Saturday, May 31, 2008
Pier 1 Imports Citrus Cilantro
I went in to Pier 1 Imports the day before Mother's Day to get my mother a gift this year and saw their lotions display. Surprisingly, they have some pretty good stuff. I've always thought of Pier 1 as the mid-age people store, but some of the things inside could be pretty nice for someone my age. The air diffusers are pretty nice, though I probably wouldn't buy any since my mother is very sensitive to stuff like that =_= I love their candle holders and also the lotion selection they have. I bought this hand lotion for $8 and it's citrus cilantro scented. I love the feel and fragrance! I'm pretty addicted right now so I think I'll have to go back and buy some more when I get the chance.
Skip Beat Live Action?
I just heard that there is going to be a Taiwanese live-action version of Skip Beat =_= and I can't help but think that it's going to be the catalyst for Japanese version of Skip Beat everything to come out in the future. For instance, Taiwan loves doing adaptations of Japanese stories and then a year or so later, you see Japanese adaptations of those stories too -- live action or anime. I have a slight iffy-ness about Skip Beat becoming a live action though... because the dark spirits and effects popular in the series are not as easily done, I think. I don't think I have seen a Taiwanese drama successfully do what a Japanese drama can do with effects like those so yeah... I just think Taiwanese drama lacks the sparkle one gets from watching Japanese-version of dramas. Even though, I do enjoy watching some Taiwanese drama now and then, Japanese drama special effects still by far are the most impressive.
Then again, if Skip Beat becomes popular enough in Taiwan, Japan may pick it up for anime or live action too. If made into an anime, it can really be awesome, but the fact that the manga is still ongoing worries me about running out of plot material later on. Right now, the story looks like it is far from being finished. We have to still see Kyoko being futher polished into a better actress, then there's the deal with this one really vengeful-looking girl in the same acting session that we were introduced to in chapter 121-ish. Ren's past needs to be revealed in full detal and he needs to be able to get back to his real home on his own. Kyoko needs to learn how to love and maybe resolve the conflicting feelings she has towards her mother. She also needs to defeat Shou and hopefuly realize that Ren is smittened with her. Even though we're nearing 20 volumes, this story has the potential of stretching up past 30 in my opinion =_=
And.... though it might be a good thing for Skip Beat to finally be put into other types of media.... I am a bit worried about casting =_=; I really am not sure if there is an actress out there who is capable of acting out Kyoko properly. Kyoko is a complex, humorous, dark, yet warm, kind, and wonderful character. She has a million sides to her shaped by her past and the people around her, and there are so many sides of her that the actress better be good. Right now I think Ariel Lin is being considered for the part of Kyoko ... ... ... Since I've only see her in Itazura na Kiss, I definitely know she can act out an idiot, but can she act out a really intelligent girl with multiple personalities? If I had to pick, Angela Zhang would be a much better fit for Kyoko. Because Kyoko can speak some English and Angela's been raised in Canada so they are much better. Plus, after watching her performance in Romantic Princess, I think she can act out Kyoko... at least better than Ariel Lin.
The bomb dropped on me especially when there is speculation that Jerry Yan may be Tsuruga Ren =_=; *falls over* Orz. I don't care how cute that guy is, but my image of Ren is of an exceptionally hot, sophisticated, talented, and beautiful man. Jerry Yan may have looks, but I question the talent part =_= Also, Ren is actually only part Japanese and mostly of foreign blood =_= so he's EXTREMELY tall with really LONG legs. If they find a short guy to play him... that would be most unforgivable. I guess Wu Chun kind of fits the looks department, but so does Mike He ... ... but I've only seen Mike He act briefly in two things and I think he is not the best performer out there so yeah... Wu Chun has pretty shaky Chinese still despite having gotten better and so... yeah =_=; Ah, I now fear the Taiwanese version of Skip Beat...
No matter what, I just can't imagine it as a live action T__T. This series can only be done well in animation, which is my opinion. Since this is my number one favorite shoujo series -- next to Tenshi Kinryouku (Angel Sanctuary), if they do a bad job making it work out, I would be severely disappointed and stick to my lovely manga. *sigh* Whenever I think of Taiwanese adaptations of popular manga, I get really sad as though my image of that pretty world is going to be crushed by some really tasteless sitcom-like production =_= *sigh*
Since I'm already on the subject, I wonder what type of cast would be suitable for a Japanese version of Skip Beat... For Tsuruga Ren, I think I can picture Kaname Jun as him because he is tall, he has the masculine frame, he's very good looking, plus he's talented. I really can't think of any actors that are "half" who look the part so we may need to settle for purely Japanese actors... I wonder what Kaname Jun looks like with blond hair =_=; Oguri Shun may work, but Kaname Jun looks better in my opinion.... If not for the fact that Kashiwabara Takashi is in his thirties, he can easily fit the part of Tsuruga Ren. He certainly does have that powerful vibe about him that I find appealing. I guess another choice for Ren is Hayami Mokomichi... but it's only in looks rather than how I really picture him as.
For Fuwa Shou, I think Ikuta Toma could be a good option. He has a wide variety of sides that he's shown through his acting and he is a possible candidate for Shou. Only concern would be singing =_=; I personally do not think of Ikuta Toma as a wonderful singer... so yeah ^_^; I guess I can kind of see Yamapi as rocker, Fuwa Shou, but.... Yamapi can't really sing that well, in my opinion =_=; *sigh* Akanishi Jin can sing, but he does not look one bit like Fuwa Shou. *sigh* I really can't think of who sports that rocker look and can sing =_=
As for Mogami Kyoko... would definitely be a tough choice in finding someone who is versatile in playing a girl who wants revenge and has lots of funny sides to her. I think Inoue Mao can do a very good Kyoko. From watching her act in various drama, she is very pretty and can also look plain. She is very good at acting out a variety of emotions and personalities and is pretty versatile as an actress. If she wanted to, I think she can act out a really mean Hongo Mio from Dark Moon.
I can see Kato Rosa, Toda Erika, Aragaki Yui, or Harada Natsuki as Kotonami Kanae or Itsumi Momose. I think Harada or Aragaki can do a good Kanae, but Toda would be better suited for Itsumi. I can kind of see Hiraoka Yuta or Eita playing Yashiro or Ogata... I think Hiraoka would be a better Yashiro... ... maybe... ...
Then again... I think it's best if they don't do a live action 'cause this story can only be animated in my opinion. All of Kyoko's inner demons are only funny because of the way Nakamura-sensei constructed everything.
Then again, if Skip Beat becomes popular enough in Taiwan, Japan may pick it up for anime or live action too. If made into an anime, it can really be awesome, but the fact that the manga is still ongoing worries me about running out of plot material later on. Right now, the story looks like it is far from being finished. We have to still see Kyoko being futher polished into a better actress, then there's the deal with this one really vengeful-looking girl in the same acting session that we were introduced to in chapter 121-ish. Ren's past needs to be revealed in full detal and he needs to be able to get back to his real home on his own. Kyoko needs to learn how to love and maybe resolve the conflicting feelings she has towards her mother. She also needs to defeat Shou and hopefuly realize that Ren is smittened with her. Even though we're nearing 20 volumes, this story has the potential of stretching up past 30 in my opinion =_=
And.... though it might be a good thing for Skip Beat to finally be put into other types of media.... I am a bit worried about casting =_=; I really am not sure if there is an actress out there who is capable of acting out Kyoko properly. Kyoko is a complex, humorous, dark, yet warm, kind, and wonderful character. She has a million sides to her shaped by her past and the people around her, and there are so many sides of her that the actress better be good. Right now I think Ariel Lin is being considered for the part of Kyoko ... ... ... Since I've only see her in Itazura na Kiss, I definitely know she can act out an idiot, but can she act out a really intelligent girl with multiple personalities? If I had to pick, Angela Zhang would be a much better fit for Kyoko. Because Kyoko can speak some English and Angela's been raised in Canada so they are much better. Plus, after watching her performance in Romantic Princess, I think she can act out Kyoko... at least better than Ariel Lin.
The bomb dropped on me especially when there is speculation that Jerry Yan may be Tsuruga Ren =_=; *falls over* Orz. I don't care how cute that guy is, but my image of Ren is of an exceptionally hot, sophisticated, talented, and beautiful man. Jerry Yan may have looks, but I question the talent part =_= Also, Ren is actually only part Japanese and mostly of foreign blood =_= so he's EXTREMELY tall with really LONG legs. If they find a short guy to play him... that would be most unforgivable. I guess Wu Chun kind of fits the looks department, but so does Mike He ... ... but I've only seen Mike He act briefly in two things and I think he is not the best performer out there so yeah... Wu Chun has pretty shaky Chinese still despite having gotten better and so... yeah =_=; Ah, I now fear the Taiwanese version of Skip Beat...
