Big Bang Loves the Gender Benders

Allegedly….

Seung Ri, G-Dragon and I think the other Big Bang members were seen in a bar. But not just any bar, a bar in which transgender stripshows occur. People are speculating that the owner of the bar is G-dragons girlfriend. (Um, how old is G-dragon and how old is the average bar owner?) Now there is all this hullabulloo about Seung Ri being underage and in the bar and Ji Yong dating some nuna and all the Big Bang members even being in a place were transgender stripping is normal.

The funniest thing about this is that people are making a big deal out of it.  But this bar was in Seung Ri’s episode of Manwon Happiness. So obviously, he’s been in there before and if Ji Yong knows the owner, he’s obviously going to go there again. Actually, the best part of this overblown thing is the archaic picture which is obviously from last year and their Lies/Always days. (What creep took that picture anyway?)

Meh. Who cares? There is nothing really to discover or find out here. I think people are just getting excited about Ji Yong having a girlfriend. God forbid the guy get some.

This reminds me of a restaurant in the city. If you live in NYC or watch Sex and the City you may have heard of Lucky Chengs. It’s a restaurant where you get served by drag queens. I almost ate there but after finding out that there a $32 dollar minimum I said “no thanks” and left. I don’t want to get served by drag queens that badly.

Zhang Li Yin and the Debut Album

Finally, it’s about time this girl had an album come out. I think SM did a good job to wait a while before her first album because she could not go around promoting while singing the way she did with Junsu in Timeless. (I still remember the pain). But she is such a great talent that her fans were impatient for this album and it’s finally here.

It’s a chinese album and it will feature One More Try, Why and Timeless. Han Geng from Super Junior will sing on the album along with Si Won (also from Super Junior).

Here’s a preview of her music video for her albums first official single, “I Will”:

Her voice is so powerful. They should stop calling her the Chinese BoA because honestly BoA has nothing on this girl. She is more like the Chinese Christina Aguilera, but really I shouldn’t even compare her with anyone. Not because she’s an amazing singer (she’s certainly not better that Xtina) but because I’m getting really tired of the silly titles, “The Second blah” or “The Chinese blah” it’s ridiculous. She reminds me of Christina Aguilera because they have the same timbre to their voices.

Anywho, a good third of her album has already been heard before, most have heard Y, One More Try and Timeless. And there is also the song A Flame for You, but I really don’t think I should subject anyone to watching that performance. She does a good job singing, but the dance moves? Yikes. Just close your eyes.

As the preview suggests Zhang Li Yin’s album will drop on February 27th. EDI: the full version of the MV is releaded on February 27th… And SM is releasing the album when we all turn 80.

DBSk on Line Up

DBSK is back in Korea and it’s so exciting to see them in their comfort zone. But it’s not so great to se everyone praising them because they have taken over the Eastern world.

Part One.
Thank’s to Ginaya for her original subs. The show was hilarious.
The Good:
1. The way DBSK is caught talking behind their Hyung’s backs.
2. The advice they get forcrazy stalker fans.
3. Hearing Junsu’s laugh was awesome.
4. Seeing Junsu’s ridiculous athletic skills.
5. Seeing Yunho perform is Taekwondo on 10 giddy and some giant girls.

Watch all the part at Ginaya’s youtube homepage!

Oscar Predictions

It’s about 20 minutes before the Oscars and I just spent all day catching up on the movies I hadn’t seen and now I’m going to make my Oscar predictions.

Actor in a Leading Role

Daniel Day-Lewis - THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Actor in a Supporting Role

Javier Bardem - NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
(Casey Affleck gets honorable mention. He was devastatingly great in THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD JOHN FORD).

Actress in a Leading Role

Maron Cotillard - LA VIE EN ROSE (If you haven’t seen this movie, it’s worth it just to see Marion Cotillard’s amazing transformation and performance.
Cate Blanchett gets honorable mention for her role in ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE. she is a force to be reckoned with.)

