Movies

In movies, Wreck-It Ralph was one of my favorite recent animations, well worth watching again and again. Meanwhile, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 brings what is hopefully the conclusion of this series to the small screen.

In TV the Australian Mermaid fantasy series H2O Just Add Water is having all three seasons being released in the US. Likewise the Canadian Steampunk series Murdoch Mysteries is coming out with season 5, and also putting seasons 1 through 4 into a box set.

In Anime, Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc is a feature length OVA alternate history ninja vs. warlord story. Bodacious Space Pirates: Collection 2 brings the second half of the series about a high school girl who inherits a spaceship full of pirates from her father. Finally, Natsume’s Book of Friends rolls out season 3 in a premium edition. It seems Natsume was shunned for his ability to see yokai (spirits and/or monsters), and spent the first two seasons resolving things with the spirit world, in the process of which he gained a family and made friends. Now the spirit world is coming back for him with new problems to be solved.

In movies, Atlas Shrugged: Part II is the concluding part of the epic Ayn Rand story. I missed this one in the theaters, so I am looking forward to watch both parts back to back. With The Complete Adventures of Flash Gordon the three original Flash Gordon serials are being released in a single package. Originally released in 1936, 1938, and 1940, they starred Buster Crabbe as Flash. I already have all 3 serials bought separately, but I am tempted to pick up this package for the included original comic strips and cartoons from the 1930s.

Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season is out this week, and it is every bit as adventurous, sexy, and violent as the first season. It also grew the characters well, which I didn’t realize was happening until I noticed who I was rooting for kept changing. Also this week, Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome takes place in the middle of the First Cylon War, with a young Adama piloting a fighter and coming to the Galactica for the first time.

Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee comes out with the second half of season one. This series has heavily armed letter carriers combating giant insects and rival organizations, as well as the occasional mad scientist. It takes place in a land of perpetual twilight, with a unique and beautiful art style that reminds me of certain tarot decks. The manga it comes from is also beautifully drawn. Also new, Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts is an OVA special collection of only two episodes. Finally, Tiger & Bunny Set 1 brings the first 12 episodes of the first story, which totals 25 episodes in all. Giant Robot pilot/heroes with sponsors logos painted on their metal hides, it brings an interesting view of how the future might be.