Category: Moving Media

  • Why I’m not an Avid Moviegoer

    I used to be a really good moviegoer when I was 17… 18 and 19~ Perhaps catch 1 or 2 films a week… if there was something indie, maybe 3 or 4 films at the cinema! That’s a lot of money. I don’t go to the movies too often, and I wonder why.

    1. Peru doesn’t cater to my taste in movies when I want to… where I want to. I would watch Inglorious Basterds, but it hasn’t open here yet. So considering… I would watch it only if it’s really good. Hopefully it will make it before it comes out on DVD in America xD

    2. It takes ages for some films to be released, so by the time they’re released I already bought them on DVD, have already watched them as downloads or have already lost interest.

    3. They never make it here. Hooray for cable! LOL But sometimes they don’t even make it there.

    4. Little to no independent films. It’s always the big studios… Can I re-suggest IndieScreenings? You can read some of my thoughts about it in this YAM issue.

    5. 98% of American films in the market. 0.01% of Asia. 1%Europe… 0.03% Canadian~~~ What gives? xD The rest can be whatever… co-productions, etc.

    6. I know it’s about the money-making, but how about opening a specialized cinema that shows new independent/foreign releases?

    7. Not cinema means I get to watch films when I have the time, not when they want me. I can watch any film at 2am even if theaters are closed. No need to queue or complain about the noisy couple behind you.

    Anyway… how do they choose the films to be distributed? And who chooses??? Maybe I should work for a distributor company or something. Maybe we should work with Indie Screenings for a test.

  • Art & Copy Trailer

    Here it is!
    Creativity can change the world!
    Weeee~

    Check out the Art & Copy website, apparently you can request a screening~

    Now if only the big boys will let us,
    instead of worrying how big their logo should be.

  • We Are Making You Pay for It Now~

    I loved Pixar’s UP. The first 15min. of the film is pure magic, so when I saw it on my Amazon recommended page, I was thrilled because I want to get it. But here’s the thing…

    **Edit**
    Since this post, they have announced a 2-disc DVD.

    There’s only the single-disc DVD, and the 4-disc Blu-ray (which comes with the blu-ray, plus digital copy, plus DVD and who knows what else…) – To be honest, the $+30 price tag on the Blu-ray makes me not want to get it. Even worse because I haven’t made the switch to the format yet…

    Then… the +$10 price tag on the single disc… which is ONE disc only, hardly any worthy extras. Compared that to the $20-something 3-disc DVD WALL-E version. And I’m not sold on UP. I’m sorry. If the price doesn’t go down below $15 for the single disc, I’m not buying it. I would’ve paid $20 for a two-disc DVD. What gives?

  • Miss Universe 2009

    To not lose custom… Miss Universe 2009 is on. Heidi Montag just lip-synched to one of her songs, and the Top15 has just been announced. Dean Cain (Superman), whatever you know about beauty contests?Same with the “real state agent” WTF – But woohoo! Valeria Mazza? xD But seriously… demotion on performers, judges and brand. tsk tsk.

    Unlike the “rumors” online saying that Latinas and Asian women were favorite, over 10 of the 15 were white or from Europe. I’m favoring South Africa on the go, though I’m realistic and think her political/etc/etc chances are slim… but South Africa is the place for the World Cup, so who knows~

    Miss USA always (at least it seems like that) makes it to Top5 even if they fall ass on floor while Night Gown Walking…

    Will update when they announce the Top10, and/or something funny happens like Miss USA falling again this year [like in 2007][and 2008] because three times a charm.

    —

    Hmm… I’m not sure if the Top10 has been announced, but Kelly Rowland’s song is so boring. What happened to her? I would’ve chosen her over Beyonce any day back in the day, but geez~ second rate much? Anyway, just heard they’re about to announce Top5 LOL, as well as Miss Congeniality (awww Sandra Bullock xD) and Miss Photogenic.

    Miss Congeniality~
    Miss China (okay…)

    Miss Photogenic
    Miss Thailand (should’ve been Top15)

    Top5
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  • McDull > Harry Potter?

