stubborn. Bleh.

I'm making my way through Rose of Versailles--just finished up the Diamond Necklace Affair. The political intrigue and scheming in this show is truly awesome. We don't get enough of this kind of plotting in today's anime. I've heard some people question the actual "girl power" element in this show, but given how much the women in this show drive the plot, and the men are either dumb (like Jeanne's husband) or simply good looking man-meat like Fersen, I have to wonder where those complaints are coming from.

Jeanne was awesome by the way. I love how every time her useless husband starts panicking when their schemes hit a snag, she basically tells him in no uncertain terms to "man up" and then proceeds to put on the big boy pants herself. Stones of steel, that lady has.

Watched Dragonball Battle of Gods last night. That was a great "feel good" film. I think I caught just about every character Toriyama ever created in one scene or another. Just a lot of fun!

Too bad the subbers screwed up the names of the bad guys. It's obviously Whis(ki) and Beer, not UIS and Bill...

Sleepy Hollow was fun. Pretty grim though. It's going on my weekly watch list for at least 4 episodes. Agents of Shield is on in 5 days. Will check it out. Maybe a couple others. So little time as it is and I'm way behind from last season. Good thing my bud is buying a lot of DVD box sets. I can always borrow them...