Actress in a Supporting Role

Cate Blanchett - I’M NOT THERE (I haven’t seen this movie but from all the buzz I just have a feeling. Amy Ryan’s performance in GONE BABY GONE is a close second though. Once again, haven’t seen it, once again the buzz just gives me a feeling.
Also, Saoirse Ronan from ATONEMENT was great. She didn’t strike me as Oscar worthy but I thought she so perfectly fit into her role.)

Achievement in Cinematography

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD JOHN FORD
(This movie was gorgeous to look at. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY comes in a close second for me, I feel like if I had seen it though I would have voted this winner).

Costume Design

ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
(Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. LA VIE EN ROSE is almost a tie for me though. But honestly all the nominees have brilliant costume design).

Achievement in Directing

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
(The Coen brothers did an amazing job. This movie is short of perfection, but only because nothing is perfect).

Achievement in Makeup

LA VIE EN ROSE
(To transform the gorgeous Marion Cotillard into a sickly, old Edith Piaf is an amazing feat and they did a brilliant job).

Sound Editing
THERE WILL BE BLOOD
(The sounds in the movie put you at edge and match the scenes perfectly.)

Achievement in Special Effects
TRANSFORMERS
(Definitely the best of the other three in this category. THE GOLDEN COMPASS’s special affects looked fake and didn’t mesh well with the real world. And PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN was too much.)

Best Adapted Screenplay
So difficult to choose this one. All of these movies are amazing. It would have to be a toss up between THERE WILL BE BLOOD and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.

Best Original Screenplay
THE SAVAGES
(Haven’t seen it yet but the writer was a woman (woot woot) so I really want her to win and once again, buzz does alot for movies when it comes to the Oscars. Case in point: Jennifer Hudson beating out Rinko Kikuchi in 2005 for Best Supporting Actress. Are you kidding? Rinko Kikuchi was robbed. (Rinko Kikuchi was in BABEL and Jennifer Hudson was in DREAMGIRLS).

I wonder how many of these I’ll get right. If there’s time give me you Oscar predictions. And after or during the oscars feel free to rant and rave about the winners (or losers).

Paris Je T’aime –> New York, I Love You

Remember that devastatingly romantic movie Paris, Je T’aime? Well now the New York chapter is being filmed.

Paris Je T’aime was an ensemble movie that had many different love stories all occurring in Paris. The movie had many directors including the Coen Brothers, Alfonso Cuaron, Gus Van Sant and Wes Craven.

This time around Park Chan Wook, Mira Nair, Shunji Iwai and Anthony Minghella are 4 of the 12 directors directing 5 minute shorts about love in the five boroughs of New York City.

When I saw Park Chan Wook’s name attached to this project I freaked out. Then I saw Anthony Minghella and Mira Nair and Shunji Iwai… I am dying from joy right now. The movie is being filmed in the city currently. I hope I run into some movie sets!  But I probably won’t…

I love movies like this. Paris, Je T’aime was so great because it wasn’t just for Parisians, it’s a true international film. And New York, I Love You (taking place in the most diverse city in the world), will hopefully live up to Paris, Je T’aime but with the great directors in this one, I have no doubt it will.

Thanks to DiCaprio, Live-Action Akira in the Works

Yes, I am talking about Leonardo Dicaprio. His production company, Appian Way, along with Warner Bros. is financing the live-action remake of Akira. It will be split into two installments simply because of the size of the manga–6 huge thick books full of plot, story, character development, special effects, death, orgies (I’m so serious), awesome motorcycles etc. etc.

Hiatus

These guys are awesome!

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I’m taking a break from the blog. Well, I’ve been taking a break since last week as my faithful readers know. Sorry peeps, at first I didn’t write because felt like nothing that important or interesting was going on and then I had too much work to do. But Yeah, until further notice I’m on…let’s call it a sabbatical.

Rain’s a Ninja, Jang Dong Gun’s a Ninja, We’re all Ninjas, HEY!

Had to put this video because the beginning makes me laugh.

Remember that Hollywood lead role that Rain talked about getting? Remember my hopes and dreams that it wouldn’t be the stereotyped Hollywood headstart that Jang Dong Gun and Park Joon Hyung are getting?