    Oh no, I didn’t~~~

    Oh yes, I did. LOL

    The newest animated McDull film… McDull, Kung Fu Kindergarten (or McDull Wudang) seems to have made a bit of money since it’s release in mainland China and Hong Kong.

    McDull, Kung Fu Kindergarten

    In this new adventure, McDull visits mainland China for the very first time, and learns taichi. ^^ – it may all sound so simple, after all… McDull is a simple piggy. But don’t be mistaken, he’s a piggy with a big heart. For some of my thoughts on McDull, read my comments on the Alumni film which has loads of silly but with a heart~

    And don’t worry… McDull himself is a Harry Potter fan. LOL – And his mom wanted to write a book too! After all, if JK could do it as a single mom, then McDull’s mom can certainly do it!!! xD

  • When did this blog turn into…

    an Asian-centric place?

    I seem to complain a lot about the West lately. I dunno if you’ve noticed. I’ve noticed, and my parents have noticed. The four featured articles are Asian topics (kind of, since YAM005 has Yu LOL), I listen to a lot of music from Asia, watch a lot of films from Asia (though I’m also watching Mad Men Season 1 at the moment – actually on Ep08) – Everything seems Asia.

    What the heck.

    Have I opened my eyes to something I had never known before? Oh how I wish I had been so Asian when my grandfather was alive, maybe he would’ve been proud. I’m sure he’d be thrilled I’m all over Chinese music (I still got six albums to listen to xD), and maybe I’d be speaking Chinese by now instead of just fraking around.

    So when did this happen? Why did this happen?

    Is it because American music sucks? Is it because American celebrities suck? Is it because British music sounds the same? Is it because everyone on this side of the world looks and sounds the same? Or am I just tired of hearing how evil China is because that’s what they keep telling me on the papers and online news. Perhaps all the negative propaganda makes me like Asia even more.

    Or is it the Anti-American “ideas” of everything American sucks? Because that’s what people think, right? But I don’t think so, I don’t have a problem with the American people… maybe their music industry, and their movie industry… and their media… or how the media portrays anything. No, scratch all of that. I have a problem with people in general. People suck, and I’ve become very anti-social. I don’t like western media, because that’s what I get to read since it’s all I can understand. I would probably hate other reporters and writers in Asian language if I could properly read what they write. But as it stands, I hate the media I get to hear and read about. The so-called defenders of the truth and objective point of views. I have given up on objectivity on television, but they keep shoving it in my face.

    So yeah, it seems this blog (and YAM for that matter) is turning more and more towards an Asia focus because I’m getting more and more fed up with the West. For anyone else out there who find themselves only focus on Asian (or only Japanese, only Korean, only Chinese) Entertainment, why did it happen? How? When?

  • Iñárritu @ Tokyo Film Fest~

    Tokyo Film Festival 2009The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF, not to be confused with Toronto LOL) has just announced that Mexican director Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu (Amores Perros, Babel) will be presiding the 22nd edition of the festival to be held from  October 17 to October 25th this year.

    Also… like I’ve mentioned before, the Tokyo Film Fest, alongside the Shanghai Film Fest are quickly turning into the most important in the region.

    Anyway, as all things West media… when you search for the news, you get the articles talking about how dolphin documentary The Cove wasn’t allowed to open the festival. With titles such as “Will Tokyo Film Fest man up and show The Cove?” or “Hypocrisy, Thy Name Is Tokyo Film Festival.”

    That is why I was so disappointed that our film, after winning awards in the last 13 film festivals it had entered, was rejected by the Tokyo Film Festival, whose theme this year is green. Not that it is that much of a shocker, but the main goal for making the film was to shut down the cove in Taijii, Japan, where 2,300 dolphins are killed every year.

    Remember that time when Hayden Panettiere got in trouble in Japan for eh… I dunno, swimming with the dolphins?

    But you know, dolphins are cute this is why it deserves a documentary (and it will probably win an Oscar for it if the cuteness continues). Penguins are cute too, I admit it (and they also won an Oscar, LOL). But cows aren’t. This is why cows don’t get a documentary, and we all get to eat meat regardless of how they are slaughtered.