No matter what, I just can't imagine it as a live action T__T. This series can only be done well in animation, which is my opinion. Since this is my number one favorite shoujo series -- next to Tenshi Kinryouku (Angel Sanctuary), if they do a bad job making it work out, I would be severely disappointed and stick to my lovely manga. *sigh* Whenever I think of Taiwanese adaptations of popular manga, I get really sad as though my image of that pretty world is going to be crushed by some really tasteless sitcom-like production =_= *sigh*
Since I'm already on the subject, I wonder what type of cast would be suitable for a Japanese version of Skip Beat... For Tsuruga Ren, I think I can picture Kaname Jun as him because he is tall, he has the masculine frame, he's very good looking, plus he's talented. I really can't think of any actors that are "half" who look the part so we may need to settle for purely Japanese actors... I wonder what Kaname Jun looks like with blond hair =_=; Oguri Shun may work, but Kaname Jun looks better in my opinion.... If not for the fact that Kashiwabara Takashi is in his thirties, he can easily fit the part of Tsuruga Ren. He certainly does have that powerful vibe about him that I find appealing. I guess another choice for Ren is Hayami Mokomichi... but it's only in looks rather than how I really picture him as.
For Fuwa Shou, I think Ikuta Toma could be a good option. He has a wide variety of sides that he's shown through his acting and he is a possible candidate for Shou. Only concern would be singing =_=; I personally do not think of Ikuta Toma as a wonderful singer... so yeah ^_^; I guess I can kind of see Yamapi as rocker, Fuwa Shou, but.... Yamapi can't really sing that well, in my opinion =_=; *sigh* Akanishi Jin can sing, but he does not look one bit like Fuwa Shou. *sigh* I really can't think of who sports that rocker look and can sing =_=
As for Mogami Kyoko... would definitely be a tough choice in finding someone who is versatile in playing a girl who wants revenge and has lots of funny sides to her. I think Inoue Mao can do a very good Kyoko. From watching her act in various drama, she is very pretty and can also look plain. She is very good at acting out a variety of emotions and personalities and is pretty versatile as an actress. If she wanted to, I think she can act out a really mean Hongo Mio from Dark Moon.
I can see Kato Rosa, Toda Erika, Aragaki Yui, or Harada Natsuki as Kotonami Kanae or Itsumi Momose. I think Harada or Aragaki can do a good Kanae, but Toda would be better suited for Itsumi. I can kind of see Hiraoka Yuta or Eita playing Yashiro or Ogata... I think Hiraoka would be a better Yashiro... ... maybe... ...
Then again... I think it's best if they don't do a live action 'cause this story can only be animated in my opinion. All of Kyoko's inner demons are only funny because of the way Nakamura-sensei constructed everything.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Last Friends Episode 08
I was very surprised. This was a much more subtle and steady episode, slightly making up for the pain and misery we felt from the last episode or two. I must say, though the pace was not progressing all too quickly, the storyline had gotten much better. I would not be surprised if the ratings pick up this week now that I have seen this episode. Secrets came flying out the door, some things got resolved, and the last five minutes of the episode really set up the tone for next week's, which is something to look forward to. Looks like next episode will be one hell of a ride and my prediction may just come true ... though I don't really want it to.
The episode had a lot of things going on and a lot of secrets that people try to keep from each other all are coming to light, especially Ruka's secrets. We also get an idea of why Michiru's ex-senpai from her previous salon, Reina, is always so mean to Michiru and so on. Things are falling into place and we are starting to see Sousuke become a psychopath. Like I said, the episode was pretty well constructed and I am kind of impressed. There was one element that I would have never guessed and that was what got me. The last seven-something minutes really touched me and it kind of made me happy. I think I finally get what betrayal Michiru was talking about in the first episode, but I hope to confirm it in the next episode.
About Reina, it seems that she is also in a relationship that involves domestic violence. Because Michiru seems so happy, and pretty good at covering up her own pain, Reina picks on her out of jealousy most likely, thinking that Michiru has it all good. Sometimes bullying happens when someone just wants to feel better about themselves, but I think in Reina's case, it's more like she's envious that Michiru has such a "happy life" without realizing that they're the same.
Also, I was really hoping for some Michiru x Ruka T__T, but I guess it's not happening. Maybe in the very last episode? The part where Michiru takes hold of Ruka's hand and does not want to let go is pretty sad. I kind of wished that they could just develop their relationship into something more, but with the way things have been going, it just isn't really possible. The first time I heard their names, I was reminded of the Sailormoon couple, Haruka & Michiru, who were both lesbians. I was thinking that it did be cute if Michiru and Ruka get together, but Michiru's just straight =_= *sigh* The lilies just won't bloom in this show T_T.
And... why is it that everytime someone leaves and another person tries to look for them, they go running and then no matter what they find that person =_=? Happens in every drama =_=; It's like that electrical shock people feel when someone close to them gets hurt, etc. *sigh* For instance, in Gokusen, no matter where fights are happening, Yankumi ALWAYS knows where to run to save her precious students =_=; *sigh* In this one, when Michiru was beaten by Sousuke the first time and went to the park, Ruka knew where to find her, but at least it was explained that it was just coincidence that her guess came to be right -- hinting at the "friend who knows you so well that they can guess your every move" idea. And now, Takeru races after Ruka despite not knowing how long ago it's been since she's left and somehow just finds her at the park. A coincidence right? If it hadn't been for the fact that both Michiru and Ruka were chatting in the park a little longer, he probably would have not been able to get there in time =_=;
Anyway, despite some things that kind of amuse me, the last 5-7 minutes kind of made me want to cry. After Takeru reads Ruka's letter, he makes another confession to her and it's really endearing. He tells her that no matter if it's by looking at her as a human, a woman, etc., he wants to support her no matter how she changes. Ruka is touched and cries against Takeru when he goes over and holds her. Michiru looks pretty brokenhearted watching the two, because she realizes that she really does not understand Ruka all too well.
The preview is shocking and looks like the next episode will be extremely fast-paced, though I can kind of guess what might happen. So, we all know that Sousuke runs away from the hospital before he is officially discharged and there is no doubt about it that he is looking for Michiru. I am guessing that when he finds Michiru, she tells him that she's fallen in love with someone else and runs away. Takeru meets up with her and Sousuke sees them. Later on, Sousuke finds Takeru and totally goes psychotic on him. If lucky, Takeru lives through the ordeal. If not, Sousuke becomes a murderer. I wonder why it will be.... I think the betrayal that Michiru talks about in episode one -- if Takeru dies -- is that because she told Sousuke that she was in love with another man -- which Sousuke deduced was Takeru, so Sousuke killed him, which in a way is indirectly her fault. Since it seems like Takeru and Ruka may become a "couple," the one who breaks everything will be Michiru. It also looks like the child that Michiru is pregnant with, may just be Sousuke's. *sigh*
The episode had a lot of things going on and a lot of secrets that people try to keep from each other all are coming to light, especially Ruka's secrets. We also get an idea of why Michiru's ex-senpai from her previous salon, Reina, is always so mean to Michiru and so on. Things are falling into place and we are starting to see Sousuke become a psychopath. Like I said, the episode was pretty well constructed and I am kind of impressed. There was one element that I would have never guessed and that was what got me. The last seven-something minutes really touched me and it kind of made me happy. I think I finally get what betrayal Michiru was talking about in the first episode, but I hope to confirm it in the next episode.
About Reina, it seems that she is also in a relationship that involves domestic violence. Because Michiru seems so happy, and pretty good at covering up her own pain, Reina picks on her out of jealousy most likely, thinking that Michiru has it all good. Sometimes bullying happens when someone just wants to feel better about themselves, but I think in Reina's case, it's more like she's envious that Michiru has such a "happy life" without realizing that they're the same.
Also, I was really hoping for some Michiru x Ruka T__T, but I guess it's not happening. Maybe in the very last episode? The part where Michiru takes hold of Ruka's hand and does not want to let go is pretty sad. I kind of wished that they could just develop their relationship into something more, but with the way things have been going, it just isn't really possible. The first time I heard their names, I was reminded of the Sailormoon couple, Haruka & Michiru, who were both lesbians. I was thinking that it did be cute if Michiru and Ruka get together, but Michiru's just straight =_= *sigh* The lilies just won't bloom in this show T_T.
