Archives For November 2007

For Your Consideration: Marion Cotillard for Best Actress

November 17, 2007 — 6 Comments

Oh, yeah. Amy first saw La Môme, aka La Vie en Rose, back in her trip to Sweden with dear Julyssa. Movie was in French, with Swedish subtitles… Amy speaks neither. LOL’ – so you can imagine. Anyway, that was a sweet little anecdote with the film, but I just got my DVD today, and re-watched it with proper subtitling that I could understood. ^^ xD

Ever since I saw Cotillard in this role, I’ve felt that she’s got Academy Award written all over her face… I mean, come on! She became Piaf!! She, at least! deserves a nomination for Best Actress. Coming award season, she will need a strong campaign so people don’t push her performance to the back of their heads coming the time of nominations… so Amy decides to campaign for her.

The film came out in the first half of the year, and just recently became available on DVD… usually, studios will release heavy awarded films during November and December to stay fresh in the mind of the ones nominating… this is not the case. Most importantly, the film is in French… it’s a powerful performance yes, but apparently languages are a pretty quite no-no for Academy Awards, lol.

I also found this blog with how the race to the Oscar is going… good read. This person mentions Cotillard, and also another fave of mine, Julie Christie for Away from Her.

But to stay on topic, Amy is campaigning for Marion Cotillard. I first saw her,briefly, on the Tim Burton film Big Fish back in early 2000s – Then, I got the amazing chance to see Jeux d’Enfants (aka. Love Me If You Dare) at the cinemas in Vancouver… which is now one of my favorite films, and then she was on The Good Year, starring Russel Crowe. Marion Cotillard does great in this film, she becomes Piaf and gives her audience a powerful wonderful performance.

For Your Consideration: Marion Cotillard for Best Actress

For Your Consideration: Marion Cotillard for Best Actress

You can find, use, and help campaigning by posting and using this banners I made. For Your Consideration: Marion Cotillard for Best Actress.

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Videos and Captures of Bjork in Lima

November 17, 2007 — Leave a comment

People have been checking out this space for the reviews of the concert that Bjork gave in Lima on Nov. 13 – I, myself, have been searching the net for pictures and reviews, but I’ve found short to nothing detailed… and I haven’t found photos, like nice kick ass photos, which sucks major donkey butt. However, I’ve found some videos on YouTube, it took me like 1hr on November th 15th to get some videos, and not all are online… or some are but are not on my the playlist I’ve made, but feel free to search for them.

Here is the link to the playlist: Bjork en Lima

I took the liberty to take some captures, that look really crappy… but at least you can see them… Continue Reading…

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Bjork in Lima – One Word Review – Gracias!

November 14, 2007 — 1 Comment

Gracias… Gracias… or Muchas Gracias!

Bjork was cool. Other than the fact that I was forbidden to take my camera… and I was told it was gonna be restricted… I saw many people with cameras and I was a bit pissed. From my point of view, just a little above 5′ tall… I saw a few heads and a whole bunch of arms from where I was standing… and the seldom view of Bjork. Again, she was cool. My place? Not so much.

While waiting for the concert to begin, we had some electro beats mixed with something reminiscing of Japanese or Chinese opera. Prensa Nikkei would surely have enjoyed that bit, though I don’t know if people realized this… I was expecting someone to come out wearing a kabuki mask at any minute! When finally, it stopped. Lights went out, except for the dark lights, and a brief intro that sounded like It’s Oh So Quiet began, soon it faded as the stage was getting filled up with the members of the band, the choir… I don’t think there’s ever been as many Icelandic people in Lima – and finally, Bjork herself.

Earth Intruders began playing.

The lights were pretty nice, and the sound was better than what I was expecting, for sure… but still I wished they had used a couple of screens, just so you could see her in there, even if you couldn’t see her because of all the heads and arms with cameras…

Since I had no camera, I will have to trust my memory… which more often than not, sucks ass. After Earth Intruders, she sang Hunter – I’m pretty sure – or was it Hyperballad? LOL’ I was trying to take a look at her, and enjoy the music… but I was often taken out of my reverie by people pushing me, or trying to steal my place… and flashes in my face.

