Hue he he

Watched Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi and Itoshi Kimi E before going over to Shuyan’s house today for froak. Didn’t really discuss much. 8 minutes of sunrays killed our mental, couldn’t really think much or hear what the rest was talking about.

Was looking forward to watching Persepolis today with Xiao Yan. Alas! when we reached Alliance Francoise, turns out the movie tickets has sold out. So we walked around, had dinner and went to Kino to browse Japanese manga and magazines. Not that we understand anything. That xiaoyan is into jap manga and shows makes me very happy. ureshii. Got someone to talk to. And it’s amusing how we can suddenly talk about Juri Ueno and I just watched her movie last night. Or Erika Toda, whom i watched this morning in Tsubasa.

hafta do costumes now. laters

Turtles swim faster than expected

lately things have gone beyond logic & comprehension.

Turtle Swims Faster than Expected. Stumbled upon this movie because of Juri Ueno. Think Juri and comic comes straight into my mind. She’s got the uncanny ability to take on amusing roles without jarring on your nerves or coming across as lame. Some people just try so hard it’s nn longer funny to watch. First in swing girls, then in Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi and now this. Go go Juri!

I have yet to complete the movie but so far it’s so ridiculous it’s funny. She’s not convincing as a housewife (age-wise i guess) but as an nondescript invinsible lonely housewife, definitely. Alot of ??? parts. Like when she was climbing the stairs a carton of apples started to descend in an avalanche towards her. Promptly she dropped down and lay flat. And spot a sim card scale of a spy poster.

 Sounds incredulous eh? Like when she flung out her turtle, who seems to be having more attention than her, out of the window, only to have a parachute saving the poor kame. When she’s describing her life in comparison with Karuja (think that’s the name), the bag and stickers I thought that was just hilarious. The spy couple is weird. Funny at times. They looked like they came from Trick set.

I didn’t complete the movie in the end.

G@me

Been wanting to watch this movie for quite some time back already. When I first watch Nakama Yukie on Trick. Enjoyable, not particularly striking. Fujiki Naohito is suave advertising executive Sakuma. Nakama Yukie is Chiharu, the supposed Hostage. Chemistry is great. Nakama looks far more suited with Fujiki. Sexy.

She reminds me alot of a friend of mine in secondary school. Wansu. Think it’s the hair.   

The first 1 hour is predictable. After which, all the big big relevation of a twist started manifesting in hints and clues until the final affirmation at Sakuma’s home. Sia la. He’s got a cool pad I would die for. Ending is oorright. Agreed with Chiharu’s decision to “self mutilate” herself by denying herself of her love. Yeah man, Juri is dead. Doesn’t anyone care?

Nakama in this glasses is Yankumi. Stereotype rooted.

I’m an Iguana.

Iguana No Musume. Alot of factors would have deter me from watching this drama. That it was aired in 1996. That plot-wise it sounds really absurd. That the cast are not so spectacular. That the fashion back then of high waisted everything and ankle-long skirts makes me cringe. That the ending theme is Your Song. But Kanno Miho is fronting the show as Rika, the high school girl who developed low self-esteem because she thinked she is an iguana. Full credit goes to the mum, who turned out to be an iguana princess. D-uh. I held on to the last bit hoping some doctor would pop out and tell me it’s depression, really.

Funny that the drama is derived from a manga. the manga had to be real popular in order to be adapted right. Stayed on through the eleven episodes because Kanno Miho makes it bearable to watch. Nobuko served as a reminder of what a pretty boy looked like in the 90s. That centre-parting loopy fringe, some baby fat here and there, like nick carter of bsb fame. Sister could not act for nuts. Though her role was endearing towards the end. Best friend was nice, but they had to go kill her off. Because 2 girls don’t make a good ending.

Of all the dramas I have been watching lately, it surprised me that my sister would take an interest to this one. checking out the spoilers and even watching the finale together. oh yeah. In the end she looked at her reflection and no longer was there a silly-looking low budget Iguana staring at her back. More godzilla, dude.

Could have been a funny review. but i won’t. Because I’m biased. Kanno miho

Dolls

My second time watching Dolls, a 2002 Takeshi Kitano production. Yes, that Zaitochi. I’ve been watching Kanno Miho dramas and films lately. Can’t get enough of her. This time around, did screenshots because Dolls is very .

Inspired by Bunraku theatre in the screenplay (which began and conclude the movie), 3 contemporary stories of undying love. and seemingly foolish choices. kanno Miho as Sawako is deeply moving, especially in the scene where she alternates between crying and playing with her toy in the car. As well as the final revelation scene. Mesmerised.

Hiro’s scene is poignant. Was hoping he didn’t have to die. not that I loathe Death. But just that his love will never get to realise that it was him all along.

 

inter-year games

Wednesday: Float

Thursday: Float

Friday: Float

Are we overworking? Whatever it is, i’m enjoying myself. Doing something I like, having the blazing passion within me. Friday afternoon at the Esplanade Library. I loved to chit-chat at quiet places. Eeleng’s apparently into this Hokkien “qua”, sang by this woman with a nose that could give Mr Jackson a run for his money. We did a little research on taiwan for our upcoming trip. Chinese words just don’t register in my head.

IYG today. Hongyi gave both Justine and I a ride. Very kind of him, after all, as an asst logistic ic I didn’t help out as much. Wellll, I did went to find Prof Loh. Early morning the sun was in its glaring glory. I could feel the spf 40 sunblock dissipating from my face with every step i took towards the netball court in src. Lugging along heavy equipment, balls and scoreboard.

