Anime Review: Crimson Wolf (Revised)

Welcome back to Politics Month fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

So far, you’ve survived a beginning of the year rant on the 1-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, and a review for one of my number 1 albums of 2021. Today will be a bit interesting, as I’ll be taking a 2nd revised look at an OVA that I first reviewed all the way back in February of 2015. That’s right, today is a revised review from nearly 7 years ago, and one that perhaps is more fitting out our time than way back then. Has my view on this OVA changed since then, and perhaps more importantly, do I still like it as much as I did? With that said, here’s my revised look at the OVA bomb known as Crimson Wolf. Let’s begin.  

Story/Setup
Taken from the DVD case:

“The fate of the world rests in the ability of these untested warriors to defeat an unearthly army of darkness. Sorcery, martial arts and unrequited love, spanning the centuries, explode in an epic battle at the gates of the forbidden city.

    Mysterious deaths befall the members of an archeological expedition which uncover the ancient tomb of Genghis Khan.
    These deaths are preceded by a bizarre prophecy which foretells the end of the world-unless three people with a Hong Lang (Crimson Wolf) birthmark are found and destroyed.
    Amid a backdrop of international intrigue and contemporary political unrest, three unsuspecting heroes are forces to challenge destiny in a monumental struggle to keep the world from plunging into chaos.

    Crimson Wolf is an unusual departure for the anime genre - rooted in real world reference, it makes the fantasy all the more believable.”

As I said in the original review, the story for this OVA actually sound pretty epic at first glace. Taking place shortly after the political upheaval in China in the late 1980s, it’s interesting to see real world politics mixed with martial arts & fantasy, but to be perfectly honest? It doesn’t use the politics of the time well. In fact, they’re actually used pretty poorly throughout the hour-long running time. The usage of said politics comes across more like window dressing than anything else. I should state that Crimson Wolf was actually based off of a manga, and one that as far as I know never had a worldwide release. Because of this, the OVA never really dives deep into it’s already established story, and instead dips it’s toes in the short end of the pool so to speak. It’s a shame, since there’s something genuinely intriguing here, as what little we get just makes the viewer hungry for more. If this was spread out over the course of a 3 to 4 episode OVA instead of just 1, I have a suspicion that things would be much more fleshed out than they were.

Animation
Like I said in the original review, Crimson Wolf’s animation is right from that early 90s period. A period where everything was done by drawing, and there wasn’t any computer in sight. There definitely was a lot of care put into the OVA, and you can definitely see that care throughout the whole thing. That said, it also shows it’s age as well. Coming in on almost 30 years old in 2022, you can definitely see the grey hairs that Crimson Wolf has on it’s head. Some of the character models aren’t that detailed (Especially background characters), and some of the backgrounds seem a little muted. The OVA isn’t hideous by any means, but you know you’re watching something from the 90s within the first few moments.

(Okay, so there technically is a hint of 3d in this OVA. However, that’s only in the few seconds in the logos)

Voice Acting
I realize in hindsight from my original review that, despite being a Streamline Pictures dub, Crimson Wolf’s voice acting is actually not half bad. It’s definitely not perfect, as plenty of the secondary/background characters have voices that are fine, but could definitely have been better. The primary characters on the other hand, have much better voices behind them. Dan Woren, who’s voice might be familiar if you’ve watched Bleach, is easily recognizable when he starts speaking, as is Barbara Goodson & Bob Bergan if you know their work. These 3 actors put in the most work when it comes to their character’s voices, and it shows.

Oh, and one other thing. Crimson Wolf has the distinction of have two of the most “WTF” lines I’ve ever heard spoken in an anime. Here’s the first one.....spoken during an orgy:

“Give me a second, I’m almost done.”

Here’s the second one.....spoken during the climax:

“The spirit of humanity cannot be crushed by armies or tanks, my fist is imbued with the spirit of all those who have been oppressed, from Tibet to Tiananmen Square!”