    I’m usually not a big fan of this one-side documentaries, because I’m pretty sure they won’t show how Taiji sees this as a way to sustain its town. And it will be all about saving the dolphins… and the people saving them. – I’m looking at you Panettiere. xD – I wonder if they give an alternative to sustain the town’s economy, as well as ranting about how people kill dolphins. You know, it’s fine to show the problem, but it’s not much use without a solution. So we stop hunting them, then what? How would they survive? Please, they’d better not suggest “Dolphin Watching” or I’ll shoot myself. As far as I’m concerned, we shouldn’t be allowed on “x-animal watching” ever and allow the disturbance in their habitat.

    Anyway, this has turned into a rant instead of reporting. LOL

    I love eating. I love meat, I can’t live without it. A meal without meat feels not done.

    One of the reasons I can’t be a Buddhist – I tried a Buddhist meal once in Hong Kong. So good, but gone so fast. Had to eat again 2hrs. later. Perhaps, I can suggest watching Departures? Things sometimes need to die for you to survive.

    Here’s The Cove website.

    Here’s a bit more on the Film Festival timeline~~~

    Also, when I was 17-ish… I used to sort of look up to PETA, now I just think they’re pretty annoying. Perhaps they should try to change the way they preach. It seems like they just lost something along the way. Like their sanity.

    Crap! Now I’m really in the mood for some Sirloin. T-T

  • Go Digital, Save Some Trees~

    Though, I must admit… some printed magazines are so pretty.
    xD – though a magazine like National Geographic should go completely green.
    but that’s just my opinion…

    Anyway, here comes an article saying that CBS will be running a video ad on the newest issue of the printed Entertainment Weekly. Say what? I must be confused!? Nope, nope~ it’s true, it will be a tiny 320x240px screen of 2mm of thickness, and you’ll be able to watch their Fall line-up.

    Hmm… okay. I’ll be honest with you. I hardly watch any television, that means I hardly watch any commercials on TV – Now, if I don’t watch commercials on TV, I don’t think I’ll watch them in a magazine. To be even more honest, all commercials I watch are on-line… maybe YouTube, or on one of my favorite motion graphic/design websites.

    I still support digital media!

    Like this Paperless Book by Piel.Skin – an architecture book with Google Map links included! LOL – Now, that’s useful, right? – Also check out this old article asking if we are ready for digital paper… obviously we aren’t.

    I remember seeing a prototype for a digital newspaper that used e-paper with simple motion (shaking the paper, folding it, etc) that would change the page/news section of your newspaper “virtually”. Can you imagine that? Sitting on your kitchen table one morning for breakfast, grab your blank e-paper. Shake it once. Headlines appear. Shake it once more, and it skips to the next section. Fold it and open it, to continue to next page. O.o Nifty.

  • Ueno Juri to Itsutsu no Kaban Promo!

    … or “Ueno Juri and the 5 Bags” – whatever your pick on names is~

    I think I’ll have to tag this different. O_o

    Juri Ueno and the 5 Bags - Title

    Anyway~~~ Trailers are out!
    Exciting! Funny Juri, Singing Juri!!
    Like I’ve said before, I love this WOWOW projects.
    Please WOWOW release Itsutsu no Kaban (plus One Million Yen Girl, and Camouflage) with English subs!

    You’ll appreciate it… at least mildly. LOL

    Promos after the break~
    (more…)

  • When you ask me to fangirl…

    I’ll fangirl, but I doubt Isabelle Huppert would appreciate that fangirling. In fact, when I fangirl – I don’t gush. I do the opposite. I will not bother you. It’s a very fine line for me from ignoring someone because I don’t really care, to try to ignore someone because I know they don’t want to be disturbed.

    Blame my mom for it. LOL

    Anyway, I got to see Isabelle Huppert pretty up close.

    The whole “people don’t shove your camera onto her face” thing didn’t work out here. Everyone was flashing her(with their cameras, not the other type of flashing… though that’d be hilarious),
    but I was at bay.

    So here is a photo-chronic LOL

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