DVD Review – Gurren Lagann part 1

What they say:
In his skyless cavern of a village Simon toils daily, drilling holes to expand his stifling little world until one day he makes an extraordinary discovery: a small glowing drill-bit and the man-sized mech it activates. Before he can give it a second thought Simon’s dragged into a plot to break through to the surface by the local gang leader Kamina, only to have the ceiling come crashing down on top of them under the weight of a giant monster!

It somehow falls onto the boisterous Kamina and cowardly Simon to defend their village – but once they defeat the monster what awaits the duo on the surface world? Pierce the heavens with your soul, Gurren Lagann!

What this Librarian says:
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is one of those odd anime that just manages to hit all the right buttons. All the while making to scratch your head trying to figure out why you like it so much. Part one covers episodes 1 through 9.

Simon is a digger, and all he does all day long is drill holes for his underground village. Simon is so talented at digging that he’s often ostracized by the other villagers, who call him smelly. The only one who makes an effort to include him is the boisterous; and possibly crazy; Kamina. One afternoon while digging Simon finds a small, glowing drill and a man-sized mecha, just big enough for Simon to sit in.

But when Kamina’s plan to bust through the ceiling of their village is interrupted by the arrival of a giant monster (who happens to crash through the ceiling), Simon, Kamina and their new friend Yoko, who arrived with the monster, must figure out how to run the mini-mech if they plan on saving the village.

Now Simon and Kamina have become part of an effort to free all of the underground villages from the Beastmen and their Lord, the Spiral King. But with the freedom and friends that coming to the surface brings them, and equal share of loss and heartbreak must come as well.

Series information:
Episodes: 27
Rating: 14+
Year: 2007 (Japan), 2008 (USA)

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be November 18th from 5-6pm. We’ll be watching episodes 9 and 10 of xxxHolic.

About episodes 9 & 10:

Pinkie Promise
Watanuki meets another girl with a numb pinkie, but her bad habit isn’t lying. Not exactly. But what she is doing might be worse than lying, because a pinkie promise and the red threads of destiny that ties people together aren’t something to be fooled with. And the Ame-warashi’s payment finally arrives.

LampLight
Summer in Tokyo is nearly unbearable and it’s considered prime dating time. But rather than the usual summer date, Yuuko suggests a game instead. To make matters worse for Watanuki, it’s ghost story telling game. And the absolute worst part in Watanuki’s book; Yuuko wants to do it at Doumeki’s family’s temple! Only someone forgot to tell Watanuki about the corpse in the next room.

DVD Review – Ouran High School Host Club : Season 1, Part 1

What they say:
Ouran High School. An institution of extravagance and prestige where learning is secondary to luxury.

Bookish Haruhi can’t afford to slack, being on a scholarship and out of place among the moneyed. No matter… The Host Club is now open! A group of handsome boys dedicated to selling their charms to their bored female classmates, Haruhi is suddenly in debt to the club after breaking an expensive vase in their lair. The only way to pay for the damage? Haruhi will work as a Host! The only problem? Haruhi is a she! Between the wildly inflated ego of the expert escorts and the potential calamities of constant cross dressing, Haruhi’s freshman year looks like it will be one to remember.

What this Librarian says:
On the way to find a quiet place to study, Fujioka Haruhi ends up at an unused music room. Only to find the school’s infamous Host Club, a group of bored, privileged boys who spend their time finding ways to woo girls from school. Trying to make as graceful an exit as possible, Haruhi manages to knock over an antique vase worth more than Haruhi could ever hope to pay back. The only solution (according to the boys of the Host Club) is to have Haruhi work off the debt as a host! But there’s one small problem, Haruhi is actually a girl! But rather than quit, Haruhi accepts the challenge of maintaining her new male persona, while dealing with the strange members of the Host Club. Suou Tamaki, the King; Haninozuka ‘Honey’ Mitsukuni, the cute one; Morinozuka ‘Mori’ Takashi, Honey’s ever present shadow; Ootori Kyoya, the club’s shadow king; and Hatichiin Kaoru and Hikaru, the twins.

Ouran High School Host Club is an odd title, but don’t let the girly look of the series throw you off from trying it. The series is a fun romantic comedy with enough to keep even the most skeptical of guys laughing the whole time.

Information:
Episodes: 26
Rating: 14+
Year: 2006 (Japan), 2008 (USA)