Random Snowflakes

Across the Universe

Friday, March 21, 2008

A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll, the film moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with "Dr. Robert" (Bono) and "Mr. Kite" (Eddie Izzard) as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy – against all odds – to find their own way back to each other.
- Across the Universe official website

Awesome. Superb. Amazing. Despite all the good things I heard about it, I was not prepared to watch something this good. ARGH.

I had originally wanted to watch this in the theater with my friends, but due to schedule restraints, I wasn't able to. Ah, but it's all good, because I got to enjoy the DVD at home with my family, instead.

The plot is realistic, and the song placement is genius. You'd think that the music was made for the story. Most of the musical arrangements of the songs are different from what I've been used to, but they were so original and well done that I loved them all the same. Because of this movie, I loved the Beatles songs even more.

The cast was perfect, methinks, and director Julie Taymor did a spectacular job. The artistic aspect of it was great, as well. Choreography was well-done, and it wasn't overly theatrical. The script was brilliant; the writers' eye to detail is.. ARGH! Hehe. There are a lot of inside jokes for the Beatles fan, too. Haha!

There were a handful of things in the movie that made me raise an eyebrow (or scrunch my nose) or just...simply mediocre, but they were overshadowed by all the other parts I loved.

As a Beatles fan, I recommend it to all Beatles lovers. And also to the very very few people in the world who have no idea who the Beatles are.

My score: 5/5, 100/100.

AMAZING. LOVE IT.

Labels: beatles, movies, review

posted by sarah @ 7:08 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Vantage Point

Saturday, March 01, 2008

I'd have wanted to give it 4/5, but decided on giving it three. It's a very, very, VERY high 3 stars. If that even makes sense. It's just that action isn't my favorite genre (but I don't hate it, either!). If it was my fave, I'd give it 4 stars, no doubt.

This here movie is for mystery-lovers, as well as action fans. And if you're not a fan, but can nevertheless appreciate car chases and stuff, then this is for you, too. Read full post...

Basically—and I hope I'm not spoiling anything—the first hour or so of the movie is the first 23 minutes of the movie played over five times, from different points of view. So, yes, you get the same crowd, gunshots, and explosions all repeated five times. But it's great, because every time you see it, there's a new layer added to it, and what you think it true is revealed to be not quite true...at least until you see it from another vantage point. It's sort of like the flashback technique, but not quite.

Argh writing a review for this is so hard! So I'll just say that it's worth watching. It's not a must-see-in-the-big-screen, but I recommend it. Just make sure you don't have those people around you. You know, those people who keep asking questions. (For the record: this movie will make you ask a lot of questions; it's asking them because you're not paying attention that's what's annoying.)

So..yeah. Watch!

Labels: movies, review, vantage point

posted by sarah @ 10:30 AM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Sunday, February 24, 2008

So, yes. Before actually buying the books I've been wanting to buy for years, I watched the movie.

Yesterday after music practice, I decided that I wanted to watch Spiderwick that day—that moment, really—so I got Lori and Mi out of their beds so they could watch with me. (Hehe.) Instant reunion, right there.

The Spiderwick Chronicles movie is based on a series of children's books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.

Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what’s really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and the creatures that inhabit it.

--© Paramount Pictures

Review: I knew that I was going to enjoy the movie, but I didn't think that I'd enjoy it as much as I did. Read full post...As Mi said in her blog, the movie sucked us into it.

Freddie Highmore was perfectly believable in acting as the twins: the impulsive, short-tempered Jared and intellectual, pacifist Simon. For me, Freddie wasn't just one kid changing clothes to show change in roles— he was two people entirely. The chemistry of rest of the family was good (although I was a tad annoyed with Mallory in the beginning, but I guess that was how it was supposed to be). Voice acting for the fantastical creatures were great! Cheers to Hogsqueal!

The script? Perfection! Hilarity abounds, and the fact that the actors did a splendid job of delivering punchlines didn't hurt at all. There were serious moments, of course, to add depth to the plot. They were well-placed, and it was not at all as if they were put there just so that drama could be present.

The storytelling was good, the CGI was better, and the music just added to the excitement. And the best part of all this? I didn't notice any of this while I was watching it! They all blended together in a delicious mix, and I only noticed how great each individual aspect of the production was after I left the cinema.

There's only one thing that made me roll me eyes —something that Arthur Spiderwick did— but I won't write it on here because (1) it could be a spoiler, and (2) it's not so very important and I guess people can just let that one slide (I know I did).

My Rating: 85/100. All in all, it was a good movie experience. I recommend watching it on the big screen! Or IMAX if you can.

Kid or no, adventure fantasy fan or no, this movie is something everyone will enjoy.


Linkies:
Spiderwick Chronicles book website
Spiderwick Chronicles movie website

Labels: movies, review, spiderwick

posted by sarah @ 7:17 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

read :: October 2007

Saturday, October 20, 2007

I was replying to a post in the Crystal Skies forums. I didn't intend the reply to be comprehensive, but when I finished writing it, I looked it over... and decided to post it here, as well.

This time last year, I was watching Victorian Romance Emma, Ouran High School Host Club, and The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, among others. I was also a new employee in my company. The months went by, and more and more I got sucked into the lovely thing called WORK. My time for anything else was lessened, and... yeah. I won't get into any more details lest I begin to rant.

Anyway, I'm still a workaholic, but I'm proud to say that I've been slipping my hobbies back into my schedule. Hobbies, that is, that don't involve web design. I've been writing again, I've been playing the piano again, and I've been reading again. Wheeeee~ Right now, my stories have been getting good feedbacks, I've remastered three (going four) piano pieces, and my reading list is getting long.

