I have been really digging the new R.E.M. single, “Supernatural Superserious.” You can check out the video below, which has the trio roaming around New York and was directed by Vincent Moon (The National, among others). Hopefully Accelerate will be better than Around the Sun.
Monday, February 18
Saturday, February 16
Topic: HK Scandal
*A week ago my mom asked me if I heard about the Edison Chen scandal. Those of you who know me know I LOVE my Hong Kong films and Mr. Chen is a popular actor most known for his role in the Infernal Affairs movies. Apparently the whole mess started when he took his laptop in to get repaired but failed to remove all 1,300 naughty photos he took with MANY famous and not so famous Asian starlets.
The funny part was my mom asked my dad if he could find the pictures for her to look at and my dad said the secretary at his work asked him the same thing. I read in some articles that during the Lunar New Year family gatherings the scandal was the main topic of discussion and old grandmothers are asking to see the pictures. There was even a story about it on CNN.
Of course I wanted to get a peek at these photos. Some of them were with actress Cecilia Cheung, whom I quite like. So for your curiosity, you can view the pictures here. It will be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out. According to this article - "Hong Kong tabloids are now running reports that there are plans by gangsters to "teach a lesson" to Chen, the Times reported, noting organised crime was a key element in the Hong Kong entertainment industry."
*A week ago my mom asked me if I heard about the Edison Chen scandal. Those of you who know me know I LOVE my Hong Kong films and Mr. Chen is a popular actor most known for his role in the Infernal Affairs movies. Apparently the whole mess started when he took his laptop in to get repaired but failed to remove all 1,300 naughty photos he took with MANY famous and not so famous Asian starlets.
The funny part was my mom asked my dad if he could find the pictures for her to look at and my dad said the secretary at his work asked him the same thing. I read in some articles that during the Lunar New Year family gatherings the scandal was the main topic of discussion and old grandmothers are asking to see the pictures. There was even a story about it on CNN.
Of course I wanted to get a peek at these photos. Some of them were with actress Cecilia Cheung, whom I quite like. So for your curiosity, you can view the pictures here. It will be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out. According to this article - "Hong Kong tabloids are now running reports that there are plans by gangsters to "teach a lesson" to Chen, the Times reported, noting organised crime was a key element in the Hong Kong entertainment industry."
Friday, February 15
Topic: A good laugh
*Pigern's buddy found this EXCELLENT site called Stuff White People Like that had me laughing so hard. I love it so much, maybe because of how true it is. Some of my favorites are no. 58 Japan, no. 63 expensive sandwiches, no. 25 David Sedaris, no. 45 Asian Fusion food and of course no. 11 Asian girls. Oh Darth ... look you have this one. I need to keep my hate strong.
*Pigern's buddy found this EXCELLENT site called Stuff White People Like that had me laughing so hard. I love it so much, maybe because of how true it is. Some of my favorites are no. 58 Japan, no. 63 expensive sandwiches, no. 25 David Sedaris, no. 45 Asian Fusion food and of course no. 11 Asian girls. Oh Darth ... look you have this one. I need to keep my hate strong.
Thursday, February 14
Here are some fun facts for you:
- In order of popularity, Valentine's Day cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.
- The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.
- 73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.
- About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged in US each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.
Wednesday, February 13
YEAH BABY!!: A Guitar Hero 3 moment
This accomplishment deserves to be posted on all 3 blogs I'm involved with. I beat "Cliffs of Dover" on Guitar Hero 3 on HARD level, not once but TWICE last night. Granted I didn't do very well but I beat it!! To help you understand how difficult a feat it is, I have attached a YouTube video to help demonstrate.
Tuesday, February 12
Topic: Torrance, $2 dollar movies, Firecracker Run, Yum Cha
*Funny you should mention that Hedwig. I was just thinking of 1. how tired I am doing movie reviews and 2. how I am not even watching that many movies anymore. I would love for everyone to blog about random boring crap in their lives but no one will so eh. I am over doing anything about it.
*Last Friday, Hedwig, Darth and I drove to our friend's new apt in Torrance. Being the awesome guy he was he had no furniture besides a dining room table, even though he has been there for a month. At least we got to make carpet prints of our hands!
