Category: Sharing

  • Yu Aoi Film Discussion – Mushishi – Bugmaster

    Now, let’s see… I wrote this review a long while ago. So long ago that I ended up watching the anime series xP

    I’ve re-checked this review to try and have a balance between someone who didn’t know anything about Mushishi, and someone who saw the anime, and I think this review serves its purpose. Many of the things I felt weren’t properly built up, are in fact because the anime is very episode-based, and not much of a series… which I liked by the way. The anime is really REALLY great, so if you’re thinking of watching it after (or before) the film, go watch it.

    Anyway… here we go~~

    Something about the film:
    (from Wikipedia)
    This is a 2006 Live Action adaptation of the Manga series by Yuki Urushibara, featuring ubiquitous creatures called Mushi, which most humans are incapable of perceiving. However, there are few who possess the ability to see and interact with them, one of them is Ginko who refers to himself as a Mushishi (or Bugmaster), traveling from place to place to research Mushi and help people suffering from problems caused by them.

    The film corresponds to chapters 2, 7, 9 and 15 of the Manga.

    Genre: Fantasy
    Starring: Joe Odagiri, Nao Omori, Makiko Esumi, Yu Aoi
    Duration: +2hrs

    You know the drill. Spoilers ahead, you’ve been warned.

    (more…)

  • Yu Aoi – Club Keiba Quiz CM

    *snorts*

    I found this… thought it was cute though I can’t really get the questions… O.o

    I really need someone to translate… LOL’

    — June 30 2009 —
    I hard-subbed this with kitty’s translation (which is below the break) alongside a link to the original YouTube video. Hope you like it =D

    — June 18 2009 EDIT —

    (more…)

  • Stay Away from eshopex.com

    … unless you’re buying something spectacular that can’t get shipped to Peru.

    I did a test of eshopex.com after BBVA Banco Continental sent some promo, so I signed up. The promo had the amazon.com, from where I get much of my stuff from so I thought I could do the test with my next amazon.com shopping.

    To avoid any swearing, this has been the experience…

    1. bought on amazon.com (two-day shipping)
    2. 4 days had passed, no message from eshopex.com
    3. check website.
    4. order is there… why didn’t I get an email notification?
    5. order is there, but don’t know how to continue.
    6. customer service question, and complaint
    7. no response from customer service
    8. email notification my order is on-hold because credit card (still valid) is not going through. 2 days after it’s been sitting there…
    9. follow email instructions of  “change credit card” and “send email” – email has no custom info, how would they know it’s me? and what order?
    10. email from them saying they’re on time, and that package is being sent.

    Now, let me tell you… I’m not complaining about their timing. I’m complaining about their system… a system with

    1. no notifications when something arrives to your inbox.
    2. no response from customer service.
    3. no emails saying “we’ve received your message”.

    Comparing this Amazon.com order, with previous~~ I can tell eshopex.com is way more expensive than Amazon. Shipping per item cost has increased 100%… so eshopex is NOT worth the trouble. Unless you’re buying electronics, clothing online? etc etc that can’t get ship to Peru. CDs, DVDs, Books,  and probably all other websites selling and shipping international should be used.

    Also, horrible SECURITY FLAW. Once you’re logged on, and surf out of your account page, you are able to hit “back” on your browser and continue working on your account. The site is impossible to navigate without losing your “log out” or “account” buttons.

    4 1/2 Thumbs DOWN. The half-star comes from time… which they say it’s 2 days.

  • Coupling (UK) – Shows You Should’ve Watched

    Coupling (uk)Though it wasn’t overly lasting, Coupling (the UK version, not its abominable US remake… ugh much?) should be included into anyone’s list of  “I should have watched this”. This is the case for me, I don’t get BBC comedies on my cable system (only the news, and they recently began showing BBC Entertainment), so the first time I saw this was on Eurochannel a few years back. In fact, they were already showing the final season… even then, I fell in love with the show.

    I think of myself as a bit of a mix between Susan, Sally and Steve. LOL’ But all characters were equally hilarious in their own way… and unlike FRIENDS, I never ended finding a character annoying. Perhaps, it’s because it only lasted 4 seasons, so I never got around to growing to hate them… okay, maybe I hated Oliver – but that’s because he is too much of Joey, and I ended up hating Joey.

    Steve (Jack Davenport) is hilarious… and man! His voice!! His voice and the monologues… like the one for “Lesbian Spank Inferno” LOL’ Jeff is also hilarious with his explanations, theories, women-related situations and many words on “breasts”.

    And more than Richard, I love Richard and Sally’s interactions, because well… Sally is gold. LOL’ “I finally understand why you called him ‘donkey’.” And totally missing the point. I think that my favorite episodes of the show, revolves around these two~~ with episodes like the one and the Spiderman theme, and the one where Sally ends up singing “Susan the Happy Trotting Elf” – *snorts*

    Then there’s Jane who is hilariously just out there… where? You know… there~~~ with the talking snakes, or improvising the traffic report… showing up naked to a dinner, or saying she’s a vegetarian that eats meat… you know, almost like a bisexual. x’D

    And Susan! I love uptight Susan, and I love it when she says “apparently”, and her French accent. LOL’ “Giselle, the French bitch” xD and her history with Australian men~~~

  • The Big Read – Because Everyone Deserves to Learn How to Read~~

    The Big Read - 2009

    Nelson Mandela, Queen Rania, Paulo Coelho, Luis Jaime Cisneros V. have come together with others around the world like Natalie Portman, and Dakota Blue Richards (The Golden Compass) on this global project for education.

    You can head over here to read some of the stories (in English, Francais, y Español~~ some even in Arabic… but why not in Chinese, Japanese and Korean? I could do some Japanese easy to read stuff~~), and add your name to the list~

  • Yu Aoi – Portugirl by Yoko Takahashi – Kodansha

    Yu with braces!!!