Characters
Much like the story, Crimson Wolf’s cast of characters aren’t that deep. Save for the main 3 characters and the villain at the end, practically everybody else that the viewer comes across is barebones & incredibly disposable. Hell, even the main 3 characters & villain aren’t all that impressive either. There’s hardly any back story for them, save for 2.....and you find out through what I can only describe as a sex vision. Much like when I talked about the story, I have a sneaking suspicion that the manga form of many of these characters have more to their personalities & backstory, and what we got here is really weak.   

Availability & Pricing
Here’s what I said in my original 2015 review:

“If you thought looking for an ADV Films title was tough, prepare for the frustration that is looking for a release from Streamline Pictures. The only store I can think of that would even remotely have a copy would be FYE, and even then it would only be available as a used copy (If they had a new copy available, they made a deal with the devil for sure). Only Amazon has readily available copies of Crimson Wolf available for purchase, but at this moment in time there are only 11 copies left (5 Used/6 New). Used copies start at 37 dollars, while the new copies begin at 53 dollars in price. Buying Crimson Wolf is definitely an expensive proposition, with the used copy being at least a little more reasonable.

I managed to buy a used copy back in June of last year for a measly 5 dollars. The condition the box was in, not to mention the actual DVD, was shockingly good. Apart from some scratches, everything looks alright for a release of it’s age!”

As of the writing of this review? There are only 2 used copies available for purchase on Amazon, and they both cost 42 something dollars. If you don’t decide to go physical (And I would totally understand why), then the only way to get your hand on this OVA is to download it from a variety of anime websites. Provided they actually have it, of course.

Other
If you’d like to actually watch this, then check out the link below. Funny fact: when you get to the 55:23 mark, there’s an indirect Chun-Li cameo. No joke:

Crimson Wolf (Anime)

Overall Impression & Rating
Crimson Wolf. Never in all of my years of watch Anime has a title that made me feel so.....conflicted. There’s definitely a lot of potential in this OVA, and every once in a while that potential really does come through. What holds it back is that it doesn’t delve into it’s real world inspiration all that much, it would rather play it safe at times, and most of the time doesn’t necessarily have that much substance. Still, this piece of OVA obscurity is oddly enjoyable, and for just an hour you can do way worse. If Crimson Wolf somehow crosses your path, give it a try. You might be intrigued by what you see.

Crimson Wolf gets a 6 to 7 out of 10, but I enjoyed it as if it was a 7.5 out of 10.

And that was my revised look at Crimson Wolf, and thankfully the end of this impromptu themed month. Again, it just came out when I had my rant at the beginning of the month, but I felt that I had to get it out of my system before I popped a blood vessel in my head, causing an aneurysm or whatnot. Thankfully, February will have none of this political b.s., so join me on the 2nd of that month for a little bit of soul. See you then!


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If you’d like to see my original take on the anime, check out the link below to my 2015 review:

Anime Review- Crimson Wolf (2015 Original)

One other thing. The reason why I called Crimson Wolf a bomb at the beginning is because it performed poorly in sales for Streamline Pictures, and nobody ever reacquired the license for it since the company went out of business.

Album Review: Ministry's Moral Hygiene

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome......to Politics Month.

Considering what I hinted at the beginning of January, it should come to not surprised the kind of reviews I have planned. To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t exactly thinking of a theme for the beginning of the year, but with how I’m feeling still.....yeah, you bet things are going to be a bit political. Luckily, I’m only doing this theme for this month only, as there’s some stuff coming up in the next two months that have me really excited. Before reaching that excitement, we gotta get through this slog, and what better way to start 2022's series of reviews than with one of my number 1 albums of last year. So, grab a nearby American flag, get pissed at our broken system, and take a look at my review for Ministry’s 15th studio album, Moral Hygiene. Let’s begin.

Background
The months and years since AmeriKKKant was released were interesting times for Ministry. In October of 2018, frontman Al Jourgensen revealed that he was already working on material for the band’s 15th album. As he explained:

“I have to get as many albums as I can done while Trump is still president, and then what am I going to do: write those crappy albums that I write while Democrats are president?”