The tracklist was good and varied… the more rocking Army of Me, and I Miss You were there~~ actually, the concert really became more powerful right after Bjork grabbed the microphone and said something like;

Stop taking photographs, we are almost at the end. Enjoy the music, we are in a live concert not  documenting this.

The more sensitive people kept their cameras down after that, although some retards began taking a few more. You could tell Bjork really cared about it, and thus you learn to respect her opinion. At the beginning she wasn’t really there… in fact, I noticed she approached the side of the stage I was more closed to less than the opposite side, because there were many people with their cameras up! She must have thought, if you keep doing this… I will not stay on this side for too long.

After people began enjoying the concert for what it was, Bjork exploded with energy and started bouncing up and down and shaking her head as if trying to tell us she’s seen Gloria Trevi perform “Pelo Suelto” – LOL’ – The singing became superb, and in some numbers I could feel my eyes water a bit because she was here… lol. Bjork was in Lima, but better than her acknowledging Peru or Lima, it was exciting because I was there hearing her sing, talk and seeing her bounce and shake. It was quite emotional actually, haha.

Bjork looks in person, just as you could imagine… short, peculiar… radiant, and glowing creativity! She talked twice, once saying that about the cameras… and the other to say that her Spanish wasn’t very good, but that she was happy to be in Peru. And, of course, the usual Gracias, or Muchas Gracias after each song hahaha. I think most people were getting like “well, duh!” – She also yelled Viva La Revolucion right before the full encore, Declare Independence.

Overall, the concert was good… you can tell, though I missed some of my fave songs like Venus as a Boy, or Big Time Sensuality, or Oceania… and I wished I had my spikes on so I could poke people around me. LOL’

Rate: 4/5

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Top5 Amy Live Concerts:
The Futureheads (Vancouver – 2006)
Bjork (Lima – 2007)
La Ley (Lima – 2001)
The Killers (Vancouver 2005)
John Mayer / Maroon 5 (Vancouver – 2004)

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Garbo and Crawford? Why my fascination…

November 13, 2007 — Leave a comment

So… people knowing me would know a while back I saw The Greta Garbo Collection, which I loved! Especially watching Queen Christina and Camille! Though my surprise came when I saw Grand Hotel, and was taken away from Garbo’s famous line of “I want to be alone” by the sharply-delivered-lines of Joan Crawford. Now, I’m done watching my Joan Crawford Collection.

I loved watching it, especially The Women and Mildred Pierce… and Possessed… and yeah, most of it, really! On the side, I also saw Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? – Man! That film is freaky~~~ All recommended!

So, yeah~ back on the topic. Why am I fascinated by these two seemingly different actresses? One gave up almost everything in her life for her much wanted privacy… and never really got it because paparazzi still followed her around. The other lived to be a star, and took it as it came… even the bad publicity, and still held her head high!

My respect to both of them. Nowadays, it is so hard to find stars like them. Most of them just complain about the paparazzi, and talk about their wanting privacy… but never really truly wanting it. Nights of wild partying, drugs and fights… and don’t forget the crotch shots! You’ve never seen Hollywood so unglamorous… such a shame.

I am of the opinion that we should get rid of Hollywood Ebola soon before it’s too late.

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The Truth About Bjork in Lima

November 12, 2007 — Leave a comment

Another yet “fun” adventure of going around Lima while people look down on you, and treat you with lack of civility and tact. This happens whenever you try to be straight about life, and ask for permits to go on about your business. However, time and time again we’re proven that the nice never get anything done, and that you gotta be crooked to get what you want. Oh yeah, The Damned Don’t Cry.

