I appreciate a good villain and I really think that the best ones aren't the usual strawmen that are built up so our cardboard heroes can smite them with impunity. The guys I want to mention here are creations of both the actors and the screenwriters who created and developed these guys as our most loathed foils and to be honest, we KNOW these people and that is what makes them so delicious. I want to give a shout out to those folks that have done such a great job of giving us someone to hate that is so personal, which in turn, lends our heroes a bit more credibility. This list is totally subjective and exists merely as a way to allow others to contribute if they so choose.
Paul Gleason
He tops my list because he had two incredible performances in the 80's. First as the ass kissing local LAPD officer in Die Hard, a clueless, by-the-book plodder who immediately disregards anything coming from beneath his paygrade. Secondly as the burned out detention teacher from The Breakfast Club. Two incredible performances, you have no issues at all with loathing him and cheering for anyone who is in conflict with him. Also delightfully slimy in Trading Places and countless other roles. He's at the top of my list of guys you love to hate.
William Atherton
What can you say about this guy that hasn't already been said? Die Hard I and 2, Real Genius and Ghostbusters? Forever known as the "Man with no dick", thanks to Ghostbusters, he's got slimy down to an art. I could have listed him first, but Gleason does such a great job being a petty tyrant that I had to move Big Bill down a notch. Was there anyone in the audience who didn't smile when Bonnie Bedilia punched him in Die Hard? Didn't think so.
Bob Gunton
Bob does sinister extraordinarily well. In Shawshank redemption, as the warden, his malevolence and phoniness shine right on through without any glimmer of redeeming qualities. For those of you that aren't well acquainted with his talents, check out his turn as agent provocateur in Matewan. Bob has that gift of tone that sounds like a velvet glove with the fist of cruelty contained within.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Random musings from the navel
I miss America... or at least the America I thought I knew and admired. It used to be that our country used to offer hope to the regular individual to prove their own exceptionalism. Namely you had the promise of opportunity to make something of yourself or if you had an idea, a possibility of being able to develop it and create something from it. Those days appear to be gone. When did it all become such a caustic end game?
I don't want to simply blame conservatives, although there is plenty of blame to lay at their feet, because I do believe that the problems go deeper than simple idiology. I understand that certain people are hardwired to handle the concept of workers and management and that you belong in one class or the other. The problem is that there appears to be another class, the "ownership" class that used to be somewhat benevolent in past generations but appears to be in a "screw you" cycle these days. It's not to say that we haven't seen this cycle before. I believe that America from the 1850's thru the 1880's went through a similar stage when the wealthy did such a great job of accumulating wealth that they stopped seeing people that were not of their status as somehow not being people anymore. Granted, its all self delusion, if they were cut, they would bleed, they had bowel movements, they burped yet somehow they felt and conveyed this point of view to others that money matters and as such, it somehow made them better. They then sold this same concept to religious leaders who then started implying that others outside their faith were somehow less than human. Why? When did this need to be "better" or "exceptional" become such a carrot to drive our society?
I can understand the need for proficiency, attention to detail, or even taking a slice of life and turning it into an art form, yet how does that make us better as people? I get that hedge fund managers might not have the same skills than a plumber, but why is it that one has more value than another? If we talk about Teachers as being vitally important in the lives of our children, then why do we resent paying them a comprehensive salary? Do we no longer buy into the concept that education is the one mechanism that allows us to transition through our self imposed social strata? Does this mean that we're seeing a hardening in the social strata in that one now must stumble into extreme good fortune in order to move from one level to the next. The upward mobility appears to be restricted because the wealthy appear to be happy with the current size of their club and no others need apply.
I don't want to simply blame conservatives, although there is plenty of blame to lay at their feet, because I do believe that the problems go deeper than simple idiology. I understand that certain people are hardwired to handle the concept of workers and management and that you belong in one class or the other. The problem is that there appears to be another class, the "ownership" class that used to be somewhat benevolent in past generations but appears to be in a "screw you" cycle these days. It's not to say that we haven't seen this cycle before. I believe that America from the 1850's thru the 1880's went through a similar stage when the wealthy did such a great job of accumulating wealth that they stopped seeing people that were not of their status as somehow not being people anymore. Granted, its all self delusion, if they were cut, they would bleed, they had bowel movements, they burped yet somehow they felt and conveyed this point of view to others that money matters and as such, it somehow made them better. They then sold this same concept to religious leaders who then started implying that others outside their faith were somehow less than human. Why? When did this need to be "better" or "exceptional" become such a carrot to drive our society?