Among the things I'm reading now is manga. Before, I was more into anime than the original manga, but somewhere in between, I saw the light. Read full post...

So, going back to my first sentence: I was replying to a post in a manga recommendation forum in Clear Skies. So here's my top 5 manga at the moment. Most of 'em are light romantic comedies, but they're all hilarious. Yey for comedy! Hehe.

I've been planning to write reviews for these five titles, but I never really got to. Meh. I already blogged about HanaKimi. It's more on the TV series, I suppose, but...anyway.

Here's my Top 5 ultimate favorite manga as of October 2007.

Hanazakiri no Kimitachi E
(For You in Full Blossom)
Summary: A girl begins to admire a high jumper, so she transfers to the high school he attends so that she could meet him. The catch, though, is that it's an all-boys' school. Does she fool everyone? Hell, yeah! ...right? (Mehehehehe.)
Genre: [shoujo] high school romantic comedy (it's got sports in it, too, but it's not a sports manga)
Status: Finished
What I love about it: The comedy! Oh my goodness the comedy. I love how insane things get while still amazingly staying within the boundaries of realism. Another thing is the dialogue and plot flow: Punch lines are delivered effortlessly, and serious points, when they do surface, always hit home. And the art? This is the perfect example of how comic books are so awesome because they convey emotions, be it inner turmoil or bubbling laughter, in a single frame.



Hagane no Renkenjutsushi
(Fullmetal Alchemist)
Summary: In a world where alchemy is a significant part of of life, a child prodigy attaches his dying brother's soul onto a suit of armor in order to save the younger boy's life. Guilt-ridden, he sets out with fierce determination to make things right and return his brother to his body. And he could do that with the Philosopher's Stone.

I initially wanted to type out "If you haven't read (or, at the very least, heard of) Fullmetal Alchemist, then you must be living under a rock." But that might be a little too harsh. HagaRen is extremely popular --and has full rights of being so-- but I discovered that a lot of anime and manga enthusiasts haven't ventured into the world of Edward Elric.
Genre: [shounen] action/adventure, fantasy (alchemy)
Status: Ongoing
What I love about it: Awesome action, surprising twists, superb art, incredibly hilarious ROFL comedy. Read the manga. It's far, far, FAR more awesome than the anime.


Koukou Debut
(High School Debut)
Summary: Haruna had dedicated her life up until junior high to softball (and she's pretty good at it, too). So, upon stepping into high school, she sets out to get a boyfriend. Grow out the hair, put on the make-up, revamp the wardrobe. Easy, right? NOT!

Salvation comes, however, in the form of school heartthrob Yoh, whom Haruna believes can teach her what guys want. At first Yoh refuses because he hates women, but eventually agrees, on one condition: Haruna must never fall in love with him.
Genre: [shoujo] high school romantic comedy. COMEDY! Lol!
Status: ongoing
What I love about it: If you don't laugh at least once while reading this manga, I'd be surprised. What I love about this series (apart from the seamless movement from insanity to normalcy to seriousness to romance and back again) is its ability to make you all giddy or warm and fuzzy even without the usual things that make you giddy or warm and fuzzy. Heh. A breath of fresh air, really. Wonderful characters, awesome plotlines. Love it!



Nodame Cantabile
Summary: Extremely talented pianist and naturally gifted conductor. Another extremely talented pianist and your all-around weird girl. Put them together and what do you get? An impossibly addicting manga on classical music, love, and the love of music. And, yes, it's hilarious, too.
Genre: [josei] music, romantic comedy
Status: ongoing
What I love about it: If I'm to be totally blunt, I'd say that I wasn't really impressed with the art when I first started reading this. But since Miii recommended it to me (and since Miii is one of the girls I've been watching anime with since high school) I decided to give it a chance. Ha. I'm so very glad I did, because once the melody started floating a few pages into the series, I was hooked. (And I realized that the art is nice, after all.)

Musical types will appreciate this manga, lovers of comedy will enjoy the chemistry between the characters, romantics will love the hilarious scenes, and everyone's going to have a sudden renaissance and be interested in classical music. That's what I think, anyway.


Saiunkoku Monogatari
(Tales of Saiunkoku)
Summary: Shuurei, a profit-conscious heiress of a noble (but very bankrupt) family is asked to be join the royal court in order to make the emperor more responsible. But in order to make someone more responsible, that said someone must be responsible to some degree. But, to Shuurei's dismay, it appears that the Emperor of the realm is a lazy slacker with the enthusiasm and cluelessness of a child, and with no interest in politics whatsoever. And, by the way, he's extremely handsome. How unfortunate. *sarcasm*

A manga dealing with politics and intrigue abounding in comedy... plus a whole lot of bishounen. *giggle*
Genre: [josei] politics, comedy, romance
Status: ongoing
What I love about it: This series is actually pretty serious, although it definitely doesn't feel like it. I love how surprises keep popping out: people aren't what they seem, plot twists spring out of nowhere, the character developments are addicting... The more you read, the more you'd be impatient for the next chapter. Haha!


Yahoo~ So those are my Top 5 manga, and 5 of the many volumes I'm reading now. Heh. I hope you saw something that sparked your interest, so you can laugh along with me. ^_^

Labels: books, fullmetal alchemist, hagaren, hanakimi, hanazakiri no kimitachi e, koukou debut, manga, nodame cantabile, review, saiunkoku monogatari

posted by sarah @ 2:00 AM | 1 Comments | Links to this post

HanaKimi TV

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Last week, I found out that the last episode of the Jdrama (Japanese drama) of Hanazakiri no Kimitachi e, a live action TV series based on the manga of the same title, was out. It started in Japan in June this year, and ended just a few days ago.