The concert is tomorrow, but I’ve had my ticket since it went on sale.  I’ve been on the search for a press pass, in order to be able to bring my Nikon D70s and a couple of lenses. I am very well aware that in the last few days, Bjork’s been having problems with cameras in her concerts in Argentina and Chile, and it is only because fans with very little respect keep on flashing their cameras while she performs.

The main reason I wanted to get the press pass was to be able to expand my Concert Photography portfolio. It is not often I go to live music events in Lima, because there are few events I feel inclined to attend to. However, Bjork’s one of them. I’ve paid my ticket, and I feel the right to be able to digitally immortalize my attending her concert. But that’s besides the fanatic point of view.

It is clearly stated in the gigOgraphy:

Observe that there usually is a NO camera policy at these concerts.

Yet, that doesn’t stop fans from bringing their itty bitty cameras and flashing her, or using their cellphones to even record crappy footage. This doesn’t stop them fans, but makes it impossible with others with more than just prosumer cameras to do their business properly.

More often than not (at least in North America), you can approach the venue, and ask for their permission… which they will be more than happy to give, even though they have ever-changing camera policy. So knowing that, I approached the venue – El Vertice del Museo de la Nacion – It was a bitter surprise to know that they had given any right of policy to the promoters of the concert, so I was back again today. And since I’m bitter about how it all ended (read the whole story to know) – I will be pointing fingers and calling names! Because I am a snotty-little-brat, and I’ve got an outlet.

So Bjork.com points me to  the venue. The venue – El Vertice del Museo de la Nacion – points me to the promoters… I ended up talking to Guillermo Tarrillo, who was nice enough and pointed me to Hernan Val. I ended up talking to Ricardo Excelmes (or however you spell that last name) who told me nicely enough that it was out of his hands, and that I should talk to Press with Elena Vera. They gave me her number, and I called her. The bitter bombastic blow was given by this woman. I called, and asked if it was her in case I had gotten the wrong number… it was her. So I kindly introduced myself as Amy Wong, and told her I had gotten her number through Mr. Hernan Val and Mr. Ricardo Excelmes (??) and said I was calling to inquire about the press at Bjork’s concert, and she sharply cut me off saying:

I have nothing to do with Bjork.

Well, what else can you add after someone tells you they have nothing to do with what you’re trying to inquire about. I tried saying that Mr. Val and the other man had given me this number, but she kept on babbling. “I have nothing to do with Bjork.”

Though, that would’ve been more believable if she had told me that she didn’t know the people I had mentioned… because that’s what usually happens when you’re not involved in something. You don’t know the people.

Anyway, if you are attending the concert, this is the deal. Because of the issues in Argentina and Chile, I was told any types of camera have been prohibited in the concert, and according to Mr. Ricardo, they will be strict about it because they fear Bjork will walk out of the stage. And as much as I like her as an artist, that would be diva behavior to me. But I’m sure there will be people sneaking cameras in, because that’s what they do…

We’re proven that the nice never get anything done, and that you gotta be crooked to get what you want. Oh yeah, The Damned Don’t Cry.

Rant’s over.

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A Warner Bros’ B.O. Theory

November 9, 2007 — 2 Comments

This post has nothing to do with Body Odor. HAHA.

I just recently found out Guillermo del Toro was interested in directing HP7 (a.k.a Deathly Hallows) – which would be nice… and a smart move by The WB. I mean, Yates… bah. Buhumbug! HP5 was one of my favorite books on the series, but the film was just annoying. Watch it as clips, it’s great… watch it as a whole, it’s utter trash. Why they hired him for HP6, which is also a crappy book, it’s because HP5 made more money $$ for The WB than HP4 and HP3, but the master of money-making has been HP1, so this is my theory.

Everyone wanted to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone (HP1) because it’s a novelty… all fans go, all curious go… that equals a lot of cash into WB’s pockets, they think they have a success thanks to Chris Columbus. But let’s face it, HP1 wasn’t so good looking back, so people kinda lost some interest in it, people lost the novelty… there’s no curiosity factor anymore, so Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (HP2) comes out, and surprise! It doesn’t do better than HP1, probably something The WB didn’t expect. Critics and the public are not very surprised, and Chris Columbus is gone! Ciao!

