A heartwarming tale of bonds and family with so much innocence In a season where films of action, violence and horror dominate the box-office, it’s quite refreshing to see a movie go right back to basics. ’10 Promises to My Dog’ (Inu to Watashi no Jyu no Yakusoku) focuses on something so simple, and perhaps taken for granted, which is the relationship we have with our pets. Despite covering something featured all-too-often, this film isn’t a run-of-the-mill ‘man and his dog’ movie.
The tale begins with 14-year-old Saito Akari (Fukuda Mayuko) longing for a dog for companionship, partially because her doctor father is not able to spend enough time with her. One day she finds a cute little puppy in the family lawn (later revealed to have been planned by her mum). She names her ‘Socks’ after the white markings on her paws, and they both develop a strong bond together. Akari is later taught of the ’10 Promises of Dog Ownership’ by her dying mother. These are actually more like promises between her and Socks. These can easily be related to, as they serve as a reminder that keeping a pet comes with certain responsibilities. The story then revolves around the 10 years Akari spends with Socks.
As Akari grows up, her social life changes around her, and she slowly forgets the promises she made. The older Akari (Tanaka Rena) is preoccupied with work, she gets interested in men and spends more time with friends. Things can get really sad at various moments of the movie, and many pet owners can relate to events that unfold. Even if you aren’t a pet owner and just love animals, you can’t help but relate with all the hardship and things that threaten to break the family apart. The star of the show, Socks is herself a beautiful animal. Starting off as a ridiculously cute puppy, she grows up into a gorgeous golden retriever that is loved by everyone who knows her. She’s also a surprisingly good actress, giving expressions and body language that will touch your heart.
Tanaka Rena and Fukuda Mayuko deserve special mention for their roles of Akari’s different stages in life. Other than the fact that they manage to look very sweet and similar to one another, they also portray great acting and match Socks so well through their character. It’s not hard to imagine yourself in Akari’s shoes. The character of Saito (Toyokawa Etsushi), Akari’s dad is also a lovable character that sees interesting development. He starts out as a workaholic father that has no time for the family and fears dogs, and later quits his job after his wife passes away. Trading his surgical knives for kitchen ones, he works hard from home, keeping the family together through tough times and also develops a bond with the very dog he feared before.
10 Promises to My Dog is a moving tale and is a pleasant surprise for those seeking something different that doesn’t involve bloodshed. There’s no Hollywood storyline involving a dog saving the world, and it’s not even really an adventure. Instead, there is emphasis on events in life that bond companions and sacrifices made in the name of family. It might not be a groundbreaking tale, but it is definitely a touching one that transcends ages, and it shows that one can still make a movie with so much innocence.
Some hugely ambitious artsy films have the capacity to turn out quite bizarre. “When the Tide Rises” (aka Quand la Mer Monte) is one such example. The Belgian story revolves around the central character of Irene (Yolande Moreau), a charismatic, plump lady who runs a peculiar one-woman show titled “A Dirty Business – Sex and Crime”.
Jolly-looking at times, Irene faces lots of hardships as she tours from place to place. One day her Peugeot faces a breakdown by the road and she is approached by a young man named Dries. Upon solving the problem of her car, she offers him a ticket to her show (because he refuses to accept a cash reward).
Dries attends her show and even participates as a guest. Soon he was smitten and follows her shows regularly. Gradually the two develop a relationship. This is despite the fact that Irene has a husband and child, whom she keeps in contact through her cell phone.
Perhaps due to the touring nature of her show she feels rather lonely and Dries fills up that void. The movie takes on an unconventional style, it doesn’t attempt to beautify or overdo things. Even Irene’s show outfit is done realistically, it’s messy and it suits her show.
Much of the movie involves how the relationship between Irene and Dries develops and how she toughens herself up to face the troubles in her life. Some scenes run without any dialog and the audience is left to interpret how the two characters feel towards each other. Artsy movie lovers should give this one a try.
Some films look awful constrained to a narrow budget but “After the Wedding” (aka Efter Brylluppet) proves that even with limitations it is possible to make a beautiful movie.
This Danish film has you feeling a little ‘connected’ to the characters, perhaps due to the fact that the movie is almost entirely filmed in a handheld manner, giving it a personal feel.
