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Boku no hîrô akademia: Let You Down (2024)
The most important franchise
Make no mistake. This episode would have gotten a higher overall score on this site if there had been a punch thrown. Not for the right reasons, though. That's just how things are measured on this website. I do need to say that actual adult violence would have taken away from the actual point of this episode.
It establishes that My Hero Academia Française is the most important piece of fiction on the planet right now. It is THE superhero story. THE political story. THE philosophical story. It is, as a single entity, everything the world needs to hear wrapped up in 20 minutes. To be more dramatic, it is both the hero we need and deserve.
The last episode outlined the rationality of removing political individualism from our collective society, about abandoning features of a broken system that has only allowed bad people to prosper. About bringing broken people back into the fold because the numbers matter.
This episode showed why.
It outlined in no uncertain terms just how dangerous political individualism is for our society, and it didn't just do it through metaphor like other well-meaning shows. It sat the audience down and told them exactly what will happen when true political individualism prevailed in society. When countries lock themselves off from one another. When rich people hoard every bit of wealth, it means the destruction of our own planet.
The fact that the writer took the time to do this shows that they truly are the adult in the world-sized room we all occupy and that there are lessons that we all need to learn regardless of our age. Yes, the kids can absorb the "brush your teeth" PSA that Iida gives, but adults need to take in exactly what Aoyama was warning about because that is absolutely reflective of our world. And he is correct. Political individualism needs to go, and this show has sounded the alarm for the process to begin.
Boku no hîrô akademia: Villain (2024)
The show has highlighted to us now why Deku is the only one who can take on All-For-One.
This is more of an explainer than a review because this was a very special milestone episode, but you wouldn't know that from the reception, so I would like to offer an explanation in order to maybe help highlight some of the more subtle pieces of character development we saw in this episode. We got two character studies in 24 minutes. Both Aoyama and Deku. Aoyama is front and centre (he can't stop twinkling, etc.), but behind the main A plot lies a separate arc that starts from the beginning with the cave and ends in the interrogation room. The episode opens with All-For-One laying out the visual details of his thought process for Dabi and Spinner. Follow multiple paths to a goal and hop between them when a path is blocked. The thing that makes this a special scene is that it basically shows exactly how the interrogation scene will go. The writer is a fan of duality, and this comes in the form of scenes that bookend the episodes in theme. So when something happens at the start, there is a very good chance that it is reflected at the end. Deku has the same thought process as All-For-One; his plan goes awry. He is not allowed to welcome Aoyama back into class. He then hops across to another thought strand, like All-For-One showed at the beginning, and finds a new perspective to go at the problem from. The difference is that the character doesn't have to explain it to everyone around him like his enemy does. This shows that Deku is actually an intellectual match for All-For-One, and this is the first time that the show goes out of its way to show this to the audience. The most mindblowing part is that we have seen Deku employ this behaviour since episode 1. His muttering, his mumbling, his note taking all lead to this episode for a fantastic payoff.
Boku no hîrô akademia: Specter (2024)
That's why this series is The GOAT
If younger people want to know what it was like to watch Naruto Shippuden when it was airing, this is it.
Only My Hero Academia has managed to surpass it on its own, learning from the lessons Naruto's creator imparted based on his own regrets.
No other show could have brought in American characters and not had them stand out apart from the story like a sore thumb in the worst way. But My Hero Academia beats the odds by taking these characters and enveloping them in the show by force. America has done a lot of bad things to Japan, and the consequences of those actions are shown in this episode, but what makes this stand out is the lack of malice.
The episode opens with the characters breaking political. Individualism into nothing. That in itself does more than almost every other show does. Like Naruto, MHA shrinks the board and asks the audience to take note of their place on it while also ageing the characters in a subtle way, both visually and behaviorally.
Zom 100: Zombie ni Naru made ni Shitai 100 no Koto: Akira of the Dead (2023)
Beat single-episodd pilot in half a decade.
Zom 100 is like of Mirror's Edge and Dead Island 2 had an anime baby. And the pilot is absolutely perfect. From the incredible animation, to the vibrant soundtrack, to the spectacular voice acting to the hilariously poignant writing, Zom 100 really delivers in every sense of the word. Every individual who worked on this show deserves paid vacations and a raise because they are really bringing it with this show. It has the feeling of a bigger budget animated movie than a single show and that says so much about the effort that has gone into this anime. Please, if you have the time or the money please just watch this Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead.
Boku no hîrô akademia: Deku vs. Class A (2023)
There should be an international holiday celebrating this show
If you've seen the episode then you don't need this review.
But if you haven't. Watch My Hero Academia. If you have more episodes to watch before this one then watch them first.
