Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye | Review by: Stefano Bove

Dan Da Dan is the chameleon of anime. The fact that it already weaves supernatural and extraterrestrial elements together is an achievement in itself but adding in love triangles between all of its characters gives it another edge of being such a great romantic comedy.

Season one saw the adventures of Momo and Okarun as they both developed supernatural powers and fought off Yokai in their local town. Their dynamic is both endearing and entertaining. Towards the end of season one, we are introduced to a new character Jin or Jiji, as Momo calls him. They are childhood friends and that makes Okarun jealous and adding a new dynamic to the group. The season closes with Momo’s granny, Seiko, sending them on a mission that connects to Jin's past and the season leaves us on a really interesting cliffhanger.

Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye picks up right after the cliffhanger because it is secretly the first three episodes of season two compelled as a movie which is much better than many recent anime films that have been released recently that are just season recaps. Not only do you get to see it first, it is well worth it because we get introduced to the newest villain, The Evil Eye and its backstory inside the Kiko family house.

One of the biggest complaints from anime fans is that season one did not have a big enough antagonist but season one was still an introduction to our characters. Now that the gloves are off, The Evil Eye squashes that argument because he is devious, angry and a fierce foe for our heroes.

I called Dan Da Dan the chameleon of anime and that definitely continues into The Evil Eye as it introduces new animation stylization and color palette to compliment its much darker, horror storyline. The series, our heroes and powers continue to evolve. Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye is a massive arc for the series and anyone who was not fully pulled in by season one, this will change your mind. The stakes have never been higher for our heroes and now they have a proper villain with a very compelling story.

4.5/5

Review by: Stefano Bove

The Mandalorian Season 3 Review

Listen, I love Star Wars. I will always love Star Wars. The original and prequel trilogies were a big part of my childhood, and helped shape my love of cinema. While The Mandalorian isn’t among my favourites in the franchise, I thought it had a promising first season and a significantly stronger season two. Season three had so much potential, but a frustrating lack of focus held it back from greatness. This show’s always had a bit of an identity crisis, but it’s never been as clear as it is here. Does it want to be a procedural-style adventure of the week, or tell an epic, multi-season spanning arc? Season one leaned toward the former, while Season two found a satisfying balance of both. Season three tries to find that balance, but the overarching story it wants to tell is bigger than the few episodes allotted to do so. There are only 8 chapters, some barely over 30 min. That’s a fair...

The Rip Review

The Rip is all the evidence you need that a great cast can elevate an otherwise run-of-the-mill movie. Without its impressive A-list roster, this would’ve likely been lost among a crowd of forgettable January dumping ground releases. Throw Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and a handful of other extremely talented actors into the mix, though, and now you’ve got something worth watching. While there are exceptions that prove the rule, a lot of these police/cartel thrillers are interchangeable when it comes to their cookie-cutter story beats. The Rip breaks exactly zero molds, but it also doesn’t feel as uninspired as it could’ve. There are enough surprises to keep things engaging, and the tension - which the movie often hinges on - is appropriately high strung. The action is punchy and loud, which is no surprise coming from Director Joe Carnahan. While I do have minor issues with some of the sequences feeling a bit choppy in how they were shot and edited, the action is solid and packs...

Andor Season 1 Review

I’m going to make a bold statement here, but one I honestly believe to be true. Andor is the best Star Wars has been since the Original Trilogy. Fans in search of epic space battles, lightsaber duels, or a direct connection to the Skywalker Saga may walk away disappointed. However, those in search of a deeper, more mature entry in this long-standing franchise will bask in everything the show has to offer. Star Wars has always been more focused on telling a big, sweeping story filled with exciting action sequences. The galaxy always felt huge, but it never really felt full. Andor changes all of that, with a grounded and personal story unlike anything Star Wars has given us before. This is a thoughtfully constructed, character-driven series that adds depth and life to the galaxy in ways none of the movies or shows have been able to. With twelve episodes, this is the longest Disney Plus series yet, giving the story ample room to breathe and develop at a natural pace. It smartly avoids the...

1st Reviews

Search This Blog