transientem - Latest Comments

Re: What the eyes spy | transientem

Suda (AAP) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:43:44 -0000

I'm hoping your site hasn't completely died out. Your thoughts have been interesting to read, and unfortunately, I've only discovered it just today.

Re: Baccano! character classes | transientem

delia — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:32:51 -0000

Hell yeah

Re: [VTBL-2] a song of storm and fire | transientem

Jonathan — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:35:58 -0000

well i can't speak in musical language 'cause i never studied music, but i agree that this song it's beautiful, as the studio version as the live version

Re: Anime North 2009: Nobuyuki Hiyama on stage | transientem

introspect — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 01:19:11 -0000

Some might have been curious as to know why we did not stick around for the whole thing. I sure would have.

I also don't have any interest in Macs. It doesn't mean that Microsoft does everything better.

Re: Anime North 2009: Nobuyuki Hiyama on stage | transientem

Seriously? — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:46:12 -0000

"None of us have any interest in English VA's"

ughhh. What an unneeded stupid remark to write.
What, Japanese do everything better?

Re: What the eyes spy | transientem

introspect — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:34:15 -0000

False alarm, the mystery frame is at 17:14, seen by Tomoe at Touko's art exhibition. The face bears a strong resemblance to Shiki.

Re: What the eyes spy | transientem

introspect — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:09:28 -0000

The last frame in particular!

Re: What the eyes spy | transientem

omo — Mon, 24 May 2010 20:51:25 -0000

why does this remind me of ghost in the shell

Re: Facebooked | transientem

introspect — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:51:13 -0000

Face + book, although on first glance it's not clear if it's a book or not. Unfortunately, I found this to be the best screen cap available.

Re: Facebooked | transientem

2DT — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:18:25 -0000

I'm afraid you've lost me...

Re: Kalafina at ANISONG SP2 2010.01.10 | transientem

introspect — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:23:07 -0000

Maybe

Re: Kalafina at ANISONG SP2 2010.01.10 | transientem

Kairu — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:57:24 -0000

Was this last Sunday!? OH GOD of all the MJ shows I missed, this is the most regrettable! Wait what? Is that a download link?

Re: Summer school tonic | transientem

ojisan — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:56:37 -0000

So glad to see Natsu no Sora get some credit. It put me through three periods of adjustment - the first was the episode or two to get used to the conceit of realistic backgrounds with iconic characters, which I came to not only like but respect as a choice. The second was a brief session of eye distress at the conclusion. And the third was learning to accept that any posting about the series was going to dismiss it for using 'time-saving' tactics on artwork and nothing more. Good to see an end to that -

Re: Baccano! character classes | transientem

Kurogane — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:53:10 -0000

You sir, win an internets for this.

Re: Plot grenade | transientem

introspect — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:21:47 -0000

I'll have to pick up FLCL one of these days, but concerning rewatches in general I tend not to. Knowing what happens later on turns a lot of what was previously engaging build-up into simply going through the motions.

I did return to certain scenes in Baccano! while screen cap hunting, so it's a quarter (or one eighth) of a rewatch. Sample size is limited, but nothing compels me to start from the beginning, the reason being that, well, there is no reason. The whole spoon-feeding assertion stems from:

a) each OP recaps the previous episode
b) the start of each episode tends to mirror the end of the previous one
c) the interwoven elements always start slightly delayed chronologically to jog your memory, which also allows them to recycle a portion of previous scenes

I tend to skip OP's after the first instance, so a) didn't apply, but b) and c) made sure that at no point was I ever lost and feeling a need to go back to previous episodes to figure out what was going on. Which, kind of defeats the purpose of scattering the story.

Re: Baccano! character classes | transientem

introspect — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:41:36 -0000

Hmm... not sure how Firo would fit into TF2. I'm open to suggestions though.

Re: [VTBL-2] ring your song | transientem

lalle — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:17:58 -0000

I've enjoyed your insightful commentary. Adds a lot to the experience. Thank you.

