REVIEW: "Beck" Strikes a Chord: The Mongolian Chop Squad Returns in Volume 2

[ARTICLE written for Toon Zone News 12-19-07]

Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight—and for tonight only—on your very own DVD player comes the return of the guitar-strumming, mic-fumbling, tom-tapping heroes of teen angst. Yes, light your lighters, spill your drinks and get all sweaty for Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad Volume 2.

For those slightly too many people not in the know, Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad was the creation of Harold Sakuishi and originally featured in Monthly Shōnen Magazine. More recently it has been adapted for animation and distributed in the US in English-friendly form by Funimation. Volume 1 contained the first five episodes of this 26-episode adaptation. If you have no interesting in reading that previous review by clicking here, I will summarize Volume 1 as an enjoyable, gentle piece of Shōnen that captured the spirit of its manga origins and of the music business in general. Aside from some questionable success with the Western dub, it was a light but fun entry into the story. It also came with a free guitar plectrum.

Volume 2 is more of the same, though I must confess my disappointment with the free gift. As Volume 1 had generously started my personal journey into the music world with a free guitar plectrum, I naturally expected the second DVD to include a free guitar to go with it. Alas, all I got was another plectrum. On the upside, it was a different color.

Gifts aside, I can safely say I enjoyed Volume 2 far more than Volume 1. It took me some time to get used to the pacing, characters and story line in the first volume. In fact, the characters weren't immediately likable, and it took those first five episodes to build a rapport. By the time you get to the Volume 2 and the sixth episode of the story, you are a little more entrenched in their enchanting if turbulent world; the characters mean a little more, and the viewing expectations have found a happy medium.

The pace of Beck is one of the show's strongest merits. It doesn't rush its way through the story. By the final episode of this second volume, the story's protagonist, Koyuki, has only just played his first gig with the band. Quite often the spine of the story plays second place to the character orientation situations that surround it. Volume 2 pushes Koyuki and his friends through some social challenges which all play out satisfactorily. In particular, the bullying arc—a story thread that carries through these five episodes—has a particularly enjoyable momentary resolution.

As with Volume 1, the show portrays the entry level environment of the music industry with dignity and a fair amount of accuracy. Having myself taken a stab at the music industry, I can attest to many of the issues, circumstances and overall portrayals of the music world. Band politics, musical technique, rehearsals, sound checks, and gig performances all play very true and should resonate with any musician who has been "there". The only real downside to the series is the lack of sparkle in its range of characters. Koyuki is—as with so many protagonists in the Shōnen genre—reactive rather than active, with a flair for unattractiveness that the females seem not to notice but which can bewilder the audience. Likewise, the females neatly sit in their respective manga archetypes, and the band are just too cool to be interesting. Fortunately, a few of the older, minor players such as Koyuki's musical mentor Ken'ichi and his school teacher Momoko, add texture, but it's really the story and ambiance which holds the attention.

The DVD itself is pretty uninspiring. As with the first disk, the basic interface remains pretty but no more than functional, and this second volume even lacks the commentary track like came with the first. In fact, the special features are very barren, with little more than spiced-up excerpts to carry the bonus footage, along with the obligatory trailers.

Speaking of trailers, Funimation has once again decided to splash its faithful viewer with nostalgic memories of VHS, thanks to yet another catalog title that commences with a mandatory trailer. Ah, for the days of analog fast forward and rewind. Skipping seems to have become an unpopular option with the animation industry. Not only do you get promotional trailers listed as "bonus" or "special features" (yes, I buy DVDs purely on the hope that they have some adverts as extras), but you have a fixed one at the start! Yes, you can navigate around the title you've bought, but not the adverts! You have the choice of watching the main feature, but not the trailer at the beginning. I can't help feeling something there is the wrong way round.

Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable DVD. Essentially, it's more of the same, but I think the drama of Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad is beginning to pay off in volume two. Certainly it's a story worth sticking with that entertains and remains faithful to its source, even if the DVD itself is lacking a certain lustre. But then, no rock gig is complete without one duff track, and on that note, I will crescendo my review by underscoring that rock and roll simile: Beck's second DVD is like a solid rock band that needs to work a little harder on its image and charisma; the substance is there, you just have to look for it.

ART: Rawk Promotion Revealed.

Following on from comments made in the previous blog entry, I have a little more to impart on the Sabian promotion.

To the right of this musing, your brain should be being coaxed by your eyes to behold the store stand for the Sabian promotion I mentioned in my last blog. It was initially tested at a Florida Convention (which is where the photo comes from), though it has been through some slight changes since then. Specifically, we made some alterations to Jimmy Sullivan and Chad Smith who are in the background.

Sad thing is, living in the UK and this being a Canada/US promotion through Sabian (www.sabian.com), I may never get to see the final product. This is what precious detail as of the hard copy output to this project.

