Showing posts with label just rambling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label just rambling. Show all posts

Thursday, April 28, 2011

[Update] All sorts of wonderful people I've been looking up lately

I knew that dude in Spiderman is someone special, coz Harry's never supposed to be that captivating (have you guys read the comics?) and yet next to him, Spiderman becomes almost an insignificant entity. Or maybe that's just coz I hate Tobey McGuire as Peter Parker and it's concentrating on Harry is my coping mechanism. But I never knew how special he is until I accidentally read about him and his academic pursuits that he does in-between his many and various acting and production jobs. Did you know he already has a PhD? Considering how hard it is for me to go on with my study, without having any additional jobs that require me to travel all over the place and presenting me with a gajillion other deadlines on top of my academic ones, he has all my respect.

He's currently taking classes at (gasp) several (!!!) schools with the possibility of pursuing another PhD, all of this while still continuing on with his acting work, and various other pursuits that are too many to list down here. I don't believe it. James Franco, I've always liked to follow overworked celebrities but you are way waaaay up there in that list. Ignore everyone who says you're spreading yourself too thin, a favourite phrase spouted for the purpose of setting limits on other people so they won't get too far ahead. Shah Rukh is kilometers behind you eating your dust, and that's saying a lot. What's more, he gives nice screen-kisses too.


Have you watched the 2011 Oscar Roundtable? How rad is it that we have James Franco AND Colin Firth sitting at the same...well...table and talking about all sorts of things? I want them in a movie together so that afterwards they'd have to do a promo tour where we can hear them talk a mile-a-minute about all sorts of nonsensical things. I think all the other stars are great too... I've loved Nicole Kidman like forever, or at least back when I first caught her in 'Far and Away'. And Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala is the only thing that endears 'The Phantom Menace' to me, although not enough to make me follow the arc to the end. It does seem that they have quite a number of actors (or maybe all of them?) who have previously played real-life people winning the Oscars this year, but I think Colin has played the most real-life people in his dramas as well as in his movies. And who can forget Bridget Jones' Mr. Darcy, where he played a character inspired by his Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy. Who is not a real-life person but still deserves a mention in every blog post that talks about Colin Firth in it. Coz he's teh awesomest, that's why. And for the record, Colin doesn't mind at all that we dredge Mr. Darcy up from the lake all the time.

Oscar Roundtable (part 1 of 7)

I could listen to Colin Firth talk for hours. He doesn't have to do wild antics to amuse me (or the audience), all we need is a good host whom Colin is comfortable with and he'd talk our pants off. I was literally rolling around the floor of my living room listening to their conversation. I was going... what?? what?? and ROFL until I nearly cried when he says, "I think an overly streamlined Scotsman would be very dubious." And that talk show was just beginning.

with Craig Ferguson (part 1 of 2)

There's another awesome person I expressly went on the net to find today, and that is our wee lad from Merlin. I've always been fascinated with the kid who played Mordred, and I just knew that he was also in Nanny McPhee (the sequel). After watching him in the "The Beginning of the End" episode of Merlin, I can't seem to be able to get him out of my mind. Especially that stare... and those eyes. I bet he got a lot of offers without having to audition just by turning that megawatt gaze on the Casting Director. I thought those were contacts, until I watched this interview.


I want to see more of this kid. It's pretty exciting to be able to catch all these talented people so early in their careers and to be able to sort of follow them through their works. I'm not fond of going into their private lives, so I suck at gossiping. But I love to gush about the stuff they do on-screen. Good times.

On the music front, I'm currently listening to Taylor Swift discography. I've got them in my thumbdrive and play them everyday when I commute to and from school. The thing with Swift's songs is they're pretty inspiring. I always find myself listening to them and thinking... hey, this is easy enough. I can write this. Just the lyrics though coz I don't know how to play any musical instrument. They're miles away from my jrock stuff, which get my adrenaline pumping but can never be played at the volume they deserve in polite company. Or in any company, really. Even my friends who are jrock fans would cringe at the volume at which I play them. Swift's songs face no danger of having my friends cringe at them coz they're so non-provocative that I can get even my little sister who can't abide my (loud) taste in music to talk about her songs up to the extent of striking a deal with her to do a little Taylor Swift-home concert once she's good at her guitar (she's recently taken lessons). And I love her music videos... they're so Mills and Boons, aren't they? For a jaded old woman (shut up), the sweet sentiment in them make me go... awwwww, all is probably still alright with the world then.

Monday, April 18, 2011

[Fandom] Yep, still in Merlinland

I'm sorry for flinging this post onto little children. Anyone below 15, please avert your eyes.

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I do believe that if I go on like this, it is quite possible that I'll flunk my study. Or maybe I'm halfway there.

But all my reading has strengthened my resolve to write. And the ideas in my head have nothing to do with subjects remotely academic. Unless I'm studying anatomy. Which I'm not.

