SPECIAL – Paramore

Artist: PARAMORE
Albums:
All We Know is Falling (2005)
RIOT! (2007)
More Information:OFFICIAL WEBSITE
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Upbeat, surprisingly positive, loud but not angry or whiny. They’re young and proving that young does not equate to stupid or green.

Admittedly, their debut album All We Know is Falling sounds less polished or perhaps less produced but it is a great album. They avoid being whiny and generic or perhaps I’m completely blinded by how catchy their songs are. Songs to keep an ear out are Let This Go, My Heart, and my personal favorite, Here We Go Again. All We Know is Falling shows off the potential the band has in terms of their music and lyrics.

RIOT! on the other hand, is better produced and the band has found comfort in their sound. It beats All We Know is Falling in terms of catchy-ness. Their hit singles Misery Business and Crush Crush Crush are the rather weak songs of the album containing too much pop and too little depth. However, all the songs eleven songs are a pleasure to listen to. Assuming you’re not initially antagonistic of this generation’s punk bands, you’ll find yourself quite amused as you listen to That’s What You Get, When it Rains and Miracle.

They are of course, not without fault. They’re young and they have so much room to grow. Right now, they’re amusing to look at because of all the potential they are showing off.

The fun part of listening to Paramore is a sense of knowing that these kids are having fun. That kind of thing is contagious.

Check them out!
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See them here:
Paramore @ LJ
Paramore @ MySpace

SPECIAL: Juno + Soundtracks

Juno
2007
Direction: Reitman, J.
Screenplay: Cody, D.

quickie:
You really should have heard about this movie by now…

general impression:
Impressive

lows:
It’s happy?

highs:
Amazing characterization, pro-choice theme, people supporting people, dynamic relationships

notes:
I didn’t even hear of Juno until everyone else had watched it. Yes, I don’t have a lot of friends. Anyway, there was a copy of it lying on the coffee table so I figured I’d check it out.

To this day, I’m amazed that Ellen Page didn’t win Best Actress. Juno MacGuff is probably one of the most memorable characters in recent cinema history. I don’t care what other people say, Juno is a thought out, well written character. Fleshed out really well too. Actually, everyone in the movie was.

What I love most about Juno (the movie) is that I find myself caring about the characters more than the situation. They feel like people.

Some people have said that the movie is a little too positive, too sweet or too unrealistic but I disagree. I think that the characters were motivated enough towards the actions they took.

I don’t what more to say because a lot has already been said about this movie. It’s just really, really good story.

FINAL RATING:
[5] out of [5]

Juno Soundtrack
Juno B-Sides: Almost Adopted Songs

The Juno soundtracks are a perfect complement to Juno quirky nature. Much like the movie, the soundtrack is simple albeit odd yet catchy. Kimya Dawson and her former band Moldy Peaches (plus a few Antsy Pants) make up most of the track so if you’re not a big fan of her style, then the songs won’t stick to your head. As for me, I found it hard not to sing a long with lines like “And if you want to kill yourself, remember that I love you”

Velvet Underground’s I’m Sticking with You might push people to look them up (if they don’t know them yet…). Kimya Dawson’s Loose Lips is also one of the more interesting songs in the album. There’s also a voiceless track of her song Rollercoaster which I always find myself humming along to. Sonic Youth’s cover of Superstar is a must hear.

The B-sides isn’t as happy-fun-interesting as the main soundtrack but the first two tracks (Me & You and My Wandering Days) are great enough to make it iPod worthy. B-sides also include Kimya Dawson’s version of All I Want Is You which might interest some.

FINAL RATING:
[4] out of [5]

SPECIAL: Gondry Films

Gondry Films

Human Nature (2001)
D: Gondry, S: Kaufman

Human Nature is, on one hand, sort of tedious. This isn’t to say that I didn’t like the movie. I think it’s impressive. However, it’s also quite forceful. I like subtle slaps on the face but Human Nature (beginning with it’s title) is a long social commentary. The story took a backseat to the message and that’s not how I usually like things to be handed to me.

