Belch's Brief Reviews--Jul 7, 2001

[DR. BELCH]

CARDCAPTORS: The Mysterious Painting
When Sakura and Madison visit and art museum on a class field trip, they notice two very strange things: a hauntingly beautiful woman in a painting by a famous late artist, and a boy who seems very agitated by it, claiming the woman isn't supposed to be there. Sakura begins to get strange vibes from the work and suspects a Clow card.
Sakura also tries her hand at painting and comes up with what I thought was a very good portrayal of Kero--who becomes offended by the cute nature of it. Claiming he'll do something about his "cute" perception (here I thought he was about to evolve), he later alters it in a red pen to illustrate how fierce and warriorlike he is, and Sakura is visibly upset by it.
Sakura, dressed in a much more muted-down costume than usual (Madison figures dark colors are more appropriate for a basic B&E) and finds the odd boy skulking around the museum after hours too. It turns out this is the child of the artist who painted the portrait and, angry over it being altered, schemes to put it right by removing the woman. The card is Silent, whose powers are unknown even to Kero (well, she doesn't talk much, it seems), and she hates noise. He also isn't intimidated by Sakura's attempt to get rid of him by using Kero and a flashlight to make him think there's a demon guarding the museum.
Every time Sakura, Kero, Madison, and the kid get close to the painting, somebody makes a sound, and the painting transports them outside (Sakura is relieved that's all she does to offenders--presumably a gruesome demise would be too noisy).
When the guard shows up after three unsuccessful grabs at Silent, Sakura realizes she can't use a direct approach...so she calls upon Shadow to slip through the glass to make the collar. Ingenious on two levels bcause (a) shadows are quiet and (b) it scares the blazes out of the guard.
Here's the twist: the portrait is of a young girl, and the artist's "son" is really his daughter! (This also explains his unusually high voice--a lot of boys in cartoons are voiced by women, but this one seemed obviously girly.) This was the last painting he created before he died (of natural causes, which I'm surprised is mentioned on Saturday morning), and to her it has a lot of sentimental value, which is why she was furious after Silent "defaced" it.
In the end we see Li crouched atop a nearby roof, all dark and moody and in need of a haircut, whispering "Good work, Sakura." Noting his lack of involvement and Mei-Lin's absence, this may be an early ep shown out of sequence (although that last line must be dubbed oddly, as the early Li would be far less inclined to praise his rival).
DYN how cavalier Madison is about stealing the guards' round schedule sheet? Sticky-fingered friends come in handy sometimes.
DYN now nervous Sakura got when Julian caught her sneaking out on her way to the museum? Is it because of her feelings for him or is she afraid he'll tattle? Note she frets far more over the lame excuse she gave for her being out at that hour and what he must think of her than of being caught.
Watch for Sakura and Kero doing ventriloquism. Move over, Willie Tyler and Lester.

Mojo Jojo hosted last night's Cartoon Cartoon Friday, and in honor of that here's an evil monkey smiley: Though it seemed that Blossom, as well as the heroes of several other series, did most of the talking. "You will love me! I command you to love me!" The Time Squad short about Blackbeard seemed to draw some interesting parallels between animal rights people and pirates (in some of their tactics they aren't far off, actually)...and did anyone else think "Dishonest Abe" Lincoln sounded a little like John McCain? Weird.

We may be hitting a dry spell of reruns, unless Cardcaptors comes out with those revealing new eps they keep promising (they advertised one for next week, but Yahoo TV lists "Mei-Lin's Story"). In the meantime, for all the mouse lovers, my latest Pinky and the Brain FanFic "Crash on the Levee" has been up for about a week now at the Story Board, for those who haven't read it. It seems Brain has made a hotheaded new ally in his quest for global rule...

[Lachesis]

You got it, doc. This was episode 7 of the original, the FIRST time we see Lee.

[James Harvey]

So the new season of CARDCAPTORS is mainly consisting of flashbacks? Where are all these enw characters and incantations promised?

[Sharklady]

> Mojo Jojo hosted last night's Cartoon Cartoon Friday... <

I missed most of that due to a previous commitment, durn the luck! I really would've liked to watch Mojo in the hosting spot; he may be evil but he can be awfully funny.
What other things did he say?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
So the new season of CARDCAPTORS is mainly consisting of flashbacks? Where are all these enw characters and incantations promised?

If WB wants to fill in all the blanks, we have a LONG way to go before we catch up to those "new" characters.

BTW, this was dubbed fairly intact, with less edits than usual. No flashback episode was this; it just aired out of order. Don't ask me why they didn't air this last season.

[RockItShipper]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH
[color=red](Madison figures dark colors are more appropriate for a basic B&E)

In the original, she goes on and on about the thief theme of the costume and how cute Sakura looks in it, etc.

Here's the twist: the portrait is of a young girl, and the artist's "son" is really his daughter! [/B]

When I first saw that episode, I kept thinking that maybe there was indeed a boy out there for "Madison". No, really.