It's rare to actually find myself learning when I'm reading fanfictions, but apparently there's a vast difference... as deep as an abyss (which I have never stared down into, so forgive me if the analogy is unsuitable)... when you're in a jrock or jpop fandom and when you're in a European one. Or in this case, Brit.

Words just flow without the restraint of not knowing much of the culture, the people, the language. Authors are not writing in English about non-English people having impossibly complicated English conversations in a completely non-English setting while drinking something that's made in a country entirely populated by mostly non-English speaking people.... and I relish the freedom.

Also, since I studied in the UK (though I didn't have enough money to travel to Ireland, to my everlasting regret) for a bit and watched hours and hours of British telly in defiance of my busy undergraduate schedule, I do get a bit of the jokes... although not most. But enough to make me howl with laughter and splutter saliva all over my laptop monitor.

However, I have to say that after more than a week of intense reading, I have yet to find a single bondage fic... much less S&M, or any plot that doesn't involve fluffy romance and happy ever after. I was so used to at least finding a story with one of the characters dying. And that's RPS, mind you... not even AU. Hmmm, what does that say about jrock/jpop fandom... IDEK.

The strange thing is, all the stories in the Merlin fandom I found... and I do mean ALL!... were so well-written that I'm not even missing those intense, dark, OTT-menacingly-whispered-professions-of-love-while-being-tortured-with-black-candles, nearly suicidal relationships I was so used to bump into while maneuvering the messy j-ent fanfiction corridors.

Obviously I've been missing on a lot of things. I have Colin/Merlin and Bradley/Arthur to thank for this massive discovery. I've yet to move to Season Two because I'm still determined to explore Season One for a second time. And this time I'm to take my sweet time about it... while reading fanfics, watching interviews, looking up making of clips... taking in everything.

O yeah, this mission must be accomplished while churning out technical papers for supervisors and bosses on time. Tricky, that.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

[Rambling] All sorts of wonderful updates

I still have a flu and cough despite resting through 4 absolutely work-free days courtesy of MCs and gobbling all sorts of medicine since a week ago. I have to organize a meeting in 2 hours time with another working paper still undone. I have a deadline for 4 papers hanging over my head like the Sword of Damocles and still managed to finish re-reading up to the 21st volume of Kindaichi Case Files (the malay-translated paperbook version). I have a date with all my supervisors to present my progress report and my slide is yet to be done. I bought a stack of CDs and DVDs that I still haven't listened to/watched that include KAT-TUN's World Big Tour, Tamaki Hiroshi's MW, Kame's Gokusen The Movie & One Pound Gospel drama, , Gong Yoo's Biscuit Teacher & Star Candy, SS501's 1st album DVD and Mansai Nomura's Ran.

Overall.... life is wonderful. That was what I felt as I listened to KAT-TUN's songs while I was driving to school this morning. Kindaichi's right. As long as we're alive, we still have something that can turn our lives around again. That 'something' is time. So, I hope everyone who still has some lingering suicidal tendency in his/her heart to... as Kyouhei in Yamnade says... look towards the future and move forward. Everyone is struggling in his/her own way. Never underestimate other people's problems. Even those we envy have problems that can drag them down any second. Appreciate what we have now so we won't have any regret in the future. Okay?

Hope this picture will cheer you up today~~~

Saturday, November 13, 2010

[Drama] Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy a.k.a. Hello My Teacher - Gong Yoo

The more I watch his dramas/movies.. the more dramas/movies of his I want to watch. As much as I love my other guys (Lee Jun Ki, Kang Dong Won, Tamaki Hiroshi and the list goes on), I usually only like some of the characters they play.. not all. Gong Yoo is the first actor whom I like in all the roles he has played no matter how small and brief and dialogue-less. The more I watch Gong Yoo on my screen, the more on-screen Gong Yoo I want to see.


Watch Biscuit Teacher Star Candy Episode 1 in Entertainment  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

What do I like the most about Gong Yoo? It's the responses he shows in front of the woman he loves. Well, not in real life since I know nothing about that. But on the screen. No matter what role he plays, no matter what the scene is about.. I always feel that the responses he's showing are how the character he plays would actually show if he were a real person instead of a fictional guy. Everything is so spot on. I melt.

And I love his hands. I think this is the first time I'm obsessed with a guy's hands. I rewind some scenes in some drama/movies several times just because the cameras were showing his hands. Hands.. fingers.. palms.. knuckles.. how can a macho-looking guy have such beautiful, feminine hands? They look fragile and precious.. as if he keeps them in gloves most of the times.

But I think what really drives me crazy is his voice. Maybe because I didn't expect that it can move me. How can a guy move me with his on-screen performances AND move me with his singing voice EVERY TIME?? It's simply unthinkable.. until I heard him sing. Have you heard him sing? People who've been complaining about Gong Yoo.. that actors should just leave singing to singers.. must have not heard him sing before. Want a sample? There're quite a few on youtube, but I love love love this one the best. It's more of a doraebang, really. But it's lovely.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

[Rambling] Hyung is a guy way ahead of his time and age

(link)

Singer turned actor, Kim Hyun-joong recently helped make a generous donation towards the women's sport of soccer. Kim helped organize a donation made with the profits earned from the final fan event for the drama "Naughty Kiss", that was held at the Dome Art Hall at the Children's Grand Park in Seoul on October 21st.

