Watch Me: Seventh Son, and the awesome queen performance

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I've been intrigued by the story and movie entitled Seventh Son, directed by Sergei Bodrov, back in 2014. Where I first knew about the movie through an interview with Julianne Moore and that it's not her normal role to portray, which was a villain. Something that made me fascinated on how she would do was quite worth it.

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Medieval times rang with the stench of high belief in magic and fantasy, where the good and evil had no fine line since they had physical manifestation, especially the evil. Welcome the realm of Seventh Son where being a hunter of evil, a warrior of light, is a real and practically the most dangerous job of all time.

The film focuses on the folklore of "the seventh son of a seventh son", where the seventh son holds a prowess strong enough to be comparable to witches, trolls, and other supernatural monsters of their time. John Gregory, the last Spook, is on a quest to rid the world of the revived witch queen Mother Malkin. His quest brought him to the life of Tom Ward, a teenage herds boy, who has the ability to see visions, the seventh son of the seventh son, and an eager soul to get out of his country life yearning for an adventurous one.

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Yep, my purpose to see Julianne Moore to portray the villain, Mother Malkin, was worth every penny (forgive my irony for this statement).

Folklore's and medieval themed fantasy movies are always a good taste for my fiction loving tongue. Complete with dragons, mystical shape shifter's, and the sprinkle of simple olden times life, always stirs a nice soup of imagination for my brain.

The choice for the casting feels like not my cup of tea though, especially the lead roles for Gregory and Tom, although they grow into you as the story goes by. Even the young witch lover for Tom, Alice, was quite a pick. Maybe the re-write of the story, from the original books under author Joseph Delaney, might have to do with the unusual personalities the actors portrayed. Or maybe I'm just looking for a good justification of some of the blandness I find during the course of their dialogues, acting and story.

Either way, it doesn't pull down the good parts of the film, from it's unusual dry humour in between everything and the fierce Julianne Moore witch queen. Yes, this is a blatant fan girl to her portrayal, even the moments that she would show her human side due to the hurt she had experienced (I couldn't guess well if it was the same with the book, since I have a hunch it became that to a certain point for ex-machina reasons in re-writing the story from the book) was superbly fitting to the character she wants to shape the queen into.

The rushed parts and elements of the story was melded well, in comparison to some book to movie ones I've watched, where you could clearly say that there was a missing chunk of progress lacking for the characters growth to come a full circle. The only thing I could say that was forced was the romance for Tom and Alice's part, as they used the density (destiny) excuse for the ultimate reason of their attraction but covered it's traces by a moment where Alice explains it as if it was scientific. Copper metal in friction contact with another but sparks happened due to dust.

Wish that excuse worked in real life. It does but not on the scale where two people has this obvious tension between them.

Last words, this movie was a good roller coaster ride. Maybe reading the books would shed better light with things, and I hope no review somewhere out there from a fan of the book felt completely blasphemed and disappointed for all the missing bits they enjoyed from the book.

P.S. Kit Harrington died early in this film, I didn't know it was him until I realized in his dying moments.

Watch Me: sort of The Last Dragonslayer

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Sure I'm guilty for watching a movie by it's title and the poster, which is common, but that's how I got to watch The Last Dragonslayer that was produced by Blueprint Pictures shown in Sky One on the Christmas of 2016. A story based from a book authored by Jasper Fforde.

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Don't you feel eager to learn about a medieval themed world infested with modern day thinking and innovations, such as the concept of marketing and the budding age of electricity and automation under the noses of magic. Here lies the fascinating mix up of the Last Dragonslayer as it starts with an orphan girl named Jennifer, last name Strange, as she was "fairly" adopted by Mr. Zambini. A man who managed an agency that contracts magicians to do almost all the oddest jobs they are capable of.

After growing up under her foster fathers care, one day he vanishes and a series of events brings forth Jennifers fate into the unassuming role of the Last Dragonslayer.

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Again, I've encountered an imagination fuel for the mind of a lover of fantasy.