It’s not a bad film although it paints a rather bleak image of human nature. If you’re misanthropic, you’ll probably agree with this. But then again, if you’re misanthropic, you probably already knew what the movie will say and somehow, it’s just not worth the while.

The movie is sadly unremarkable and I would recommend seeing Gondry and Kaufman’s other works before this. I know I’m contradicting myself but I will still say that it’s funny. Just… not for everyone.

FINAL RATING: [4] out of [5]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
D: Gondry, S: Kaufman, Gondry, Bismuth

One of my favorite movies and I would always list it as one of the greatest stories ever told. It’s creatively told and creatively shot. The characters are incredibly well-written and the whole “yeah, so we’re going to fuck up who cares let’s just deal with it” theme makes my heart fuzzy-warm.

Similar with Human Nature, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind still paints this rather sad view of life and love. Looking at the lives of the minor characters, I can’t help but get a little depressed.

Provided an escape, the characters choose it. But then, they end up doing the same things they did before they tried to forget everything. Sure, it’s sad to think that even if we want to change, we can’t. The bittersweet side of it is that even if we know it might not work out and even if we might end up getting hurt (again), life is life. Sometimes there’s no logic behind it. The best thing to do with life is live it. Yadda, yadda.

Eternal Sunshine is beautiful in so many ways and it would be such a shame if you don’t watch it. Please do.

FINAL RATING: [5] out of [5]

The Science of Sleep (2006)
D: Gondry, S: Gondry

The problem with the mind-boggling beauty of Eternal Sunshine is that Gondry might not be able to pull another one off. But I can’t say I was surprised when he still managed to make this incredible movie without the aid of Charlie Kaufman.

The Science of Sleep is an unbelievably quirky love story between this funny neurotic (not Allen-neurotic, just… a little cuckoo neurotic) guy who finds himself drifting towards his unusually attractive neighbor.

It’s brilliant how Gondry uses his… er, creative genius to show the awkwardness of relationships. If you’ve ever felt like wanting to completely disappear because you just can’t understand what’s going on in your head and all the needing/wanting to be with someone bullshit is driving you crazy, you’ll find yourself chuckling or even laughing at Gael Garcia Bernal’s character, Stéphane.

The characters are, as with Eternal Sunshine, well-thought. Stéphane isn’t some misunderstood freak who’s fixated with his self-proclaimed uniqueness. He’s just rather odd. And he happens to know he’s odd. So when he meets someone who doesn’t make him feel like such a sideshow, he finds it difficult to believe that she’d want to be with him.

Gondry is able to create the difference between sympathy and empathy. It’s all very good.

FINAL RATING: [5] out of [5]

Be Kind Rewind (2008)
D: Gondry, S: Gondry

Be Kind Rewind is a simple film that speaks volumes about Gondry’s love for the art of making movies. It has the trademark quirk of Gondry’s other features and it’s funny in the right places but mostly, Be Kind Rewind is a movie about what movies are supposed to be. We have giant corporations trying to create the next big thing and we have these quadralogies or pentalogies. Epic movie after epic movie.

For me at least, Be Kind Rewind is Gondry saying that movies are for entertainment and escape.

It’s not spectacular or deep. It’s refreshing and creative and funny and interesting. All the little things that make me love Gondry movies so, so much.

FINAL RATING: [4] out of [5]

SPECIAL: Vienna Teng

Waking Hour 2002
Warm Strangers 2004
Dreaming Through the Noise 2006

I never get tired of listening to Vienna Teng. Her music is passionate and dynamic, her lyrics are deep bordering on eccentric and she does not appear in MTV. This makes her very, very cool.

