Necrotongue

No, what can we say, it was a terrible mess. But for me, it was a very entertaining mess, which surprised me immensely, because I didn't expect much from a Japanese comic book. As I wrote in a comment / review of one of the episodes, the world of Japanese yokai was much more enjoyable to me than the somewhat overused realm of Christian hell dwellers, it was playful, funny, and very action-packed, on the other hand, it was predictable, containing all sorts of Asian, filmmaker vices, but I enjoyed it. / Lesson: Sometimes death doesn't end it.

But yeah, I actually quite liked the finale. It surprises me, because the Japanese creators also unpacked their traditional game of emotions on me, but I resisted it using my spiritual strength to the maximum and enjoyed the battle in the arena, which repeatedly evoked a familiar saying about throwing peas at a wall. At the same time, I noticed that they have somewhat weaker concrete in Japan. No wonder Fukushima didn't last. / Lesson: And they say you can't break through a wall with your head...

Excessive hype usually makes me cautious, so I kept my expectations low. I wasn't disappointed, but I also wasn't swept away by a tsunami of excitement. It was a classic pilot that introduced the characters, setting, and circumstances of the upcoming story, where it seems I won't have anyone to root for. When it comes to drugs, I dislike the producers, distributors, and end-users, so I'll likely remain a strongly impartial viewer. Guy Ritchie is clearly evolving, moving away from the humor that marked his early films... Let's wait and see where it goes from here. / Lesson learned: A stoned chicken shouldn't be handling a shotgun.

This episode was pure, delightful madness. I had a great time watching it. The main difference between Japanese and American comics is that in Japanese ones, characters actually die — and they do so in quite unexpected ways. So, yeah, I enjoyed the battles and even felt some tension. But then came the gardener's transformation, and I nearly died laughing. I have to count that as a positive because anime and Pokémon are just quintessentially Japanese. / Lesson learned: I wonder what that yokai was compensating for with that enormous axe? :-D

Overall, the series is almost exactly meeting my expectations. Almost. Unlike the first episode, the following two lacked that certain something. That said, the Japanese creators have nailed the fight choreography, the CGI doesn't bother me, the visuals are quite stunning, and I find the Japanese characters much easier to distinguish compared to their Korean counterparts. If the creators can step up their game in the remaining episodes, I'll gladly bump up my rating. / Lesson learned: Some yokai behave surprisingly human, and some humans are too much like yokai. Just like in real life.

This episode felt more like a traditional comic book adaptation, which might be why it didn't resonate with me as much. That's the problem with my schizophrenic self, though — complaining that a show based on a comic looks too much like a comic. Regardless, I'm enjoying the playful world of Japanese yokai more than the overplayed European demons with Lucifer at the helm. / Lesson learned: An adult man ogling children at a playground with a pulsating ball in hand isn't just a threat to Japanese kids.

Recently, I watched a film based on a Japanese comic, and it didn't go so well. Still, I decided to take a similar risk with this series, and so far, it seems like I might not end up disappointed. I'm not expecting a masterpiece from a comic-based show, but I'm hoping for some easy entertainment and this creation from the sons and daughters of Nippon might provide just that. / Lesson learned: If a demonic insect approaches and you don't have spiritual energy, quickly seal all bodily openings.

This is the second comedy I've seen today that didn’t feel much like a comedy. While I really enjoyed the previous one, this Italian film didn’t quite hit the mark. I’m not sure if it was the weak script or the mediocre casting — probably a bit of both. When a comedy fails to make me laugh, it’s a significant issue unless the filmmakers manage to save it in some other way. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen here. The plot trudged along from point A to point B without any interesting or entertaining twists. It was a pretty sterile experience with nothing to engage me, and the highlight was honestly when the end credits rolled. / Lesson learned: Restricting combustion engines brings unexpected challenges, some of which we might not initially consider. 2*-

I settled down, expecting an action-comedy, but twenty minutes in, I paused and checked the movie description to make sure I wasn’t dyslexic — it really did list Action/Comedy. It threw me off because it wasn’t exactly action-packed, nor was it a typical comedy. To me, it felt more like a lighthearted drama, which isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, I enjoyed the film’s style more than I anticipated. The story itself wasn’t groundbreaking, but it highlighted how crucial well-written dialogue is for a good script. The film didn’t pretend to be more than it was — an enjoyable, easy-going watch that didn’t overtax my brain, yet still felt intelligently crafted. Plus, Adria Arjona was great to watch, and I have to give props to Glen Powell. He nailed the role of a man who adeptly plays various roles himself. His performance was stellar; each character he portrayed looked and felt distinct, and it wasn’t just thanks to the makeup team. I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected. / Lesson learned: I'm not entirely sure if good triumphed over evil, but life isn’t a fairy tale, and sometimes it throws us moral dilemmas.

My third encounter with Jo Koy didn't go as well as I'd hoped. While it was certainly better than his Filipino special (which set the bar incredibly low), the show had its awkward moments, especially in the beginning. I often found myself not laughing as much as I'd expected. Thankfully, there were a few solid jokes and a strong finish where Jo Koy emphasized the importance of appreciating our mothers. Overall, though, this special didn't quite hit the mark for me.