Saturday, December 31, 2011

Music Within (2007)

Comment(s)
Music Within (2007)

Music Within (2007) was a true story of Richard Pimentel, a disability rights activist who came out with training materials to assist employers in hiring disabled people into the workplace. the story started out with Richard being a young man. he had a remarkable gift for public speaking. despite her admiration towards Dr. Padrow, he was informed that he didn't have anything to talk about until he lived a fuller life. he enlisted himself in the military and was sent to Vietnam. he lost his hearing on the battlefield. he returned frustrated, in fear of never achieving his dreams for being deaf.

the story had great drama, while being informative, it was also hilarious. the friendship developed between 2 unlikely characters was simply incredible. despite both being stubborn, their determination can truly make a difference in life. watching Richard struggling for his dream was highly motivating. it reminded us of the prejudices often threw automatically at the disabled.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Subterfuge.

Comment(s)
Plants (Samsung Mini)

she looked around frantically, hair stuck up at the side of her head, believing that there was a reason, an excuse even, which would help her to cope with everything. it wasn't easy being popular, so easily recognized even when she stepped out 2-minutes for the mails. after all these years living under the bright spotlight, she thought by moving to a different place, steered clear of the busy town, she would be safe. only now did she realized it was anything but. it followed her everywhere, every corner, like some curse or disease she couldn't quite shake off. taking shelter behind the first gigantic pillar she laid eyes on, she took a deep breath like what he instructed beforehand. it's time to come up with plan, she thought, shoulder slumping heavily.

覆い焼きする。

Thursday, December 29, 2011

IS: Infinite Stratos (2011)

Comment(s)
Infinite Stratos

the IS (Infitinite Stratos) was a high-tech combat system. due to its overwhelming power, it was designed to balance the strength between men and women, where it can only be operated by women. however, Ichika was discovered to have the capability to operate an IS, he was sent to the IS Academy, an international academy where IS pilots from all over the world were trained. being the first male student in the academy, his school life of being surrounded by girls began.

despite the beautiful characters and mechas, the plot unfortunately only touched everything on its surface. the characters had stood out characteristics that made them easily lovable. however the limited amount of battles and episodes gave them very little space to expand or engaging us viewers. for a Harem anime, Infinite Stratos (2011) was successful in providing some enjoyable eye-candies, anything else more defined would be unfortunately, unavailable.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Yuki ゆき

Comment(s)
Cat (Samsung Mini)

as we were sitting on the porch, chatting away one cool afternoon, he returned from his usual roams and placed himself on the coffee table right in front of us. watching everything else but us, yet he insisted on finding a comfortable spot right there within our vision. always a proud little punk that can't get enough attention for himself. but of course he probably learned it through experience, that by staying within our vision will eventually lead us into the temptation of stroking his inviting fur. now that explains.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Wizard of Gore (2007)

Comment(s)
Wizard of Gore (2007)

The Wizard of Gore (2007) was a remake of the 1970 original film. Montag the Magnificent was a magician that on his shows, killed beautiful women in brutal and torturous ways, but these women would appear alive and unharmed at the end of the magic trick. however after the show, these women would be found dead with the same wounds that Montag gave them during the show. Ed was a curious reporter that intended to solve this mystery. but before he realized, he discovered that he may be more involved in these mysterious than he thought.

the Horror genre reached another level with The Wizard of Gore (2007). it had an absolutely bizarre and twisted plot, with scenes that are extremely gross and had an odd sense of horror compared to the usual ones. including the creepy atmosphere with its carnival music, the result may not be entirely successful, but it was definitely an entertaining and unique experience.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Darkest Powers #1: The Summoning (2008)

Comment(s)
The Summoning

one day in school, Chloe was suddenly able to see ghosts, which caused her to scream and run like crazy in the hallway. she was removed from school and threw into a home for "troubled teens", called the Lyle House. she was introduced to the nurses and new housemates, each with a reason to be there. Derek, who appeared huge and frightening to Chloe, always appeared out of nowhere, causing her distress. but Chloe soon became great friends with Liz, her new roommate. when she thought it was all hallucinations like the nurses claimed her "sickness" to be, she came across another ghost in Lyle House. she tried running away from it, purposely avoiding the basement and the attic, but soon she discovered the truth behind Lyle House by listening to clues left by the wandering ghost of a necromancer that was once trapped and experimented on in the house, which at the same time she discovered that the reason behind her ability to communicate with ghosts was caused by her being a necromancer as well.

before i was able to label Chloe as some random shy teen that had trouble standing out or asking a guy to the dance, she started having the ability to see ghosts and everything turned interesting! the book was entrancing and an extremely fast-read, it easily sucked me in and had me whimpering for more when it came to an end. the ghosts, the supernaturals, even the humans were filled with such depths and connections that they were so easy to love or hate. the plot was suspenseful and action-packed, with exciting twists that kept me guessing at all times!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Hidan no Aria (2011)
緋弾のアリア

Comment(s)
Aria the Scarlet Ammo

students from Tokyo Butei High underwent special training to become a Butei (武装探偵), certified to capture criminals. Kinji was a second year students there. he had a special ability but kept it hidden to maintain an ordinary life. he decided to quit the academy, but was attacked by the mysterious Butei Killer. Aria, an elite came to his rescue and since then teamed up with him.

the anime felt similar to Toradora (2008), which we absolutely adored! Aria had a Tsundere (ツンデレ) characteristic, a complete opposite of Shirayuki, Kinji's childhood friend. for obvious reason, the girls fought for Kinji's attention but simultaneously protected him from harm. Kinji's special god mode ability was something new to look out for. it balanced out his unwillingness to participate in hunting down the Butei Killer, which also brought Aria to her knees. the combination was absolutely fascinating!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Phantasmogorical.