The central character of this tale is Jacob, played brilliantly by Mads Mikkelsen, whom most of us remember as the villain who sheds tears of blood in Casino Royale.
Jacob does social work in Mumbai, India, taking care of children from and orphanage. The orphanage is experiencing a serious lack of funds and suddenly a billionaire from Denmark, Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard) offers to donate huge load of funds on the condition that Jacob returns to Denmark to meet him.
Jacob is reluctant to head there because he loathes Denmark and rich people, and he would have to leave behind Pramod, an orphan who is especially close to him. Realising that the orphanage needs the funds badly, Jacob puts on a cheap coat and heads there to meet Jorgen, who then invites him to attend the wedding of Anna, his 20-year-old daughter.
Little does Jacob know that not everything is as it seems and this all adds up to a huge dilemma in his life, in which things are rather entangled. The film is beautifully shot, taking advantage of the locations involved. We get to observe the busy streets of Mumbai with orphans chasing after trucks giving out food donations and then we get to see how Jorgen’s family contrasts with that, living a life of luxury with a huge mansion and million-dollar cars.
The handheld feeling adds to the movie’s appeal, although director Susanne Bier does have a peculiar obsession with zooming in really close to a person’s facial features. This even extends to some animals and is very noticeable throughout the film. Overall this is a very moving story and brings forward the question of ‘which is more important, the man or the money?’
How far would you go to avenge the death of the one you love? That is possibly the question hovering James Bond’s mind as he seeks retribution in Quantum of Solace, the 22nd instalment of the highly successful franchise.
Broken and betrayed by lover Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, Bond will stop at nothing to seek answers. Once again played by Daniel Craig and taking place roughly an hour after the previous adventure, the movie opens up on a high note, with a breathtaking, fast-paced car chase down the Alps between Bond’s Aston Martin DBS and two Alfa Romeo 159s. This was however followed by an opening theme song that was rather forgettable by Bond standards, lacking that certain catchiness that made them iconic.
This time Agent 007 is out to get corrupt businessman and rogue environmentalist Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) who attempts to control the entire water supply of Bolivia for his own gain. Looking all goggle-eyed, Greene does seem rather funny at times.
Teaming up with Bond is the beautiful Camille (Olga Kurylenko), who’s out to get a corrupt Bolivian dictator who raped and burned her family. Bond doesn’t go to bed with her, instead it’s the similarity between the two that connects them together and differentiates Camille from the typical Bond girl.
Making her little mark in the movie as well is Agent Fields (Gemma Arterton), an MI6 consulate in Bolivia. Do keep an eye as there is a scene which mimics the one in Goldfinger. Judi Dench returns with a wonderful performance as M, who seems to be watching over 007 almost maternally, and Bond even confirms it in a line during the movie.
Like most Bond flicks, the adventure takes us to more exotic locations, and a nice touch was the way each location were spelled out with fancy typefaces that match the features of the country. The movie is action-packed from start to end, with Bond chasing baddies on rooftops, through sea, air, and pretty much every angle you could think of. It is almost as if the movie makers had a serious case of envy over the Bourne trilogy and tried to make Bond a furious killing machine.
Gone is the suaveness of 007, replaced by a man with inconsolable rage which sees him kill almost every lead to the case, leaving most clues at a dead end, something a good detective should never do (and makes M furious of course!).
He is also after the notorious Mr.White, who is responsible for Vesper’s death. The mess of emotions running in his mind is perhaps the reason why Bond is so vicious this time around and not a man of many words. It’s almost as if the essence of Bond is lacking, along with his humour. Craig is excellent as Bond, but the amount of action leaves him lesser room to showcase his acting skills. Agent 007 didn’t even get to introduce himself as “Bond, James Bond” this time around.
Quantum of Solace is by no means a disappointment. It only appears so because Casino Royale was perhaps one of the best-made Bond movies of late. Action dominates over storyline this time around, and with a shorter running time of below two hours, it’s more like a sequel that seeks answers rather than a whole new Bond adventure. The number of thrills in this movie is something not to be missed by action-lovers. Just make sure you catch Casino Royale first in order to enjoy it fully.