And... why is it that everytime someone leaves and another person tries to look for them, they go running and then no matter what they find that person =_=? Happens in every drama =_=; It's like that electrical shock people feel when someone close to them gets hurt, etc. *sigh* For instance, in Gokusen, no matter where fights are happening, Yankumi ALWAYS knows where to run to save her precious students =_=; *sigh* In this one, when Michiru was beaten by Sousuke the first time and went to the park, Ruka knew where to find her, but at least it was explained that it was just coincidence that her guess came to be right -- hinting at the "friend who knows you so well that they can guess your every move" idea. And now, Takeru races after Ruka despite not knowing how long ago it's been since she's left and somehow just finds her at the park. A coincidence right? If it hadn't been for the fact that both Michiru and Ruka were chatting in the park a little longer, he probably would have not been able to get there in time =_=;
Anyway, despite some things that kind of amuse me, the last 5-7 minutes kind of made me want to cry. After Takeru reads Ruka's letter, he makes another confession to her and it's really endearing. He tells her that no matter if it's by looking at her as a human, a woman, etc., he wants to support her no matter how she changes. Ruka is touched and cries against Takeru when he goes over and holds her. Michiru looks pretty brokenhearted watching the two, because she realizes that she really does not understand Ruka all too well.
The preview is shocking and looks like the next episode will be extremely fast-paced, though I can kind of guess what might happen. So, we all know that Sousuke runs away from the hospital before he is officially discharged and there is no doubt about it that he is looking for Michiru. I am guessing that when he finds Michiru, she tells him that she's fallen in love with someone else and runs away. Takeru meets up with her and Sousuke sees them. Later on, Sousuke finds Takeru and totally goes psychotic on him. If lucky, Takeru lives through the ordeal. If not, Sousuke becomes a murderer. I wonder why it will be.... I think the betrayal that Michiru talks about in episode one -- if Takeru dies -- is that because she told Sousuke that she was in love with another man -- which Sousuke deduced was Takeru, so Sousuke killed him, which in a way is indirectly her fault. Since it seems like Takeru and Ruka may become a "couple," the one who breaks everything will be Michiru. It also looks like the child that Michiru is pregnant with, may just be Sousuke's. *sigh*
The Bachelorette & Ugly Betty
So, I got bored and started watching a lot of ABC shows online and the Bachelorette was one of those shows that I ended up watching. When Brad Womack was the Bachelor, one of my friends was talking about DeAnna, saying that "She's the one." And of course, because I'm not a particular fan of reality shows, was like "Uh huh, yeah, whatever." Well, it turned out that she came close to being the one and seemed the most down-to-earth of the bunch so now she has her own show. I got a bit intrigued in my boredom and started watching it.
I really liked the magic piano part 'cause that was most interesting for me ^_^ To see guys just lose all confidence because a piano is making fun of them is awesome. Sorry to be so mean, but it was an entertaining scene. Did I feel sorry for the guy? Not really ^_^; (I am a sadist when it comes to watching other people wallow in misery) Anyway, I only recommend watching this show if you were as bored as I was, and I was REALLY bored =_=;
I also tried watching Ugly Betty's season finale yesterday and since I missed like a million episodes, I was like "Huh?" I kind of got a gist of where the story direction had gone, but I am not sure I like Betty potentially ending up with Henry. He was a player =_= and he was an accountant ... all the more UNFORGIVABLE! *seethe* Accountants who are players always remind me of this guy I used to like and it makes me edgy. I hope she ends up with the Sandwich guy 'cause they might be a better fit for each other.
Daniel Meade having an illegitimate child was plain outright funny. It was one of those story elements you just can't leave out, at least not in such a gag-like show like Ugly Betty. I wonder if we'll get to see more Father & Son bonding in the next season.
I really liked the magic piano part 'cause that was most interesting for me ^_^ To see guys just lose all confidence because a piano is making fun of them is awesome. Sorry to be so mean, but it was an entertaining scene. Did I feel sorry for the guy? Not really ^_^; (I am a sadist when it comes to watching other people wallow in misery) Anyway, I only recommend watching this show if you were as bored as I was, and I was REALLY bored =_=;
I also tried watching Ugly Betty's season finale yesterday and since I missed like a million episodes, I was like "Huh?" I kind of got a gist of where the story direction had gone, but I am not sure I like Betty potentially ending up with Henry. He was a player =_= and he was an accountant ... all the more UNFORGIVABLE! *seethe* Accountants who are players always remind me of this guy I used to like and it makes me edgy. I hope she ends up with the Sandwich guy 'cause they might be a better fit for each other.
Daniel Meade having an illegitimate child was plain outright funny. It was one of those story elements you just can't leave out, at least not in such a gag-like show like Ugly Betty. I wonder if we'll get to see more Father & Son bonding in the next season.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
My Orders Shipped!
I can't tell whether this is a good thing or a bad thing... I'm excited that my orders bought from Akadot and YesAsia are finally shipped, but thinking about how much I spent and what my CC payment is going to look like next payment period... just makes me want to cry. I have reckless spending habits and I have always been able to pay off any debt on my CC, but still... just watching the amount in my checking account plummet makes me want to cry. You would think that since I still owe my mother approximately $2000, I would stop spending so much... but I can't give up manga =_= That is the most impossible thing anyone can ask of me. *sigh* I have at least $5000+ worth of manga stashed away in my closet. I should type up an archive list of tankoubon that I own so I stop buying doubles of manga =_=; It's really sad, but I keep buying extra copies of manga 'cause I keep forgetting what I already have... (that's how large my collection is). I need more bookshelves, I need a larger closet, I need one entire bedroom devoted to my manga storing! Ah, I have manga piled up like Szeiska's room in Fullmetal Alchemist =_= *sigh* What to do...
Osen Episode 06
Aww, this was a cute episode and I was kind of happy after watching it. Osen accidentally gets herself involved in an omiai (arranged marriage interview) thinking that it is for two other people when in actuality she is one of the participating parties. Her partner is a college professor played by Koizumi Kotaro (the son of former Prime Minister Koizumi) and I still find him to be extremely hot. I like his more cool character portrayals though like Narumi Shinichi from Hanayome to Papa though. His good, nice guy character types like Maruyama Yosuke from Otoko no Kosodate, Natsume Seiichi from Gokusen 3, etc. are ok, but his coolness when playing colder characters is much more attractive ^,^ The two look pretty cute together, but episodes like these don't always work out the way people want it to. Though the series hints at possible romantic setups, it strikes me more like everyone will just remain as friends in the end. Usually these types of stories don't always end up with the main characters getting together with someone since the main focus is actually more on cooking in a traditional restaurant and the family-like closeness of the inhabitants of Isshouan, rather than romance. Though I think there is some potential for a more intimate relationship to form between Yocchan-san and Osen, the two of them being friends is good enough in my opinion. Yocchan seems to have gotten a lot better since the last episode. At first, he really was quite annoying, but it seems like he's matured a bit after staying at Isshouan for a while.
A highlight of this last episode is when Tome, Yocchan, and Kenta follow Osen on her date with Sendou, the omiai partner, to a high-class restaurant. Tome wants to infiltrate the restaurant and crash the date, but in order to do so, he needs to be able to have enough money. Of course, he does not given that the salaries paid out at Isshouan, so he makes Yocchan and Kenta take out all their money so he can borrow it, but it's mostly spare change. Sendou later runs into them by accident and causes Yocchan to lose 100 yen. I think it's so funny that they would freak out over a 100 yen, but the reason why they are doing it is because spending money is so tight. It really is a cute and funny moment.
A highlight of this last episode is when Tome, Yocchan, and Kenta follow Osen on her date with Sendou, the omiai partner, to a high-class restaurant. Tome wants to infiltrate the restaurant and crash the date, but in order to do so, he needs to be able to have enough money. Of course, he does not given that the salaries paid out at Isshouan, so he makes Yocchan and Kenta take out all their money so he can borrow it, but it's mostly spare change. Sendou later runs into them by accident and causes Yocchan to lose 100 yen. I think it's so funny that they would freak out over a 100 yen, but the reason why they are doing it is because spending money is so tight. It really is a cute and funny moment.
Not Quite Happy, Not Quite Sad
Just finished watching all of Hagaren and the series ended pretty nicely actually. I was sad over a lot of things, but the ending was pretty satisfying for me. Now, I think I want to read the manga ^_^ which is going to be pretty different from the anime since it's still ongoing.