The Last Dragonslayer is a nice mix and mash of a universe in the brink of being unable to surpass mechanical and engineering like science because of the existence of magic. Compelling characters that so far is lovable in terms of their authenticity and rawness in regards to it's human emotions and desires. Plus the complexities of their universe, laws, and the blatant play of modern concept of advertising marketing and sales in the play of medieval set.

There's a charm to Elise Chappells portrayal of Jennifer with no over exaggeration and simple acts and emotions, there might be no grounds for me to judge the way she portrayed the character since I have never read the books myself. Still, the actress still captured a genuine that levels everything else in the story. Jennifer, the heroine, simply makes you want to be her friend with her smartness, fair compassion, her love and gratitude to her father, plus her eagerness to just be a simple girl who wants to work with her foster father.

Comparing Jennifer to the absurd side characters; might be a recurring formula for some fiction stories to have side characters that simply balances out the main leads almost simple character, that walked around her somehow made her seem desirable. Something I easily fall for most often, not that I put my self into the leads shoes, but I myself feel compelled to give her a nice peppy attention that the other characters seem to give her. Although, mine started at an earlier point in the story.

The story though was your typical hero thrown into the throngs of destiny due to untold historical circumstances that have lead to the demise of the kingdom. You have your typical mysterious events from a long time ago, that the hero had to unfold due to a lot of unanswerable questions that would lead to the current situations solution. Typical ex-machina situations, cause why not magic and fiction. Plus character tropes with typical scenario endings, like the hidden twist where the assistant who was the best one the hero could find is actually one of the enemies, the judas iscariot.

That however was not stopping anyone from connecting with Jennifer who along the ride was pouring her best, that typical underdog feeling. Selling it like so shouldn't be something wrong about this story, even though it's been a proven seller to viewers, at least the underdog tale didn't sell the plot and scenarios, and it's plot twist, short.

Being enamored by dragons and the mythical world of magical crossing steampunk genre isn't such a bad thing. Somehow, you won't be tired of it because the dialogues and characters are well thought out and worth the giggle. By the end of the movie you'd have gained that warm fuzzy feeling and joy that simply puts you in a sense that somehow you'd want more.

Imagine hearing a recounted tale like Jennifers from a friend over a nice warm beer in the cold winter. How about that?

Over-all, this movie is a good kid friendly story that as I said fuels the imagination enough to inspire someone to simply walk out the cinema doors and create something, or even go into a nice adventure.

Watch Me: bus rides with Captain Fantastic

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How much do you regret missing to watch a movie when it showed in your cinemas? That's right, immensely, and that my friends is how I started feeling when I watched director Matt Ross' Captain Fantastic.

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Starring a father and his family of six children on a quest to rid their lives, not really since they're completely smart and able for their age/s, of life ignorance from the forest they used to live in and discover the world through an awesome bus ride back to their mothers home town to evidently emotionally move on after her departing with drastically wonderful familial results.  

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No words can fully describe the magnificence of the story besides the accurate title itself, fantastic. 

There's something about a family coming of age relevantly intelligent comedy drama that sounds vibrantly complicated. Of course, to me that's a perfect description of the Cash family and their growth through the course of this story.

To those who are blatantly curious the Cash family decided to live their lives in the forest in hopes of helping the matron of the house to recover from her mental illness, according to wikipedia is Bi-Polar disorder; please excuse my lack of remembrance to that particular detail. From hence, they have lived their lives in a well did make shift lodging in the middle of the wilderness and living their lives like indian nomads.

Cutting down to the chase, there are several playing topics that hits the story fairly well and how realistic the issues that were tackled in it. Besides the growth of select characters upon being thrown into the real world, the greatest of it plays upon the role of Ben and the choices he and his wife made to their family. They were the bud of difference and radically apart from all the growing complacence and spoiled life style of modern day man. Teaching their children practical survival skills they will need in their everyday life in and out of their forest. 