Max Payne is a man with nothing to lose. Based on the highly-popular computer game of the same name, Max Payne is a dark action thriller that shows what happens when a man is pushed to the limit. Having lost his wife, his baby girl, and even his work partner, Payne has lost everything. Mark Wahlberg stars as titular maverick cop who journeys into the dark underworld to avenge the brutal murder of his family. And just like the game, he is assisted by Mona Sax (Mila Kunis), who is also out to avenge the killing of her sister Natasha.
Instantly noticeable is the movie’s noir feel, reminiscent of graphic novels and keeping in line with the feel of the computer game. Scenes are rendered beautifully, with snowflakes and rain appearing almost fantasy-like. The gloomy feel of the movie connects us to Payne’s world, which is filled with regret, sadness and pain. Even the opening is dramatic, with Payne sinking into a dark, icy lake, narrating, “There's an army of bodies under this river, people who ran out of time, out of friends. I could feel the dead down there, reaching up to welcome me as one of their own. It was an easy mistake to make.” He is filled with revenge, and throughout the movie he is obsessed with hunting down those responsible.
A large portion of the movie revolves around the drug Valkyr, widely used in the underworld, which is said to increase one’s strength and also eliminate fear. An unfortunate side effect of the drug is hallucinations, with most users seeing ghastly things flying above them. The movie has a semi-detective-style approach to it, and slowly the connection between Valkyr and the killing of Payne’s family is revealed.
The film features a wide cast of talents like Chris O’Donnell, and Amaury Nolasco, the latter shines especially as the terrifying Jack Lupino, a former soldier obsessed with the power of Valkyr. Others include Donal Logue as Payne’s partner Alex Balder and the beautiful Olga Kurylenko as Natasha. Interesting additions are the talents of Ludacris and Nelly Furtado, who usually have more to do with singing than acting. They blend well with their roles and add a bit of flavour to the movie. There are many suspicious characters, and you might not guess who the actual culprit behind the conspiracy is.
There is a lot of tribute to the game. ‘Bullet-time’, made popular by The Matrix and highly used in the game, is done wonderfully in Max Payne. From firing a shotgun in super slow-mo to gunning down an entire squad of baddies, it is used to good effect in action scenes. Even certain key scenes are faithfully reproduced, like the revolving scene in which Payne returns home and discovers his wife and baby daughter killed. And just like the game, he gets an exciting array of awesome weapons with seemingly never-ending ammo.
A blend of spectacular visuals, suspense and thrilling action, Max Payne should appeal to action fans looking for something a little out of the ordinary, and for fans of the game, this is definitely not a movie to miss. Mark Wahlberg may not look a lot like Max Payne, but in this movie he certainly fills that role well.
The latest story to spin-off the highly-popular Death Note franchise, "L : change the WorLd" focuses on L Lawliet (played beautifully by the talented Ken'ichi Matsuyama) on his last 23 days. This time, L faces the challenge of yet another difficult case after the highly suspenseful one with Kira. And without Watari around, things are trickier than ever before...
A group of extremist environmental terrorists, consisting of a psycho mastermind, a greedy psycho dude and their psycho henchmen (the psycho girl is cute though) are determined to save the world by getting rid of humans through a hybrid virus and with various complications along the way, L is faced with a battle against time to both stop the terrorist AND save the world. Two children hold the key to solving this case, a young nameless Thai boy and Maki (played by Mayuko Fukuda), a young girl with more secrets than you'd expect. It's somewhat a psychological thriller, but also an action-packed one that has lots of great moments. Worth noting is that it also shows scenes of L before he came to Japan and also how he handled the temptation of using the Death Note.
L : change the WorLd plays quite differently from the previous Death Note movies, and shows a side of L we haven't really seen... which is his human side. It shows how despite all his quirkiness (L fans, there is much to be happy about, as candy-munching, crouching and squatting are all intact) and obvious lack of expression, he's still just human after all. I believe viewers will connect with his character more throughout this movie. And yeah, I'm amazed that he has a funny side too. Another pleasant surprise was young Mayuko Fukuda who plays Maki in this movie. You might remember her from "Nihon Chinbotsu aka Sinking of Japan" This adorable girl's really talented, and she acts as if she's been doing it forever. You can actually feel her character when she cries or smiles, she's a natural. This is one talent to watch in the future. Despite what you see in the poster, Ryuk and cute Misa have only short cameos this time around, and Light (aka Kira) appears in only a short clip. But believe me there is already lots to enjoy in this movie, with many new characters (including a really funny FBI dude) getting screen-time alongside L.