Comment(s)
Sky (Samsung Mini)

she stared at him, her face solemn and unforgiving. her slim fingers trailed down the front of her dress, plucking at the big, red ribbon that sewn at her waist. he lowered his head, gazing down at the sneakers he had been wearing ever since arrived, struggling to compose himself, to regain his balance, his bearings. but the truth was what just took place left him completely shaken inside. while he had no doubt she was baiting him, trying to upset him, get him all riled up and angry, he had no idea why. despite the beautiful outfit and perfect curls, this was one little girl who wasn't made of sugar, spice and everything nice.

完璧な子。

Friday, December 23, 2011

Drive (2011)

Comment(s)
Drive

the Driver had amazing driving skills, allowing him to be stunt driver as well as getaway driver hired by burglars and robbers. he worked anonymously, rented a cheap apartment, worked as a mechanic at Shannon's garage. his neighbor was Irene and her young son Benicio. her husband soon to be released from the prison. before that happened, the Driver spent his free time with them, bonding easily with Irene. Shannon borrowed some money from a mobster named Bernie and wanted to buy a car for the Driver to race. after observing his skill, Bernie agreed to be his partner. but before that can happen, the Driver was sent on mission to drive a guy name Standard to rob the pawn shop. Standard was killed and Bernie's group tracked the Driver down, threatening to kill everyone around him, starting with Shannon.

we weren't even sure how to describe the movie, which caused us to gag looking at each other at the end of the show. the film was straightforward, the twists were mostly predictable, but sometimes the screen just froze, with the characters either staring at each other smiling, or the camera turning and surveying the surrounding in a painfully slow movement. the action scenes however were fast enough to be entertaining, but that was it, nothing else felt connected, not even among the characters. at some point, we thought the Driver would get together with Irene, but apparently the most they did was just staring at each other smiling. the moment she got so mad at him while he told her about her husband's death, their relationship just didn't make any sense to us anymore. perhaps the film was trying to do something different, creating a new trend or style for cinematographic? whatever the reason, the film most probably failed to present it.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Idiosyncratic.

Comment(s)
Sky (Samsung Mini)

she bolted from her place and made a run for the door. but unlike a real room, the door has no knob. she bolted toward the large windows, but they had no handle too. that left her with no choice but to gaze around, searching for an exit. surrounded by a chorus of laughter that threatened to swallow her completely. she railed against the walls, the doors, pounding harder and harder, until she noticed one laugh in particular, stood out from the rest. one squeaky laugh that raised above all the others and lured her right out of that mess. the crowd disappeared. the surrounding starting to drift and vanish into a mist.

説明できない。

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Eden of the East: Paradise Lost (2010)
東のエデン: 劇場版Ⅱ Paradise Lost

Comment(s)
Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost (2010) picked up from the end of the King of Eden (2009). after Saki found Takizawa in New York, she had to assist him in regaining his lost memories before the players in the Seleção game managed to frame him and his friends as the terrorists behind the missile attack incident. secrets were dug, revealing even who Takizawa parents were.

like both its series and the first part of the movie, Eden of the East (2009) remained mysterious. Paradise Lost (2010) was slightly less confusing than The King of Eden (2009) although it continued from where it left off. fortunate for us viewers, the confusions were mostly answered, some even in unexpected ways or through some insignificant characters. Takizawa with his brilliant mind, always came out with ways to overcome the problem. yet the movie actually left us with an ending that reflected possible future installments, which was surprising for us. but even so, the current end was sufficient to have us felt satisfied and fulfilled.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Riley Bloom #2: Shimmer (2011)

Comment(s)
Shimmer

after solving several cases of "soul catching", Riley, Bodhi and Buttercup were enjoying a vacation by the beach. Riley came across a vicious black hound and decided to help it cross over. she followed the hound, ran into a ghost named Rebecca. Riley soon learned that despite the sweet appearance, Rebecca was an angry ghost, murdered during a slave revolt. she kept the slaves who died during the same incident, trapping them within their worst memories. experiencing being trapped and escaped from her worst memories, Riley was determined to free everyone, including Rebecca.

knowing the style the book was written after reading Radiance (2010), it became an even easier read and less disappointing by having very little expectation towards it. the incident, which focused more on the slave revolt and less on Riley, made it interesting to read. based on an actual incident that took place back in 1733, it was equally gruesome and barbaric that it was painful to imagine yet at the same time, managed to keep the suspense high and intense. unlike Radiance (2010), Shimmer (2011) had a satisfying climax to it.

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)

Comment(s)
Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)

the siblings moved to a new place, hoping for a new life. involved with the wrong people n ended up with the sister turning into a half vampire with the brother fighting to save her. a typical vampire movie with typical vampires bad guys. not much surprises but still some actions to catch!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Chimerical.

Comment(s)
Beach (Samsung Mini)

for some strange reason, she chose to keep the dress, so overly frilly, having way too many sparkling buttons and ribbons. had it been anyone else, it would be the very first thing abandoned. she laughed in a way that lit up her face, the sound of it light and melodic, and even tinkly. her gaze stayed the same, heavy and troubled. she gazed around, head spinning in quick circles, neck twisting to its limit as she wrapped her arms tightly around her impossibly tiny waist. with a sigh, she looked back at him again, head snapped into place. she smiled and nodding her head ever so lightly. bowing before him, revealing a row of ribbons that made their way down her back.