By this time, people have lost interest… and critics are not attracted… yet here comes Alfonso Cuaron, a decision that sparks a bit of interests in movie buffs and critics, but not your average movie goers. People have already lost interest over HP1, and the horrible HP2… so they are not expecting to see HP3. Results? Only hard-core fans and movie fans go see it. Results again? Hard-core HATE it, movie fans LOVE it! Critics praise the film, yet Hard-core fans are the one who go to the film over and over to watch it, but since Hard-core HATES HP3, it makes even less money. Cuaron is dropped! Ciao!

Mike Newell comes on board for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (HP4)… critics want more Potter now, but fans are skeptical. Hard-core fans think it can’t be worse than Cuaron… HP4 results in a summer flick full of action, but no meat. Results? Critics are divided over the fact that it was entertaining, yet lacked growth… but the average movie maker finds it fun, and the hard-core fans are in peace. In the end, HP4 is more successful commercially than HP3, but not even close to HP1. Oh, well… Newell! Ciao!

So The WB goes and picks David Yates… most people go WTF – but this decision sparks interests from movie buffs and critics. People enjoyed HP4, it was fun! Such a great summer flick… yeah, yeah. We should so totally see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (HP5) – then the keywords here were, Clips & Trailers. Everyone wanted to see, oh! the trailer looks amazing, the clips are so good! A rebellion you say? Voldemort’s back? Results? Everyone flocks to the theater to catch HP5. Results? Critics aren’t so sure, new fans from HP3 hated the choppiness of HP5, and they would’ve preferred watching separate clips, than watching all as a whole. But hard-core fans don’t care… they have their precious book… it’s the last book, oh yeah~ we should all go see the movie, because it’s the last book. Results again? Best commercial success, but still not as good to push HP1 of the #1 spot. Meaning, Yates is back for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (HP6).

M y B.O predictions are, people who didn’t like HP5 will not go watch HP6… they will probably catch it on TV, or find a digital copy. Book 6 is a bad book, meaning there’s a slim chance it will make more money $$ than HP5, meaning… Yates! Ciao! What will happen with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (HP7)? That will depend on how HP6 does in Box Office, how the critics treat HP6, and who they will choose for directing HP7.

If HP6 does as crappy as I think it will do, and critics aren’t as excited about it, as they were with HP5… The WB will need to choose some high-profile director… be it Peter Jackson, or Guillermo del Toro or someone critic-friendly to create a new buzz for the last film… because HP7 was a pretty crappy book, and The WB will only cash in more money $$ because of the director.

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My Reasons Why the 90’s Ruled or Not – Part II

November 5, 2007 — 4 Comments

Last time we talked about various Japanese shows that became part of Peruvian’s 90s. If you were a kid in Peru, you would’ve known 95% of my references, if not all of them~~ So we’re gonna be talking about more of those.

Afternoons with the Small Wonder show (1985) was a show I remember… even now, I can get some re-runs of it. And, oh yeah~ I pity the fool! Hahaha, I used to own a Mr. T piggy-bank hahaha. What else? Full House, or as people call it here… Tres por Tres (3×3) – Step by Step (Paso a Paso)… and the seldom episode of Baywatch, back when Erika Eleniak was there. Aw, man… those were the days… before anything was sexed up. Erika Eleniak was pretty cool, so for those who wanna know, just google her. She’s got a website, not a cool website per se… but she’s got one. She’s married (I think), she’s got a baby, living in Calgary, and she’s happy. Good for her. =D

Alf was also part of my growing up, as well as Bewitched and I Dream of Jeanie. A lot of re-runs in my life… like Perfect Strangers and The Munsters! I still get to watch those re-runs thanks to Nick @ Nite xD.