The manga Hanazakiri no Kimitachi e ("For You In Full Blossom", also known as "HanaKimi") was written by Hisaya Nakajo way back in 1996, and ended in 2004... right about the time I first started reading it.

The story revolves around Mizuki Ashiya, a Japanese girl who grew up in the States. One day when watching a track and field competition, she sees Izumi Sano competing in the high jump. She begins to idolize him for the way he jumps, and also for the way he lives. Eventually she transfers to Japan in order to attend the same school that Sano attends. It's not just any school, though: it's an all-boys high school!

Even though I absolutely love the manga series, I tried not to watch the J-drama first... Partly because I was never a "manga turned live action" fan -- I've got nothing against it, though -- and partly because I wanted to marathon it. Harhar. (And also partly because I was too busy to bother with it.)

So, this weekend, I decided to marathon all 12 episodes.

And, suprisingly... Read full post...

I was slightly disappointed.

*sigh*

"But why?!" you ask. "Isn't the acting good?"

It was, actually.

"Isn't the casting good?"

Argh. Near perfect. I think everyone fit their characters well! Tomo Ikuta (playing Nakatsu) is, like, a scene stealer. Haha! But still everyone did an awesome job.
"Isn't the story good?"

Hmm... Well... Er...

*ahem*

The story is , I suppose. That is, if you completely forget the manga. True, the J-drama followed the original general plot, and they kept the characters as they were (that is, if you ignore the additional characters inserted here and there), but the events in the story were too different.

I also felt kind of rushed... The development of chemistry between Mizuki and the Dorm 2 boys was a bit sudden, the whole "Sano going back to high jump" issue wasn't simmered, and the Sano+Mizuki build-up was a bit off in the beginning... Argh. And I missed Umeda-sensei's bishieness (and ecchiness. LOL!)

Of course, this is all me.

And, I suppose if I DID forget the manga, maybe I'd be thinking differently.

And so, after watching for 12 hours (not continuous, though, as I had to eat and have a life) and finished a bit disappointed, I was driven into checking out the 2006 Taiwanese version.
That made Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu the first Taiwanese drama I ever watched. Whoopee. (No. Unlike the rest of the Philippine female population, I did NOT watch Meteor Garden.)

At first I was raising my eyebrows because of Ella, the girl acting as Rui Xi (the Taiwanese counterpart of Mizuki). I mean, hey, no offense to Ella or anything, but Mizuki had to look like a pretty girl and a cute boy. At the same time. Now, Ella's actually pretty and all, but when Rui Xi was acting like a boy, she looked too... tomboyish. They seemed to forget that, even though Mizuki had the whole school fooled, she was still supposed to fail at acting like a boy, and she was supposed to look immensely girly that a lot of guys thought she was a girly boy, and it should be a wonder why everyone else didn't become seriously suspicious of her.

As the series progressed, though, I began to warm up to her. But still I maintain that the haircut could've been better, and the acting might have been more fitting... Horikita Maki did an awesome job in the Japanese version, so... Yeah. I'm comparing. Heh.

The rest of the cast was okay. Quan (TW counter of Sano) was a bit too smiley too early for me, though. Hm. Then again, Shun Oguri's Sano was a bit too... frowny.

The best part about the Taiwanese series, though, is how faithful it was to the manga. Sure, a lot of the original events were omitted (unavoidable, unless we want a LONG series), but still, it was as faithful as they can make it. And they even gave some scenes nice twists of their own.

I'm just annoyed that Rui Xi didn't look (and, sometimes, act) like Mizuki. If Rui Xi was another girl who is NOT Mizuki, it'd be fine. But no. She's supposed to be Mizuki, just with another name. Rawr. Quan got an awesome Wu Chun, though. *insert fangirl screech here* Heeheehee.

So, in summary....

HanaKimi J-drama: awesome casting, awesome acting, but diverges from the manga.

Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu: okay adaptation, but a bit overacted Rui Xi >_<>

Labels: anime, hanakimi, hanazakiri no kimitachi e, manga, review, tv

posted by sarah @ 8:53 PM | 1 Comments | Links to this post

glued to the GJ sound

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

I've promoted the launch, and I've recapped the event itself. What's the most logical thing to do next?

Write a review, of course.

Travelogue is Bagetsafonik's debut album containing 12 all-original tracks to put on repeat play. The album also includes 2 remixes courtesy of Morse and Silverfilter.

To tell you the truth, I don't get to listen to Bagetsafonik often. I've only been to 2 of their gigs (shameful, I know), and the only songs I was truly familiar with were Automatik (the video of which is available in YouTube), Halogen, Saccharine and Joyride. I've heard Clarity before, while the song was still in its infancy.

That's why my Travelogue experience is a delightful mix of familiar sounds and new surprises. The songs I already know have cool, better arrangements, and the new songs are... err... new to me. Like, duh.

Whether you're a rocker dude, a pop chick, or something in between, you'll enjoy this album. The repertoire is filled with snazzy tunes and soulful melodies, woven with words close to the heart. We've got songs for friends, for lovers, for families. For the loved, the heartbroken; the content and the searching. Read full post...

The collection starts with Fallin' Callin', with Ace soaring through the notes and the rest of the boys rocking it out. If you pop the CD in your car's player, this song is perfect for the start of the drive. Action Jackson and Green Machine comes next as you step on the gas and speed through the highway; Sputnik Sweetheart and Automatik follow right after. I think Sputnik Sweetheart is a fitting title to this song, because when I listen to it, I feel like I'm in a space shuttle zipping through the universe.

