These new black and white PS3 commercials are kick-ass. Makes me proud to be an owner of the PS3. I read one comment where it was good enough to make the commenter go buy another PS3, though I’m sure he was just kidding and just making a point.

Well, here are the commercials that have been airing during the month of November:
(BTW, if you’re wondering, the song’s called “Ladies and Gentlemen” by Saliva)

The episode starts out with Shana trying to learn how to prepare lunch for Yuji via Yuji’s mom because she’s jealous at Yoshida bringing food for Yuji. Here we find out Wilhelmina can’t cook if her life depended on it. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina helps Yuji in his training to better use his powers. She’s distracted that Shana doesn’t want her help in learning how to cook and she her distraction is taken out on Yuji. From that, Yuji is able to demonstrate that he has much more power than before (namely, last season). And from last season, his temporary synchronization with Hecate helped to expand his energy/power capacity. At least they’re making it so that he can defend himself instead of just being a liability. Over at the bad guys’ headquarters, Bal Masque is rebuilding their floating castle. Metamorphosis heads out on an undisclosed mission.

At lunch, Shana stuffs a bento in front of Yuji to counter Yoshida’s bento. Although I was expecting to see some kind of lunch that she failed to make for him, it turned out to be a bunch of melon breads jam packed into the box that uncompresses themselves after Yuji opens the box. Forced to eat both lunches, Yuji passes out during class. The comic relief and the love triangle themes so far in this series are here, but not so much in regards to what the real plot of this season will be. The show needs more Flame Haze ass-kicking and less slice of life drama.

While the two girls argue over what’s best for Yuji at the nurse’s office, the enemy from the previous episode takes the opportunity to put Shana, Yuji, and Yoshida into a dream state. Yuji remembers what’s going on. His realization doesn’t break the fake reality. He pinches Shana’s face to make sure, resulting in a counter punch to the gut and a possible sword slash from Shana. Anyway, Yuji deduces that Yoshida needs to realize it’s a dream as well. They get back to her, but she’s unconscious and the Tomogara, named Mare, is there waiting for them. Of course, cocky bad guys always say stuff like “she’ll never wake up”. Though, you know that’s not true at all. Anyway, Shana in the meantime is busy fighting the memory of one of the Bal Masque personnel and not doing very well. Though these people are supposed to be quite tough, one would think that Shana be a lot stronger than this.

While standing around being useless, Yuji takes note that Shana’s attacks have no effect against Mare. He also takes note that Mare inhabits the bodies of Mystes to do battle. From that, he determines that Mare is inside him, as he’s a Mystes. Mare goes after the Reiji Maigo inside Yuji, but upon contact, she is ejected out of Yuji, fatally wounded. She references that there is a “Keeper” attached to the Reiji Maigo before she dies. Yoshida wakes up right before Mare dies and all three are returned to their reality. Upon hearing about this Keeper, there are rumblings from Alastor all the way to Margery Daw. And as a final shocker, the end of the episode introduces a new transfer student who bears a striking resemblance to Hecate. Obviously, this is going to be the driving force for the next several episodes before anyone finds out what’s really going on. On a personal note, I don’t see the resemblance. Not without that oversized hat that she’s always wearing. I guess I’ll just have follow along with the story.

Shakugan no Shana second season. I’m excited. Again, the opening is by Mami Kawada; not bad at all. The episode starts out with a mysterious female character with a staff with several bells attached. Then we’re brought back to the main character, well, male main character, Yuji and through him we’re reintroduced to all the other characters from the first season. Shana, of course, makes the final appearance of the cast of characters as she is escorted to school by Wilhelmina.

Seems like the usual formula for most shows, which is to quickly reintroduce all the important characters really quick so people can go.. “Oh shit, he’s back, and so is that guy, and her! I remember that character.” And all that good stuff. It’s a good way to smoothly transition in to the show.

As Yuji reflects on the events from the battle against Bal Masque, he quickly realizes that events happening in front of him already happened before. It’s confirmed when the first bad guy reappears. I thought it was the Shana movie all over again. Anyway, only Yuji realizes that history is repeating itself and no one seems to notice. After school, Yuji tries to find help through Margery Daw but he realizes he’s stuck within a certain amount of available environment. It’s hard to explain while trying to keep down on the amount of text, so let’s just say he was going nowhere.

