Tag: japan

  • Is it Oscar Time yet? Foreign Submissions

    Look, I made a banner. LOL

    While reading my usual news, I found out that Kokuhaku (aka. Confessions) by Tetsuya Nakashima has been chosen by Japan as their submission for the upcoming Academy Awards. I haven’t even seen the film, but I really thought they would choose something like Norwegian Wood, which seems to be getting in all the major festivals, while Kokuhaku… has been, well… doing well in Japanese Box Office. So it’s a surprise.

    These are the other films sent for consideration:

    • Austria – La Pivellina
    • Hungary – Bibliothèque Pascal [Variety]
    • Iraq – Son of Babylon
    • Netherlands – Tirza
    • Peru – Undertow [review]
    • Poland – All that I Love/Everything I Love [Poland]
    • Romania – If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle [The Hollywood Reporter]
    • South Korea – A Barefoot Dream
    • Sweden – Simple Simon [The Hollywood Reporter]
    • Taiwan – Monga
    • Venezuela – Hermano

    Any more? xD

    Germany has a shortlist that include 3 Nazi-related dramas. Their pick will be announced in about 10 days.

  • iPad Menus and iPad Orchestra!

    More uses for the iPad! LOL

    First, iPads as menus at Izakaya restaurants… because people can’t turn pages any longer. I guess it helps with paper consumption… This has actually already been discussed with regular touch-screens on tables. I guess iPads are more affordable than big touch-screens.

    [iframe width=”560″ height=”349″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/1eUyNh4g0qc?rel=0″]

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  • 10 LGBT Films You May Not Have Heard Much About

    Sharing this on the YAM 2011 LGBT Blogathon~

    —

    I love complicated post titles.

    AfterElton has just begun their voting for their 2010 poll of 50 Greatest Gay Movies. Plus, in honor of the first week run of Contracorriente (Undertow) on Peruvian cinemas, I’ve made a list of 10 LGBT related films that not many people may have heard about or seen… so these films need your voting. *cough*

    And since AfterEllen is dropping the ball on this one — I was pretty sure they were doing polls on Lesbian movies, but oh well~

    I am mixing it all up. Because I’m like that.

    Look, I love Brokeback Mountain, I love Milk, and I certainly LOVED A Single Man last year. Some of my favorites are Were the World Mine, Show Me Love, Imagine Me & You, and I liked Love Songs as much as — or maybe even more — than you did, but this is about not so popular LGBT flare. There’s also a lot of foreign films because they certainly don’t get major distribution – so thank you, Internet.

    Also, don’t forget to vote for Undertow! xD

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  • Cute Overload: Yu Aoi for Blush CM for Calbee Chips *updated*

    The CM was taped using a high speed camera and only used 2 seconds of it to produce the whole CM. The CM shows Aoi Yu eating the chips with her mouth opened wide and gnawing it in very slow motion.

    “I feel a little embarrassed,” said Aoi Yu with a smile. She also said that she loved Calbee’s Pizza flavoured potato chips and has been eating it as a child.

    via Japan Now.

    Well, that is embarrassing, to be honest. Imagine someone taking a photo of you as you close your eyes to chew on your food — I’ve done that, to my mom buahahahaha — now imagine someone shooting you on high-speed camera for just 2 seconds to probably make a 15sec commercial. Embarrassing! xD

    – updated Aug 31st –

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  • AI – Sleepless City (Nemurenai Machi)

    The video felt a little bit like Paranormal Activity to me, but oh well. It’s always nice to listen to AI’s soulful voice, to be honest. She doesn’t seem to have change a bit since her Story days. xD

    https://youtu.be/9g3gbvIth2M

    or check her for the Universal Japan version.

    I like it when she says “Just call me, just call me. Oshiette ite. Or something like that xD

  • Big Bang – Beautiful Hangover

    I still think Big Bang should stop singing in Japanese, but their funny pronunciation didn’t bother me as much this time around. The video is alright — with all those circles on the wall — and there was a bit too much autotune on Seungri, Taeyang and G-Dragon’s voices (big surprise!). It’s a pity even Daesung has to use it, when he has a perfectly fine voice. But dude, that hair split in the middles has got to go!

    TOP, baby, you’re alright. LOL I’m not even sure if you did your rap in English, Korean or Japanese. I don’t think I care, you sounded and looked good on the video. LOL

    G – I want your glass-less glasses.

  • RIP Satoshi Kon

    Another great one has gone.

    Animated film director Satoshi Kon passed away from a heart attack. His animated gems included Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers and Paprika. That alone with the news of Studio Ghibli wanting to close down doors, is just right down depressing.

    via Fearnet.com

  • Women in Boy Style

    Hi, AfterEllen has a post on women in Boy Style. Ahhh Boy Style [1],  I gotta admit dude… wearing slacks and shirts, it’s just so much more comfy than having to wear some dress with high heels.

    And yes, Christina Hendricks is pretty awesome.

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  • Currently Watching – Aug2010 Edition

    This is what I’m currently watching… on the air. Nothing to do with keeping up with any programs, though I should really find some time to watch Lost, True Blood, and still need to catch up on Mad Men S3. But alas, my Dead Like Me box-set just arrived – I didn’t know it came with the tv movie xD – so I guess I will be watching that the whole month.

    – The Big C – for Laura Linney… and I love anything Showtime, most the times.

    Didn’t love the pilot, the commercial I posted had pretty much all the funny parts… but I liked the interactions. My favorite line was that one with Gabby Sidibe. About being skinny and a bitch, or fat and jolly. Coz it’s so true. LOL

    About:
    Laura Linney plays a woman diagnosed with… what appears to be final stages of some cancer. She is considered boring by her son and husband, but wants to be the one staining her sofa with juice/wine. She also wants to eat onions, LOL Plus, her brother needs to take a shower. xD

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  • CinemaCafe Yu Aoi Interview

    CinemaCafe has an interview [jp] with Yu Aoi about Otouto — recently released on DVD and Blu-Ray. If someone could give a proper translation of it, that would rock. In the meantime… some of what I think are interesting bits.

    Title of the piece is Kotoba ni Dekinai “Kankaku” ga Kanojyo o Tsukiugokasu, which seems to be something like “It isn’t the words, it’s the emotions that motivates her”.

    First sub-title, Ii Deai no Renki ni Megumaremashita, which is something like “Blessed with good encounters,” referring to the people she worked with in Otouto [Yoji Yamada, Sayuri Yoshinaga, Tsurube Shofukutei, Ryo Kase], plus I see mentions of Kyoko Koizumi [from Gakuya].

    GAH! I really can’t translate more, but the following paragraphs seem interesting. Like the last one about balancing work and free time. My head hurts.

    Here’s some more Yu photos =D Like the intro said something about her gentle smile.

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