Shift to easy driving as you listen to Halogen and the melancholic Diss Song, until Saccharine and Joyride pick up the pace a bit to keep you awake. Song for the Sunlight takes us back to the carefree days of outdoor games, Matchbox, and afternoon snacks and naps... Yep. Nothing like childhood memories to remove the stress on your shoulders.

The ride winds down with the haunting Clarity and groovy Glued to the Groove. The Halogen remix has a 3am on EDSA feel, and the Fallin' Callin' remix takes us to a world tour of music genres.

And you think refreshing music is all you get when you buy this album?

Shyeah, right!

You also get twelve — count 'em, twelve! — postcards with funky artwork on one side and song lyrics on the bottom of the other. (Um...yeah. Congratulations if you figured out that you get one postcard for each song.) Don't believe me? Check out the photo I put in the start of this post.

I love this CD. I think that much is obvious. And it's not just because the vocalist is my brother. Oh, no, absolutely not. Even if he wasn't my brother — heck, even if the members of the band were complete strangers to me — I'd still buy the album.

And I'd still put it on repeat play.

---

Again, the Travelogue track list
1 - Fallin' Callin'
2 - Action Jackson
3 - Green Machine
4 - Sputnik Sweetheart
5 - Automatik
6 - Halogen
7 - Diss Song
8 - Saccharine
9 - Joyride
10 - Song for the Sunlight (Back in the Day)
11 - Clarity
12 - Glued to the Groove
13 - Halogen (3 AM on EDSA Remix)
14 - Fallin' Callin' (Worlds Apart Remix)

Labels: bagetsafonik, celebrities, music, review, travelogue

posted by sarah @ 10:14 PM | 2 Comments | Links to this post

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Monday, August 06, 2007

Michan recently gave me a copy of Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, a movie she had been raving about. I watched it yesterday, and immediately it was included in my favorite movies list. And I bet it'd be in yours, too, whether or not you're an anime fan.

Toki o Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) is a Japanese anime film first released in theatres in Japan in 2006.

Don't worry: there ain't no bad spoilers in this post.

The Plot
The story is centered on 17-year-old Makoto Konno, a girl who gains the power to leap through time when she gets involved in an accident at a train crossing one day. Although a little confused with her new powers at first, Makoto uses them extravagantly to avoid being late in school and to get perfect grades on tests. But then, things began to turn bad as she discovers how her actions can adversely affect others. She then goes back in time and tries to fix things for the people affected, but that just makes things even worse... Read full post...


My first thought as the movie progressed was, "Wow. Sorta like Groundhog Day... But different."

Groundhog Day is a movie where Bill Murray lives February 2nd over and over and over. TokiKake is sort of like that, I guess, except that Makoto can control when and where she wants to go. It's hilarious in the beginning, but as the story progresses, it begins to take on a bit more serious mood that makes the audience think.

The Characters
What I loved most about this movie is the characters. In my opinion, Makoto is a refreshing heroine: she has a strong character, but is also very reluctant about things. She's energetic but quiet. She knows who she is, but her doubts about herself inevitably surface, like what happens to all of us at times. She's a bit of a tomboy, but is very, very much a girl.

As for Makoto's friends Chiaki and Kousuke, they're established with such strength right smack in the beginning of the film that they manage to make you feel for them, whatever happens to them through the course of the story. Their on-screen presence is strong, whether they're doing something significant or just throwing a baseball.

These three main characters are very real, their chemistry is endearingly hilarious, and their relationship is close to the heart of anybody who's had friends.

All other supporting characters are precisely that: supporting. They all play an important role in building the plot. All of them, from Makoto's sister to Makoto's classmates to the lady who yells at Makoto for bumping into her.

The animation
I may be no professional, but I think the animation is superb. Adorably designed characters, realistically painted scenes, and intricately detailed...er...details. Facial expressions are priceless, the stage is always amazingly rendered, and the small details are never overpowering.

The perfect symmetry in a lot of scenes is always amazing to stare at. It's symmetry, but it's not simply a mirror image, since what appears on one side is different from what appears on the other. Er...yeah.

The direction
Oh my goodness. Mamoru Hosoda does such an unbelievably amazing job at this, I don't even know where to begin.

For one, all the sequences are done perfectly, whether it be one that shows tranquil everyday life, a comedic episode, or a thrilling bike ride down a steep slope. I love where they locate their cameras, showing scenes at angles that will get the most effect. Perfection, I tells ya.

There are a lot more -- and I mean a LOT -- of aesthetic and artistic techniques used in this film that are executed beautifully, but I don't think I can tackle them without pointing out spoilers, so... I'll just leave it at that.

The music
If you were to ask me what the main musical score feels like, I'd say that it's an exhilarating flight, light and floating at one point, and then soaring at another. It makes me think of blue skies, white clouds, and cool winds. Hehe. I think it's just perfect for a movie that has a title connected to leaping/flying.

Other sound tracks include a great mix of light summer tunes, peaceful nocturnes and dramatic melodies, all played at the perfect times throughout the movie, further enhancing the story unfolding in the screen. The insert songs are pretty, too, and the lyrics are most fitting to the characters.

Sarah's verdict:
Oh, gee, isn't it obvious? A perfect 10! The only thing I didn't like about this movie is also one of the things that I grudgingly love: the ending.

ARGH the ending. It SO made me want to smash the laptop into pieces. (Of course I didn't.) I hated (and loved) it so much that I even wrote a fanfic for it. Yep, my TokiKake fanfic is the latest addition to my fanfic archive, but don't read it if you haven't seen the movie!