I can understand the need for proficiency, attention to detail, or even taking a slice of life and turning it into an art form, yet how does that make us better as people? I get that hedge fund managers might not have the same skills than a plumber, but why is it that one has more value than another? If we talk about Teachers as being vitally important in the lives of our children, then why do we resent paying them a comprehensive salary? Do we no longer buy into the concept that education is the one mechanism that allows us to transition through our self imposed social strata? Does this mean that we're seeing a hardening in the social strata in that one now must stumble into extreme good fortune in order to move from one level to the next. The upward mobility appears to be restricted because the wealthy appear to be happy with the current size of their club and no others need apply.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wanted: Rockumentaries Part I
I guess musically I'm one of those guys that has frequently taken the road less travelled. My musical tastes run to more lyrical and melodic and always appear to be behind or ahead of the times or even just plain old out of sync with damn near everyone. I just want to share some of my favorite artists with folks and see if we have any intersections and points of reference for future discussion.
In order to do so, I have to provide some background, because we can't understand what music has spoken to us and when until you have an idea on the roads travelled through life. While my life has been remarkably stable over the last 25 years or so, the beginning constant was change, where we lived, who we knew, how we lived was constantly in flux. Both parents working, associated with a big corporation that povided the parents with opportunities to grow and develop and drag their kids along as they went chasing the financial rainbow to middle class status. In many ways it was idyllic and I grew up as your typical teenager, not quite fitting in but then again, the fringe was where it was at, or so we told ourselves.
This is simply a small request, to any who wonder across this place to discuss why music matters and why these artists mattered to me.
I grew up in the 60's, so around the house, we listened to both types of music, Country and Western. The sounds of Faron Young, Charlie Pride and Marty Robbins were a constant. As I started to sense something of the world around me, nighttime TV brought the mindlessness of The Monkees into my life and as such, my introduction to pop culture was completed. As I learned about the band, I was still intrigued on how these guys ended up being thrown together still managed to forge enough bonds of kinship to make some rather nifty music. My tastes trended towards the Nesmith tunes, "The Kind of Girl I could Love", "Papa Jean's Blues", and "You May Just Be The One" all struck a chord with me. Were they simple, yes, but earnest and heartfelt and were the first in my heart in regards to speaking to the romantic in my soul. While the guys have been dissected and dissed and later accepted, I still find their story fascinating all the same.
The 70's
Well in my dawning adolescence I started to find that music was becoming a part of my everyday life. The band that guided me through the first awkward steps of that stage was The Raspberries. Christ on a Ritz could that Eric Carmen sing. The songs and harmonies were tight, remiscent of the Beatles, but a tad less polished, there was lust and yearning in those songs, a bit less innocence, perhaps it was the time but this was the kind of stuff that had me standing in my bedroom playing air guitar. The first music of my own that I purchased for myself was The Raspberries. While I loved Eric Carmen, I freaking adored Dave Smalley, I loved his songs and felt that his bass playing would be the examplee I needed to follow to be a rock star. naturally, I grew up a bit wiser, but like most first crushes, I never lost my passion for their music and it still brings a smile to me today. I wish that these guys had a bit better management, because there was talent, they had a sound and in my humble opinion, it was over all too soon.
After the Raspberries broke up, I was looking for new sounds and new bands to follow and in 1977 thru 1979 I became energized by the wide range of possibilities that were out there. I became enamored with ELO, The Cars, Blondie, Toto and Firefall. There was a complete dissaffection with the mainstream which was dominated by the likes of Barry Manilow and the Bee Gees. I couldn't get into the FM underground that was all about bands like ELP and Rush and I never identified with the metal heads who were still out there playing their Foghat and Kiss records. these bands simply didn't sound like every other band, they had a hook that reached me and stayed with me, be it the lyrical romantic beauty of Firefall's "Just Remember I Love You" or the young love disconnect of lost love in The Cars "Best Friends Girlfriend". Those songs spoke to my own confusion of finding a place or a purpose or some kind of reason that didn't seem to be some sort of random interaction with fate.
In order to do so, I have to provide some background, because we can't understand what music has spoken to us and when until you have an idea on the roads travelled through life. While my life has been remarkably stable over the last 25 years or so, the beginning constant was change, where we lived, who we knew, how we lived was constantly in flux. Both parents working, associated with a big corporation that povided the parents with opportunities to grow and develop and drag their kids along as they went chasing the financial rainbow to middle class status. In many ways it was idyllic and I grew up as your typical teenager, not quite fitting in but then again, the fringe was where it was at, or so we told ourselves.
