Fist of the North Star

(We start off with the opening to Anime Abandon, then come to Sage in his room)

Sage: Whenever I've reviewd old-school classics here on this show, it always seems like I've fallen on the negative side rather than the positive, and though I have been chastised for holding such opinions, I still stand by by what I said.

(Clip of Akira)

Sage (vo): Yes, Akira was a groundbreaking, technical achievement, but it's also a sloppy adaptation of a narrative mess. (Clip of Grave of the Fireflies) Grave of the Fireflies is still more interested in telling a sad story rather than a good story, (clip of Perfect Blue) and Perfect Blue's handling of dissociative identity disorder is...suspect at best.

Sage: Though I have said plenty of nice things about classic anime like with, uh, Ghost in the Shell and Ninja Scroll, I still get angry e-mails and comments about these particular episodes. Especially Akira.

(Another clip of Grave of the Fireflies)

Sage (vo): And you know what? I understand it. I completely understand why people would be genuinely upset with me, or anyone else for that matter, speaking badly about films they like. (Picture of cosplayers dressed as Sailor Scouts) Ours is a culture that tends to identify themselves by what they like. We're Whovians, Browncoats, Trekkies, Bronies, Potterites, Sherlockians, Tolkienites and any other derivation of fandoms. (Picture of cosplayers dressed as Lightning, Noel, Serah and Mog) And, as such, whenever our hobby or passion is talked bad about, we feel, vicarious as it is, insulted by it. As if liking our hobby somehow makes us lesser in their eyes.

Sage: That's pretty much why I don't agree with this mindset. I mean sure I like Star Trek just fine, but I would never call myself or identify myself as a Trekkie.

(Clip of Akira)

Sage (vo): I like what I like, and you like what you like, and we shouldn't feel bad about that. And conversely, we shouldn't feel insulted when someone doesn't like what we like or make fun of it. Granted if they're not demonstrably malicious about it.

Sage: So why am I bringing all this up? Well, today's subject is a venerated title fondly remembered by otaku everywhere. (He brings up the dvd for Fist of the North Star) Fist of the North Star. A movie and TV series that I really genuinely like, despite it being kind of silly and dumb.

(Clips of the movie)

Sage (vo): Fist of the North Star began as a manga that ran in the 80s, and it spawned an entire media franchise that included television series, OVAs, films, videogames, and a live-action adaptation starring Malcolm McDowell. (Poster of the live-action movie is shown) Yeah, we'll get to that little title in good time.

Sage: But today, we're looking at the very first movie, released in 1986 and ported over in 1991. And it just may be the grandpappy of all ultraviolent anime. (Clip of Rei slicing bandits to pieces with Nanto Suichoken) Yes, I like this film. And yes, I know that seems hypocritical of me, considering how hard I've come down on violent anime before. But if you give me...30 or so minutes, give or take a few commercial breaks, I'll explain myself.

(Cut to a destroyed city)

Sage (vo): First off, can I say how thrilled I am that I'm reviewing a film for a change? None of that Sin: The Movie shit where it's barely an hour long, or just some combined OVA that they tried to hawk as a feature film. (Quick pick of Armitage III) I'm looking at you, Armitage. The film itself opens in a nice montage of beautiful scenery, idyllic landscapes and peaceful cities.

Sage: How long until it goes completely buttfuck?