ANIME: Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa

**spoiler alert**

what i love most about this anime are its characters. you would absolutely fall in love with edward's charm & tenacity, al's innocence, roy's suaveness, and the minor characters' quirks. the concept of homunculus, is very original, too. man, who would ever think of naming the products of the forbidden act (human transmutation)after the 7 deadly sins? just a genius, i know.

though splashes of comedy were shown every now and then, in some episodes you could practically taste the character's angst. even if no fan service was presented, it remained to be engaging and intriguing all throughout. uncovering the mystery to the origin of the homunculus would make you pull your hair in anticipation as the show progressed.

following the elric brothers' journey in search of the stone was a worthwhile experience. you got a glimpse of some social reality such as how people interact during & after a war, and how personal interest can get in the way of a should-be-noble act. the meaning of family and camaraderie were also highlighted throughout the series. aside from that, the subordinate's dilemma of obeying an order vs. doing what is right was manifested. and i could totally relate to the anime's recurrent theme of equivalent exchange. it confirmed to me how the real world works: something for something.

as an added bonus, fullmetal alchemist has a very catchy and upbeat soundtrack. it was sung by the legendary laruku, after all *insert fangirl squeal*.


RATING: 5 out of 5.

ANIME: Kuroshitsuji by Yana Toboso

Warning: Über fan girl gushing ahead! Not for the intolerant-hearted.

Have you experienced a time when you badly wanted a fictional character to come to life so you could marry it, er, him? After watching the total of 24 episodes, I can completely empathize. Prepare to be swept off your feet by Seb’s utter hotness and perfection. Truly, a butler in tuxedo never looked this good. Kuroshitsuji aka Black Butler in English kinda reminded me of Artemis Fowl. Comedy bits prevented it from being a full-blown drama. The fight scenes were okay, but I had difficulty swallowing the gore. Clichés were present, yes, but it did not change my resolve that it is an interesting and worth viewing animé, more so if Victorian setting is your thing. I have also thoroughly appreciated the soundtrack, especially the opening theme which was very catchy and suited the show to the core. As for my fellow yaoi fans, brace yourselves! Look out for several shrill-squeal-inducing teasing shota-loving scenes that might prompt frenzy. And don’t forget to have your tissue boxes within arm’s reach to wipe that oh-so inevitable nose bleed.


RATING: 5 out of 5.

MOVIE: Dragonball Evolution

Of course the anime would always be better than the live action adaptation, but let us TRY to be objective here as possible shall we? I am having difficulties judging the quality of the special effects since I did not watch it in the cinemas (Viva piracy! ^^ ). Fight scenes seem to be lacking in action, and dull. Dragonball Evolution, albeit not box office material, it would be unfair to label it as crappy. For me, it is still worth crossing out in your list of 2009 must-watch movies. However, I find it weird that Goku and Chichi’s love story is highlighted in the story; must there always be a damsel if a hero is present? I do hope that there will be a sequel though. I am really excited as to how they would portray Vegeta.


RATING: 3 out of 5.

ASIANOVELA: Fated to Love You

Not every Taiwanese comedy-drama series has a PG-13 sex scene for its first episode, so imagine my amusement when I have actually found one. Fated to Love You has this magical pull at first that made me miss drinking sessions with friends so I can go home earlier and watch it. However, as the series reached its middle part, the show’s appeal dwindled dramatically. Maybe the fact that the main characters’ personalities switched, and scenes becoming stupider and trivial as episodes pass caused me to lose interest. Despite that, I continued being the loyal viewer that I am with the hopes that it would get better, but unfortunately, I was disappointed. I endured figurative headaches watching two grown-ups act like emotionally unstable teenagers who are clueless on what their course of action should be, forcing me to make the decision that I have watched enough cliché telenovelas for this year, and just revert to my ultimate first love, anime.


RATING: 2 out of 5.

KOREANOVELA: Princess Hours

Most girls dream of marrying a dashing prince, and this 25-episode series allowed us to get a glimpse of how it is to be a modern-day Cinderella, the Korean way. The producers certainly made the right choice of actor to portray the prince, as Joo Ji Hoon’s stoic stare and silent demeanor are enough to emit excited squeals from its estrogen brigade of viewers. 2/3 of the show is guaranteed to inspire giggles for the sheer hilariousness of the lead actress’ antics, and several cutesy teeny bopper love scenes from the royal pair. As the koreanovela neared its ending, though, a veil of despair cloaked every episode, and can left one with a heavy feeling after watching it. But if bubbly-girl-melts-apathetic-boy stories are your cup of tea, then Princess Hours is an enjoyable way to waste, er, pass time. Although I am very dissatisfied that the ending is a bit hurried and did not do justice for the resolution of conflicts that have developed in the progression of the story…


RATING: 4 out of 5.