Re: Baccano! character classes | transientem

Sapphire Pyro — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:30:52 -0000

. . . how about Firo? xD

Re: Plot grenade | transientem

ojisan — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:46:43 -0000

Everyone's so well-behaved on this site! Very cool.
I think that the acid test for 'well-woven intertextuality? or... random excitement without substance!' is in the rewatch. Anyone out there been though it twice? Introspect, I'm not suggesting that you HAVE to - I can tell you'd be less than thrilled at the prospect -
Rewatching FLCL, for instance, just keeps on giving you more good stuff. It's another pretty random, ADD show like Baccano, and there's a lot of self-indulgence in there, but a lot of, um, well-woven intertextuality as well. Myself, I haven't done Baccano a 2nd time, though I probably will - expecting not a classic, certainly, but a good entertaining ride. If I think it tanks, I'll return and tell you so -

Re: Plot grenade | transientem

introspect — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:44:06 -0000

Well, for me I find it strange the notion that the plot equivalent of Shock and Awe is a defining factor in making Baccano! better than most other offerings of that year.

When people say that it's "the best," I think they really mean that it's "most different," and being dazzled in such a fashion is actually a negative. Or rather, should be a negative.

Re: Plot grenade | transientem

introspect — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:17:53 -0000

It's true, Baccano! can be likened to a bar room brawl with the viewer right in the mix. Colour me more of a spectator than a participant though, especially since the show has a bar stool and isn't afraid to use it.

I found the best characters to be the Soldier, Spy, and Engineer, people who got no real introduction and didn't need one. Unfortunately, three isn't going to carry a cast of twenty or more.

Re: Plot grenade | transientem

2DT — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:50:33 -0000

Hmm. So rather than being a great show in itself, we have a mediocre show that happened to benefit from the psychological effects of spreading ourselves too thin. Well, I don't agree in this case particularly... But the observation itself is rather brilliant. I would have never thought to juxtapose Baccano! with that Stanford study. Cheers.

By the by, I finally added you to my blogroll. A funny thing kept happening where I would see an entry of yours, resolve to add you soon, then do something else and promptly forget what you were called, then forget about it entirely until the next time I saw an entry of yours. No more. I'll be keeping tabs on you, sir. And thanks for the reference.

Re: Plot grenade | transientem

Ryan A — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:26:11 -0000

It's like being in a fight, a lot like it in fact. I mean, a fight is basically like slice-of-life multi-tasked and context-switching at peak human speeds. In that respect, I enjoyed it, but if i were to watch it now, who knows.

For reference, I think this is a good take, and not just because Baccano! has like this positive cult following either. So I agree, because at the core I am quite positive about the series, but I liked the characters, so the discrepancy is natural.

The concept really wasn't stunning, and the fast-paced context-switching was alright, but it was the characters and the overall blend which I enjoyed.

Thinking about it, I wouldn't say Baccano! is less "timeless/classic" and more "you had to be there" but that doesn't make too much sense.

^^

Re: Plot grenade | transientem

introspect — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:06:02 -0000

I think what others have said about the execution of Baccano! is accurate, but making the leap from execution excellence to overall excellence is a stretch.

Of course if you feel that a) Baccano! did not make you multitask or b) you did multitask but it did not negatively affect your experience, then we'll have to agree to disagree. For me, multitasking is the point, and just like I would not want to multitask while consuming an audio/visual work, I would not want to be so burdened while reading.

I suppose what I wanted to say when making the text statement, is that consuming information by jumping around is a lot like cramming: you do it because you have to, not because you'll enjoy it or want to remember it later. But whereas you can choose whether or not you end up cramming, the way Baccano! progresses there is no say in the matter.

Re: Plot grenade | transientem

ojisan — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:26:29 -0000

You're a smart reviewer (and I reeeally like your banner), but i'm not sure you're being smart here.

First, you're switching back & forth between criticising the show, and criticising how other reviewers have characterised it. Agreed, you don't like either, but reviewer's faults are not the show's faults.
Arguments like "is multitasking, or multilayering, a virtue in itself" are beside the point, as is the "if converted to text" argument.

The one point that comes across clearly is that you feel they tried to introduce too many storylines, did it poorly, and were praised for their efforts by others. It's true that the show didn't hang together on hinges of gold by any means, but I didn't feel overtly manipulated or jostled too much, and the energy of the pacing combined with the interleaving of motives and storylines gave much more pleasure than frustration, with some well-timed payoffs along the way. Hey.that's me, and I can easily see how the flavour of the show can be annoying to others, especially if their expectations are raised by reading lots of praise first..