Not long after this, it was reported that he had reconnected with old friend Paul Barker after 15 years, hinting that they might collaborate once again on the upcoming record. As things moved into 2019, they would be a part of Slayer’s farewell tour in November of that year, and a month later the band would release a visual history book titled Ministry: Prescripture. Then 2020 came, and we all know all too well what happened that year. A great plague swept the world, causing untold amounts of death & chaos, and putting the kibosh on any gathering big or small. However, not even a plague like Covid-19 could keep one of the world’s most iconic Industrial bands, so the respective members went into the studio at different times (that’s what I’m assuming), and worked their ever loving asses off. On April the 24th, 2020, they would release their first single in over 2 years (Alert Level), and on the first of October 2021, Moral Hygiene was put out for all.

Reviews for Moral Hygiene were a bit more favorable when compared to their previous release. Paul Travers of Kerrang! says:

“Musically there’s a touch more considered atmosphere than on predecessor AmeriKKKant, but this new Ministry line-up – featuring former Tool bassist Paul D’Amour and guest appearances from the likes of Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison and former Megadeth man David Ellefson – still knows how to rage. Sabotage Is Sex recalls industrial supergroup Lard with former co-conspirator and ex-Dead Kennedy Jello Biafra back in the fold, while TV Song #6 (Right Around The Corner Mix) is a full-on industrial thrash-out. It’s a familiar sound by now, but no less vital and relevant for that.”

Raul Stanciu of Sputnikmusic goes on to say that:

“The results are not stellar, but Jourgensen found a balance again between getting his point across and focusing on diversifying the music. The past few projects felt akin to heavy clouds hanging above your head, while the latest affair is considerably more entertaining.”

Finally, kjdraven of Wall of Sound states:

“Having bands like Ministry around is still pretty critical when it feels like the social contract is hanging together by a thread. It can be comforting to know you’re not alone and that there’s other fans who will stand with you in the face of pandemic survivalism, climate denial, racism and moral degradation. What Jourgensen has been able to do for 20 years now is make each Ministry album a statement about the world we live in now and what we should do to make it better. The music is as abrasive and confrontational as ever, pretty much ensuring that the masses won’t hear it. But this isn’t music for radio play, this is the red pill you take when you want to wake up.”

Funny enough, Al Jourgenson announced just two weeks after the record came out that Ministry would get something else out in about 6 to 8 months, which goes to show that the band was working harder than we realized last year.

Basic Description
A more confident AmeriKKKant.

I said it when I updated the overview, and I said it again last month in my top 5 albums of 2021 list, and I will say it again here: I enjoy AmeriKKKant. It came out at a time that was needed, and is one of an honored few pieces of anti-Trump media that’s aged surprisingly well (On account of Trump not being on the album all that much). That being said, it is still a piece of anti-Trump media, and there is somewhat of a “Trump Bad” vibe within the music. On top of that, Al Jourgenson doesn’t sound or feel completely confident like he did on the Bush Trilogy back in the mid 2000s, and this partial lack of confidence disrupts the instrumentation & everything else.

With Moral Hygiene? For the first time since The Last Sucker, we have what is perhaps the most ball-out, damn good Ministry album in over a decade. Far stronger, far more confident, far better instrumentation & effects, seemingly less reactionary to the current environment, you name it. Everything about this release is simply better than what came out back in 2018. Hell, even the album cover is somehow better than what AmeriKKKant decided to go with. Al Jourgenson & the rest of the band feel like most of their old energy is back on this record, and I hope that they continue to carry this energy with them on any other album that’ll come out in the future.

Best Track
Like I said when I updated the Ministry overview, and when I used it as the sample track in my top 5 albums of 2021 list last month, but Believe Me has got to be the best track of Moral Hygiene. Al Jourgensen sings in this low & sinister voice throughout most of the tune, save for the few times he turns the volume up, and the rest of the band’s instrumental work & keyboarding matches up with this. What really seals the deal with me is the message being sung: for all intent & purpose, Believe Me is the song dedicated to those who’ve seen the light, and decided to leave MAGA & Trump behind. Uncle Al doesn’t exactly make fun of those who’ve left the cult that did untold damage to this country, as he perfectly sings what those who are no longer brainwashed are thinking. This is one song that you shouldn’t skip.  

