Shelf Life

Neko Mimi Mode

I'm convinced that most of the perfumes in the world smell exactly the same (the only exceptions are those fruit or flower-smelling ones). Except for the new Armani Code, which is delicious.

My deepest apologies for having a short column this week, as I had some serious technical malfunctions, but I'll make it up next time. As always, thank you for your ! Welcome to Shelf Life.

ADV Films 625 min. 1/1 $59.98 10/10/2006 When it comes to attractive people with special powers attacking less attractive people, Get Backers is definitely one of my favorites. Now with the first season collected into thinpak form, viewers can now enjoy throngs of pretty people getting served for cheap. The premise for Get Backers is pretty straightforward—Ban and Ginji are “Get Backers,” people who get stuff back for clients, be it lost kitty keychains or stolen paintings. Often leading to scuffles with deadly nemeses, the series spends a few episodes featuring one-shots about various missions. It's not until the main story arc kicks in that things shift to sixth and the turbo kicks in. The Get Backers are forced to team up with their enemies to infiltrate the Limitless Fortress, a lethal part of town that houses powerful enemies and a horrifying secret. With secrets, bad guys, and disturbing revelations around every corner, it's a breakneck run of several episodes that just beg to be marathoned. Each episode reveals just enough information to keep the story flowing, all the while dishing out fight scenes that will have you agape with glee. Get Backers isn't really about strength, it isn't about who wins, or who loses—it's about the journey into the unknown. Playing out like an extended mystery pockmarked with endless fights, it's perfect for those viewers who need a little violence to whet their short attention spans. The series starts out a little bland, but once it gets going, it really gets going.

Moon Phase DVD 1 - Phase 1 + Artbox + Postcard Display Binder + Postcards Funimation 125 min. 1/? $39.98 10/17/2006 Stick on those fluffy cat ears and get ready to go into neko mimi mode. Despite the onslaught of saccharine and syrupy chirping in the opening theme, Moon Phase skews a bit dark. As it should, since the stars of the show include a vampire girl and a psychic photographer. It's pretty obvious that Moon Phase was animated in Lunar Legend Tsukihime.

Geneon 100 min. 1/? $29.98 09/05/2006 You could be dead right now and not even know it. You could vanish in two minutes, and no one would notice. But… maybe a glimpse at Cartoon Network.

Vermilion Pleasure Night DVD 3 - Creme de la Creme ADV Films 140 min. 3/? $29.98 10/10/2006 It takes a certain appreciation for the absurd to really enjoy the artsy-fartsy humor of Vermilion Pleasure Night. Not meant for those with little patience or who require a punchline to be slapped in front of them, this variety show is one of the most delightfully quirky non-animated titles to ever be released by ADV. Like the discs preceding it, the third volume of Vermilion serves up a medley of skits ranging from the ever-present Fuccons, to an irritating zombie family, to a cooking show that will never see the light of Food Network day. Honestly, it's not for everyone. If your preferred method of laughs is Fire Punch lines of Mad TV, you will not enjoy VPN. However, if you enjoy heady skits that tread between moving artwork and social commentary on pop culture (translation: if you're a pretentious Jackass! and aren't afraid to it it), you will eat it up and ask for seconds. I don't condone the ingesting of anything but food and healthy beverages, but if you were to take Nyquil or other medical substances of a similar color, and then watch Vermilion Pleasure Night…it may or may not enhance your viewing experience. Especially if you have an entire evening to waste and you decide to plow through three volumes in a single sitting. Watching the various nonsensical skits slowly fit together is kind of amazing and if you have the patience to indulge the creators of VPN, you'll be rewarded with something that will truly tickle your brain. Weird, funny, and devilishly sexy, this is a damned fine show.

Thanks for reading! me next time for the likes of Pani Poni Dash!, and Godzilla.