*ahem* Seeing that I can't rant (and rave) without giving out spoilers, I'll stop now.

Hm. Maybe the only thing a lacking in this movie is a bit more answers. Many questions are left open at the end of the film... I guess they meant it to be that way, but... yeah.

In summary: TokiKake is an awesome movie. Watch it. Seriously.

More info
Tsutsui Yasutaka's novel, Toki o Kakeru Shoujo (unofficial translation: The Little Girl Who Conquered Time) is the basis of the film... (Yes, it's the same Japanese title, but a different English translation for the sake of distinction.) The film isn't a movie version of the book, though, but is set as a continuation of the book in the same setting some twenty years later.

TokiKake was produced by the animation studio Madhouse and distributed through Kadokawa Herald Pictures. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda.

Labels: anime, movies, review, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo

posted by sarah @ 10:24 PM | 3 Comments | Links to this post

Haruhi gets melancholic. Again.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

*gasp* Newtype said it was so. Therefore it must be true!

Yep, that's right, folks! The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi gets a second season! It's going to be announced officially on the magazine in August (and in the website on July 7th), but fans get an early celebration from Newtype's... well... early edition. Hehehe.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi) is an anime series based on light novels entitled (er...surprise, surprise?) Suzumiya Haruhi. The fourteen episode anime series premiered in Japan on April 2006 and ran until July 2006.

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi revolves around the story of a high school girl named (er... another surprise?) Haruhi. She's a very, very, veryveryvery (did I say VERY?) eccentric girl, obsessed with ESPers, aliens and time travellers, and is always looking for something interesting to do. (Which is, basically, looking for ESPers, aliens and time travellers.) The story is told Greek-chorus style by Kyon, one of Haruhi's classmates. He's realistic, cynical, apathetic and sarcastic, and he's pretty much dragged (literally) by Haruhi into chaos in the form of the SOS Brigade, a club which Haruhi formed focused on — you guessed it — looking for ESPers, aliens, and time travelers.

What's so fun about the series is Haruhi's enthusiasm and the contagious insanity of everything she does. Even if you avoid her at first, you'll learn to love her, just like what happened to poor ol' Kyon. The insanity is so contagious, it even seeped into the way the series was broadcasted. Haha! The TV episodes were NOT released in chronological order. It's a bit confusing at first, but you'll get the hang of it. I personally think that the anachronic order is WAY better than the chronological one: it's more fun that way, and the presentation is just... genius.

If you haven't checked the series out, go and grab a DVD (or leech from torrent sites. Haha!). Episode 1 (aka Episode 11) may look weird, but I implore you, watch Episode 2 (aka Episode 1), too. It's hilarious, I tells ya, and I'm sure you'll love it, especially if you like crazy anime comedies like Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star. But it's not ALL craziness, either. There's actually a story, and the players get their character developments, too. Sorta like Ouran High School Host Club, but with less bishounen and drama (what minimal drama Ouran has). It does involve high school girls in bunny suits at one point, though, if that'll make up for the lack of bishounen. Hehe.


Oyeah: about the second season. The broadcast dates and other information will be anounced later, I suppose. I'll update you on that when I get info.

Meanwhile, enjoy this Gundam doing the Haruhi dance video. Heeeheeeheee.

Labels: anime, review, the melancholy of suzumiya haruhi, tv

posted by sarah @ 11:17 PM | 1 Comments | Links to this post

Bossa Nova Disney

Monday, May 28, 2007

Labels: bossa nova, disney, music, review

posted by sarah @ 6:02 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Spiderman 3

After weeks, I FINALLY got to watch this. Chique and I decided to watch it on a whim, and I'm very very glad we did!

Spiderman 3 is the much-anticipated third part of the Spiderman series. Reviews from my friends are different. Some say it was awesome, some say it was just fine. Some say I wouldn't be missing anything if I didn't watch it on the big screen, some say I wouldn't be missing anything if I didn't watch it at all.

Well, I say you ought to watch it. And I say you watch it on the big screen. Make sure you watched the first two movies, though! Or at least have a friend tell you what happened. But I think you really SHOULD watch the first two movies because they're awesome. I think you'll appreciate the movie more if you knew (and watched) the relationships between the characters.

Spiderman 3, as reported all over the net, is an action-packed, plot-packed movie. Man, oh man, they've got it right.

The fight scenes are AWESOME. I LOVE how they directed it, with all the whooshing cameras and all, catching the beautiful cityscape and taking the audience on a breathtaking ride as Spidey takes to the air in leaps and bounds (and swings).

The CGI is amazing! Venom and the Sandman were both very believable, I think. When I was watching the movie, I almost forgot that the effects were computer generated.

The plot -- or multiple plots, rather -- was very well done. Peter, MJ, Harry, the Sandman, and Eddie all had their own plots, and yet it wasn't tiring to the mind. All the players moved through the story in harmony. Even though the plots were developed separately, they eventually swirled together, melding into one solid story. Each character was developed beautifully, letting the audience feel for each one... And yet the focus on Spiderman was not lost. This is a feat that is hard to achieve, in my opinion.

The relationships between characters were beautiful. The twists in those relationships are very real and believable, as well. None of them seemed cheesy or forced to me. I praise the writers for their work! They managed to take two characters, develop their chemistry, then pit them against each other, and then reconcile them once again...all this done seamlessly.

The resolutions in this movie were done in convincingly. Although not all issues were resolved, the movie ended in a very good -- albeit bittersweet -- place. It seems to me that the movie was left a tad bit open-ended, leaving space for a part four. And yet, the story was closed so that the audience is satisfied with the ending (at the same time craving for more).

