Best North American Anime Release of 2010

Aria the Origination + Arietta Complete Collection (Nozomi Entertainment)
Official Aria the Anime Website

This year has been interesting in terms of releases and the numerous series being piled on-top of us like no tomorrow. Although no matter how hard I try, I always go back to this one in particular. It was absolutely no contest for me as to my favorite release of the year and easily my favorite series released this year. From its humble beginnings in Animation, where the characters and their personalities and goals are beautifully set up and begin to explore the world of Neo Venezia. To Natural, where they continue to flush out the intricacies of Neo Venezia. We then come to Origination and Arietta, where it all begins and must end. It's a journey I will never forget and one I will always cherish.

On top of being a magical and beautiful anime experience, Nozomi Entertainment has put together superb packaging and extras for this series and truly does it justice that is rightfully deserved. From superb boxes to excellent informational booklets, to not putting six or seven episodes on one disc like everyone else. You really can't get any better than this. That's why I've named it, out of over a hundred releases this year, my pick for "Best North American Anime Release of 2010." Do yourself a favor and pick up this beautiful and wonderful anime series in its entirety.

Pick up all of Aria today at RightStuf.com;
Aria the Animation (Season 1) Complete Collection
Aria the Natural (Season 2), Part 1
Aria the Natural (Season 2), Part 2
Aria the Origination (Season 3) + Arietta (Prequel OVA) Complete Collection

Thoughts: Criterion's February 2011 Titles

The Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, announced their February 2011 titles this evening with four new titles and two Blu-Ray re-releases. It includes not one, not two but three of my "looking forward to" titles. I am immensely pleased and somewhat terrified of the next Criterion sale at Barnes and Noble.

Let's start off with two re-releases; Federico Fellini's Amarcord (1973) and Krzysztof Kieślowski's The Double Life of Véronique (1991). Neither film really exactly appeals to me. I've heard a lot about Amarcord but I don't know if its worth picking up blindly. The same applies to Double Life of Véronique. Heard some good and some bad about the film, not enough to sway me either way. On top of that, my slate is full with the other titles. I doubt I could pick either up if I wanted them anyways. There is one new title I'm uncertain of, but can be sold on, which is Luchino Visconti's Senso (1954), which aside from Criterion using the words "tragic romance," I am highly interested in but don't know whether or not to pull the eventual trigger on.

Moving onto more new stuff announced, where to start. Ah, the most anticipated release of February for me; Hirokazu Kore-eda's Still Walking (2008). I'm psyched about this movie in particular because of its being constantly compared to Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story (1953), which I'm shamed to admit, I have not seen. Release it on Blu-Ray, Criterion! Please. Back to Still Walking, I'll be picking up the Blu-Ray.

Another title I'll be picking up from Criterion in February is Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank (2009) on Blu-Ray. It's a film that has caught my attention in recent months. I've seen Fish Tank compared to a modern day Francois Truffaut's The 400 Blows (1959). That comparison alone is worth me checking out this film. Katie Jarvis, who plays the female lead, is a newcomer and supposedly pretty amazing at that. The movie also has Michael Fassbender, who has become a Criterion favorite it seems in recent years.

The last title I plan to buy Alexander Mackendrick's Sweet Smell of Success (1957), a film noir starring Burt Lancaster and the late Tony Curtis. This film also caught my attention when it aired on Turner Classic Movies several weeks back. I sat down and rather enjoyed it. It should look particularly gorgeous on Criterion Blu-Ray transfer. It's also been compared to Oliver Stone's Wall Street (1987), but its widely considered way better.

That does it for my thoughts on The Criterion Collection's February 2011 titles. It looks an astounding good month for two of my interests - Criterion and anime releases. Thankfully, I can wait patiently for sales for all this stuff. It will drive me up a wall, however. I'm eager to own these now. Well done, Criterion, well done. Keep it up too.

- tgwIV

EDIT: Changed mind regarding Amarcord, will purchase. Will not be purchasing Fish Tank as a result.

Thoughts: Funimation's February-March Releases

Funimation recently released their list of releases for February and March of next year. Overall, it looks like a slaughter of epic proportions. I fear for my wallet's safety. It has a high number of high profile and huge properties coming out. For the full list, visit this link (February) and this link (March). That being said, here's what I fully intend to pick up.

It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyways because that's how I roll. I will be purchasing the blu-ray of Mamoru Hosoda's Summer Wars on February 15th. In addition to that, I will be picking up Initial D Stage Two Complete Collection due for release on February 1st. As for potential purchases, I am thinking about the Fooly Cooly/FLCL Blu-Ray Collection on February 8th and the Ga-Rei Zero Complete Collection Blu-Ray on February 22nd, as to which version, depends on what comes with the Limited Edition.

Moving onward to March now, a huge slate of releases and highly unusual as well from Funimation. First off, much like Mamoru Hosoda's Summer Wars, March brings another huge and highly anticipated release. That being Evangelion 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance on Blu-Ray on March 29th. Also being released that day is the fourth and penultimate part to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Now that is some exciting stuff. In additional to those releases, I will be picking up the Blu-Ray of the first Eden of the East movie, King of Eden on March 22nd. As for potential purchases, I am considering the Yu Yu Hakusho Season One Blu-Ray on March 29th. It pretty much depends on if they are the remastered episodes from Japan or one of Funimation's hack-jobs. Time will tell on this one.

It's going to be a busy couple of months for Funimation and a costly one for myself. It's so totally worth it however, as its knocking out a significant portion of my "looking forward to" list. That's always a good thing. After suffering a Funimation drought for months on end, they finally and really bite my wallet good. At least I'll still have Christmas and then birthday money to pay for all this stuff.

- tgwIV

New and Improved. Now with 100% more focus!

Welcome to the new and improved The Golden Waste, with more focus on the things I love and want to talk about. My hobbies and interests are anime, manga, the Criterion Collection and silent films. I'll be focusing on each at least once a week in some way, shape or form. Ranging from what news, reviews, predictions to hopes and dreams in each of the hobbies I am actively in.

I had realized with the last three incarnations of this blog, that I was an internet troll hating on pretty much everyone and everyone thing. Those sentiments carried onto the second and third incarnations as well. What else carried was the fact I felt I was forcing myself to do blog posts that I couldn't put my heart into. Some words I do regret, some I don't.

It's been a fun ride with the last three incarnations of this blog, but its time to make this the permanent one. I'll write about what I love and hate, I won't force myself and I'll make strides not to be a total butt. I expect others to do the same and you know who this applies to. This incarnation will not fail, because I believe its going to better than all the rest.

To a new era of The Golden Waste, may it last for many years to come just like my hobbies.

- tgwIVblog
Owner and Founder of The Golden Waste