entertain-my-soul

[entertain-my-soul]

I’ve moved domains!

You can find me here now: entertainmysoul.tumblr.com

The new site gives a better overview of the movies/anime/etc. - that was one thing that was really important to me. It’s also easier to navigate in general and you can easily see the comments others may make on each movie as well. Some comments have provided extra information to the movies, but they were lost way below the post, which will not happen with the new design.

Anyway, this will be the last post I’ll be making on this blog, so I’m hoping to see you on the new one! Thank you for stopping by and hopefully see you soon :)

[entertain-my-soul]

Howl’s Moving Castle / Hauru no Ugoku Shiro (2004)

Info: 6 and over | 1h 59min | Director: Hayao Miyazaki Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Romance, Fantasy http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347149/?ref_=nv_sr_1

A love story between an 18-year-old girl named Sophie, cursed by a witch into an old woman's body, and a magician named Howl. Under the curse, Sophie sets out to seek her fortune, which takes her to Howl's strange moving castle. In the castle, Sophie meets Howl's fire demon, named Karishifâ. Seeing that she is under a curse, the demon makes a deal with Sophie--if she breaks the contract he is under with Howl, then Karushifâ will lift the curse that Sophie is under, and she will return to her 18-year-old shape.

Main roles: Chieko Baishô – Sofî (voice) Takuya Kimura – Hauru (voice) Akihiro Miwa – Arechi no Majo (voice) Tatsuya Gashûin – Karushifâ (voice) Ryûnosuke Kamiki – Marukuru (voice)

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭ I’ll keep it short and simple this time: I really enjoyed this movie! One of my favorite Studio Ghibli movies so far! The story is really fun to experience and the characters are just so likable, I really can’t say anything bad about the movie. The animation is of course just as beautiful as the whole atmosphere of the movie! Really recommend checking out this one! :)

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru

Info: 12 episodes, ~20min each | English Sub & Dub available Genre: Animation, Anime, Action, Comedy, Drama, Dub, Fantasy, Historical, Slice of Life Sub: http://kissanime.ru/Anime/Touken-Ranbu-Hanamaru Dub: http://kissanime.ru/Anime/Touken-Ranbu-Hanamaru-Dub

The year is 2205. The "historical revisionists" have begun attacks on the past in their plot to change history. The Saniwa, who have been charged with protecting history, can imbue life into objects, and has the ability to bring famous historical swords to life as male warriors. Strongest among these are the Touken Danshi. The story centers around their cheerful lives.

My Rating: ✭✭✩✩✩ The story and story pacing may not be for everyone, but I’m sure you’ll find a favorite character as there are so many characters to choose from. You may already be familiar with them actually, if you have played the game on which this anime is based on. The plot itself is more cheerful and happy, typical slice of life --> hint: Hanamaru = cheerful. My favorite two episodes were the very last of them since they were a bit more serious. The other anime of Touken Ranbu is supposed to have a more serious plot, although I haven’t watched it yet, I think I may like it better. I gotta add though, that there are so many characters that I had trouble remembering their names (but that might just be me, since I’m terrible with names anyway.)

In short: It’s nice to watch, but the story isn’t really special. I’m sure you’ll find a favorite character though!

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016)

Info: 12 and over | 1h 50min | Director: Takeshi Nozue Genre: Animation, Anime, Adventure, Drama, Action, Fantasy http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5595168/?ref_=nv_sr_1

The magical kingdom of Lucis is home to the hallowed Crystal, but the menacing empire of Niflheim will stop at nothing to make it theirs. War has raged between the two for as long as most can remember. King Regis of Lucis commands an elite force of soldiers dubbed the Kingsglaive. Wielding their king's magic, Nyx Ulric and his fellow glaives stand before the crown city of Insomnia, fighting to stay the inexorable advance of Niflheim's imperial army. Before the overwhelming military might of the empire, King Regis can only salvage his kingdom by accepting an ultimatum-he must cede all lands outside the crown city, and see his son, Prince Noctis, wed to Lady Lunafreya, the former princess of Tenebrae now captive of Niflheim. As the war of wills rages, the machinations of Niflheim transform Insomnia into an awe-inspiring battleground, pulling Nyx into a struggle for the very survival of the kingdom.

Main roles: Aaron Paul – Nyx Ulric (voice) Lena Headey – Lunafreya Nox Fleuret (voice) Sean Bean – Regis Lucis Caelum (voice) Liam Mulvey – Libertus Ostium (voice) Alexa Kahn – Crowe Altius (voice)

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩ In general, every Final Fantasy movie is stunningly animated and beautiful to look at. This one is no exception as well. Really unbelievable how well animated the whole movie is, but then again, if you’ve seen some movies before or have played the games, you’ll not be surprised (or disappointed). The story itself takes place at the same time as the game, so you may want to play the game before watching the movie. It’s also not a problem if you first watch it and then play the game as they add information to each other’s plot. Still, if you’ve experienced one of them first, you also know how the other one is going to end.