Kim had said he wanted to support women's soccer in Korean high schools by giving all of the money collected for entry at the event. In addition to the profits, he also teamed up with Adidas which donated 23 million won worth of soccer gear.

The young star's entertainment agency, KeyEast Entertainment announced the news on Kim's official website, "Kim Hyun-joong is personally a big fan of soccer and was cheering for the country's under 17 girls soccer team which won the recent world cup. He was thinking of ways to support women's soccer and so got the idea to support young aspiring female soccer players who aren't giving up on their dreams despite difficult situations or hardships. He was the one who suggested the donation idea".


Ami's rambling:

I didn't know that the Korean under 17 girls soccer team won the recent world cup (what world cup?? was there a world cup going on while I was busy surfing k-dramas on streaming sites?) ...aaaaa, how can he with his busy schedule know more about what's happening in the world around him than I do? I have no idea what's happening in Malaysia right now.. we're having this small election (where?) and several states are involved with big floods (Kedah and Perlis only, right?)... aaaaaaaand that's the extent of my general knowledge about the world around me.

What have I been doing with my life? *feels useless and insignificant*

Another random thought I had when I read this was.. "How can 2 very different people be so similar in certain things.. and both I like with a high degree of intensity?". I'm talking about Shah Rukh, of course.. with all his talks about how India should put more effort in sports other than cricket and his waxing soliloquy on the women's hockey team achievements. I love these guys to bits and pieces.

Is hyung really only 24 years old? He always gives off the feeling (to me, anyway) that he's at least 20 years older than I am.. there were many instances when I watched his interviews and thought, "Gyaaa.. hyung is such an oji-san!" LOL. He's very different from guys his age who're in his profession, isn't he?

I guess the people who answered the survey of 'Why Kim Hyun Joong is Popular' in this article are mostly guys.. coz they're so focused on his good looks. I find that the guys are more obsessed with hyung's beauty than the girls... look up previous talk shows that he participated in because the ones raving about his beauty were mostly the male hosts.. haha

They're alienating people like me who can't obsess over pretty boys if they're just vacant mannequins out for display by their agencies. Hyung may not be the singer with the best voice in SS501.. he may not be the best actor in the below 25-year old category.. he may not have the best figure in the modeling world.. but his entire package makes him shine far brighter than those who surpass him in each of those areas. At least, to those of us who're blinded by his brilliance anyway.. those who are blind to it can think what they will.

Why do we love Kim Hyun Joong? Lemme count the ways...  ♥

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

[Rambling] Boys Over Flowers - related

First of all, that has to be the shortest time in history (well, my history anyway) of downloading a torrent file for a drama episode.. less than an hour. Playful Kiss has indeed exploded on the net. It's the second last episode.

Ah, thinking about it that way makes me sad. I hope hyung acts in a new drama/movie as soon as possible so I can watch him on screen again. But I also want that solo album and SS501 collaboration album too. I'm such a greedy fan. Please have some rest first, hyung-chama! I don't want you to fall sick.

Anyway.. why did I title this post BOF? Because hubby is currently back-watching the DVD. He finished the 25 episodes in a few days (up until the wee hours of the morning!) and is now catching up with the ones he missed coz I re-watched those when he wasn't around. I openly showed my love for hyung while watching BOF with him and asked him several times.. "isn't he gorgeous??". Hubby was like.. "yeah". *giggles*

(When I was watching Playful Kiss youtube clips on my monitor, he went to me excitedly asking.. "what are you watching now??". Andwaeeeeeee! Do not want to share hyung with him! *ish greedy and possessive* LOL)

He totally did not google about BOF and ask me to give him all the BOF-related clips I found on the net??!!? So, being an agreeable, obedient wife that I am.. I'm collecting all the BOF-related clips I can find HERE. BOF fans are welcome to them as well. I'm going to download them too.. in case they get deleted later.. grrrr.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Last Legion

I found the DVD at the mall when I was out shopping for curtains today. What else could I do but buy it? It has Aishwarya as a bonus... who on earth could resist that?

I hope the movie is any good. Or else I'd have to spend the entire time staring at Colin Firth. Oh wait... I do that even when the movie is excellent (lol).

I've been going through the list of movies I found on youtube and I have Nanny McPhee in my hard drive. So I'm good. I'm still looking out for BJD and BJD-EoR though. I'm sure they're here somewhere since they're very popular commercial hit movies.

I still can't get over how good Colin is on screen... and how he's snogged so many women. Wish I could have a slice of that too. Life is rather unfair, huh?