From there you can already tell that there would be question to their ability in adapting to modern day mans life, with which the question is it worth keeping the uniqueness of your life just to retain abhor against society's lifestyle that sounds like an everyday brainwash propaganda. This was playfully shown as they first encounter their taste of modern family man by spending time in their mothers sisters house. 

Character growth is clear and distinct, changing at the right time and progressing in a pace that is considerably enough to show the characters of how strong their family as individuals are. There really is little to praise and critic to the flow of Captain Fantastic. Every fiber detail is neither impossible nor dull. The realism compelled rawness befitting that of how gentle they touched the issues and solved it with grace.

Elegance reeked the tale of Captain Fantastic and worth a watch that will open your mind to concepts of how a critical mind works in a body of a complex emotional. Enjoy the involvement that they show more human than anyone could ever see.

  

Watch Me: How to Be Single and not just the statement

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These days, it's promising to encounter stories that just blatantly tells an absurd realistic connection between relationships. As a filipino, I always encountered cheesy romances that can simply touch and make you laugh by the local bunch. But nothing compared to the blatant liberated passion of a story that needed to just tell you everything is gonna be fine after a long ride. Like all feel good movies, How to Be Single by Christian Ditter, is a good reminder nothings wrong for a certain type of stereotype called being Single. 

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Story revolves around the friends Alice, Meg, Robin, and a fourth girl, entirely does not interact with any of the three girls but connected only through one character, named Lucy. Below lists all the nicest poking moments flowing for the story.

A. Nice beginner tutorial about realizing the life of a workaholic, free spirit, kindred spirit, and a trying hard to be a robot

B. The men here doesn't miraculously flock around the women, they actually have the sense to fall for their personalities

C. Possibly makes the location a place filled with parties, I think IT IS

D. Coining the term Dick-sand for a character who loves being the kindred spirit without thinking that she herself might be her own kindred spirit

E. Women who are in-love are total ass holes and douche bags to those who one sided-ly pursues them, which isn't a secret to anyone

F. It's a one step at a time guide to living your life as you pleased it

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By far, according to my bias blood, that this movie is the best roller coaster mixed nuts ride that I've watched. Since I'm a sad sap sucker for some fairly well written chick flicks; to me, this movie spells a good letter of recommendations for any person-kind from the Oxford of "a feel good comedy movie worth your try". Not to be completely recommending this movie without warning anyone that there will BE character stereo-tropes and predictable scenarios, cheesy lines maybe, but over all best in representing emotional realism when it comes to recovering from a break up, desiring to break away from being single, and just enjoying your self for being single.

I couldn't go technical for the most part since the entire style of the story is like a book written by a modern yuppie extrapolating her/his experience in the big city by cherry picking scenarios. A typical man-child looking for a new chapter in their life after it has grandly closed behind them. But, all movies are like that, yet so does every media so far.

Might I add that this movie is a perfect flick to recover you from being down, especially when your problem involves life and how un-fucking-fair it has been so far based on your own petty judgement, if you allow yourself to think like so. 

This movie has a specific demographic that completely goes under the dramatic radar. The mix of scenarios will surely still pick their cynical ass up due to it's easy to emotionally relate level. Actor casting doesn't go under and their roles were portrayed justifiably. Scenario blending didn't suck as bad as a certain fantasy movie based from a famous cartoon series, and nothing of the flow did not feel off but at least a fitting piece to the larger picture.

All in all this movie is recommended only to a level where you are a simple person looking for a simple feel good movie.

Jacksfilms . YGS 100 movie . why grammar is important, personally

I've gotten myself acquainted well into Jacksfilms, a youtuber that I encountered during my time watching a marathon of all of Onisions videos that I found interesting.  (so Jack; basically, me getting to your channel is kinda thanks to Greg; LOL)

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His channel is a barrage of sketches borderline comedic satire to just plain sarcasm (did I just separate one term into two terms that are actually the same in essence, well who cares). Stating the reason, due to his popular sketches YIAY (Yesterday I Asked You) and YGS (Your Grammar Sucks), which majority of his viewers appreciate the most. Guessing they have the same mocking humour as the maker himself, not that I'm any different, ho-ho-homies.