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya / Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)

Info: 0 and over | 2h 17min | Director: Isao Takahata Genre: Animation, Anime, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2576852/?ref_=nv_sr_1

An old man makes a living by selling bamboo. One day, he finds a princess in a bamboo. The princess is only the size of a finger. Her name is Kaguya. When Kaguya grows up, 5 men from prestigious families propose to her. Kaguya asks the men to find memorable marriage gifts for her, but the 5 men are unable to find what Kaguya wants. Then, the Emperor of Japan proposes to her.

Main roles: Chloë Grace Moretz – The Princess Kaguya (voice) James Caan – The Bamboo Cutter (voice) Mary Steenburgen – The Bamboo Cutter's Wife / Narrator (voice) Darren Criss – Sutemaru (voice)

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩ Since the very start of the movie it already felt like a fairytale. The way the story was presented as well as the art and animation style really help to make it feel even more like a fairy tale. As I later learned, the plot is based on “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter”. (It’s a 10th-century Japanese monogatari containing Japanese folklore. It is considered the oldest extant Japanese prose narrative although the oldest manuscript dates to 1592.) I think the art style is really fitting for telling such a story. This movie made me feel peaceful (before the and) and sad at the same time. It’s really weird, but I still enjoyed it!

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power (2017)

Info: 0 and over | 1h 38min | Directors: Bonni Cohen & Jon Shenk Genre: Documentary http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6322922/?ref_=nv_sr_1

A sequel to The Inconvenient Truth, the follow-up documentary addresses the progress made to tackle the problem of climate change and Al Gore's global efforts to persuade governmental leaders to invest in renewable energy, culminating in the landmark signing of 2016's Paris Climate Agreement.

Main roles: Al Gore– Himself George W. Bush – Himself John Kerry – Himself Marco Krapels – Himself Angela Merkel – Herself Barack Obama – Himself (archive footage) Vladimir Putin – Himself Donald J. Trump – Himself (archive footage)

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭ I know that talking about climate change may be difficult or even cause some problems with people who don’t believe in it. But I think, nonetheless, it’s great to educate yourself about a topic that is so directly affecting us. The movie itself had a great mix of facts and graphs showing the problems we are already dealing with and also some scenes where the viewer gets to see prove that we are already improving and healing the earth. I think, no matter what your view on climate change currently is, it wouldn’t hurt to watch this movie. Even if it’s just so that you know what the scientists are saying. In my opinion, it’s a movie everyone should watch!

I would also like to let you read this rating HerbieStretch from imdb.com:

It is so easy to ignore climate change if you passively receive 'news' from the mainstream media. I never saw 'An Inconvenient Truth' so this was an introduction to Al Gore and his beliefs. As such it was so powerful that I decided to buy the DVD when available even while I was watching this film - I need to remind myself that climate change is happening. The arguments are presented here in an easily-digested form and with striking footage of the effects of global warming. The ten years that have elapsed since the first documentary have only enhanced the credibility of Al Gore and his arguments and he is able to demonstrate that on occasions. The film makes it clear that addressing climate change cuts across political parties, religions and nations. Please see the film.

There are also more informations available on the website of Al Gore as well as the official website of the movie: https://inconvenientsequel.tumblr.com/action

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Kiki’s Delivery Service/ Majo no takkyûbin  (1989)

Info: 0 and over | 1h 43min | Director: Hayao Miyazaki Genre: Animation, Anime, Adventure, Drama http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097814/?ref_=nv_sr_1

This is the story of a young witch, named Kiki who is now thirteen years old. But she is still a little green and plenty headstrong, but also resourceful, imaginative, and determined. With her trusty wisp of a talking cat named Jiji by her side she's ready to take on the world, or at least the quaintly European seaside village she's chosen as her new home.

Main roles: Minami Takayama – Kiki / Ursula (voice) Rei Sakuma – Jiji (voice) Kappei Yamaguchi – Tombo (voice)

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩ The very first thing I noticed was the gorgeous art style and animation. It really amazed me how much detail and love was put into it! I mean, that’s already kinda typical of studio ghibli, but still! The plot is cute and humorous, simply a delightful movie to watch - fitting for viewers of any age.

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Hidden Figures (2016)

Info: 0 and over | 2h 07min | Director: Theodore Melfi  Genre: Biography, Drama, History http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4846340/?ref_=nv_sr_1

As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in a group of African-American female mathematicians that served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. Based on the unbelievably true life stories of three of these women, known as "human computers", we follow these women as they quickly rose the ranks of NASA alongside many of history's greatest minds specifically tasked with calculating the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, and guaranteeing his safe return. Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson crossed all gender, race, and professional lines while their brilliance and desire to dream big, beyond anything ever accomplished before by the human race, firmly cemented them in U.S. history as true American heroes.

