laceblade: (a thousand nights to change the world)
laceblade ([personal profile] laceblade) wrote2010-10-25 08:26 am

Updates: Media & Me

SO.

The Dark Horse omnibus of Cardcaptor Sakura has been released.

Even though I already own the whole series, buying it in this newer (larger) format is enticing to me. It seems kind of ridiculous to buy things twice? But if it's better quality and something I love, it's probably a good choice. I do intend to buy the re-release of Revolutionary Girl Utena, even though I already own it. Better image/sound quality FTW.



In addition to How to Train Your Dragon, I watched Castle in the Sky with a niece and my nephew. I've only seen it once before, and I liked it a lot more this time. I enjoy everyone else's dub performance, especially Anna Paquin's, but I CANNOT get over Dawson Leery as Paku to save my life. I'm pretty eager to try watching this one subbed.



I read all of Osamu Tezuka's Dororo this weekend. At this point, I am frankly petrified to read Princess Knight. Tezuka's treatment of gender and trans issues is lacking, to say the least. I know that "he wrote in the fifties and sixties!" but that doesn't really erase it for me. Tezuka's status as "the godfather of manga" does not make his manga enjoyable to me. I think that the closest thing I came to enjoying was Astro Boy, but for that, I'll just read Urasawa's Pluto and have a much better time.



I watched the first five episodes of Saiunkoku Monogatari (Story of Saiunkoku) yesterday and absolutely loved it.

Basically: In a fantasy kingdom, a young girl from an aristocratic family that's lost its wealth jumps at the chance to become the king's consort for six months so that her family can get paid lots of money. The king's advisors made this scheme because they wanted Shurei to get the king to actually care about his duties and actively govern the kingdom. The king is rumored to prefer men over women, so Shurei is hopeful that he "won't try anything weird."

It has yet to pass the Bechdel Test, but the series focus on 'history of a kingdom through the eyes of a woman' is endlessly interesting to me. There is political intrigue and discussion of economics/taxation, and Shurei is the one educating the king! I hope that the series continues as strongly as it's begun.



Health Update is: When I told my doctor, "I still feel the same way!" she basically threw up her hands and referred me to a gastroentrologist. It will probably be a couple of months before I can see the gastroentrologist? At any rate, I've discerned that I must wait for them to call me.

In the meantime, I have scheduled my first acupuncture appointment for next Wednesday. My insurance does not make these visits free, but it does partially cover them. This is my first time trying alternative medicine. :O

Seeing the dentist in an hour, got my flu shot last week. Come on, body! I am nice to you! Now be nice to me!
salinea: (Default)

[personal profile] salinea 2010-10-25 01:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Saiunkoku Monogatori even gets better as it goes :)
lileyo: A Red-headed Woodpecker, perched on a wooden stump and cocking its head. (Default)

[personal profile] lileyo 2010-10-25 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
O_o Trans issues? Do I even want to know?

OMG Sakura omnibus! I didn't know that was coming out. I might just have to buy that.

Good luck with the acupuncture. I've never tried it either, but I know too many people (including a number of previously very skeptical health professionals) who swear by it.
starlady: (utena myth)

[personal profile] starlady 2010-10-25 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm gearing up to read all of Astro Boy soon. Ugh. I like Black Jack best of all Tezuka's works, but I've only read collections, so there are probably faily chapters that I haven't read.

Tezuka's treatment of gender and trans issues is lacking, to say the least.

Indeed! I remember Princess Knight as being both enjoyable and infuriating, frequently at the same time.

I hope the acupuncture helps!
starlady: (justice)

[personal profile] starlady 2010-10-26 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
*chokes*

I think we can take this as proof of our conviction that Tezuka was a kindly little misogynist bastard. He liked kids and men, not so much with the ladies.
sophygurl: my cats (Default)

[personal profile] sophygurl 2010-10-25 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Good luck with the acupuncture and how awesome that your insurance covers any of it!! :)
antarcticlust: Two cats entwined, one black and one white, like a yin-yang symbol. (kitty yin-yang)

[personal profile] antarcticlust 2010-10-25 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Good luck with the gastroentrologist. It really shouldn't take so damned long for a referral.
thewalk: (Default)

[personal profile] thewalk 2010-10-27 08:31 am (UTC)(link)
My male students usually say their favorite old manga is Black Jack, but they also like the bland boy band Arashi, so like any sampling of teenagers, one can't take any of their opinions as overly-thoughtful.

Initially I read it as "My doctor referred to me as a gastroentrologist," and I thought you meant she was sassing you. It was OMF until I read it right lol

In the theme of whipping bodies into shape, I'll be calling a doctor in Japan in about a half an hour. Wish me luck...*efffff*

Might have to give saiunkoku monogatari a shot!
hillarygayle: (PP Molly kicks ass)

[personal profile] hillarygayle 2010-10-27 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Hi! I found you via your comments in another journal. You & I seem to share taste in anime & games, not to mention feminism & politics. Thus, I'm adding you to my reading list! *wave*