we are only made of air and dust

First: a positive thing - Dev Patel and Freida Pinto apparently fell for each other offscreen as well! How adorable are they?

Episode 2 of Smile was much more satisfying and less cringe inducing than episode 1, but considering the bar has been lowered so far that its just skimming the floor for me in regards to this drama, ...I suppose 'damning with faint praise' would be the best way to sum up e2?

My aborted attempt at episode 1 review is here.

I think my biggest problem with Smile so far is that I want to like it more than I actually do, which is adding to the disappointment factor - because it has the ingredients to be a good solid drama, but I am currently iffy about the execution of said story/message. Because what's overshadowing the basic concept of underdog defeats evil/adapts to hostile environment/finds true love is the PSA/hamfisted attempt to provide social commentary ala Asano Taeko I am never going to get tired of bringing her into it because her writing is indicative of this trend the worst in j-dramas, and yes, I know what TBS, et al are trying to promote here. Of course it's a lovely sentiment/heart in the right place gesture - but that's what it feels like to me, just a gesture. I'm not naive enough to think that Smile is going to seriously affect the on going conversation/denial of immigration issues/racial tensions that exist in Japan (and other civilized countries) because prejudice and racist behavior is learned, and un-learning it is a hard and difficult process.

Baby steps, though. Episode 3 features Evil!Shun and maybe my enjoyment of his Dickensian evil will finally make me warm up to Smile (and kitsune714, I know you suffered through 24 episodes of Boys Over Flowers for me, but .......I WILL PERSEVERE, OKAY.)

finished watching Smile, episode 1, raw, as it is the other drama I'm watching this spring season. I will watch it again with subs, certainly, but for now, a tongue in cheek review/first impression

[16:32] kitsune714:you know, shibasaki kou at least attempted sign language.
[16:32] calledinvain: yeah.
[16:32] kitsune714: maybe jun has powers.
[16:32] calledinvain: but you know what? i'm not holding my  breath for racial sensitivity or anything resembling 'A UNIVERSAL LOVE STORY.'
[16:33] calledinvain: right now, i'm playing the game of HEY IT'S THAT GUY.
( when the world smiles.....wait, where are you going? )

Two super-lawyers, deux-ex-schoolgirl (the age difference between Yui Aragaki's character and Matsujun's character kind of makes me go...uhhhhh), OGURI SHUN, and Matsujun's delicious caramel tan will certainly keep me amused for another two episodes, I feel.

Meanwhile, in the Littlest Hobo: the family that superglues together, stays together. And Yusuke is a ridiculously good scene stealer.

I'm still going through the notes I scribbled down to help me not forget key moments of the Miyavi show (and man, I'm a dork), and I also got his concert DVD (just to see what the full on extravaganza was and what got taken out of the US performances) and anyway, the little concert writeup should post this weekend. However, there's a part that needs a little explanation....


Also, besides the concert DVD, I picked up the recent issue of 25 ans, with Tamaki Hiroshi and Meisa Kuroki on the cover, because HI YOU'RE VERY PRETTY. Also, belated scans from Invitation magazine with evil-sama, Masami, and Abe Hiroshi.

( super prom couple! )

I have also been wasting time on youtube as per usual - there's Abe Hiroshi with a chimp, Abe Hiroshi in this Thai movie that uses no special fx/wire/or stand in stunt men for the stars, everything you see in the trailer is actually happening, the absolute WIN of Shimura Zoo: the premise is that Japanese celebrities go to far flung places (or not so far) to hang out with/take care of an animal. This could never happen in America, because PETA'd protest them along with the Humane Society. However, this is Japan.

My favorite regular is Becky, because she is an anime (the non annoying kind) heroine in human form, and because she gets on so well with animals. And also, I've just come to the conclusion that I really just like her - she's funny and she does an awesome impersonation of Yankumi.

Becky with a spring...hare?

Becky with the Very Fat Cat

Becky with Koalas

Aya Ueto with a baby panda named Mew

Aoki with otters in Okinawa

Just click around, and there's tons of clips. There's a famous one with Becky living with red pandas, and Anna Tsuchiya hanging out with black rhinos, and of course the sight of Aiba from Arashi fleeing/shrieking from animals big and small is always fun.

Becky goes out with Miyavi on White Day. THANK YOU, JAPAN.

So other than the Edison Chen nude photo scandals, the other big thing in Hong Kong lately has been the arrival of the Hana Yori Dango cast to film parts of the movie in HK. The fan reaction was batshit crazy to put it mildly, and Evil-sama and Shun both look varying shades of uncomfortable, and downright pissed. This is the thing I could never understand about some fangirl behavior - the incessant screaming/running after/grabby hands pack mentality. Maybe it's because while I'm biologically a girl, age-wise, I've left girlhood behind in the metaphorical dust (and that I'm in the same age group as Shun and Matsujun). And even when I've been a fan and had the opportunity to meet actors/musicians, I didn't feel the need to shriek or otherwise scare them. Though there was that one time when James Marsters thought I was badly flirting with him, but that's a whole 'nother story - anyway, I go out of my way to be as polite and respectful as possible, and unobtrusive. It could be a virgo + Asian thing and being sensitive to the whole personal space issue (I FEEL YOUR BOILING BOILING RAGE, EVIL-SAMA AND I MAKE IT MY OWN.) but I just think it's also just a basic human courtesy as well - be kind and courteous unless there's a reason not to - and nothing brings my contempt like flaming stupid, which is what those fangirls exhibited. I get that it's really OMG EXCITING that their idols are There, but they're actual people, over there to do their job, and it's time consuming and expensive. They could have stayed on home turf and done it within the familiarity of their own bubble, but they decided to mix it up and ventured outside. There's a difference from when there's a set stage and you're in the audience and shrieking and flailing - the safety barrier, for one - but if some random strangers just came up to you on the street and they were noisy and loud and pulling at you - I don't know about you, but I'd weigh my legal options first and then belt one of them across the face and then leg it.

I know there's a small contingent of fans making the trek to Las Vegas to hopefully get a glimpse of the HYD cast, and I hope that they'll be smarter about their encounter. I'm not into as HYD as much as I used to be (and truthfully, that was mostly because of the OMG, HANAZAWA RUI factor) but I'll be interested in the movie when it comes out - and crossing fingers, maybe I'll even be in Japan by then so I could watch it. Teaching apps, don't fail me now!

( movies what I watched )

( as for the dorrrrama side and here be spoilers for current jdramas and kdramas )

I recently listened to albums by Greeeen and HalCali and....I approve. I'm also really liking this korean dream pop band - Dear Cloud. Their premiere PV, featuring Waffle Guy from Coffee Prince is a big drippy valentine to me, because oh my god, I love boys in eyeliner and adam ant/david bowie warpaint and swanning about poetically with guitars and THE PRETENTIOUS IMAGERY AND seriously, this is chocolate cake and strawberries to me. And yes, to clear up any confusion, the lead singer is a woman. ;)

And their entire album is just full of great chill out music, not just Ice Fortress.

but I still LOVE YOU BEST, EVIL-SAMA. <3