Naturally, if anyone happens to see the final product in Sabian outlets, and has a camera phone handy, send me a shot - I'm understandably curious!

In other news, I've moved one of my personal long term project, Pandemonium, a story I've been toying with for two years, from a comic platform (as it was initially conceived) to a book. Knowing me, I may swing back again, but I've been writing the first 10,000 words and I'm finding the medium of narrative is far more rewarding, giving me room for extra detail, narrative humour and story exposition. There is a little more about the project (but just a little ) at www.jamesmclean.net.

Just finished a review for Mushi-shi for Toon Zone News, which I'll be posting here based on volume one. Unfortunately, volume 2 was stolen in transit from Editor to myself. Pity, as it's an excellent show.

Also, an interview with comic artist John Rauch will be popping up on this blog as well as at Cartoons, Dammit! Stay tuned, so to speak.

Sabian, Bryar and M.A.S.K

Want some more McLean? Head to your local Sabian dealer!

Sabian.com
(US & Canada only)

The competition rules etc are on-site. It's a comic page which is the basis for a competition by Sabian, maker of those massively popular rawk cymbals.

Not only do selected Sabian dealers have the comic page by myself, in which you finish the story, but there is also a chance to meet My Chemical Romance drummer, Bob Bryar! Who could resist? I mean, another piece of McLean and a chance to get a drum lesson with some drum legend from a rather popular rock beat combo?

If I hadn't drawn it, and I lived in the US, or I lived in Canada, I would get myself a piece of myself.

In other news, the region 2 release of M.A.S.K (which I did the cover for), is delayed till November, but hey, don't you have enough McLean for this month?

***

With that shameless plug out of the way, what has McLean been up to? What does McLean recommend?

Well McLean had a rather disturbing loss of screeners this month. Okay, he has a pile mounting up to review for my editor, but he had more on the way which would have fitted with those he had to review. And what happens? Mr Postman, in his eagerness to thieve, opened the package, took the DVDs, and passed the empty jiffy onwards through the postal system.

Now, I appreciate that some postal workers may indeed be on low wages, but I can assure you Beck Vol 3 isn't going to get you anything but a DVD case in the face if it was presented to any nephew for a Birthday present. That's not to say it's bad, but of selective taste, and the third volume of a low key anime release isn't going to get you proud eyes.

Other than that, thoroughly enjoying some James Herriot in book form, made more interesting by a recent trip to the James Herriot museum found in Thirsk, Yorkshire. Interestingly, the fictitiously village of Darrowby, for which Thirsk was the basis, is remarkably similar, right down to the vet's location, and the details of the house. I recommend a visit to anyone who is lurking between Durham and York. Fascinating stuff.

Getting a little more into Heroes, but still not quite sure what the fuss is about. Same with Catch 22, a book which has gripped the world by is failing to grip me. Granted, I'm not far into it, but if it wasn't such a famous, influential classic, I'd have put it down by now.

Been listening to the Foo Fighters newest offering. Some catchy moments, but Mr Foo is getting awfully predictable in his work. You can tell where each song is going to go. Still, not terrible.

Finally, I'm looking at moving my off rumoured "Pandemonium" project to novel form. Yes, I'm going to give a go at writing a book. Having written the Batman DKA story through my student time (and surprisingly capturing the interest of literally millions across the world) I feel the urge to try a project which is solely writing, and allow any past time artwork to be focused on other projects. I just feel there is enough substance there to push it into a richer medium, and a more mainstream one too (there are far more publishers of books than comics). Posted, keep you, I will.

PERSONAL UPDATE: "Beowulf", illustrated by James McLean - OUT NOW

To tie in with the upcoming Beowulf movie, Kingfisher have published the story in book form, translated by Penelope Hicks and illustrated by, well, me. The wonderful cover art is by Steve Stone.


There are two versions of this book, a US format (slightly larger) and a UK format.

To purchase the book via Amazon.co.uk, please do so via my site referral. Thank you. So kind. To show I'm in no ones pocket, I will let you into a secret: It can be purchased in other places as well. Naturally, I would prefer you to do so via my link, and I'm sure you can sympathise as to why. I believe Amazon offer a preview of the pages, so if you want a look, you can do so online at their website. The book is available internationally.

In other news, my website has had a revamp. If you've been good enough to follow my referral link, you'll have discovered this, if not, and you are curious - in a sexy, but non harming sort of way, please visit: James McLean.net

ARTICLE: Up, up and go away! Superman and Superhero movies must go.

[Article for DOMESTICATED WORDS]

Saw Superman Returns on Sky the other day. Terrible. This film has turned a key in my brain that has firmly locked a door in my preference center. I hate Superhero films.

So, faster than a speeding bullet[point], I will offer my answer as to why Superman Returns really does whiff of wee.