フリルのドレス。

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Eden of the East: King of Eden (2009)
東のエデン: 劇場版Ⅰ The King of Eden

Comment(s)
The King of Eden

the movie took off where the anime left it, it had been 6 months since Takizawa saved Japan from a devastating missile attack. he disappeared after the incident, leaving Saki behind, worriedly searching for him. she was led to New York, where she finally found Takizawa, but once again his memory was erased. the Seleção continued their games of taking over the world. one of them wanted Takizawa out of the way after his final request through the Noblesse phone system to be the King of Japan. he became a legend after the missile incident and they named him the Air King.

the movie was separated into 2 parts, with intentional confusion and fast moving storylines to keep the flow going. although the complications of the plot sometimes caused the confusion to be overwhelming and we were left feeling lost and unsure what exactly was going on. but all these conspiracies and life threatening situation did not make the movie boring or lack of funny scenes, there were even some touching ones. especially when the shy and awkward Saki was finally reunited with the carefree Takizawa, their sparks was more than enough to keep us entertained.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Cat.

Comment(s)
Cat (SE Vivaz)

walking under the hot sun for what seemed like a long time, we were more than pleased to see a green house up ahead, filled with colorful flowers and butterflies all mingled together. but what surprised us was finding a cat comfortably resting inside the green house as well. apparently taken care by the zoo keepers, it was well-fed, friendly and more than eager to rub its head against our legs, claiming us. falling for its watery eyes and soft furs, we soon knelt down rubbing its fur, scratching its throat just as it purred loudly at our feet, giving us the greatest satisfaction to keep us going, charging back into the hot sun once again.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Source Code (2011)

Comment(s)
Source Code

Stevens was a helicopter pilot being sent on a mission in Afghanistan. but he woke up in an unfamiliar capsule. through a screen, Captain Goodwin from the Air Force explained to him that he was in an experimental device called Source Code. it allowed him to experience the last 8 minutes of a person's life in a past timeline. Stevens was instructed to use the Source Code to locate a bomb on the train, taking the identify of Sean Fentress, one of the travelling passenger. the train explosion occurred earlier that morning, and the bomber warned them that there will be another explosion happening soon, making the search of the bomber more urgent than ever. Stevens was sent into the Source Code many times until he finally found the bomber while developing strong feelings for Christina, Sean's travelling companion.

Stevens' job was very straightforward, he needs to find the bomber so to prevent the next attack. but despite the simplicity, despite only being partially original, the film managed to stay smart and entertaining until the very end. we had a tough time deciding who was the culprit, when it was finally revealed we were surprised with the switch of personality as well. not only Jake Gyllenhaal, but many of the supporting casts were so believing that it was easy to get connected with them. Source Code (2011) reminded me of a movie years ago, Vantage Point (2008), who also repetitively went back in time, but equally the loop didn't make it boring nor predictable, for each and every time was different. it got us so engaged with every cycle and every turn of the story, it was simply exciting!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Averseness.

Comment(s)
Cake (Samsung Mini)

he shrugged, chewing on the green straw as he looked around, as though he expected to find a whole pack of them storming the land behind. he looked at her and shook his head, failing miserably to impress her with his one of a kind story. in the brief amount of time they spent together, she had aced him in so many ways. while they were supposed to be enjoying a nice little vacation on this mysterious land, she was left with no doubt that he would be the one who stood in their way, worrying about nothing.

心配し過ぎる。

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Soukyuu no Fafner Single Program: Right of Left
蒼穹のファフナー: Single Program: Right of Left (2005)

Comment(s)
Fafner: Single Program: Right of Left

Ryou and Yumi were one of the children who had been selected to pilot the first Fafner combat units. they were the last hope for the survival of human race. the aliens who were known as Festum, was brutal and had the ability to read minds. therefore the details of the mission was kept secret even from the young pilots. under the stressful situation, Ryou and Yumi was sent off with a new strategy, to search and destroy, yet with little chance of survival.

the movie was a prequel to its anime series aired in 2004, introducing how young pilots were selected into piloting the Fafner. it felt like being put together with bits and parts of stories, sometimes making certain scenes difficult to follow. unfortunately the most attractive objects of the anime were the mechas (Fafners) and Festums, not the humans. the characters resembled each other too much, not standing out unless placed together. to make things worst, they also resembled characters from other animes, such as Gundam Seed (2002). like what was expected, the movie started by introducing the characters, then putting them into battles, and of course, barely winning for a melodramatic effect.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Riley Bloom #1: Radiance (2010)

Comment(s)
Radiance

after the crash, Riley lingered on earth plane. when she finally crossed the bridge that led to the afterlife, she picked up where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in their house in the neighborhood. the difference was, the rest of the houses was empty, with its residence still breathing and alive on the earth plane. she headed to school, only to find out that it was different from the school she experienced before. she went through a series of classes, not understanding the flow of events with no one there to give her a hint or two. when she was summoned before the Council, she leaned that the afterlife wasn't just an eternity of relaxation, each and everyone of them had to find their "soul work". Riley was assigned to be a soul catcher, retrieving souls from earth plane that refused to move on, refused to cross the bridge. her first assignment was to get Radiant Boy, who had been haunting a castle in England for centuries, to cross the bridge.

having just read the complete collection of Alyson Noël's Immortals (2009-2011) series, i started with Radiance (2010) with expectations. Riley had always been one of the interesting characters i can't wait to read more about. unfortunately it had no connection whatsoever with Ever, it was all about her afterlife and soul catching experience. it was short and easy to read, but even though there were some built up tension leading to its climax, it didn't feel as satisfying and in depth, perhaps perfect for junior readers.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Stone (2010)

Comment(s)
Stone (2010)

on the surface, Jack and Madylyn was just like any long-married couple who were approaching retirement. they went to church, read bibles together at home, living a peaceful and perfect life. Jack worked as a parole officer, deciding who shall be released and who shall remained in the prison. he was given a prisoner named Stone, who served 10-15 years of sentence for being at the crime scene when his grandparents were killed. the more they talked, Stone revealed more and more details at the scene of his grandparents' murder. during visits, Stone told his wife Lucetta, to approach Jack and persuade him to have Stone release. after a few visits and many persistent phone calls, Jack met up with Lucetta, which also indicated the start of an affair. at the same time, Stone suddenly had a spiritual experience which made him felt all content and happy.

despite all the big casts, the film turned out to be confusing and slow paced. from the title, we expected much from the guy playing Stone. but we were disappointed to find him neither the good guy nor the bad guy as the character failed to make an impression on us, failed to make us feel connected. despite the storyline being presented circling prison, it was mostly god related as they explored the meaning of life and searching for the presence of god. there were no cohesion, weak background stories with an incomplete ending, the film may be interesting, but never entertaining.


