Archives For musings

Why I’m not an Avid Moviegoer

August 25, 2009 — Leave a comment

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.

In DVD/BR, English, Films, Rants, Torrents & Digital Streams , , , ,
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When did this blog turn into…

August 21, 2009 — 12 Comments

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?

In Chinese, English, Films, Japanese, Korean, Music, Rants, Spanish, Television , , ,
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A post on Film Festivals

August 14, 2009 — 1 Comment

I normally don’t post much about Film Festivals, mainly because I don’t get to see many of the films during festivals. However, I thought that I should talk about the Toronto International Film Festival, which seems like a big industry thing. I decided to do this mainly because over at theauteurs.com they’ve recently updated their menu bar options with a “festival” section, and the TIFF section (at least for this year’s edition) seems pretty complete with almost 150 film links.

Cannes presence in the site isn’t bad either. Or the San Francisco International Film Festival…

Here goes~

Starting with the Venice Film Festival on September 2nd until September 12th.

TIFF starting on September 10th until September 19th.

and the San Sebastian International Film Festival (Spanish) on September 17th until September 26th.

That’s some pretty heavy Film Festival posting month. Add to that the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) that starts on October 1st until October 16th – but the line-up will be announced on September 12th.

—

The Lima Film Festival closes tomorrow (Saturday 15th).

In English, Films, Sharing, Spanish , , ,
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Sexy Schoolgirls~

August 12, 2009 — 1 Comment

Oh, you love them. I know you do. LOL

It didn’t start with Britney, but I’m gonna pick on her just because I don’t want to search and post common photos of Denise Richards back in her Wild Things days. LOL

Britney Spears - Baby One More Time

There’s an article, by a dude that talks about this… again. Is it misogynistic? Regular fantasy? Wrong, right? Where do you draw the line? Continue Reading…

In Books, English, Films, Posters/Artwork, Rants, Screencaps , , , , , ,
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So what’s up?

July 19, 2009 — Leave a comment

xD

I don’t normally go out on Sunday, but I went to the ballet performance of Sleeping Beauty. Meh, I don’t think I’m a ballet person… though it was kinda funny. xD – Many of the dancers had familiar faces xD

Sleeping Beauty… I mean, Aurora was the tinier version of Elizabeth Berkley. then the main fairy was a taller version of Amy Adams xD Then the kitty cat (don’t ask) reminded me of Mena Suvari LOL – let’s see what else… the prince was a whiter version of Ichabod Crane (the Disney version, LOL), and one of the random dancers looked like a guy that works at the family’s restaurant… only skinnier and way younger. Ha!

Then wanted to go for sandwiches, but place was closed so ended up at a restaurant/bistro and had sirloin (? Is that Lomo? Loin? Fillet steak?) with Fungi and Gnocchi~ – Iced tea was crap though. LOL’

Then I’ve been checking my computer for virus (none!) – but I’m too lazy for backups. Ugh! Backups!! I should buy extra harddisk space instead… I asked a few weeks back about a terabyte storage system, but they said they were out. (?) – right. In the meantime, I’m filling it up even more with two Bibi (zhou bichang) films xD. Saw some clips of one of them, and almost died myself laughing. Will tell you how they were…

I also saw Public Enemies. Watch it! Now! Marion and Johnny!?! *swoon!*

In Chinese, English, Films, Fun, Rants, Sharing, Spanish , , , ,
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Me in Numerology~

June 16, 2009 — 2 Comments

Someone I know did one of those silly FB test application things on numerology, which made me revisit mine. As you probably know, I did a bit of numerology back in my fandom years – which was pretty accurate, if I may say so~

Anyway, here is mine as a quick result ;)
with links after the break, so you can quickie check yours too~

Continue Reading…

In English, Fun, Jobs, Sharing , ,
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Another Random Post

May 25, 2009 — 3 Comments

… because I’ve got nothing good to write, and there’s only two hours left today. Hmm… I should have posted that Yu bio past midnight. LOL’ Actually, I found a rather interesting blog post, from one of the referral links to this blog. I wanna expand on that, but I must read a Manifesto… which seems rather long~~~

I’ll give you a clue. What is Gutai? I don’t frakin’ know… haha – so I’m reading about it. I might post about what I learn later in the day… or depending how much info I can gather~ it will be throughout the week. And yes, that has to do with Yu. One of the most non-fan-fan opinions of Yu I’ve ever found.

Also, there’s only 2 weeks and a few days for the next issue of YAM. Haven’t started fully working on that one yet. Do you have any content regarding Films, Music, TV and/or Books? Leave a message on this post, and I’ll e-mail you back.

Cheers~~~ going back to reading!

In English, Jobs, Sharing , ,
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The Global Culture of Eating Disorders

May 9, 2009 — 6 Comments

Quiet Room ni Youkoso - Cast - Yu Aoi, Yuki UchidaWatching Welcome to the Quiet Room, and listening to Yu Aoi’s Miki character telling Asuka she doesn’t eat because whatever she eats means that someone else more worthy doesn’t get to eat it, totally left me cold. I wondered what was the situation of eating disorders in Asia, since it’s ‘common knowledge’ that Asians are genetically skinny.

*sighs* I ended up reading quite a few articles dealing with the issue as far back as 1999 until this year. Throughout all of them, there is  an emphasis on cases on bi-racial young women, or women living in a bi-cultural environment. Taking the example of Chinese-American or British-Chinese women who weren’t as self-conscious about their weight living on this side of the world, but would get ‘picked on’ back in Asia because they tend to be ‘bigger’.

But I wasn’t too interested in those particular cases, I was trying to find how common are these eating disorder cases in other cultures, particularly Asia. I always thought Asians were thin naturally… always thought they’re skinny and love food. That’s what I’ve always seen in my family. It’s also noted on many of the articles that this value for food comes from the terrible years of starvation they went through in countries like China, India, Cambodia… even Peru where there still exists malnourishment. It is a crime to not eat, when there’s people who have nothing to eat. Yes, that’s why Quiet Room totally freaked me out… it was the first time I had heard that reason~~~ So there are eating disorders much more complicated than the “I want to be thin” one, for bi-cultural people is the “I want to be white”, for others it’s the sense of taking control over their lives…

Continue Reading…

In English, Rants , , , , ,
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Stay Away from eshopex.com

April 23, 2009 — 8 Comments

… 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.

In Reviews, Sharing , ,
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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!

Posted on April 18, 2009 In English, Rants, Screencaps, Sharing, Spanish , , , ,
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