‘Terminator Zero’ has certainly been a pleasant surprise. Created and produced by Mattson Tomlin, co-writer of 2022’s ‘The Batman’, and directed by Masashi
Kudô, it works perfectly as a standalone, self-contained story in the Terminator universe that doesn’t revolve around the Connors, and doesn’t even require much knowledge of the lore to be enjoyed.
The show consists of only 8 episodes that are 25-ish minutes each, so it can be pretty much binge-watched as a film. It introduces a brand new story and characters, taking place in Japan, switching
back and forth from the present time of 1997, a day before Judgment Day happens, and 2022. It’s action-packed and gory and fun, while it also takes the franchise to interesting new places. The story explores philosophical
themes and raises compelling questions, dabbling in existentialism and at times even in spirituality, in ways not seen in previous installments.
The animation is also gorgeous, the characters are diverse and unique, the way time travel is explored is pretty much what someone would expect from a Terminator story. Another big plus
is that, while the show is brutally violent and features several instances of nudity, it never feels cheaply exploitative or sadistic. It is well-worth a watch, it’s one of the best installments in the franchise,
possibly the best thing to come out since T2.
Today marks the 32nd anniversary of 'Batman: The Animated Series', a show that has definitely earned its timeless classic status since its premiere back in 1992. The series didn't just define the way a whole generation viewed the Dark Knight, but also significantly contributed in proving that animation as an art form can without question be a serious storytelling medium, with nothing to envy from live action. In fact, a lot of the live action comic book adaptations that came after it lacked the depth and character development that were so characteristic of the series.With its distinctive Art Deco and Noir animation style and taking clear inspirations from the Burton films, BTAS broke away from the campiness of Adam West's Batman, but also introduced new layers and depth to Bruce Wayne that went beyond the comic book adaptations of the character that existed until then. The show's amazing writing, combined with Kevin Conroy's incomparable performance, gave the character his heart, and helped Batman break out of the monotone, brooding stereotype, showing us a multilayered human version of the Dark Knight that made him more than a vigilante out for vengeance.With Mark Hamill's chilling performance as the Joker, and with the numerous complex and dark plots that redefined characters like Mr. Freeze, gave villains motivations based on tragedy, unfairness, and situations that were more grey than the usual black-and-white definition of evil one would expect from a Saturday morning cartoon, and introduced the now super-popular Harley Quinn, the show never shied away from pushing boundaries and exploring adult themes in a way that respected its children audience, treating them as intelligent viewers who would be able to appreciate such storylines. It's no surprise that BTAS has stood the test of time so well and has defined the legacy of Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and the numerous creative people that helped shape it, and 3 decades later it is still an intriguing watch, even for grown adults.
Tonight's spontaneous watch was Naomi Kawase's 'Sweet Bean'. It's a
bittersweet story about kindness and human connection, but also about
abandonment and how prejudice stigmatises and isolates people. Mainly
though, it's a gentle story about three people, each dealing with their
own loneliness and baggage, whose lives at some point interconnect, and
the way they manage to find meaning in the simple things and leave a
lasting impact on each other. Really beautiful film.
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