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Shelf Life - Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic




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DmonHiro



Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 2962
Location: Romania, Bucharest
PostPosted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:14 am Reply with quote
"Evil masterminds need to do more than just being evil for evil's sake. "
Oh, my sweet summer child. Believe me, they are not evil for evil's sake. We'll get a better look at them in season 2, but if there's even a season 3 you'll see all you want and more out of the evil organization.
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Animegomaniac



Joined: 16 Feb 2012
Posts: 2685
PostPosted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:16 am Reply with quote
I really liked Ali Baba and Morgana but I couldn't stand Aladdin who is more a living macguffin than a character and as the series went on, they just added more and more characters of the same type.

Now that I look at it, the problem is right there in the title : Magi, the [something] of Magic. This is the only series that I can think of that answered the question of "Why magic?" with "Because magic!" Even Modern Magic made Simple explains itself right in the title.

Not war, not human desires, not the advancement of knowledge which even Gate snuck in there along side the first two somehow or even cheap parlor tricks. "If you could do it, you did it. Done"

In short, Aladdin wanted to become a mage because he was one. Or did he want to become a better mage because he was one? He wanted... he was already... he was?

I am aware it's hard to combine magical practices to shounen formulas because it's not about arbitrary strength- "we got to train to get stronger"/"Now we are strong!"- but rather concrete knowledge- "I've learned a new spell!" *Cue Zelda treasure get theme*. "... On to the next spell!"

Most shounen magic series just make them fighters to skip that part. Your FMAs, your Negimas. To its credit, Magi did not take the easy way out... unfortunately, what it did was ultimately worse because it couldn't be bothered to give Aladdin a... I want to say a personality and that's partly right but I think... flaws, maybe but... Motive? Backstory?

A character. Wow, that's, uh, bad.
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DmonHiro



Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 2962
Location: Romania, Bucharest
PostPosted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:21 am Reply with quote
Animegomaniac wrote:
it couldn't be bothered to give Aladdin a... I want to say a personality and that's partly right but I think... flaws, maybe but... Motive? Backstory?
A character. Wow, that's, uh, bad.

Then watch the 2nd season when its available. It's 75% Aladdin and his character.
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TarsTarkas



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 3311
Location: Virginia, United States
PostPosted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 11:21 am Reply with quote
Paul Jensen wrote:
"Evil masterminds need to do more than just being evil for evil's sake. "

That is not entirely true. Evil does not require complex motivations. It is simply the discovery that if you don't care about anyone else, new doors open up for you. There are plenty of evil teenagers around today, and they will grow up into evil adults.

Most evil people don't need a complex backstory, that will make you feel sorry for them or sympathize. They choose the evil path for the perks and freedom that it gives them.
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belvadeer



Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Posts: 3599
PostPosted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 11:23 am Reply with quote
Cardcaptor Sakura - Complete Collection: I'm sure people will be all over getting this since many curse the Nelvana dub's existence. That said, I've never heard the original Japanese voices, so I don't know what to expect.

Gatchaman Fighter - Complete Collection: This is what Eagle Riders originally was, so the curious should probably grab this one. I think I should too.

The Boy and the Beast [Hosoda Collection]: I feel strangely compelled to double dip and get this. I'm probably the only one though.

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic: I'm dying to hear the dub for this.
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Levonr



Joined: 19 Nov 2003
Posts: 442
PostPosted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:27 pm Reply with quote
belvadeer wrote:
Cardcaptor Sakura - Complete Collection: I'm sure people will be all over getting this since many curse the Nelvana dub's existence. That said, I've never heard the original Japanese voices, so I don't know what to expect.


I consider the Japanese voice cast for Cardcaptor Sakura one of the best. That said I refuse to buy this blu-ray set because they didn't include the 5.1, unless this new release is different but doubt it. The 5.1 remix on the Japanese releases sounds fantastic so its hard to go back to the old stereo. Sucks they didn't include it.
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belvadeer



Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Posts: 3599
PostPosted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 1:33 am Reply with quote
Levonr wrote:
I consider the Japanese voice cast for Cardcaptor Sakura one of the best.


That's not too surprising, considering your avatar picture. XD
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