{"id":758,"date":"2008-10-06T20:37:47","date_gmt":"2008-10-07T04:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/?p=758"},"modified":"2009-05-09T21:12:14","modified_gmt":"2009-05-10T05:12:14","slug":"blog-168-crows-zero-clannad-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2008\/10\/06\/blog-168-crows-zero-clannad-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog 168 > Crows Zero &#038; Clannad Two"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div align=\"center\"><a target=\"new\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/xjaymanx_2007\/Images-toybox-2008\/xjaymanx_crows_zero_0001_1200.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/xjaymanx_2007\/Images-toybox-2008\/xjaymanx_crows_zero_0001_600.jpg?w=545\" alt=\"Crows Zero\" title=\"Crows Zero\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Crows Zero | Image from Blog.daum.net | Click to enlarge wallpaper<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Yeah, as you can probably tell from my past posts, I *hate* to write long reviews as much as I *hate* to read them. People will like what they like, and watch what they watch. Especially if they don&#8217;t like to be spoiled, like myself. So I&#8217;m not in any rush to be the first one or loudest one to say &#8220;Hey, look at me! I watched this!&#8221; Or even worse, I&#8217;m not gonna give a pretentious scene-by-scene review of how observant or perceptive I might be. Okay, maybe one or two observations, lol. Instead, just a brief summary of my overall thoughts and emotions. So here goes&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with the guys&#8230; Based on the manga, the 2007 live-action Japanese film <a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Crows_ZERO\">Crows ZERO<\/a> rocks! Just like an ancient Imperial Japanese war epic film stained with blood, sweat, and rainy battles~~ but set in a gang-ruled all-boys high school, lol. A cool, stylishly violent 4 of 5 stars! But I gotta say, amidst the hypnotic testosterone, for just a few moments, <a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kuroki_Meisa\">Meisa Kuroki<\/a> and her R&#038;B singing stole my breath away. Here are a <a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/3vui.net\/giaitri\/index.php?act=vgallery&#038;CODE=showalbum&#038;id=140&#038;name=Meisa%20Kuroki\">few more Meisa photos<\/a> to soothe your soul. So I hope she returns in Crows ZERO 2 [2009], hehe. >_<\n\n\n \n\n<div align=\"center\"><a target=\"new\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/xjaymanx_2007\/Images-toybox-2008\/xjaymanx_meisa_kuroki_0001_1600.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/xjaymanx_2007\/Images-toybox-2008\/xjaymanx_meisa_kuroki_0001_450.jpg?w=545\" alt=\"Meisa Kuroki\" title=\"Meisa Kuroki\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Meisa Kuroki from Crows Zero | Image from 3vui.net | Click to enlarge wallpaper<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Now let&#8217;s talk about the girls&#8230; Based on the Japanese visual novel, the 2007 anime film <a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Clannad_(film)\">Clannad<\/a> is breath-taking! Directed by Osamu Dezaki, Clannad reveals the same stylistic elements of blinding sunlight, dramatic silhouettes, split screens, and continuous motion ~ birds, trains, bicycles ~ which permeates <a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Air_(film)\">Air<\/a>, another equally breath-taking film he directed. Wow, a swirling tear-inducing odyssey through nightmares and dreams towards a sparkling promise of hope, 5 of 5 stars!<\/p>\n<p><div align=\"center\"><a target=\"new\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-content\/wallpapers-anime\/xjaymanx_clannad_nagisa_0001_1000.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-content\/wallpapers-anime\/xjaymanx_clannad_nagisa_0001_600.jpg?w=545\" alt=\"Nagisa from Clannad\" title=\"Nagisa from Clannad\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Nagisa from Clannad | Image from Konachan.com | Click to enlarge wallpaper<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n<p>In addition to the film, the 2008 anime series <a>Clannad After Story<\/a> continues seamlessly where the 2007 1st season of <a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Clannad_(visual_novel)\">Clannad<\/a> left off. While I rated the 1st season with a &#8220;satisfying 4 of 5 stars&#8221; because I couldn&#8217;t forgive their out-of-tune opening theme (<a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lU8TAp5c2yw\">argh, cover your ears<\/a>), the 2nd season premiere is already sparkling with all the elements of 5 of 5 stars! Humor, dramatic motion, and piano-laced emotion. The opening theme is not only as inspiring and emotional as Air&#8217;s opening theme, but the singer is actually singing in tune (<a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H3aa5zOVAwc\">much better<\/a>)! Go figure! Can&#8217;t wait for the next episode! In the meantime, here are a <a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/konachan.com\/post\/index?tags=clannad\">few more Clannad wallpapers<\/a> to warm your heart. >_<\n\n\n \n\n<div align=\"center\"><a target=\"new\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-content\/wallpapers-anime\/xjaymanx_clannad_series_0001_2000.