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I haven’t read the Nodame manga series, but I sure am waiting for the last two movies, because I loved the live action adaptation. Also, Juri Ueno is the perfect Nodame!

Anyway, I’ll let Kawaii Joyuu do the explaining~

Actress Aoi Yu (24) or at least her voice is going to appear in the second “Nodame Cantabile” movie that is opening soon. They announced today that she is going to dub the young Hungarian woman Jadwi. Jadwi’s actual name is Jadwiga, meaning “mysterious sleeping beauty” and is a popular character in the original manga. She becomes a close friend of Nodame (Ueno Juri) and therefore one of the key characters in the second movie. Both of them meet at the music school they attend in Paris. Jadwi can play the theremin, the first ever electronic music instrument in the world. Her unique character and unique instrument eventually helps Nodame enjoying music again, after she got separated from her beloved piano.

Jadwi has a very fluffy personality. Aoi actually would be the perfect actress for the role, even Ueno already noticed that. “She has a fairy-like, very mysterious aura surrounding her, almost like Aoi Yuu,” she said. There were plans to transform Aoi into a foreign girl with the help of make-up, but who knows how that would look like in the end. Now they have a French actress playing that role and Aoi dubbing her in Japanese. “There would be no better person for this,” Ueno commented after hearing that Aoi got confirmed for the voice cast.

I have often talked about Yu’s voice acting, and her different voices. She’s got her regular voice lower and sort of as-a-matter-of-fact, and then there’s also her sponsoring voice which is high and chirpy. But she’s also done a lot of cute voice, and you also know I prefer Yu when she’s not cute… even though I can’t deny that she’s cute, and that makes you smile nonetheless. This is why Juri’s remarks on Yu’s fairy-like qualities is fascinating.

Anyway, for those Yu Aoi fans that have not seen Nodame Cantabile – it’s just a blast. I mean, the first couple of episodes are something to get used to for the wacky and over-the-top qualities [mind you, I had just gotten into J-entertainment back then], but once you get into it, it’s so SO funny. Part of the funny behind the casting of Yu as the dubbing for a Hungarian character is hilariously and bluntly pointed out on the first Nodame Europe Special.

Now there’s more reason to watch Nodame Cantabile Movie 2! xD

Yu Aoi for Jane Magazine

March 12, 2010 — 9 Comments

It’s been quiet in the Yu Aoi news lately (weird, considering Otouto was released), so I did my usual search on Google and came up with a couple of things. First, that cover.

Two, my HMV order is supposed to get shipped the coming 24th [Salyu’s new album with DVD, Shiina Ringo old albums], and I’m actually pretty excited to get the back issue of Eye Scream magazine with one of my favorite Yu magazine shoots. I think I’ve crossed that fan line with that buy… LOL

I swear, this is the first time I’ve bought a magazine for a photoshoot with my “fave idol”.

If I could have my way, I would have Yu do all her PBs with Yoko Takahashi… or Marisa Shimamoto… and finally Keiichi Nitta. If I could have my way. Of course, Mario Testino would be awesome too. xD

And finally… Anyone know what this article is about? Many news on this, and one of them Google-translated as “Aoi Yu produced” but I doubt she’s producing, or she’ll be all promoting in her website.

ps. I’m fascinated with how those shoes work with the socks…
and the bombachos ha! And that smile is so damn contagious…

Oscar 2010 Winners

March 7, 2010 — 3 Comments

Red carpet is on at the moment. I have realized I can’t watch Red Carpet events anymore. Thank you incompetent entertainment journalist, and up-staging Oscar attendees.

If you haven’t checked the predictions, check them here.

Will be live blogging and posting winners during the night,
check back and refresh often.

Live blogging at Living in Cinema from the great Craig Kennedy~~~

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Show is about to start, so I will be blogging as winners are announced.

Check back and refresh often~

Continue Reading…

BAFTA Winners 2010

February 21, 2010 — Leave a comment

I’m almost kind of glad BAFTA decided to honor their own by naming Firth and Mulligan Best Actor and Actress, even though I haven’t seen A Single Man yet, I felt very underwhelmed after watching Crazy Heart.

The Hurt Locker puts itself front and center coming Oscar week with this BAFTA sweep, which makes me a bit tingly inside. If only a set of much better films could have joined Hurt Locker, it would make make Bigelow’s future win a little less bittersweet.

And I’m not even mad Let the Right One in lost to A Prophet, because both are such great films.

Anyway, here are the winners…

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This totally slipped my mind. Winners were announced on January 6th.

Best Picture:
The Hurt Locker

Best Director:
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Actor:
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Best Actress:
Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress:
Mo’Nique, Precious

Best Original Screenplay:
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Best Documentary:
Anvil!: The Story of Anvil

Best Picture Not in the English Language:
The White Ribbon

Best Animated Feature:
Up

Best Cinematography:
Robert Richardson, Inglourious Basterds

Best Score:
Michael Giacchino, Up

Best Editing:
Chris Innis and Bob Murawski, The Hurt Locker

And hello there, I just set out to write 50 film review in a year to get to become a member. Check out the guidelines so you can apply.

… and Seth Rogen.
I mean, really… Seth Rogen? Okay…

After the success that was Away from Her in 2007-2008, Sarah Polley is ready to get back to the director’s chair… this time around with a romantic comedy titled Take this Waltz. Polley wrote the script while editing Away from Her, and decided to finally finish it up.

The film, about a love triangle in which Michelle Williams’ character struggles with infidelity will have her starring opposite Seth Rogen and another man, yet to be cast.

via EW

Can I suggest Ryan Gosling? xD

Because you want to see Blue Valentine, right?

Oscar 2010 Nominations

February 2, 2010 — 5 Comments

Wow color me surprise. This is a lot of history in the making…

First, it’s a battle against Avatar vs. The Hurt Locker with each having 9 nominations. Followed by Inglourious Basterds with 8, Precious and Up in the Air with 6, Up with 5, and District 9, Nine, and Star Trek with 4.

Also, Peru just made Oscar History with its first ever nomination for Foreign Film.

I just got a few surprises like I asked, as well as really good guesses… missing some films, but also nice surprises like District 9 getting 4 nods. LOL

Continue Reading…

This race is turning into an interesting one, as the Director’s Guild names Kathryn Bigelow the Best Director of the year for her film The Hurt Locker. Why this is pretty awesome? She’s the first female director to ever get it… which means she might be writing Oscar history if she wins that night. *crosses fingers*

Other winners are the directors of the documentary The Cove (omg, I really wanna be wrong on this one), Mad Men… and Modern Family.

Check out all the winners here.

RIP Miramax

January 29, 2010 — 3 Comments

Well, not a death particularly.

But it’s a sad day as Disney (who bought them for only $70M) has decided to shut down Miramax.

Yes, that same Disney that keeps feeding us with ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, cancels Pushing Daisies… and gave us Miley Cyrus to rot the minds of our younger generation.

Miramax gave us The Piano, Reservoir Dogs, The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, Chicago, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Clerks, Doubt, There Will Be Blood, Gone Baby Gone, Happy-Go-Lucky, Le Scaphandre et le Papillon, No Country for Old Men, Kinky Boots, Finding Neverland… just to name a few.

Good taste is dead. *sighs*