Sunday, June 23, 2013

Lupin III Live Action Film (rumored casting)

Yup, you read that right! There will be a Lupin III live action film.

According to Anime News Network, Tokyo Sports reported that there will be a new adaptation of the popular manga by Monkey Punch scheduled for a release next March. Playing the lead role of Arsène Lupin III  will be Oguri Shun, Sakura Sho as Daisuke Jigen and Tsumabuki Satoshi will be Goemon Ishikawa. 

Based on pictures on the right, they obviously don't look anything like the character they will be playing so I'm kinda curious on how they will pull this off. I also can't wait to see how Sho will look like with a beard. Haha.

If you're wondering who's gonna play Lupin's love interest Fujiko, apparently they're still looking for the perfect actress to play the role. The possible candidates are the following: Mirei Kiritani, Masami Nagasawa, Anne Watanabe, Airi Taira, Kyoko Fukada, Asami Mizukawa, Tsubasa Honda, Kiko Mizuhara, and Kou Shibasaki. 

I'm happy with the casting because they're all familiar to me! Though I can't believe there will be a new movie for Sho. Don't get me wrong, I love him but among the 5 members of Arashi, he's the one with the least acting skills. 

But anyway, I'm definitely excited for this movie. I love Lupin III. Well, the anime because I wasn't able to read the manga. I hope this one will turn out really good. 









Saturday, June 22, 2013

Dirty Red (Love Me With Lies #2) by Tarryn Fisher



“Love is illogical. You fall into it like a manhole. Then you're just stuck. 
You die in love more than you live in love.” 

“I have done a number of things to keep this man. I have lied and cheated. 
I have been sexy and meek, fierce and vulnerable. 
I have been everything but myself.” 

The Blurb:

Dear Opportunist, 

You thought you could take him from me, but you lost. Now, that he's mine I'll do anything to keep him. Do you doubt me? I have everything that was supposed to be yours. In case you were wondering; he doesn't ever think about you anymore. I won't let him go....ever. 

Dirty Red

Leah Smith finally has everything she has ever wanted. Except she doesn't. Her marriage feels more like a loan than a lifelong commitment, and the image she has worked so hard to build is fraying before her eyes. With a new role and a past full of secrets, Leah must decide how far she is willing to go to keep what she has stolen.

IMO:

I remembered I bawled my eyes out after reading the last sentence of The Opportunist. I was so emotionally invested in that book that up to now whenever I do a re-read, I will always be left emotionally battered. I was distraught thinking that, that couldn't be the end of that story until I learned that, that book is actually a part of a series and the second book will be out by the end of this year.

I felt alive once again thinking that I will get my HEA after all. And then I learned that the book is titled Dirty Red and it is on Leah's POV. I didn't know what to think. Leah is such a hateful character in the first book and I'm not sure if I can stand a whole book in her POV. 

After reading the book, I realized that yes, I can stand a book written in her POV. And furthermore, I find that it was quite interesting to be inside her head. It was crazy, she's psychotic but nevertheless, interesting.

Tarryn Fisher did it again with this book. Though I was not that totally emotionally battered here, because like I said, I didn't like Leah first of all, and I was totally rooting for Olivia and Caleb. But this book is also really good. Tarryn Fisher is really good in writing complicated love stories and not happily ever after endings. 

So, there will be a book 3 and this time it will be on Caleb's POV. I'm just so freakin' excited for it because even though I said that I think Tarryn Fisher doesn't do happily ever afters, I'm still hoping that by the end of this series (especially after the ending we had with Dirty Red), I will finally get my happily ever after. I just don't know what's gonna happen to Noah because he's a character that I really like in the first book and further liked in the second book (though his appearance is very very brief.) 

Conclusion:

Leah is a bitch, yes, but her side of the story definitely deserves to be told.

A-


Persuaded (The Jane Austen Diaries, #3) by Jenni James



"I'm not going to let you go. I can't. I've already lost you twice. Once because of your stupid pride. And once because of mine. I don't think I could handle losing you a third time."


The Blurb:

Will he take her back, or fling her aside like she deserves?

