Don’t worry!

Yes.

I’m back.

With a new layout (sorry pat)

I know the header is sort of a eye sore right now!

I’m currently in the process of making a new one.

Some way some how!

So I guess this is my “Under Construction” Post!

MYV382*~*Allis R.

Lollipop Feat. Big Bang

2NE1

Lollipop (Digital Single) feat. Big Bang

March 27, 2009

YG Entertainment/ M.Net Media

Producer: Teddy Park

2NE1 is a four member South Korean girl band. They are often referred as the “female Big Bang”.  The single “Lollipop” was officially recorded for a LG Cyon commercial; it does not serve as their debut single. Just as their male versions. they rap, sing, dance, and have a distinctive style.

Big Bang and 2NE1 collaborate very well. Usually, when I see collaborations such as this, the MV seems somewhat awkward. Like, they just don’t know what to do together. But, with 2NE1 and Big Bang being so similar and signed to the same label, they move smooth and like they’ve been together for years. The choreography is sharp and hip, but at the same time the girls are able to keep their sensual moves.

The song has a touch of electronica and hip hop mixed together brilliantly. I loved it how everyone had at least a line in the song. In most collaborations with multi-member bands, only leads sing while the rest are left to the chorus. CL, Bom, Dara, and Mimzy of 2NE1 and G-Dragon, SeungRi, Daesung, T.O.P,  and Taeyoung of Big Bang are all put in the spotlight, which to me shows equality.

“Lollipop” has climbed the charts quickly. It was in the #1 slot for 4 weeks on M.Net.

4 Stars —> A

Here’s the MV for Lollipop

MYV382 *~* Allis R.

Remember

Big Bang

Remember

November 5, 2008

YG Entertainment

Producer: Yang Goon

I came across Big Bang purely by accident. I thought they were just a boy band. Sort of like Johnny’s entertainment boy band, if you get my drift. But, there are major differences between the two… besides Big Bang being Korean multilingual and those signed under Johnny’s would be presumably Japanese.

Big Bang is refreshingly more R&B and Hip Hop than pop. There sound is like music to my ears. These boys can dance, sing, rap, and just look damn hot. I question myself every day to the reason why I brushed them aside ever since I got into the K-Pop scene. My life has not been complete.

This album has some new tracks, some singles, and a few sweet remixes. The sound of this album, to me, is more dance and R&B. They have the head bobbing electronica bass in Oh, Ah, Oh, and Sunset Glow, and the floating (but awesomely delicious) R&B Ballads in Foolish Love.

It’s with albums this good and tracks this addicting that I wish artists made MV’s (Music Videos) for every song they produce. The songs are so “soul-lifting”. If you’ve never been swayed to dance out of the blue by a good song, I’m sure you will be bobbing your head, swaying your hips, and making up dance moves once you listen to the first 10 seconds of the first track Intro – Everyone Scream.

Also, in this album, as in almost every single, album and mini-album, is a Solo track by one of the five members of Big Bang. In Remember, we have Strong Baby, which is sung by SeungRi.

These boys have major talent. G-Dragon, SeungRi, and Dae Young all either have a solo single, album or mini-album. They speak English, Korean and Japanese fluently. They have the voice, moves, and looks to be YG’s “Big Bang”. (hahaha… bad joke…)

4.5 stars —> A-

MYV382 *~* Allis R.

Anna Tsuchiya v. Miley Cyrus (I couldn’t help it)

I was listening to Anna Tsuchiya on IMEEM.com (which is awesome btw) when I saw a comment from another listener which read “Blue moon has the same tune as hannah montana – one in a million! XD” (thanks Jessica dewi) I just couldn’t help but investigate this.

So I looked up the ridiculous Miley Cyrus and… behold. There it is. One in a million… sounding pretty much like Blue Moon. Let’s just say I was outraged! So I heard the songs back and forth.

The lyrics are different though the message in the same. The damn melody is the same, though. So I did some research:

Anna Tsuchiya

Album: Slap that Naughty Body/MY FATE

Release Date: March 23, 2006

Miley Cyrus

Album: Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus

Release Date: June 23, 2007

It’s safe to say that Anna Tsuchiya released the song first…

Can she be so desperate as to rip off a Japanese rock artist’s song and call it her own (maybe).

Is there a possiblilty that maybe she didn’t know that it was ripped off and whoever composed the song…. totally screwed her over? (possibly)

Whatever the cause, reason, or circumstance is, it still does not defeat the point that… Miley Cyrus’s song One in a Million sounds TOO much like Anna Tsuchiya’s Blue Moon.

There are some other articles out there. Most of them I found where in spanish and I didn’t want to rummage in it trying to read it (I really have a damn essay to write.. but I can’t help it).

So, I’ll leave it to you guys to decide what’s really going on. Are they really enough differences to say its not ripped off or copyright infringment? Research, hear, find out for yourself and tell me what you think!!!

Allis Richardson

Taken (2009)

I saw this movie in opening weekend. I was reluctant to go see it since the very first trailer. I did not like the concept much. But, I saw the movie because my parents chose to see it on one of our movie weekends and I had no choice but to tag along. The theatre was crowded and the chair I was sitting in was very uncomfortable. But I held on. (what else was I going to do). I don’t have much to say about the beginning, so I won’t say much.

