Katanagatari: Truth, Lies, and History

Repeat a lie often enough and it will be believed.

Often misattributed in various incarnations to Vladamir Lenin or Joseph Goebbels, there is no official source for this statement. It is, however, an interesting way of interpreting “official” history. Another way to put it would be

History is written by the victors.

There is a difference between the two both in reality and in Katanagatari. The latter is what Shikizaki Kiki sought to accomplish, but the former is the fate that ultimately befell Togame.

Needless to say, spoilers ahead.

In memory of 2010 part 9: the Best of the Rest

Where I speak of the shows that had their moments, but which don’t stand out completely in one way or another. A mixture of characters and couples, and scenes that I will watch again and again long after today.

 

Durarara!!

  

SO. DAMN. CUTE.

Honestly, forget about the plot. The insane characters are what make this show, especially the cute and perverted ones we see here.

 

Review: A Voyage Long and Strange

“What happened in North America between Columbus’s sail in 1492 and the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620? ” Tony Horwitz notes that most Americans – including himself before he started working on this title – have little idea, having grown up believing that their country started when the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock. And in a 464 page tome, Horwitz proceeds to fill in the missing 16th century by tracing the journeys of the early explorers across the land called America.

Cloudstreet – classic description of Australian life, or not?

This was the novel selected for the last meeting of a bookclub that I attend. It’s also the favourite book of one of the members, meaning that she didn’t actually want it nominated and selected. And after the discussion we had at the meeting, I think I can understand. It doesn’t happen with all the books that we read, but sometimes, there is a sense that the discussion would improve immensely had someone raised questions for all of us to think about whilst reading. I typically go to wikipedia and then branch out if I think of something I want to check or research, but it seems like not all of us do (or have the time to do) that.

Anyways, on to the thoughts then…about why we Australians (or quasi-Aussies) connected with it much more than the others did.

The basic story – two families move into a rundown house in a big city and eek out an existence as different as night and day. Their children don’t want to stay, but in the end events, feelings etc change and they end up coming home, bringing new life into the place.

Review: Kuroshitsuji (anime)

「執事とは、影の様に主人に付き従う者」

A butler is one who, like a shadow, follows his master faithfully.

In Victorian England, strange incidents occur in the hidden worlds of the capital. Investigating and solving these issues that may threaten the state is the responsibility of the Phantomhive family. And the faithful butler of this house will fulfill every last order given by his young master…though not necessarily out of faithfulness… Beneath the perfect exterior lies a Faustian contract made in order for Ciel Phantomhive to discover the truth behind the deaths of his parents and thus conduct his revenge.

Review: Shinsengumi

Shinsengumi suffered the same problem as Eureka Seven, but even more so because each of the 49 episodes was 45 minutes long! Anyways, most probably know the basic story of the Shinsengumi. Scripted by playwright Mitani Kouki (cuts off tangent), NHK’s Taiga drama seems to have been based not only on truth but also on unconfirmed but popular accounts of the events, and covers the period from the first seeds of the group to the end of Kondo’s life (though there is an epilogue depicting the last day in the life of Hijikata, which I haven’t been able to find).

Previously, my only exposure to the Shinsengumi was probably through the anime/manga Rurouni Kenshin, which was obviously another fictional account of a part of their lives. But part of the fun of the legend is believing in these fictional accounts, if only for a brief period of time. And for the most part, I was immensely entertained.

Review: Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto

Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto (幕末機関説いろはにほへと) is yet another take on one of the most turbulent periods in Japanese history. This time, however, the focus is on Akidzuki Youjirou (秋月耀次郎), also known as The Eternal Assassin, whose sword with its intricate, dragon-headed ornament and strange obsession with finding and destroying an artifact known as 「覇者の頸」 (the Lord’s Head) mark him as different from other reticent traveling samurai. Ultimately, a series quite worth watching. 7.5/10

Review: 300

There’s not really all that much to do in Singapore (unless one is of the clubbing type, which I’m quite decidedly not atm, due at least partially to just how tiring my job is…) – my brothers and I both enjoy going to the cinema more than most other activities, despite the irritating subtitles band.

So catching films at the cineplex has become a way we use to keep ourselves amused. I tend to be quite reserved about the films I pay $8 or more for – comedies and girly flicks just don’t cut it. This year, there haven’t been many that deserve the big screen treatment, but 300 certainly does…

Review: Le Chevalier d’Eon

Since I just finished the series just then. Le Chevalier d’Eon started off very very slowly, and the main reason I kept watching was…you’ll know if you know…

Reviews: various films

Now about some films I saw on my last few plane trips.

Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth really is something I feel that more people would watch. Not that I can say anything, I know that I have changed very little about the way I live.

I also caught the Pride and Prejudice movie, the one with Keira Knightley as Lizzy Bennett, and well, I regretted it. They cut out way too much from the story, removing most of the dialogue that made the book and the BBC series so enjoyable. Darcy may look dreamy in that proposal scene, but to me, he was reduced to someone whose developement seemed contrived and unbelievable. And let’s not talk about the costumes…when I go back to Perth for a break, I’ll gladly make myself a cup of hot chocolate, put my feet up, and go back to watching the BBC production… (There was a note of interest for me though…throughout the film, I wondered where I’d seen Caroline Bingley before…and well, I finally realised that she’s Wendy from L’ Auberge Espagnole‘ and Les Poupées Russes…)

I saw Flags of Our Fathers because I wanted to watch Letters from Iwo Jima before it left the cinemas here. I failed in the latter…but FoOF was interesting enough. Some people criticise it for its sentimentality…but I felt that they had a point. I haven’t seen that many war movies…but I don’t know of a war movie with the same message – that many of the heroes of our wars don’t wish to be remembered as such. Rather, they were people who did what they had to do under the circumstances. Maybe it seems rather contrived since most people with sufficient education understand the point, but it is nice once in a while to have a film that doesn’t glorify what happens in war.

But on that note, guess what other movie I’m going to be talking about soon…