In my opinion, it's always pretty difficult to make a good anime when the manga or novel still hasn't finished yet. A lot of times the anime has to settle for an open/ambiguous ending, or give it an alternate ending. So many anime have different endings from manga or novel, because the writing is still in process =_= I feel like 75% of anime that comes out are usually from incomplete works =_= And then 25% of it is from completed works or original concept. *sigh* I can see how production companies want to grab popular current works while it's still hot off the press, but then when they run out of material we get all these weird spoilers, or alternate things going on =_= That's why I'm a bit curious as to how Vampire Knight is going to turn out with only 39 chapters ongoing and a side story just released. I believe a technique they used is splicing chapters together so they change things around to fit the 26 episode format and will probably give it an open ending. *sigh* I'm starting to get a little tired of those open-ended endings though. I would to see an extremely tragic ending or a really happy one for once. The whole ambiguous life goes on ending is good, but just getting a little old for me.
Despite that, there are still lots of anime that do this now -- though I don't think they have much of a choice given a lot of manga series are still running. Though Hagaren had one of those open endings, it still ended with a pretty good alternate ending. Therefore, it's definitely worth checking out. My fave character is Roy Mustang ^,^ (I love the agony he puts his subordinate, Havoc, through~) I also love Maes Hughes ^_^ I can see how the two are paired together for yaoi doujinshi. You know, my first exposure to Fullmetal was actually from doujinshi lol ^_^ The first one I read was a Hughes x Roy one so... after actually viewing the anime, I am still a Hughes x Roy doujinshi fan ^^;
It's kind of the same for Prince of Tennis ^_^; First doujinshi I read for Prince of Tennis was by Houjou Akira about Tezuka x Fuji. Ever since then, I've been one of those crazy Tezuka x Fuji fans~ And after that, I got into watching the series. Unfortunately, because the manga is still ongoing, the animation began getting all weird and things started getting really old and odd. It was like a mix of Dragonball Z and sports drama =_=; It got boring and I stopped watching the series all together.
Anyway, anyone who has not seen Fullmetal, they really should give it a chance. I think the series is pretty cute overall and is definitely a good one to watch.
In my opinion, it's always pretty difficult to make a good anime when the manga or novel still hasn't finished yet. A lot of times the anime has to settle for an open/ambiguous ending, or give it an alternate ending. So many anime have different endings from manga or novel, because the writing is still in process =_= I feel like 75% of anime that comes out are usually from incomplete works =_= And then 25% of it is from completed works or original concept. *sigh* I can see how production companies want to grab popular current works while it's still hot off the press, but then when they run out of material we get all these weird spoilers, or alternate things going on =_= That's why I'm a bit curious as to how Vampire Knight is going to turn out with only 39 chapters ongoing and a side story just released. I believe a technique they used is splicing chapters together so they change things around to fit the 26 episode format and will probably give it an open ending. *sigh* I'm starting to get a little tired of those open-ended endings though. I would to see an extremely tragic ending or a really happy one for once. The whole ambiguous life goes on ending is good, but just getting a little old for me.
Despite that, there are still lots of anime that do this now -- though I don't think they have much of a choice given a lot of manga series are still running. Though Hagaren had one of those open endings, it still ended with a pretty good alternate ending. Therefore, it's definitely worth checking out. My fave character is Roy Mustang ^,^ (I love the agony he puts his subordinate, Havoc, through~) I also love Maes Hughes ^_^ I can see how the two are paired together for yaoi doujinshi. You know, my first exposure to Fullmetal was actually from doujinshi lol ^_^ The first one I read was a Hughes x Roy one so... after actually viewing the anime, I am still a Hughes x Roy doujinshi fan ^^;
It's kind of the same for Prince of Tennis ^_^; First doujinshi I read for Prince of Tennis was by Houjou Akira about Tezuka x Fuji. Ever since then, I've been one of those crazy Tezuka x Fuji fans~ And after that, I got into watching the series. Unfortunately, because the manga is still ongoing, the animation began getting all weird and things started getting really old and odd. It was like a mix of Dragonball Z and sports drama =_=; It got boring and I stopped watching the series all together.
Anyway, anyone who has not seen Fullmetal, they really should give it a chance. I think the series is pretty cute overall and is definitely a good one to watch.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Hagaren Time!
For those who don't know, Hagaren is just the abbreviation for Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi) and as of these last three days, I have been obsessively watching the series from sun up to sun down =,= .... Ah... my soul's possessed. I did the same thing with Code Geass season one ^_^; Yesterday evening, I started watching from episode 10 to around 26 or something this morning and did not get to sleep until 6am. Ah, anime and drama is really bad for my health, I should really be getting some more sleep. My skin is breaking out like crazy and my temper has been pretty terrible lately, but still I can't pry my eyes off from the screen ^,^; (Oh dear...)
One of my friends tried to get me to watch this series when we were first started college together, but for some reason... the more she urged me to do it, the more put off I felt about doing it. Kind of like how a parent tells their child to clean their room and the child then puts it off for a long time, because they just don't want to. Well, in an odd way, it's the same idea and feeling. Anyway, the series is pretty fun and I am currently addicted to it, but I guess I'm still not as obsessed as some other series that I really enjoy. For instance, I watched Code Geass three times in a row in the same week ( ... =,=; talk about obsession). I think that series holds the record for number of times viewed during addiction phase. (It's just that good).
Anyway, I probably should force myself to sleep tonight. I even finished the bottle of Shiraz so that I can make myself sleepy and sleep earlier. Well, hopefully I'll drift off in a bit. For now, back to viewing Hagaren!
One of my friends tried to get me to watch this series when we were first started college together, but for some reason... the more she urged me to do it, the more put off I felt about doing it. Kind of like how a parent tells their child to clean their room and the child then puts it off for a long time, because they just don't want to. Well, in an odd way, it's the same idea and feeling. Anyway, the series is pretty fun and I am currently addicted to it, but I guess I'm still not as obsessed as some other series that I really enjoy. For instance, I watched Code Geass three times in a row in the same week ( ... =,=; talk about obsession). I think that series holds the record for number of times viewed during addiction phase. (It's just that good).
Anyway, I probably should force myself to sleep tonight. I even finished the bottle of Shiraz so that I can make myself sleepy and sleep earlier. Well, hopefully I'll drift off in a bit. For now, back to viewing Hagaren!
The Sadist in Me...
I've come to a realization today when chatting with my friend on IRC, but I really am quite the sadist! Usually, I considered myself more of a masochist as I get abused quite often by people around me -- I've forgotten how many times I've been used and then thrown aside. And then it hit me, I've been pretty mean to my friends lately without really realizing it. The problem in my method of sadism is that... it is virtually impossible to reach me unless I let people do so. Communication has become terribly difficult with me as I have a tendency to:
1. Not check my email
2. Not check my phone
3. Not write back immediately on email (and then end up forgetting completely)
4. Not return my calls
5. Not return my texts
6. Not remember to charge my phone
7. Not remember to bring my phone with me
8. Not remember I have a Facebook account or any other communication devise/client
I must say, when one makes their friends work extra hard to find them, they must be pretty mean ^_^; Ah well, a part of me says that they deserve it after all the hell I went through last term~ Which is why I've concluded that I have evolved and become a sadist. *nod*
At least for this term anyway ^_^
1. Not check my email
2. Not check my phone
3. Not write back immediately on email (and then end up forgetting completely)
4. Not return my calls
5. Not return my texts
6. Not remember to charge my phone
7. Not remember to bring my phone with me
8. Not remember I have a Facebook account or any other communication devise/client
I must say, when one makes their friends work extra hard to find them, they must be pretty mean ^_^; Ah well, a part of me says that they deserve it after all the hell I went through last term~ Which is why I've concluded that I have evolved and become a sadist. *nod*
At least for this term anyway ^_^
Monday, May 26, 2008
After Graduation, Then What...?
A year ago I had an idea and basically a plan on how to successfully meet my goal in becoming a CPA and work for a public accounting firm. Then a year later, I'm sitting here thinking to myself ... "I really should get a move on this job search thing, and get registered for the Becker classes this summer." Unfortunately, I am so burnt out at the moment that I'm not sure if I even want to go through with my original plan. I really can't sponge off my parents while I'm jobless, but I really do not want to keep working for them at the restaurant. After so many years of doing restaurant work, I really want to retire from it. *sigh*
I did an internship last term and it was the most rigorous challenge of my life so I'm pretty beat this last term of my college career. I was managing club activities, two jobs on top of the internship, and just surviving tax season all together. I made it through, but still haven't heard from the firm yet so not sure if I have a job yet or not. I think it's pretty silly of me to bank my future on an unknown proposition, because I really should be exerting more effort out towards finding a job so I have some security in knowing that there is something waiting for me after graduation. At least after high school, I knew I was going to college. Now... I'm kind of sitting here going .... "Um.... what next?"
