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Manga/Netflix: Frequently Interrupted Edition
Friday, December 17th, 2010 08:15 amWith a newborn around, there aren't a lot of chunks of time to read or watch things for extended periods. So the reading and viewing projects that have been most successful have been things that I didn't mind being interrupted on a regular basis. I really should have completed my "Short Stories for Tired Times" project that I started several years back because I need them more than ever. However, Netflix does pretty well in a pinch.
In Manga:
Library Wars: Love and War, Vol. 1: This was my one manga for the month, and honestly? I was a little disappointed. The premise of the story, that citizens have formed a private defense force to stop the government from seizing and destroying censored works (which appears to be almost all books), is an interesting one, but the execution of it is mired by a rather forcedly plodding romance between the main character and her commanding officer. The obstacles for them to overcome in order to be together feel paper-thin, more plot device than genuine problem, including the very obvious rival for the heroine's affections. I would much prefer a more action-driven plot that featured some actual book saving. As it is, there's only one instance of this, and it appears only at the end of the first volume. Equally frustrating is the main character's constant belittling of herself and her abilities. I understand that it's a shoujo manga; that the main character is the first and only female character in an all-male group; and that the author wants to build tension, but it reads as forced and damages my impression of the story as a whole. Apparently, this manga is based on a popular novel, which I am now very curious about. Does it world-build further and get into the politics that brought the book censorship front and center? Is it a scathing comment on government corruption and the obsessive need for conformity? Some big ideas like these would make this rise above standard romance and into something better.
On Netflix:
Pressure Cooker: This is a touching documentary about one teacher at an inner city Philadelphia High School and three of her students who are preparing to compete in the city-wide Culinary Arts competition. For all three, making it to the finals means a chance at much-needed scholarships that represent a chance to succeed at the college level. It's instantly clear how much this teacher loves the students, and her devotion to them (even as she's yelling at them for not doing various tasks correctly) is strong even in the face of little money and very little support from the school district. What I liked best about this film, though, was that the camera-people had caught little moments that illustrated the bonds between families. For instance, one of the students is on the cheerleading squad and participates in a big cheer competition; her father, whom she's only just really met within the past year or so, is watching in the bleachers, until her team wins. Then he's on his feet shouting "That's my daughter!" with a look of pride and disbelief on his face, and it's obvious how surprised he is at this own capacity for this kind of fatherly joy. While I do think some judicious editing could have taken place at a few points, this is an excellent documentary, and leaves you feeling happy for everyone involved.
Damages, Season 1: An onion of a show, layer after layer of double-crossing, scheming, and manipulating from every character for every conceivable reason. I wasn't sold on the main character at first, but I'm coming to like her very much, even as I watch her change before my eyes. The story (at least, for the first season I'm in), despite working on two timelines, is well structured and well told. Glenn Close is fantastic, although I would hate to have a boss like her. I have no idea how the season's going to end, and that suits me just fine. Huzzah for tightly plotted, tense legal drama!
A Bit of Fry and Laurie: I mention this only because after watching it and several episodes of Blackadder with Yebisu, I had a dream that was in the '80s video quality and included the British accents of both shows. Thankfully, it was without a laugh track, but it did have the non sequitur quality that the Fry & Laurie show loves.
In Manga:
Library Wars: Love and War, Vol. 1: This was my one manga for the month, and honestly? I was a little disappointed. The premise of the story, that citizens have formed a private defense force to stop the government from seizing and destroying censored works (which appears to be almost all books), is an interesting one, but the execution of it is mired by a rather forcedly plodding romance between the main character and her commanding officer. The obstacles for them to overcome in order to be together feel paper-thin, more plot device than genuine problem, including the very obvious rival for the heroine's affections. I would much prefer a more action-driven plot that featured some actual book saving. As it is, there's only one instance of this, and it appears only at the end of the first volume. Equally frustrating is the main character's constant belittling of herself and her abilities. I understand that it's a shoujo manga; that the main character is the first and only female character in an all-male group; and that the author wants to build tension, but it reads as forced and damages my impression of the story as a whole. Apparently, this manga is based on a popular novel, which I am now very curious about. Does it world-build further and get into the politics that brought the book censorship front and center? Is it a scathing comment on government corruption and the obsessive need for conformity? Some big ideas like these would make this rise above standard romance and into something better.
On Netflix:
Pressure Cooker: This is a touching documentary about one teacher at an inner city Philadelphia High School and three of her students who are preparing to compete in the city-wide Culinary Arts competition. For all three, making it to the finals means a chance at much-needed scholarships that represent a chance to succeed at the college level. It's instantly clear how much this teacher loves the students, and her devotion to them (even as she's yelling at them for not doing various tasks correctly) is strong even in the face of little money and very little support from the school district. What I liked best about this film, though, was that the camera-people had caught little moments that illustrated the bonds between families. For instance, one of the students is on the cheerleading squad and participates in a big cheer competition; her father, whom she's only just really met within the past year or so, is watching in the bleachers, until her team wins. Then he's on his feet shouting "That's my daughter!" with a look of pride and disbelief on his face, and it's obvious how surprised he is at this own capacity for this kind of fatherly joy. While I do think some judicious editing could have taken place at a few points, this is an excellent documentary, and leaves you feeling happy for everyone involved.
Damages, Season 1: An onion of a show, layer after layer of double-crossing, scheming, and manipulating from every character for every conceivable reason. I wasn't sold on the main character at first, but I'm coming to like her very much, even as I watch her change before my eyes. The story (at least, for the first season I'm in), despite working on two timelines, is well structured and well told. Glenn Close is fantastic, although I would hate to have a boss like her. I have no idea how the season's going to end, and that suits me just fine. Huzzah for tightly plotted, tense legal drama!
A Bit of Fry and Laurie: I mention this only because after watching it and several episodes of Blackadder with Yebisu, I had a dream that was in the '80s video quality and included the British accents of both shows. Thankfully, it was without a laugh track, but it did have the non sequitur quality that the Fry & Laurie show loves.
