Entertainment: Death Note goes Pop!

I was traversing through videos of Sandara Park on Youtube awhile ago when I arrived at this one. At first glance, I was stunned with the video's concept. The apples. The bleached hair. The awkwardness. The blank empty stares and eyeliner (L?). Whoa! Its got Death Note written all over it! Who could blame him though? Death Note was a smart and ingenious manga with all the right twists at the corner. A signature stroke of genius from the mangaka.

Anyway, the track is by a certain G-dragon. According to my research, he's part of a famous(?) korean boyband called Big Bang which I can entirely recall made an endorsement film with Sandara Park not so long ago. The music is somewhat reminiscent of Flo-Rida's smash hit ,"Right Round" and Britney Spears' comeback vehicle "Womanizer"--it just came to mind immediately after hearing the beats. I hope he didn't plagiarize any of the ones mentioned.

As for the video, the artist looks weird. He looked like a typical gender-bending manga character. He seemed like a cross between a woman and a boy. It just doesn't sit right with me. Other than that, their production sets are really first-class. I've never seen those things on Pinoy music videos. It seems we know nothing but the concept of being sweet on picnic scenes, rockin' a live performance in front of a paid hord of "fans", joyrides, solo half-naked shots in a front of a black backdrop and cuts of women being sung to by the singer flashing throughout. The only pinoy video that was pretty pleasing to the eye was Sandwich's "Sugod". It wasn't much but it worked. We can't blame our entertainment industry though, for in this country, it is not that much of a lucrative space to bank on. Then again, South Korea's first world while we could hardly instate ours as a NIC.

I must say though; Korea is fast becoming an entertainment capital of Asia or so I've read somewhere. (Let it be Philippines! Let it be Philippines! Come on, Bro! Hehe)

Check out the video:

Entertainment: MYMP is MTMP (Making Their Momma Proud)!!

MYMP is getting love from Koreans! I find it really cool since most people I know find anything imported more appreciable especially the makes of the likes of the slant-eyed, pale-complexioned, unusually-styled (which is usual for them), I must admit, cool people. Globalization and Colonialism's manifestation at its best--I guess.

Cyworld, much like Friendster and Facebook in principle and purpose, is the most used friend-finding site in South Korea. It has even boasted of having 20 million unique visits everyday from their registrants. A number which probably comprises a significant fraction of the South Korean population. In this domain, you can practically enjoin yourself to customizing your profile (minihompy for "their" understanding) with unique appearances, bulletin boards, photos and background music. Music. The area where they find our very own MYMP to be cool as well.

Cyworld normally holds a monthly awarding ceremony for the artists that have done exceptionally well on their online society. (Mind you, song placement on profiles aren't free. You pay for it!) In the recent top list of most favored (paid) music to appear on personal playlists in Cyworld, MYMP peaked at the third spot on July 6 and continued to sail through July 20 treading the chart at ninth place on the Cyworld real-time sales chart. MYMP was able to stand the continuous singles' release of native artists while also warding off potential foreign competitors earning them the International Artist of the Month Award. This implies that they are numero uno among non-Korean artists. Their song "Say You Love Me" must have triggered some chemicals spazzin' around our oriental counterparts' hypothalamus to produce some lovin' for the OPM duo. Below is the July 6, 2009 Cyworld Real-time sales chart. Click for better size and resolution.

I guess our fostering of ESL schools for foreign scholars has its own relative fruition as well.

Good job Juris and Chin!

Entertainment: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Movie Review

I seldom do this kind of stuff but I guess I'll try churning out what critic I have in me. After all, this has been the only movie I have seen so far these past few days.

The much talked about and big time hype-machine that is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have become such a huge hit. Has it never been? Well, at least, according to box-office tolls. But has it barely even scraped what magic the book has made?

