Of course, this is all about style. This is hustling with style xD Guy Ritchie probably got paid a nice amount, and Jude got a nice check. For some reason, when you do this type of commercials, you don’t end up looking cheap. On the other hand, it seems you gain some sort of “classic Hollywood” status. At least for Law, I mean.

If you need to hustle and are cheap, you end up like this. Or like this,  or this. LOL I’m sorry, I had to post those ProActiv commercials on TV and they were even DUBBED! Badly-dubbed commercials! LOL

I’m not really familiar with her work, and I don’t think we’ve mentioned her before, but I’m not missing the chance to post this. LOL I really REALLY like these photos.

More photos and bigger versions of these over here.

Happy music is always good.

Rest in peace, Rich.

Look, I made a banner. LOL

While reading my usual news, I found out that Kokuhaku (aka. Confessions) by Tetsuya Nakashima has been chosen by Japan as their submission for the upcoming Academy Awards. I haven’t even seen the film, but I really thought they would choose something like Norwegian Wood, which seems to be getting in all the major festivals, while Kokuhaku… has been, well… doing well in Japanese Box Office. So it’s a surprise.

These are the other films sent for consideration:

• Austria – La Pivellina
• Hungary – Bibliothèque Pascal [Variety]
• Iraq – Son of Babylon
• Netherlands – Tirza
• Peru – Undertow [review]
• Poland – All that I Love/Everything I Love [Poland]
• Romania – If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle [The Hollywood Reporter]
• South Korea – A Barefoot Dream
• Sweden – Simple Simon [The Hollywood Reporter]
• Taiwan – Monga
• Venezuela – Hermano

Any more? xD

Germany has a shortlist that include 3 Nazi-related dramas. Their pick will be announced in about 10 days.

But we’re lazy, so we’re doing a 31-day Meme into one post. Just like we did on the TV Meme… only with more pictures! Because I think that TV Meme needs photos, right?

1. A Sequel that Shouldn’t Have Been Made

You know there should be something wrong when all the sequels went straight to DVD. That’s a sad sad ending for a good cheesy film like Bring it On. The sequels bring so much shame when mentioning Bring it On, which by the way had Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku… and Gabrielle Union. And cheers. I said Brrrr it’s cold in here! There must be some Clovers in the atmosphere~~~ LOL a perfect introduction to setup what the cheese will be about, and a more poppy-end-of-the 90s-rendition of Hey, Mickey!

2. A Movie More People Should See

Memories of Matsuko (aka. Kiraware Matsuko no Issho), directed by Tetsuya Nakashima. I saw this by chance about 2 years ago, and it’s climbed up to my #3 spot of favorite films. xD It’s like a fusion of Sin City with Amelie — yeah, if that could happen — and with Moulin Rouge!. There’s loads of style, loads of music, loads of drama. Big Band goes Cabaret, with Hip Hop, and slow jams. There’s a bit with animation, and very Disney-esque sequences but on LSD. Yup, that’s how I always describe Nakashima’s film-making style.

3. Favorite Oscar-nominated Movie from the Most Recent Ballot

Ahhhhh. I’m having conflicts. xD But since Castor already said Inglourious Basterds, I’ll pick District 9.

4. A Movie that Makes You Laugh Every Time

The Sweetest Thing. Ah… I just had a laugh looking for clips to post. xD

Talk about I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing ubiquity.

5. A Movie You Loathe

Knocked Up. Ugh. And all those films like Bruno, Borat, Superbad, and all the comedies that seem to do really well in America. My cousins and I just don’t get them. My family keeps referring to them as “American Humor”. And LOL, my French teacher hated it more. xD

6. A Movie that Makes You Cry Every Time

I’ve seen Dancer in the Dark so many times, I’m not sure I cry anymore. And I can’t say Memories of Matsuko… and I don’t wanna repeat myself below… so, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. And before you say anything, Benjamin and Daisy grow old and in different directions… so they grow old together but not really together! They just had to meet in the middle, and that’s all they had!

I’ve only seen it 3 times, because frankly… it’s long. But I’ve cried those 3 times, and I think the first one and third one were the worst because I watched them alone. LOL

But you know what hurts? How ridiculously good-looking they were in there middle point.

7. Least Favorite Movie by a Favorite Actor

The bias must come off! But as soon as I saw the name, I remembered. Henshin. OMG, it was such a horrible film. My first thoughts about the movie were “WTF is this movie!” LOL Not even my bias for Yu Aoi could save it. Actually, I think it did… it got 2 stars, and I don’t know why. LOL

8. A Movie that Should Be Required High School Viewing

Is this literal? Like something they should watch at schools? Or a movie that EVERY should watch.

Red Cliff. Every one should watch the 2-part cut, instead of the international version. And you could get away with showing it in school for Chinese Culture class. Who knows? Maybe if I had been interested in school, I would actually be speaking Chinese.