Main roles: Taraji P. Henson – Katherine G. Johnson Octavia Spencer – Dorothy Vaughan Janelle Monáe – Mary Jackson Kevin Costner – Al Harrison Kirsten Dunst – Vivian Mitchell Jim Parsons – Paul Stafford Mahershala Ali – Colonel Jim Johnson

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭ One of the most interesting, thrilling and at the same time touching movies I’ve ever seen. I’m still so shocked that those amazing, brave and talented women really existed! From beginning to end, I was so involved into the plot, the characters, really everything. After the movie ended, I couldn’t help myself but to feel inspired. If I was able to give it more than 5 stars, I would! It was truly amazing to watch! An absolute must-watch in my opinion!

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

American Horror Story: Hotel (Season 5)

Info: 16 and over | 12 Episodes | ~50 minutes each Genre: Horror, Drama, Thriller

The fifth season of American Horror Story focuses on the Downtown Los Angeles Hotel Cortez which has been recently purchased by a New York fashion designer, Will Drake. The 90 year old hotel is haunted by demons and mysterious ghosts including the founder, James Patrick March; heroin junkie Sally, and the strap-on-wielding Addiction Demon. Staff and residents of the hotel include the 111-year-old "vampire", Elizabeth/The Countess, and her fleeting paramour, the former drug-addict Donovan, as well as Donovan's mother, the manager and front desk clerk Iris; the eccentric transgender bartender Liz Taylor; and the Countess' vengeance-obsessed lover, Ramona Royale.

Main roles: Kathy Bates – Iris Sarah Paulson – Sally McKenna & Billie Dean Howard Evan Peters – James Patrick March Wes Bentley – Det. John Lowe Matt Bomer – Donovan Chloë Sevigny – Dr. Alex Lowe Denis O'Hare – Liz Taylor Cheyenne Jackson – Will Drake Angela Bassett – Ramona Royale Lady Gaga – Elizabeth Johnson / The Countess

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩ I really loved Donovan and Liz as characters, but the story itself had some plot holes, which weren’t explained or just barely explained in the last episode. There still are some mysteries left, which isn’t actually that bad I guess, but the plot didn’t resonate with me the way Freak Show for example did. It’s still a good season though! 

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Baby Driver (2017)

Info: 16 and over | 1h 52min | Director: Edgar Wright Genre: Action, Crime, Music  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3890160/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Baby is a young and partially hearing impaired getaway driver who can make any wild move while in motion with the right track playing. It's a critical talent he needs to survive his indentured servitude to the crime boss, Doc, who values his role in his meticulously planned robberies. However, just when Baby thinks he is finally free and clear to have his own life with his new girlfriend, Deborah, Doc coerces him back for another job. Now saddled with a crew of thugs too violently unstable to keep to Doc's plans, Baby finds himself and everything he cares for in terrible danger. To survive and escape the coming maelstrom, it will take all of Baby's skill, wits and daring, but even on the best track, can he make it when life is forcing him to face the music?

Main roles: Ansel Elgort – Baby Lily James – Debora CJ Jones – Joseph Kevin Spacey – Doc Jamie Foxx – Bats Jon Hamm – Buddy

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭ Really interesting movie with great music and a seemingly simple story, which has more depth to it than I thought at first. Didn’t fail to impress me. One of the greatest movies I’ve seen this year! Would recommend for everyone who enjoys some good music and a thrilling story.

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Insurgent (2015)

Info: 12 and over | 2h 19min | Directors: Masayuki Kojima, Ryôsuke Nakamura Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2908446/?ref_=nv_sr_1

One choice can transform you-or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships. Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Four main roles: Shailene Woodley – Tris Kate Winslet – Jeanine Theo James – Four Miles Teller – Peter

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭ I don’t know what it is about this movies, but something really speaks to me. It’s like the perfect mix of difficult moral decisions, romance, action and suspense. The characters are amazingly written as well. 

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Divergent (2014)

Info: 12 and over | 2h 19min | Directors: Masayuki Kojima, Ryôsuke Nakamura Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/?ref_=nv_sr_1

In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late.

Four main roles: Shailene Woodley – Tris Zoë Kravitz – Christina Theo James – Four Jai Courtney – Eric

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭ I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The basic theme about discovering your identity was interesting to me in particular. 