Three years ago Amanda made the biggest mistake of her life when she let her friends persuade her to reject the guy she loved. They were convinced he was a loser and wasn't good enough for her.


Now Gregory's back in Farmington . . . taller, stronger, hotter than ever, and worth millions. Those gorgeous girls who snubbed him before are now falling at his feet and he's enjoying every moment of it.


Can he see past the pain Amanda caused him and give her a second chance? Or will she forever regret losing the only guy who truly loved her?


IMO:


Wow, I couldn't believe I finished this book in 2 1/2 hours! It was, umm, how do they say it? Unputdownable. I find it really good, enjoyable and I keep on anticipating what will happen next. After Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion is my next favorite Jane Austen book. So, I was really happy with this modern retelling.

It was kind of a surprise actually. I read Pride and Popularity before but I wasn't solved with its plot and writing but I must say, what an improvement for this book! I'm really glad. Because of this, maybe I'll check out Northanger Alibi too.

Conclusion:

I had fun with the book and I'm glad I decided to read this.

B



Hopeless (Hopeless, #1) by Colleen Hoover


“Its real, Six. You can't get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. 
It's the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off.” 

The Blurb:

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

IMO:

Wow, Colleen Hoover never fails to amaze me.

I don't know what I was expecting when I started this book but I definitely got something different. Something totally unexpected that I felt like it just came straight to me and punched me in the face. After reading the book, I just lay there in my bed staring at ceiling (unfortunately I don't have stars in them) and I'm just reliving the whole experience and trying to get my thoughts in order.

Sky and Holder got one of the most passionate relationship I have ever read in a book. And they also had the most beautiful and intense first kiss without actually kissing. I didn't even know that was possible.

The story is definitely not all butterflies and roses. Underneath that passionate romance is a secret that is so dark, so painful and frightening that it could actually ruin their lives. But I'm glad that they survived the ordeal together. Sky is a beautiful character and she's also strong enough to overcome the lowest point of her life.

I can tell you how many times Holder made me melt just by being so complicated, intense and passionate. The struggles he have are also no joke and he managed to rise above it even though it tears him apart every time he remembers. I love that he's totally in love with Sky and will always be by her side no matter what happened. I think I just got another fictional boyfriend.

Conclusion:

After the Slammed series, and now Hopeless... I think it's absolutely safe to say that you can never go wrong with Colleen Hoover.

A+






Disney releases teaser trailer for Frozen




Walt Disney Animation Studios, the studio behind "Tangled" and "Wreck-It Ralph," presents "Frozen," a stunning big-screen comedy adventure. Fearless optimist Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) sets off on an epic journey—teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven—to find her sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. 

From: Walt Disney Studios UK

I can't believe that Kristen Bell and Jonathan Groff will be voicing for this movie! Plus Idina Menzel. I'm looking forward to the songs in this film. 





Thursday, June 20, 2013

Meet the Director of Fifty Shades of Grey



I think it's been quite a while since I last heard of a Fifty Shades news. All I've been seeing are casts predictions for Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. But now, after much speculation, the powers that be finally decided to put Sam Taylor-Johnson at the helm of the much anticipated film (for fans -atleast). 


Honestly, I don't know Ms Taylor-Johnson so I hopped on to her IMDB page to see if there's any movie of her that I've already seen. But apparently, none. Her directing credits include 5 films only that include Nowhere Boy and 4 short films. Wow, can I say she's very lucky? As far as I know, this is a hot job as of the moment. No wonder a lot of people were surprised at the choice.

Producer Mike DeLuca has this to say for Ms Taylor-Johnson, "Sam’s unique ability to gracefully showcase complex relationships dealing with love, emotion and sexual chemistry make her the ideal director to bring Christian and Anastasia’s relationship to life. E.L. James’ characters and vivid storytelling require a director who is willing to take risks and push the envelope where needed, and Sam is a natural fit."


On another note, Ms Taylor-Johnson is married to actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson who's 23 years her junior. Now, I know her husband. He's the Kick-Ass guy. =)

Congratulations and good luck to Ms Taylor-Johnson!





Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Veronica Mars Set Photos






Yes, people it is actually happening.

Well, of course, I know it is happening. I was there donating some of my hard-earned bucks (which I have the total control of on where to spend, btw), I get email updates from Rob Thomas regarding production and casting news, and media around the world has been reporting about it.

But there's something about these visual proofs of them filming that feel absolutely gratifying. I spent years hoping and praying that Veronica Mars will come back - whether on the big screen, the TV (as a series again or TV special) or even as a book. When I first watched its last episode, I was totally heartbroken. That cannot be the ending. There's simply too many loose ends. And yes, what about my OTP? What about LoVe?

But now there's gonna be a Veronica Mars movie! Sometimes, I wake up and think that maybe this was just a dream but then I get on Twitter and read tweets about new casts or receive an email update from Rob Thomas. And to think this happened because thousands of fans rallied and supported the movie idea. I know the whole Kickstarter thing was heavily criticized but I don't care. To tell the truth, I wouldn't get any rewards for my contribution because my country is not included in the 21 countries where the rewards are applicable. But I don't feel bad about it. Sure, the rewards would make contributing a whole lot sweeter and honestly, I could've given a much higher amount just for the T-shirt, but that's okay. The joy I felt after contributing to the project and the promise of a wish fulfillment were more than enough compensation for me.

So, anyway, enjoy below some of the earliest on-set photos that were released. And tell me, did it make your day also to see Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring together again? Yes, I'm talking to you, die-hard LoVe fans. ♥







And here are some photos posted by Kristen Bell on her Twitter account. Look at her post-baby bod doing that hula hoop during a break.




 




photos are not mine and were taken from the world wide web.

Gakuen Alice is Over!






Wow, I can't believe it. After 10 years, one of my favorite mangas has finally ended.

Gakuen Alice, also known as Alice Academy, is primarily a story of Sakura Mikan. When her best friend, Imai Hotaru, leaves their small province to enroll in the special Gakuen Alice, she decided to follow her and also enroll. Inside this school she made friends, developed relationships and learned about her past and destiny.

I first learned of GA through the anime version. It was being shown in our local television years ago and my sister was constantly watching it. One morning, I  watched it with her (the episode was about Kaname-senpai and Bear) and ended up loving the show. 

I bought a DVD of the whole series and got sucked into the story and their characters. I was especially invested in the relationship of Mikan and Natsume and I love Natsume so much that I named our new dog after him. Haha.

When I finished the series, I was quite surprised and disappointed that it didn't get a proper conclusion. The love triangle between Natsume, Mikan and Ruka was also not resolved. Apparently, the manga is still on going at that time. So, I decided to continue the story in the manga. I was shocked to learn that the story was actually quite dark in the manga later on. The anime was just really intended for kids, I guess.

I wasn't able to read it religiously as I would like due to my busy schedule and I put it on shelf for quite a few years. But now, I'm reading it again (I'm currently on Chapter 130) and the final chapter is finally released! I'm having mixed emotions. I'm happy but also sad. I will miss Mikan, Natsume, Hotaru, Ruka and the whole gang.

I love Tachibana Higuchi and I'm amazed with her imagination and creativity. I look forward to a new manga series from her. 

<Spoiler>

The manga's English scanlation is currently up until chapter 176 only but the raws for chapters 177-180 (final chapter) are already released. Below are some of the raws. They are in no particular order. It is already 4 years after and Mikan is now 16. Natsume and Ruka grew up really hot. Whew!










Monday, June 17, 2013

Man of Steel (2013)






For some, he was a guardian angel. For others, a ghost, who never quite fit in.

You're not just anyone. One day, you're going to have to make a choice. You'll have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. Whoever that man is, good character or bad, he's going to change the world.

Casts:

Henry Cavill as Clark Kent / Kal-El / Superman
Amy Adams as Lois Lane
Michael Shannon as General Zod
Russell Crowe as Jor-El
Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent
Diane Lane as Martha Kent
Full cast credits on IMBD


The Plot:

A young itinerant worker is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.


