I am too lazy to sort
DC has some catching up to do with Marvel. They are trying to rectify their lagging behind. Aquaman is a start.
It’s a film done by the director of The Conjuring, James Wan. He’s gotten more money this time and he’s thrown a ton of things into the movie to see what sticks.
It’s a fine try. Maybe they’ll get better at it as they expand the DC Cinematic Universe. But until then, make mine Marvel.
3 of 5 stars.
When watching Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, I had that feeling like I had watching The Incredibles or Mad Max: Fury Road. Goose bumps on how much I was enjoying what I was watching. It’s good. I think it was the best movie I watched this year.
Marvel had a knock-out 2018: Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Ant-Man and the Wasp — all really good films. With Into the Spider-Verse, they wrapped up 2018 with a bang.
The animation was something else. It’s what makes this film for me. It’s very different than what you normally see in the theatres. It reminds me a little of Scott Pilgrim: a comic book represented on the screen. It makes you appreciate the medium of animation; there are more possibilities than you can expect.
The story was good. I didn’t mind that it was an origin story. It was several! Spider-men in the multi-spidey-verse.
This film is so good it makes me want to read the source comics. Who is this Spider Gwen? The noir spider-man? Anime Penni Parker? Peter Porker? I have to read the comics. Anyone know the issues we should start on?
I’m gonna watch it again.
5 of 5 stars.
I wish you and your family, friends, the world a Merry Christmas. May this feeling last through the entire year.
Seven days left with Nanase in Nogizaka46…
Let’s start with the beginning. Maiyan ropes me into checking out this group called Nogizaka46. On the wiki pages, I peruse though the members. They are all pretty. I get to Nanase’s page and know that there are many members as pretty or more than Maiyan, in particular Nanase. To me, she’s always been more beautiful than Maiyan. And I find Maiyan the most beautiful of idols. Somehow, both are true.
Anyhow seven days, at the beginning we begin again.
Ralph Breaks the Internet should have the same alliteration as its predecessor. Shouldn’t the title flow nicely: Ralph wrecks the internet? Yeah? I know. I guess it has to match those memes of things that “break” the internet. That’s how it goes.
This movie was a quite different in mood than Wreck-It Ralph. It was sadder. They would have to explain how if she stays away from Sugar Rush, then why wouldn’t it be unplugged? Some holes in plots are left to your own imagination to fix.
3 of 5 stars.
The title should be a “Link of the Day,” but for Wakatsuki it’ll have to do.
Today’s link shows you how awesome a group Nogizaka46 is. Why? Because it describes the graduation of one of the members in nice detail. You’re almost there.
https://tokyogirlsupdate.com/nogizaka46-yumi-wakatsuki-graduation-ceremony-201812141844.html
Be thankful today. Tomorrow. For the future.
It starts with the idol group from Japan, Nogizaka46. Thanks for the beauty, the songs, the magic.
It ends with family, friends, cohorts, acquaintances. Thanks for being there.
It continues with you, my readers. Thanks for visiting.
Dankeschön.
I posting this although I’m going by memory. Watched a few months ago, perhaps end of September early October, right around the time of the re-release of Perfect Blue. It’s a critique of the film, but also of the idol culture upon which the film builds upon.
Does the author build a case against Japan’s obsession with idols? Does the author understand what idols mean to the Japanese? Is his criticism of idol culture just a hook into the horror of the film? Watch it and find out.
I think there are cultural differences between the West and Japan that muddy the waters. There are good things and bad things to idols. Certainly, the participants are open to exploitation, but as in many public pursuits this isn’t specific to idols. Certainly, the fandom can be toxic, but fandom can breed bad fans in any corner of the world. Certainly, the focus on youthfulness can be taken read as something unseemly for the olds to obsess over, but the case may be overstated.
Last week, my mom asked why I was obsessed with the young girls in Nogizaka46. I still haven’t found an answer that would satisfy myself. It is a thing that is me at this moment in life. But really, I have never seen such a concentration of beauty in all my life. So beautiful to make me cry.
If you have the chance or the channel on your set top box, make sure to check out Nogizaka46 on the NHK World program, Songs of Japan. You’ll find them as endearing as I do.
First Man is an intimate portrait of the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Intimate is the key to this film. It’s not an epic like The Right Stuff or mission movie like Apollo 13. It’s a film about how Neil Armstrong felt being an astronaut.
We really don’t get into his head though. We get up close and personal. The director chooses to frame his subject in close up most all the time. The spectacle around him barely shown. We are in his personal space. We are close in.
I found the film slightly frustrating because of this choice. I wanted spectacle. I wanted a focus on the mission. I wasn’t prepared for the personal. So it rubbed me the wrong way. I was bothered, but that is me. The movie is good. I say watch it again.
3 of 5 stars.