Her second album, Warm Strangers, is her weakest effort yet and even that is great. With songs like Feather Moon, Harbor and Mission Street coupled with an almost creepy song like Passage, the album is more than just good. The songs with the names in them (Anna Rose, Shasta’s Song and Carrie’s Song) drag the album down a bit but I can always skip those.

Warm Strangers only seems weak because Waking Hour was brimming with talent and potential for greater things was in the air.

Tower opens the album with prominent piano and drumbeats creating an almost haunting melody. The music in the songs just flows so well. Momentum and Gravity exploit my love for the applicability of physics theory to people. The lyrics are beautiful and the music wraps around them so elegantly.

Although I’m not a mother and don’t plan to be, the song Daughter gets to me. Vienna Teng’s soothing voice and the piano plus words about changes in a relationship makes me feel kinda weird in the best sense of the word. Say Uncle, a song about the passing of a relative, captures the suddenness and the melancholy that comes with such events without relying too much on grieving music.

Unwritten Letter No. 1 brings in a different pace to the album, not to mention a quirky song about unrequited love. Again, it dodges the cliché of sad melodies for sad events. Instead, Vienna Teng uses a fast, Tango-ish beat to evoke a feeling of neediness. At least, that’s how I see it.

The highlight of this album is definitely Eric’s Song. Her words make my heart flutter.

Fortunately, her third album Dreaming Through the Noise recaptures the depth of her first effort. The opening track, Blue Caravan, is reminiscent of Tower but with a noticeably wider range of instruments.

The arrangements of all her songs are, for me, incredible. I particularly love the violins and the violas because, frankly, you don’t hear them very often. Of course, piano-driven melodies are still strong in the album, proven by the exceptionally brilliant Nothing Without You.

I’m not entirely certain that people will be able to relate to the songs in this album because by the second track, Vienna Teng is singing about… uhm, what seems to be a corporate scandal. For me though, it’s interesting to listen to the (corny as it may sound) feelings within the song rather than the words. City Hall always cheers me up even though I don’t plan on getting married.

Pontchartrain is a bit on the creepy side, so I more often than not skip the track altogether.

Now, just when I thought Eric’s Song was beautiful, Vienna Teng sings Recessional. The song actually moved me to tears. I don’t know if that’s an embarrassing thing to admit but it’s just so-darn sweet. And the violas, ah the violas.

Vienna Teng is truly one of the most talented musicians of this generation. I highly recommend that you give her a try.

FINAL RATING:
[5] out of [5]

SPECIAL: Death Note (Trilogy)

Death Note
2006
Death Note: The Last Name
2006
Direction: Shuusuke Kaneko

L: Change the World
2008
Direction: Hideo Nakata

Quickie:
There’s this notebook?

General Impression:
Good. Not impressive, story-wise. Some fans might be disappointed, others might like it. Pretty solid adaptation in my opinion.

Lows:
The thriller elements needs a little more kick, the supernatural elements are nearly forgotten

Highs:
It ends better than the canon manga story did, Ken’ichi Matsuyama as L isn’t that bad, Erika Toda is pretty (this counts), the material was handled well i.e. the kinks of the slightly amateur writing was worked out

Notes:
Perhaps it isn’t fair to roll up the review for three movies in one but I’d like to think of this trilogy as a complete whole.

I found the movie adequate and interesting enough. The manga and the anime are massively overrated, really. The material is very interesting because it is forever fun to debate about morals. Add the fact that it’s Japanese, which for some part of the population makes it twice as cool, and you have a winning combi.

As far as movies go, it isn’t bad at all. It’s several steps above average, actually. I think it was brilliant for them to set it apart from the manga and the anime. Sometimes it’s good to stick with the material but in this case, deviating made it better. The characters are still who you expect them to be and the theme is in place. The morality debate is not as forced as it is in the manga. The choices made were better motivated, the scenes made sense and all three movies fit together quite well.

Not a bad way to spend a few hours of your life. Might not be for people who take the morality debate way too seriously.