I suppose my only complaint about the movie is that some things happened that didn't necessarily have to happen. There could have been ways around those unfortunate circumstances... The characters could have done this, could have done that, and so on. But hey, if they did, then the drama wouldn't be there, now would it? Hehehe.

My verdict for Spidey 3? LOVE IT!

Labels: movies, review, spiderman

posted by sarah @ 5:46 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Friday, May 25, 2007

Don't worry: there won't be any spoilers in this post. Hehe.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is an adventure movie, the third of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. At World's End is directed by Gore Verbinski. The cast includes returnees Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Geoffrey Rush, Jack Davenport, Tom Hollander and Naomie Harris. Chow Yun-Fat appears as Sao Feng, and Keith Richards as Jack Sparrow's father.

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Although I still maintain that the first movie (Curse of the Black Pearl) would've done fine by itself, I think At World's End is a good ending to a good series.

The opening sequence gave me goosebumps, and the ending left me kind of stunned. And since I'm not usually one to be emotional over a movie, I think it's saying a lot. I think that's what surprised me most about this movie: the dark feel of it. I mean, in the opening sequence, you've got pirates singing a lament. And right after that, the government hangs an 8-year-old to death. In a Disney movie. Seriously. An eight-year-old, dude... @_@

*ahem* Moving on the rest of the movie.

The script is amusing, what with the classic Jack wit being doubled by Johnny Depp's genius acting. It's funny how, technically, he doesn't follow what lead characters are supposed to do in stories (grow, mature, and learn something). But hey, the Black Pearl desert him and the Pirate King of the Brethren be somebody else, Captain Jack Sparrow is still the main pirate. Although I think he lacked zing compared to the first two movies, he's Jack Sparrow enough to be enjoyed.

Will is more of a hero now more than the last two movies. Just a little bit more, and he might've dethroned Jack from the hero pedestal. But he didn't. So there. Hero#2 for you. As for Elizabeth, my goodness, I love how she evolved throughout the series. From damsel in distress to full-fledged pirate and swordswoman, and so much more. Awesome, awesome. I can say a lot more about Will and Elizabeth, but I suppose I can't say anything right now, lest I spoil it for everyone reading who hasn't watched yet. Heeheehee.

Cutler Beckett as the antagonist is good... Just a military man fighting the bad pirates. My only problem about it is that, although he does a good job being nasty, I don't think people will ever think that he'll get the better of Jack. Not at all.

Davy Jones was... well, I like him. Tentacles and all, I think he was made human in this movie. Sorry, but yeah: I always love it when, in the middle of a series or a movie, antagonists are made human and not-too-antagonistic. Mad scientists who simply want world domination for the sake of world domination never appealed to me.

Keith Richards' appearance is funny. When I first heard that he was supposed to appear in Dead Man's Chest, I couldn't wait to see him and Jack in a scene. Haha! For the benefit of those who don't know, Johnny Depp based his character on Keith Richards. I'm very very glad he did; aren't you? XD

Amidst the comedy, the swashbuckling swordfights, the climactic final battle, and the unexpected twists, the characters were given ample time, and nearly each of them has their own subplot. This is good and bad at the same time, as there seems to be too many subplots for a 168-minute movie. Don't get me wrong, though: I like the subplots. I like the twists and scheming... I'm just thinking that not everybody might not like it as things can get a little bit dizzying.

I compare it to its predecessor, specifically Curse of the Black Pearl. What I like about the first movie is the straight out, breezy, pirate-y fun. Get the pirate, get the girl, beat the stiff East India Trading Company. Yey. This time around, you've got a handful of issues flying around, and everybody's scheming something, and everybody seems to have their own agenda while trying to fool everyone else about their allegiance.

The good thing about this is: it gives the movie depth. It gives the characters depth, and... well, it sets up the stage for the characters' own sequels that you can continue on your own. Also, it separates the movie from its predecessor and gives it its own identity. (I hate it when a sequel is just the remake of the original movie.) As I said: good and bad.

In this movie, questions are answered, problems are solved. Some of them, anyway. But still, the ending pretty much wrapped the series up. Although some new problems arose, I think there won't be a part four. Or at least I hope there won't be a part four. I think they should just leave it to the imagination. Fanfiction writers are going to have a field day, I'm sure.

Oh, by the way, do NOT leave the theater just because the credits begin to roll. Watch till the very very end, savvy?

My verdict for At World's End? I like it. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. I like it, but I'm not jumping out of my chair to put it into my list of favorite movies. But still, as I mentioned in earlier, I think it did fine as an ending to this series.

If I'm right that there won't be another Pirates movie, and this is the last we'll see of Will, Elizabeth, and Jack-- oops, I mean Captain Jack Sparrow, then we've left them in the right places.

Labels: at world's end, movies, pirates of the caribbean, review

posted by sarah @ 1:52 AM | 2 Comments | Links to this post

movie week

Saturday, March 03, 2007

I watched three movies in the last seven days. I'll tackle 'em one by one.

Labels: dreamgirls, flushed away, movies, pursuit of happyness, review

posted by sarah @ 7:58 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Music and Lyrics

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The story, light-hearted.
The characters, well done.
The dialogue, hilarious.
The music, enchanting.
The lyrics, addicting.

My goodness, I enjoyed this movie! The flow of the story from comedy to drama to romance and back was seamless. Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore excellently portrayed their characters. The supporting characters were awesome: they built up the main characters and yet had their own significant and unique roles. The soundtrack was enchanting and hilarious at the same time. (I totally blame it all on Hugh Grant for making "Pop! Goes My Heart" play over and over and over in my head.)

