:anime: Nice Box…:: Ristorante Paradiso Complete Collection

In what is now a semi-regular segment on HD, "Nice Box" takes a quick look at recent releases that I've personally purchased, featuring "beautifully"-captured cell phone pictures of the sets from the blog's Facebook page. I don't intend to post pictures of every single thing I get, but I would like to at least showcase particular major releases or something that I've found neat or liked. It's essentially meant to give you a basic feel of how they came out, plus I'll share my thoughts on the content of the discs themselves (menu design, video quality, extras, etc.). So, please enjoy! --HD

While work has played a major role in the lack of updates lately, one good side-effect to it is that you get money out of it. And when you get money, you can get stuff, like nice anime box sets! This particular one, though, isn't a box set, per se…

:anime: Nice Box, Pt. 3…:: Madoka Magica LE 3 Pics!

It's been awhile since the last post of pics from Aniplex USA's release of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, but here are the final batch of the final set! Box 3 concludes the company's very strong presentation of the series, featuring much of the same kinds of swag that came with the previous two: double-sided posters, double-sided BD/DVD case cover, a soundtrack, a booklet, postcards featuring the episode endcards, and a proof-of-purchase card (OK, so that last one's not quite "swag"…). The quality is evident all around and once more shows that Aniplex USA knows how to pull out all of the stops for a top title like PMMM. It would have been nice if the disc extras had more worth beyond a textless OP (the memorable second/true ED never received the same treatment even in Japan), but all of the physical material certainly makes up for it (although I do take some points off for not fully translating the credits--a growing problem with recent releases).

:anime: The Lights Are On Neon Alley

(Source: Edited from Official Site (background image))

In The Beginning…

About two years ago, Google released a product named "Google TV", a set-top box-like device/platform which integrated itself in between one's set-top cable/satellite box and HDTV. It enabled people to access the Internet and streaming content, such as that from Google's own YouTube, on their HDTVs, while giving them access to their cable/satellite service at the same time. The instant my eyes laid upon the article I read, my mind began to race with ideas. The notion of having an anime-based network as already been realized by two entities--The Anime Network and FUNimation Channel--but neither have a great deal of exposure over the airwaves, though they have fared better via cable video-on-demand (VOD) and even more so on streaming sites, such as the aforementioned two. It is not an easy venture to grab a spot on a cable or satellite system, particularly as a niche one with a smaller viewer base than most. A streaming site can offer more flexibility, control, and security, but it lacks the type of access one can achieve by being "just a click away", nor does it possess the greater comfort and larger screen size one can enjoy on a television screen, especially when it comes to HD content.

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Ristorante Paradiso

Ristorante Paradiso

Official Site: English
Additional Links: ANN Entry, MAL Entry
Video: YouTube

Two years ago, a confluence of thoughts led me towards dedicating November 2010 as "Impromptu Natsume Ono Appreciation Month". This was, as you can guess, a sudden event, so it was perhaps only appropriate that the title I wanted as its centerpiece and that month's Pick--Ristorante Paradiso--was, all the sudden, gone from Crunchyroll when I went to write about!. This was before I was aware that titles could disappear from CR (something I wish the site would make more apparent for affected shows; a listing would), but even so, it was pulled rather surreptitiously.

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: All Vamped Out

Uh oh…

Many people have a thing for vampires Whether it's stuff like Twilight, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, or even the Blade movies, there is a certain allure to the legend,  and the occasional spin, as well. I've always been a fan of the genre, myself (not so much for the overt sexuality or gore that can be assessed to it), and there have been a fair share of anime titles in it, too, so in this Halloween installment of "Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month", we'll be taking a look at a rather broad range of vampire-based works, some well-known, others not.