FINAL RATING:
[3] out of [5]

SPECIAL: Anna Tsuchiya

Anna Tsuchiya
Albums:
Taste My Beat (mini-album) [2005]
Strip Me? [2006]
Genre: Pop Rock

The fact that Strip Me? opens with a song that’s in full English and I didn’t realize it until I came across the transcribed lyrics does not bode well for Anna Tsuchiya. However, broken English and all, her efforts are something I recognize. Both Taste My Beat and Strip Me? are pretty acceptable pop rock albums. I’m not going to mistake it for anything revolutionary or even highly remarkable but the sound is solid enough to be enjoyable. And as far as vocals go, Anna Tsuchiya sings pretty well. She sounds a bit like Utada Hikaru at some points of the album.

If you’re looking for ballsy, angry rock – Anna Tsuchiya’s sound doesn’t deliver. It’s not hardcore, it’s not aggressive. It’s a rather girly rock that’s quite accessible. And we know that accessible is right next to pop. Not that that’s a bad thing.

Anna Tsuchiya might be around for a while, who knows. Her music might not be the next big thing but she’s pretty decent. Worth a try for pop rock enthusiasts.

FINAL RATING:
[3] out of [5]

SPECIAL – Makoto Shinka Animated Shorts

Egao (Smiling Face)

If you have ever taken care of a hamster, then you’ll find this music video quite cute. It’s quite cheerful and subtly touching. Fun to watch again and again.

Tooi Sekai (Other Worlds)

In the same line as She and Her Cat, Other Worlds is done in monochrome with no dialogue. It’s melancholy and I find myself drawn to it. The scenes are simple and the, as usual, I find the way Makoto Shinkai illustrates people weird. However, it’s quite poignant. Which is amazing because it’s about a minute short.

Neko no Shuurai (Gathering of Cats)

If you live with a cat, you will love this one! I never really pictured Makoto Shinkai doing something funny like Gathering of Cats but he has done it and quite well too. Short, simple and entertaining.

All three have high replay value. Makoto Shinkai is quite awesome.
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Makoto Shinkai’s Official Website (in Japanese)

SPECIAL: さよなら絶望先生

Title:
さよなら絶望先生 (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
『俗』 さよなら絶望先生 (Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
Directed By: Akiyuki Shinbo
From the Manga By: Kumeta Kouji
Original Run:
(SZS) July 7, 2007 – September 23, 2007
(ZSZS) January 5, 2008 – March 29, 2008
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Possibly my second favorite Japanese animated show (next to Evangelion, of course). It’s funny, witty, probably obscene to some, wacky and immensely fun.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei combines amazing animation with superb writing to produce one hell of a show. Some may deem it to be “too native” but a little thinking and a bit of research goes a long way.

The joke is on everyone as we are introduced to Itoshiki Nozomu, a high school teacher who feels doomed because of his unfortunate name (written horizontally, Itoshiki almost reads Zetsubou which translates to Despair). Episode after episode, he screams in agony as he encounters depressing things about politics, media and society in general.

Add to that, he has to deal with a hikikomori, a stalker, a quite literally unbelievably positive girl, a perfectionist who is always on the verge of breaking down and… uh, you guys should just watch.

It’s pretty smart if you tilt your head properly. Again, some might even deem it offensive. I guess one could say that it’s a bit South Park-ish but a little milder? Or is it? You decide.
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More Info:
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Official Website
Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Official Website

SPECIAL – Camera Obscura

Artist: CAMERA OBSCURA
Albums:
Underachievers Please Try Harder (2004)
Let’s Get Out of This Country (2006)
Genre: INDIE POP
For More Information: OFFICIAL WEBSITE
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I first heard Camera Obscura while watching one of the best movies in the world, Imagine Me and You. The song Suspended from Class quickly wormed its way into my heart and after months (which had turned into a year) of putting it off, I finally decided to check their albums out. And I’m glad I did.