Okay, enough with the TV people say…

Did anyone get to catch El Show de Julie? LOL’ I was a big fan… I still got those little sock monsters, and I found her tapes. Does anyone know what happened to her? Some day, I might be in the mood to transfer my tapes to mp3… but until that day, I will have to depend on some other fan that is willing to do that and share online~~~

Something that I’ve already been working on is… Capitanes de Lata, a play about kids that live in the streets of Lima, with Gloria Maria Solari. My transfer sounds like crap though, that’s why I’m wondering who else knows about it, and who else is willing to share their digital transfers. Los Cuervos was a fun gang, LOL’ the whole tape brings so many memories… and I totally sing along to it. I’ve totally no idea if they had the rights (probably not) to use the Frank Sinatra song Love and the Marriage (a.k.a Married with Children theme) or the Star Wars theme… so I might be getting them into trouble now hahaha. Or maybe they made it similar, but not enough? Capitanes de Lata, a triunfar! Al ataque, que la Fuerza los acompane! Todos con sus armas, naves en sus puestos! Alerta, vamos marchando sin descansar. LOL’

I also remember being really into the tape I got of some play of the Wizard of Oz. Can’t find that tape though… so it will fade into my memory, until it blurs into just my imagination…

So now, let’s talk some music. My father was a big fan of music, so I grew up with loads of oldies. Los Doltons were a big milestone on my life with the song El Ultimo Beso, a cover of Last Kiss. The English lyrics are pretty crappy though, hahaha. Or Puerto Mont by Los Iracundos… and some Rock & Rolling with El Rock de la Carcel (Jailhouse Rock), La Mantequilla, Popotitos, Rebelde sin Causa… I also recently found out that I know many of the songs Miguel Bose sings. But what about me?

I was a kiddo, so no making fun of it. I was a big fan of Nubeluz (apparently… yeah, Almendra Gomelsky and Monica Santa Maria), as well as El Show de Julie, and man, my cousin and I were big Jordi fans hahahaha. Jordi, the little French boy… with his song about how hard it was to be a baby. Oh yeah – I’ve probably got my tape still, though there are loads of digital transfers on the net already!

I was also a biggie on Locomia, lol… I know, I know… shame on me. Some of the members of my family will deny ever fancying them. hahaha… And since my English wasn’t top notch, I would hear “Locomia chuchuparin” HAHAHHAHA – instead of “Locomia get your body rockin'” xD Funny.

I was also a big Pandora fan… me gusta como llevas el ritmo, oh~~~ me gustaria bailar como tu! ^^ Vamos al noa, noa, noa, noa… LOL’

Well, I think that’s all I got for today.

Links to other Parts:
Part I
Part III

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Good Music for a Good Cause

November 2, 2007 — Leave a comment

After feeling guilty over hearing Britney’s Blackout, I checked on iTunes and found a good compilation from one of my fave actresses… and for a good cause!

Big Change: Songs for FINCA was initially just a celebrity playlist that ended up as a one big project. This will probably be one of the best deals with music that you’ll get… not only you get 16-tracks that include Tokyo Police Club, The Shins, and Norah Jones just to name a few… it’s only $7.99 on iTunes Canada -and if you buy the whole album, you get a digital booklet with some pictures. Best celebrity playlist ever.

$$ is going to help FINCA, an organization that helps individuals (mostly women) with microcredit and financial support, so they can improve their quality of life, and that of others. Here are some small pictures of the digital booklet!

Songs for FINCA 2

Continue Reading…

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November’s Begun

November 2, 2007 — Leave a comment

Wow, hard to imagine the year is almost over, eh? What a waste it was… mostly, really. I feel like I’ve achieved very little to nothing, and such small pleasures in my meaningless life have been stripped from me maliciously in a year.

