Black Jack 21

[cassiesheepgirl]

Black Jack 21


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Story: 5.5/10

Best described as the bastard love child of a rather dodgy soap opera and a James Bond film, Black Jack 21 is the latest instalment of Osamu Tezuka’s popular franchise. This time Black Jack becomes the target of a group of assassins hired by a mysterious corporation. With only a single photo as a clue, the surgeon sets off on a worldwide expedition to discover exactly who wants him dead and why.

Conspiracies abound, and interesting – if not predictable – plot turns ensure that Black Jack 21’s storyline remains entertaining throughout, albeit occasionally difficult to take seriously. While assassination attempts and collusion naturally bring about plenty of action, Black Jack often finds himself in situations best left to 007 rather than an unlicensed surgeon. Although the Black Jack franchise is not known for its particularly plausible plots, inclusions of scenes such as our protagonist scaling a plane’s exterior mid-flight push the boundaries of believability. Mix this with familial conflict and shocking revelations that are more at home in a daytime drama, and the product is a bizarre creation, dangerously close to becoming utterly laughable.

Black Jack 21’s inclusion of an actual plotline makes a pleasant change from the usual episodic content the franchise relies on, with every episode seeing Black Jack swoop in to save the day. However die-hard fans need not fear – expect plenty of ‘swooping’ in this chapter of the Black Jack series as well.


Animation: 7/10

Black Jack 21 follows a visual style typical of most of Osamu Tezuka’s creations with his character designs heavily influenced by 1920’s western animation. While the series displays relatively polished movement, I find the constant use of static images with dramatic ‘action lines’ (a Black Jack standard) unimaginative and repetitive. As with many other recent anime series, small amounts of CGI have been included. While not only as obvious as Black Jack’s scars, the series’ use of computer graphics often serves little purpose other than enabling the use of sweeping and supposedly dramatic camera movements.


Sound: 6/10

Black Jack 21’s sound design serves its purpose of heightening the tension of certain scenes. However during its more ridiculous ‘dramatic’ moments, the series’ exaggerated score merely makes an already farcical scenario all the more laughable and thus acts as somewhat of a double-edged scalpel. Though neither outstanding nor memorable, both the opening and ending themes fit well with the series’ mood.

Reprising his role as title character, voice actor Akio Ohtsuka provides a stellar performance. Showcasing his ability to express the desperation and motivation required for Black Jack’s situation, Ohtsuka’s performance adds a slight plausibility to an often far-fetched plot.


Characters: 8/10

During this series Black Jack embarks on a long mental journey aside from his physical one. Back Jack discovering secrets hidden in his past provides the anime with an excellent chance to develop its main protagonist – and it does not disappoint. To see a character such as Black Jack, who often shows little emotion, reliving his painful history and learning of the truth behind the tragic events of his childhood comes as a refreshing change and provides the highlight of the series.

Black Jack 21 also introduces an array of new characters, most of whom appear in one or two episodes and thus only a select few enjoy any form of development. Those that do receive a more in-depth exploration of their character undergo their own personal transformation during their encounters with the genius surgeon. This selection of more evolved secondary characters, as well as the series’ demonstration of the consequences that befall those surrounding its protagonist, breathe life into this anime, something that the other Black Jack series fail to achieve.


Overall: 6.5/10

Going into this show expecting a dramatic and gripping thriller is probably a bad idea. When viewing this as a fairly light-hearted series with a decent plotline and some cheesy, extravagant action it becomes possible to forgive the ludicrous events scattered throughout. While nothing more than easy watching, Black Jack 21 succeeds in providing entertainment without being pointless, also managing to throw in some respectable character development to boot. Fans of the Black Jack series will find this highly enjoyable, and those new to the franchise may find it more engaging than they imagined.

[VivisQueen]

I think in this review you've shown a leaping improvement. There were only minimal things on the technical side that I could critique. But please find my comments in bold.

You are also developing a fairly interesting voice due to your sense of humour (yay for Britishisms like 'dodgy' ) and I found it entertaining and informative to read overall. In particular, since I watched/reviewed the BlackJack movie and thought it was shit, I was interested in how this instalment might differ. Thanks for the read.

Originally Posted by cassiesheepgirl

Story: 5.5/10

Possibly the best way to describe Black Jack 21 is like the bastard love child of a rather dodgy soap opera and a James Bond film. The premise is a rather simple one; <--- colon, not semi-colon Black Jack is the target of a group of assassins who were <--- 'are', since there is no reason you should change tense here, you certainly won't lose meaning. In fact, you can cut 'who were' entirely, save yourself wordage hired by a mysterious corporation and (COMMA) with only a single photo as a clue (COMMA) he sets off on a worldwide journey to discover who wants him dead and why.