Saturday, December 10, 2011

Parrot.

Comment(s)
Parrot (SE Vivaz)

among the variety of birds we saw in the zoo, only a handfull was clever enough to take notice of us visitors. this Parrot was one of those very few, staring at us whatever angle we moved outside its cage, taking us in, making us wonder just what exactly went through its mind, what it thought of us. we were mesmerized by the rainbow-like feathery coat of theirs, triggering the urge of reaching into the cage, soothing it, feeling its warmth and smooth texture under our palm.

Friday, December 09, 2011

Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor: Heaven and Earth (2010)
蒼穹のファフナー: Dead Aggressor: Heaven and Earth

Comment(s)
Fafner: Dead Aggressor: Heaven and Earth

2 years after the end of the war, the surviving residents of Tatsumiya Island continued their everyday life. Kazuki became nearly blind and partially crippled from his battle against the aliens, named Festum. his friend Soushi, who never returned since the battle, promised to return to the island to set things right again. one day, Soushi returned on a submarine, but he claimed to be Misao instead. they realized that he wasn't entirely human. after his arrival, Festum invaded and another battle started. the Fafner pilots weer forced into the battle again, to defend their land.

we were first attracted to the movie because of the characters' similarity with Gundam Seed (2002) and Gundam Seed Destiny (2002), seeking perhaps a connection between these series. but the actual reason behind, was because the artist who drew Gundam Seed, Hisashi Hirai (平井久司), was the same person who also drew Fafner, together with Heroic Age (2007) and Linebarrels of Iron (2008). the storyline was slightly blurred for us who didn't catch its anime aired 7 years ago. nor was it as successful as Gundam Seed to have its anime reproduced again and again for us to lay our hands on the 100 episodes easily.

Thursday, December 08, 2011

Exigency.

Comment(s)
Wedding (Samsung Mini)

she turned her attention towards a small flock of seagulls circling overhead, swooping toward the water and coming up with an unsuspecting fish caught in between their beaks before taking flight again. vaguely aware of the minutes slipping by with no sign of him, she called out his name, restraining from screaming at the top of her lungs despite feeling panicky. her feet dug into the sand, leaving traces of footprints behind as she pushed her way carefully through a fog so thick, so threatening. she was just about to venture further by sinking her feet into the freezing-cold water, knowing his fondness for a cooling dip every now and then, when she heard a deep, ferocious growl that immediately set her halting in her pace.

状況を脅かす。

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)

Comment(s)
Breaking Dawn

Bella finally got married to Edward. she accidentally revealed to Jacob that she will not be changed into a vampire immediately after their marriage, for she didn't want to spend their honeymoon in pain. Jacob got furious and wanted to attack Edward, but was held back by his wolf pack. Edward brought Bella to a private island in Brazil for their honeymoon. they had sex for the first time, but Bella was bruised during the process. 2 weeks later, Bella discovered that she was pregnant and the fetus was growing at an extremely fast rate. they rushed back to Carlisle who suggested an abortion, which Bella refused.

despite the frustration that the final installment will be separated into 2 films (an influence of Harry Potter?), the film was actually better than expected! although the storyline was, to many, absurd and ridiculous; but having a heads up after reading its books, i felt that it would be impossible to be put into a film, but they did it! instead of feeling hilarious like some mentioned, it felt somewhat eerie and shocking, an element least expected from a vampire-romance.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Thirst #4: The Shadow of Death (2011)

Comment(s)
Thirst No.4

after Thirst No.3: The Eternal Dawn (2010), where Sita was shot through the heart, she wandered into the body of Teri, her descendant. 2 weeks later, attending her own funeral, she confessed to Seymour that she was still Sita. together with Shanti, and Teri's boyfriend Matt, they set out to confront the powerful IIC and Telar, with the aim of bringing down their technology. IIC put together a group of psychic children who had the ability to overpower a person's will and force them to commit acts based on what the children wanted. unfortunately, these children were the only ones who could help Sita destroy the leaders of the Telar, a race of Immortals who planned to release a deadly virus to eliminate the human race.

the book was an absolute fast read! it was so engaging, so exciting that it was breathtaking and difficult to put down. i expected the war Sita had between IIC and Telar to be as dull as the previous book, but i was so wrong! there were plenty of twists added to the story, including religiously. from what information i was fed on vampires, they would go straight to hell after death, going as far as being nicknamed the "Creatures of the Damned". i was delighted to find Sita, a 5000-years-old vampire, didn't have to burn in hell thanks to the good deed she accumulated through out the centuries. Sita was easily a lovable character, going through her struggles to figure out the right thing to do, what to sacrifice, and who to trust. not to mention the awesome twists that were so unexpected, it had a beautiful end to it that had me wanting more of Sita.