9. Best Scene Ever

Couldn’t find a clip… or captures, so I took my own. LOL

Jurassic Park! When they first see the dinosaurs!! The moment, the music, the magic. Just perfect.

“It’s a real-life dinosaur!” Indeed, Dr. Grant.

10. A Movie You Never Expected to Like but Loved

The McDull series. I began with #3, but ended up with the 4 films. My Life as McDull is by far the best, while Alumni is the craziest. In the series, McDull is an unremarkable piggy… which is the best. A lot of kids are told that they are special [think Disney star specila], so kids feel entitled. In McDull, however, the piggy is an unremarkable kid who accomplishes nothing, but still leaves you with a good message. You don’t need to be the most cool, the most bright, the most talented. All you need to be is a good-hearted person… or er… pig.

LOL, and there’s also Mrs. McDull. xD

11. A Movie that Disappointed You

I want to say Greenberg, but I’m on bad terms with Ben Stiller, so I was half and half about it. So I’m gonna have to go with Hua Mulan because there was so much potential there, and Zhao Wei can be pretty awesome. I mean, scale-wise, it was epic, but Zhao Wei should’ve committed to the hero/bad-ass attitude. Come on! Mulan’s a legend, they could’ve taken other liberties… other than making Zhao Wei look pretty in her armor xD

12. Best Soundtrack/Background Music in a Scene

All About Lily Chou Chou. Salyu + Takeshi Kobayashi + Shunji Iwai. Love xD

Hmm… I should really make a compilation of YouTube videos of the OST.

13. Favorite Animated Movie

Grave of the Fireflies, which also makes me cry… but I didn’t wanna repeat. xD

14. Favorite Film in Black and White

Queen Christina xD I love Greta, and this is my fave of hers.

Plus that line about not dying an old maid, but dying a bachelor. It made my day the first time I heard it. LOL – But you know, this is my list of Modern Black & White, so feel free to add suggestions there.

15. Best Musical

Moulin Rouge! I really feel that without it, Chicago would still be looking for a way to be released. Plus, I know the lines by heart. LOL The songs, the dialog xD I can recite it hahaha.

16. Your Guilty Pleasure Movie

Sister Act, and Sister Act 2 – Yup, that’s right. Both. LOL I cannot be mad at Whoopi! Her name is Whoopi! Every time you’re happy or excited you should say “whoopi!”. Plus, if nuns did sing like this at mass, I would probably be there listening at least once or twice a month… instead of, well… never.

Do nuns use the internet? Any nuns here?

Plus, Sister Act 2 has Lauryn Hill. That’s a total win. I also sing Happy Days xD)

17. Favorite Series or Related Movies

I really REALLY loved Harry Potter… and then the 6th book came out, and it spoiled my fun. LOL

18. Favorite Title Sequence

I still love it. John Williams is so ubiquitous. xD

19. Best Movie Cast

The Women! xD

20. Favorite Kiss

I’m undecided. Castor already said The Notebook… and I’ve been having problems with my Best Kisses posts. So I’ll say Cinema Paradiso… because there’s a reason that still made it to the posters, right? xD And even if you don’t connect with that of love of cinema (meaning you love the last scene with the Kisses montage more), you can always rely on that bittersweet love story.

21. Favorite Couple

Does it count as a couple? Oskar and Eli on Let the Right One In? LOL

22. Favorite Final Scene/Line

LOL, I was gonna say “Cut to: BLACK” on Children of Men, which left me WHAT? What was that? And I ended up watching the film again. Hahaha. But no, oh… the best final scene was Dogville, which I saw alone… as soon as it ended, I met with my friends, and told everyone they should watch it. LOL I ended up seeing it once more at the theater with them.

23. Best Explosion/Action Sequence

The Bride vs. Crazy 88 – Kill Bill!

24. Quote You Use Most Often

I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to life than being really, really,ridiculously good looking.

Aww, come on! That movie’s pretty quotable, right? xD Every time I want to hate on Ben Stiller, I remember this, and I don’t want to punch him in the face any longer. xD

25. A Movie You Plan on Watching

Oh, come on! “A” movie? Only one?

I’ve tried watching Maboroshi no Hikari by Kore-eda twice already, and I seem to fall asleep. I haven’t found the proper moment to watch the film yet.

26. Freakishly Weird Movie Ending

Well, yeah. No one knows what Mulholland Dr. is about. How about Donnie Darko then?

27. Best Villain

Cruella Deville! She kills puppies! Or I guess… she wants to make coats out of puppies!

