Archives For 2009

Al Sur de la Frontera, al Oeste del Sol by Haruki Murakami

October 22, 2009 — Leave a comment

haruki-murakami-sur-frontera-oeste-solOtherwise known in English as “South of the Border, West of the Sun,” it tells the story of Hajime who meets with a childhood friend he hasn’t met in the last 25 years. Her name is Shimamoto, and Hajime is contemplating leaving his wife and daughters to be with her.

To be really honest, when I was reading 20-year-old-Hajime, I felt I was reading myself. Except I’m not a dude. But I did feel that way. Actually, I could also relate with the fact that he was an only child. The way his head worked, his personality… it reminded me of me.

However, unlike Hajime… I think ahead. LOL — I really didn’t know whether to shout at him, or roll my eyes when he began cheating on Izumi. But I’m also forced to admit that I was actually hoping he would get together with Shimamoto, and I actually had to stop reading the two last chapters because I was feeling his desperation. She is never coming back, and she’s trying to erase everything that will remind you of her.

I wanted to know what was up with Shimamoto, I was expecting a big revelation, instead I got a bucket of cold water.

Other than that reading experience? My moral compass (do I really have one? After all, people have already called me a Fascist) tells me that Shimamoto was wrong, but as she explains… she couldn’t help herself. She had to see him, and she had to talk to him. I wonder if the book would be as “popular” if it were written in the perspective of a woman going about her teens cheating on her boyfriend with his cousin, and then cheating on her husband with her childhood crush.

I love to hate or hate to love that last chapter on the emptiness. 4/5

In Books, English, Japanese, Reviews, Sharing, Spanish
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Music Makes the Glee Club Come Together~

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Madonna is letting the Gleeks sing her song catalog. What that means? Possibly an episode full of Madonna tracks~ But it’s not the first time Ryan Murphy is featuring Madonna~~~

I had read a rumor that Madonna (and Gwyneth — split from the same cell as Mary Cherry) were fans of Popular. LOL Could that be true? Because that’d be awesomeness~~~

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Ladies! We’ve got our Smokin’ Gun~~~ xD

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Posted on October 22, 2009 In Clips, English, Music, Screencaps, Sharing, Television , , , , , , , ,
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Looking Back on 18 of the 20 to Watch~

October 21, 2009 — Leave a comment

So~~~ we are very close to actually reveal who will be on the #1 spots of the Actors and Actresses to keep watching until they turn 30. I haven’t had much feedback on it, but the posts seem popular.

When I first started the list, I felt like I was effing it up with the guys. I know there are a lot of great young actors out there, but I’ve never truly felt a connection the way I kind of fuzz over with some of the actresses on my list. However, now that we are almost over, I feel like both lists are pretty good — I would really want your opinion though.

Another part of this interesting process was coming up with The Ten 20 to Watch that Didn’t Make it. I think working on it also proved how difficult it was for me to come up with actors names. While I had actresses names to spare for that list, I thought it was difficult to come up with just 5 names.

During the making of these many posts, I also noticed how complicated it was to find any real GOOD photo of the young actors. Are we so obsessed with the photos of the young and beautiful ladies that we don’t bother photographing guys? It’s so easy to come across a photoshoot of almost all the girls on my list (except Ines Efron and Sandrine Pinna — whose picture I, by the way, confused wtih some other actress. LOL) but it’s nearly impossible to come across an unwatermarked good photograph in good resolution of at least 50% of the guys.

Also, did you notice that I added actors that I don’t like? It was such a bizarre experience to talk about them without wanting to talk about them. Emile Hirsch I could deal with, because at least I watch his films… but Shia? I was shocked that I couldn’t find someone I really liked to take his place.

Maybe that should mean that I should stop watching so much television, and listen less music to focus a little more on films. I should be able to find someone, right? Talented and charismatic? Someone whom you actually feel like supporting through and through?

In English, Rants, Sharing , , , ,
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Experiment Awards’ 2004

October 21, 2009 — Leave a comment

And we continue to go through the years and film~

Some interesting observations on this one? There were a lot of GOOD male performances. I guess it’s by years, but I thought it was so tough to choose my Best Actors this time.

Continue Reading…

In Chinese, English, Films, French, Fun, Japanese, Korean, Sharing, Spanish , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Look Busy While Wasting Time

October 21, 2009 — 2 Comments

If you’re an office worker, I don’t think it will work out too much if there isn’t a Photoshop, Illustrator or Flash version. But! If you do work with Word, Excel and Powerpoint~~~ game away~~~

I’m sensing a new way to waste time. xD

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Check out Can’t You See I’m Busy for the games~

In English, Fun, Screencaps, Sharing
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New Girl Crush?

Must be that hole in my heart that left my years of Britney Spears listening. LOL

So I began watching Family Outing, at the request of Diana who slips those “you must watch Family Outing” or “the other day in Family Outing…” or those FB messages stating how funny Family Outing was — so I watched Family Outing with my dad today after a rough debate day.

And ZOMG, Lee Hyori?? Are you the answer to the Britney hole in my heart? xD

True, U Go Girl is pretty much average (but pretty much catchy, so isn’t that what it’s all about?), and well *cough cough* that video is uhm… pretty much what a lot of guys dream about. As far as live performances go? I’ve seen 2 — and NO, that “smooch” with TOP wasn’t really a smooch — but she seemed pretty average in both, in my opinion.