During my time as his viewer, I encountered a recurring comment about a movie he's making that would celebrate the 100th episode of YGS. That every episode of YIAY, which was the only active content he seems to be doing, commenters mentions the movie all the time. Of course, not missing a note to follow the rules, or something, in answering his question for the day. It's actually amazing how diversely creative his subscribers are.

Personally I didn't expect much from YGS, cause the content sometimes just gives me excruciating headaches. Meaning that somehow my mind can't run normally because of comprehensive reasons. The grammar or satire replies posted in the videos of YGS.

I don't really like every how horrible the replies featured in each episode, but the quality of how Jack delivered the content was one of the top reasons why the segments became tolerable. That in itself says much about what kind of entertainer and creative person he is.

Watching YGS 100 movie, almost an hour long or more, was the first YGS that I actually watched TILL THE END. This fact, plus how I tried listening to the content, which was A-grade "imho"; is a first. The first time I actually focus in a YGS and it's an hour long, almost, movie. Insert "lol" icon.

The diversity of the youtubers who participated plus all the content juice that must've taken Jack, like, tons of several (redundant) of sweat, blood and tears to edit the whole of it was amazing. Why, I'm singing praises for the video. Yet, my only critic is that he could've just not made the whole movie, and every segment of the movie be something of a daily or twice a day post. Really, just that he compiled the whole thing was my only nitpick. Insert "lol" icon here.

Over all, I would recommend it, only if it's already broken down to the every segment tiny pieces before anyone should watch it. But, it is entertaining. That won't be taken from Jacksfilms content.

...I just realized I didn't say anything about why grammar is important to me, personally (redundant). Well, that can be for the future something, cause YGS 100 itself expressed the very sentiment of why it's important. (even though I'm effin imperfect myself about grammar, at least I'd want a tried your best badge)

fun watch . Geek & Sundry . Spooked

Currently I'm enjoying myself in an old YT series under Geek & Sundry entitled Spooked.

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It's a 2014 supernatural comedy about the wonderful drama filled humane adventures of a five group of adults, with one kid as the fifth member.

The show seems to try the unique mash up of unusual tropes, which I found quite interesting in itself. Of course it wouldn't be a comedy that didn't twist the nipples of mainstream stereotypes that seems to swim everywhere, starting with the group itself. Even though there are stereotype roles for each, not that I'm saying that my taste for the uniqueness is shallow (might be...I can't really say...*further pondering*), they blend well that the chemistry of the characters are profoundly prominent and eye catching for viewers (in my humble ow-pee).

The leader that did his job due to righteous underlying sister relation issues concerning his little sister recovering fairly well when the supernatural is involved. Matched up with his completely awkward and morbid asian best friend, crushing on the blonde occult specialist that did not reciprocate said feelings. Rounding it up with the science buff, that one guy who amidst all the evidences would not admit defeat in believing the unknown unless solid evidence is recorded.

The scenarios are the common exorcisms, ghost haunting, the occasional poltergeist and some other mash up from the everyday story of horror movie like. Except in the blight of all this serious issues is the manner of which selected characters dealt with the story. Like a little bit of all the Scary Movie parodies.

Scratch that little bit and make it all over the place method like the Scary Movies parody.

The show was enjoyable. Snippets of everyday life challenges, like sibling relationships, best friends, romance, come to think of it these life challenges were overly conventional that it made the whole show human amidst the horror that never scared the shit out of anyones pants. Good thing such horror exist in the world.

The only thing that might be truly lacking is the plots challenge through out the episodes. Everything was engaging and interesting in a normal point of view, since I guess the aim was just fun during horror times. Yet, yearning to have that plot about a greater scare is what I was waiting for.

Which they did do by the last episode. This is one of those stories I see that just sucks my soul for being satisfied and want me to yearn for some more. Marketing purposes they have succeeded. Other sections of my life just wants to say in a convincing manner to be patient and wait and see when they will give a new season.