Monday, December 05, 2011

The Borrower Arrietty (2010)
借りぐらしのアリエッティ

Comment(s)
The Borrower Arrietty

the story was about the "tiny people" called Borrowers, who were only 10cm tall and lived under the floorboards of any human household. to care for his sickness, Shou moved into the house of his aunt Sadako located outside of town. as he was wandering in the yard, he saw a Borrower named Arrietty. Arrietty and his father came out from under the floorboards at night, to get them the necessities such as sugar. Arrietty got nervous and dropped a sugar cube in Shou's bedroom. Shou heard about the Borrowers and was interested in becoming friends with Arrietty. but when her father realized that humans had discovered their whereabouts, he decided that it was time to move.

the friendship between Shou and Arrietty was beautiful. but like most myths and fairy tales of the Japanese, their love was bittersweet and would never had a chance to bloom. the story, supposedly fascinating and magical, turned out to be disappointing. i was never a huge fan of story that came with a sad ending, perhaps unless it was something way different. telling a tale of the Borrowers, the anime managed to hold my interest regarding these tiny people. hoping Shou would be the bridge between the Borrowers and the human world, i was disappointed that the Borrowers insisted on moving and nothing was changed.

Sunday, December 04, 2011

Chicken.

Comment(s)
Chicken (SE Vivaz)

the chicken was bred and grew up among the family, often seen running wildly under their feet, dashing about owning the whole place, claiming it to themselves. unlike most of the chickens we saw selling in the market, which any contact with human will cause them to struggle greatly, knowing their life were at stake; this particular chicken was way too calm in comparison. it stood, walking about, poking its beak into anything it preferred, wouldn't even break a sweat when being hold or caressed like a pet cat!

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Happy Feet Two (2011)

Comment(s)
Happy Feet Two

Erik was Mumble and Gloria's son. unlike most of the penguins in Emperor Land, Erik was reluctant to dance. his first attempt embarrassed him and made him the outcast from the rest of the penguins. Erik with his 2 friends, Boadicia and Atticus, followed Ramon to Adelie Land. the land was ruled by Sven, the last of his kind who has the ability to fly. Erik instantly took a liking towards Sven, following and listening to him. at the same time, the penguins at the Emperor Land was trapped by a large iceberg. Mumble and Erik had to deliver fish while seeking help from the penguins from Adelie Land, even humans and elephant seals.

as difficult as it is to create a sequel of a successful animation, Happy Feet Two (2011) did it! it was entertaining, touching, and created more than one climaxes that sent thrills down our spines. with such a simple plot, the storyline was expanded more than what was expected. from Erik's struggles to find his balance, to saving the Emperor penguins from being trapped and starved to death, it remained funny, cute, and absolutely engaging! shedding tears for some simple yet touching scenes came natural. not to mention how overwhelming some scenes can be, where thousands of penguins were dancing together, stomping the floor, or just dancing to some familiar tunes we heard of.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Sprightly.

Comment(s)
Grassland (Samsung Mini)

he was tireless, happily retrieving for hours. a nice, long game of fetch easily made the top-10 list of his favorite things, ranking high up competing tightly against having long hours rolling in the cool outdoor. nudging his nose against her leg, letting her knew he was back, he stared up at her with those big watery eyes, begging for more. and she did. watching as the stick soared so high into the sky before it pierced into the dreamy white veil before vanishing completely. he dashed behind it, tongue hanging out at the side of his mouth, tail wagging crazily behind him before the mist swallowed him whole and vanished from her sight, leaving only a faint echo of excited barks behind.

活発な子犬。

Thursday, December 01, 2011

K-ON!! (2010)
けいおん!!

Comment(s)
K-On!!

it was the final year of high school for the founding members of Houkago Tea Time (a music club), Yui, Ritsu, Mio, and Tsumugi. together with their junior member Azusa, they spent time after school in the music room enjoying tea and practicing music. seeing the year coming to an end, Azusa struggled to contain her feeling of loneliness knowing that her friends will be graduating soon.

after watching its Season 1 (2009) back when it was aired, i immediately assumed that this season will be something similar, which it was. but after watching the first episode, it quickly reminded me of how much i missed watching Yui and her friends, and how much they made me laughed and cried. unfortunately there were less live performances in this season than the previous, which i was more than eager to get all excited over. every episodes left me chuckling through easily. this season focused partially on Yui as usual, where the other half went to Azusa, especially getting her ready with the loneliness of separation that had to come sooner or later. the bitter sweet graduation added so much more emotions to its end, making me wanting more to laugh and to cry about. like Azusa, i was sad that the core part of the story had come to an end, but it didn't stop me from wanting to catch its coming movie!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

A Stolen Life: A Memoir (2011)

Comment(s)
A Stolen Life: A Memoir

in 1991, Jaycee (born 1980) was a normal 11-year-old kid, doing normal things and living a normal life. everything changed when she was kidnapped, and for 18 years she was a prisoner of the Garridos. she became an object to their abuse and rape. she was not allowed to speak her own name, she became a mother of 2, and was later forced to be their sister. in 2009, after much struggle she finally got her life back, returning as a 29-year-old adult. she survived the impossible situation, living in the backyard of the Garridos, only 2 hours ride from her home, yet so well-hidden even the police officers failed to notice despite their frequent visit to meet up with Phillip Garrido, who was on parole. now, Jaycee lived with her mother, Terry (50), her 2 daughters, Angel (15) and Starlit (11). Phillip Garrido was sent back to prison, sentenced for life; his wife Nancy Garrido sentenced to a minimum of 36 years in prison. she wrote a book, A Stolen Life: A Memoir, and it was published on July 2011.