I want to do something fun for the summer, but I'm pretty low on cash at the moment and pretty deep in debt =_=;;; I don't like being in debt, it's not a pretty feeling. *sigh* This is why I need a job =_=; Why can't I just get off my lazy ass and go look for one =_=;; *sigh* Well, I'm sure things will work itself out once things start calming down. I still have three more weeks of school left so it should be ok even if I do not look for a job now. There are lots of CPA firms out there and I really don't mind which one I work for as long as it's in public accounting and local. I would really like to stay here in my hometown and not have to go anywhere for now, though the thought of working overseas actually sounds very attractive. The only problem is that I don't think I can survive working in a country where I cannot communicate well with clients. That would really bum me out, because I would like to be able to explain things to them without tripping over myself. Well, we'll see what happens.
I have been going back to IRC again as of lately. Now that my undergrad life is coming to an end, I may actually have more time to do the things I like such as scanlating, etc. I really liked scanlating, but I was always drowning in projects and homework so it made pretty difficult to get anything done. If only I have a better scanner, I could do my own scanlations like some of the one-woman groups out there ^__^ (i.e. PresenceDear, Celestial-Delinquent, etc.) I would like to be able to do things at my own pace rather than rush through on deadlines and such.
I want to practice drawing again 'cause my art style's really gone down the drain. I can't draw anymore, it's really sad. My dream is to become a mangaka, but I think I've fallen pretty far from the apple tree now =_= Not sure if I can recover any technical skills I might have had up to a couple years ago... I might have to just settle for writing with illustrations. Plus, I still can't do backgrounds =_= Maybe I just lack talent after all.
Oh well, I guess I'll just think about all of this a little later. Still need to focus on surviving these last three weeks.
I did an internship last term and it was the most rigorous challenge of my life so I'm pretty beat this last term of my college career. I was managing club activities, two jobs on top of the internship, and just surviving tax season all together. I made it through, but still haven't heard from the firm yet so not sure if I have a job yet or not. I think it's pretty silly of me to bank my future on an unknown proposition, because I really should be exerting more effort out towards finding a job so I have some security in knowing that there is something waiting for me after graduation. At least after high school, I knew I was going to college. Now... I'm kind of sitting here going .... "Um.... what next?"
I want to do something fun for the summer, but I'm pretty low on cash at the moment and pretty deep in debt =_=;;; I don't like being in debt, it's not a pretty feeling. *sigh* This is why I need a job =_=; Why can't I just get off my lazy ass and go look for one =_=;; *sigh* Well, I'm sure things will work itself out once things start calming down. I still have three more weeks of school left so it should be ok even if I do not look for a job now. There are lots of CPA firms out there and I really don't mind which one I work for as long as it's in public accounting and local. I would really like to stay here in my hometown and not have to go anywhere for now, though the thought of working overseas actually sounds very attractive. The only problem is that I don't think I can survive working in a country where I cannot communicate well with clients. That would really bum me out, because I would like to be able to explain things to them without tripping over myself. Well, we'll see what happens.
I have been going back to IRC again as of lately. Now that my undergrad life is coming to an end, I may actually have more time to do the things I like such as scanlating, etc. I really liked scanlating, but I was always drowning in projects and homework so it made pretty difficult to get anything done. If only I have a better scanner, I could do my own scanlations like some of the one-woman groups out there ^__^ (i.e. PresenceDear, Celestial-Delinquent, etc.) I would like to be able to do things at my own pace rather than rush through on deadlines and such.
I want to practice drawing again 'cause my art style's really gone down the drain. I can't draw anymore, it's really sad. My dream is to become a mangaka, but I think I've fallen pretty far from the apple tree now =_= Not sure if I can recover any technical skills I might have had up to a couple years ago... I might have to just settle for writing with illustrations. Plus, I still can't do backgrounds =_= Maybe I just lack talent after all.
Oh well, I guess I'll just think about all of this a little later. Still need to focus on surviving these last three weeks.
Code Geass R2 Episode 08
I was pretty impressed with how this episode turned out, though I'm pretty sad that episode nine will not be released until two weeks after due to the earthquake crisis in China and the story is relocating to the Chinese Federation. At least, that is what I've heard...
But yes, I was wondering exactly how the problem was going to resolve after episode seven and the solution was quite brilliant actually. The episode ended pretty nicely and looks like things are going to be interesting afterwards, but we'll have to wait two weeks before we find out how =_=
Kaguya actually turns out to be not as annoying as I thought she would be. Lelouch seems to be able to handle her pretty well too. Plus when everyone doubts Zero, she really believes in him otherwise some of his plans might not get carried out. I guess it's really nice when one is in a seat of power, and the Japanese practically think of her as their princess.
Oh, Suzaku in a hakama was so ..... *nosebleed* I really am a Suzaku fan, I can't help it. He's really good looking. I'm still sad that Euphemia died because I think the two made a good couple, they were so similar and shared a lot of the same ideals.
But yes, I was wondering exactly how the problem was going to resolve after episode seven and the solution was quite brilliant actually. The episode ended pretty nicely and looks like things are going to be interesting afterwards, but we'll have to wait two weeks before we find out how =_=
Kaguya actually turns out to be not as annoying as I thought she would be. Lelouch seems to be able to handle her pretty well too. Plus when everyone doubts Zero, she really believes in him otherwise some of his plans might not get carried out. I guess it's really nice when one is in a seat of power, and the Japanese practically think of her as their princess.
Oh, Suzaku in a hakama was so ..... *nosebleed* I really am a Suzaku fan, I can't help it. He's really good looking. I'm still sad that Euphemia died because I think the two made a good couple, they were so similar and shared a lot of the same ideals.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Indiana Jones & Kurosagi
I was pretty skeptical when I heard that they were making an Indiana Jones Part IV, but I was pretty impressed with it after watching it today at the theater with my brother. The movie wrapped up the Indiana Jones saga pretty nicely and it was a lot more entertaining than I thought it would be. One thing that I didn't really get was a point from the Last Crusade since Indy drank from the fountain of everlasting youth so you would think that he would not have aged, but ... maybe it was just regular water or something. Harrison Ford looked so old and yet still so good in the movie. The only Indiana Jones girl that I liked was in this movie so I was pretty happy -- I'm starting to call them Jones girl like Bond girl lol...
I think I would have been a little more hyped if I had watched the first three movies again since it's been literally years since I've watched them. I remember watching the movies when I was little, but that's about it. Still, if anyone is an Indiana Jones fan, they definitely should go and see the movie. I also think I would have been much better off if the kid next to me was not such an otaku + annoying brat. First he elbows me, does not apologize, and then keeps folding his candy box and making noises with it during the quietest parts of the movie. Finally he keeps kicking me. Plus, during previews he starts reciting anime movie titles just because the one Bleach movie trailer kicks in =_=; (I still cannot believe that they're showing Nobody's Memories in theaters here =_=; It's going to be so odd). *sigh* I was tempted to tell him to stop, but figured that it would not be worth it. The mother wasn't doing anything about it, which is kind of tragic in my book. When parents do not raise their children better, I always feel like they should not be parents at all. A bit harsh, but that's exactly how I feel.
I also recently watched the Kurosagi movie with Yamashita Tomohisa and Horikita Maki, but it was kinda more of the same-old-same-old... I was hoping to see a little more on Kurosaki and the man who destroyed his family, but instead it was more like he was taking down a man who did similar swindling techniques like his mortal enemy. I actually skipped through it since the version I had was pretty LQ and when I'm watching LQ videos, it really turns me off. Plus, I've never really done well with Japanese domestic movies based off of manga, etc. For instance... I'm still not a big fan of the Nana movies no matter how successful they were in Japan 'cause sometimes live action isn't at all that interesting in some cases.
I think I would have been a little more hyped if I had watched the first three movies again since it's been literally years since I've watched them. I remember watching the movies when I was little, but that's about it. Still, if anyone is an Indiana Jones fan, they definitely should go and see the movie. I also think I would have been much better off if the kid next to me was not such an otaku + annoying brat. First he elbows me, does not apologize, and then keeps folding his candy box and making noises with it during the quietest parts of the movie. Finally he keeps kicking me. Plus, during previews he starts reciting anime movie titles just because the one Bleach movie trailer kicks in =_=; (I still cannot believe that they're showing Nobody's Memories in theaters here =_=; It's going to be so odd). *sigh* I was tempted to tell him to stop, but figured that it would not be worth it. The mother wasn't doing anything about it, which is kind of tragic in my book. When parents do not raise their children better, I always feel like they should not be parents at all. A bit harsh, but that's exactly how I feel.
