Archives For DVD/BR

Salyu – Maiden Voyage – Merkmal Live @ Nippon Budonkan 2009

March 26, 2010 — 14 Comments

HMV JP takes top marks on shipping.
It only took 2 days! TWO days for my order to arrive~~~

It took Salyu 3 years to release her 3rd studio album, but it’s not like we were deprived of new music. In fact, Maiden Voyage contains many of the singles that Salyu had release these past years [6, if I count correctly]. You could say this could be a compilation of sorts, but it surprisingly works nicely as an album.

The album art gives you the visuals of flying… almost in a dream-like fashion — I mean, Salyu IS floating on a mattress and/or pillows, right? These visuals work really well with the overall themes and overall energy of the songs (yes, I actually grabbed the song book and followed the bouncing ball).

It also looks like Salyu is experimenting with her own music by finally stepping onto the writers chair, and even working on the music herself. Of course, she’s not doing it alone but with the help of Takeshi Kobayashi who has been there since the days of Lily Chou Chou. The collaborations between Kobayashi and Salyu are what we have come to get used to as far as Salyu’s sound is.

Interestingly enough, Salyu’s song (written and composed as least with the help of Tatsuya Kokufu) L.A.F.S (which stands for Love at First Sight) reminded me a little bit of what Salyu used to sound as Lily. Somewhat off-beat melodies, with really simple lyrics, but really moody.

Overall, the album really flows well and feels like a whole, except maybe for the oddball BIRTHDAY, which threw me off… in a really good way. The song, written by Salyu and composed again by Kokufu, sounded like Shiina Ringo and Bjork had a lovechild, if that were EVER possible.

I’ve taken to Salyu’s music because it’s soothing, as well as quite slow and easier to follow with a songbook. Salyu is really quite good to practice your reading and pronunciation. However on BIRTHDAY, she slurs her words and sounds completely different. I’m looking forward to more of that sound in the future. Hopefully.

As for the concert DVD. Well, it’s totally worth the price you pay for this limited edition with DVD ~

Screencap galore after the break~

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In Concerts, DVD/BR, English, Japanese, Music, Reviews, Screencaps, Sharing , , , , , ,
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Dear Viz Media: I Love You, but…

March 15, 2010 — Leave a comment

You guys really REALLY need to work on what you call “Special Features”. It’s been a long time coming, but the review I sent to Amazon.com of Linda Linda Linda never showed up, even though I was reviewing the material in the DVD and even making suggestions… so it was a valid write-up.

Last time I bought something in Amazon.com, my order included a copy for the Viz Media release for Tetsuya Nakashima’s Kamikaze Girls (Shimotsuma Monogatari) and Linda Linda Linda by Nobuhiro Yamashita.

Where to start?

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In DVD/BR, English, Films, Japanese, Rants, Reviews, Sharing , , , ,
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Just started this.

My Fake Criterion Collection

Posted on March 14, 2010 In DVD/BR, English, Films, Fun, Graphics, Japanese, Sharing , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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YAM008 for the Metal Tiger~

February 14, 2010 — 5 Comments

Happy Chinese New Year!

Yes, it’s your favorite movie to hate. LOL

We’ve got a very cool issue this month, but I’m not gonna ramble what’s in it.
Just head over here to download it and read it.

In Chinese, Comics, DVD/BR, English, Films, French, Korean, Music, Reviews, Sharing, Television , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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January Films and Mid. Feb~

February 9, 2010 — 2 Comments

I’m still trying to watch The Last Station, Crazy Heart and A Single Man just so I can get done with voting for the Indie Spirit Awards, so crossing fingers that I get to watch those before the deadline…

It feels like I saw a lot of stuff these days, but the quantity might not be as much because I also saw a lot of TV shows, which would explain why I feel like I’ve seen a lot…

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In DVD/BR, English, French, Fun, Japanese, Misc., Reviews, Sharing, Television, Torrents & Digital Streams, Watched
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Satellites Always Get Forgotten

February 6, 2010 — Leave a comment

These were announced on December, LOL
And I didn’t even post on 2008 xD

But the Satellite Awards were out, sadly Toni Collete lost Best Actress Comedy in favor of Lea Michelle on Glee. And Toni lost her SAG nod… that means I got 2/4. Damn.

Anyway, I dunno how popular the Satellite is, but they do have some wacky choices.