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Piano Forest: The Perfect World of Kai/ Piano no mori (2007)

Info: 0 and over | 1h 41min | Directors: Masayuki Kojima, Ryôsuke Nakamura Genre: Animation, Anime, Drama, Family, Music http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119194/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Amamiya Shuuhei moves from Tokyo to the country side due to his grandmother's bad health. His father is a famous pianist and Shuuhei has taken strict piano lessons since he was very young, aspiring to follow in his footsteps. In school, he is teased by his classmates and is dared to play the piano in the forest. This piano is said to be cursed: if you play it, no sound will come. After school, Ichinose Kai, a boy in the same class, takes Shuuhei to the forest. When Shuuhei tries to play he fails, but Kai plays a wonderful song. This is the beginning of a strong friendship, and a story of two very different boys developing their skills as musicians.

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩

Trailer: (As always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

When Marnie Was There/ Omoide no Mânî (2014)

Info: 0 and over | 1h 43min | Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi Genre: Animation, Anime, Drama, Family http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3398268/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Upon being sent to live with relatives in the countryside, an emotionally distant adolescent girl becomes obsessed with an abandoned mansion and infatuated with a girl who lives there - a girl who may or may not be real.

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

Trailer: (as always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

This Boy Caught A Merman / Kono Danshi, Ningyo Hiroimashita (2012)

Info: 29min Genre: OVA, Fantasy, Shounen Ai, BL (Boy Love) Dub | Sub

They say look before you leap and make sure you can swim before you go in the deep water, but when a picture of his late grandfather falls into the ocean, Shima jumps in after it without thinking. Nearly drowning as a result, he is instead saved by a very perfect stranger... one whose strangeness extends to only being human from the waist up! For Shima, who's always felt like a fish out of water himself, it's more than just a revelation, and the young man and merman quickly begin to bond in ways neither anticipated. And yet, it's going to be far from easy sailing. After all, Shima and Isaki aren't just from opposite sides of the tracks, they're from entirely divergent species, and swimming in separate gene pools may make maintaining a long term relationship a whole different kettle of fish!

Review: As with the last review of this series, I can only say the same things again. I know why people may dislike the animation style or that they need to get used to it, but I myself really enjoyed it! I still feel like this style is very artistic and also fitting for the plot.

The story was really cute and it had more depth to it than other shounen ai I’ve watched. So I enjoyed the movie for that. 

I enjoyed this one a bit more than the last movie of this series (review here) and I can only recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by mermen or who likes cute love stories!

My Rating: ✭✭✭✩✩

Trailer: (as always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

Urbanized (2011)

Info: 0 and over | 1h 25min | Director: Gary Hustwit Genre: Documentary http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1701976/?ref_=nv_sr_1

A documentary about the design of cities, which looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design and features some of the world's foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers.

Review: With this being the third movie of the design trilogy by Gary Hustwit, I officially completed the whole package deal. This one mainly focuses urban design aka the design behind cities and public spaces.

I gotta admit, that this one was the most enjoyable for me to watch. I loved all the scenery, how people solved problems in a clever way and simply to see those spaces evolve and be able to compare what worked out and what didn’t.

Using a lot of different experts and also cities/spaces, this documentary gives you a good overview of the topic. It also doesn’t get boring because of its great pacing. 

I really enjoyed this movie and I hope you’ll give it a try. It’s sort of eye opening if you’ve ever thought about designing any kind of space - like in your home, or even just your own room.

My Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩

Trailer: (as always, watch at your own risk)

[entertain-my-soul]

This Boy Suffers From Crystallization/ Kono Danshi, Sekka ni Nayandemasu (2014)

Info: 27min Genre: OVA, School, Shounen Ai, BL (Boy Love) http://kissanime.ru/Anime/Kono-Danshi-Sekika-ni-Nayandemasu

The story revolves around high school boy Ayumu Banri, who has an illness that makes him start to turn to stone when he's stressed. Since he couldn't fit in with his class, after repeating a year, he declared that he wanted to have a "Sparkly youth" as well. To do this, he changed his hair and clothes to be more fashionable, and constantly checked for popular topics to stay in the know. In the midst of Ayumu's life of making a facade, his homeroom teacher and stone-loving geology teacher Kouya Onihara says that Ayumu's stone transformation is beautiful. Ayumu begins to become attracted to Kouya, who starts to give him advice.

Review: I’ve seen a lot of people saying that the animation style is weird and I can see why they would say that, but I really enjoy the style and animation. It has a lot of effects and bright colors, although it may lack in fast animations. It’s pretty slow and calm over all.

I felt a bit uncomfortable with the story – that is how the two main characters are in relation to one another. I’m glad though that one of them knows what could be problematic about it and that he set some boundaries. (I can’t tell you more without spoiling it, sorry.)  With that said, I really enjoyed it (even with said uneasiness regarding the two main characters). I love the different animation style – it almost felt like a moving painting to me. And I’m really happy with how it ended! (You got to watch the whole credits to see the real end)

My Rating: ✭✭✭✩✩

Trailer: (as always, watch at your own risk)