unpaid_movie_critic
Joined Feb 2015
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In short, you will not regret it by watching this beautiful and well made anime. The quality and visuals are absolutely stunning. You do not actually need any background information about "Arcane" or "League of Legends" to enjoy it. Watch available trailers and if it catches your attention, watch it. Creators deserved big applause.
Even though I had "Arcane" on a watchlist, I did not plan when exactly I would watch it. I heard a few times that there is a game League of Legends and Arcane is an anime about it. Honestly speaking, right before watching it, I searched on the Internet "what is League of Legends?" and "League of Legends is a Dota?", so you can understand the level of my understanding about it. Plus, I am not particularly a fan of anime genre (not my cup of tea), but I liked "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004), saw and played in "Final Fantasy" (also in "Ragnarok"), and even watched quite serious amount of episodes of "Death Note" (I will not name my favorite anime because I do not want to see a movie based on it;). However, I recently got an opportunity to see almost half of the 2nd season before the premiere, so I of course watched everything.
From the first minutes of watching, I was amazed by the quality. Blurry and strange but stereotypical beginning with post-apocalyptic scenes, and colors, changed to an interesting adventure through the magic world with two sisters. The viewer is kind of following, almost participating in that adventure that is full of all sorts of moments and emotions with a beautifully made world in the magic - steampunk style. From episode to episode, you like reading a book by following the story of Violet and Powder. This story has every type of twist which makes it really interesting to watch. When the scenario is plain, tasteless, boring, and full of predictions, neither visuals or music will help. Because of the hook that centers on the family, my attention has been kept all the time and I have been awaiting the next turn of that story. Even though while watching it we all have favorite characters and are either happy or unhappy with the storyline, family first no matter what. That is probably my favorite part of the "Arcane"
My unfavorite part of this beautiful story actually starts from the end of the 1st season which develops in the 2nd season and most likely will continue. I will do my best to explain it without spoilers by using simple examples and comparisons. I think when scenario based or contain elements of "Romeo and Juliet", a lot of things are predictable and it is supposed to be either simplified, or has unexpected twists. Another well known conflict - fight / relationship that unfortunately becomes a form of cliché are "Batman and Joker" or "Joker and Harley Quinn" which I see in "Arcane." Additionally, things start moving towards pleasing everyone, so adding things that rainbow flags lovers like, mascot fluffy - furry costume fans, and resident evil - mutants concept team, smells like a cash grab in the style of Target - Budweiser. Moreover, the music that used to serve as a beautiful part of the narration of the story changed dramatically to the level of "boom bam boom" strange noises + kind rap + decadence or cyberpunk !?!, etc. All together it changes the atmosphere and it feels that everything is changing direction. With that being said it is less likely I will continue watching it because the beginning of the "Arcane" (first episodes) is what catched my attention and what I would like to watch; an interesting adventure through the magic world with two sisters, what is happened in a past, more stories about characters that are around, Piltover and Zaun, etc.
P. S: While I am writing this review, I am re-watching the beginning of the "Arcane" (first episodes - S1. E1 and E2.) That is pretty much all that needs to be understood towards my favorite part of the "Arcane" It actually can simply summarize what is catching attention. The warmth and value of the family relationship. The rest is not important, family first no matter what.
Even though I had "Arcane" on a watchlist, I did not plan when exactly I would watch it. I heard a few times that there is a game League of Legends and Arcane is an anime about it. Honestly speaking, right before watching it, I searched on the Internet "what is League of Legends?" and "League of Legends is a Dota?", so you can understand the level of my understanding about it. Plus, I am not particularly a fan of anime genre (not my cup of tea), but I liked "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004), saw and played in "Final Fantasy" (also in "Ragnarok"), and even watched quite serious amount of episodes of "Death Note" (I will not name my favorite anime because I do not want to see a movie based on it;). However, I recently got an opportunity to see almost half of the 2nd season before the premiere, so I of course watched everything.
