Alexandre Dumbass

Okay, okay, disc 5 of "Gankutsuou" wasn't that bad. In fact, there was a lot to like in it.

It took me a little while to try and recall what happened in disc 4, as it's been quite a while. Even the recap wasn't 100% helpful. But I managed.

And then I cringed once the giant robots showed up.

Okay, okay, it wasn't that bad. And I guess I can't say that I was surprised by that. And, even though it pains me to admit it, the CGI work for their sequences was relatively reasonable.

There was a good moment or two in 4 episodes that I think worked very well, and they were all related to Albert's rescue of Eugenie. Albert being a snivelling crybaby screamer definitely wasn't a part of that.

Otherwise, there seemed to be an improvment in some of the animated sequences, and the texture effect finally seems to have found a balance between the self-aware novelty of it, and the ability to actually distinguish foreground from background. So I would say that they definitely were learning their lessons and growing their experience as the production of this series went on.

Still, the various bits and pieces of story seem to be geared mainly for shock or emotional manipulation (if you're a teenager) and lacking in any real humanity or authentic experience. A lot of symbolic interaction, but very little real connection. With a total lack of decent programming of late, I still found it far more enjoyable than absolutely nothing, though. I hope I can get through the last two discs soon, though, so I can be done with it...

In other news, it's supposed to be a rainy weekend, and I accidently listened to a lot of the "Noir" OSTs whilst cruising in the Mustang today... Hmmm...