(trailer released in June 2014)

Speaking of second season for this show, there seems to be no other new if there will be one. There were mentions of it during it's time of airing but somehow the show must have not garnered enough attention and audience during the release, and like all the other sadly bad timed shows they got the bunk. Never to be seen again.

With the same set of characters and actors, or actresses...(etc., rambling commences).

theatre list: Into the Woods (1991 live on broadway)

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Seriously. This Play is my comfort food, I just enjoy this show, especially the 1991 cast.

There is this unsatisfied craving of mine to roam the realm of Broadway or Theatre Plays, and just watch like a normal patron. Unfortunately I don't always have the means to satisfy that craving to watch shows in Broadway or Theatre Plays, besides the fact that its so rare to follow the schedule for such entertainment here in our country. It's also expensive. Of course I always forget to check the schedule of them theatre's, which is also a niggling negative factor to me cause of the distance in travel.

That in the end I always resort to searching online for a nice torrent copy of some recorded show, like this one I found from 1991. This is also the first version of the play I watched, besides the one that I remember. One of my elder cousins did back in her college days, she's part of the art crew and her boyfriend then was an actor of sorts in the story.

Just having the nostalgic factor, plus my fascination towards fantasy stories and the concept of children's stories from famous known ones crossover to each other is just fascinating. Basically I'm a fan of the concept and the story of this broadway production, however I really don't know much about the actors and actresses. They however did an amazing job, they're categorized as my all time favourite, despite knowing that there may be another performance with a greater cast or sorts. Preferences be.

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Either way, this baby was remade into a movie at the end of 2014 that caught me so off guard that I spazzed in front of my boyfriend. He literally saw a tear go down my cheek. I mean, look at it, it's got two of my favourite hollywood actor and actress. Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp, yes I am a fan of the two, I just love both their personality off cam and the way they portray or act. Even if the story or the movie sucks, when they act somehow it gets well justified. In a sense.

Back to the Broadway version, the story itself is very fulfilling. For some it is damn boring and dull, trust me, a lot of people around me just doesn't get enough from all the semi action of the psychological and mental warfare of almost anything dramatic. The story itself has not much drama, as it seems to focus more on the essence of humour. There is a twinge of realistic "karma" concept in the story as we all know almost all fairy tales have a weird and idealistic happy ending. Unlike in the real world when you get what you want or you do what you want, usually some kind of bad karma is waiting around the corner, no matter how long it takes to come or how quick it just pops out of nowhere.

At a young age, and a tad buff into the realm of fantasy, I loved that the stories can portray elements that in my mind makes quite mental sense in a heightened psychological way. Even now I enjoy re-watching the whole Broadway version because of the rawness I see when the actors and actresses play on the stage.

movie list: Minions (animation 2015)

Yesterday (to clarify, July 21 21015) my mother wanted to spend her morning with a free movie in our local cinemas. Here in the Philippines, there are thousands (not really, but it sounds like it) of political rackets for every area and their method of treatment for the Senior Citizens. One of which is to give one or two days of free movies for them to view. Whatever movie in the cinemas the old 'uns want they're free for the whole day, just as long as they present their movie pass.

Well to cut the morning story short, I ended up treating my mother and we both watched Minions. Those yellow gibberish talking walking pills.

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As everyone knows, or maybe some of, the Minions originated from the movie Despicable Me (starring Steve Carell as Gru, yes I need to state this, BECAUSE!). These seemingly "cute" pill shaped creatures are the "evil" minions of the "evil-villain" named Gru, and according to the story has been with him since he can remember (or maybe I missed the part where he explained how he got to have them?). On a side note, the movie DM is a commercial success majority of the reason is because of the Minions, is what I'm assuming, according to what I can sniff around marketing and media exploits.

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I did not know this happened. Where was I when this happened!!
He looks like Penguin from the Batman series...