IMO:
<contain some spoilers and it’s really lengthy – just like the movie>

First of all, for some reason, Superman is my most favorite superhero out of all the superheroes in superhero universe. I’ve been waiting for a modern adaptation that will hopefully create a movie trilogy for the Last Son of Krypton like it did with Sam Raimi’s Spiderman and the recently concluded Batman trilogy of Christopher Nolan. The 2006 Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns was not that welcomed by a lot but for me, I really love it and was saddened that it didn’t get a sequel due to disappointing sales.

When I first heard of the new film, you can say I was damn excited and when names were starting to get attached to the film, I even got more excited. Especially when I learned that it will be produced by Christopher Nolan and directed by Zack Snyder who also directed Watchmen.

Getting to play the double life of Clark Kent / Superman this time is Henry Cavill who is most known for his work on Showtime’s The Tudors. He is also known as the “Unluckiest Man in Hollywood” as dubbed by Empire Magazine due to his missing out on a couple of big roles. He was supposed to play Superman in the 2004 Superman: Flyby (but the director was changed and so the lead was recast), he was Stephenie Meyer’s favorite to play Edward Cullen (but he was regarded to be too old for the film) and he was a contender to play James Bond in Casino Royale (this time, he was deemed too young for the role – no regrets for me on this one because Daniel Craig certainly brought Bond to a whole new level). Now, 9 years later, he’s donning the blue suit and red cape in the role that he missed out early on.

Man of Steel is the retelling of Superman’s origin. It started with Planet Krypton on the verge of destruction and with Jor-El sending off his son Kal-El to another planet in order to save him and also to hopefully, bring about the new Kryptonian race later on.

The opening scene of this film features a stunning yet devastating visual. Definitely CGI heavy but the design of the planet and everything in it is just wow. Though a planet that I wouldn’t want to live in, Krypton is captivating even during its destruction. When Jor-El was being chased, that was some nail-biting action in there and it definitely set the mood of the movie.

Fast forwarding to about 30 years later, here starts the non-linear storytelling of this film. We see Clark Kent doing odd jobs while helping people and keeping his identity a secret. Honestly, I was quite surprised to see Clark Kent looking like a vagabond but when we get to see his childhood through flashbacks; we realized that he learns of his power and origin early on. We get to see how he deals with the hardship of keeping this secret and how he tries hard to suppress his powers. This is obviously Nolan’s footprint and a reminiscent of Batman’s recurring theme of how “being a hero is a burden.”

Soon, while working on another odd job, he discovered a Kryptonian ship and through a preserved consciousness of his father, Jor-El, he finally understood who he is and where he came from. In this ship, he also met and saved Lois Lane, a Pulitzer journalist working on a story of the ship.

The main villain here is General Zod who together with his rebels follows Kal-El to Earth in order to retrieve the Codex which will restore the Kryptonian race. The sight of cities being destroyed has been seen before and one of the main ingredients of a typical summer blockbuster but nonetheless, I was still engaged. It’s large in scope and you can’t help but root for Superman, Lois Lane, Colonel Hardy and even Dr Hamilton as they race to save the Earth.

Superman is satisfying and I enjoyed it a lot. It definitely fits in the modern times as a reboot of the iconic superhero and I think it was worth the wait but I am not without some gripes.

First off, Superman and Lois Lane do not have chemistry at all. I love Amy Adams and I think she did a good job on her character so I think the problem here is how Lois Lane was written. The romance was totally off and feels forced.

The film is also full of these huge exhibitions. It keeps going from one big moment to another big moment and by the end, it becomes overwhelming. Truthfully, the scenes with the most impact with me are the intimate moments Clark Kent had with his father, Jonathan Kent – especially during his death when Clark cannot do anything to save him without risking exposing himself. That was the most memorable moment for me.


Conclusion:

Superman is fun, engaging and the action scenes are top notch. I just wish I can connect to it more on an emotional level. Its punches give direct hits but I’d really rather it had more heart than larger-than-life battle scenes.

B




BTW: Anybody caught the Lexcorp in the film? That made me really giddy. Haha. Also, somebody said that the logo of Wayne Enterprises was also in the film but I didn’t see it. =(

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...