I’m still looking forward to seeing Bjork in Lima, though still my hopes are not up. Anything can happen in 11 days… – I went to see The Invasion, much to my displeasure. I was supposed to watch The Brave One for free, but like I said… anything can happen – and we got a change of plans the same day of the show. The film wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, I truly enjoy watching Nicole Kidman on screen. Though I can’t help compare her face in the film, which was flawless to the one she’s got on red carpet events.

The Invasion was predictable, and wasn’t really suspenseful… kinda gross when all those people/aliens were spitting and puking that stuff in the coffees and teas… yuck! And I guess I must be sick or something, since I was the only one laughing when Nicole grabbed her on-screen son’s friend and shoved him inside to trap him. If you’re expecting a night of goof around with the friends, watch it for the few laughs. 2/5

Another Nicole/Daniel Craig film I’m anxiously awaiting is The Golden Compass (real title: Northern Lights) – though the boards seem to be bombarded by reports of New Line Cinema butchering the books… which if they are doing due to religious/marketable reasons – well, they would suck. I really dislike Christians who complain about fictional books that touch religious subjects, and more so when such people attack verbally to people that work in a project. I mean, what does Nicole Kidman have to do with promoting atheism? If you are only too stupid and lack the gray matter to compensate for the white in your brain to do something because a fictional character does it, then too bad.

Instead of this people bitching about why Nicole Kidman chooses to make a movie that touches on religious themes and maybe makes you question the world we live in, why not complain over the fact that the Paris Hiltons, Lindsay Lohans, Britney Spears are the role models of today… because oh yeah, that’s like hot. Totally.

Like I said a few hours ago, I blame it all on Disney… All Disney new stars are doomed to get their crotch shots, or nudie pictures in their late teens or early twenties. Britney, Lohan… that girl from High School Musical that I don’t even know her name.

Look at me, starting from a simple review to end with a rant. LOL’ – Amazing.

On other news, kinda… have you guys heard Britney Spears’ new album? I was decided not to download, but reports of it being #1 this week, as well as rumored ‘good reviews’ made me curious. I just think it’s funny how Gimme More it’s on like #1 or something, yet when I ask anyone on my MSN list their thoughts on it, they tell me they hate the freaking song. LOL’ – Me thinks there’s too many closeted Britney fans out there. So, I downloaded the thing to listen to it and judge myself… which makes me think all of you out there are freaking retarded. I hated it. It’s not even danceable, I couldn’t find a single catchy tune… Britney sounds more robotic than ever, and every freaking song sounded the same. Oh, I also thought the song Piece of Me reminded me of the bomb that was Madonna doing her rap song in whichever year she did that.

Who’s new album was enjoyable? Juanes’ new album – La Vida Es un Ratico – was pretty enjoyable as was the newest Backstreet Boys album, Unbreakable. Though I bet neither will show on charts…

Britney Spears is like weed, she’s not as dangerous as cocaine… but you can get curious and it gets you hooked to other more dangerous stuff.

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Decent on Search Engines’ Rankings!

November 1, 2007 — Leave a comment

This post will not be fun. LOL’ – that’s a warning xD

I did a little Googling, and Yahoo-ing……. by typing ‘amy’ – my blog showed up on page six! Not bad really, if you count that I have to compete with Amy Winehouse, Amy Smart, Amy Lee, and a bunch of other Amy people… and most importantly, Amy Wong from Futurama. Now, I’m just hoping my porfolio climbs up in the following weeks, since turning it from Flash to WordPress.

By googling ‘amy wong’ on Google I showed up as #2 or #3, both my portfolio and blog – and did #1 and #2 or #3 on Yahoo! which was pretty nifty. Amy Wong from Futurama is pretty tough competition! That’s for sure.

Even though I do better in ranking on Yahoo! – I think Google is the best searching tool, by searching for ‘amy wong chan’ I was pretty much the only one showing up in Google, yet a few bunch other non-related stuff showed up on Yahoo. And for sure I’m the only ‘amy sue wong chan’ which was pretty nifty., except for the non-related Yahoo results.

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