It was disastrous but cute. Not the kind that belittles whatever sense the word "disaster" invokes but the most meaningful definition of what it transpires. It's not as if it was an epic fail since it had its good points that outweighs the bad but for those non-members of the built-in audience that the books have created, it was barely comprehensible. The scene switching was okay most of the time but it somehow got out of place at certain points that my brother kept on asking "unsa to kya?" (What just happened?). Not that I'm trying to stress the movie's bad point by the reactions of an eight year-old but isn't that the point of the whole movie? To make people fully understand how the story unravels and what it's all about in spite of the audience's age and understanding?

Anyway, one thing I was really cool about was how the special effects were made. It didn't come across as "cartoony" and over the top like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Mind you, I would have no second thoughts in choosing it have I not been such an HP buff). Somehow, the dark setting that enveloped the movie was able to contribute to the believability of it all. But don't take my word for it though for I am less than erudite and am a delusional fool. Hehe.

Another stuff that I admired about the movie was the casualness of how it depicted the romances of the leads. It wasn't corny or overly melodramatic (ironic?) for instead, they made it normal and digestible. Though I've heard people animating the famous Greenwhich Pizza ad tagline, "Wow, ang Cheesy!" every now and then, but it was understandable.

Some stuff I found interesting:

1. Harry using Felix Felicis scene.
It was the best sequence the movie had.

2. Lavender Brown.
She was annoying and funny most of the time which could only mean that she did good.

3. Quidditch Match.
I never knew Quidditch was so kick-ass til this movie. It was like watching a real rugby match. Definitely, it was cool and exciting.

4. The Weasly's house on fire.
A foreshadowing that Bill and Fleur's wedding would be ditched for the next two movies?

5. Aragog.
He seemed smaller than when I last saw him on Chamber of Secrets.

6. The Deatheaters at Hogwarts.
A major factor of the letdown. I expected it to be jam-packed with action sequences but it turned out boring and rushed. Or was I thinking about Deathly Hallows at that time?

7. Harry got his nose broken.
I've been wanting to do that to Radcliffe for the longest time.

8. Hermione.
She showed some boobs! Well, was just a glimpse of a shallow cleavage but she sure is fine.

9. Draco.
He did much better than Radcliffe.

10. Ginny.
Do girls tie untangled shoelaces of boys they like? Anyway, she was pretty as well but Hermione's better.

11. Dumbledore's death.
The book did better. But I guess it would be too much to have since it's just about someone who's dead plus the amount of screen time it would get. I must agree, too much.

Overall, the movie was the best so far out there that the franchise was able to get. It was indeed dark, intense, hilarious and mysterious. Sometimes, too mysterious at times that some people gave up on it before they could fully understand it. Lest it was just me, prolly it was forgivable.

I'd still give it 4 out of 5.

Entertainment: Prince "Potter"

HBP.

What is it?

High-Blood Pressure? enggk!

Heaven in-Between Pants? wrong!

Help Benz Please?..Flattering but no..

To answer that though, it is but the acronym of the famous sixth installment of a widely known and acknowledged literary work of the decade. It sums up in three words the next epic of the age that draws the line between the grand battle of good and evil, of raging hormones and the wonderful effects of Felix Felicis, of the plight of two bespectacled individuals and the legion of a slit-eyed death-defying mutant. It is the next journey to the world of the boy who lived to tell the tale of his own demise. It is that succinct subtitle known to be as "Half-Blood Prince".

The Harry Potter franchise has been a winner when its first book came out. It brushed off as something childishly innocent but subtly mature and indulgent. It was perhaps one of the few books that managed to keep me on my seat and my eyes glued page after page after page. Since then, Joanne Kathleen Rowling has become a household name and a multi-millionaire, if my memory still serves me right, she was able to gain certain acquisitions rivaling that of Queen Elizabeth II of England. She was able to spawn seven articulate and well-motivated books about the boy with a lightning scar on his forehead and the unraveling of his life through the looming doom of his age and the impending strike of his greatest enemy, Lord Voldemort. The lush and witty storytelling of this narrative was able to strike at the hearts of those who encountered it on bookshelves and even at the hands of those people who were kind enough to lend some the episodes of the book to their acquaintances (my gratitude is forever extended to Chesca, Ar-eF, and Isis..hehe).

