It doesn’t matter how many people perceived Kidman’s films to be bad, I’ll still watch any of them- I mean, not for nothing she placed #2 in my list of favorite actresses. She and Doona Bae keep crossing paths in my fandom life~
So, Nic is back in London and back on stage. People who get to go to London to actually watch her perform live are mad excited… for the rest of us, we’re just damn jealous.
The Guardian also has a lovely 3min. clip where Nicole talks about who Rosalind Franklin was, the relevance of the story, the female voice, and “the sell” culture.
The Independent also has an interview with director Michael Grandage, who talks about the story, why it attracted Kidman, and attracting a younger audience.
I’m maybe one of two (or three) people that actually liked Ghaath. Actually, scratch that- IMDb is showing me that, at least, 20 people have voted this movie over 6. So there you go, we’re about 20 people. But maybe I have a strong bias, the film has a political moralistic theme of the late-90s early 00s era but avoids the masala shenanigans for the most part, it also has Anu Malik music — with two great songs that I enjoy — and the chemistry between Tabu and Manoj Bajpayee, who are also getting back together this year (after Salman in Jai Ho, Ajay in the upcoming Drishyam).
When a titillating item song comes on screen, I’m usually the one rolling my eyes at some of the embarrassment… and the Telugu film industry has usually taken the cake when it comes to silly sexism. Not even Tabu can escape it (her number in Pandurangadu gets the crown with that orange juice moment). However, I do remember the first time that I ever gasped seeing a Bollywood movie because *gasp* They kissed! It was the Chup Chup Ke [clip] number in Bunty Aur Babli. It was before I realized I did enjoyed seeing Abhishek and Rani together [1], but they were always married on film!
In the number for Teri Aashiqui Meri Zindagi, Tabu’s character is never married to Manoj’s, they fairly recently met at their family/friend’s wedding and had their moment in Hum Bhi Samajh Rahe Hain [clip] — there sure is a lot of rain and white-wearing caressing and singing, but it’s just playful boy-meets-girl girl-meets-boy, a lot of face-touching… but never EVER an engagement or wedding, yet… yet… there’s this 20-second love-making behind a torn down hellenistic column that results in a baby. LOL
There’s all sort of face and neck action foreplay (I’m like “Omo, omomomomomo I swear she’s licking that neck“) before the hellenistic column action, as well as the obvious after scene.
Of course there was a baby. There’s never a sex scene in these movies that doesn’t end with these consequences… it happens here in Ghaath, as it happens in Raiou.
I think… in contrast to last year, I might be liking Dum Laga Ke Haisha much better than movies like 2 States or Queen. It’s modern like those two dealing with issues, it’s got as strong acting (though Queen had the disadvantage of foreign acting, which always tends to be the weakest link anywhere in the world), but it’s much fresher in style with its honest 90s Bollywood throwback. And thank you gods that there was no bumping electro-dance disco song.
It’ll need to simmer, but it looks good for YRF at the moment.
Mavis Fan’s fans (no pun intended) rejoice! She’s got three songs out this year, making a comeback since 2009 with Immediately (當下, Dang Xia). Obviously, the East doesn’t give a flying fish about End of the Year lists or the Holiday season, that’s why they keep releasing stuff- business like usual. xD
Sorry, US-based users. I was only able to find the songs on Xiami. I know, geoblocks suck. But, as far as I know, the songs aren’t available anywhere else -even on iTunes TW- because it seems like a Xiami exclusive release.
Crowd Lu’s back! Two years after his military service with Natural Is Best (天然的最好, Tian Ran de Zui Hao) as a Happy Chinese typical Crowd Lu type of music to say goodbye to 2014 and welcome 2015. It’s a digital single (so I suppose there’s no album… yet), but there was supposed to be a concert in Yangming Shan (陽明山).
Actually, Crowd had released Becoming a Man (大人中) [clip] back in March, which you can get on iTunes.
Last time it took me 2 years to get my 2012-2013 list out. LOL This year, I’m early. I’m pretty happy with my picks at the moment, so I hope nothing mind-blowing pops up in these last remaining weeks of 2014. In the meantime~ you know where to go.
According to the site formerly known as Nippon Cinema, Eigapedia, Shunji Iwai is working on an animated prequel of Hana & Alice, because- WHY NOT? It’s always good to have Yu Aoi back together with Iwai, despite the lack of Noboru Shinoda and Iwai’s uncertain background in animation. xD But I have a weakness for Yu Aoi voice-over acting. Both Aoi and Anne Suzuki were back in their respective roles, and apparently are done with their recording, telling us the story of how their friendship became what it was.
The production teased already with brief stills of the movie, and rough vignettes of the animated frames. The movie is set to open some time in February next year.
User Plano Piloto has translated the audio and on-screen text:
Hana: By the way, what’s your name? Alice: Arisugawa Tetsuko [Alice, the most powerful transfer student in history.] Hana: I am- Alice: Arai Hana-san. [Hana, the most powerful hikikomori in history.] Hana: Why do you ask knowing it? Alice: Eh? You asked my name, you hikikomori. [The world’s smallest murder case happened when the two met.] Hana: I don’t enjoy being one.
[The first animated feature film by Shunji Iwai.]
Alice: A murder case? Hana: Want to know what happened? [Voice Actors / Yu Aoi as Alice / Anne Suzuki as Hana] Alice: Well… I’m not sure.