I really really like her on Family Outing though. I can’t believe (or can?) that she’s 30, and in such a much better state than so many other pop princesses on my side of the world. Maybe they should be taking note? She’s sassy, and pretty bossy — LOL, she scares me — but I also luv her for it xD And I think she looks so much better casual (sweatpants and baggy clothing) than over-made up like she is on her videos, even though she is pretty rocking on that hybrid music-video/commercial thing after the break~~~
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Posted on October 21, 2009 In Celebrity, Chinese, English, Korean, Music, Music Videos, Sharing, Television , , , , , ,
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To Watch Until They’re 30 – Kenichi Matsuyama

October 20, 2009 — 2 Comments

We are also closing in the #1 spot of our 10 choices for Actors we should be checking out until they’re 30~~~ But first, on the #2 spot is Japanese actor Kenichi Matsuyama.

Kenichi Matsuyama

For those not familiar with Japanese films, Matsuyama is an unknown face that you should be knowing. He’s only 24, and has over two dozen films on his filmography, among them? Worst by Chance (with fellows The 20 to Watch actors Hayato Ichihara and Yu Aoi), The Taste of Tea, Linda Linda Linda, Nana (with fellow The 20 to Watch Aoi Miyazaki), Yamato, Don’t Laugh at my Romance (with fellow Yu Aoi again). He also has the Death Note manga franchise, so he’s got a franchise under his belt ;P

He plays quiet, he plays weird, he plays heartthrob, he does drama, he does comedy. He does it all.

Next up for him, he’ll be on Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood adaptation alongside Academy Award nominee Rinko Kikuchi. With such variety, we can’t just stop watching~~~

In Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Photoshoots, Sharing , , , , ,
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Funk-o-Hair

October 20, 2009 — 3 Comments

I think I’m having too much fun with Flickr Galleries…

Anyway! In honor of La G-Dragon’s now infamous [Julz-coined] Marie Antoinette’s hair~~~

funky-hair

Goran Kudasai~ Dozo~~~

In English, Korean, Photographs, Screencaps, Sharing
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Fandom Crossover: Glee + Buffy

October 19, 2009 — Leave a comment

joss-whedon-is-my-master-now-tshirtNo, we ain’t gonna see vampires on Glee, fellows~

Entertainment Weekly reported, and has confirmed thanks to this Whedon comment that he will be directing an episode of our favorite new loser show Glee.

As you know, Fox has already ordered the complete first season (13 episodes, plus 9 more) – one of these new nine eps to be shot will have Whedon at the helm, after such classic musical extravaganzas like Once More with Feeling — the classic Buffy musical episode — and Dr. Horrible.

What the people are asking for?

Neil Patrick Harris!

Of course! I second that one!!!

For sure there’s a whole demand for all the cast of Dr. Horrible, and Buffy — After all, it IS the Whedonverse we are talking about here, but let’s not forget this is Glee! xD I’m sure there’s a lot of Whedon fans who are also Ryan Murphy’s fans (moi!), I;ll just be thrill for the episode. And I’ll spazz if NPH shows up.

PS: I also want Mary Cherry and Cherry Cherry for a cameo~

PS2: There’s Glee posters all over town here. I’m spazzing.

In English, Fun, Graphics, Sharing, Television , , , , , , , ,
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To Watch Until They’re 30 – Evan Rachel Wood

October 19, 2009 — 1 Comment

Only ONE spot missing! On the #4 spot is Evan Rachel Wood~~~

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Back in 2002 and 2003… and maybe half of 2004, I was the hugest Evan Rachel Wood fan on this side of the world. I mean, I used to watch every weekend Sony’s reruns of Once & Again, so when I moved to Canada and saw that I would be able to watch Thirteen at the cinemas, I was thrilled. I probably should still have my used ticket somewhere.

Anyway, after Thirteen came and went, Wood began to be cast oftentimes as the Lolita of the films she chose to make. They weren’t bad films, but her choice of roles seemed to be getting boring. Down in the Valley (with Edward Norton) wasn’t a bad film, but it was a pretty average role of the young girl that sleeps with the older guy and stuff happens. Then came Running with Scissors (directed by Ryan Murphy, and working alongside Annette Bening, Alec Baldwin and Gwyneth Paltrow) which wasn’t really a bad film either.

It wasn’t until King of California (with Michael Douglas) came out that I started to pay attention again. That was followed by The Life Before her Eyes (with Uma Thurman, directed by Vadim Perelman of House of Sand and Fog fame), and eventually ended up working as Lucy on the dramedy/musical Across the Universe. I’m pretty much sold right there and then~

Last year, she showed up on a bit of The Wrestler, so any Aronofsky film on anyone’s filmography is cool on my books, and then showed up on Woody Allen’s Whatever Works with a pretty hilarious southern accent. She is currently working as an over-sexed (most likely) vampire lady on the HBO True Blood with fellow actress Anna Paquin.

Next up for Wood, The Conspirator directed by Robert Redford with James McAvoy, Robin Wright Penn, Kevin Kline, Tom Wilkinson and Alexis Bledel. Worth to keep an eye on her ;P

In Celebrity, English, Films, Photoshoots, Sharing, Stills , , , ,
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