This is simply a small request, to any who wonder across this place to discuss why music matters and why these artists mattered to me.
I grew up in the 60's, so around the house, we listened to both types of music, Country and Western. The sounds of Faron Young, Charlie Pride and Marty Robbins were a constant. As I started to sense something of the world around me, nighttime TV brought the mindlessness of The Monkees into my life and as such, my introduction to pop culture was completed. As I learned about the band, I was still intrigued on how these guys ended up being thrown together still managed to forge enough bonds of kinship to make some rather nifty music. My tastes trended towards the Nesmith tunes, "The Kind of Girl I could Love", "Papa Jean's Blues", and "You May Just Be The One" all struck a chord with me. Were they simple, yes, but earnest and heartfelt and were the first in my heart in regards to speaking to the romantic in my soul. While the guys have been dissected and dissed and later accepted, I still find their story fascinating all the same.
The 70's
Well in my dawning adolescence I started to find that music was becoming a part of my everyday life. The band that guided me through the first awkward steps of that stage was The Raspberries. Christ on a Ritz could that Eric Carmen sing. The songs and harmonies were tight, remiscent of the Beatles, but a tad less polished, there was lust and yearning in those songs, a bit less innocence, perhaps it was the time but this was the kind of stuff that had me standing in my bedroom playing air guitar. The first music of my own that I purchased for myself was The Raspberries. While I loved Eric Carmen, I freaking adored Dave Smalley, I loved his songs and felt that his bass playing would be the examplee I needed to follow to be a rock star. naturally, I grew up a bit wiser, but like most first crushes, I never lost my passion for their music and it still brings a smile to me today. I wish that these guys had a bit better management, because there was talent, they had a sound and in my humble opinion, it was over all too soon.
After the Raspberries broke up, I was looking for new sounds and new bands to follow and in 1977 thru 1979 I became energized by the wide range of possibilities that were out there. I became enamored with ELO, The Cars, Blondie, Toto and Firefall. There was a complete dissaffection with the mainstream which was dominated by the likes of Barry Manilow and the Bee Gees. I couldn't get into the FM underground that was all about bands like ELP and Rush and I never identified with the metal heads who were still out there playing their Foghat and Kiss records. these bands simply didn't sound like every other band, they had a hook that reached me and stayed with me, be it the lyrical romantic beauty of Firefall's "Just Remember I Love You" or the young love disconnect of lost love in The Cars "Best Friends Girlfriend". Those songs spoke to my own confusion of finding a place or a purpose or some kind of reason that didn't seem to be some sort of random interaction with fate.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Romantic Comedies
I'm a softy, I admit it, sometinmes simply watching these artificial constructions manufactured to tug on your heartstrings really do work. Hey I'm a guy, thru and through, by that I mean that I can be captivated by whatever catches my purient fancies, be it a handspan length of cleavage to the sway of hips to direct eye contact that bares into your innermost sexual driven ID and meets that gaze with unblinking indifference with the full knowledge of acceptance. So yeah, I dig women, I love how they can dance around the directness of the male driven agenda with a knowing wink and nod to its existence. I truly enjoy that there are times when they fiund us some wondrously simple and easy to manipulate that they simply sigh and embrace our libidic driven natures. Plus, some of them can have multiple orgasms, or so I am told. The thing is, I'm a sucker for a good romantic comedy and as such, I would like to share my favorites with you, in no particular order.
While You Were Sleeping
Notting Hill
You've Got Mail
Some Kind of Wonderful
Sixteen Candles
Joe Versus the Volcano
Juno
Dave
Fierce Creatures
A Fish Called Wanda
When Harry Met Sally
While You Were Sleeping
Notting Hill
You've Got Mail
Some Kind of Wonderful
Sixteen Candles
Joe Versus the Volcano
Juno
Dave
Fierce Creatures
A Fish Called Wanda
When Harry Met Sally
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Off My Ass
I finally did it. I took the first step. I visited the website and I joined up. I talk about getting involved, I follow the websites, I make the odd comment and run the odd diary blog, but today I did something a bit further.
I volunteered.
Who knew?
Now, I have no idea on if or how I may be used. But I put my name in, left a phone number, provided an actual e-mail address. Told the wife. She said that was fine, maybe I could get some exercise of my fat ass and go door to door. I countered that fat, exhausted and sweaty doesn't make for a good profile for getting someone to vote. She countered that something that would drive a fat ass like me to go out knocking on doors would make a better impression. Left me speechless, like she usually does.