In my opinion, it's more moving and meaningful than the previous two Death Note movies, with many touching scenes, over-the-top comedy and the acting is rather top-notch. A good watch and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone, and even though it can stand on it's own as a movie, I'd say it'll be more enjoyable if you've watched "Death Note" and "The Last Name". And I believe you'll agree with me, that upon finishing the movie, you'd wished L could have had a chance to live longer.
And for goodness sake, stay after the credits. It's annoying how some people leave the cinema as soon as a movie finishes...
Fann Wong is hot... and I mean she's just HOT. Make that really H-O-T! And boy does she sizzle and kick some serious ass in this movie. She plays Wang Li Hua, the much-feared leader of the Shao He Ah Long triad in Kuala Lumpur. In fact, she plays her character with such attitude, charisma and style that one wonders why she has been doing goody-two-shoes roles up to now (check out whenever she whips her jacket in the air). This role was made for Fann Wong. And who would've thought Mark Lee could play such a convincing ah-kua, Mr.Fang, a kind dance instructor who drives a pink Beetle. Splendid, simply splendid... well, on to the review~
When the much-respected Shao He triad's boss Chen Jun (played well by Richard Low) decides to step down and retire from the Ah Long business, he elects 2nd-in-command Wang Li Hua to take his place. Li Hua is one tough lady. Brutal and merciless, she has earned her way to the top and is much respected by the triad despite being a woman. But upon taking the role as leader, she feels that the current ways of the Ah Long needs to undergo a reformation. She puts the triad's success as a primary goal, but starts suggesting that methods other than violence should be used instead. They even come up with a theme song!
At the same time, Li Hua's nagging mother keeps pressuring on her to get married, as she longs for grandchildren. Frustrated, fate has it that she frequently bumps into Mr.Fang, a light-hearted (and slightly sissy) dance instructor. She asks him to marry her, and he accepts in order to prove his masculinity, while not knowing about marrying into the triad family. He soon accepts his fate though, and comes up with imaginative ways to change the triad's image, which includes new methods of writing warning messages, splatting red paint and threatening non-payers. And having a triad-leader as a wife can be useful, as later proven when Mr. Fang gets himself into trouble.
What follows is a wild and insane array of laughs and drama, with tons of parangs, durians and streetfights. The triads are portrayed in true Ah Long fashion, with all the usual stereotypes, I'm sure everyone is familiar with. There are some gems too, like the triad reformation, triads at war kena sound by the security guard, Mr.Fang shooting through his pants, doing a dance at Central Market and triad face-offs done in gangster fashion. Personally, my favourite scene in the whole movie (other than Fang & Li Hua's bedroom scene) was her phone conversation asking him to marry her... "Eng tau eh, marry me... Ya, kahwin sama SAYA!" repeating the same thing in many languages. Hilarious! Just bear in mind that not all that goes on in the movie is what it seems, as you will find out in the end.
Overall it was a good comedy-action movie, that will make you feel happy (especially for Fann Wong fans like me). She sure shocked me when she stripped in one part of the movie, revealing a huge tiger tattoo on her back. Some cartoons + CGi spice things up, and Mr.Fang narrating the movie makes it even funnier. The Ah Long and triad portrayals were excellent, but I have to admit it gets quite violent in some parts of the movie. Filmed almost entirely in Kuala Lumpur, you'll have fun spotting the locations (some are just near the office) and landmarks. Top-notch acting and action make for a fun watch with the family (okay, 18 and above), and I really hope someday our local comedies can be this entertaining.
PS: For goodness sake, dun leave the cinema early... so many people left early after the screen went blank at the end and missed the ending.
The sound of their voices is enough to ring a bell. That squeaky, distinctive high-pitched tone is unmistakable. Yup, the Chipmunks are in town and they're here with a bang! I have to admit that I went into the cinema fearing the worst. You know how Hollywood is when it comes to reviving classics (Garfield anyone?). I grew up watching Alvin and the Chipmunks, the same way I did with Transformers, SilverHawk, Thundercats, Ewok and so on. It's one of those shows that had been re-done a number of times (they debuted in 1958) and disappeared around the early 90s.
