Grumpy Jii-san runs into the big bad wolf

Grumpy Jii-san's been watching cartoons for way too long. Today, he reviews the faerie tale of little red riding hood and the big bad wolf. Far out. It's, like, the 60's, man.

This was recorded near the end of Long Canyon in the Arizona's Red Rock Wilderness Area, where the trail ends in a disappointing cul-du-sac. At least the fall leaves were pretty.

You can find a transcript of these remarks here:
http://grumpyjiisan.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/grumpyjii-wolfb

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• animereview
• gumpyG
• aniviews
• toonedin
• dramanime
• adventuranime
• historicalanime
• altworldanime
• oshianime
• copanime
• politicalanime

[Alaskaslim]

To tell the truth I'm surprised by the vote of approval Oji-san, nearly every other review I've looked up on it has panned this work for being "dull"/"slow", "predictable", while at other times trying too hard to "get its viewer to think", it's because of that (and because of my experience with another work known as "Real Drive") that I was beginning to lose faith in I.G., but heck if you think it's worth it, I'm willing to give it a go, I certainly liked the premise to begin with.

[GrumpyJiisan]

Since this isn't an action flick, your view of pacing depends on expectations. I suppose some might see a political / psychological thriller combined with an awkward relationship story as slow. It's set in an alternative time-line to the political unrest in 60s post- post-war Japan, which had its real share of protests/riots.

[animeindoorsir]

I loved the whole opening witt the red riding hood. But those giant robot suite they wore I just found like the animators were thinking "hmm how big can we make these suites without it becoming mecha? who cares *draw draw draw*" This anime I wasn't a fan of. Maybe I should give it a second shot but I just was bored with it.

Also why did you disable our ratings?

[GrumpyJiisan]

The suits didn't bug me. They're designed to protect the riot police from rocks, bullets, and Molotov cocktails using 60s pre-Kevlar technology. They aren't powered, just big, bulky, movement-slowing full-body protection. Reminded me of more of a western European knight's armor or full Japanese Samurai armor. Or a bomb disposal suit (see "The Hurt Locker"?)

Oshii's live-action "Stray Dog" gives a brief look at suit.

I turned of ratings as an experiment to see if it provoked more comments.

[mizouyuu]

Okiura is a good animator as well.

[GrumpyJiisan]

I agree. The impression I have is that after assisting Oshii (and Otomo) on several movies, this was to be his debut as a feature film director. I thought it was outstanding. And yet afterwards he returned to design and key animation. I guess he didn't like directing and prefers drawing.

He's assisted Tezuka, Otomo, Miyazaki, Kawajiri, Kawamori, Oshii and Kon. Clearly the top directors respect his abilities.

[lusulpher]

Just read all the other comments...

HAHAHA. Experiment.

Also, you get a 4 star, you did meander away from "the meat"[awesome pun] Old Man...But I'm favving the vid anyway.

This is one of the hidden achievements in storytelling.

[lusulpher]

Ratings disabled?

And I can't state how amazing this anime was to me.

It's dark, haunting, brutal, surreal...EXACTLY how I love them!

It combined all the best elements of Cowboy Bebop, Evangelion and Ghost In The Shell. But also had the Akira meets Wolf's Rain vibe.

It is a masterpiece in comparison to ALL films. Lolita, Pan's Labyrinth and American Beauty kept coming to mind.

It's about a man finding his soul, IF IT HAD EXISTED. WATCH IT!!!!

I also thought I was a wolf for a week. ]:D-

[foottothenuts]

i love your reviews, but the sound is always so fuzzy, it makes watching your videos rather unpleasent

[Levitz9]

Hmm...I remember catching this on Cable several years ago, but it just didn't catch my attention. The story sounds interesting, but the pace of what I managed to see was just too slow for my taste, and the violence was a little much. Funny, seeing as I actually liked Patlabor: WXIII...

Thanks for the review, Gramps--people need to remember the '60s, or else we'll keep making the same mistakes.

[Alaskaslim]

Would I be cliché in saying "Super-Nazi Storm Troopers"? B)

[Alaskaslim]

Not to mention typical Japanese denials, there were several "communist" protests by students at Tokyo U in the 1960s, and because of it, the College staff kicked out a whole group of students who they thought were involved, which ended up including one whom had been over a 1000 miles away at the time visiting his parents at the time a certain protest had taken place.

To maintain their image, they never admitted their obvious mistake, and that student suffered because of it.