I also recently watched the Kurosagi movie with Yamashita Tomohisa and Horikita Maki, but it was kinda more of the same-old-same-old... I was hoping to see a little more on Kurosaki and the man who destroyed his family, but instead it was more like he was taking down a man who did similar swindling techniques like his mortal enemy. I actually skipped through it since the version I had was pretty LQ and when I'm watching LQ videos, it really turns me off. Plus, I've never really done well with Japanese domestic movies based off of manga, etc. For instance... I'm still not a big fan of the Nana movies no matter how successful they were in Japan 'cause sometimes live action isn't at all that interesting in some cases.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Last Friends Episode 07
Today's episode seemed a bit boring, and did not move much at all. I was a bit disappointed since it seemed almost as though the creators slowed down the pace of the story. The preview did not look exactly interesting either, unfortunately. Overall, the series is good, but I think it can be better at times. The ratings dropped another 1.2% this week and frankly speaking, I am not surprised. Last week's episode was alright up to the last three minutes, and then because of just that one little segment, I just had a feeling that this week's episode would sink.
First, the confession... we knew it was going to come, but it just came at a pretty frustrating moment since personally it would have been better for Ruka to gain some support. Unfortunately, the confession came and things got shut down. As much as I can understand that these things do happen in real life, I must say it still aggravates me when I'm watching a helpless situation.
And then we have Ruka asking Hayashida to be her pretend-boyfriend in order to get Takeru to completely give up on her, which is so overdone. I mean it's just that in just about every story I've read that has concerned someone wanting to get another person to give up on them, they always do this "pretend-relationship" thing and after viewing it so frequently, the idea has become a bit boring and not at all interesting.
Next, we are finally starting to learn more Takeru's past -- though it was not exactly hard to figure out anyway from the beginning -- and yet, the audience only receives a small amount of exposure to it. I think this week's episode would have been much and I mean much more interesting if we were to learn a greater chunk of Takeru's past than small little flashbacks that don't really tell us anything other than the obvious. *sigh*
Eri still does not get enough screen time. Even though she has her own spin-off series, it would be nice to see more of her story too in Last Friends. Also, I just wish that Ogurin can make up his mind, though I can see why he is so hesitant about separating from his wife, he really is in love with her after all. But... I feel badly for Eri and hope that things would work out for her.
I think with the situation at the end, my prediction may actually turn out right... though there's still another four or five episodes left so who knows. If Michiru and Takeru end up together, it would not be at all that surprising. A typical occurence in these types of stories is that two broken people hurt by love usually ends up together. Takeru had a love trauma making him fearful of sex, and Michiru was exposed to domestic violence which kind of destroyed her logic of love. I can kind of see the similarity of her liking Takeru to Sousuke though. Back in episode four when she was telling Takeru about how she thought that she and Sousuke were similar and that's why they worked out together, it made me think that Michiru tends to follow those she feels a sort "we're similar" connection with. Plus Takeru is kind to her, so that would be another reason as well. We cannot rule out the "I'll fall in love with another person in order to forget the past" tactic either.
Sousuke and the little boy kind of gave me a fright. I have mixed feelings for Sousuke, because I understand that his situation and the boy's situation are similar and that is why Sousuke is the way he is, but that doesn't mean I condone everything that he has done. I have a feeling that even though the creators are making it seem as though he might die -- the "death" that Michiru talks about at the beginning of episode one -- he is not going to die this episode at least. Seems like from the preview, Sousuke sent a letter to Michiru in episode eight. Also when reading the preview on the official website, Sousuke is still alive (unfortunately... ?).
I feel badly for Ruka. I have been hoping for a Ruka x Michiru relationship since I actually think it would be good, though I am not sure if it will work out that way or not. Also, next week's episode doesn't look at all that appealing to me. Ruka seems to be packing up to move out and such, and Ogurin and Eri seem to have some time together, but the scenes shown from the preview just did not exactly spell excitement so I only hope that the episode would be better than it seems.
First, the confession... we knew it was going to come, but it just came at a pretty frustrating moment since personally it would have been better for Ruka to gain some support. Unfortunately, the confession came and things got shut down. As much as I can understand that these things do happen in real life, I must say it still aggravates me when I'm watching a helpless situation.
And then we have Ruka asking Hayashida to be her pretend-boyfriend in order to get Takeru to completely give up on her, which is so overdone. I mean it's just that in just about every story I've read that has concerned someone wanting to get another person to give up on them, they always do this "pretend-relationship" thing and after viewing it so frequently, the idea has become a bit boring and not at all interesting.
Next, we are finally starting to learn more Takeru's past -- though it was not exactly hard to figure out anyway from the beginning -- and yet, the audience only receives a small amount of exposure to it. I think this week's episode would have been much and I mean much more interesting if we were to learn a greater chunk of Takeru's past than small little flashbacks that don't really tell us anything other than the obvious. *sigh*
Eri still does not get enough screen time. Even though she has her own spin-off series, it would be nice to see more of her story too in Last Friends. Also, I just wish that Ogurin can make up his mind, though I can see why he is so hesitant about separating from his wife, he really is in love with her after all. But... I feel badly for Eri and hope that things would work out for her.
I think with the situation at the end, my prediction may actually turn out right... though there's still another four or five episodes left so who knows. If Michiru and Takeru end up together, it would not be at all that surprising. A typical occurence in these types of stories is that two broken people hurt by love usually ends up together. Takeru had a love trauma making him fearful of sex, and Michiru was exposed to domestic violence which kind of destroyed her logic of love. I can kind of see the similarity of her liking Takeru to Sousuke though. Back in episode four when she was telling Takeru about how she thought that she and Sousuke were similar and that's why they worked out together, it made me think that Michiru tends to follow those she feels a sort "we're similar" connection with. Plus Takeru is kind to her, so that would be another reason as well. We cannot rule out the "I'll fall in love with another person in order to forget the past" tactic either.
Sousuke and the little boy kind of gave me a fright. I have mixed feelings for Sousuke, because I understand that his situation and the boy's situation are similar and that is why Sousuke is the way he is, but that doesn't mean I condone everything that he has done. I have a feeling that even though the creators are making it seem as though he might die -- the "death" that Michiru talks about at the beginning of episode one -- he is not going to die this episode at least. Seems like from the preview, Sousuke sent a letter to Michiru in episode eight. Also when reading the preview on the official website, Sousuke is still alive (unfortunately... ?).
I feel badly for Ruka. I have been hoping for a Ruka x Michiru relationship since I actually think it would be good, though I am not sure if it will work out that way or not. Also, next week's episode doesn't look at all that appealing to me. Ruka seems to be packing up to move out and such, and Ogurin and Eri seem to have some time together, but the scenes shown from the preview just did not exactly spell excitement so I only hope that the episode would be better than it seems.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Craving Doujinshi
I've been craving Code Geass doujinshi, mostly Suzaku x Euphemia ones. I could almost settle for some fanfiction, except I would like to read some Suzaku x Euphemia doujinshi. For some reason I really like this couple, maybe because I just have a weakness for princesses and their knights in white armor ^_^.
Usually, I am all about yaoi doujinshi, but for some reason Lelouch x Suzaku just doesn't really appeal to me. For me, Lelouch seems almost asexual lol (j/k). Seriously, I can't picture Lelouch in any romantic relationships because he seems so much cooler as a world dominator with no strings attached than if he had relationships, etc. As bad as this sounds, I can only see Lelouch with Nunnally, though technically... this is not a good arrangement (for many reasons). I guess the girl most would pair Lelouch with is C.C. or Kallen (Karen), and without a doubt in my mind, there must be tons of Suzaku x Lelouch doujinshi -- I'm pretty sure Suzaku is seme *laugh*.
Doujinshi that I do enjoy and have loved for a while now includes Irvine x Squall from Final Fantasy VIII, Zack x Cloud from Final Fantasy VII and Tezuka x Fuji from Prince of Tennis though, if we're to discuss yaoi doujinshi ^_^. It really depends on the artist though, I'm pretty picky when it comes to who illustrated the doujinshi. For instance, I love Akizuki Ryou for FFVII doujinshi, Reine Hibiki for FFVIII, and Houjou Akira for Prince of Tennis. I just really love their artwork. I guess Tsurugi Kai's Seifer x Zell doujinshi is good too and this is another couple I'm fond of. Then again, I just love Tsurugi Kai in general, I wonder if much work has been done on Kuro no Kishi lately...
