| Shinsengumi! a.k.a., The Kondo Isami Fans Club |
[Apr. 10th, 2012|12:59 am] |
I'm gonna totes skip ahead to episode 4 of "Shinsengumi!" because episodes 2 and 3 was the acid test. I really had to power through those. Nothing really important happens except maybe a couple of cameos from characters who will be important later on.
Like this guy
and this guy
Thank god for the episode recap at the beginning of every new episode. Otherwise, most of the developments become too difficult to follow. Tedious as they were, there were some highlights from episodes 2 and 3. Mainly:
One of the many hidden talents of the future Shinsengumi commander.
( Also - no Sakai Masato in episodes 2 and 3, so these are hardly worth talking about ) |
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| Epic Flail - Shinsengumi! |
[Apr. 9th, 2012|04:54 am] |
The 3am fangirl bug has bitten me yet again. What are you gonna do when it's the middle of the night and you can't sleep because your stupid interests are pic-spamming your brain? Until someone tells me there's an app for that, there's always LJ to the rescue!
I am about to embark on the epic dorama journey that is "Shinsemgumi!" Yes, the exclamation point is part if the title. Twenty seconds ago, it hit me that I am transforming into a dorama nerd. There are two main reasons for this transformation: A - I don't own cable and B- watching contemporary television series from the U.S. is what I mainly do for a living, so I gotta get my kicks elsewhere, right.
I don't think I've reached the highest level of dorama fangirdom, as I have only seen "a few", i.e., only those with Masato Sakai or Ryo Kase as part of the cast. I noticed that average number of episodes in a dorama is 6-11 in a season. The runs are pretty short, not even a "full" season (23 to 24 episodes). Well babies, "Shinsengumi!" is 49 episodes long. I am dead set on getting through this whole thing.
( So yeah, dorama nerd ) |
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| Top 5 Mangaka (...so far) |
[Apr. 7th, 2012|09:15 pm] |
Recently I've taken a more serious interest in manga. Scans of English translations have become rampant, and I'm grateful to all these anonymous souls who have taken the time to translate and upload all these wonderful works from artists we would otherwise not have had the chance to discover. Here are my top five mangaka so far:
5. Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Yoshihiro Tatsumi is probably the first important mangaka I have come across. I fell in love with his work when Drawn and Quarterly released Tatsumi's "The Pushman and Other Stories" in 2005. Graphic novelist Adrian Tomine provided a foreword to this collection, citing Tatsumi as one of his main influence in becoming a cartoonist. I'm a huge fan of Adrian Tomine, and I was thrilled that he had something to do with the book. I'm so happy that Yoshihiro Tatsumi's works have become available in English - he is a living legend, and a true groundbreaker in the world of manga. His slice-of-life stories can be bleak and unnerving, observant and introspective. Many of them are very haunting. An animated documentary on his life and works has recently come out in the States, and I look forward to seeing it sometime soon.
4. Fumi Yoshinaga
Fumi Yoshinaga's works tend to focus on yaoi (or boys' love/homoerotic), and for me, she really is the gold standard when it comes to that genre. Her "Antique Bakery", a four volume series that centers on the lives of four men running a bakery won the 2002 Kodansha Manga Award for Shojo Manga (manga aimed at female readers). "Antique Bakery" is an absolute joy to read - yummy depictions of men, yummy depictions of cake, hilarious dialogue, sexy boy-action - really, what more can a gal ask for? I am currently on the hunt for her "Not Love But Delicious Food (Make Me Happy)".
3. Inio Asano
I've always been a sucker for coming-of-age stories so naturally, when one of my best friends gave me "Solanin" as a present, it was a no-brainer. The protagonist of the story is a post-grad twenty-something girl named Meiko, and the manga is full of these wonderful introspective lines that become embarrassing to share once one hits thirty. Inio Asano made "Solanin" when he was twenty-four. That's right - he. For the longest time I thought Inio Asano was female because of the sensitivity of "Solanin".
