2012
Noah’s Barks pages covering things relating to the year 2012.
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Crystal Castles – “(III)”
A moderate disappointment. With Crystal Castles II, Crystal Castles showed themselves to be one of the most original synth pop groups in a long while. It was a melting pot of just generally good pop sensibilities and had uncommon influences such as witch house and electroclash music. What really made the album interesting though was its attitude. Though it was… (read more)
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JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ isn’t exactly some watershed anime when it comes to plot, featuring many traditional battle shonen tropes, but it’s exceptionally fun and zany compared to anything else in the genre. (read more)
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Inside Mari
In ‘Inside Mari,’ an early-adult shut-in finds himself suddenly inside the body and personal life of a high school girl. Shūzō Oshimi explores gender dynamics and alienation in this somewhat comedic psychodrama. (read more)
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Lasher Keen – “Berserker” (2012)
Berserker features paganistic folk heavily inspired by Comus. I have a hard time getting into any modern post-Comus pagan folk bands because of the different context. When Comus put out First Utterance in 1971, it was genuinely a risky, controversial move filled with true inspiration from its unpaved road. A band like Lasher Keen are one of many… (read more)
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Cowboy Bebop: Ein’s Summer Vacation
The lovable corgi from Cowboy Bebop goes on vacation but can’t afford actual animation. (read more)
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Pendulum
Pendulum is a short film that captures the sensation of suppressing emotions until they rupture and hurt those closest to us. A decent watch set to a song by Muse. (read more)
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Kids on the Slope
‘Kids on the Slope’ is a coming-of-age drama. Two teens with opposing personalities bond over the power of music. Only held back by melodrama. (read more)
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Kuroko’s Basketball
Basketball is taken to the extreme in this action-packed series full of (basically) superpowered teenagers. (Includes seasons 1-3, NG Collection, Idiots Can’t Win!, Let’s Chat, Tip Off, and Would You Mind Doing That Once More) (read more)
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The Master
If there is a cult theme here, it’s the cult of Paul Thomas Anderson; devotees so enamored by the excellent cinematography and intense performances in The Master that they believe there must be something more to it all. The Master isn’t a complex film, but appears as such due to its vague, diametrically opposed themes… (read more)
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Inferno Cop
This absurdist action/seinen parody from Studio Trigger is certainly tongue-in-cheek, but is Inferno Cop actually funny? (Includes ‘Fact Files’) (read more)