I do, though, have much to say about the means of the daughter getting kidnapped in the first place. Bryan Mills, a retired secret service agent, who is played by the talented Liam Neeson, is divorced from his wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) and lives in California. They have a daughter Kim (Maggie Smith). Well… Let’s just say that Kim is a retarded bimbo. We see her rebuff her poor dad, beg him to let her go to Europe to visit some museums with her friend, and then get pissed when he says no. Well, after a guilt trip, he agrees and then later finds out that her and her friend are not going to be touring museums, but following U2 (i believe it was U2, at least) in their European Tour. *sigh* That was strike one for me.

Well, when the trio gets to Europe and is waiting for a taxi, the bimbo Kim and fellow bimbo friend decide to talk up with a complete stranger, let him take your picture, SHARES a taxi with him where they are the first to get dropped off, tell him that they are the only ones in the house (idiot) and invite him over later. Well, its safe to say we all know what happened next. He got some friends, broke into the house, and kidnapped the girls *insert kidnapping scene from trailer here*. I was not amused.

Then, onward young good sirs, and dash to her rescue. I won’t say anymore to ruin the movie for you.

I hated the whole concept of her getting kidnapped. I hated the movie. HAHA. It was unappealing to me in the least. This old man got out of the most unbreachable situations and got himself into unescapable situations and magically managed to escape *surprise surprise*.

I can’t say much for the cinematography or directing for I was so engrossed in deciphering all the major flaws and ridiculous scenes it completely slipped my mind to even spare a thread of my mind power to recognize its worthiness.

Now, there were moments when I thought, “OMG, this guy just turned bad ass and this scene is so perfect!” but was left teetering on the edge of expectancy. The one scene where I thought Liam Neeson could do some good was in the “torture scene.” I thought, he can really do some damage her, and it won’t look so damn unrealistic. BUT. It failed. It was short. It was abrupt. It was undercooked. Blanched in water for three seconds and served to be eaten. My teeth cracked under the underdone-ness of this scene.

D-

The concept was bad, bad bad. What gave this movie hope was the dimming light of fleeting entertainment in some scenes. Too bad that light was very rare.

Allis Richardson.

The Eye (2008)

Director(s): David Moreau, Xavier Palud

Writer(s): Sebastian Gutierrez (screenplay)

Producer(s): Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner

Studio: Lion Gate Films

Release Date: February 1, 2008

Genre: Horror | Suspense

Plot: The remake of the Hong Kong film “Jian Gui”, a woman who receives an eye transplant that allows her to see into the supernatural world.  The violinist Sydney Wells has been accidently blinded by her sister Helen since she was five years old. She submits to a surgery of cornea transplantation, and while recovering from the operation, she realizes that she is seeing dead people. With the support of Dr. Paul Faulkner, Sydney finds who the donor of her eyes was and they travel to Los Llanos in Mexico to resolve the mystery of her visions. (credit to Claudio Carvalho via imdb .com)

Awards: 2 wins and 1 nominations

Cast: Jessica Alba, Parker Posey, Alessandro Nivola

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for violence/terror and disturbing content.

Box Office: $31,397,498

Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Not that it was a great movie or that Jessica Alba was positively brilliant in it. Because, then I’d just be lying. My first instinct in scheduling to see this movie with a firend was to watch the original chinese version. So, 3 hours before I was going to be picked up, I hunkered down and sat in front of my television and finally saw the movie. The originial (which I will probably review at a later date) was bearable. The low quality was to be expected. The acting was shaky at best and the overall storyline was wishywashy for me.

But nonetheless, I was content to see this remake. I’ve been proven that remakes of poor quality movies such as these are actually better than the original. Well… this was where the surprise was. I didn’t feel like the remake was any better than the original. The video quality was better, of course. But the acting was still not up to par; with Jessica Alba acting the main part I predicted this before I even thought of seeing the movie. They storyline was not spiced up at all, just left the same old dull way.

Throughout the movie, the only thing I did was point out the differences to my friend. The room number was different. The scene wasn’t quite like this. She doesn’t say that. Overall, I was bored. There was no new fresh ideas put into the movie. I really can’t say much, just that it wasn’t the best movie to waste $7 on.

I will say this. I was slightly pissed that they slightly, if not completely, changed the whole story of the cornea donor’s life story. Mexico? Huh. Well, I won’t go into it all for then I will delve into a ranting trance. But Overall, shame on this movie. Haha.

D

Just for the thought of trying.

MYV382

Allis R.

Oldboy (2003)

Director: Park Chan-wook

Writer(s): Garon Tsuchiya (story), Nobuaki Minegishi (comic), Hwang Jo-yun (screenplay), Lim Chun-hyeong (screenplay), Lim Joon-hyung (writer), Park Chan-wook (screenplay)

Release Date: 21 November 2003 (South Korea)

Genre: Crime | Drama | Mystery| Thriller

Plot: An average man is kidnapped and imprisoned in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. He then is released, equipped with money, a cellphone and expensive clothes. As he strives to explain his imprisonment and get his revenge, he soon finds out that not only his kidnapper has still plans for him, but that those plans will serve as the even worse finale to 15 years of imprisonment. (credit to Jacksrevenge via imdb.com)

Awards: 16 wins and 10 nominations

Cast: Choi Min-sik, Yu Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Ji Dae-han

MPAA: Rated R for strong violence including scenes of torture, sexuality, and pervasive language.

