[LMB] (Chat) Onmyoji & Onmyoji 2

[Lois McMaster Bujold]

Courtesy of Netflix, I've recently enjoyed both these Japanese 
historical-fantasy dramas.  At first glance the first one came off like 
some bizarre cross between a Grade B horror flick and a Noh drama.  The 
English dubbing on it was so dire as to nearly put me off, but once I 
switched to the subtitles, it went much better.  The sequel was a big 
jump up in smoothness and production values; much more Noh drama and 
much less horror flick, and a better movie overall.  (Plus, lesson 
learned, we went to the subtitled version right away.)

General plots revolve around the adventures of a Heian period court 
magician, or onmyoji, named Abe no Seimei, who seems to be the 
equivalent of Merlin in the Authurian cycle, and his friend, an 
endearing flute-playing minor court noble who comes off rather like an 
early Japanese Ethan Urquhart.   Magical intrigue and political plots, 
evil (or misguided) bearded villains, fascinating magic from a whole 
'nother tradition and set of assumptions, gods and demi-gods... 
everything one reads good fantasy for, plus impeccable alien 
world-building because it's, like, a real alien world.

Watching it was like watching an Arthurian movie when you'd never heard 
of Arthur or Camelot; I expect many of the characters and their 
relationships would be recognizable to a Japanese audience with no more 
clues than the names.  Anyway, the pair of films worked better and 
better by accumulation.

Recommended.

On the anime side, also seen and liked very much _Mirage of Blaze_, 
which is... not easy to describe.  Mostly modern setting, Japanese ghost 
stories, reincarnational split personalities, canonical slash, male eye 
candy with as much angst as two heroes who have had 400 years to develop 
a *truly* dysfunctional relationship can muster... what's not to like?  
Although possibly not for everyone, due to certain slashy bits.

Also _Wallflower_, a modern comedy which is also not easy to describe, 
seen as a fansub.

And also _Genshiken_.  Slice 'o life about a college anime club.  I know 
those people.  I *am* those people...


Ta, L.