Due to its undeniable popularity, the material was adapted onto movie screens around the world. Since 2002, the books were translated into movies starting off from the first one down to the sixth which is "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". The movies were all distributed by Warner Brothers Distribution and produced by David Heyman. Since then, it has went on to earn 4 billion plus in sales.

The critics have passed on their judgments and as most of them have elected, "The newest movie is the freshest and the best so far." Some even stressed that the movie will go on to rank as one of the top three earning movies of this year. Definitely a feat and a sign that the best is yet to come as the final book will be broken into two movies for the grand conclusion and was said to be released in late 2010 and 2011, respectively. Check it out! See the listings of the release dates here.

The first(Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone) and second(Chamber of Secrets) were done by Chris Columbus, the third(Prisoner of Azkaban) by Alfonso Cuaron and the final five(Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows 1 and 2) by David Yates.

Entertainment: Who wouldn't give anything for Trading Yesterday

I'm typically bored today and didn't have anything to do aside from thinking about some things that have been bugging me right at the back of mind. So what's the best thing to do?

Chill. Unwind. Relax. Put some good music on and wear those headphones.

I found this really good band way before. Their songs have gotten their well-deserved placement on my iPod's playlist. Since the moment I was able to get hold of their albums they've become to be one of my favorites. Don't ask me though how I got their pieces for it will be best for their interest granted how good they are.

The band is called Trading Yesterday. They're an American indie Christian pop rock band since 2004. David Hodges, one of the founders, used to be part of Evanescence as a keyboardist and support vocals but has graciously backed out and created Trading Yesterday. Unfortunately, most of the groups works aren't entirely accessible due to the lack of support from major recording labels and what's worse is that they have already disbanded. You can check out their MySpace account for more information.

Here are some of their songs (my favorites actually):

1. Love Song Requiem



2. Shattered



3. May I



4. Revolution

Entertainment: Enter Dissidia

The final fantasy series have been one of the most lucrative franchises that the gaming industry has ever fathomed. It has evolved from a two-dimensional turn-based role playing game to a ground-breaking visual spectacle before the eyes of the most vigorous players on Earth. Putting aside all these technological advancement that is quite evident in the games, the more attractive part of it all are the characters and storyline that each series produced making each of them all stand out against the others and more so, from other games with the same make.

Just recently, I was able to discover a new game that Square-Enix had released in Japan. The game is called Dissidia: Final Fantasy. The game is perhaps well-anticipated as to its attribute of being a fighting game in itself. For me, this seemed kinda new since Square have been more concentrating on creating RPG's than this kind. What's more interesting is that it has brought back unforgettable characters that hailed from the entire FF spectrum. Now that I think about it, I'd like to see Cloud Strife, Squall Leonhart and Zidane Tribal get into a brawl to the death to see who's the real man among them. Based on the game intro cinematic, it looks like it'll be more like a battle against their respective nemesis since they've decided to tag along anyway. Check the trailer out.

Entertainment: Where did Sandara Park?

Marked by boredom and the myriad of youtube videos, I decided to fill my time with watching visual footages of people trying to make it big in the newest place for a reality "TV" star, YouTube. As I tried to key in Lollipop with the hopes of finding Lil Wayne's cover, I instead found something weird yet interesting.

The estranged and once rising superstar, Sandara Park has been spotted yet again. Not in the Philippines but in her own motherland. After her desperate act of posing sexy on a mag, it looks like the "krung-krung" finally gave up on her chances in the country and tried her luck in South Korea. Fortunately, it seems like things are looking up as the "Michelle Branch look-a-like"(at least to my perception) is now slowly becoming a celebrity there -- I think. It seems that it is an endorsement commercial film where Sandara is also an endorser among other Korean celebrities. As we all know, an endorsement could probably mean that she's getting popular.

I must say that the jingle is catchy, the set is expensive and top-notch, and she's pretty even for Korean standards. Now, we know what to answer when seeing people with that statement on their shirt. Hehe.

Entertainment: Dragonball Live Action(??)