*Apparently the Regency Theatre in Pasadena is offering matinee movies for $2 dollars AND $1 hotdogs!!! To say I was ecstatic would be an understatement. I love cheap things.
*On Sunday I got up early and headed to Chinatown for the 30th LA Firecracker Run. This is my third time doing it but only second time actually going. Last year it was raining and I choose to sleep instead of run. It was a fun walk/jog I did with my friend. I think the best part was all the free stuff we got after the run.
*I am always down to check out new (yum cha) dim sum places and this one called Elite is getting all the rave (according to the LA Times) so I went to check it out with my family. We got there at 9:30 am, which is way EARLY for dim sum and the place was already packed. Disturbingly enough, people were waiting BEFORE 9 am to get a seat. WTF. At this point I was a bit intrigued, I thought the food must be laced with crack. After waiting 35 mins we finally got seated and yes the food was quite tasty. I liked the skin of their dumplings, the noodles were good and the egg tarts were done in Portuguese-style popular in Macau. To be honest, I don't think I would do the wait all the time. I can get some yummy dim sum at NBC and Capital Seafood nearby for half the time. Although the real test of a great dim sum place is how many old people are in there. They are the true food critics.
*Funny you should mention that Hedwig. I was just thinking of 1. how tired I am doing movie reviews and 2. how I am not even watching that many movies anymore. I would love for everyone to blog about random boring crap in their lives but no one will so eh. I am over doing anything about it.
*Last Friday, Hedwig, Darth and I drove to our friend's new apt in Torrance. Being the awesome guy he was he had no furniture besides a dining room table, even though he has been there for a month. At least we got to make carpet prints of our hands!
*Apparently the Regency Theatre in Pasadena is offering matinee movies for $2 dollars AND $1 hotdogs!!! To say I was ecstatic would be an understatement. I love cheap things.
*On Sunday I got up early and headed to Chinatown for the 30th LA Firecracker Run. This is my third time doing it but only second time actually going. Last year it was raining and I choose to sleep instead of run. It was a fun walk/jog I did with my friend. I think the best part was all the free stuff we got after the run.
*I am always down to check out new (yum cha) dim sum places and this one called Elite is getting all the rave (according to the LA Times) so I went to check it out with my family. We got there at 9:30 am, which is way EARLY for dim sum and the place was already packed. Disturbingly enough, people were waiting BEFORE 9 am to get a seat. WTF. At this point I was a bit intrigued, I thought the food must be laced with crack. After waiting 35 mins we finally got seated and yes the food was quite tasty. I liked the skin of their dumplings, the noodles were good and the egg tarts were done in Portuguese-style popular in Macau. To be honest, I don't think I would do the wait all the time. I can get some yummy dim sum at NBC and Capital Seafood nearby for half the time. Although the real test of a great dim sum place is how many old people are in there. They are the true food critics.
So I was bored and went into our archives from 2002. It was funny to read all our ramblings, even though it did probably get old. It's just interesting to look back on what we were doing in our lives at that point. I KNOW this blog has changed to a review blog and we all have our own personal blogs, but it would be nice to hear what you guys are up to from time to time; even if it is to bitch about our boring lives. :) Of course this is pending approval from New Wave herself. Please don't kick me off the blog....just an idea???
Monday, February 11
Does anyone else think that "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" is the lamest "dance" show ever? First of all, it's called "Dance War" not "Sing and Dance War." I was excited about this show initially, but then after watching the live shows, I now think it's lame. It's less dancing, more performing; almost like training them to perform in musicals, lame stage shows, or cruise ships. Just my 2 cents.
On the flip side of that is, Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew on MTV. I thought THIS is what Dance War was going to be about. Yeah, Mario Lopez tries to act like he's hard and Lil Mama(where did she even come from?) talks a lot of nothing, but it's what I love about dancing. Here's Kaba Modern from UCI, ASIANS REPRESENT!
On the flip side of that is, Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew on MTV. I thought THIS is what Dance War was going to be about. Yeah, Mario Lopez tries to act like he's hard and Lil Mama(where did she even come from?) talks a lot of nothing, but it's what I love about dancing. Here's Kaba Modern from UCI, ASIANS REPRESENT!