As revealed in the J.Tune and William Morris Agency press conference Rain’s Hollywood lead role will be as a Ninja Asassin in a movie tentatively called. . . Ninja Assassin (can you hear me sighing?). Rain obviously impressed the Wachowski brothers because they are at the helm of this project.

Giordana Completely Steals from the “I am African” Campaign

So… What am I talking about? Well, if you walked around the city a few months ago you would see posters like these:

The “I AM AFRICAN” campaign was a way to help keep children alive who were suffering from or affected by the AIDS epidemic.  A great cause and, in my humble opinion, a great campaign concept.

Now moving on to Giordano. They used Jang Dong Gun (for the millionth time) and Jung Ryu Won for there spring ad campaign. And what did they do? What was their concept? Um,*cough* well that is COMPLETELY bit off of the “I AM AFRICAN” campaign.

Wow, this is COMPLETELY unoriginal. I understand being influenced by something else but it is obvious that Giordano knows they’re stealing from the “I AM AFRICAN” campaign and doesn’t care. I’d have to say this is Giordano’s most unfortunate ad campaign that I’ve seen so far. The pictures are nice but the face paint makes no sense in the context of clothing and…they stole their campaign idea. Gah, how frustrating. I saw this over at Popseoul! and they apparently didn’t realize that this was just a complete rip-off, they squealed about feeling “spring-y inside”.

. . .

Seriously.

On another note. I love Jang Dong Gun, and I like Jung Ryu Won and besides the plagiarism I do like the ad campaign. But that’s probably because I loved the “I AM AFRICAN” campaign. When you think about it though, the AFRICAN campaign is so much more deep and important than any ad campaign Giordano will ever do. So to steal from them is kinda… stupid. It’s so frustrating that most of the Korean population will have no idea that this idea is completely unoriginal. This must be how some Japanese feel about the numerous American’s that have no idea that The Ring is a remake.

Koda Kumi, you shouldn’t have had to apology in the first place. . .

So everyone knows about Koda Kumi’s silly comment about women’s fluids after they turn 35, right? Well, there was an uproar with so many people upset at her “insensitivity”. Oh God, do these people really have nothing else to care about except some innocent scientifically accurate comment a singer makes? I thought it wouldn’t end up being anything when I heard about it so I never posted. I really didn’t find it that interesting or important. But the fact that she had to give a tearful apology was just ridiculous. So much so that I just had to rant about how ridiculous it is.

From Tokyograph:

On Thursday, Kumi Koda appeared in an exclusive interview on Fuji TV’s “FNN Super News” to apologize for a remark she made on “All Night Nippon” last week. She had stated that “when women turn 35, their amniotic fluid goes rotten,” leading to many angry reactions from the public.

It’s like the people reacting negatively to this feel as if Koda spilled the beans about something. “Oh no! The world will know about my amniotic fluid! Damn you Koda Kumi!” Give it a rest.

Not everyone was convinced, however. An informal poll taken after the broadcast through Sankei Sports’ website indicated that 81% of the viewers felt the apology was insufficient, while only 9% said it was enough. Fuji TV later announced that by midnight on Thursday, it had received almost 300 phone calls about the broadcast. About a third of them carried heavy criticism, such as saying that Koda’s apology felt insincere. Only 9 of the callers defended the singer.

People actually called to complain… That’s just another level of sad states of minds. Couldn’t they just quietly simmer in their unneccesaary anger? To waste so many people’s time is just ridiculous. I think it’s even silly that 9 people just called to say they were happy with her apology. Who cares? Go eat some food and get drunk instead of hanging on every word that she says. I just can’t imagine that so many people have so little to do. I’m thinking that it has to be sad housewives with no children or grown children that actually have nothing better to do or think about.

Koda Kumi shouldn’t be crying because she is still number one on Oricon. She really should be having the last laugh.

Anyway, this is just another sad example of how the world is obsessed, in a rather depressing way, with celebrity. As Tears for Fears would say, “It’s a very very Mad World”.