28. Most Over-hyped Movie

Titanic, the ship sinking scene was cool though. And while all my friends were crying because Leo had died frozen… I kept thinking that I shouldn’t drink much soda, and that Kate Winslet was naked on screen for so long. LOL

29. Movie You Have Watched More than Ten Times

Dancer in the Dark. I can honestly say I’ve seen it at least 30 times. LOL

30. The Saddest Death Scene

Have you noticed that from my Top10 Favorite Films, 7 of them have the protagonist dying? Two of them have a lot of other people dying, and one is non-death? Yeah, by default… Selma dying on Dancer.

31. Scene that Made You Stand up and Cheer.

Ip Man 2, when Ip Man fights the English boxer to defend the honor of Martial Arts. LOL

Okay… this Meme took wayyyyyy longer than I intended. Good night!

Any comments? xD

Anyway, Jiang Yingrong won last year’s Supergirl (yeah, that same contest that found us Chris Lee, BiBi and Jane Zhang… thankyouverymuch), and it just goes to show you the changing tides in the cpop scene. In her third single Bad Angel (aka. Hui Tian Shi – but, you know, Bad Angel is so much easier), she looks a little bit Zhao Wei, a little bit Rihanna, and a little bit Natalie Portman on V Mag by Mario Testino — yeah, I just pulled that out because I know a lot of NP’s photoshoots…
plus, you know, it’s Testino. xD

She sounds a little too electronic on it too, so you won’t be able to judge much.

Not really feeling Bad Angel, but I really REALLY dug her first single (was it the first? or second?) titled Ba Wo Ni de Mei… or you know, subbed – Seize your Beauty. It’s really catchy, and the hook “everything” line is funny. Everysing xD Everysing.

From my group of friends, I think I’m the only one that grew up with old Disney shorts, and sometimes I talk about them with a whole bunch of my friends wondering what I’m talking about.

Did any of you grow up watching this short? How old are you? xD

Maybe I’m not the only 20-something.

I finally saw Bandage, after being on the “to watch” queue for…  nearly a month. I didn’t know it was produced by Shunji Iwai — same thing with HALFWAY, but we’ve already talked about that one (so disappointed, btw. Best thing there was Salyu’s ending theme, which is included on Maiden Voyage so you don’t even need to purchase the OST) — but I digress~~~ Bandage was, I feel, better than HALFWAY… but not for much.

It’s also directed by Takeshi Kobayashi… who produces great music. Alas, Bandage is not that great at storytelling or characters. It tells the story of a fictional J-rock band called LANDS in the early 90s. What really REALLY bothered me was that the film didn’t look like the early 90s to me. It OCD bugged me. The only thing that remotely made me feel it was the early 90s — besides using a discman and sharing cds — was the phone at the female protagonist’s home. In one of the sequences, you can even listen to a track by Salyu as scene background music, and her music didn’t come out until Lily Chou Chou in 2001. OCD bugged me!

And shall I tell you that Ayumi Ito was my favorite part of the story? LOL Okay, I might be biased, but I didn’t care for the brooding artists, even though I love brooding characters.

Kii Kitano, who played lead on HALFWAY, played Asako here, the girl who becomes a fan of LANDS’ music and ends up meeting the band… hence meeting the lead singer Natsu, and becoming his Yoko. LOL – Their words, not mine. I’m still not warming up to Kitano’s on-screen talent or charisma… I mean, she must have something, right? Iwai keeps using her for some reason. But she’s just so blah.

Jin Akanishi plays Natsu — who recently became an ex-member of KAT-TUN to pursue his solo career, this is his debut film role — the brooding lead singer of LANDS, the struggling band. They’ve been together for 15 years (if I recall), but they never had a huge hit… until they do, and then the band struggles. Kengo Kora — who can be seen in Aoi Miyazaki’s Solanin, and the recent Norwegian Wood — plays Yukiya… the McCartney to Natsu’s Lennon. So you can imagine.

Yuki Shibamoto plays Arumi, the talented keyboard and arranger… but she doesn’t do much other than storm out of rooms and make dramatic entrances.

Once again, the only thing saving this from doom was Ayumi Ito playing Yukari (her last name), former drummer and now LANDS’ manager. We didn’t get to know much of her, but every time she was on screen, she pulled attention towards her without doing much.

One word review? Meh.

2.75/5

I’m pretty sure HALFWAY got a 2/5

What’s still on the queue of “to watch” “to listen”?

The Yellow Handkerchief, That Evening Sun, Paper Man, Mr. Nobody, Kamome Shokudo, Donju… and I still can’t finish Maboroshi no Hikari. I’ve tried to watch it twice… so I’m trying to find the proper moment.

What else to watch? Jdrama… American shows. Too many hours!

Plus 8 albums just sitting there…

PLUS! The stuff I got from Amazon… including 6 books, and The Complete Dead Like Me set.

I’m still on strike, but not to say I’m not trying to sneak into this one. Part I of the END. O.O I didn’t like HP6, and I won’t like HP7.1 LOL but I still feel it will tug my heart’s strings.