Jaycee's story about her imprisonment was painful to read. it made the matter worst when Phillip was manipulatively "nice" to her, constantly reminding her that she was helping him with his "problem". the confusion he built up for her, which lasted 18 years, was enough to make one believe what they were told. yet Jaycee returned, surviving not only physically but mentally, stronger than ever. somehow, reading through her book, i felt that her stubbornness actually saved her. it kept her sane, questioning even if not verbally, on what Phillip was doing or making her believe. although she was able to send Philip back into prison, i still find it sad because part of him will always stay with her, especially through the 2 daughters they had together. i was more than happy to read that she now lives a miraculously normal life, and hopefully will be able to read more about her in the coming future.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Dear John (2010)

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Dear John

based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, John was a soldier in battles against the terrorists. back then when he was taking a break at the beach, he met with Savannah, a college student on holiday. for the 2 weeks they spent together, they fell in love. he also got to know her neighbor Tim, whose son Alan had autism (a disorder of impaired social interaction). after John returned to the army and Savannah back to college, they continued their relationship through letters. they were supposed to get back together after 1 year, but the 9/11 attacks made him reconsider joining for another 2 years, a decision he didn't discuss with Savannah. heartbroken, she stopped writing. few months later, he received a letter from her, informing him that she was engaged. depressed, he burned all her letters. after spending many years in the army after making it his career, John was sent home when his father had a stroke and was in critical condition. after his funeral, John visited Savannah and realized she was married to Tim, who had cancer. he left, heartbroken. but that was not the end, for their fate were far more entwined than they could ever imagine.

i had not read any of Nicholas Sparks' novel, nor was ever a huge fan of romance. but the story managed to stay different and out of expectation. it strove far from the typical, pushing its limits on how they missed their chances of being together again and again. it happened so much until we were fully convinced that they will never be together and this film will have a sad end to it. the characters managed to have us feel connected, most visible during their emotional downtime where we would get sucked into their dark pit of pain.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Otters.

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Otters (SE Vivaz)

these mischievous duo ran wildly in their cage under the hot afternoon sun. dashing from one shed to another, diving effortlessly into the pond of shallow water, dragging leftover fishes from under the pond, apparently from its previous feeding session. the moment one caught us looking with interest, it came forward, staring straight at us, squeaking its most deafening call. unlike the Bird, which we can't quite fathom whether it was food or attention that it sought; these otters obviously wanted food. seeing the snacks we held in our hand only caused them to dash around insanely fast, stirring every last member in their big family.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Shukufuku no Campanella (2010)
祝福のカンパネラ

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Shukufuku no Campanella

she appeared when the meteor grazed n hit the chapel. the mysterious girl started living with them, fighting off enemies that burst out of nowhere. the anime was terribly slow paced despite the beautiful drawings, basically had to drag through the episodes. especially with everyone, even his very own mother, showing interest in the only male character, it was more disturbing than romantic (or funny).

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Avril Lavigne: R.O.C.K.S. Tee

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Avril Lavigne Foundation

on October 2011, Avril together with Live Nation, came out with a new t-shirt that will be sold to support the Avril Lavigne Foundation. the 100% cotton tee came in black, with the logo "R.O.C.K.S" being printed across the front. "R.O.C.K.S" stands for "Respect, Opportunity, Choice, Knowledge, Strength". the foundation focuses its support towards children and youth living with serious illness or disability. according to her, they are currently in the middle of some great stuff planned for the Foundation!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Puss in Boots (2011)

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Puss in Boots

Puss was a fugitive, running into a town where he heard about the magic beans Jack and Jill had. while he was stealing the beans, a masked cat named Kitty Softpaws interrupted. he followed Kitty back to a club, where he found out that she was allied with Humpty Dumpty, his childhood friend from the orphanage. Humpty's betrayal was the reason Puss became a fugitive, he was tricked into helping Humpty with robbing the bank. he fled town while Humpty continued his search for the magic beans as they did since childhood. Humpty asked for a second chance and the trio worked together to get the magic beans, which led them to a magic castle that hid a goose that laid golden eggs.

the chemistry between Puss and Kitty was good, she had her doubts as we would expect, but overall, they were a fun pair to watch. Humpty on the other hand, was every bit an annoying egg we won't mind cracking open for breakfast. manipulation was easy and the story flowed the way that it was completely predictable. despite that, it was one fuzzy animation we enjoyed. the visuals were stunning, and the music was awesome. Puss of course, was perfect! charming, sexy, and with a great background introduction on his origin. one particular scenes that got stuck in our mind was the dancing scene at the beginning. it was incredibly impressive! which also caused me to be disappointed because that was the only dance we got.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Immortals #6: Everlasting (2010)

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Everlasting

after all that they went through, Ever and Damen were finally together. all that was left was to seek out the antidote. without the antidote, any exchange of body fluid between them could kill Damen. while Damen was happy with the current situation, planning for a vacation; Ever insisted on researching upon the old lady they met at the dark side of Summerland. the old lady insisted on calling Ever by the name of Adelina, which drew Ever's curiosity on whether they had an incarnation before Damen was turned Immortal. Damen fiercely rejected the idea, but agreed on giving Ever a week's time to research on the matter. when they set out to meet the old lady called Lotus, they were sent on a separate journey in search of their past and soul. a journey which also made Ever realized that there were more than enough people that had been around her for all the incarnations.

as much as the whole Immortals (2009-2011) series went up and downhill from one book to another for me, i was still very grateful to have enjoyed it! there weren't any last minute twist to make the whole story end in one big impact, but i was happy enough for it to reduce speed increasingly while reaching a halt. for this final installment, Ever had transformed into an adult so radiant and reliable that she became instantly lovable; Damen, on the other hand, despite all the unconditional love talks, had became surprisingly stubborn and hardheaded. Alyson Noël truly impressed me by creating a mystical world where the Immortals were well hidden among the unsuspecting humans. it was so spellbinding that i only just realized that it was also partially a romance genre, which most of the time i would choose to stay away from! she had such a beautiful way with writing, making it feels so simple and straightforward, yet so filled with surprises to keep the intensity of the story going. it actually felt sad having to said goodbye to the Immortals (2009-2011) series, but at the same time i'm eagerly looking forward to read her Riley Bloom (2010-2012) series, injunction to to the Immortals (2009-2011) series, for Riley was Ever's younger sister!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Scrapped Princess (2003)
スクラップド・プリンセス

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Scrapped Princess

she was feared n hated because of a prophecy. even after fleeing the village, her brother n sister had to continue fending off those who aimed to kill their sister. a fun anime that may not seemed to have a flashy plot, but able to entertain just nicely.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Birds.