Believe Me

Worst Track
Much like AmeriKKKant, Moral Hygiene’s sole fault lies with the fact that it’s not very subtle. Like the previously mentioned record, things are laid out in the light for the listener to witness, and there’s not necessarily much that’s hidden or wrapped up in some intellectual allegory. That being said, I’m not as annoyed by this when compared to what went on in the band’s 2018 outing. Given the environment we’re in now as opposed to a little over 3 years ago, things should be put out for all to see rather than putting things in a mass of layers, and having people unravel it all.   

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Moral Hygiene

Overall Impression & Rating
Moral Hygiene is a more confident portrait of the kind of life we as Americans now live through. Sure, AmeriKKKant definitely dissected the Trump years, and is one of the few pieces of anti-Trump media that’s aged surprisingly well, but it’s also stuck in a period of time where a lot of media that was against the former president has aged horribly. This album I fell will have more relevancy that what came out in 2018, and judging by the more positive ratings from some music critics, that may be true.

Moral Hygiene gets a 9.5 out of 10.

And that was my review for Moral Hygiene. An exceptionally better & more solid album than the one before it, it’s certainly something that reflects the times better than other similarly political pieces of music. It might still not be that subtle, but the point is still clear. So with that said, join me towards the end of the month, when I’ll take a revised look at an anime.....that maybe should have used it’s politics better. See you then!

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 23: January 6th (1 Year Later)

I remember the 6th of January 2021 well.

My Dad was off at work, while my Mom was doing errands & visiting a friend if I recall correctly. Meanwhile, I was home getting the typical chores of our house done. It’s around the early afternoon, and I’m doing dishes, & as usual I have my tablet playing videos to have something on in the background. Curiously, I decide to check out Facebook during a quick break, and I see a bunch of my friends in a panic on their pages. Curious, I ask what’s going on, and that’s when I was told.....that our nation’s capital was under attack.

That’s right everyone, today’s rant marks the 1-year anniversary of the Insurrection upon our nation’s capital building. The final attempt by then barely-president Donald Trump to seize tyrannical control of my home country until he died & passed it onto one of his children, keeping the United States firmly within the mangled claw of the Trump family. Now, let me just say that I knew that he was going to do something stupid before he was dethroned. I think even the average joe knew that he was going to do something before he was thrown out the back of the bar. However, I didn’t think in my 3 & a half decades of living in this country that our own leader would aggravate his own followers, and have them storm the capital in an effort to hold onto his position. I didn’t think that the so-called “Leader of the Free World” would ignite his cult’s fanaticism to attack their own country, and that’s exactly what MAGA is. A cult. They’re not a political movement. They’re not big, brave, tough patriots ready to defend their country (Anyone that complains about wearing a peace of cloth over their face isn’t a badass). They are a bonafide, genuine cult. Jim Jones would be jealous of the loyalty that the cultists of MAGA have for their dear leader. This all leads me to my biggest thing.....

It wasn’t the racism that scared me. It wasn’t the sexism. It wasn’t the homophobia, transphobia, or the dozens of other things that make people rightfully shit their entire collection of underwear. It was the blind loyalty. Let me repeat myself in case you missed it......BLIND......LOYALTY. Never in the past 40-something years of this country’s history have we ever had a president that had horses with blinders on their face quite as much as the cultists of Donald Trump. Say what you will about Reagan, but at least he seemed like a legit patriot. Bush Sr? Kinda in the same boat. Bill Clinton? Well, he’s a tool. Even Bush Jr at his heart, despite being one of the most incompetent leaders ever to take the most important post in America, still had some piece of patriot in that brain of his. Donald J. Trump? There’s not a single shred of Patriotism within his mockery of a soul. Throughout his entire life, he has been nothing more than a manipulator & snake-oil salesman, conning untold numbers of people. You know you’re a snake-oil salesman when once fanatical followers reveal the sham, and yet there’s still untold numbers of blind cultists that follow his every diseased word to the bitter end. Don’t believe me? Well, get a load of this!