And the best part about it? I didn't think any of those comments while I was watching. I was too engrossed in enjoying the movie.

And, oh yeah: I was too busy laughing, too.

Labels: movies, music, review

posted by sarah @ 1:54 PM | 2 Comments | Links to this post

eat, drink, and eat some more!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

If you haven't got any plans for Saturday — or even if you do — check out Dine & Jam.

Dine & Jam is a monthly celebration of the love of music, gift of cooking and joy of friendships. Each month will feature home cooked pasta meals from the Regali Kitchen, and amazing talent courtesy of Tim 4:12 productions.

It's actually a family project of ours. Papa is basically the owner (Mama and Kuya JB are the managers). Kuya JB is the head chef of the Regali Kitchen, which provide the scrumptious dinner. Mama is the queen of desserts in the Kitchen. Kuya Ace is our graphic designer for tickets and posters and such. Kuya Tim heads 1 Tim 4:12 productions, which provide live, relaxing, cool jazz music while you eat. And moi? I handle marketing, guest relations, finances, and all that jazz.

What's so cool about D&J is that it's not just a restaurant. It's not just a gig. It's one big party where family friends share good, clean (and delicious!) fun. And it's even more fun because our friends become friends with each other. Like, my friends become friends with Kuya Tim's friends, Kuya JB's friends' parents become friends with my folks, etc. It's sort of like friendster in real, non-cyberspace life.

And it's just awesome.

Try it sometime (and I recommend this Saturday), and I'm sure you'll have so much fun, you'd wish it happened every week.

I know I do.

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for reservations and more information, please visit http://RegaliKitchen.multiply.com

Labels: food, music, restaurants, review

posted by sarah @ 9:52 AM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

waiting for the phoenix to come

Sunday, July 30, 2006

I've been wanting to watch Fushigi Yuugi Eikoden for years, ever since I found out it existed. Well, guess what: I finally got to watch it last night. (Or, to say it strictly, about an hour ago.)

At first I was psyched. Fushigi Yuugi being one of my favorite anime ever for all its twists and unpredictable moments (and of course, Le Bishies), I couldn't wait to see what was ahead. Although I DID keep telling myself not to expect anything. That was the best way I enjoy movies and series, anyway.

The OAV started out fine. The beginning was a bit confusing, but it was fine. After all, the story was only then unfolding. And so I sat and watched and waited.

Then, the action began to happen. The Book was opened, someone got sucked in, someone else fainted making everybody else worry, and some other people sat at the edge of their seats as they read the Book.

And then... I... got bored. Really. I'm serious.

I would have wanted to say that the four-plus years of waiting to finally watch the conclusion to the Fushigi Yuugi animated series was worth it... Really, I DO want to say that it was worth it. And maybe it is.

Sort of.

But not quite.

Let me take this time to warn thee. From this point on, possible spoilers abound. Do not read on if you haven't watched Eikoden. I repeat: spoilers ABOUND. Well, OK. maybe they're not spoilers, but you won't know what the hell I'm talking about if you haven't watched the OAV. If you wish to be wise and skip the spoilers, scroll down really quickly and look for "SAFE ZONE" marker.

Moving on.

Perhaps you're wondering why I have contradicting feelings towards the OAV. Let me explain, then.

There were a lot of funny scenes. Some where I literally laughed out loud. Like, Chiriko suddenly talking. And Mitsukake's childishness. Nuriko was cute, of course, and Hotohori was a bishie, as usual. Predictably, Boushin looked like him. Tasuki has THE best lines, and I think I Taka was cooler here than in the last OAV (maybe because of the minimized Miaka-Taka over-mushiness). Huh. Obviously, the Fushigi Yuugi bishounen have NOT lost their touch.

The fight scenes were good. Hotohori appearing out of nowhere to help out was a nice touch. Tasuki was funny and effective as well. As I said, the fight scenes were good. Good, but not awesomely great. Good enough for me not to say that they sucked.

"So, Sarah," you might say, "what's all the negative talk about then?"

"Well," I answer, "there are a few disappointing factors..."

Like, Chichiri didn't appear to be as powerful as he actually was (unless they wanted to make it look like he was getting old, thus his diminishing coolness). And Hotohori's "return" was simply an "Sheeeeesh, come ON" moment. Complete with the sweatdrop and the eye-roll. I mean, really. And what was Saori there for? I mean, she did nothing! No-thing. Her being Mayo's best friend wasn't even established enough, nor was it enforced.

It was also strange now that Suzaku has two priestesses. Is that even allowed? I mean, Taka and Miaka calling Suzaku together had already been a bit forced to me, but now they have another girl there? Come on. Besides, if Suzaku was going to have another priestess, wasn't Miaka supposed to disappear? Or was Mayo never really a priestess because she was simply a medium to call on Suzaku? That part was somewhat a loophole for me. I've been thinking about that for ages now. That, and why (oh why?) Suzaku seemed to be the leader of the rebelling gods.

And I couldn't understand why Houki and Boushin didn't see that Mayo was clearly lying. And where did Mayo get her spy orb thingy? It just appeared out of nowhere. And WHY did Taka's phone ring when Keisuke wasn't even using the phone when they were talking? Before, Miaka heard Keisuke's voice in her head, so what makes it different now?

And, really. Taka simply wasn't stressed enough when Miaka was giving birth.