Box Office: $637,778

This movie is beyond amazing. The whole feel of the movie just makes you tingle with excitment. It was filmed in South Korea by none other than the genius Park Chan-wook. I first saw this movie in 2003 when it was released. My darling sister had a “special edition” of Oldboy one christmas and we decided to watch it. She knew I was a devout asian lover, so we had to see it together. My first impression was, I NEED TO MARRY PARK CHAN-WOOK.

The first scene starts off with Choi Min-sik who plays Oh Dae-su. Let me just say this man has to be the best actor I have seen in a long time. His technique is flawless. He is a VERY talented man. Choi Min-sik plays a man who is kidnapped and held captive for 15 years with no explanation why. Just as the plot above says, he is then released and begins to find answers to why he was kidnapped and imprisoned. The acting this man had to do was to over the top. He was perfect for this part and I can’t think of anyone else who could have touched it.

CD Releases — September 2008

9.03.2008

1. D  -  Yami no Kuni no Alice/Hamon

New single release from D features the outro theme to the popular game “Twilight Syndorome.” This edition features a bonus track which is not included in the limited edition with DVD (AVCD-31465) and CD-only limited edition (AVCD-31466). Each version has a different bonus track. First Press comes with a Post card which is chosen randomly.

[limited edition] 1000 yen; 1050 yen w/tax [9.06 USD]
[w/DVD, limited edition] 1800 yen; 1890 yen w/tax [16.31 USD]
[regular edition] 1000 yen; 1050 yen w/tax [9.06 USD]

2. vistlip  -  Sara

New single release from vistlip and the first part of the band’s three-month consecutive single release campaign. New single features a heavy and melodic sound full of aggression! This edition includes three tracks, one of which doesn’t appear on the CD+DVD edition.

[regular edition] 1200 yen;1260 yen w/tax [10.87 USD]
[CD+DVD]  1800 yen; 1890 yen w/tax [16.31 USD]

雅-THIS IZ THE JAPANESE KABUKI ROCK

Limited Edition

Regular Edition

雅-miyavi

雅-THIS IZ THE JAPANESE KABUKI ROCK

March 19, 2008

Universal Music Japan/PS Company

1. JPN PRIDE
2. 21st Century Blues
3. 歌舞伎男子-KAVKI BOIZ- (Kabuki Danshi-KAVKI BOIZ)
4. BOOM-HAH-BOOM-HAH-HAH
5. Memories of BUSHIDO (Instrumental)
6. NOWHEREGOD
7. 陽の光さえ届かないこの場所で featuring SUGIZO (Hi no Hikari Sae Todokanai Kono Basho de featuring SUGIZO)
8. 咲き誇る華の様に-Neo Visualizm-
9. 素晴らしきかな，この世界 -What A Wonderful World- (Subarashiki Kana, Kono Sekai -What A Wonderful World-)
10. Tsurezure Naru Hibi Naredo
11. Thanx Givin’ Day

I Love this album. It’s an abundance of Kavki Boiz power. You have Saro on tap, TYKO (or TYKA as miyavi tends to mistakening call him) as beatboxer, DJ 1&2 and DJ Hanger as Dj’s, Yuko on percussions, Ryo on drums, Hige-chang on bass, YORKE on painting and 雅-miyavi- on vocals, guitar, and overall awesomeness.

Girugamesh

Limited Edition

Regular Edition

Girugamesh

Girugamesh

December 26, 2007

Danger Crue

1. Intro
2. Patchwork
3. Vermillion
4. Stupid
5. Barricade*
6. Shining* (track 7 in LE)
7. Shiroi Ashiato (白い足跡) (track 8 in LE)
8. Crazy-Flag (track 6 in LE)
9. Shoujo A (少女A) (track 5 in LE)
10. Rocker’s (track 9 in LE)
11. Dance Rock Night
12. Domino*
13. Kowareteiku Sekai (壊れていく世界) (track 10 in LE)
14. Real My Place (european version only)*
15. Crime (european version only)*
16. Freesia (european version only)*

* indicates not in Limited Edition; LE=Limited Edition

Girugamesh’s self titled album is their second studio recorded. The album has a rough edge to it. Almost scary. Lots of “aggressive” sounds. But surprisingly I found a handful of jewels. And I do mean a handful. About 5 in all.

The “power” rock type of music isn’t to my liking, but Satoshi’s voice sometimes breaks through the cloud of screaming and all around mayhem. The five tracks I especially enjoy are: Intro, shining, Shiroi Ashiato, Rocker’s, and Kowareteiku Sekai. They are more sensual in its deliverance. There is an occasional scream or grunt, but it’s never overbearing. There’s not much guitar and drums blaring into your ears. Its all Satoshi.