First of all, there was no Avatar. Praise Geezus. LOL

These are the Top10 2009 Films according to them:

  • (500) Days of Summer
  • A Serious Man
  • An Education
  • Bright Star
  • Inglourious Basterds
  • Nine
  • Precious
  • The Hurt Locker
  • The Stoning of Soraya M.
  • Up in the Air

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In Chinese, DVD/BR, English, Films, Sharing, Television , , , , , ,
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I’m a Good Downloader

Fight illegal downloads, and be cool!

via Wildgrounds.

Yes, yet another downloads, distribution and torrents post. Why? Because it is important to discuss this issue as many many cases of people who download are brought to court.

It is important to point out the different types of uploaders/downloaders. First, the uploaders — there are those who upload to share and spread their interest so they find someone they can share a common interest with. Someone to talk to about this piece. However, they are often confused with the people who upload to get hits and possibly ad revenue… meaning, making a profit.

This is why so many fansubbing groups are against streaming, many streamers (unless they are authorized) upload videos that don’t belong to them (they don’t even sub stuff themselves!), since streaming is easier than download they get more hits and become more popular from other people’s work.

Continue Reading…

Posted on February 5, 2010 In Celebrity, Chinese, Commercials, DVD/BR, English, Films, French, Japanese, Korean, Music, Rants, Sharing, Spanish, Swedish, Television, Torrents & Digital Streams , , , , ,
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Two days ago I received my last batch of Spirit Awards screeners… which I’m almost done watching because my internet connection has been failing, so I took that time to watch some of those films, and catch up on my reading~

Anyway, I’m used to receiving screeners on white paper disc cases. They’re economic, and just easier to get and use… they don’t take extra space, and they’re easy to mail.

Obviously, a big company like Lionsgate can take it to the next level, and send their own (simple, but kinda pretty) screener for Precious. It’s all white, with the company’s name, film’s name and a “Consider This” title glossy embossed finish. Plus, they list all the categories they would like to be considered for.

The only problem I found with the Precious screener is that it doesn’t play on my bedroom’s DVD player. It does play in my computer, and in my older DVD player. I have no idea why. Over the nearly 300 DVDs I own, only 4 or 5 don’t play on my player.

The other 5 DVD screeners are for Amreeka, Anvil: The Story of Anvil, The Messenger, The Vicious Kind, and Easier with Practice — all which came on paper cases. The latter two are the only ones that list their Spirit Awards nominations, so we can actually keep an eye for them when we watch them.

In the end, how important are screeners packaging for a film? After all, isn’t it supposed to be all about the film? Yes, it should be about the film, its characters, and its story. However, it would be nice to know what we should be looking out for… be it with some small text on the DVD, or an extra paper insert, or an extra DVD screen menu with the info. It doesn’t have to be as fancy as the Lionsgate.

Indie Spirit Screeners Short Takes

Posted on January 29, 2010 In DVD/BR, English, Films, Jobs, Reviews , , , , ,
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UPular by Pogo

If you liked Up… or if you didn’t, this track/MV mixed by YouTube user Pogo is still awesome. Mixed from the chords, bass notes and vocal samples of the film, only for our enjoyment!

check out Pogo’s Alohomora. Makes me want to pop my Harry Potter DVDs. LOL

Posted on January 26, 2010 In DVD/BR, English, Films, Fun, Music, Music Videos, Sharing , ,
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quick me updates~ NY, I Love Ya (not) and other dvds

January 25, 2010 — 1 Comment

Let’s see… just saw New York, I Love You.
as far as my expectations, I was disappointed… I did like two of the shorts. I was entertained by Brett Ratner’s segment (Olivia Thirlby and Anton Yelchin), but my favorite has to be Joshua Marston’s segment with Cloris Leachman.

Natalie Portman’s segment was okay… but her acting segment was kind of weak — plus, the bald cap she used (coz that was a bald cap, right?) bothered me a little because we know how her shaved head looks like.

Because I wanted to see something new by Shunji Iwai, I had high expectations and was let down. Nothing really wrong with it. Christina Ricci is okay, and I guess Orlando Bloom is okay… but did it have to be him?

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I also got my screener for Precious, which I have seen already… but it’s nice to get to watch it on my DVD player. I’m getting ready to vote for Independet Spirit Awards ^^ Second time around!

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Amazon hasn’t published my DVD Review of Linda Linda… why is that? It was a perfectly fine constructive critic that would have made Linda Linda a better release. If they don’t publish it this week, I will publish it here.

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I’m almost done re-watching Pushing Daisies…
These are my last DVD buys:

  • Pushing Daisies Season 1
  • Pushing Daisies Season 2
  • The Animatrix
  • Linda Linda Linda
  • Kamikaze Girls
In DVD/BR, English, Films, Japanese, Rants, Reviews, Sharing , , , , , , , , ,
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