Run Melos!

NoHeart★ 10

This is one of the must fascinating movies I had ever seen. With a story that immerse you on an epic journey where the trust became the motor of strength and perseverance, wrapping you on a world of legendary heros... The visuals are a beautiful recreation of the greek environment, with all their magnificent architecture and sculpture. The music really suits the flow of the scenes, making it one of the most enjoyable soundtracks you could appreciate. Although, even if a love this movie, it isn't for everyone. Most of the plot has a slow rhythm, very pleasant to enjoy de scenarios and the melodiesthat accompany it. But if you can stop to value this, you would find a really awesome story, that might move something inside you and remember you why to trust.

sorcery★ 5

Let's draw a parallel together. Imagine you're on your way to the Starlite nightclub. Or the Dusk Lounge. Or the "Thermopylae," if you're gay. Any of these will do for the sake of my point. You go there, certain that your stylish attire will grant you access to a wild night of loud BPMs. Suddenly, before you pass the bouncer, someone steals your phone! Thankfully, someone helps you catch the thief and return your personal effect. Afterwards, you enter the club with his recommendation, as a well-regarded regular. You end up spending the whole night drinking with him. It was nice, and perhaps a friendshipwas made... But, between you and me, would you donate one of your kidneys for that guy the day after if the circumstances ever called for it? I doubt it. Don't lie.No matter how good-natured that person is, you're not going to sacrifice a vital organ for someone you barely know. You'd live too tediously without it. Pain and even a routine of dialysis if you have a malfunctioning kidney would remind you of it for the rest of your life. This illustrates why I have mixed feelings about HASHIRE MELOS. It tries to force its message on you even though it's presented in a demagogic way. To quote two lines from the movie: - Lysa: So, did you come out to the city hoping to be a stonemason, too ? - Melos: Nah, I was just lost on the street and was invited for a drink. That's the core of the problem. The strong friendship between Melos and Celinunsius is hardly plausible. It merely exists as a plot device to demonstrate the importance of trust in life. They show no long term chemistry because prior to Melos's ordeal, all they shared in common was goodwill and a goatskin flask of bad wine.Therefore, it is barely grazed upon, despite its capital importance, as if it were a Macguffin. Do you want an example of fictitious yet organic friendship? Read the Epic of Gilgamesh. After Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed the Bull of Heaven, the gods sentenced Enkidu to hell. There's no doubt that the King of Uruk would have given his life to save his companion, even though Enkidu was just a man-beast. And it makes sense they're like brothers since they faced many perils together. Returning to the matter at hand, it's difficult to view Hashi Melos as a role model, let alone become attached to him. Not only is the movie plotline forcing forward the whole trial of character thing, he also pushes the boundaries of honesty to unbelievable lengths. Besides, he's so stupid that he doesn't even trust his best friend, Celine, with his sword when visiting Dionysus's castle. He can't even tell the difference between a fake sword and a real one! The third Iron Age period was 358 BC. I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say that when you get your hands on such a technologically advanced weapon for the time, you immediately notice how it weighs on your hands, even if you're a humble shepherd. This characterization loophole isn't limited to the main cast. Dionysus himself was poorly written, too. To illustrate, pay attention to what could have been one of the most climactic scene in the movie: the confrontation between the cynical King of Syracuse and the idealistic stonemason artist, Celine. Needless to say, I was baffled by the entire dialogue because it was perfunctory, even though it is supposed to be a pivotal moment in the movie. Dionysus, who is portrayed as a tyrant with superior standing and education, was silenced as if he were a teenager getting an earful from an adult. This portrayal was inconsistent with that of an entitled king who endangers his subjects' lives for the mere satisfaction of proving his knowledge of the human soul. I could go on about the supporting cast, but I think you get the point. If you aren't watching HASHIRE MELOS for its flawlessly constructed plotline, is there anything else worthwhile? Hiroyuki Okiura's character design is a bit dull. The man is a great key animator yet doesn't have much experience in this position. And it shows. On the other hand, the art direction of Hiroshi Ōno knows how to underline the narrative and visual value of objects, such as the statues and bas-reliefs. Unfortunately, this level of attention wasn't applied to the rest of the technical aspects. The sound design is... There. It's neither haunting nor annoying. It's akin to ambient noise, not terrible but not especially memorable either. Overall, HASHIRE MELOS is unfortunate to be adapted into the wrong format. It could have been much better as an OAV series. Without competent series composition, though, it remains what it is. I tried hard to like it, but major hulking flaws still cannot be disregarded. To its credit, the historical motif and its setting, the Sicily of Magna Grecia, are underrepresented in Japanese fiction. You should probably watch this title at least once to see if it connects with you, whether you're a history buff or simply like the genre as a whole... And that concludes my review of HASHIRE MELOS. This was Ziusudra, your reviewer, from The Sorcery-Party. Stay tuned for more comprehensive takes at obscure subculture pieces! ..| Colophon |.. .. Violence: While the on-screen suffering of Melos was depicted in a striking way, one would have to be very sensitive to be shocked by it. The G rating was a fair call. .. Graphic Nature: At least this fable wouldn't stoop so low as to feature ecchi fanservice and dismantle its credibility.