Special Mission!
Rescue Captain-Commander Yamamoto!

Byakuya is shown to Yamamoto. He’s been imprisoned by three, at this point, unknown zanpakutous. Soul Society organizes a plan to go there rescue him. Kazeshini also manages to come back, while really injured, he asks Muramasa about Byakuya but, it doesn’t really change anything.

While entering the caves, everyone ends up meeting with zanpakutou and new battles are arranged.

Ichigo defeats Kazeshini for good, I think. Still, I’m sure he will have to fight that strange wooded guy.

I liked this episode. I hope the new fights are good, I think the show has been really boring and my interest has been decreasing since after Ichigo’s fight with Zangetsu. The art was specially good, really enjoyed watching everything. Also, Kyouraku’s zanpakutou is looking hot (the second one).

The preview shows Ichigo fighting Muramasa, no idea if it’s gonna be good or not still, this episode left me with hope.

• Next Episode: Deceived Shinigami!

^{Volume 1}
Chapters 1-9

I started this one long ago but, there were only a few chapters out at the time and I decided to read once it was complete. I really got drawn with the mix from weird horror and detective story. I’m not, generally, very interested in stories and plots. I don’t consider it important in making a movie or series good. You can have a fantastic story taken from some awesome book and make a shitty movie. You can also take a really simple situation with nothing interesting in it and make a really interesting movie. It’s more on how the characters react, what they do, how they talk and connect, and stuff like that (and of course, all the technical details like direction, editing, photography, etc). Still, books and manga are the exception. Not that I know if Manhole is that good but, I felt like saying that lol.

Everyone is normally going on their everyday life when a strange naked man is spotted on the street. He seems sick, crazy, unable to speak. He hits Youichi and vomits blood on him. Surprised, Youichi pushes him back and accidentally kills him. The police goes to investigate and finds out the man came from a nearby manhole. He also had a parasitic infection, which caused his state and made it possible for him to die from a simple concussion.

Later, Youichi, who had fled the scene, decides to go to the police, just in time for the Filaria, parasite, which infected him, cause his death. Now, they have two deaths and really dangerous parasite that infects really quick.

This all ends up in the discovery of an institute and a plan to save humanity. I’m not going to discuss the plot further. The main characters, detectives Ken and Mao’s relationship is nice, not really funny but, not a bore. What you would expect with two people with so much age setting them apart.

The ideals about society and what’s morally wrong put here are nice and actually make you think about it. The same way Death Note did. I’m sure many people may approve of the "villain’s" doings.

Not much else to say, the story only just began even though it promises to end soon. I was not expecting this series to only last 3 volumes in the beginning. Nice volume, not sure it’s better than Duds Hunt at this point.

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

A Sweet Fragrance
A Bitter Heart

Whatever it is they were transporting, it was just a decoy. BK-201 is driven off somewhere else by Genma. In the middle of that, they discover the mission’s "objective" and the thing being transported is really a person, like I suspected. And it’s Yin. Hei manages to run from Yoko and get back in time to stop Suou. Meanwhile, Hazuki is already heading to them.

Hei helps them escape. In the meeting point, Norio’s mother appears, trying to capture Suou. Then something strange happens. One of Yin’s observation ghosts appears and Norio’s mother’s powers turn up on her, like someone else is using them and kill her.

I’, actually finding the latest episodes less interesting. This one in particular was the worst, not to say that it was bad. The ending, specially Suou and Hei’s understanding of each other was what saved the episode for me. I hope the series get better from now on.

I guess, from now on, Hei is going to try and rescue Yin, with his current companions helping him.

Nice episode, specially the ending. I hope the new change in the plot focus helps make this series interesting again, the preview looked good.

• Next Episode: The Doll Sings to the Wind Flower…

^{Resident Evil}
Degeneration

Director: Makoto Kamiya

Screenplay: Shôtarô Suga

Music: Tetsuya Takahashi

Character Design: Naoyuki Onda

Mechanical design: Takeshi Takakura

Sound director: Yota Tsuruoka

Cgi director: Atsushi Doi

Executive producer:
Haruhiro Tsujimoto
Keiji Inafune
Masao Takiyama

The CG movie is pretty true to the series, not sure about the latest games, which I haven’t played but, it fairs well. I was little disappointed that Umbrella mattered so little and two new companies took the central light. I think I would have preferred the movie to be more of a classic adaptation. I guess that’s the nostalgia from the first games talking.

