The anime wasn’t that good. It had good points but seemed to be cookie-cutter for what it was. I mean, it wasn’t completely out of what I wanted to watch, but it definitely didn’t fill in the blanks. What it did do was have a lot of areas where people were talking in the midst of battle, have scenes where things are happening very closely and then suddenly in the next scene the thing is far away again like a sword coming to hit someone is somehow further away from hitting the person in the next scene.

Unlike some of the rarities of good anime out there, people don’t realistically die in this one. They had their characters and kept them as long as they could. Some of the sad stories didn’t seem fulfilling enough as they were explained far too late in the game and then finished off a few episodes later rather than after some due time had passed.

Apart from not completing the storyline, what I didn’t like was that there were fillers here and there which could’ve been used to better the storyline. Repeated animations weren’t so rampant and, of course, differing design of monsters was pretty pertinent so I do appreciate that. I wish they’d let people figure out things more on their own rather than force-feeding them through interactions, camera shots, or spoken word.

What is Karasumoi? Who is the current owner? Why wasn’t there a sequel series to this show or even some OVAs? Some of the characters in the school were just let go it seems like and not fully-realized. Then also, what about the youngest brother, what of the abilities of the older people? Just a lot of stuff didn’t quite go through well as they rushed the show to the end. The best they could’ve done is at least not spent 2-3 episodes to sit through a battle. It felt like a DBZ-style constipation fest because of it.

– K out

Ninja Assassin was probably the best action flick I’ve seen. The movie’s story itself was meh and really leaves a lot open (sequel?), but dang is the action really detailed! I’m sure if they made another movie the action could be even better. I’ve never seen so many leg decapitations. I watched a guy stab himself in the face through his neck w/ a curved dagger. So awesome.

I’m not saying the movie’s amazing, but in terms of action, it was better than most anything on the market. If future movies build off of this kind of premise, then those movies will wind up being some of the better action movies of our time.

Some of the really Japanese parts of the movie were a fantastic tribute to ninja mythology. I only hope that if there is a sequel, it doesn’t become a cash-in as the storyline could be easily expanded and less conspiratorial. The female lead in the movie reminded me of Chris Trucker and Michael Jackson combined in how she looked and spoke. I think the coolest part was the very beginning watching everyone die; the rest of the movie was far too dark to really see as much of what was going on.

– K out

I think it’s because I was able to really associate myself with the main character that I was able to be so into this show. Because of all the situational irony, I was really unable to watch this show, but I finally got into watching it all the way through and was quite happy with myself. I really got to liking Krauser II and all his inane acts of malice; I only wish the show had more of an ending of sorts because it just kind of ended but didn’t build on the relationship with that girl or him realizing what he was really doing being the third emperor of death metal.