Still, it's not a time to sit back idly and bitch from the sidelines, it is time to get involved and since I am out of work, more or less sane and have the time between book writing sessions of inspiration, perhaps its a harbinger of things to come. For those who do not see the world as I do, that's perfectly okay with me. I've decided that if you don't agree with me or my politics, that's more than alright, but it does matter that you feel the way that you do for the right reasons, as opposed to the same old antipathy that apparently drives our voter enthusiasm, like I've always voted Republican or Democrat because that's what Mom or Dad or Great Uncle Charlie said....times have changed and people are no longer what they appear to be.
Get involved.
I volunteered.
Who knew?
Now, I have no idea on if or how I may be used. But I put my name in, left a phone number, provided an actual e-mail address. Told the wife. She said that was fine, maybe I could get some exercise of my fat ass and go door to door. I countered that fat, exhausted and sweaty doesn't make for a good profile for getting someone to vote. She countered that something that would drive a fat ass like me to go out knocking on doors would make a better impression. Left me speechless, like she usually does.
Still, it's not a time to sit back idly and bitch from the sidelines, it is time to get involved and since I am out of work, more or less sane and have the time between book writing sessions of inspiration, perhaps its a harbinger of things to come. For those who do not see the world as I do, that's perfectly okay with me. I've decided that if you don't agree with me or my politics, that's more than alright, but it does matter that you feel the way that you do for the right reasons, as opposed to the same old antipathy that apparently drives our voter enthusiasm, like I've always voted Republican or Democrat because that's what Mom or Dad or Great Uncle Charlie said....times have changed and people are no longer what they appear to be.
Get involved.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Fat Guy in Tucson
As it often goes, sometimes you simply have to let the chips fall where they may....and in this case, be sure to vacuum up after yourself else Mom will be pissed.
For some reason, I have felt a need to share my opinions with you, those few of you that may actually take the time to read what I say, who may stumble here on a later date when you have come under my spell of long winded prose and awkwardly charming mixed metaphors.
So, the Fat Guy in Tucson wants to take a few moments and discuss what we're watching and why I think it's good. Reminder, ymma, so if you don't like what I like, well good on ya, support what you do like to you and yours.
TV
What we're currently watching.......
The Amazing Race 17 - don't ask me why this is compelling, but watching people interact with each other, their competition and the locals is what does it for me. That is drama, there is a prize and you get to see the best in people and the worst in folks. It is also a wonderful travelogue for the planet and serves as a weekly reminder on just how good we have it compared to mny other places in the world.
Haven - SyFy channel. Damned if this one didn't sneak up on me and get me interested. The god myth thing going on in the background serves as the Maguffin here but the acting and the scripts are pretty tight and it makes for an entertaining hours as little by little more of the story is revealed. They are using King'ss style here and being true to it as far as how he tells a story. Good call. Also, a good call is the opening and closing theme music is by the same folks that did Firefly, haunting melodies and its good to see those folks gainfully employed.
Rubicon - AMC - I dunno if this series is getting the play that it should, but it addresses questions about morality in our day and age. It involves smart people attempting to solve dangerous problems and not everything is at it seems. I don't know if this will be renewed, but I sure as hell am enjoying season 1.
Spooks/MI-5 - on PBS replays - only starting season 8 now (season 9 is in production in the UK currently I believe). This is good stuff. hard choices, hard decisions and spy stuff is a weakness of mine in that it takes guts, savvy and brains to make it all fly. This is easily the best thing I've seen out of England since Monty Python. This stuff is so good, I've been hunting down free streaming episodes out on the web.
The Venture Brothers - Cartoon Network/Adult Swim programming. - If you were a fan of Johnny Quest growing up then you have to watch this. It turns the entire genre on its ear and points it at the funhouse mirror. Incredibly silly and yet nifty, I can't explain it, you have to experience it. If you haven't seen it, talk to me, I can help.
The Rachael Maddow Show - Most of you folks know that I am of the liberal persuasion and Rachael is where I go to get my fix. She is funny, respectful and gets her facts together before going after anyone, regardless of political affilliation.
For some reason, I have felt a need to share my opinions with you, those few of you that may actually take the time to read what I say, who may stumble here on a later date when you have come under my spell of long winded prose and awkwardly charming mixed metaphors.
So, the Fat Guy in Tucson wants to take a few moments and discuss what we're watching and why I think it's good. Reminder, ymma, so if you don't like what I like, well good on ya, support what you do like to you and yours.