The animation was pretty good and believable. Of course human faces and some movements are, as always, strange, it’s no Avatar but, actually pretty good in most stuff.

The film is divided in three parts. First, there’s the airport scene, which fits better into the game’s mood with claustrophobic environments, probably my favorite part. Then, in the second part, the plot thickens and we learn about Curtis and her sister. This part also slows down the pace quite a bit and it all concludes in the third part. Here, the mutated G-Virus creates an huge boss zombie monster, classic Resident Evil stuff.

Not much to say about the sound department although liked the credits song.

Really nice direction and photography.

It’s far from perfect, the script and execution have some faults but, overall it’s very entertaining and captures very well feel of the games. I think if you’re a fan of the games or just action oriented horror movies, you’ll most likely enjoy this movie. I would basically describe it as something similar to watching the whole cut scenes from one of the three first games joined together.

For anyone trying to better understand the whole Umbrella-T-Virus thing, here’s a nice article.

Not really worthy of a second view but, as I said, an entertaining movie that will certainly make you feel nostalgic about the games.

^{Call 96}
The King Of Life

Miroku uses his power to regenerate, he then creates some strange power orb which he uses to face Grana’s sun beam. Everything explodes and they fight each other hand to hand, I think. Miroku manages to pierce Grana’s eye. At this point, he could plant seeds there and kill or control him so, he wins. Grana submits to him.

After the fight, Miroku uses the TV crew nearby to send a message to the world. A message to all psychiers, asking them to join them. Dholaki and Shinner are already around. I don’t think there’s anything they can do.. Grana is just to powerful and Miroku already proved his powers are on the same level. I don’t really think there’s anyway to stop the Day Of Rebirth, unless it doesn’t involve defeating them.

Meanwhile, Ageha and Amamiya are going to Ageha’s father research facility, what will we learn there?

Nice chapter, no idea what’s going to happen in the laboratory.

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

Fight To The Death In A Underwater Prison

Sabu and Ponta won’t live much longer if they don’t leave the water. They realize the water "bubble" moves as Kisame does. So, he gets Kisame away and the other two finally get free.

Underwater, Kisame ends up winning. The water prison collapses and Kisame gets back to his "human" form. He’s about to cut Bee’s legs so he doesn’t take the risk of him trying to run. He’s about to do it when Samehada turns on him and protects the Hachibi. Guess how much it would like to meet Naruto lol.

Kisame kicks it away and gets Bee’s sword. Will Bee wake up in time? Will Sabu save him?

Wasn’t as cool a fight as I was expecting, still, it’s really hard to ever surpass Naruto vs Pain now lol

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

The Son of the Führer

Wow, this episode really boosts some awesome animation. Anyway, Grumman comes to town to meet with Mustang. Mustang learns that Grumman too was scouted for being one of the officers currently in the "evil" military but, when he rejected the idea, he was sent to the Eastern Headquarters. So, Mustang lets him know of some stuff and that he’s planning on overtaking them. With this, is turning on Grumman’s ambitions once again. And for starters Grumman would surely be a better Fuhrer than the current one and Father and stuff.

Ed and Al head north. They are warned about Armstrong, General of Briggs. The Fuhrer also lets the brothers know that his family doesn’t mean a thing if they ever try to use them against him.

The episode was very cool but felt short. It’s probably me, knowing the manga, makes the less action based parts more boring.

Anyway, everyone ends up going North. I’m guessing Scar and the Crimson Alchemist will too.

Funny episode, excellent animation, Briggs’ arc is almost starting!

• Next Episode: The Northern Wall of Briggs

Pursue Byakuya!
The Confused Gotei Divisions

The fights continue until Ashisogi Jizou comes through a wall and lets out massive quantities of poison. Ichigo isn’t smart enough to understand that he maybe shouldn’t breathe purple air. Anyway, Mayuri comes and destroys it, he already has a new one anyway.

Meanwhile, Soifon beats her zanpakutou using her other special fighting ability, (can’t remember the name). She’s then brought back by Yoruichi.

Unohana ends up taking control as the 4th squad heals everyone. They discuss Mayuri’s methods.

Meanwhile, Byakuya is finally show what happened to Captain Commander, along with some new zanpakutous. Maybe this was is objective. Anyway, Yoruichi has found it to.

Medium episode again, I’m really losing interest in the show right now.

• Next Episode: Special Mission!