1. Kate Bosworth - too young and inexperienced an actress to convey a character whom the film relies on having some connection or understanding of. She was not like any Lois Lane I know of. She didn't act like Lois Lane, she didn't look like Lois Lane. Is it just me, or does she look like Cameron from another Singer production called House M.D? Is that coincidence? And furthermore, as my sister pointed out, is it also co-incidence that she came from a film recently starring Mr Spacey, the villain of Superman Returns? I ask the question: is she, of all the actress in the US who went for the part, the best they could find? Or is there a little nepotism going on? Given that Mr Marsden was clearly the best person to play Lois' love interest, and a lead actor from Singer's other big Summer Hit "X-Men", we have to wonder if friendship and creative familiarity scores over acting skills. The same question has to be asked of the great Hugh Laurie, who was also to be in the film as Perry White, but was too busy with Singer's other production, House M.D. Did nepotism kill the radio star? Or less erroneously in this context, the Summer Blockbuster called Superman Returns?

2. Love - Love in films is a difficult thing: it makes one man weep, and another man sing - apparently. If Huey Lewis was referring to the context of "movie love", he was suggesting that one man would be weeping from the 120 minutes he has wasted of his life having watched a film which had a large romantic story which failed to even suckle on any of his soft, sugary, syrupy spots.

The film does little to build the structure of Lois and Clark's romance, rather arrogantly presuming that as a "sort of" sequel to Superman II, the audience has already built up an affinity with these characters. No they haven't. This isn't Reeves and Kidder in the spotlight, and despite Routh's occasional flashes of memory to act like Reeves, the pair are nothing like the originals. The audience enters this romance cold, and leaves cold. It's a nice conceptual idea; to use the earlier films as a basis of the new film's setup, but they should have looked at finding a Lois who could at least give the audience a feeling of the old Lois so they could transfer their established feelings for the original couple.

3. Story. What happened? The film moves along at a snail's pace as it builds up Luthor's threat, but when the threat is realised, its merely a rock that Superman lobs into space. To coin a slice of Pop-Americana, "that 's all folks"? Is that it? Also, having Superman "die" at the end, before he's even had a more substantial encounter with the villain - something that we call in narrative terms, "a finale" - only to come back to life and the movie to end? Again, that's all folks? Oh, and I don't consider a 5 minute tête à tête with Luthor, upon which the villain kicks and stabs the hero a few times, a finale.

The "death" of Superman feels like a pause before a final act. It's not - it IS the final act. A slow amble up to the action, then the action is over -- tout suite -- because we've ambled for too long.

Surely it's not all THAT bad is it Mr McLean? Well, John Ottman does a good job of the score, and his slight variant on the main theme is great. The idea for Superman Returns, both conceptually and in Luthor's plan has potential, but it all misfires. Spacey is great as Luthor, managing to mix a little Hackman with a little Spacey antagonism.

Overall, a good idea, but with the two leads lacking chemistry (yes, the love rival Mr Marsden offers stronger chemistry with Bosworth than Mr Routh does), and a plot which spends too long in the background to be fully realised, the film fails to ignite. And that's an amusing comparison, as the plane attached to the space shuttle early on in the film, should indeed have ignited as soon as those shuttle engines fired - instead the pair carried on moving, awaiting their man of steel. Newsflash: plane's are quite fragile. A shuttle with enough engine power to push it out of orbit, strapped to a pressured container of ignitable fuel, does do nothing else but create a large pyrotechnic. Okay, maybe that was a little picky. It did bother me though. Just a little.

Superman: Man of Steel is penciled in for 2009 which is super stuff, as it gives me 2 years to excrete this stink-waste from my poor system. The worst thing is I should have known better. I should have learned that no superhero film really does anything interesting, even when it does its best efforts to avoid the tiresome "origin" story.

And with that, we reach the bottom line - why I hate Superhero films:

I hate superhero films. Ridley Scott recently said sci-fi is dead film genre, like the Western, and he's right, because the only slight sci-fi that make mainstream releases are established franchises or sequels. With Superhero films (Batman, Spider-Man, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Superman, Iron Man, Blade, Hellboy, Daredevil, Ghost Rider etc), franchise sci-fi (Transformers, Firefly) and sequel sci-fi (Aliens vs Predator, Terminator) there is little I'm seeing that is REAL sci-fi. Sure, the occasional film, but then the Unforgiven gave us a great Western long after the genre died.

People aren't interested in sci-fi as a genre, they are interested in franchises, and that's what Hollywood is playing safe with. The genre itself has explored itself so much, people aren't interested in the concepts and ideas of sci-fi, merely the setting for established dramas. It's sad really, but until we realise that this multitude of Superhero films all amount to pretty much the same plot, and demand something a little more unusual out of the fantasy genre other than the same film over, and over again, I think Scott will remain utterly righteous in his statement: the genre IS indeed dead.