With conspiracies abound and some interesting, <--- I'd recommend turning this comma and the following one into either brackets or dashes due to the missing comma later if not predictable, plot turns (COMMA) the storyline is certainly entertaining, though it is rather difficult to take the series seriously. While plenty of action is not necessarily a bad thing, we <--- I'd avoid refering to a 'we' and change the sentence to accommodate it to something like '...bad thing, Black Jack often handles situations best left to someone like 007 than an unlicensed surgeon' often see Black Jack in situations that would be best left to someone like 007 rather than an unlicensed surgeon. Although the Black Jack franchise is not known for its particularly plausible plots, the inclusions of scenes such as Black Jack scaling the outside of a plane mid-flight seriously push the boundaries of believability. Mix this with the sort of familial conflict and shocking revelations that would be more at home in a daytime soap opera, and you get a bizarre creation where you <--- vague 'you' could be changed by refering directly to yourself whenever necessary can’t quite decide whether you are supposed to be laughing or not.

The inclusion of an actual plotline makes a pleasant change from the usual episodic content, which the rest of the franchise tends to rely on, where Black Jack swoops in to save the day. However die-hard fans need not fear, <--- a dash would be more appropriate here than the comma there is still plenty of ‘swooping’ to be had in this instalment of the Black Jack series.


Animation: 7/10

Black Jack 21 follows the visual style that you would expect to see from any Osamu Tezuka creation. With the character designs heavily influenced by western animation from around the 1920s, it is a style of work that you will either love or hate. Movement wise the animation itself is relatively polished, though I am not particularly fond of the use of static images with dramatic ‘action lines’ that has become a standard in the Black Jack animations. As with many other more recent anime there is an inclusion of a small amount of CG, which seems to stick out like a sore thumb <--- this is a cliche, avoid using those, change to a more refreshing description and often serves little more purpose than enabling the use of sweeping and supposedly dramatic camera movements.


Sound: 6/10

The sound design in Black Jack 21 serves its purpose of heightening the drama of certain scenes. <--- easily save wordage by using 'sound design in Black Jack 21 aptly heightens the drama of certain scenes' However this is somewhat of a double-edged sword as (COMMA) during some of the more ridiculous so-called dramatic scenes, it <--- what does 'it' refer to here? Because you don't explain afterwards why the music that heightens the drama of scenes suddenly makes others more laughable. So, maybe in the first line of this paragraph you could say 'the corny/melodramatic/cheesy/whatever sound design in Black Jack 21'... OR you could, in this particular sentence say 'dramatic scenes, the corny/etc score merely makes...' merely makes it seem all the more laughable. Generally fitting in with the mood of the series, the opening and ending themes work well, though they are not overly outstanding or memorable. Akio Ohtsuka reprises his role <--- as what? Who is this person you're talking about? Don't assume we know. I'd put the Black Jack link much earlier: 'Akio Ohtsuka reprises his role as Black Jack, and continues to express the character's desperation well'... note, I wasn't sure what you were trying to say here, but the gist was to eliminate pointless wordage like 'to do a good job' and to condense 'deserpation and motivation'. ALSO, this should be a new paragraph to distinguish your talk about music from your talk about voice actors and continues to do a good job of expressing the desperation and motivation that is needed for the situation in which Black Jack finds himself.


Characters: 8/10

During this series Black Jack goes on not only a long physical journey, but also a mental one. Discovering the secrets behind his past, Black Jack 21 provides an excellent chance to develop the main protagonist’s character <--- cut 'character' and the apostrophe-'s' in the previous word - and it does not disappoint. To see a character such as Black Jack, who often shows little emotion, re-living <--- remove the dash, it's one word his painful past and learning about what was truly behind the tragic events of his childhood comes as a refreshing change and is quite possibly the highlight of the series.

Black Jack 21 also introduces an array of new characters, though with most only <--- cut 'only' since it's superfluous and you use it again in the next fragment appearing in one of <--- 'or'? two episodes (COMMA) only a select few are really developed. However, those characters that are explored more deeply all go through some sort of journey and change in some way. This helps bring the series to life, as it doesn’t feel like the sole focus is Black Jack and what happens to him while ignoring the consequences that affect those around him. <--- the last couple of sentences read a little messy. I'd restructure to something like: '... and change in some way; with an array of developed characters, each meaningfully contributing to the story, Black Jack 21 truly comes to life in a way that the other instalments in the franchise fail to do.' Or whatever.