TV
What we're currently watching.......
The Amazing Race 17 - don't ask me why this is compelling, but watching people interact with each other, their competition and the locals is what does it for me. That is drama, there is a prize and you get to see the best in people and the worst in folks. It is also a wonderful travelogue for the planet and serves as a weekly reminder on just how good we have it compared to mny other places in the world.
Haven - SyFy channel. Damned if this one didn't sneak up on me and get me interested. The god myth thing going on in the background serves as the Maguffin here but the acting and the scripts are pretty tight and it makes for an entertaining hours as little by little more of the story is revealed. They are using King'ss style here and being true to it as far as how he tells a story. Good call. Also, a good call is the opening and closing theme music is by the same folks that did Firefly, haunting melodies and its good to see those folks gainfully employed.
Rubicon - AMC - I dunno if this series is getting the play that it should, but it addresses questions about morality in our day and age. It involves smart people attempting to solve dangerous problems and not everything is at it seems. I don't know if this will be renewed, but I sure as hell am enjoying season 1.
Spooks/MI-5 - on PBS replays - only starting season 8 now (season 9 is in production in the UK currently I believe). This is good stuff. hard choices, hard decisions and spy stuff is a weakness of mine in that it takes guts, savvy and brains to make it all fly. This is easily the best thing I've seen out of England since Monty Python. This stuff is so good, I've been hunting down free streaming episodes out on the web.
The Venture Brothers - Cartoon Network/Adult Swim programming. - If you were a fan of Johnny Quest growing up then you have to watch this. It turns the entire genre on its ear and points it at the funhouse mirror. Incredibly silly and yet nifty, I can't explain it, you have to experience it. If you haven't seen it, talk to me, I can help.
The Rachael Maddow Show - Most of you folks know that I am of the liberal persuasion and Rachael is where I go to get my fix. She is funny, respectful and gets her facts together before going after anyone, regardless of political affilliation.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
my favorite anime
one of the nice things about being a complete reprobate is that it allows you to have some diverse interests and as such, I've decided to start to list things that I like, dislike for those that wish to argue and ebate such things. Naturally, your own opinion is lacking if it doesn't dovetail with my own, but seeing as not all of us can be right all of the time, I'll allow you to be wriong here when you disagree with me.
this list is my own, I've seen a boatload of cartoons, good, bad and indifferent, but what I am referring to here is the japanese, or japanese inspired art form of anime, which is often times simply manga brought to the screen and made real.
Again, this is a personal preference, your mileage may vary.
10) Lovely Complex
It seems simple, but it isn't. The would be love interests don't seem like a natural match, he's short, she's tall. Their interests are similar in many ways, but its that old bugaboo of peer pressure and how one sees oneself that continually get in the way of romance. Friends are understanding, history that never quite leaves us and our own way of looking at ourselves and seeing ourselves in someone else's eyes. The humor is broad and the characters sympathetic.
9) Hikaru No Go
Anime about a traditional asian board game. It takes a while to warm up, but the episodes talk about the inner struggles to prove oneself and the dedication needed to become the best. It also goes into loss and pride and shows the evolution of a child into a young man. Worth the time to invest in it if you're looking for insight into asian cultures and foriegn concepts of gaming.
8) FLCL / Fooly Cooly
This has just about everything you might want in a series, a love triangle between a space pirate, his dame and the new kid who has been chosen to be integral to his release. With varying styles, killer music and everything from baseball playing robots to teenage pyromaniacs this series is for those who like their minds expanded or are tired of seeing just the "same old thing". The music is so good, I bought the band's music as an import.
7) Working!!
A slice of life series that is very recent. It covers a nice mix of personality types who are only slightly broadedned for our own entertainment purposes. One of the few series that had me laugh out loud at least once an episode. If you enjoy adult flavored wacky, this is the series for you.
6) Rurouni Kenshin
If you're gonna watch japanese anime, then you must understand that the weapon of choice is hard steel and no, we're not talking bullets. This is a feudal era setting when Japan is painfully moving into a more modern era. Not all of the old ways have died just yet and the primary character is a man looking to escape his past or finding a way to deal with it that allows him to have a future.
5) Cross Game
There had to be at least one sports anime and this one is the best, again, ymmv. It covers the subjects of family loss and grief and love and baseball. It does it in such a way so as to not bludgeon the viewer but slowly allows them to realise the depth of it's characters and to allow them to express themselves just as much as what is not said as is actually spoken.
4) Full Metal Alchemist - Brotherhood.
