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After a short hiatus, the Letters to the Editor are back. This month we highlight the good and the bad, Akadot landing between the two poles, as fallible and dedicated as ever to covering the anime industry with a keen journalistic eye.
Dear Akadot,
Hey I just watched Kite on your recommendation and I just wanted to e-mail and tell you how unbelievably wrong you were. Fortunately I did not waste any money on this horrible title, but, after watching it, I can hardly believe I wasted the time it took to download. Reading your review made me think that this was going to be a movie that had substance to it (a difficult thing to accomplish in 45 minutes but certainly possible). Instead the movie is basically just a bunch of nice animation that showcases killing. I am not saying that I hate all movies like this but I like it when they know what they are trying to be (for example Golgo 13). This movie devotes only a couple of minutes (time it yourself - I will never look at this movie again) to "plot development" in an effort to make people, such as your reviewer, think that the movie has meaning, substance, and believability. This movie has none of those things. I could point out all the fallacies of your review but I don't feel like wasting my time, instead I will try and give you my ratings of this movie as compared to yours.
Akadot -
Overall: 9.0
Though rife with darker themes, Kite's synthesis of action and psychological tug-o-war keeps the pace quick and saturated with gripping details.
Counter -
Overall: 3.0
This nice looking piece is filled with darker themes that seem to be there just to confuse viewers into thinking something interesting and original is being done here.
Akadot -
Story: 9.0
At times threatening to dip into thoughtless teenage angst, creator Yasuomi Umetsu imbues commercial appeal into issues more difficult to stomach such as statutory rape and street alternatives to orphanhood.
Counter -
Story: 2.0
Completely predictable, everything that occurs can be guessed at minutes ahead of time (in fact I knew how it would end after about 5 minutes).
Akadot -
Character Development: 10
Rendered with a sensitive hand, this enigmatic trio challenges stereotypical roles of the cinematic criminal underground.
Counter -
Character Development: 2
The characters are about as deep as a kiddie pool. As far as motivation goes we only get to glimpse Sawa's, while Akai's is conveniently explained by the crutch of sadism. Oburi and that other guy (not really a main character as I can't even remember his name but I do know his eyes were screwed up) basically do things 'just because' with no reasoning given for why they are in the positions they are in and why they do what they do.
Akadot -
Art/Animation: 8.0
Although timid ventures into the third dimension meet with fewer successes than failures, vibrant backdrops and heart-pounding chase sequences rusticate an ailing script.
Counter -
Art/Animation: 8.5
Very bright and vibrant with good flow in most places. Truly this is the only reason to watch this dog.
- Matt
Dear Matt,
I don't feel that the film is a waste of time because, at least to me, there is so much happening beneath the surface. What's going to happen isn't as important as why it's happening. And though we may disagree about the substance of this subtextual terrain, a lot of work did go into creating some taciturn tension between characters. You have articulated a worthwhile antithesis to my opinion and I thank you for it. However, the tone of your email seems to cross the boundary of voicing your opinion right into personal attack. It is fruitless to tell me I'm wrong when a review, by nature, is an opinion. We simply disagree. Thank you for your feedback. Please fire back with any other opinions. I not only encourage dialogue with our readership, but as you can see, I engage in it first hand. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Sincerely,
Luis Reyes
Editor, Akadot
Dear Akadot,
Your interview with the unnamed animators was excellent [Editor's note: This reader references "XYZ Affair," which originally posted to Akadot on 8/17/01]. The piece was enlightening and entertaining. Like many people I'm very interested in who those fellows were, but I'm willing to accept the lack of knowledge if it allows them to speak their minds with greater honesty. Please keep up the good work. I look forward to equally impressive articles in the future!
- John Crow
Dear John,
Thank you for your compliment. I too appreciate more candid speech without the fear of waking waves in the industry. In fact, I think that knowing who they were would taint the essence of what they are saying. Again, thanks for the kudos. Akadot is trying to test the borders of responsible journalism - rather than muck raking, we're trying to seek out those things that might enlighten and educate, not only our readers, but ourselves as well.
Sincerely,
Luis Reyes
Editor, Akadot
Thank you all for your letters. Akadot encourages discourse, so please continue sending your letters in: editor@akadot.com.
Kite © Media Blasters.
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