One thing's for sure; you can't help but LOVE those chipmunks. They're incredibly cute despite being so life-like. They all have their personalities INTACT, and I believe this was important in order to make the movie work. There's Alvin, being the troublemaker as usual, Simon the smart one and Theodore the adorable one. They are real "characters" here and not just simply plonked-in CGi. And yeah, you won't even mention the word CGi because they blend in so well with the entire movie. Deservingly the stars of the show, they steal every scene that they're in. Sadly I can't say the same about Jason Lee, who plays their "father-like" care-taker Dave Seville in the movie. Sure, he's funny at times, but boy does he try too hard, seemingly forced most of the time. He does get better towards the end though. David Cross plays an evil music producer Ian (acting's a lil wooden too, but not as bad as Lee), who wishes to exploit the chipmunks to make lots and lots of dough. He's not some overly evil lunatic like most movies, and since it's children's fare, he does fine for his role.
It has a pretty typical feel-good storyline with slight twists here and there, but what makes the Chipmunks movie shine is that it doesn't try to be what it's not. It's entertaining, it's funny, it's cute, it's definitely suitable children to enjoy in time for Christmas. So many times throughout the movie I heard them scream "sooo cuteeee!!! comel gilaaaa!!! awwww!!! eeeee so cuteeeee!!!" at the sight of the chipmunks, which I admit, were sickeningly cute. Especially Theodore with his eating and sleeping habits (check out his "I had a nighmare" scene). They're mischievous, they're naughty but I'm sure almost every parent can relate to handling children the way Dave has to with the chipmunks.
Oh, and how could I miss the most important part? The SINGING! I tell you you'll love the singing... brings back tons of memories as they belt out their original hits, it'll definitely create a new wave of fans as the trailer suggests. From their classic "Chipmunk Song" (Christmas Don't Be Late) to their timeless "Witch Doctor"... they're just so lovable! Check it out when they belt out modern hits like "Dontcha" and even dress up like P.Diddy (some of them sung at the unlikeliest places). I do hope they come out with a new album because I bet the children will want them. They may as well market chipmunk dolls too while they're at it.
I'll leave the rest as surprises. If you don't mind the slightly numb acting (maybe it's just me) of the live-action people, you'll enjoy this movie. Unless you've got a phobia of rodents, my advice is watch it, you can't go wrong with talking, singing chipmunks~
This is a wonderful song... anyone who has seen me lately or worked together with me would recognize this song as it has been my ring-tone for the longest time. Some can even hum along to it. Ever since it was used for the now-famous Fasio commercial, this song by BoA has really captured my attention with it's catchy, up-tempo music. This single is also the 1st thing I've ever bought directly from Japan, and it comes with a music video in a DVD. The music video itself is quite interesting, and had fans waiting in anticipation as it was BoA's 1st single as an adult (Koreans are considered adults by 20). She didn't disappoint and the awesome song had an equally cool music video which ranged from the futuristic to the retro... and also having a bit of tribute to the king of pop (which BoA is also a fan of). It's mostly about love and it's a very typical BoA-type of song... It's only a single at the moment, but have a listen to this tune and let me know what you think~
The song can be heard in this playlist: http://raptorclans.multiply.com/music/item/4
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English fan-made lyric by Khannie Nova (Some words were changed): WHAT YOU FEEL, WHAT YOU SEE Show me the way to you You own the key to my heart With you, Happiness Let it love, you and me We can win anything The more adore you...WO....
Used to feel like nobody could love me Used to feel like I'm just a nobody... You say "RECOGNIZE" That my love is for you, SO! "Is everything alright?", yeah, everything's okay The colors of my life used to be dark That has changed, eversince you're in my heart You say "REALIZE" There's no reason to cry, SO! You're the one that I see, stay always by my side
Don't you know that you Have changed my world? A love that's true Inspired my love!
*WHAT YOU FEEL, WHAT YOU SEE Show me the way to me You own the key to my heart With you, Happiness Let it love, you and me We can win anything The more I adore you...WO...
THERE'S A LIGHT, THERE'S A SPARK Once you feel everything Just look into my eyes And there's no surprise I will be, you will see Anything that you need Could this mean destiny? WO...