:anime: HardDoor's Seasonal Anime Preview 2012-13 Special:: noitaminA (Autumn, Winter)

Back once again is HardDoor's coverage of noitaminA's offerings for the season--but this one is a bit different than previous installments. For one, information on both series has been rather slow and vague until recently (Robotics;Notes had some since its PS3 game counterpart was announced, but it wasn't terribly clear what it was all about, whereas PSYCHO-PASS wasn't detailed until the last month or so). Two, with the latter taking up two cours and the former, thus far, looking like the standard 11 eps., no other series has been announced yet to fill Winter's of slot 11 eps.. And three, Production I.G is handling both series, returning to the block after the ill-fated GUILTY CROWN.

There tends to always be an unintentional theme each season, but instead of the "all-star staff/casts" of the past two, this one feels more like a case of "If that anime was popular for x reason, why not this one for x reason?!" It remains to be seen if that mindset will pay off (spoiler: most often than not, no), but fortunately, both series have been acquired by FUNimation for streaming, set for, well, today, so let's get on with the preview!

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Even More Mari Okada!!

For the past two "Free/Low-Cost Anime Picks of the Month", I have highlighted a few titles penned by screenwriter Mari Okada, one of the most in-demand--and divisive--talents in the anime industry. This was largely unintentional and no, I haven't been too kind about her work, either. However, she is a hot commodity for a reason and not everything she has done has been a complete mess (maybe well-controlled messes, but still…). So I figured, why not conclude our little "Unintentional Mari Okada Awareness Special" by spotlighting two shows of her's that are actually pretty good!

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::09.28.12:: Martinez-Chavez & More!

Sergio Martinez UD Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.

Having a chance to see the big match replay last Saturday night, I have to admit: the much ballyhoed 12th round gave me more respect for Martinez than it did Chavez. No doubt, Chavez landed a good shot, but for Martinez to have stuck it out and kept fighting (despite tearing his knee and slipping soon after) was as nearly as jaw-dropping as the knockdown. Furthermore, his continued pressing of the fight actually helped keep Chavez at bay enough to help him stick it out and avoid the finishing blow.

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::09.21.12:: The "Other" Vegas Fight Card

Martinez-Chavez may have went down this past Saturday night, but it wasn't the only notable fight of the evening. Not only that, it wasn't even the only one in Las Vegas, as Showtime hosted a counter-card in the very same city as HBO's PPV telecast! Luckily for boxing fans, that meant that there were two venues featuring outstanding bouts, as Showtime's event did not disappoint…

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Martinez vs. Chavez

Let's see…Sergio Martinez & Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. don't like each other and want to punish and KO the other. Martinez has the speed & KO ability and Chavez the size & power. Chavez can feasibly win it, given his tenacity and, well, his propensity for coming in two weight-classes above the contested weight. That means he can absorb more punches and dish out the harder shots, but Martinez has his signature speed and agility, which has enabled him to rack 'em up and befuddle opponents. Martinez also really hates Chavez and has been begging for this match for ages, but such spirit and determination does not always migrate into the actual bout.

However, I'll give him the benefit of a doubt and say that a determined, and more experienced, Martinez uses his speed and unorthodox style to pick off a very game Chavez in a tough, tight bout, ending him by Rd. 8. As much as I like Martinez and dislike the overvalued son of the legend Mexican fighter, I don't believe it will be so easy to psych him out as he has done other opponents, as the latter has shown some recent improvements. He'll need to pull off another Paul Williams/Kelly Pavlik-type of generalship if wants to make his mark on the sport once again. On the flip side, if Chavez is unfazed by him or gets the best of Martinez, a 9th round stoppage or UD is very possible.

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Outcome: Martinez, UD. No stoppage by Martinez, but he very nearly got stopped apparently in the final moments of the final round after schooling Chavez the whole fight. Can't count out someone with that much weight on him, plus the weight of that family name, when the chips are down, but Martinez was in a bad spot  in the beginning of the first Paul Williams fight getting knocked down before coming out of it fighting. He made it back here and managed to hold on to his claim of victory and saving what observers were calling a "masterpiece". But if you make sport of someone the prior 95% of the fight, do you fight the guy again? I guess the money will do the talking for Martinez on that question…

For the review, click here…