Its quite a nice move to make a movie that explains the origins of the Minions, although I'm fairly satisfied just assuming that they were accidents made by Gru's scientist assistant. Discovering though that they were undoubtably natural causes (spoiler) from our own world (or their world) kind of makes you think how come they never really got to evolve. They were born the same way as anyone, through scientific explanations of course, and eventually watched the world evolve while they abruptly stopped evolving (physically that is, mentally a wee bit).

They were explained as creatures that sought the evilest being and make this evil being their "boss". The "boss" that they dreamed of following, (spoiler) which was actually shown from their conception through the eras I could not possibly know which (I'm not well versed with my sciences and histories). I could say they are affectionate towards the stronger, the one who can in any manner conquer by any means possible for psychological reasons maybe.

So goes the flow of the story till the moment they met Gru, (spoiler) kid Gru making a cameo by the end of the movie. Big things happened in the events before they met Gru, but I could tell that the simpleton plot of the movie would actually attract kids. Kids aged 8 below, or possibly lesser than 5. The story is so simple, the execution and scenarios completely random that you might say you paid to watch a Tom and Jerry show for 1 hour and a few minutes (not that Tom and Jerry doesn't deserve to have their movies be shown in cinemas and paid the same amount).

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Just, as a simple person (ah yeah, simple, ah...hahaha), of course I was quite amused by all their antics and gibberish. Before I did watch the movie I've heard that the movie had negative reviews, guessing it would. The story seems so random and everywhere. Villain with a shallow purpose, and for some reason it felt like the Minions became icons of heroes even though its much better to just retain their "dumb" like stand as a character.

To a child's point of view its a good satisfying movie, simply amusing and childishly entertaining. But as an adult who seems to have acquired a critic self, my simple self says its amusing and considerable, critic however says its not worth to watch if your aim is to see the retention of the Minions character from the DM franchise.

movie list: The Odd Life of Timothy Green (fantasy comedy drama 2012)

Yesterday was a very bad time to have feels, due to the unceremonious head ache I acquired because of the lack of sleep I gained the night before. Slept 4 am and woke up just 6 hours after. Least of my funny feels reward was that I spent my afternoons resting slash watching a random movie in HBO.

The film I encountered was quite a ride, it was simple, and again it felt like there were loop holes but I couldn't see them to the blurry eyes I acquired at the end of the movie.

The title of the film: "The Odd Life of Timothy Green"

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The movie was about a story of a couple and their experience of being parents to a child that randomly lived with them after some fantastical nature filled events one night. I'm missing the point of giving a point by point flow of the story so I'm going to make it plain and short.

*laugh laugh* *feel* *annoy* *feel* *laugh laugh* *awe awe* *annoy* *feel* *heavy feels* *cry in the corner*

That is the best synopsis I can give anyone due to the nature of the stories flow and events. It's not badly directed, in fact its very favourable. Like reading a book. Characters and their personalities are vaguely realistic, to a point of being over board. The most that hit me hard was the concept of Timothy Green himself, he was naive, and wise (plus he reminds me of my OC and a story I have yet to fix *ha ha*).

Innocence that could put any adult to shame. The adults I best refer to is the parents in the movie, which I can say is actually a very sane thing to do. Parents whose insecurities has built up that they couldn't even be honest even to their selves and the people around them.

The concept though of the parents taking care of a child for how many months and just saying its the back story of their reason to be good parents (something akin to proof of being) to the adoption agency they were telling the whole story about Tmothy to. It confused me at first mind you why they were retelling Timothys story to these two corporate looking people, just to reveal that they were some kind of agents from an adoption agency (assuming, due to the ending).

If it becomes a reality bite, I would say that everything in the story of Timothys life felt symbolical. As if it was true, but the way it was just portrayed was symbolical. Saying, in my own interpretation, that Timothy was born unexpectedly, linking it to the scenario of the couples family and how they felt about introducing him to them. The couple might not have showed young Timothy around because he was kind of sickly. Up until a point though, when young Timothy convinced them to give him a good childhood life. Lets say a trip to the doctors that supposedly went well.