A reworking of the original that follows the 2nd year of the manga more closely (not the fault of the folks who created the 2nd part of it, it hadn't been written yet) but following the magical art of alchemy in an alternate universe and the moral and personal battles that follow. Great stuff, wonderful voice acting and great plot developments. It's nifty stuff visually.
3) Great Teacher Onizuka
yeah the artwork looks dated these days, but the story is great in how a former rebellious youth imparts his own special brand of wisdom to the adults to be in this rather ribald version of "To ir, with love" japanese style. The life lessons are good and help the students grow up and see themselves for who they are and how they can get there from how the actually are.
2) Bleach
If its battles that you want, you get it here. lots of wonderful over the top hyperbole to boot. There's always another challenge and yes, the style has fallen into the Inuyasha trap of never seeming to ever be an end, but the ride is fun and the cast is resplendant with wonderful archetypes and folks that are oozing subtleties and backstory. the only problem is that we've already had three filler arcs of stories to make up for all of the time it takes the manga to catch up. Who knew the afterlife was so full of anguish.
1) Cowboy Bebop
This the best blend of story, music, visual and characters.
this list is my own, I've seen a boatload of cartoons, good, bad and indifferent, but what I am referring to here is the japanese, or japanese inspired art form of anime, which is often times simply manga brought to the screen and made real.
Again, this is a personal preference, your mileage may vary.
10) Lovely Complex
It seems simple, but it isn't. The would be love interests don't seem like a natural match, he's short, she's tall. Their interests are similar in many ways, but its that old bugaboo of peer pressure and how one sees oneself that continually get in the way of romance. Friends are understanding, history that never quite leaves us and our own way of looking at ourselves and seeing ourselves in someone else's eyes. The humor is broad and the characters sympathetic.
9) Hikaru No Go
Anime about a traditional asian board game. It takes a while to warm up, but the episodes talk about the inner struggles to prove oneself and the dedication needed to become the best. It also goes into loss and pride and shows the evolution of a child into a young man. Worth the time to invest in it if you're looking for insight into asian cultures and foriegn concepts of gaming.
8) FLCL / Fooly Cooly
This has just about everything you might want in a series, a love triangle between a space pirate, his dame and the new kid who has been chosen to be integral to his release. With varying styles, killer music and everything from baseball playing robots to teenage pyromaniacs this series is for those who like their minds expanded or are tired of seeing just the "same old thing". The music is so good, I bought the band's music as an import.
7) Working!!
A slice of life series that is very recent. It covers a nice mix of personality types who are only slightly broadedned for our own entertainment purposes. One of the few series that had me laugh out loud at least once an episode. If you enjoy adult flavored wacky, this is the series for you.
6) Rurouni Kenshin
If you're gonna watch japanese anime, then you must understand that the weapon of choice is hard steel and no, we're not talking bullets. This is a feudal era setting when Japan is painfully moving into a more modern era. Not all of the old ways have died just yet and the primary character is a man looking to escape his past or finding a way to deal with it that allows him to have a future.
5) Cross Game
There had to be at least one sports anime and this one is the best, again, ymmv. It covers the subjects of family loss and grief and love and baseball. It does it in such a way so as to not bludgeon the viewer but slowly allows them to realise the depth of it's characters and to allow them to express themselves just as much as what is not said as is actually spoken.
4) Full Metal Alchemist - Brotherhood.
A reworking of the original that follows the 2nd year of the manga more closely (not the fault of the folks who created the 2nd part of it, it hadn't been written yet) but following the magical art of alchemy in an alternate universe and the moral and personal battles that follow. Great stuff, wonderful voice acting and great plot developments. It's nifty stuff visually.
3) Great Teacher Onizuka
yeah the artwork looks dated these days, but the story is great in how a former rebellious youth imparts his own special brand of wisdom to the adults to be in this rather ribald version of "To ir, with love" japanese style. The life lessons are good and help the students grow up and see themselves for who they are and how they can get there from how the actually are.
2) Bleach
If its battles that you want, you get it here. lots of wonderful over the top hyperbole to boot. There's always another challenge and yes, the style has fallen into the Inuyasha trap of never seeming to ever be an end, but the ride is fun and the cast is resplendant with wonderful archetypes and folks that are oozing subtleties and backstory. the only problem is that we've already had three filler arcs of stories to make up for all of the time it takes the manga to catch up. Who knew the afterlife was so full of anguish.
1) Cowboy Bebop
This the best blend of story, music, visual and characters.
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