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Peacocks (SE Vivaz)

we saw this couple at the zoo. the male following us along the fences, most probably for food or perhaps attention. it never got tired of us roaming to and fro in front of the cage, like it was some game to it. the female, totally uninterested at us, eagerly tagging behind the male. was it mating season? or perhaps they were one of those species who stick together for life? the male, with its white coat and red feet, looked absolutely stunning even from a human's point of view. we observed further, despite the perfect shot taken, the male still wasn't interested in the female, such irony.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Immortals (2011)

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Immortals

before the humans came along, the world was lived by the Immortals. they couldn't die from sickness, but soon they realized they could kill one another. at the end of the war, those who won were called Gods, and those who lost were called the Titans. King Hyperion declared war against the humans after the Gods failed to save his family from illness. at the same time, he searched for a powerful bow, which he intended to release the Titans with. he attacked holy places and towns, collecting young men to form his army, together with an priestess called Phaedra. Theseus was one among those taken, his mother slaughtered in front of him. with the encouragement of Phaedra, Theseus remained alive and determined to take down Hyperion.

we headed to the cinema after knowing the film was produced by the same bunch of people from 300 (2006), which also had us anticipated a little too much for it to top 300 (2006), or even Clash of Titans (2010). instead of Theseus, we were more eager to watch the Gods fought against the Titans, which turned out to be an absurdity especially with both tribe being Immortals, Titans turned out to be some fast-moving brainless zombies. somehow that didn't felt like the original Greek mythology we would expect. and from what i had read so far, the film had more than a handful of faults for failing to obediently make use of the mythology. however, with a sufficient amount of gore and brute, the action scenes were captivating. introductions of the characters other than Theseus or Phaedra would be an add, but it seemed that the film was made assuming that everyone would be able to recognize each and every one of the Gods by their ridiculous headgear. the characters, including Theseus, was shallow and predictable. there were no depths in the characters, nor had us felt anything for them.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Quiddity.

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Cheetah (SE Vivaz)

it became so utterly clear to her, and yet none had even the slightest sense of its existence, hovering closely right above them, gazing upon the clueless masses beneath. her throat grew lumpy, eyes started to sting, forcing herself to switch all her attention to something else, watching as he continued to run around freely, looping and spinning and swirling and jumping, putting out an increasing amount of energy just for the fun of it. but the second he caught her eye, caught her looking at him, she looked away. the last thing she needed was for him to read those particular thoughts of hers. thoughts that needed to be protected from him, just to keep everything orderly and straight, tucked away in its place. it was easier that way.

明らかになった。

Saturday, November 19, 2011

So-Ra-No-Wo-To (2010)
ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト

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So-Ra-No-Wo-To

after the long war, she was assigned to a new location, joining other 4 girls to maintain the fortress n culture of the city. together they share their daily life depending n supporting on each other. a relaxing n entertaining anime, presenting their ups n downs.

Friday, November 18, 2011

The Immortals #5: Night Star (2010)

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Night Star

after Jude misunderstood and killed Roman during Ever's last encounter with him, there went her last chance of ever getting the antidote for Damen. Haven swore revenge and boosted her Immortal's power through her addiction to the elixir, and became the most influential girl in school. according to Roman's journals, Damen did something in the past that he tried everything to cover up from telling Ever in this life. Ever found out that during one of her past life as a slave, Damen bought her and kept her away from her family without giving her a choice. not long after, her family died tragically in a fire. she kept her distance with Damen while struggling to determine who was the one for her, Jude or Damen. the Rogue Immortals fought among themselves with the elixir Roman left behind, which caused Haven's addiction to get out of control. she threatened to kill Jude and Miles while demanding for Ever's elixir.

although the books had been going downhill for the last 2 books, i was both happy and surprised to find Night Star (2010) an easy read, almost as easy as Evermore (2009) and Blue Moon (2009)! more and more i grew to dislike Jude's character. for obvious reasons we knew that he was and always will be an extra, a third person between Ever and Damen's relationship. but apparently Ever doubt Damen enough to almost broke-up with him just to see what was it like to get together with Jude. fortunately for us readers, we didn't need to be furthered annoyed by Ever's childish misjudgment and indecisive behavior for the second half of the book. she finally accepted things for what they were and tried to fix all the messes she created in the previous books like an adult. on the down side, they had been trying to get their hands on the antidote since the third book, but after 2 books of different and failed attempts, they were still nowhere near it. the problem got old so quickly that any elaborations on it only made it even more tedious to read. but more than ever, the series left me with hope, for a perfect end for everything, for a reward for following the whole series thus far!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

In Time (2011)

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In Time

the story was set in the far future, where genetic alteration caused humans to stop aging by the age of 25. every extra "time" after the age of 25 had to be earned through labor, else their life would come to an end after 1 year. due to the over populated concern, the poor who lived in the Ghettos had to fight for a living; where the rich who lived in Greenwich, could live for centuries a luxurious life. Will lived with his mother, Rachel, in the Ghettos. he visited the bar one day and met with Henry from Greenwich. Henry revealed that there were actually enough time for everyone, even for those in the Ghettos if the rich from Greenwich wouldn't be so greedy. before committed suicide, Henry transferred all his remaining time to Will. with the Timekeeper from the police force and mobsters on his tail, Will decided to seek revenge by paying Greenwich a visit.

the plot was original and brilliant! instead of cash, we were introduced on how their time was used in everyday life, in paying for necessities, or earning for extra time. the pace was from time to time random, but it remained suspenseful throughout the film. Justin Timberlake had quite a number of failing acts in his previous films, In Time (2011) however, managed to bring him up onto the big screen without further jeopardizing his acting career, which turned out to be a huge relief for us viewers. Amanda Seyfried on the other hand, surprised us in her changed character other than her usual blond sweetie role! she was fierce, she was spicy, she definitely fit the role of a daughter whom a rich father cannot control. there were one fact that we were particularly confused though, with everyone stopped aging at the age of 25, why did the police officers, Timekeepers, even the mobsters looked so old?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Astringent.