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-content\/wallpapers-anime\/xjaymanx_clannad_series_0001_450.jpg?w=545\" alt=\"Girls of Clannad\" title=\"Girls of Clannad\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Girls of Clannad | Image from Konachan.com | Click to enlarge wallpaper<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n<p>P.S. Maybe this is a dumb question, but who cares? In almost every anime which features a Japanese high-school classroom (such as Clannad), why is the door (or doors) always on the right side (when sitting and facing the front of the room)? Why are the windows always on the left side? Consequently, why is the *prime* seat always in the left-most rear-most location? Is this high-school layout intentional and universal? If so, why? I mean, it can&#8217;t simply be <a target=\"new\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Feng_shui\">feng shui<\/a>, can it? Help! >_<\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Crows Zero | Image from Blog.daum.net | Click to enlarge wallpaper Yeah, as you can probably tell from my past posts, I *hate* to write long reviews as much as I *hate* to read them. People will like what they like, and watch what they watch. Especially if they don&#8217;t like to be spoiled, like &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2008\/10\/06\/blog-168-crows-zero-clannad-two\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0},"categories":[14,150,149],"tags":[355,152,354,151,153],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7rIwb-ce","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2101,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/03\/29\/blog-195-propaganda-pop-anime\/","url_meta":{"origin":758,"position":0},"title":"Blog 195 > Propaganda &#038; Pop Anime","author":"xjaymanx","date":"March 29, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Ushio & Her Robot | Clannad & Clannad After Story | Enlarge 1600px Wallpaper Greetings, my Trusty Toyboxers! Welcome to another full-scale broadcast and fighter-bomber assault on your dried-up defenses, hehe. But seriously, this week, we take a wrong turn into the animated apocalypse of propagandized \"pop anime\", otaku-oriented merchandising,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Anime Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Anime Reviews","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3813,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/07\/28\/blog-212-clubbers-sisters-butlers\/","url_meta":{"origin":758,"position":1},"title":"Blog 212 > Clubbers, Sisters &#038; Butlers","author":"xjaymanx","date":"July 28, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler, 2008) | Enlarge 3300px Konnichiwa! Guten Tag! Buenos dias! Hello, my Tumbling Toyboxers! What would you do if you were the opposite gender for a day? Oops, wait, wrong post, lol. Nevertheless, it's that time again. Time for yet another weekly mega-cast attack upon your otaku soul!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Anime Figure&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Anime Figure","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-figure\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3689,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/07\/21\/blog-211-moe-watchmen-you-people\/","url_meta":{"origin":758,"position":2},"title":"Blog 211 > Moe, Watchmen &#038; You People","author":"xjaymanx","date":"July 21, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Watchmen (Film, 2009) | Enlarge 5800px Hello-hello! Welcome back, folks, friends, and fellow Toyboxers! Are we there yet? Is it time for another weekly mega-odyssey into medieval mayhem? Of course, why else would we be here? This week, our mega-cast catapults us into the far-reaching heights of the blogging otakusphere,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Angry Mimi&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Angry Mimi","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/otaku-news\/angry-mimi-otaku-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1123,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2008\/12\/27\/blog-182-year-of-anime-rock-otaku\/","url_meta":{"origin":758,"position":3},"title":"Blog 182 > Year of Anime, Rock &#038; Otaku","author":"xjaymanx","date":"December 27, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Dec 21 | Angry Mimi Sign | Enlarge Ah, what a year it's been! For my last mega-post of 2008, I tackle another mixed bag of \"Rock Band\" sessions, a year's truckload of anime speed-reviews and faves, and a sparkly sprinkle of otaku thanks and wishes. So happy holidays and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Angsty Momo&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Angsty Momo","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-art\/angsty-momo\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2646,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/05\/04\/blog-200-tasty-tales-from-the-toybox\/","url_meta":{"origin":758,"position":4},"title":"Blog 200 > Tasty Tales from the Toybox","author":"xjaymanx","date":"May 4, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Danni Cole | Fake Message But Genuine Number, LOL | Enlarge Awww, Danni, thanx! How have you been? Oops, wait. Oh no, a new fabricated message! Damn, lol. Ah well, although Cherokee-Hawaiian adult-film actress Danni Cole never actually sent me this sunshiny and spectacled cheer, the beach-house fantasy sounds like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Angry Mimi&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Angry Mimi","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/otaku-news\/angry-mimi-otaku-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"I command you to jump...","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/xjaymanx_lelouch_jump_450.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4563,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2010\/02\/16\/blog-219-sayonara-2009-to-onigiri-2010\/","url_meta":{"origin":758,"position":5},"title":"Blog 219 > Sayonara 2009 to Onigiri 2010","author":"xjaymanx","date":"February 16, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Kitsu Chiri | Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (2007, 2008, 2009) | Enlarge 750px Sayonara, 2009! Konnichiwa, my Tirelessly Tumbling Toyboxers! Got onigiri? Are you ready? Ready to endure a tumbling tidal wave of tear-jerking titles, blood-splattering titles, angst-ridden titles, and titles not worth mentioning? Ready to slash and slay another dragon-sized\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Akikan&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Akikan","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-titles\/akikan\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/758"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=758"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2792,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/758\/revisions\/2792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}