Throughout the episode, Yuji slowly begins to discover that what people are saying appear to be limited and are unable to produce anything dynamic. He reasons that everything is driven by his memories and what he knows and therefore he’s in a world made from his mind. The epiphany snaps him out of his dream and he finds himself being yelled at by Shana for spacing out during a live battle.

Yuji looks up at the Tomogara that Shana is fighting, who is the one who put him in the dream state. Shana finishes her off with ease, but obviously the enemy has ulterior motives. After the enemy burns up, Yuji loses all memory of what just happened to him. They proceed to school and Shana exhibits her trademark triple Uresai’s before the rest of the cast show up at school as well. I knew that was coming, it was just a matter of time considering that line pretty defines Shana’s tsundere character.

As for the ending theme, it was alright. The first season of Shana had ending themes that I didn’t particularly like. Many liked them, but I didn’t. This time around, the ending song is also performed by Mami Kawada and so I don’t mind it at all.

Overall, this was a decent episode. It was a good revisit on the main characters to see what has changed and what hasn’t. No true indication as to what this season has to hold, but judging from the opening sequence, there seems to be a new antagonist character who has some kind of love interest in Yuji. Bal Masque is obviously still around and I don’t like that because it’s going to end up like the end of the first season. Come on, bring in some new enemies.

Shakugan no Shana Second (First) Opening Sequence
“Joint” by Mami Kawada (TV Size)

Here’s the opening sequence for your viewing needs. I consider it the first sequence because chances are it might have a second one halfway into the series.

Shakugan no Shana Second (First) Ending Sequence
“Triangle” by Mami Kawada (TV Size)

Here’s the ending sequence for your viewing needs. Again, I consider it the first sequence because chances are it might have a second one halfway into the series, similar to the opening sequence.

FMV fight between Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal in the training facility. Sephiroth as badass as he always is and a look into some new FF7 characters. Time to get this game for the PSP (when it comes out in the U.S. anyway).

There’s just something about mid-air dogfights that makes them so awesome. Anyway, this is a nice cinematic trailer for Ace Combat 6. Now I just have to contemplate whether or not to get it for the 360. Reviews have been mixed. Nonetheless, enjoy the trailer.

Here’s an official Iron Man movie trailer. None of that camera stuff from Comic Con.

The production value from what I’ve seen from this trailer is a sign that this movie’s going to make a lot of money despite the character of Iron Man not really being much of a flagship character for Marvel in comparison to Spider-Man and X-Men. But I always like to cheer on the underdog. Ghostrider was pretty bad, but with a slow movie week incorporated with a flaming skull brought in the sales. Anyway, Iron Man better not flop. Enjoy the trailer.

I never thought I would go back to the World of Warcraft, but I think I’m in a good place again in my life for me to continue playing. Plus I got a really nice computer a few weeks ago :) .

Anyway, I’ve been getting so much comment spam that it’s a sign that my website is actually generating hits! Well, that’s how I see it. Spammers only target well positioned websites, so I guess I should be happy about that. Not too happy about deleting spam, but I can live with that. And with that said, if I’m generating enough traffic, maybe using some text ads on the page might make just enough cash to pay for this site each month. If that was possible, I can keep this place up indefinitely. However, if that were the case, I would stop updating. Right now, since I’ve already paid, I have the, oh, obligation, to update once in a while. I’m just so lazy.

But alright, I will make a decent post before this month ends. Hopefully Warcrack doesn’t burn up all my time.

I found this trailer recently. It’s the first movie of a tetralogy of movies for the retelling of the Evangelion story. This is the trailer they’ve been showing in Japan with Utada Hikaru doing a rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” (which was the original ED song for the series). Well, I sure like it. Must have this song.. and her other single “Beautiful World / Kiss & Cry”.

On a personal note, I enjoyed the original Neon Genesis Evangelion. As I watched the series, I started to appreciate more and more why so many had considered this serious as a very revolutionary anime. Now that they’re remaking it with the technology available these days, I’m sure it’s going to be great. Also, it’s said that the presentation of the story has been redone for easier mass consumption. I guess less inuendos and suggestive behavior, and more straightforward conversation and explanation. That’s fine with me.