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So, I keep seeing/hearing about this anime and I decided to give it a shot. I'm not sure how to put it... It's not bad and it has its moments, don't get me wrong but it's also a bit lacking in my opinion. I mean, Sachi and her story arc was interesting and came really close with the feels... and then, like, I feel they didn't get too personal with anything else in the story ever again. (Quick note, I haven't finished the series yet. I'm at the part with the flying and the sister who is super creepy because, Japan, why?) I mean, they had some pretty good moments. The drama was really fantastic at certain parts of the plot, and then the murderer was revealed and that person had literally the worst reasoning ever and just collapsed with remorse. And it had such a good buildup too! (Trying to keep this spoiler free, but if you don't want anything spoiled, why are you tempting fate by reading this entry to begin wIth?) The plot was pretty engaging as it was. Super mysterious and intriguing. Too bad there were only two interesting characters. The rest of the cast was either just unexplored or dumbed down. And where I'm at now, it just seems like they realized "######, we ended this too soon! Get me a super cliche and sinister villain with no redeeming moral qualities and another setting, stat!" Not to mention most of the deaths were characters who got literally no screen time or character development. It's fine to off characters so long as they're not mentioned except for that one time. I feel cheated. "We lost fourteen people... and none of them had names." So, what do I think of the show so far? Meh, I've seen worse. Besides, it's interesting enough, but I seriously hope Asuna doesn't turn into Princess Peach. She is so interesting and cool, why did they put her into that position? GET OFF MY LAWN! ~ Tekulo <3

If you've seen me walking around with one of my two messenger bags (probably at a convention) then you know of all the buttons in my collection. But since I probably only have one bag with me, you haven't seen all of them! And if you haven't met me then you're missing out on this spectacle. The collection started with buttons for sale from anime conventions' Artist Alleys, and have expanded thanks to comic shops and other events. I've got a pretty nifty button collection: And that's not everything! I also have a handful of buttons on my lanyard at work (Barnes and Noble) featuring things we sell, like a LEGO pin, "Don't Panic," Ravenclaw crest, TFIOS clouds, and a TARDIS button. Not to mention that my old computer is decked out with all kinds of stickers (Relient K, Hogwarts crest, LEGO logo, and even a Stargate SG-1 patch). The only reason I haven't put new stickers on my new laptop is because I've been collecting so many that now they won't all fit! The buttons are always a conversation starter and I'm always looking for more. In fact, I already have a couple of new ones! SO MANY! Yes, I'll be at BrickFair so you can ogle at a bag (and donate to its contents ). -CF

For some reason I wanted to find my PS2 controller. My line of thinking dictated that it should be somewhere around my desk, because my PS2 was on my desk. Makes sense, right? So after probably half an hour of tearing the area around my desk apart searching for that controller it hit me. It was sitting by the stack of games for my PS2. Of course.

*sobs endlessly over Clannad and then rages about the terrible last episode* Well, you may be interested in Accel World also--same author as SAO, so it has some of the same issues, but I find that it's less disjointed than Aincrad, and I find the concept a lot more interesting. MMO software that lets a person alter their perception of time in the real world and then play as a fighting robot with powers determined by their mental trauma hooked me before I had a chance to resist.

lolwut?! Yep. @V1P2: Fair point and, no, Michael Bay doesn't get a free pass on any of that. It's why, for example, I'll take The Expendables over Transformers any day when it comes to mindless movies. I just feel that, like Sumiki says, Michael Bay has his style. They may not be objectively great, but he's really good at what he does. And one thing's for sure, man has a great eye for visuals (even if his fight geography is a mess).

Gosh, seriously. And it's even worse because this seems to be a cliche now. In general, I liked the first half of the season, but they could've definately gone more in depth. They were supposedly trapped in that virtual world for 3 years; they could've explored so much of it. The second half didn't have the same feel (except for one fight part way thru, which actually is one of my favorites in the show) and in general wasn't as good... and that can be said even without the sister thing thrown in. I'm optimistic for the next season, although I can see it flopping again too, so I dunno.

Oddly enough, I actually liked Alfheim (in part) better than the Aincrad arc: I felt like Aincrad kept jumping too much, and the whole thing felt so disjointed that the continuous nature of Alfheim felt like a relief. Though parts of it are definitely messed up. So, so messed up... I like the show more for its concept than its actual execution--I don't entirely understand how it's as popular as it is, but...eh. It's something to watch.

The second half really is a giant mess and I like to think that it never happened... I swear it does get freaking better in the light novels almost immediately (aka SAO II, the real second season, which should begin airing this summer), but everyone I know is so turned off by the Alfheim arc (myself included, granted) that they refuse to give it a shot... And I understand, but it's kind of a shame.

I'm going to disagree. I have no problems with movies that claim to be nothing but fun, but that doesn't mean they get a free pass from criticism. Michael Bay films don't work because despite all his grand visuals, he can't make his movies fun to watch. His action scenes are long and drawn out, and his quit cuts and shakey-cam cinematography style make it near impossible to tell what's going on. On top of that he throws in juvenile humor that's more insulting than funny. All together it makes for a tiresome movie experience. Pacific Rim still has pacing and acting issues, but what is has going for it is that Del Toro knows how to construct an action scene. They're colorful, clear, and easy to follow which is what makes them so much fun to watch. And, unlike Bay, the tone he employs in his 'giant robot' movie shows that he's not ashamed to be directing a Saturday morning cartoon. Obviously this is all subjective, though. If Bay's style works for you then that's all there is to it. Personally I think he could make a really fun movie someday (and The Rock even comes pretty close). He just needs to make better decisions in the editing room.

Yeah, I more or less agree with you on all of this, though my overall assessment is considerably more negative. (though you haven't gotten to one of the parts I really don't like so) Even in the first half, which was better, most of the cast is really uninteresting and it's pretty poorly paced. The second half is just a big, gross, cliched mess. Especially the entire deal with the sister-cousin is super gross (whatever, Japan, I don't care if it's legal or if he's adopted, still, gross.) One thing (perhaps the only one?) I can't fault is the art, though. I think it's probably the best-looking series I've ever seen (although Free! might be giving it a run for its money)

Irrelevant. Either way, I wash my hands of this thread and your slander.

Racism? Care to point out the racism? Pretty please?

My bet is they'll sneak the sets off-shore to Vietnam or another South-East Asian country to sell. Of course, this is unless China blows up their boats for "invanding our waters" or whatever their excuse will be now.