2. Chica Umino
"Honey and Clover" is a manga, an anime series, a live action movie and a live-action series. I would recommend it to anyone who has never been interested in anime or manga. Yes, it's a coming-of-age story. It centers around a group of friends in art school. Love triangles abound. Heartbreak! Unrequited love! Maximum residency issues! Cute flaky art school boys! I'm a little relieved that I came across "Honey and Clover" in my thirties because this would have devastated me in my late teens (or my twenties, for that matter). Ok, ok, parts of it still do.
1. Junji Ito
I have a bunch of horror movies in my collection that I enjoy regularly re-watching. "Uzumaki" and any of the "Tomie" movies are not among them. Not because they're badly made, but because the subject matter is way too disturbing - the kind that sets my teeth on edge. Both titles are based on Junji Ito's works. Hugely influenced by Kazuo Umezu (also a master of the horror manga), Junji Ito has no qualms about sharing his sick thoughts through his manga. In fact, reading his work, one gets the sense that he gets off on it. The wildly detailed illustrations betray his obsession with an idea and his evil glee in sharing it. It's striking that his stories almost never have resolutions - they end in the climax, i.e., the grossest, sickest, most horrific parts. One thing I love about his stuff is that I never know how far the horror goes. I try to predict where it will take me, but I'm never right. Part Kazuo Umezo and part H.P. Lovecraft, Junji Ito's specialty is body horror. If you've seen "The Human Centipede" and thought that it was the sickest thing you've ever seen, wait til you get your mitts on a Junji Ito comic book. I highly recommend reading him when you feel gross about your body. You'll feel better about it afterward. Depraved as his imagination might be, I am grateful that he has been published. Without an outlet like his, he'd probably be a serial killer. I like how many of his stories have this very sly, cruel and absurd sense of humor. It makes his stuff sometimes infuriating to read, making me feel like a little kid being tormented to the point of tears by an older bully. Sure glad it's a bully that tells a heck of a tale. |
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| Movie of the Week: The Triumphant Return of General Rouge |
[Mar. 6th, 2012|09:54 am] |
Directed by: Yoshihiro Nakamura (Fish Story, Golden Slumber)
Starring: Yuko Takeuchi, Hiroshi Abe, Masato Sakai
Is it me or is that one of the vaguest movie posters of all time?
"The Triumphant Return of General Rouge" is a medical/ethical drama slash mystery. Think "e.r." meets "Scooby Doo". This movie is a sequel of sorts, though one doesn't need to have seen the first installment to appreciate this film. The first movie called, "The Glory of Team Batista" features two of the leads - Yuko Takeuchi and Hiroshi Abe.
Yuko Takeuchi reprises her role as Dr. Taguchi, a psychiatrist who also heads the Ethics Committee at Tojo University Hospital. Hiroshi Abe also returns to play Mr. Shiratori, who works for the Health Ministry. I know - they don't sound like the most thrilling characters ever written. Their jobs sound boring, but in these films, they are a crime-fighting, mystery-solving dynamic duo. In "The Triumphant Return of General Rouge", the board is set when Dr. Takeuchi receives an anonymous hand-written letter accusing the Chief E.R. resident Dr. Hayami (played by Masato Sakai) of getting kickbacks from a medical supplier. And also, that the head nurse is a co-conspirator.
More than a medical mystery, "The Triumphant Return of General Rouge" centers on the internal office politics and goings-on within Tojo U Hospital. It's a great study in character, and as the film unfolds, secret and not-so secret enemies emerge.
( It gets very fangirly for a movie that's kind of boring ) |
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| Eh Kase, Ryo! |
[Feb. 11th, 2012|11:04 pm] |
Dear Hastyteenflick,
What's the big deal?