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Wedding (Samsung Mini)

she twisted the top from her bottle and glanced toward the kitchen table where he sat. seeing the way his shirt was tucked in tidily, the way it was pressed and cleaned without a stray of wrinkle, she can't help but wonder what was it like to be him. what was it like to live in a world where everything was so orderly, every problem had a logical solution, every question a theoretical explanation. a world where everything was black and white, all shades of gray non-existed. it had been eons since she lived in that world, and now after all that she had experience, there is no way she could ever return. he continued to stare ahead, face stern, body instantly stiffened when he caught her looking at him, bringing his mug to his lips while peering at her from over the top.

しわの欠如。

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Haibane Renmei (2002)
灰羽連盟

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Haibane Renmei

she was born from a large cocoon, with only a dream as her memory, she didn't know who or what she was. she was greeted by a group of girls with small wings on their backs n halos on their heads, n live them ever since. neither human nor angel, they had to work with the humans to earn their stay in the town. while they tried to search for the meaning of their existence, some of their members went beyond the wall, which was strictly forbidden.

a slow moving anime, it was mostly about their life in the small town. being new in the world, she wanted to know why they were born, n from the pain of losing one member beyond the wall, she struggled to accept that it was meant to be. there were no exact ending to the anime, only acceptance.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Leery.

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Toy Cars (SE Vivaz)

she pressed her lips together and stared blankly straight ahead, wishing secretly that she could climb inside his head and see the thoughts that he wasn't keen on sharing. getting to the bottom of everything that happened within these 2 days. despite the confident smile he gave her, or the dismissive shrug he hoped she would buy, nothing he told her for the past 10 minutes made the least bit of sense. when he tried to further persuade her that all was fine, she shrugged, fully convinced that something was up, though knowing better than to say it out loud. she looked straight into his eyes, hoping for a glimpse of recognition or defeat where he will then admit and lay out the scheme. but none of that happened as he continued grinning foolishly. surrendered, she pushed her way through him into the room.

隠された真実。

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Sleeping Beauty (2011)

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Sleeping Beauty

Julia Leigh was originally an author of a few novels, she wrote a twisted version of Sleeping Beauty and made this Australian film her debut in directing as well. the story followed a university student named Lucy, who went for an interview for a part-time job. the job required her and some other women wearing only their lingerie to cater for a room full of old men. the employer of Lucy also had a service called Sleeping Beauty, where a girl was chosen and given a drug so that they will be asleep for the next few hours. the service was directed for the grieving, age-weakened, or angry old men. to the chosen Sleeping Beauty, those few hours doesn't exist while the old man would have his personal time with her, doing to her what he desired. when the current Sleeping Beauty was fired, Lucy was chosen to be her replacement. the longer she went through with this job, the more curious she got, wanting to know what happened when she was asleep.

there was nothing Disney about this film, no handsome prince in shinning armor nor awakening kiss for the princess. in fact, it was far from being innocent. for half of the screening time, Emily Browning who played Lucy was required to stay naked, however her being so comfortable in it was far more unsettling than the sex trade itself. the film failed to connect us viewers to its characters. Lucy especially, was cold and indifferent. the idea itself, though original and brave, was difficult to relate, it felt more strange than arousing. there were also other parts that left us puzzled, such as her proposing to her sick ex-boyfriend, or rent a high-class apartment without as much as a second thought, had one wondering what was the purpose of her working. the story was painfully slow, some scenes completely unrelated, some even pointless until the very end.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Immortals #4: Dark Flame (2010)

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Dark Flame

Ever performed a binding spell to bind Roman to her, where if the spell was successful, he would hand over the antidote obediently. she needed the antidote to remove the curse Roman placed on Damen. but the spell went wrong when she accidentally summoned the dark powers of Hecate, as the result she was bound to Roman instead. she became addicted to Roman, needing him in ways she never imagined possible. it ruined her relationship with her best friend Haven, whom she turned Immortal the moment Roman taunted to kill her. a decision she immediately regretted when Haven became so powerful in a short amount of time, her abilities stronger the Ever's. again and again she asked Roman for the antidote, through ways even she felt ashamed of. when she finally understood what hold her bound to Roman, she was able to break free from the spell and confronted Roman in a proper way. but just minutes before Roman handed over the antidote, Jude appeared, destroying Roman together with all hopes Ever had of obtaining the antidote.

despite how well written was Evermore (2009) and Blue Moon (2009), the Immortals (2009-2011) series seemed to went further and further downhill from there. ever since Shadowland (2009) required me to drag myself through it, skipping lines just so i can proceed, Dark Flame (2010) to my dismay, was no difference. Ever made more and more obviously wrong choices, Damen retreated and gave Ever the chance to love Jude, and Jude whom Ever entrusted her secrets with more than Damen! after watching Ever rolled herself over and over in the mud just to figure out how to unbind herself from Roman for more than half of the book, she surprisingly did it with some simple repetitive meditation stuff that she already knew all along, the solution didn't quite make sense nor gave me any satisfaction. Ever seemed to never grow throughout the story, stuck in her selfish little world of never taking any advice and being so predictably impulsive. there were completely no progress for her relationship with Damen, it dragged on and on since the third book and it was getting harder and harder to see them going beyond that line.