The story goes along Timothy was diagnosed about something the kid accepted was inevitably leading to death, he felt more, however the parents were convinced that he shouldn't worry about it or it might get worse. Devising that instead to insinuate positivity in his life. A thing that might help him cure himself. Spending each time as if it were their last. Experiencing several things they used to not believe in but in the end have considerable and solid proof that they should believe in due to a miraculous proof as if an act of in-deterrable faith.

Until in the end when all things life could give them as a family was done, the sickness brought upon in time and stole the one thing that made them grow up as a family. The child the couple so wanted. That in the end, until Timothys death, was not something wasted but is an investment of strength emotionally gained. Something the couple couldn't have by just being themselves, thinking that maybe Timothy was an accidental birth.

I'm just saying anything can be the interpretation of the story or the truth behind the story of Timothy Green. There is of course no truth but only what the story could tell us.

Oh I wish Annette could be born the same way. Without drama, I wish.

movie list: Strange Magic (Animated Movie 2015)

I've been excited to see a funny looking movie since I saw its trailer in the start of this year. The title, Strange Magic. Honestly I didn't even try to anticipate it in the local theatres, however I did want to see it be locally shown. But it seems like fate had a different plan for the movie. According to what I saw it didn't receive that positive of a reaction from the masses. Kind of did not expect that at first, but since I wanted to watch it despite the negative stuff I hear about it, I sought out a copy of it.

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Summary, no spoilers, trust me. It's a story about a kingdom of Fairies and Goblins. Where the idea of a love potion is forbidden. Eventually some rules got broken and all hell broke loose. Someone became a hostage, three people tries to save her. Two actually feels responsible and sensible and heart wrenched for their mission, one just likes to be macho about it. Alot of lame puns and singing in the most weird mashup, but nice ring in it, ever.

Wait, I just felt like I said a lot of spoilers than I intended to keep? Totally do not trust me when I say "NO SPOILERS". Ever. In the near future.

Oh, well. It's not like its a big deal. Because eventually this movie has me going fifty-50. Fifty for being pun-ny and at some point cool in concept and art design, while the other 50 just made me cringe at several shallow concepts and loop holes in the story that I felt like I knew but forgot due to the pun-ny-ness.

Can't help it, I'm originally a shallow person. But it can't escape even the shallow me to notice a lot of potential gone down the drain if it was thought of well, in the story and the characters personality design I mean. Not piling it out is something bland that I shouldn't do, BUT, I'm going to do it.

I'm not gonna pin point every single what was wrong about in the movie, because I can't be a hypocrite by saying I did not enjoy the movie. I enjoyed it. All those pun intended moments, lame placed jokes that were obvious modern references of true to life societal personalities and the facts of life and what not. Plus the weird ship of the "villain" and "heroine".

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Yes, I ship the Bog king and Marriane romantically. They're very existence in the story is an actual (or physical) representation of the idealistic concept of falling in-love. Both experiencing heart aches in their own, in the story, for rushing in love. However I did not ship them due to that fact, because they're going to heal each others wounds, etcetera. Shipping them was what I did even before I got the chance to confirm it by watching the movie.

I shipped them because they had a perceived contrast slash similarity in personalities. I only had the trailer for reference but they felt both spunky and hardened warriors. They have the impression that they would stand firm in their perceived conviction and morale. Eventually they were both sappy heart broken beings, that needed a whole gallant battle just to realize they love each other. Of course my guess of their personalities was still there so it like it wasn't a lost cause for me guessing, and my shipping their romance.

In the end I wouldn't recommend this movie, wished it was premiered in February instead of January due to sappiness and again I have encountered a use of a whole concept of a universe wasted by a simple shallow story that told of romance in the most musical action-fantasy "packed" way.

manga list: Black Joke (seinen)

These days I opted myself to browse some manga's, which I often do and have been doing since my early college days. Spending those precious break time in the library to use the internet even for an hour or so just to read mangas online. I am not a very good supporter much of translation groups because honestly I don't have the guts how, see how unwilling I am to help them complete scanlations. In any case, however, I am truly grateful to them, so to the scanlators of Black Joke kudos to you.

