panapp

@ghemison: I misspoke, or rather I didn’t clarify. Let me rephrase: it's undeniable that in this series, the dramatization and extremization beyond all limits of the narrative have created absolutely paradoxical results that, despite not being the author’s intentions, have acted as comedic devices that, for most viewers, are fantastic and have turned it into a true cult classic that, even when revisited today, still makes people laugh a lot and is very much appreciated, perhaps even more than back then. Did I explain myself better?

@UhuhPanicoUhuh: ah, I forgot euphoria and ART-SCHOOL; the latter aren't exactly post-rock, but they're worth a shot.

Average review, exceptional review. In comment 41 ghimison writes something true: nostalgia can play nasty tricks, and the critical sense one had at ten years old was not exactly refined; in fact, the more outrageous the proposal, the more one was fascinated by it. However, it is undeniable that in this series, the dramatization and extremization of the narrative beyond all limits has created absolutely fantastic paradoxical results that have made it a true cult which, even revisited today, is incredibly funny and enjoyable, perhaps even more than back then. It is definitely not a masterpiece, but it is so much fun!!! ;)

@UhuhPanicoUhuh: your intent was perfectly noble and mine is just a single impression! ;) As for post-rock, the Japanese have a very clear view of the international market since they are outside of it and see it in its entirety: besides the té, I recommend the excellent COALTAR OF THE DEEPERS and also my beloved Plastic Tree.

@UhuhPanicoUhuh: sorry for the late reply. Better anime soundtracks than this? There are many, many. Just to start and play it safe, any OST written by Yoko Kanno is better than this (for example, the most famous are "Cowboy Bebop," "The Vision of Escaflowne," "Wolf's Rain," all the "Macross" from the '90s to today, and my favorite "Brain Powerd"): they are excellent blends of classical influences and modern rhythms, and the results are always applauded; Joe Hisaishi, the famous composer for Hayao Miyazaki, is a bit always the same, but he's good (I like the fairy-tale soundtrack of "Howl's Moving Castle"); Kouhei Tanaka is also a great composer, if only for the OST of "Aim for the Top! GunBuster," but he has left a lot of truly worthy works (the soundtrack of "Vampire Princess Miyu" is exceptional). Then I also like some less famous, but nevertheless talented composers, like Katsuo Ouno and Taku Iwasaki, who wrote respectively for "Detective Conan" and "Read or Die," using jazz elements in a really innovative way (the first more free jazz, the second cotton club), and the results are albums that are a great pleasure to listen to even without the anime behind them. There is better stuff out there compared to "Death Note": I admit that post-rock is an original choice (but it wasn't the first to use it: try searching for "serial experiment lain"), but unfortunately, even with all the goodwill, I find so much, too much arrogance in this soundtrack.

My first encounter with "Death Note" was at the Lucca Comics & Games in 2005: I saw a large poster featuring the beautiful cover of the first volume. Then came the manga, about which I have already shared my impressions in the comments to the panzerfaust review linked above (to summarize: brilliant beginning, very nice first half, and then increasingly less interesting—aside from Teru Mikami). Finally, the anime: it’s excruciatingly boring; had I discovered that before the manga, I would have never read it. The faux-classical, faux-Gregorian, faux-Wagnerian, faux-everything music is just irritating; only the post-prog/post-rock tracks could be salvaged (I see from your profile on Last.fm that you listen to té, now I understand). Conclusion: I didn't like it, too self-satisfied, pompous, and inflated just like the anime, and exactly like the anime, created with the awareness that it will be considered brilliant regardless, given the success of the now cult manga.

Well-written and knowledgeable review, and I appreciated the reference to the origin of the work; it's always useful to provide context. A work that obviously doesn't need introductions (even though Beethoven isn't among my direct preferences).

@giustiziere: "Planet of the Apes" is nothing short of terrible!!! And the fact that it's a remake does not justify it at all, on the contrary.

Congratulations on the recommendation; it's a film I've seen many times and always with pleasure for a simple reason: it's excellent cinema. Tim Burton was perhaps the best director of the '90s, and for reasons unknown to me, he artistically died after his last masterpiece, "Sleepy Hollow." Apparently, he did not survive the third millennium, being so tied to the past, and indeed since 2001 (that is, starting from "Planet of the Apes") he has begun to create films that are either poor quality or just "in the Burton style." He had his arc of high quality, but that is no longer the case. Johnny Depp is superb and still not overexposed; S.J. Parker, I love you, and the rest of the cast is of excellent quality.

Good review, excellent album just like everything that has come from the hands of Blur; I look forward to future reviews on the latest albums (which I also love). I think you might have made a mistake with your rating though, because I see you only marked three dots; let the editors know.