Overall: 6.5/10

If you go into this series expecting a truly gripping thriller of a plot, then you may end up disappointed. <--- you could avoid addressing 'you' by maybe rewriting to something like: 'Going into this series expecting a gripping thriller is probably a mistake/bad idea/whatever. The ridiculous moments are only forgivable when viewing Black Jack 21 as a fairly light-hearted show with a reasonable storyline and a bit of action.' Hmmm. Not quite like that, that still irritates, but you get what I mean. Avoid referring to anybody other than yourself. However, should you just take it for what it is, a fairly light-hearted show with a reasonable storyline and a bit of action, then you may be able to forgive the sometimes-ridiculous moments and actually enjoy it. It is easy watching without being pointless and it manages to throw in some reasonable <--- you used 'reasonable' a short while earlier, maybe try 'passable' or some other adjective - check a thesaurus character development. If you have watched and enjoyed the rest of the Black Jack series, then Black Jack 21 is a must. <--- maybe 'fans of the Black Jack series will find Black Jack 21 highly enjoyable' or whatever

[cassiesheepgirl]

Thanks for the feedback Vivi. Much appreciated as always :D

I think next time I write a review of something I'll hook up some kind of buzzer so every time I type 'you' I get an electric shock hee hee.

(and yeah, it was meant to be one or two - damn fumble fingers >.<)

I have to say I preferred the Black Jack Movie (well from what I can remember of it lol) and the Black Jack OVA, I preferred the style, but they're all essentially Black Jack saves the day in some way, shape or form - so very cheesy.

[Sheex]

Hullo thar again. Me sees some issues:

*Foremost being your use of the verb "to be" (was, is, are)! If you look closely, you're using it in nearly every sentence. Vary your structure so you don't need it.

Possibly the best way to describe Black Jack 21 is like the bastard love child of a rather dodgy soap opera and a James Bond film.

I'd go with something like:

"Black Jack 21 can best be likened to a bastard love child of a dodgy soap opera and a James Bond film." or something along those lines.

The premise is a rather simple one; Black Jack is the target of a group of assassins who were hired by a mysterious corporation and with only a single photo as a clue he sets off on a worldwide journey to discover who wants him dead and why.

First thing, you just need to say "The premise is rather simple" - the "one" at the end is just extra fluff. Second, your second segment is a run-on; you don't need to pack the summary into one sentence. Split it up into a few different ones if all the information is relevant, but there's no need to compact it unnecessarily. :)

4 sentences in animation section.

4 sentences and I count 3 "is!" :P

4 sentences in sound section.

4 sentences and I count 2 "is!" and 1 "are!" :P

Discovering the secrets behind his past, Black Jack 21 provides an excellent chance to develop the main protagonist’s character - and it does not disappoint.

You need to correlate the first section of the sentence to the subject of your sentence; as is, it's a fragment.

Black Jack 21 also introduces an array of new characters, though with most only appearing in one of two episodes only a select few are really developed.

The last half of the sentence runs on a bit - punctuate it or split it in two.

----

I didn't go too in depth because I think that's sufficient for now. If you play around and try to kill as many of those "is" uses as possible, you'll surprise yourself with how much different your writing will read and sound. As is, I think that should be your number one focus when writing - "How can I change my sentences so that I can use different verbs and not have to use 'to be?'" Once you can kill that habit, skills can sentence structure/variation will develop naturally.

[VivisQueen]

Sheex is wrong:

Your sentence is not passive voice, cassiesheepgirl. His, however, is. :P He got confused by the 'is'. And this actually highlights a grammatical problem and needless fluff you have in the sentence. Here are your choices for trimmed down elegance:

Simply speaking/frankly speaking/whatever, Black Jack 21 is the bastard love child of a dodgy soap opera and a James Bond film.

OR

The best way to describe Black Jack 21 is as the bastard love child of a dodgy soap opera and a James Bond film.

EDIT: Heh. Looks like he amended his post, the stealthy bastard. Anyway, I'll leave it up there in case you read it before. But his first example IS passive voice, and that should be avoided at all cost. Since his amendment just introduces another undesirable, I'd just stick with a trimmed down version of your first sentence.

[Sheex]

Originally Posted by VivisQueen

Sheex is wrong:

Your sentence is not passive voice, cassiesheepgirl. His, however, is. :P

Sheex does not mention passive voice for that sentence. Maybe someone is confused?

[VivisQueen]

Screw you! You had a passive voice comment, and I just showed you up on msn and you went and sneakily removed it!

Don't listen to him, cassie! He's a cad! A dastardly cad!

[Sheex]

Originally Posted by VivisQueen

Screw you! You had a passive voice comment, and I just showed you up on msn and you went and sneakily removed it!

Don't listen to him, cassie! He's a cad! A dastardly cad!

Uh, there's no edit mark on my post. Are you sure you're not just confused?

[cassiesheepgirl]

Hahaha, a cad eh?

Anyway, I think I shall hook that imaginary buzzer up to signal when I overuse 'to be'. :)

[VivisQueen]

Originally Posted by Sheex

Uh, there's no edit mark on my post. Are you sure you're not just confused?

... You SUCK! -_-