Anyway, I'm on the prowl for good Suzaku x Euphemia doujinshi and fanfics, so if anyone knows of any, let me know~ ^_^
Usually, I am all about yaoi doujinshi, but for some reason Lelouch x Suzaku just doesn't really appeal to me. For me, Lelouch seems almost asexual lol (j/k). Seriously, I can't picture Lelouch in any romantic relationships because he seems so much cooler as a world dominator with no strings attached than if he had relationships, etc. As bad as this sounds, I can only see Lelouch with Nunnally, though technically... this is not a good arrangement (for many reasons). I guess the girl most would pair Lelouch with is C.C. or Kallen (Karen), and without a doubt in my mind, there must be tons of Suzaku x Lelouch doujinshi -- I'm pretty sure Suzaku is seme *laugh*.
Doujinshi that I do enjoy and have loved for a while now includes Irvine x Squall from Final Fantasy VIII, Zack x Cloud from Final Fantasy VII and Tezuka x Fuji from Prince of Tennis though, if we're to discuss yaoi doujinshi ^_^. It really depends on the artist though, I'm pretty picky when it comes to who illustrated the doujinshi. For instance, I love Akizuki Ryou for FFVII doujinshi, Reine Hibiki for FFVIII, and Houjou Akira for Prince of Tennis. I just really love their artwork. I guess Tsurugi Kai's Seifer x Zell doujinshi is good too and this is another couple I'm fond of. Then again, I just love Tsurugi Kai in general, I wonder if much work has been done on Kuro no Kishi lately...
Anyway, I'm on the prowl for good Suzaku x Euphemia doujinshi and fanfics, so if anyone knows of any, let me know~ ^_^
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Three of My (Recent) Favorite Things
I am a fairly picky anime watcher, I usually check ratings and reviews to see if it's worth my time if it is not a new series. If I see that it's in the excellent/masterpiece range under AnimeNewsNetwork, then I'll usually pick it up to see if it really is that good. Recently, I picked up D.Gray-man, Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch, and Fullmetal Alchemist. I must say that I really enjoy all three of them.
D.Gray-man: I am pretty much in love with D.Gray-man since I do find it pretty well done compared to other shounen series that suffer multiple filler arcs. However, unlike Bleach, fillers are usually around 3-5 episodes long and it doesn't really disrupt the direction of the story so that's a really nice thing about D.Gray-man. It's always such a headache to watch anime series that have incomplete manga storylines, but I really do enjoy what they did with D.Gray-man. I also like the additional episodes they make for minor characters like Kevin Yeegar, Daisya Barry, Suman, etc. so they can stretch out the story, but also give more information in a way. Some people may not like it, but I think it's pretty nice since the manga didn't really go into much detail on some characters. I felt a bit more torn watching the Togaochi arc since I knew more about Suman in the anime than I did when reading it in the manga, which makes me feel that the writers did a fairly good job adding things to the series even if it does slow down the progression. Some of the comedic elements that's added in the series is pretty good too, but not always, still it's pretty fun. Last week's episode (83) was not as good as it probably could have been, so I hope this coming week's episode is better. I'm also on the edge of seat wanting to read more of the manga (159 left me hanging T_T).
Fullmetal Alchemist: I just started Fullmetal Alchemist today and it's cute. My favorite female seiyuu, Paku Romi, is the lead and the story is really good. I haven't actually read the manga yet, but I've found that if I read a manga before I watch an anime, I usually can't enjoy the anime too much -- for a manga-based anime that is. It's kind of the same for the reverse. If I read a manga adaptation of an anime after I watch the anime, I usually can't really enjoy it too much compared to the original work (i.e. Romeo x Juliet, Escaflowne, etc). Therefore, I've decided not to read Fullmetal for the time being so I can just enjoy the anime and not bicker about whether or not it follows the original, etc. (I think that's why I enjoy D.Gray-man so much, since I never read it prior to watching the series and then picked up the manga after about 75 episodes).
Code Geass: Now... Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is really a series that's pretty much robbed me of my soul. I can definitely see where it can receive severe criticism, but I cannot deny the genius of storyline. It is definitely a hard-to-come-by piece and I am really impressed by it. I've only started watching the series last week so I wasn't with the craze back in late 2006 (I find it pretty interesting that this series was aired 2 days after first episode of Death Note). For those who enjoy mecha series like Gundam, Escaflowne, Neon Genesis, etc. and have also been exposed to the ingenuity of Death Note then this series is really a combination of both. You may like it, or you may hate it. Since CLAMP did character design for the series, we have really pretty people that look a lot like characters from other CLAMP works. The main character, Lelouch, really looks like another version of Shiro Kamui from X/1999, while his best friend and rival, Kururugi Suzaku looks a lot like Syaoran from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. I like both characters despite whether others hate one or the other.
The storyline is simple, yet complex at the same time which gives it a bit of flavor. We have Lelouch who is kind of like the Yagami Light [Death Note] of the series. He obtains a pretty powerful weapon -- a Geass -- and uses it along with his pretty high intelligence to fight against the empire of Britannia (an allegory to the United States, but I prefer to think of it as imperialism/colonialism) in order to create a peaceful world in which his younger sister, Nunnally, can live in. It's similar to how Light uses the death notebook to kill people, except the purpose between Light and Leouch is different. Whereas Light ultimately did everything for himself, Lelouch was fighting for Nunnally and a part of it for himself. So this is how I categorize the two differently. DN is like watching a horror/thriller that just keeps you on your toes while CG is more like a philosophical/political type of drama like... Star Wars maybe? (I really can't think of a better example ^_^; ...) Though the storyline of CG is kind of like an evolved form of a simple story that we see quite often, the elements in it make it pretty unique.
I am always pretty amused when I see a western audience rant and rave over how much they hate Suzaku after watching the end of the first season & beginning of second calling him a traitor, etc., or having no aim, etc. He is actually pretty popular in Japan ^_^ and it so happens that I'm also actually a Suzaku fan -- something about athletically-able men attracts me (^_^). I love Lelouch too, he's really smart and his strategic abilities are really impressive, but I cannot deny that I love Suzaku too. People tend to antagonize the antagonist (Gee, I would have never thought of that) because well... they're the antagonist (Yes, pardon the awful explanation), but if we flipped the story to Suzaku's point of view, he really actually follows the traditional hero's path in comparison to Lelouch.
Suzaku reminds me of the hero from video games such as like Final Fantasy or something. These types of heroes usually are the ones who do things in accordance to what is right or what they consider is right by following the rules and such. Suzaku is the rule-follower, the outcast because of his identity as an Eleven, has a dark past (like some traditional protagonists i.e. Cloud Strife from FFVII, Tsuzuki Asato from Yami no Matsuei, etc.), and falls in love with a beautiful girl then loses her to tragedy, which makes him more resolute on what he wants and he ends up finding the path he needs to follow. There are times when the hero is unsure of what he wants, which is why there's even a story, because we are watching how the hero develops and comes to find a goal he truly needs to aim towards, or to reaffirm the direction he is going towards. In CG, Suzaku knows what he wants, but never really knew how he was going to do things. After losing the girl he loved, he finally came to a decision to how he would now proceed with things. Doesn't that just seem like a typical type of hero cycle?
However, because CG takes the story from Lelouch's point of view, Suzaku becomes the antagonist instead. This really impresses me, because there are times when watching a series that people say "Oh that antagonist is so much more interesting than the main character" and now we have a series where because the perspectives are reversed the once interesting antagonist is now the really interesting protagonist. Just this one element of the story design is really impressive to me. This is why I cannot dislike Suzaku. It's not like he's a bad guy anyway, it's more like he's following the traditional hero cycle in my mind. That's why I kind of find it amusing when people here say how much they dislike Suzaku, etc. I mean... when reading/watching DN, do people hate L? He's out to hunt and catch Light so he's basically the antagonist in the story (since we're in Light's POV), but I highly doubt the percentage of people who dislike L is high at all. So, it really is kind of interesting hearing people rant about Suzaku.
Also, two of my favorite seiyuu are in Code Geass: Sakurai Takahiro and Fukuyama Jun ^_^. Fukuyama plays Lelouch, and I must say it is the most impressive role I've ever heard him in. I like him in a lot of other works, but I think the role of Lelouch really gave Fukuyama much more versatility as a voice actor. It really is the most impressive role he's had to date, in my opinion. This is not the most impressive role for Sakupyon though, more like average -- though I really wasn't able to tell at first that he was the seiyuu since I'm more accustomed to his deeper voice. He has a pretty wide range of character types that he can do and he isn't restricted to any of them, which makes him pretty versatile to start with, but I guess if I were to pick, I would say that his role as Kanda Yuu in D.Gray-man is much more fun than as Suzaku. I think I was more surprised with Orikasa Fumiko. I haven't seen a whole lot of series with her in it, but the voice I'm most accustomed to is her deeper, Kuchiki Rukia-type voice so hearing her as Shirley really surprised me at first.