I was here way before you noticed those other dudes. There was a time when you couldn't tell your Tadanobu Asanos from your Kenichi Matsuyamas, but I was already impressing you with my mad acting skillz. Remember when you thought, "Hey that guy - he reminds me of Michel Gondry - if Michel Gondry was Japanese"? You didn't bother imbd'ing me then? I'm disappointed. My feelings - they're hurt. You saw "Tokyo!" way before you got into contemporary Japanese films.
And then when you really started getting into them, I was never very far away you know. In "Outrage", I stood out like a gaijin because I was the only one with an American accent and you *still* didn't imdb me!
You always mention how much you loooooved "The Taste of Tea", but I bet you didn't know I was cast in that too, did you? No, I didn't think so. Go watch it again and be more attentive this time. I know you're reading this and trying to remember which part I played, well I won't tell you.
"Survive Style 5+"? You know it. (But ok fine, that was an uncredited cameo.)
Yeah I was in "Funky Forest", but you couldn't get your mind off Tadanobu Asano for two little minutes to say anything nice about my fifteen minute dream sequence? Or my dancing? Those steps were hard, yo! I mean, respect to Asano-san, he is after all the reason I became an actor, but come on ":-(
Thank you though, for finally, finally Googling me today after seeing "Honey and Clover". I know it didn't live up to your expectations, but I'm happy my performance as Mayama caught your attention. (Really? Mayama? Out of all the characters I played - this is what gets me looked up on the internet?) I know you watched it for Masato Sakai, but I'm grateful that you took the time to read about me.
Thank you for your kind comments about me looking like Chito Miranda in some angles. I don't know who he is, but I'm sure he's an outstanding person.
And for god's sake, watch "Nobody Knows". I play a mini-mart employee there. It's a small part, but now you know who I am, you won't miss me this time. (I hope.)
Love,
Kase-kun
P.S. Wait. You haven't seen "Letters From Iwo-Jima"? What's wrong with you?
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| Fight The Signs of Aging |
[Feb. 7th, 2012|11:34 pm] |
Hitched a ride from work with my team the other day, and one of them posed this question - "Which artist's concert would you spend money to see, even if they're old and no longer in fashion?"
"OMG! Debbie Gibson!"
Blank stares. Crickets.
I love my thirties. |
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| Media Map 2011 - Part 3: Music |
[Jan. 9th, 2012|12:20 am] |
In 2011, I rendered most of the songs on my iTunes obsolete as I got into some music from Japan to go with my Japanese movie fix. Who knows why I turned my back on songs written in English last year? If you were to ask me who my favorite new artists from 2011 were, I wouldn't be able to tell you, but I can tell you who my favorite new discoveries were. So, in the spirit of giving and stepping out of your musical comfort zone, I've uploaded a playlist that best defined my year, musically.
Here's the track list,handy-dandy liner notes plus links to all the mp3's!
1. "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" Tomoyasu Hotei (from MTV Unplugged)
It's only apt that I open the playlist with the definitive Hotei track - the one that paid all his bills - yes, it's that song from "Kill Bill" and "Transformers", but this track is stripped down and unplugged. I love how what would normally be the guitar part is arranged here as harmonized humming. It just adds something dark and sinister to an already kick-ass track.
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?bs44odb6gandp03
2. "Diving With My Car" Kishidan (from All Time Super Guest)
3. "Swingin' Nippon" Kishidan
An homage to both Ramones (yay for the "Do You Remember Rock n'Roll Radio" intro) and Hotei, Kishidan contributed to "All Time Super Guest" in 2011. I like to think of this band as a Japanese Parokya Ni Edgar. Lead singer Show Ayanocozey looks a bit like Randy Santiago and his "Vinci Montaner" looks like April Boy Regino - just sayin'. Look them up on youtube - I'd recommend checking out the music video of "Swingin' Nippon", "One Night Carnival" or "Secret Love Story", if ever you're in the mood to fill up your "videos from Japan" quota for the day. Worth it.