Sunday, February 10
(M) 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Cristian Mungiu, 2007) Grade: A-Intense is the best way to describe this film, winner of the 2007 Cannes Golden Palm. Set in 1980s Romania, 4 Months... follows two roommmates: one is seeking an illegal, back-alley abortion and the other is helping her. Director Mungiu doesn’t take sides on the controversy, instead focusing on the dilemma and the emotion and desperation involved in the women’s choices. If anyone sees this film, let me know, because I have a few unanswered questions I want to discuss...
Thursday, February 7
Tuesday, February 5
If anyone watches either The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report or Late Night With Conan O’Brien, then you probably have seen the running gag among all three shows. Seriously hilarious stuff. Love it. Below is a video of them “fighting,” but to see more, just type “conan” and “colbert” in a YouTube search.
Monday, February 4
Thursday, January 31
(M) Once. (John Carney, 2006) Grade: A-
Thoughts: Wow! Once is such a simple and charming film about a street preformer guy (Glen Hansard) who meets a flower selling girl (Marketa Irglova) and over the process of a week compose and record a record together. It was such an impressive film considering the budget was around $150k and all the music was written by the two artist. I need to buy this soundtrack.
(M) Shoot 'Em Up. (Michael Davis, 2007) Grade: D
Thoughts: This movie was insight into the mind of a male, a place I never want to go. It was all violence, rock music and sex and no plot or storyline. I love Clive Owen but this was hard to watch.
(M) Away From Her. (Sarah Polley, 2006) Grade: C+
Thoughts: Away From Her is like The Notebook minus Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Julie Christie does a great job as Fiona Anderson and I felt for her husband Grant Anderson (Gordon Pinsent), who has to deal with his wife’s Alzheimer’s disease.
(M) Raising Arizona. (Joel Coen, 1987) Grade: B+
Thoughts: Kooky child kidnapping story about ex-con H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage) and his cop wife Edwina “Ed” McDunnough (Holly Hunter). Nicolas Cage did such a good job in this role; I don’t think he was even trying. John Goodman, Sam McMurray and Frances McDormand also co-star.
(M) Ballon Rouge, Le (Red Ballon) / Crin-Blanc (White Mane). (Albert Lamorisse, 1956/1953) Grade: B+/B-
Thoughts: Using his own young son, Lamorisse creates an enchanting and moving tale about a young boy and his red balloon. It is a sweet tale about friendship and loss and only 34 minutes long. Unfortunately, I did not feel the same way about White Mane. Folco, a young boy, befriends a wild white stallion to the surprise of some cowboys who are trying to capture. In both these films, there is barely any dialogue but it works because they are both telling simple tales.
Movie Count: 5
Thoughts: Wow! Once is such a simple and charming film about a street preformer guy (Glen Hansard) who meets a flower selling girl (Marketa Irglova) and over the process of a week compose and record a record together. It was such an impressive film considering the budget was around $150k and all the music was written by the two artist. I need to buy this soundtrack.
(M) Shoot 'Em Up. (Michael Davis, 2007) Grade: D
Thoughts: This movie was insight into the mind of a male, a place I never want to go. It was all violence, rock music and sex and no plot or storyline. I love Clive Owen but this was hard to watch.
(M) Away From Her. (Sarah Polley, 2006) Grade: C+
Thoughts: Away From Her is like The Notebook minus Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Julie Christie does a great job as Fiona Anderson and I felt for her husband Grant Anderson (Gordon Pinsent), who has to deal with his wife’s Alzheimer’s disease.
(M) Raising Arizona. (Joel Coen, 1987) Grade: B+
Thoughts: Kooky child kidnapping story about ex-con H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage) and his cop wife Edwina “Ed” McDunnough (Holly Hunter). Nicolas Cage did such a good job in this role; I don’t think he was even trying. John Goodman, Sam McMurray and Frances McDormand also co-star.