In all fairness, though, Mayo's turnaround was a bit convincing. It wasn't too sudden (unlike Hotohori's brother was). Although it was still pretty hard to care for the girl by the time when the story wants us to, due to the fact that her antagonist side was pretty perfectly antagonistic. Her bad side was so perfectly done that it was hard (VERY hard) to see her otherwise. And I was a bit concerned about her feelings for Taka. That was never settled, I think. I mean, OK, so she was repentant and all that and sort of accepted that Taka was Miaka's, but...I dunno. She didn't say it out loud. It was implied, I suppose, but I don't think that was enough. Sure, she apologized to him but ARGH. I think it would've been better to say "I love you" then "I'm sorry" than the other way around.

Although most (maybe 90%) of Miaka's screentime was her being unconscious, I loved it that she was still instrumental to everything going around her, from beginning to end. I think she was still the heroine despite her lack of part in the action. Houki's story was nice. It actually gave her a bit more depth (so she wouldn't stay as "the girl who looks like Nuriko, the one whom Hotohori married").

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SAFE ZONE

***********************

The explanation about why there was yet another fiasco inside the book was pretty well-done. I couldn't find a crack in there.

I suppose, with all the little details ignored, my problem with this OAV is mainly the character developments, and the conclusion of things. I kind of got the feeling that the time wasn't enough. They crammed so many things together that some parts weren't as effective as it could've been. I think they should have made each episode a 30-minute one. As in 30 minutes without the commercial breaks.

The animation was beautiful, though. As in gorgeous. The CGI was a bit over the top, though. OK, so it was done to differentiate the evil gods from the real gods, but I think it wasn't really necessary. Plus it didn't flow with the rest of the animation.

The score was great, and the opening theme was awesomely enchanting. It got me hooked. The closing theme was OK... I think they could've done better, but I'm not going to the mattresses because of it.

To wrap things up, I'd say that Fushigi Yuugi Eikoden was good, but not great. Die-hard fans (or maybe even the not-so-die-hard ones) will most likely be disappointed to a certain degree, and newbies... well... Newbies will NOT be motivated to watch the main series if they watch the OAV first. Fushigi Yuugi could've done fine with out this OAV. I'm not saying that it was better off without it (then again, maybe it was), but I'm saying that the title is fine if Eikoden didn't exist.

For me, the second OAV set was enough, as it was also the manga's ending. If the producers or whoever else suddenly decides to make yet another sequel, I'm still probably going to watch it for the sake of watching it. But I'm not going to be so excited about it anymore.

Labels: fushigi yuugi, review, tv

posted by sarah @ 12:38 AM | 1 Comments | Links to this post

"Not your typical Pinoy film."

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

I was attracted by the catchy catch phrase, the awesome soundtrack, and the movie poster that was, indeed, different from those of most local movies. So we went to watch Pinoy Blonde, only the second time I watched a local movie in a theater. Ever. I can't say that my two hours and 81 pesos (traveling and food expenses not included) was wasted. But I can't say it was spectacular, either. My review in a nutshell: "It was fun!" I'm not jumping up and down giddily, but I'm still smiling.


Eto na ang totoo...


Story: The movie (sort of) revolves around the cousins Conrad and Andrew, who are wannabe filmmakers. Their uncle sent them (just Andrew, actually) to an errand. There, the chaos begins.


Wag nang mag-atubili; bumili na kayo...


Review: Pinoy Blonde is undoubtedly funny if you like watching movies. I love how addicted to movies Conrad and Andrew were. Despite the arguments (which, by the way, the movie is overflowing with), the two boys were hilarious. The star-studded cast also helped. For some reason, I found it funny that local actors with such big names were in the movie, and they did almost nothing but a cameo appearance.

Although I still maintain that the video editors still have a few points to to improve on (not that I'm the expert or anything), I thoroughly enjoyed the direction. The funny moments were in all the right places -- which is everywhere. I think Peque Gallaga is a great director. Sure, he's no Steven Spielberg, but great, nonetheless.

My favorite thing about the movie are the parts when the boys would turn their situations into a movie scene. That, and the animation sequences. Oh mhay ghulay, the animation.... LUV! Man. I just have to say it out loud for the millionth time: Filipinos are SO talented. I just wish they demonstrate the full potential of their talent more often.

By the way, I think the opening sequence was cool. And the website has a kick-butt layout. And I loved Conrad and Andrew's outfits... Common, I know, but I like ^_^


Eto na...ang totoo...
Wag nang mag-atubili; bumili na kayo...


Oh, and I actually liked the acting. I loved the acting. A shocker, right? But I did. Seriously. There's no sarcasm in that sentence, I swear.

But, then, after the fun, after the laughter, and after walking out of the theater, I wondered: "What was the point of the film?" For the life of me, I cannot answer my own question.

Where was the conflict? I... dunno.
When was the climax? When... Uh... Uhm.... What was the question again?
Was anything resolved? Well... Was there anything to be resolved in the first place?

After a while, I figured that the movie was basically a movie about movies. The discussions about directors, filmmaking, and film quality may be the essence of it all. Maybe Pinoy Blonde is a serious movie, after all. Just cloaked in the comedy presented by the Quizon brothers.

But, still. Tonight, I don't want to dwell too much on that. Charlie had said, "It doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's called candy." I guess you can look at Pinoy Blonde as something like that. A no-brainer in its truest sense. Don't think about it. Just enjoy. I did.



Tenten...Tenenen... Tenenten... ASTRO!



Disclaimer: I do not own Pinoy Blonde, obviously. Directed by Peque Gallaga. Produced by Tony Gloria. Released under Unitel Pictures.
If you have violent reactions, you may post a comment. But I will say this now: this is my personal opinion. Don't let this hinder you from forming your own.

Labels: movies, pinoy blonde, review

posted by sarah @ 9:00 PM | 1 Comments | Links to this post