Download "Diving With My Car" here: http://www.mediafire.com/?nu82ebqq0ziw69d
Download "Swingin' Nippon" here: http://www.mediafire.com/?jcl3kcka483i8w0
4. "Wagamama Juliet" Boowy
Before Hotei became the rock legend he is today, he was part of Boowy, a band who if I said was big in Japan during the 80's, would be an understatement. I'd liken the phenomenon to when the Eraserheads got big here, and all the record labels wanted to look for the next Eheads. That was how it was like for Boowy. And like the Heads, they'll never play together as a band again. Ever.
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?zp01pd41ny5zd17
5. "I Love You OK" Guitar Wolf
The lead singer of Guitar Wolf is like some sort of Japanese Deedee Ramone. I love Guitar Wolf, but listening to an entire album can get tiresome. (I think it's really because I got old.) Japanese garage rock at its most royal - flames would shoot out of their microphones when they performed live!
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?f36tc2kayrbgvob
6. "Love Letter" The Blue Hearts
I love The Blue Hearts. They were also a seminal Japanese punk band. In my mind, they're like the Japanese Clash. "Love Letter" is taken from "Train Train", which is an excellent album if you're new to them. This song is like if Joe Strummer was from Tokyo and listened to a lot of Smokey Robinson in the summer.
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?akah2adl676zcnf
7. "Coffee Shop Girl" Carol
Another seminal Japanese band, Carol were famous in the 60's and were pioneers of early garage rock - what the Japanese call "group sounds" or GS. If I'm not mistaken, the lead singer of Carol (the dude with the crazy six-pack) went on to have a solo career and one of his hits was "I Love You OK" (yep, the very same song covered by Guitar Wolf from track 5!)
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?0lu10pkaee1p4w8
8. "Girlfriend" The Portugal Japan
I love how a lot of Japanese garage rock bands that came from the year 2000 onwards sing 60's-sounding songs with a 90's grunge band vibe. You know what I mean. There are tons of girl-fronted garage bands in Japan, but I really liked The Portugal Japan. This kind of reminds me of when I was into bands like Bikini Kill, Babes in Toyland and other bands from the riot-grrrl era.
Download trek here: http://www.mediafire.com/?b8eidboen2l28ze
9. "Koise Yo Otomo Chikyuu To Maware" Naporitanzu
This one comes from a compilation album of female-fronted Japanese garage rock bands called "Girls Sazanami Beat". I tried to Google this band, but there's virtually nothing about them in English.
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?fib2axot401x1st
10. "Amai Koibito" Hideki Kaji
From the truly excellent "Detroit Metal City" movie soundtrack. This is the song the filmmakers used as Negishi's song - the lyrics are pretty silly - something about a cheese tart - I was surprised when I found out it was an actual song. I thought it was a really dumb song given the context of the movie, but surprise surprise, I wound up liking it without irony.
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?qd012cd2p4yktf9
11. "Cha No Aji" Little Tempo and Yoko Fujita
The title theme of "The Taste of Tea".
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?s668pst2lc9l1jl
12. "Angel" Hakase (with Little Tempo, I think)
I was looking at the (un-subtitled) trailer of Kenichi Matsuyama's "Sex Is No Laughing Matter" (a.k.a. "Don't Laugh At My Romance") and this song came up. Google difficulty - 10/10.