From the first minutes of watching, I was amazed by the quality. Blurry and strange but stereotypical beginning with post-apocalyptic scenes, and colors, changed to an interesting adventure through the magic world with two sisters. The viewer is kind of following, almost participating in that adventure that is full of all sorts of moments and emotions with a beautifully made world in the magic - steampunk style. From episode to episode, you like reading a book by following the story of Violet and Powder. This story has every type of twist which makes it really interesting to watch. When the scenario is plain, tasteless, boring, and full of predictions, neither visuals or music will help. Because of the hook that centers on the family, my attention has been kept all the time and I have been awaiting the next turn of that story. Even though while watching it we all have favorite characters and are either happy or unhappy with the storyline, family first no matter what. That is probably my favorite part of the "Arcane"
My unfavorite part of this beautiful story actually starts from the end of the 1st season which develops in the 2nd season and most likely will continue. I will do my best to explain it without spoilers by using simple examples and comparisons. I think when scenario based or contain elements of "Romeo and Juliet", a lot of things are predictable and it is supposed to be either simplified, or has unexpected twists. Another well known conflict - fight / relationship that unfortunately becomes a form of cliché are "Batman and Joker" or "Joker and Harley Quinn" which I see in "Arcane." Additionally, things start moving towards pleasing everyone, so adding things that rainbow flags lovers like, mascot fluffy - furry costume fans, and resident evil - mutants concept team, smells like a cash grab in the style of Target - Budweiser. Moreover, the music that used to serve as a beautiful part of the narration of the story changed dramatically to the level of "boom bam boom" strange noises + kind rap + decadence or cyberpunk !?!, etc. All together it changes the atmosphere and it feels that everything is changing direction. With that being said it is less likely I will continue watching it because the beginning of the "Arcane" (first episodes) is what catched my attention and what I would like to watch; an interesting adventure through the magic world with two sisters, what is happened in a past, more stories about characters that are around, Piltover and Zaun, etc.
P. S: While I am writing this review, I am re-watching the beginning of the "Arcane" (first episodes - S1. E1 and E2.) That is pretty much all that needs to be understood towards my favorite part of the "Arcane" It actually can simply summarize what is catching attention. The warmth and value of the family relationship. The rest is not important, family first no matter what.
Have you ever got a call or email from fraudsters or scammers!? Without a doubt besides annoying calls or emails about insurance, car extended warranty, and other ads, you got a strange call or email from people who wanted to trick you. Well, here is a movie about one of those. Unfortunately, there is one thing that truly affects the movie as a whole picture.
While you probably think and hope that these con artists also have family and they are normal people who are just unlucky, and have to do what they are doing, this movie shows us a different side of the story. People who want to scam or steal, and commit fraud, will do it again like a cheater. With that being said, it is bitter truth but "Emily the Criminal" is "Emily a selfish b!tc#" and "Emily - I do not care about anything besides me."
P. S: It is okay movie that every parent must show it to their kids and every kid must show it to their parents. It is like "The Tinder Swindler" (2022) or "Four Good Days" (2020); booster-shot to your trust and trustworthiness.
Stay Well and Stay Safe!
While you probably think and hope that these con artists also have family and they are normal people who are just unlucky, and have to do what they are doing, this movie shows us a different side of the story. People who want to scam or steal, and commit fraud, will do it again like a cheater. With that being said, it is bitter truth but "Emily the Criminal" is "Emily a selfish b!tc#" and "Emily - I do not care about anything besides me."
P. S: It is okay movie that every parent must show it to their kids and every kid must show it to their parents. It is like "The Tinder Swindler" (2022) or "Four Good Days" (2020); booster-shot to your trust and trustworthiness.
Stay Well and Stay Safe!
It was interesting to watch but the second half of the documentary like a domino or card house falling apart the whole concept of the movie. The documentary "The Anthrax Attacks" is about what happened after the September 11 attacks (September 11, 2001), but instead of showing us what happened, we see huge mistakes from FBI and people who has a lot of health problems. While you expecting continuation of the investigation, fairness towards post office workers, and some sort of answers, you will get a slap on your face from the government with statements like "Sorry but so many things is going on" or "We have done a great job" Well, kind of disappointing.
It reminded me about Dick Cheney (played by Christian Bale) words in movie "Vice" (2018) at the end of the movie, " I can feel your incriminations and your judgment, and I am fine with that. You want to be loved? Go be a movie star. The world is as you find it. You've gotta deal with that reality that there are monsters in this world. We saw 3,000 innocent people burned to death by those monsters, and yet you object when I refuse to kiss those monsters on the cheek and say "pretty please." You answer me this, what terrorist attack would you have let go forward so you wouldn't seem like a mean and nasty fella? I will not apologize for keeping your family safe. And I will not apologize for doing what needed to be done so that your loved ones could sleep peaceably at night. It has been my honor to be your servant. You chose me. And I did what you asked."
God bless America and may the victims of 9/11 rest in peace.
It reminded me about Dick Cheney (played by Christian Bale) words in movie "Vice" (2018) at the end of the movie, " I can feel your incriminations and your judgment, and I am fine with that. You want to be loved? Go be a movie star. The world is as you find it. You've gotta deal with that reality that there are monsters in this world. We saw 3,000 innocent people burned to death by those monsters, and yet you object when I refuse to kiss those monsters on the cheek and say "pretty please." You answer me this, what terrorist attack would you have let go forward so you wouldn't seem like a mean and nasty fella? I will not apologize for keeping your family safe. And I will not apologize for doing what needed to be done so that your loved ones could sleep peaceably at night. It has been my honor to be your servant. You chose me. And I did what you asked."
God bless America and may the victims of 9/11 rest in peace.