Anyway, for those who have not seen Code Geass and enjoy DN-like mecha drama, one really should check it out if they have time. I'm pretty glad I picked it up, but pretty sad that I couldn't resist the urge to watch the second season so now I'm stucking waiting for an episode every week =_=. Cliffhangers are emotionally straining for me.
D.Gray-man: I am pretty much in love with D.Gray-man since I do find it pretty well done compared to other shounen series that suffer multiple filler arcs. However, unlike Bleach, fillers are usually around 3-5 episodes long and it doesn't really disrupt the direction of the story so that's a really nice thing about D.Gray-man. It's always such a headache to watch anime series that have incomplete manga storylines, but I really do enjoy what they did with D.Gray-man. I also like the additional episodes they make for minor characters like Kevin Yeegar, Daisya Barry, Suman, etc. so they can stretch out the story, but also give more information in a way. Some people may not like it, but I think it's pretty nice since the manga didn't really go into much detail on some characters. I felt a bit more torn watching the Togaochi arc since I knew more about Suman in the anime than I did when reading it in the manga, which makes me feel that the writers did a fairly good job adding things to the series even if it does slow down the progression. Some of the comedic elements that's added in the series is pretty good too, but not always, still it's pretty fun. Last week's episode (83) was not as good as it probably could have been, so I hope this coming week's episode is better. I'm also on the edge of seat wanting to read more of the manga (159 left me hanging T_T).
Fullmetal Alchemist: I just started Fullmetal Alchemist today and it's cute. My favorite female seiyuu, Paku Romi, is the lead and the story is really good. I haven't actually read the manga yet, but I've found that if I read a manga before I watch an anime, I usually can't enjoy the anime too much -- for a manga-based anime that is. It's kind of the same for the reverse. If I read a manga adaptation of an anime after I watch the anime, I usually can't really enjoy it too much compared to the original work (i.e. Romeo x Juliet, Escaflowne, etc). Therefore, I've decided not to read Fullmetal for the time being so I can just enjoy the anime and not bicker about whether or not it follows the original, etc. (I think that's why I enjoy D.Gray-man so much, since I never read it prior to watching the series and then picked up the manga after about 75 episodes).
Code Geass: Now... Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is really a series that's pretty much robbed me of my soul. I can definitely see where it can receive severe criticism, but I cannot deny the genius of storyline. It is definitely a hard-to-come-by piece and I am really impressed by it. I've only started watching the series last week so I wasn't with the craze back in late 2006 (I find it pretty interesting that this series was aired 2 days after first episode of Death Note). For those who enjoy mecha series like Gundam, Escaflowne, Neon Genesis, etc. and have also been exposed to the ingenuity of Death Note then this series is really a combination of both. You may like it, or you may hate it. Since CLAMP did character design for the series, we have really pretty people that look a lot like characters from other CLAMP works. The main character, Lelouch, really looks like another version of Shiro Kamui from X/1999, while his best friend and rival, Kururugi Suzaku looks a lot like Syaoran from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. I like both characters despite whether others hate one or the other.
The storyline is simple, yet complex at the same time which gives it a bit of flavor. We have Lelouch who is kind of like the Yagami Light [Death Note] of the series. He obtains a pretty powerful weapon -- a Geass -- and uses it along with his pretty high intelligence to fight against the empire of Britannia (an allegory to the United States, but I prefer to think of it as imperialism/colonialism) in order to create a peaceful world in which his younger sister, Nunnally, can live in. It's similar to how Light uses the death notebook to kill people, except the purpose between Light and Leouch is different. Whereas Light ultimately did everything for himself, Lelouch was fighting for Nunnally and a part of it for himself. So this is how I categorize the two differently. DN is like watching a horror/thriller that just keeps you on your toes while CG is more like a philosophical/political type of drama like... Star Wars maybe? (I really can't think of a better example ^_^; ...) Though the storyline of CG is kind of like an evolved form of a simple story that we see quite often, the elements in it make it pretty unique.
I am always pretty amused when I see a western audience rant and rave over how much they hate Suzaku after watching the end of the first season & beginning of second calling him a traitor, etc., or having no aim, etc. He is actually pretty popular in Japan ^_^ and it so happens that I'm also actually a Suzaku fan -- something about athletically-able men attracts me (^_^). I love Lelouch too, he's really smart and his strategic abilities are really impressive, but I cannot deny that I love Suzaku too. People tend to antagonize the antagonist (Gee, I would have never thought of that) because well... they're the antagonist (Yes, pardon the awful explanation), but if we flipped the story to Suzaku's point of view, he really actually follows the traditional hero's path in comparison to Lelouch.
Suzaku reminds me of the hero from video games such as like Final Fantasy or something. These types of heroes usually are the ones who do things in accordance to what is right or what they consider is right by following the rules and such. Suzaku is the rule-follower, the outcast because of his identity as an Eleven, has a dark past (like some traditional protagonists i.e. Cloud Strife from FFVII, Tsuzuki Asato from Yami no Matsuei, etc.), and falls in love with a beautiful girl then loses her to tragedy, which makes him more resolute on what he wants and he ends up finding the path he needs to follow. There are times when the hero is unsure of what he wants, which is why there's even a story, because we are watching how the hero develops and comes to find a goal he truly needs to aim towards, or to reaffirm the direction he is going towards. In CG, Suzaku knows what he wants, but never really knew how he was going to do things. After losing the girl he loved, he finally came to a decision to how he would now proceed with things. Doesn't that just seem like a typical type of hero cycle?
However, because CG takes the story from Lelouch's point of view, Suzaku becomes the antagonist instead. This really impresses me, because there are times when watching a series that people say "Oh that antagonist is so much more interesting than the main character" and now we have a series where because the perspectives are reversed the once interesting antagonist is now the really interesting protagonist. Just this one element of the story design is really impressive to me. This is why I cannot dislike Suzaku. It's not like he's a bad guy anyway, it's more like he's following the traditional hero cycle in my mind. That's why I kind of find it amusing when people here say how much they dislike Suzaku, etc. I mean... when reading/watching DN, do people hate L? He's out to hunt and catch Light so he's basically the antagonist in the story (since we're in Light's POV), but I highly doubt the percentage of people who dislike L is high at all. So, it really is kind of interesting hearing people rant about Suzaku.
Also, two of my favorite seiyuu are in Code Geass: Sakurai Takahiro and Fukuyama Jun ^_^. Fukuyama plays Lelouch, and I must say it is the most impressive role I've ever heard him in. I like him in a lot of other works, but I think the role of Lelouch really gave Fukuyama much more versatility as a voice actor. It really is the most impressive role he's had to date, in my opinion. This is not the most impressive role for Sakupyon though, more like average -- though I really wasn't able to tell at first that he was the seiyuu since I'm more accustomed to his deeper voice. He has a pretty wide range of character types that he can do and he isn't restricted to any of them, which makes him pretty versatile to start with, but I guess if I were to pick, I would say that his role as Kanda Yuu in D.Gray-man is much more fun than as Suzaku. I think I was more surprised with Orikasa Fumiko. I haven't seen a whole lot of series with her in it, but the voice I'm most accustomed to is her deeper, Kuchiki Rukia-type voice so hearing her as Shirley really surprised me at first.
Anyway, for those who have not seen Code Geass and enjoy DN-like mecha drama, one really should check it out if they have time. I'm pretty glad I picked it up, but pretty sad that I couldn't resist the urge to watch the second season so now I'm stucking waiting for an episode every week =_=. Cliffhangers are emotionally straining for me.
Ohayou~!
For some reason, I just decided to start this blog a couple days ago. Didn't really write it in it till now, but here's why...
Let's just say that if you are planning on starting a blog, it may be best to just write an introductory post the first day so the blog committee doesn't think you're out to spam people with your blog, and end up locking it up for a couple days.
Anyway, this was kind of an impulsive move on my part. I have other blog accounts, but then just suddenly felt like writing one here. No reason really, just felt like it, so here I am.
I guess this is kind of a boring first post, but oh well.
Let's just say that if you are planning on starting a blog, it may be best to just write an introductory post the first day so the blog committee doesn't think you're out to spam people with your blog, and end up locking it up for a couple days.
Anyway, this was kind of an impulsive move on my part. I have other blog accounts, but then just suddenly felt like writing one here. No reason really, just felt like it, so here I am.
I guess this is kind of a boring first post, but oh well.
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