(M) Ballon Rouge, Le (Red Ballon) / Crin-Blanc (White Mane). (Albert Lamorisse, 1956/1953) Grade: B+/B-
Thoughts: Using his own young son, Lamorisse creates an enchanting and moving tale about a young boy and his red balloon. It is a sweet tale about friendship and loss and only 34 minutes long. Unfortunately, I did not feel the same way about White Mane. Folco, a young boy, befriends a wild white stallion to the surprise of some cowboys who are trying to capture. In both these films, there is barely any dialogue but it works because they are both telling simple tales.
Movie Count: 5
Tuesday, January 29
(M) Enchanted. (Kevin Lima, 2007) Grade: C
Thoughts: Amy Adams was great as Giselle, a cartoon princess trapped in real life. Unfortunately, Patrick Dempsey is not a great leading man. The whole time I was cheering on James Marsden (Prince Edward). This movie was a very disturbing look at what it would be like if fairy tales movies we watched were real. However, one of the best scenes was when everyone was singing in Central Park that was pretty humorous.
(M) The Hoax. (Lasse Hallstrom, 2006) Grade: C
Thoughts: The subject matter about the film was more interesting than the film itself. In early 1971, struggling writer Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) “claims” to McGraw-Hill that he is working personally with Howard Hughes’s to write his autobiography. The best part about the movie was insight to what a genius/crazed man Howard Hughes’s was. Hope Davis, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden and Julie Delpy also co-star.
(M) Eastern Promises. (David Cronenberg, 2007) Grade: B+
Thoughts: Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife, gets caught up in the messy business of London’s most notorious organized crime family. Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen) plays the families’ chauffeur who befriends Anna and tries to help and warn her against the questions she is asking. Honestly though I think I only liked this film for one reason – Viggo Mortensen naked.
(M) A Christmas Story. (Bob Clark, 1983) Grade: B+
Thoughts: Every year, TBS plays this movie for 24 hours on Christmas day so I decided to catch one viewing. This is such a classic cult film it is hard to give it a rating. Although it is no It’s a Wonderful Life it is definitely an enjoyable and silly holiday classic. I personally can’t relate to it because I was never raised in a "white" Christmas environment but I can respect it.
(TV) Wives & Daughters. (Nicholas Renton, 1999) Grade: A-
Thoughts: A great mini series based upon another one of Elizabeth Gaskell’s books. Molly Gibson (Justine Waddell) has to deal with her dad remarrying and a new mother and sister. It was quite enjoyable though not as good as North and South.
2007 Movie Count: 129
Thoughts: Amy Adams was great as Giselle, a cartoon princess trapped in real life. Unfortunately, Patrick Dempsey is not a great leading man. The whole time I was cheering on James Marsden (Prince Edward). This movie was a very disturbing look at what it would be like if fairy tales movies we watched were real. However, one of the best scenes was when everyone was singing in Central Park that was pretty humorous.
(M) The Hoax. (Lasse Hallstrom, 2006) Grade: C
Thoughts: The subject matter about the film was more interesting than the film itself. In early 1971, struggling writer Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) “claims” to McGraw-Hill that he is working personally with Howard Hughes’s to write his autobiography. The best part about the movie was insight to what a genius/crazed man Howard Hughes’s was. Hope Davis, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden and Julie Delpy also co-star.
(M) Eastern Promises. (David Cronenberg, 2007) Grade: B+
Thoughts: Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife, gets caught up in the messy business of London’s most notorious organized crime family. Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen) plays the families’ chauffeur who befriends Anna and tries to help and warn her against the questions she is asking. Honestly though I think I only liked this film for one reason – Viggo Mortensen naked.
(M) A Christmas Story. (Bob Clark, 1983) Grade: B+
Thoughts: Every year, TBS plays this movie for 24 hours on Christmas day so I decided to catch one viewing. This is such a classic cult film it is hard to give it a rating. Although it is no It’s a Wonderful Life it is definitely an enjoyable and silly holiday classic. I personally can’t relate to it because I was never raised in a "white" Christmas environment but I can respect it.
(TV) Wives & Daughters. (Nicholas Renton, 1999) Grade: A-
Thoughts: A great mini series based upon another one of Elizabeth Gaskell’s books. Molly Gibson (Justine Waddell) has to deal with her dad remarrying and a new mother and sister. It was quite enjoyable though not as good as North and South.
2007 Movie Count: 129
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