Download track here: http://www.mediafire.com/?gxsk5ake1rpjirx
Enjoy! There's nothing on this playlist that would appear on Pitchfork, which I'm kind of proud of. |
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| Media Map 2011 - Part 2: Japanese Movies |
[Jan. 4th, 2012|12:31 pm] |
Last year, I heavily got into contemporary Japanese cinema, to the extent where I can recognize and name the actors who keep appearing in the movies I watch. My favorite actors from these films:
Tadanobu Asano
Where you may have seen him: slashing his own mouth in "Ichi The Killer" as Kakihara (ugly bas-ass mofo), or if you're really mainstream, the Japanese dude in "Thor"
Notable on-screen in 2011: "The Taste of Tea" (awkward and endearing), "Survive Style 5+" (OC to the next level), "Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl" (which I didn't really care too much for), "Tokyo Zombie"
Next film of his I need to see: Rampo Noir, Villon's Wife, Funky Forest
Takayuki Yamada
Where you may have seen him before: making dramatic exits in "13 Assassins" as Shinrouko, the nephew
Notable on-screen in 2011: "Crows Zero" (the bad-ass next door), "Crows Zero 2" (bruised but not beaten), "Battle League in Kyoto" (I hesitate to use this word, but ok: adorkable)
Next film of his I need to see: Mirokuroze, Maiko Haaaaan!, Arakawa Under the Bridge, Seaside Motel
Ken'ichi Matsuyama
Where you may have seen him: breaking his own heart in "Norwegian Wood" as Toru Watanabe or if you're really obsessive, the kid who confesses his crush on the Korean kid in "Linda Linda Linda"
Notable on-screen in 2011: "DETROIT METAL CITY" (has got to be my favorite movie seen in 2011!) as the nebbish, shy and simpering Souichi Negishi and the blasphemous fake-rapist rocker Johannes Krauser II (don't you just love the "II"?), "Death Note" (all films in the trilogy, though maybe more so for "L Change the World" just because L can do more in his - spoiler alert- last days on earth than any known human being)
Next film of his I need to see: "Gantz", "Sex Is No Laughing Matter" where he bonks an older woman
Masato Sakai
Where you may have seen him: dunno, really
Notable on-screen in 2011: "Golden Slumber" (like a Japanese "Enemy of the State", a feel-good [didn't think it was possible, but yeah] cat-and-mouse thriller)
Next film of his I need to see: Abacus and Sword
Oguri Shun
Where you may have seen him: the Japanese version of "Boys Over Flowers"
Notable on-screen in 2011: "Crows Zero" (as Genji, the new Alpha male in Suzuran All-Boys School), "Crows Zero 2" (less character development, more eye candy)
Next film of his I need to see: Surely Someday (which he directed!), Arakawa Under the Bridge
DETROIT METAL CITY is my ultimate feel-good movie of 2011, edging out "SAMURAI FICTION"! Matsuken is awe-inspiring to watch, shifting from one character to the next in a split second. It must come from a special Japanese school of acting [seriously makes my jaw drop, especially from someone so young]. Here are the two characters he plays in the film:
Krauser-san and Negishi - just two peas in a pod
Other Japanese films I saw in 2011 and loved:
"Fish Story" - What if you can save the world with just one song?
"Cold Fish" - scary and disturbing. The adorable lead from "Samurai Fiction" grows up and falls prey to a serial killer
"Samurai Fiction" - opened a different door, fandom-wise, but that deserves a different entry
"Linda Linda Linda" - notable cameo of Boowy's "Psychopath" album
"Swing Girls" - either makes you want to start a band or listen to swing music all day
"The Taste of Tea" - dreamy beautiful and unexpectedly touching. Also has its profound absurd moments.
"Outrage" - Yakuza 2k10 by Takeshi Kitano
"Wild Zero" - a garage rock rom-zom-com with a transexual
"Kamikaze Girls" - though do not watch the Italian dub/Japanese sub. It will make your head hurt.