Trump Adviser Peter Navarro Lays Out How He and Bannon Planned to Overturn Biden’s Electoral Win

And to Donald J Trump himself. I know that you’re never going to even visit a blog like this, since it doesn’t blow your ego like your braindead cult does, but know this. When your own wife & son-in-law tell you to hang it up, just stop. When Mike Pence speaks to Kamala Harris, just stop. When your own Attorney General, not to mention several Republican states, say that there was absolutely no voter fraud, just stop. Hell, when your own Niece writes a book about you, and says that you are nothing more than a miserable pile of damaged goods, you should just stop. There are far more people in the world that are against you rather than for you. There are far more individuals on both sides of the fence that see you not only as a threat to American democracy and democracy the world over, but see you as the power hungry lunatic that you truly & fully are. You are everything that is wrong with American politics, and you are the face of every arrogant, ignorant, and hateful fool that sadly still exists in this country, following your shadow despite seeing your true colors revealed day after day. If my friend Ushi was still alive, she call all of your followers Nazis, and she’d straight up call you Hitler!

Not only that, but I will forever hold you in scorn. Because of you, three of my friends suffered at the hands of this plague that still has a grip on this nation. Because of you, my dear Grandmother’s death was accelerated. Because of you, there are over 700,000 bodies lying 6 feet under in America. Friends, family, acquaintances. All were victims of a great plague. A plague that could have been mitigated at the very least, but that’s not what happened. Instead, the great plague ravaged this nation, killing hundreds of thousands, destroying & disrupting commerce, crippling our economy, and leaving untold numbers of physical & psychological scars on all of us.....and for what? For a quick buck? For a bit of power & influence? What the hell was all of this death & destruction for!?

So, with all of this mad rambling, you’re probably wondering if I think that the Democrat side of the fence is all nice & clean, complete with puppies, kittens, and fields of flowers. Fuck no! Coming from someone that is a leftist. Coming from someone that is a liberal. Coming from someone that is a Democrat, I can say this without any hesitation that my side of the fence isn’t clean, and we got plenty of blood on our hands as well. Hell, in some cases we may have more blood on our hands that the Republican side of the fence! All throughout Trump’s presidency, the Democrats did nothing but consistently try to impeach (With help from the few sane Republicans, might I add) the president, whine that Hillary didn’t get in, and constantly cater to the far-left that have unfortunately become the norm & face of the party. All of this did nothing more than give Trump & the far-right the ammunition to shoot back at us during his entire run, and even to this very day. Instead of trying to patch things up to that the damage wasn’t as lasting as it is while Trump was president, you’ve basically help him screw it all up by being an embarrassment! I am not ashamed of where I am politically, but much like my Dad, I do not identify with my side all that much, nor do I like being called a Democrat.

My final words: we’re never going to improve. Until they day that we realize that we all have blood on our hands, that we all have a little mud on our face, and that we all have a little dirt on our clothes, only then can we truly begin to move forward.....and only they can we truly begin to change things for the better in the United States of America. However, I don’t think that it’s ever going to happen, so until that day we are well & truly fucked. As George Carlin said in his very last comedy special:

“It’s never going to get any better. Be happy with what you got.”

Now, normally I would apologize about being so pissed off in one of these posts, but you know what? Fuck it! For the first time ever in the Food For Thought/Thought For Food series, I’m not sorry about what I’ve said. I was absolutely horrified & furious about what transpired a year ago on this day, and you all should be too! So you know what? Fuck it again! The next two reviews are gonna get political, so see me next week for a review of an album that fits our time better now that maybe last year. Now if you excuse me, I need to go hug something & drink some tea to lower my blood pressure.




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