The album from which Suspended from Class hails is entitled Underachievers Please Try Harder. It’s mild, easy, relaxing and delightful to listen to. The music reminds me of lazy Sunday afternoons and the vocals would be either the warm cup of tea or the cold bottle of beer (whichever eases you most). I suppose the songs do border on the melancholy but if you’re like me, this would be a good thing.

Their latest album Let’s Get Out of This Country, released 2006, opens with the song Lloyd, I’m ready to be Heartbroken (an answer to the song Are You Ready to be Heartbroken? by Lloyd Cole). It maintains the soothing beats and vocals of the previous album and the formula wins my heart again.

Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy soft vocals with a light touch of guitars and harmonicas.

SPECIALS – Nana Movies

Nana / Nana 2
directed by: Kentaro Otani
released: 2005 / 2006
main cast:
Nakashima Mika as Oosaki Nana
Miyazaki Aoi as Komatsu Nana (Nana)
Ichikawa Yui as Komatsu Nana (Nana 2)
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“Ne Nana…”

Hm. The movies with the infamous actress switch.

Let’s start by saying that I have never finished the manga nor have I finished watching the anime. My intention for watching the first movie was because of my excitement for the second one because cute Kanata Hongo is in it.

Now, let’s begin with Nana.

Nana is originally a manga created by Yazawa Ai (also famous for Paradise Kiss among others). Its title comes from the names of the two protagonists (Komatsu Nana and Oosaki Nana) and the story obviously follows the lives of these two women.

As for the first movie, it’s really not bad as far as these types of movies go. The strength comes mostly from Miyazaki Aoi’s darned cheerfulness and knee-melting smile. It’s a lovely piece of friendship chick flick with a soundtrack that made Nakashima Mika a bit more famous.

Nakashima Mika might not be a spectacular actress but her chemistry with Miyazaki Aoi is enough to give the movie a great run. The story is about friendship despite the differences between the two Nanas and the two actresses played the parts quite well, showing how the two personalities complement each other.

The supporting characters are given minimal parts, so fans of Nobu or Shin would be quite disappointed. The costumes are great though and it was enough to make me spend a thousand on a rockin’ Nana plaid skirt.

Komatsu Nana’s ending line was truly wonderful and it was a successful way of ending a good movie.

Hm. Now for Nana 2.

Well, a lot of drama began even before the movie was shown. I really didn’t follow it but there was much controversy about the role of Komatsu Nana.

With that in mind, I watched Nana 2. I seriously (with all honesty) wanted to like the movie. I did not want to have any bias against Ichikawa Yui nor was I overly critical of her. If any, I felt bad for her and truly wanted to appreciate whatever kind of Komatsu Nana she was going to show me.

And my totally unbiased opinion is… she was not that good. I would even dare say that she was bad.

As I mentioned, Miyazaki Aoi was practically glowing. So cheerful.

Ichikawa Yui cried. A lot. I partially blame the writers. Komatsu Nana is badly portrayed in this movie. She is supposed to come out as complex and tough but that idea kind of just sinks.

Moreover, the movie wasn’t even sure where it was going story-wise. Nana is about Nana and Nana. Friendship and junk like that. The second movie misses this point completely. Hrm, well, except for the nice shot of the two Nanas watching fireworks in the ending scenes. If they’d done a second movie with that kind of relationship in mind, it would have been so much more bearable to watch.

But Kanata Hongo was so much fun to look at. So the second movie isn’t a complete waste if you’re one of his fans (as I am). Hiroki Norimiya was great in both movies and the second movie was really fortunate to have him.

My final verdict is… Nana is a great movie. Nana 2 is for obsessive-compulsive people who need to watch it or risk a lot of sleep loss. Or you know, curious people who want to see what all the criticism is about.
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Nana Movie Official Website: http://www.nana-movie.com/
Nana 2 Movie Official Website: http://www.nana2-movie.com/