"Sukiyaki Western Django" - trippy
Actively sought out: Takashi Miike movies, yakuza films, weird and bizarre Japanese comedies that exist for no apparent reason than to blow your mind, films that the above actors have starred in that also happen to be weird and bizarre
I'm looking forward to seeing "Abraxas", which is about a punk rocker turned monk who stages a gig to battle depression (this stars real life musician Suneohair [he made the end themes for "Honey and Clover]; "Tatsumi", about manga artist Yoshihiro Tatsumi; Studio Ghibli's "Arriety" and the films I already have but didn't have time for: "High Kick Girl", "Lala Pipo", "Love Exposure", "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun" and "Zebraman". |
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| Media Map 2011 - Part 1: Books |
[Jan. 4th, 2012|11:50 am] |
"Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook" Anthony Bourdain
"Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven" Susan Jane Gilman
"Dark Star Safari" Paul Theroux
"Maggie the Mechanic" Jaime Hernandez
"The Girl From H.O.P.P.E.R.S." Jaime Hernandez
"Perla La Loca" Jaime Hernandez
"The Hunger Games" Suzanne Collins
"Anastasia Absolutely" Lois Lowry
"Anastasia Has the Answers" Lois Lowry
"Fresh Air Fiend" Paul Theroux
"Strange Piece of Paradise" Terri Jentz
"The Happy Isles of the Oceania" Paul Theroux
"Jarhead" Anthony Swofford
"Mystic River" Dennis Lehane
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Stieg Larsson
"Lush Life" Richard Price
"On Writing" Stephen King
"Little Things" Jeffrey Brown
"The Collected Works of T.S. Spivet" Reif Larsen
"Solanin" Inio Asano
"Odds Are Good" Bruce Coville
"My Boring-Ass Life" Kevin Smith
"A Game of Thrones" George RR Martin
"A Clash of Kings" George RR Martin
"City of Glass" Paul Auster
"City of Glass" Paul Auster (graphic novel adaptation)
"Nocturnes" Kazuo Ishiguro
"The Elephant Vanishes" Haruki Murakami
"South of the Border, West of the Sun" Haruki Murakami
"After Dark" Haruki Murakami
"A Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" Haruki Murakami
"Maus 1" Art Spiegelman
"Maus 2" Art Spiegelman
"Shortcomings" Adrian Tomine
"I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir" Mickey Leigh with Legs McNeil
"Clapton" Eric Clapton
"Role Models" John Waters
"Wilson" Daniel Clowes
"Melvin Monster" John Stanley
"What It Is" Lynda Barry
"Red Colored Elegy" Seichi Hayashi
"A Visit From The Good Squad" Jennifer Egan
"Tokyo Vice" Jake Adelstein
"Bossypants" Tina Fey
"Pretty Little Liars" Sara Shepard (on ebook)
"PLL: Flawless" Sara Shepard (on ebook)
"PLL: Perfect" Sara Shepard (on ebook)
Notable for 2011:
"City of Glass" by Paul Auster
A friend asked me what I was currently reading and I said "City of Glass" by Paul Auster. She went, "NO WAY. I'm reading that right now." Yes, this book is alive and sentient. Beware.
"I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir" Mickey Leigh with Legs McNeil
Do you remember rock n' roll radio? 100% guaranteed to make you cry in the last 80 pages.
"Role Models" John Waters
Just the most fun memoir I read this year.
"A Visit From the Goon Squad" Jennifer Egan
Lives up to the hype.
"The Collected Works of T.S. Spivet" Reif Larsen
Like a Wes Anderson movie. Just provide your own soundtrack.
"Shortcomings" Adrian Tomine
Finally got my hands on my own copy after 48 years.
"The Happy Isles of the Oceania" Paul Theroux
My favorite book of his so far.
"My Boring-Ass Life" Kevin Smith
Read entirely during MRT rides. Violent reactions from other passengers: 1, a senior citizen. She was appalled, then curious.
Pretty Little Liars Books
The first books read on epub format. Oh, Jess, I don't think we're in Sweet Valley anymore! You know what needs its own epub format? The Sweet Dreams classic "P.S. I Love You".
Reading forecast for 2012: more epub, less print. I don't have enough space in my house for more books! Also - I'm very pleasantly surprised with how quickly I have taken to reading on a tablet. Downside (though, not really) - now have more books on the digital shelf to keep me occupied for the next year. Not that that's stopping me from acquiring more titles. Admit it - the acquisition is more fun than the actual reading. |
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| Marketing Killed the Livejournal Star |
[Dec. 9th, 2011|07:23 pm] |
Happy to have read a blog entry that didn't have Marketing-fuelled content.
This is why I still log on to LJ every so often.
Stay real, LJ friends. |
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