ANIME: Papa to Kiss in the Dark by Nambara Ken

warning: contains explicit scenes, mature and sensitive themes - definitely not for the close-minded.

scattered comedy filler scenes prevented this ova from being classified as a full-blown romance drama. this is only my second time seeing a shota yaoi and, already, its magic is wearing down on me. on another note, the graphics is really good, suiting of a fan girl cult-aimed anime. i would willingly bet my one week's worth of allowance that viewers would fall in love with the characters' appearance at first sight. story-wise, i do not think there's anything new. but if you are a hardcore love story fanatic, i would still recommend watching this (after all, kiss in the dark has only two episodes). expect lots of dreamy sigh-inducing scenes and lines. i just have to say that the main character's lover looks a lot like gravitation's scorching bishounen yuki eiri (insert ear-splitting squeal here). and yeah, i know, the title is just crappy, not catchy - what was the creator thinking?


RATING: 2 out of 5.

ANIME: Darker than Black by Tensai Okamura

while watching the first few minutes of this anime, i am literally asking the computer screen with "what the fuck?" questions because of the numerous headache-inducing terminologies present. but as the series progresses, you would eventually grasp their meanings and get used to it. honestly, i am not a big fan of violence and gore, yet i have thoroughly enjoyed darker than black's fight scenes. though having unique superpowers is a must in every action anime, the presence of the contractors' quirky and weird obeisance have put an element of freshness in the series. no wonder it won an award as best original anime for 2007. expect to see government conspiracies, lots of blood, scientific jargons, and rationality as you pave your way to the total of 25 episodes.


RATING: 4 out of 5.

ANIME: Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori

this anime should be in the master to-watch list of every rabid and raving fan girl in the face of the earth! aside from the fact that it boasts of numerous bishounen to suit every girl's fantasy, err... taste, its several fan service scenes would certainly make every yaoi-dependent creature go gaga and ballistic (i sure did!). of course, do not expect a twisting and winding plot for you will find none of it here, but i assure you that the humor and (may i emphasize) shounen-ai hints would have you catching your breath for dear life. ouran high school host club is the kind of anime that is light, and would leave a smile on your face (okay... and also make your nose bleed) after watching every episode.

an ultimate estrogen brigade experience!


RATING: 4 out of 5.

ANIME: The Vision of Escaflowne by Sunrise Studios

fantasy-slash-mecha anime at its finest... this is unlike any other war-themed series i have seen, in the sense that it did not waste any screen time for totally unnecessary battles. you can also feel the anguish of the characters caught up in the war. plus, it is kinda amusing how each of them is related to one another. on another note, escaflowne takes you into a world where anything that your mind can conceive is possible. it absolutely tweaked the dreamer and child in me. its soundtrack is very good and matches the show. the first time i saw this was way back in year 2000, and after replaying it, i realized it has not lost its magic. i am still captivated. and i swear, after watching it, you would never think of newton the same way ever again.


RATING: 5 out of 5.

ANIME: Golden Boy by Tatsuya Egawa

nope, this show does not have anything to do with oscar dela hoya. with only 6 episodes, golden boy revolved around the crazy search for the true meaning of life of a college of law dropout. i was kinda reluctant at first to watch it since it has been released in the 90's, so i was worried that its quality would have diminished by time. but man! i am glad i gave it a try. from the first few minutes of episode 1, i am instantly hooked. you would just tumble in laughter because of the main character's antics. the exaggerated wacky expressions and sound effects are not any help in letting you catch your breath, either. plus, perversion never looked this funny (toilet bowl fetish, hello?). definitely, this series is not to be viewed by kids and the "pure and innocent" for the possibility of scarring them for life. one thing i do not like about it though, is that it is oozing with machismo (find out for yourself when you watch it *wink*). nevertheless, i have utterly enjoyed this anime, and was inspired with kintarou's free spirit and zest for life.


RATING: 4 out of 5.

ANIME: Get Backers by Yuya Aoki

though it is undeniable that you would absolutely fall in love with the characters' looks and personality, i can not say the same with this anime's story line. aside from the numerous cliches present - last survivor or descendant of some known tribe, giving up your dreams because of friendship, tragic past, best friends turned mortal enemies, revenge, rekindling lost ties with your estranged friends (hell yes, you can find all these and more!); fight scenes and techniques that defy all laws of nature, chemistry, and physics are also present. series of events get pretty much predictable which makes watching it boring. if not for ginji's ubber cuteness, obvious juubei-kazuki yaoi hints, and some dose of humor every now and then, i do not think i would be able to bear finishing the total of 49 episodes. soundtrack is not bad, though not really remarkable. furthermore, i have noticed that the recurring theme is the characters' past catching up on them (definitely not a good example since i do not believe in letting yourself being imprisoned by your memories), and believe me, it gets tiresome after being exposed to it episode after episode. i do not hate this anime though, it is just i am rather disappointed since it appeared to be very promising. anticipating ban's use of evil eye has become my habit the whole time.


RATING: 3 out of 5.

ANIME: DN Angel by Yukiru Sugisaki

i am squealing like there is no tomorrow while watching because of the numerous shounen-ai hints. also, you would absolutely love the characters present in the series (except for the younger harada), which has the standard 26 episodes. it is interesting to note that in this story, not everything is black and white. although some episodes were boring and getting kinda repetitive in its theme, dark mousy's charm, krad's evilness, and both angels' constant rivalry will never fail to stimulate you into attention.


