Arcane Review...
Sep. 25th, 2022 10:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatFinished Arcane - which was surprisingly good. I don't like video games, and usually adaptations from them vary from awful to mediocre, but this thing was brilliantly adapted. It may well be the best adaptation from a video game ever done.
You can't tell it was adapted from a video game - I only know it was - because they tell me in the front and end credits. That's the only way you'd know.
Airing in 2021, it quickly became NETFLIX's most popular and best reviewed animated series ever. It also, is the first animated streaming series to ever win an Emmy. According to the Verge Arcane beat another streaming exclusive, Marvel’s What If…? (available to watch on Disney Plus), as well as non-streaming offerings from Bob’s Burgers, The Simpsons, and Rick and Morty, to the punch. Previous years have seen entries from other Netflix animated shows, such as Big Mouth and BoJack Horseman, nominated for the award. [ I can see why - having attempted or watched the others, Arcane kind of leaves them in the dust. The animation is better, the characterization, world building, vocal talents, the soundtrack and the writing.]
The soundtrack, animation, world-building, plot and characterizations are all well done and well executed. That's kind of difficult hat-trick to pull off. It's a combination of steam-punk and horror sci-fi. While there are sexual situations, it's more violent than anything else - and there's quite a bit of body horror involved (reminiscent of Japanese Anime in that respect).
The story focuses more on sibling relationships than romantic ones. And the key romantic relationships are between two women, and interracial. The lesbian relationship is quite subtle and being built over time - I'm not quite sure it is going in that direction, but it feels like it is. And it has a lot of unexpected twists and turns in both the relationships (familial and romantic) that I didn't respect - with a heavy emphasis on friendship.
There's an extensive and quite diverse ensemble cast. The science fiction is melded with fantastical elements or magic. And the fight scenes are well choreographed. Plus the main fighter is female.
Even the villains are interesting and complicated.
It's well deserving of the awards it has received to date along with the accolades. Not everything is. And while it sort of ends on a cliff-hanger, it does have a second season in the works.
The set-up? Two brothers on opposite sides of the war underground - internal battle ends up in turn breaking up two sisters, who also end up on opposite sides of a battle. It starts when various characters are kids, then skips ahead to when they are adults. It's clever and progresses the characters and storyline along in a manner that not only tracks plot wise, but demonstrates how the characters are diving the plot, not the other way around, and the theme organically comes from the characters.
Highly recommended, if you like this sort of thing. Among the best anime series that I've seen to date.
You can't tell it was adapted from a video game - I only know it was - because they tell me in the front and end credits. That's the only way you'd know.
Airing in 2021, it quickly became NETFLIX's most popular and best reviewed animated series ever. It also, is the first animated streaming series to ever win an Emmy. According to the Verge Arcane beat another streaming exclusive, Marvel’s What If…? (available to watch on Disney Plus), as well as non-streaming offerings from Bob’s Burgers, The Simpsons, and Rick and Morty, to the punch. Previous years have seen entries from other Netflix animated shows, such as Big Mouth and BoJack Horseman, nominated for the award. [ I can see why - having attempted or watched the others, Arcane kind of leaves them in the dust. The animation is better, the characterization, world building, vocal talents, the soundtrack and the writing.]
The soundtrack, animation, world-building, plot and characterizations are all well done and well executed. That's kind of difficult hat-trick to pull off. It's a combination of steam-punk and horror sci-fi. While there are sexual situations, it's more violent than anything else - and there's quite a bit of body horror involved (reminiscent of Japanese Anime in that respect).
The story focuses more on sibling relationships than romantic ones. And the key romantic relationships are between two women, and interracial. The lesbian relationship is quite subtle and being built over time - I'm not quite sure it is going in that direction, but it feels like it is. And it has a lot of unexpected twists and turns in both the relationships (familial and romantic) that I didn't respect - with a heavy emphasis on friendship.
There's an extensive and quite diverse ensemble cast. The science fiction is melded with fantastical elements or magic. And the fight scenes are well choreographed. Plus the main fighter is female.
Even the villains are interesting and complicated.
It's well deserving of the awards it has received to date along with the accolades. Not everything is. And while it sort of ends on a cliff-hanger, it does have a second season in the works.
The set-up? Two brothers on opposite sides of the war underground - internal battle ends up in turn breaking up two sisters, who also end up on opposite sides of a battle. It starts when various characters are kids, then skips ahead to when they are adults. It's clever and progresses the characters and storyline along in a manner that not only tracks plot wise, but demonstrates how the characters are diving the plot, not the other way around, and the theme organically comes from the characters.
Highly recommended, if you like this sort of thing. Among the best anime series that I've seen to date.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-26 07:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-27 12:27 am (UTC)Also the story isn't morally bankrupt, it's actually fairly progressive and complex.
The writers are actually good and the story is morally complex. There's a reason it's won so many accolades - it is good.
The difficulty is life isn't clear cut - and people and corporations are more than one thing. I worked in the video game industry - it's a nasty industry, so is the television, film, and book publishing industry. I mean - I'm certain you can find nasty things your company has done - if you look for it. And it's not like any organization or television show etc is immune. Joss Whedon was an abusive boss, but I can still love Buffy.
You can be a good artist with an interesting story and an asshole at the same time. You can be a serial killer and write beautiful poetry that is moving. People are weirdly more than one thing. It's why I don't really believe in boycotting or banning things. It solves nothing and is counter-productive.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 09:10 am (UTC)I just like the decisions to be easier. I don't want people whose IP is central to good shows to behave awfully enough to have their own multi-aspect Wikipedia section about it, just like I don't want all the convenient companies that offer a good range at a good price to behave such that their employees badly need to unionize, then I have to think. And, yeah, sometimes I end up watching stuff anyway. For instance, I seem to recall stories about Christian Bale being an asshole on set, but he's also a great actor and I'd rather watch his stuff than not. I do think corporations sometimes feel the pressure of this kind of thing and adjust accordingly, I'd just rather be in a universe where I didn't feel obligated to check and weigh, it all got complicated and I want the answers to be easier. I suspect I'll end up watching it, it does at least look like some good may come of the court judgment and the show sounds well worth it.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 10:26 pm (UTC)Also, I wouldn't go by the gossip - that's an insane business.
I mean, my brother hates Tom Hiddleston for what he did to a friend of his. Are we going to hate him for that?
The crux of it is - in regards to artists, does it matter? They aren't politicians. Their actions either back stage or in their personal lives don't effect their art. Watching them doesn't necessarily further their careers.
That said? I boycotted Bull. But I also found it unwatchable. I actively boycott most game shows and reality shows and procedurals, specifically Criminal Minds which I find offensive. But it doesn't really mean much. Obviously no one cares. (shrugs)
no subject
Date: 2022-09-27 01:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 08:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 10:31 pm (UTC)Also, all of that - I didn't see it on screen, at all. The women aren't highly sexualized (usually they are in video games), there is no rape, the woman are portrayed as strong in this series.
If there's gender issues in the organization - it's not in the series at all. Also the series is not racist - as far as I can see.
So none of that is shown on screen.
Watch it if you want or not. Up to you. (shrugs)