    Ok… moving on~~ Portugirl is in my hands!! Or actually, on my desk now, otherwise I wouldn’t be typing. HMV Japan is pretty good~ even though they delayed my order, they sent it 5 days ago and it’s here already! And considering I don’t get Free Shipping with YesAsia anymore… also noticed? Prices are higher in YesAsia now, for example Portugirl would have cost $20ish bucks more with them. Should you be doing YesAsia now?

    Anyway! Here it is!!!

    Yu Aoi - Portugirl

    Proper fan-ish review, after the break~~~ For a ‘pro’ review, you’ll have to wait. LOL

    (more…)

  • 10 Years of 10 Things I Hate about You

    10 Things I Hate About You PosterToday I was re-watching BBC’s Shakespeare: The Animated Tales… particularly Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew. Despite it’s misogynistic theme, it reminded me of the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate about You~~

    How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.

    Some time in 2003, on one of the many Writing classes I had, we got to ‘study’ the script for this film, which I had seen back when I was 13 or 14. I’m almost sure that I saw this film at the theaters… oh the times! And oh how innocent were teen comedies back then~~~

    Anyway, back to the topic~ my teacher pointed out that the film was a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Shrew~ Back then I thought, WOW! That’s so cool. LOL, she also mentioned at how much the script sold, and I was most impressed. Hahahaha~~

    For those not so familiar with the film, or the Shakespeare story… here are some of the references:

    • Kat (as in Katarina) and Bianca are sisters. Bianca can’t date (or marry, in the case of the Shakespearean tale), before Katarina does.
    • Patrick Verona is the contemporary version of Petruchio of Verona.
    • Padua, the city, becomes Padua High School.

    You can check more references here.

    It’s so hard to imagine that the film is already 10 years old!! – Turned 10 about 20 days ago on March 31st – and that this film was the American debut of Heath Ledger (RIP) who’s got a remarkable career with great films… awards *sighs(, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a broad array of films as well more on the indie flare – and whatever happened to Andrew Keegan? I’m pretty sure he used to date LeAnn Rimes, whom we all know what’s going on with her~~

    Julia Stiles had a breakthrough with this role, and had a bunch of films out during those years, but eventually just settled for lesser roles. I did enjoy seeing her on The Bourne Trilogy~~ and Larisa Oleynik~~ I read she was seen on Without a Trace, but I don’t watch the show so can’t tell. I should go on the hunt for a few Oleynik flicks. Gabrielle Union is doing a big better on the more “commercial” work, as I’ve seen a few projects with her. Not really MY type of films, but she’s been active.

    I wonder if someone would be interested in a “collector’s edition” of this film. Would like to see them together…

    How do you feel this film is aging? I think it’s okay… I had a laugh watching it this afternoon. I was surprised how innocent it is compared to teen films now. I don’t know if I can call this the best teen romcom of the 90’s (or the last 20 years?), but perhaps… I could do a bit more research.

  • Record Store Day…

    was today~~~


    recordstoreday.com

    Damn. I must admit I haven’t stepped on a record store since… since… maybe perhaps 2006? I do most my shopping online now, mainly because Peru overprices too much, and takes to long to get stuff. For example, I wanted to buy the Surrounded Bjork collection, and the store here decided to split the collection per album and wanted around $30USD per album because they were all dual discs – so considering it had 7 discs at $30 each… they wanted me to pay $210 bucks instead of the $130 price tag it has on Amazon. And it’s not only the music… I have the same issue with books and dvds.

    Also… there weren’t any events in Peru anyway. There were, however, events in Canada, Sweden, Japan, and even Hong Kong. And I am still looking for the Asian-version of Pitchfork… any suggestions??

  • Shiina Ringo and Superficial Gossip!!

    Shiina Ringo’s new music!!!

    One thing for sure… HMV.co.jp Newsletter Updates > YesAsia Updates.

    I just got the email from HMV listing Shiina Ringo’s new upcoming album. Sanmon GOSHIPPU, which translates to ‘cheap gossip’ or as CD Japan puts it “Superficial Gossip”. This is Ringo’s new material since she began collaborating with other musicians, and performing with Tokyo Jihen. Last year, she released a bunch of compilations commemorating her ten years in the music entertainment business…

    The album includes 14 tracks, but apparently the first single is not there which is called Ariamaru Tomi (Superfluous Fortune) [HMV Japan], main theme of the Jdrama Smile, and will be released on May 27th.

    The album is set to be released on June 24th.
    [HMV.co.jp][Amazon.co.jp][CD Japan]

  • One day like today five years ago…

    I bought my own server and domain, and opened by first ‘proper’ blog. sighs~

    And damn it! I lost that domain because the stupid company I was using, didn’t automatically renewed my account, and they never sent me an email notification. Dumbasses!!!

    So I spent 1 month without knowing why my domain wasn’t working, and when they finally confirmed my thoughts it was too late~~~ someone had taken my domain and was trying to sell it to me at a higher price. Assholes!

    April 18th is siutou-amy.com remembrance day~~~ LOL

    siutou-amy.com website - April 18th 2004

    Emo-est website ever? True. But that site had pretty nifty content like faux-interviews~~~ I should do those again! LOL’ Had some phunny lists like “You know you’re Peruvian when…” or “I hate it when…” – there was music, a lot of fanart icons and wallpapers, and my favorite of all~~ there was a movie faux-database. It was actually all .html and nothing fancy, but I did take the time back then to write as many reviews as films I got to watch each week. Sometimes once or twice a week, sometimes I wrote more than four reviews~~

    Now I watch and listen to too much stuff to write individually… sighs.

    too the long-gone siutou-amy.com!!! *raises glass* Cheers!