20070725

OCEANS 11 [1960]



I haven't seen the original Ocean's Eleven with Frank Sinatra and the rest of the ensemble of 1960s actors and actresses. But i did just see the recent first version with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, etc. I'd admit i actually enjoyed the remake. But i have yet to see the original 1960's version. Just something at the back of my head about not trying to like this remake because it is, a 'remake'.

I'm not too fond of remakes. Not too many or even any have been done successful. To me i believe things shouldn't be remade at all. Things are made timeless, or rather should be made timeless. It is what people have left in the passed and done. Why tinker with it.

I write about this i guess just to say that i love this old vintage poster of the movie. After i see Ocean's 12, as 13 is out on the theater, but i'm not too eager to see it right away, i would want to pick up a copy of the Sinatra version of Ocean's Eleven.

20070711

手紙 [Tegami]



Just saw this movie yesterday. Features three of my favorite actors. Tamayama Tetsuji, Sawajiri Erika, and Yamada Takayuki. Really dramatic movie. Made me want to cry. Sawajiri is getting huge recognition now. Yamada has been in alot of great works, he seems to choose the right movies all the time. The last scene of this movie made me wanna cry, especially with the song by Oda Kazumasa's 'Kotoba ni Dekinai', playing in the background.

STUDIO GHIBLI



It seems like i'm a bigger Studio Ghibli fan than a Disney fan. I have probably seen more Ghibli works than Disney works. These are what i have seen so far:

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984, pre-Ghibli)
Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Porco Rosso (1992)
Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Spirited Away (2001)
The Cat Returns (2002)

Whats interesting about their works is the consistency in the feeling of the film. I didn't realize until i looked at the date that some of them were made back in the 80s as i have seen most of them in the 90s or late 90s. You can watch them today and feel as if they were just made yesterday, which is very Ghibli quality. Mainly what i like about the Ghibli world is the real capture of essence in the setting of the place. Mainly its Europe or Japan, but whats great is you can really feel you're there. It gives you that cool breeze and makes you wanna lay down on the grass and close your eyes and go to sleep. Its that same feeling i get whenever i see a work by Ghibli Film.

For now i have these movies that i'm interested to watch:

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Tales from Earthsea (2006)

20070708

The Transformers: The Movie [1986]



I just saw the live action movie. It was ok. To me THE MOVIE is still going to be the animated series back in the 80s. I recently bought the special edition dvd at Virgin Mega Store (which is gonna close soon). A lot of new features. Nice quality and more extra footages. This cool animated image i stumbled upon from wikipedia.

20070703

Francois Langur



Today was my first visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo here in Chicago. I've lived here for about 5 years and finally visited the zoo. I was mainly drawn by the Primate House. I just love monkeys. One particular monkey i just loved the design and the look. Francois Langur. Even the name is just awesome. Their hair, color, and design is just something.