We started the games with tennis and soccer. Tennis was fuunnn. Plonk! Ball meets racquet. Swing Swing. Qianli was coach for the day, dispensing helpful advice to justine. who loves to make us shahira and me run for the ball in all directions. I had a good time. But the sun. The searing and scorching.

I had been playing  dodgeball with the sunny for the entire hols, avoiding outdoors in the afternoon, and shifting minor engagements to after dusk. My umbrella being an indispensable. Today’s game was enough to negate all my efforts.

And after tennis. the girls sought relief under the canopy of umbrellas. I passed time by taking control of the mighty speakers. My ipod had its share of glory today. Played beatles, raptures, pipettes and some cool songs.

IYG prize presentation. I walked away with a well-deserved First in Netball medal. We all have one.

A log

Mahjong at Shuyan’s house saw the usual nel-lites. Shuyan started the ball rolling by concluding the first round with a 五台. At about 5.30pm, we took to the couch and flip channels. Watched an episode of friends, the one where everyone finds out Chandler and Monica are dating. Real old huh.

Eight pm, we headed to Maxwell rd. There’s this chinese eatery. forgot whatsitname. 群众小吃? Recommended by dear Columbus. The food was great. 小笼包,炸酱拉面,面锅贴 what have you. I wasn’t full at the end of it. But i have to stop. If im going to lose 10.4kg I have to.

We strolled along chinatown, it was pretty cool. Wanted to have desserts at this place in clarke quay but somehow we settled by the river and started chatting instead. Hongyi & Justine were unusually argumentative that night, discussing something along the lines of friends & acquaintances. It’s a battles against the sexes. Was it?

I don’t like to debate. I can’t. I either lose interest in proving my point or build a weak argument with no direction whatsoever.

You don’t need a spoon & you don’t have a point card.

I’m at the last episode of Kekkon Dekinai Otoko.

Really, there is nothing I desire to do except to settle down on my couch and watch crunchyroll for countless hours. Addiction. I put on my running shoes yesterday evening. I jogged for 2 minutes, then decide to turn tail and head home. I’m wasting time running. Timely headache tells me I should not be out.

Kekkon Dekinai Otoko. Abe’s finest performance. Think he really brings out kuwano’s character in a very subtle manner though his gestures and emotions. Simple acts like buying grocery and renting dvd (these scenes keep coming back) show his disdain for human interaction. His relationship with Ken is cute. The neighbour is cute as well. Compared to Our Textbook and Tantei Galileo however, I would say I prefer the latter 2 to this one.

I can’t do without cliffhangers.

What I don’t understand is Kaneda’s reappearance in almost every episode. “Kaneda Updated.” Epitome of japanese drama quirks. And Yui Nagasawa is a striking resemblance of Mediacorp actress Chen Li Ping. Her rapid-fire rebuttal with the facade of a smile. Good to watch. I like the ending. I also like sayazawa character. hmm..feels like tanaka mizuho (Ryo) in Sapuri.

Taiyaki

Right after I concluded Tantei Galileo, I went on to watch Watashitachi no kyokasho (Our Textbook). Piqued my curiosity because of Itoh Atsushi and the atypical storyline. I was expecting something more dark. Like secrets and deceptions and murder. But well, I wasn’t disappointed at all.

I watched all 12 episodes in one sitting. Was about 8pm since I started watching the last few eps of Galileo then I moved on to Our Textbook.

This drama deserves far more credit than the rating statistics when it aired same period last year. Unlike most japanese dramas which prefer to keep the tone light-hearted, this one addresses pertinent issues.

Ten minutes into the first episode and i was entralled by the combative lawyer with her cute glasses. Then it hit home that it was Kanno Miho. First caught her performance in Koi Ga Shitai X3 and she’s really beautiful. Itoh Atsushi’s role as Kaji Sensei is reminscent of yamada-san in densha otoko. Goofy, passionate, what have you.

The plot is really nicely woven though some people might felt let down by the ending. I exceptionally love the part where Tsumiki realised why her ex-husband left her, where Asuka was a kid and her essay.

In Ep 4, Kaji and Tsumiki ordered Brazillian set in the restaurent. The waitress slammed 2 plates of fried rice with a small Brazillian flag perched on top on the table.

Best since densha otoko. And less cheesy moments. Though some parts creep me out.

Not a slightest clue

Completed Tantei Galileo in 2 days. It’s been a while since i watched japanese dramas so this one is one good start. Guess a comparison between tantei galileo and trick is inevitable. One very striking fact is that Fukuyama Masaharu laughs the same way as Hiroshi Abe! I was taken aback the moment he broke into laughter at the 2nd or 3rd episode. Masha is extremely charming in this drama. Although Kou Shibasaki’s look does not appeal to me, I enjoyed her acting in this show.

Can see why this drama scored at the 55th television awards. Some things i just can’t stand though. First, whenever the answer hit home, Yukawa will grab a chalk/marker/pen and start scribbling on random surfaces like tabletops, glass walls etc. Cue music, cue zooming of camera into his ear, cue important flashbacks. Every episode I dread this part. Second, the fact that Yukawa can cook, shoot bullseye, box, rock-climb, play squash, what have you. I don’t tolerate all rounders and over-achievers. 

yeah, i know what you’re going to say.  

Chemistry-wise I’ll say it’s excellent. I like it. And I also look forward to the cameos in each episode, such as shingo katori, ryoko hirosue, kyoko fukada. Imagine if Kindaichi or “why don’t you do your best?” Ueda stars cameo it would be quite hilarious. final showdown between physics and magic tricks!