Yup, it's pretty much confirmed. The highly popular Japanese anime is set to hit the international silver screens soon. Dragonball will introduce Goku and a handful of friends battle for the Earth against the deadly forces of the Saiyans, who are sweeping across the universe, leaving a path of destruction. Goku and his friends' best chance for survival rests with the Namekian DragonBalls, which provide them the power to summon a mighty dragon.

Honestly, even though big time Hollywood producers can really pull out the stocks on the best CGI sequences and AfterEffects, well, effects, I'm still pretty skeptic as to the result of this movie. I mean, the spikey hairs, the kame-hame waves(?), the saiyan-transformations on Hollywood actors (not that asian actors will look better at it, I doubt) don't really propose much promise. Unless, they try to make it much like another Spy-Kids movie, which is already revolting enough just by the thought of it. But, I guess we'll never know. Maybe, just maybe, it may even be better or greater than what most people anticipated--maybe.

The movie stars Justin Chatwin (The Invisible) as Goku, Chow Yun Fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)as Master Roshi, Emmy Rossum (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Bulma and etc. The movie is set for an April 8, 2009 playdate.

More pics from source.

Entertainment: nAN daTTebaYo!?!!

Naruto Shippuuden has just concluded its 86th and 87th episode last week in a one hour special entitled "The Will Of Fire Is Passed On" and "A New Technique Bursts Forth", respectively. The episode started out as Kakashi and Team 10(Ino, Choji and Shikamaru) struggled to outwit and outplay the despicable duo of Akatsuki-- the religously-suicidal Hidan and the freak-of-nature, Kakuzu. Having learned that their adversaries work harmoniously together by pulling out combo after combo, Shikamaru decided to call on a move that might get them the leg up on their foes. By using his shadow possession jutsu, Shikamaru was able to lead Hidan, the duller of the two, out of sight from Kakuzu who is left to face Kakashi and the others.

Shikamaru was able to get Hidan's gullibility the best of him. Shikamaru feigned to have been slashed by Hidan's needle-like of a blade was able to put Kakuzu's blood on Hidan's weapon which the former used for his sick ritual. Just when Hidan thought he got the fight in his pocket, Shikamaru catches him on a trap and blows him up to pieces (the end for the loon).

Almost having been beat up by the then-dead-and-sucked-in-one-heart-from-his-reservoir-of-cardiac-organs Kakuzu,(Drum roll please, TAN-DA-DAN-DA-DAN!!!) Naruto, alongside Sakura, Sai and Capt. Yamato, arrive with just perfect timing. Then Naruto shows his new jutsu, the Rasen-shuriken and voila!, a great cliffhanger for the next episode.

Note: Something pretty interesting though was shown on later part of the episode. They've started to introduce a new arc (much like a new storyline) on the Whirlwind Chronicles entitled, "The Three Tails Arrival Arc". Sounds like fillers again. It better be good. It's set to start next week, December 18. Check it out.

Entertainment: The Spirit of Christmas

It seems that the latest trend to hit Hollywood this season are movie adaptations of immensely popular reading materials and even, movies as well. Just recently, Twilight dislodged many of the film this year for the award of highest weekend opening gross in the US for 2008. The hype must have really bitten the smitten readers and moviegoers of the franchise. Yep, you heard it right. They're already in the talks of making the sequel, "New Moon" which the lead star Rob Pattinson deemed more important than the role of the card-blazing cajun in the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. That sucks! It's not like the movie was great or that I've seen it anyway. Bleh!

Next, comes the dark knight all "suited" up with a hint of a red necktie which comes to call himself "The Spirit". The movie is based on one of the most recognizable graphic novels that centers on a cop shot dead but mysteriously came back to life. Despite it's previous reputation with the Alec-Baldwin-starrer, this one seems to provide more boost and punches. Check it out. It stars Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johanson, Samuel L. Jackson and Gabriel Macht. It's directed by Frank Miller, the one responsible for the seriously brutal and fun "Sin City" and "300". It's set for a December 25 playdate--Christmas Day. Cheers!

Twilight Poster source here.

The Spirit Poster source here.