RATING: 3 out of 5.

ANIME: Wallflower by Tomoko Hayakawa

this 25-episode anime revolves around the misadventures of four bishounens in order to obtain free rent by turning their landlady's niece into a lady. the story would have been boring if the task is easy enough, but with the presence of an interesting heroine named sunako who has a penchant for horror stuff and morbidity, viewers are in for a roller coaster ride of humor and tidbits of romance. aside from that, the presence of beautifully drawn gorgeous characters is certainly drool-worthy. though there are many scenes in which the animator's laziness in drawing is obvious, its wackiness made up for it. plus, where can you find a series that explicitly teaches its viewers the road to being a lady? i recommend this anime to those in dire need of the medicine called laughter.


RATING: 4 out of 5

ANIME: Lovely Complex by Aya Nakahara

looking for that dreamy high school love story minus the yucky excess mushy pulpiness? lucky for you, lovely complex is here! this anime boasts of a perfect blend of stomach-clutching humor and tooth-aching romance. i guarantee that for all the time spent on watching the total of 24 episodes, no boring scene was ever present. and if you're still stuck on the idea that only tall guys would make cool, trophy boyfriends, - then man! - you might just throw it to the wind after watching this anime, and go look for your own short and charming special someone. now i'm wondering whether otani's personality (the main character) rubbed off on me that much or is this my natural midget fetish speaking; i can't decide.


RATING: 5 out of 5.

ANIME: B't X by Masami Kurumada

this anime is for mecha lovers out there. bt'x has a rather simple story line that revolves around a teenage boy's quest to save his older brother from the evil machine empire. it is quite cliched in the sense that it follows a sleeping beauty kind of plot. the entire series is forever spouting about determination and on how to be a man who can shine by yourself. numerous eye candies present certainly compensated for the boring transformation scenes that takes up a lot of screen time.


RATING: 2 out of 5.

ANIME: Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba

from the superb graphics, seat-gripping suspense, ever-present intrigue, brilliant story, up to the to-die-for characters, death note is truly one heck of a roller coaster ride of an anime. aside from getting a peek on how geniuses work (hot geniuses, actually), this anime would have you questioning your morals and beliefs on justice (unconsciously) as the story progresses. this is one anime you would never forget. now i'm wondering why it ended up only being number 2 in the top 10 anime of 2007. this definitely deserves to be a classic!


RATING: 6 out of 5.. yes, this is not a typo.

ANIME: Gravitation by Maki Murakami

characterized by good humor and present with beautiful music, this series tackled not only about boy love (yaoi, baby, you gotta love it!) but also overcoming slumps thrown in your way of reaching your dreams. this feel-good anime would leave you swooning in your couch not just for the good-'ol loving scenes between yuki and shuichi, but also for constantly wishing to have your own strikingly handsome, bad-ass writer in your home. this is a real treat to all yaoi fans out there!

RATING: 4 out of 5

ANIME: xxxHolic by Clamp

though i'm quite disappointed with the animator's apparent laziness in drawing and coloring insignificant characters, this anime series' interesting storyline certainly made up for it. xxxholic (pronounced holic, yes i admit i have no idea how to read this at first) boasts of the right combination of horror, humor, adventure, drama, inspiration, and psychological themes. while utterly enjoying the anime, i can't help jotting down yuko's words of wisdom which is ever present in this series. and fashionistas would never raise their eyebrows in distaste for yuko's infallible fashion sense.


RATING: 4 out of 5

MOVIE: Buog by Studio Indio

if you thought only the japanese and koreans can produce quality horror films that can leave you gripping your seatmate's arms and screaming in fright - then man, you thought wrong! set in an eerie lighthouse in lobo, batangas, coupled with superb original music, topped by an intriguing storyline, buog's a real treat. but not only did it caused our goosebumps to rise, and our throats sore from constant screaming, this digitally-shot indie film also addressed a very important, yet sensitive social issue that seems to be taken for granted nowadays.


RATING: 5 out of 5

BOOK: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

if not for our soc115 homework, then i don't think i would be able to read this one. this book really touched my heart and made me realize a lot of things. it reminded me to look beyond the superficial and dive into what's essential. since we belong in a very materialistic world, it's up to us if we would let ourselves be carried away by the tide of our culture or anchor ourselves and create little subcultures to protect our identity. once again, the value of family is stressed. aside from that, the book covers a lot of topics we have difficulty in dealing with like death, the meaning of life, regrets, and aging. towards the end of the book, i can't help but envy mitch for having a great teacher and friend like morrie. but it did inspire to pursue my dream of being a teacher. also, the fact that morrie is a sociologist piqued my interest, and it's amazing to read something wherein the concepts we've learned in our classes were incorporated in a story. the price i had to pay for reading this treasure is quite high: looking like a complete fool to my roommate because i was sniffing like there's no tomorrow. :)


RATING: 5 out of 5