FLCL (2000)

Alien chicks with super magic guitars...how bad can it be?

Genre: Comedy Fantasy Sci-Fi Animé (Japan)

Starring: Mayumi Shintani, Jun Mizuki

Directed By: Kazuya Tsurumaki (Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion)

Overview: A Vespa-riding, guitar slinging alien pulls interdimensional enemies from her new friend's head in hopes to find a creature with titanic powers.

Acting: The acting was comedicaly, overzealously melodramatic mostly. This works here. If you like cutting loose with your Animé from time to time, this is one of the shows that'll take you on that wild trip. Shrieking and weird voices abound.
Rating: 7

Cinematography: This is one of the weirdest Animés I've seen when it comes to the look. There's these awesome angles sometimes, like a shot looking down the alien girl's guitar neck just before she smashes something with it, then right away after we see it laid out like a Japanese Manga comic strip, then a scene tribute to "Southpark" in the round headed animation style. It's really innovative, that mix, yet it can get a little much if you don't get used to the whacked out style from time to time. The explosions and the combat is really well laid out. This is one of those Animés that uses the ultra dramatic facial expressions rather that going the subtle route, so that should give you a good idea too.
Rating: 8

Script: I think I'm losing my mind. The last few Animé I've watched have had plots that have lost me here and there along the way, and this does the same from time to time. The script is perhaps poorly translated, or they intentionally left us in the dark until the last of the 6 episodes. Sadly the ending was not as clear as I had hoped. The worse thing in the version I watched was the subtitles. They were often up for less than half a second, making me rewind and pause frequently, which slowed the mood a little.
Rating: 6

Plot: The plot is crazy. This girl introduces herself by slamming her electric guitar in this 12 year old kid's head, who consequently begins sprouting alien creatures from another dimension. Some friendly, some malignant, the girl runs and flies around smashing things while the kid learns to fight, baseball style, with his own guitar. The flow is jilted from too much of a "we'll surprise them with the why later" approach, and frankly I felt it missed the mark a little and I was very disappointed by the end. Overall it could have been more wild without being so crazy...
Rating: 6

Mood: The mood however is great. Such a disturbing premise with a backdrop of baseball and classic guitars as bats. They do keep the mood constant and the cinematography really helps set it up. The erratic nature of the film is what made it so interesting.
Rating: 7

Then there's the dude with more aliens growning out of his head...

Overall Rating: 68% (Fuh-Luh-Kuh-Luh Indeed!)

Aftertaste: I'm glad I watched this, it's a neat little show. I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone unless they're into Animé for Animé's sake, but if you are, you'll get a kick out of the depth of the Animé culture in his.