Some days I try to see if I can find a good Seinen manga read, since I've loved those types of mangas. I also like the idea of browsing about ongoing or finished mangas in this genre for personal interests. So far it got me good, I stumbled upon one titled Black Joke by author Koike Rintarou and artist Taguchi Masayuki.

link here to read the manga: BLACK JOKE

The genre is a mix of Seinen, Comedy, Mature (completely mature but still sellable as something to the market that doesn't border itself to porn, I think, because Hentai shows every nook and cranny of a males phallus and a females oyster, here its just all...blurred out...okay so maybe its borderline Hentai in many levels), Action, and Martial Arts (yes those were the tags included in the site I read the manga from). Its about a future where the U.S.A. wasn't content to just leave the world to its peace and prompted to legally own countries that are sellable and profitable on so many levels, so they made Japan their 51st state. Yep, I'm guessing this was an action of sorts prior to the end of World War 2 and instead of Japan never giving up against America, they surrendered and succumbed to their poor striving state. OR they just got bought by one of the most misunderstood, well portrayed douche, hero of the world, country called America.

The whole setting is portrayed in an island not far from the mainlands of Japan named Neon Island (or Nihon, sometimes the groups who scanlates have different versions of how they tranlaste things). This island is an irreconcilable nest for sins, or just simply stating the Sin City of Japan. Here anything can happen, and honestly feels like any kind of good thing doesn't exist here, like churches or good kept households and stuff. Just plain old vent your sin out toilet pig sty, which so happens to not look like a sty but a highly engrossed rich city better than Vegas, baby (sorry it rhymes, can't help but add it in the end).

Prostitution is hell legal, on some respectable level. Gambling and black market trading is one of the main sources of income. The usual stuff you see in Mafia movies and the likes, only highly perverted in so many cases and scenarios. Plus all the guns and some crazy martial arts action you can find.

The flow of the story goes along the lives of a group of people that works for a Hotel owner magnate named Kousuke Todome who is the director of the Onsen Hotel, and some other mentionable characters that are either related to the main characters from the Onsen Hotel or the head triads working in the folds of the island. The whole volume is the exploits and missions they do for the sake of their jobs.

These two are the ones you often chase around, hey they get into the best troubles and jobs.
Talk about having trouble around, good thing they're the perfect combination of brawn's and brains.

Alot of considerable mayhem and upfront high in the sky lives living in he luxury of the churches so called Sins.

What I liked about the flow is my preference for just the most absurd action scenes in a Manga, comparable to the art style of Baki (and some other Seinen titles I've honeslty forgotten), the action scenes are honest and stylistic. All of which as an artist like me is a good reference. The muscle contortion, acrobatics, and even the impossible historical facts of the how or why of their techniques is just catchy for me.

Plus the gritty but trying to be suave perverted parts of the story is fine, its not over the top like the mushy fan service I often see but the type that is too open for the conservative mind. However, I can just say maybe its for a wee bit of adult fan service, eh? Well, it is an open world of sex and drugs, so what can you do about it but be obviously every where.

This manga is a good wait. Majority of the faces are obviously referenced from certain actors and actress which is catchy for me since I can imagine them in the role they are in the manga. Also there are several entertaining and engaging characters, often times exceeding their pre-scripted personalities which is quite a good balance. Down side I guess would be the history of how the place came to be. Its not well explained how or why on a level of historical basis, but thats just my preference.

she actually looks just like Kate Beckinsale!

Also its a generic Action Mafia Comedy themed manga, its got good classy scenes and absurd gritty ones. I'm not saying its lamely bad but its not overly exceptional, however I am basically praising this in art and somewhat in the composition of the characters and some scenarios.

If I were you, its best if you try reading it to enjoy some Action fun.