[don Jaime]

She's home, she's home! Yayyy!

It's different from the manga, too, which is what I'm following. Li first shows up on a rooftop during the Flower card sequence, when Tomoyo's mom is introduced, too. He helps Sakura catch Shadow, which is two cards later. I've never even heard of Silent.

[DR. BELCH]

You were missed, querida.

In the original, she goes on and on about the thief theme of the costume and how cute Sakura looks in it, etc.

Hmmmm...is Sakura flattered by that, uncomfortable, or both? Ahh...and I see by your new title that someone saw South Park last week. I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds David Blaine creepy...the funniest bit of the frozen-in-ice thing was when Howard Stern sent Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf out to relieve himself on the block...but he couldn't because he'd put his rabbit suit on backwards and the zipper was in the rear. The funniest bit in the ep was how the kids, after their heads were shaved, couldn't tell each other apart. I'm still trying to figure out how the card trick with Jimbo was done...."How can we defeat a giant stone Abraham Lincoln?" "Um...a giant stone John Wilkes Booth?"

[RockItShipper]

More like in and out. I'm just here for the week. But it's nice to hear I was missed. I sure as hell missed everyone here. My mom's family lives in the most boring part of Florida...

Anyway, onto Sakura...

Sakura's embarassed by "Madison's" fuss but not too perceptive of the cause. She doesn't have a sense of why others would see her as attractive.


And on that note, the best episode out of the latest batch of Poke-eps had to be the one where "Brock" finally was the recipent of female attention. I think he's either so accustomed of rejection that he's wary of being treated otherwise, more interested in the chase or both.

And lastly, do you really want to know how the trick with Jimbo was done?

[Nftnat]

Well, welcome back anyway, for however long it lasts. While you were out, Kero himself made a couple of posts. Get to know on another. Kero, RockItShipper; RockitShipper, Kero.

[James Harvey]

Is that Pokemon episode an upcom,ing one? I admit I distaste the show, but it is cool to see Brock be put in someone's shoes for a change.

[Kero]

The epp RockItShipper was talking about could be "For crying out loud"

Kero

[RockItShipper]

Yes, it's technically an 'upcoming episode'. Pokemon episodes usually air in North America about a year after the original in Japan. Meaning that the dub version of this one'll air either later in the upcoming season or early in the one after that. The original title was something like Nidoran! Takeshi no bride hiba

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by don Jaime
She's home, she's home! Yayyy!

It's different from the manga, too, which is what I'm following. Li first shows up on a rooftop during the Flower card sequence, when Tomoyo's mom is introduced, too. He helps Sakura catch Shadow, which is two cards later. I've never even heard of Silent.

there are many cards in the anime that don't exist in the manga. One of the benefits (and drawbacks) of television, where producers have to create their own ways to keep the show going longer.

[DR. BELCH]

SHARKLADY:
I really would've liked to watch Mojo in the hosting spot...What other things did he say?

Actually, not as much as I'd hoped. It seemed Blossom would interrupt him a lot (but I suppose if you have evil incarnate hosting, you need someone to keep him in line). Another good scene: Mojo pulled out a ray gun and attempted to turn everyone into dogs. He aimed it at Courage first, but with no effect ("He already is a dog," Blossom said tersely). Then he zapped the Cartoon Cartoon logo--and it worked, but then the logo became vicious and chased Mojo around the set trying to bite his butt.

ROCKITSHIPPER:
But it's nice to hear I was missed...My mom's family lives in the most boring part of Florida...

At least you get to travel. On the whole, I'd rather be bored in an air-conditioned hotel room overlooking the pool than in my little corner of Outer Gehenna. My mom's been talking for some time about visiting her family in Alabama...maybe in a couple of years that'll dream'll come true.
"For Crying Out Loud" had the baby Merrill in it, as I recall...that was the one where Brock suggests he'll make a move on a girl on the edge of a cliff and Misty nastily suggests if he does it she'll probably jump off...a line I'd expect more from Ryoko, really....

[RockItShipper]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH
At least you get to travel. On the whole, I'd rather be bored in an air-conditioned hotel room overlooking the pool than in my little corner of Outer Gehenna.

A/C'd hotel rooms are one thing. But that's hardly the case when I'm dragged to Key Boring, FLA. Trust me. It sucks soooooooo much.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH
[
We may be hitting a dry spell of reruns, unless Cardcaptors comes out with those revealing new eps they keep promising (they advertised one for next week, but Yahoo TV lists "Mei-Lin's Story").

Hey, at least there's Rescue Heroes to look forward to!

I see that the WB will indeed air the last 3 episodes of the Japanese season 1 this month. This is good for you. All the answers you want--Miss Mackenzie...Kero "evolving" and the secret of Yue will all come together in a bang in this three parter, setting up the second season which introduces the much-hyped "new" characters, as well as the development of Li's feelings for Sakura.