Thanks to the genius writing, the spectacular direction, the invigorating soundtrack, unique character design, the emotional acting and every other incredible aspect of filmmaking My Hero Academia has successfully taken its places as both the peak of animated storytelling and the peak of superhero fiction.
So please, please, please READ IT! WATCH IT! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT FORMAT IT IS IN, JUST GET MY HERO ACADEMIA INTO YOUR BRAINBALLS!
Jumpers for Goalposts (2022)
A Sweet Short Film
Jumpers for Goalposts is a heartfelt and down-to-Earth short film written and directed by Thomas Elliot Griffiths. The slice-of-life story follows estranged father, Chris (Michael Newstead) and his son, Danny (Luca Donnelly) as they work to come to terms with the dramatic life changes that have found them. The film exhibits a strong sense of control in front and behind the camera as Griffiths' solid directorial eye keeps the focus on the emotional core of the story. The father and son work well together. Their performances are sensitive and understated which serves the grounded material perfectly. Coming in at 15 minutes in length, the film is longer than the average short, but smart editing choices keep the film flowing at a speedy pace and left me satisfied with the time spent in this well-crafted piece.
Catchers (2022)
Loved every second
I've listened to a number of audio-only stories and every time I have I have been able to get fully immersed in them for too long. Now that I've listened to Catchers, I can say that this record has been shattered and I finished the whole thing in one sitting. Catchers is an intergenerational horror tale that delivers on both scares and shocks all carried by terrific writing, Ben Rock's impressive direction and the presence of the stellar cast each member of which giving an impactful performance. It can be called a mash up of Cloverfield, Stephen King's The Mist and Alan Wake.
The story follows Blair, a trainee "Dog Catcher" who spends her first night on the job after they take refuge in a secluded farm house to help an unfortunate family fend off a pack of unrecognisable creatures as they try and force their way into the family's home. The series pushes the listening experience up to another level with its incredible diegetic sound design. The story takes place in a number of locations and the world itself plays a role in the storytelling as much as the dialogue with the each new location being met with a change in atmospheric sound effect that elevate the story from an audiobook narration into a fully realised world. As this is a podcast, there quite a number of episodes with 8 episodes making up the total, especially for someone with the attention span of a wind-chime caught in a hurricane like me but thanks to the strong character dynamics and the fantastic pace the show never dips for a second.
As this is an audible exclusive it shouldn't come as a surprise that it is mixed to the highest quality possible and is well worth the price of admission to horror fans and SFF fans alike. It feels like a classic "creature of the week" story pulled into the modern day with its layers of social commentary that highlights the issues that come with corporate deregulation, the dangers of messing with nature and the new trend of political individualism that encourages people to harbour a deep-seated distrust of those outside of their own political and collective folds. Catchers is an engaging horror mystery with feisty characters, biting social commentary and is a welcome addition to a this updated format of audio storytelling.
Boku no hîrô akademia: Hellish Hell (2023)
Once again My Hero Academia shows you why it's the best.
As the headline implies , we are living through a golden age of anime. My Hero Academia showcases levels of maturity and honesty that allows it to surpass its peers as a shining beacon of storytelling. Conflict does not come without consequences as much as modern media franchises like to show, heroes and their fans need to be dragged back down to earth and this is an incredible example of a responsible show doing exactly that with grace and skill. The characters we have come to know and love have themselves grown to an amazing degree in almost-real time, and this episode only goes to showcase just how beneficial such character work is to a story. 10/10.
Boku no hîrô akademia: The Unforgiven (2021)
Still Got It!
After 110 episodes My Hero is still a storytelling phenom! Emotional and visceral action with consequences laid bare for all to witness. A masterpiece of programming in every way.
Boku no hîrô akademia: Let it Flow! School Festival! (2020)
What art is all about.
This episode was an absolute joy-filled thrill, so much work clearly went into making it a place of respite for every viewer to find solace in. Shown for the first time in the west during a time of global stress. Not only did the students of UA need this festival, the world did too. Oh and the song Hero Too slaps so hard that every new born baby on Earth started crying. :~D
Skyline (2010)
A complete successful independence
Absolutely amazing film with just a $10.500.000 budget from the directors themselves. It shows what people can do if they just put their minds and passion to it. The effects were mind blowing, the acting was good and story: shocking and fresh, this is a film that shouldn't be questioned by anyone who felt no adventure or fantasy of this sci-fi thriller.
The Strauss brothers are clearly a dedicated, talented and close team whose filmmaking skills hung in the balance with this film. However I can safely say whom ever did not enjoy any part of this film clearly has no imagination and has no belief in storytelling.
***** A complete recommendation
L.Q