FALL IN WITH YOU BABY
Who would thought someone like you could love me? Never thought I could get so...lucky Sweetie, just FLY HIGH Keep your head to the sky, SO! A new day is there for you, Your dreams are coming true
Sometimes it could be A crazy world Believe in me Inspired my love!
**TELL ME WHAT, TELL ME 'BOUT Say what is on your mind A mountain that's so high, but not hard to climb Let it love, you and me We can win anything Nothing is in our way...NO....
THERE'S A LIGHT, THERE'S A SPARK Once you feel everything Just look into my eyes And there's no surprise I will be, you will see Anything that you need Could this mean destiny? WO...
FALL IN WITH YOU BABY... [repeat *]
Translated from (Japanese): WHAT YOU FEEL WHAT YOU SEE kagayaiteru anata no ai fureta toki LADY LOVE mezame watashi wa ima umarekawaru WO ...
sabishiku nanka nai tte tsuyogatte iji wo hatte dare mo miteinai basho de SO namida nagashiteita kedo afuredasu kono omoi wo anata ni tsutaeta toki yawarakana kaze fukinukete kono kanjou wo yusabutta mune no oku shintou shiteyuku INSPIRED MY LOVE
WHAT YOU FEEL WHAT YOU SEE shougekiteki anata no ai tsutsumarete LADY LOVE mezame watashi wa ima umarekawaru WO ... toki wo tomete WANT YOU FEEL EVERYTHING konna fuu ni itsumademo anata to sugo seru youni kagayaiteitai WO ... FALL IN WITH YOU BABY ...
aitai kimochi tsunotte yume no tobira aketara kokoro FLY HIGH sawagidashite SO mabushii egao mitsuketa yo anata ga sou oshietekureta no INSPIRED MY LOVE
TELL ME WHAT TELL ME 'BOUT densetsuteki kono kankaku mamoritai LADY LOVE suteki na yume watashi dake ni misete WO ... daisuki da to omou kimochi ga tomedonaku afuredashi setsuna i kurai itoshisa ga watashi wo tsutsumu WO ... FALL IN WITH YOU BABY ...
WHAT YOU FEEL WHAT YOU SEE shougekiteki anata no ai tsutsumarete LADY LOVE mezame watashi wa ima umarekawaru WO ... toki wo tomete WANT YOU FEEL EVERYTHING konna fuu ni itsumademo anata to sugo seru youni kagayaiteita WO ... FALL IN WITH YOU BABY ...
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MTV - Fasio Commercial The famous commercial that caught everyone's attention~
MTV - PV This is the official PV that comes in a DVD with the single~ (with subtitles)
MTV - Arena Tour Version This is the live version from her MADE IN TWENTY (20) Arena Tour. She even wore her special cap designed by Ed Hardy for her 20th birthday~
OK, the review of Transformers the (Live-Action) Movie. Not to be confused with the original 1986 Transformers the (Animated) Movie. Be warned that this is my personal view on what I felt about the movie, it contains spoilers, and is indicated by "SPOILERS AHEAD". So if you haven't watch the movie, bookmark this page, WATCH it, then come back...
I'll start by giving a brief background of the storyline, franchise and the movie...
The Transformers Story Transformers are advanced sentient robotic life-forms from the Planet Cybertron. Created by the Quintessons, these advanced aliens have the unique ability to "transform" (pun intended by all means) to various vehicles and objects of varying nature (on how they learned to transform, there has many different theories in different formats). Eventually there was a civil war. An epic war that raged on for millions of years and nearly destroyed the planet. Peace-loving Autobots (Autonomous Robotic Life-forms) waged their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons (military-based separatist group obsessed with possession of power and bent on causing destruction). The Autobots were led by Optimus Prime, a true hero by all means, a charismatic leader who stood for all things right and would fight to the death for the ones he love. The Decepticons however, were led by Megatron, a sinister mastermind of all things evil, another charismatic leader whom was idolized by a few and feared by many. The war went on for centuries until it reached a point that Cybertron has depleted all sources of energy. Autobots then went out to space in search of other forms of resources, and Decepticons followed, not wanting to be left out. An encounter and battle in space distracted them from the fact that their ships were too close to a planet called Earth (yeah, our planet!) and they got sucked in by its gravity, crashed into a volcano and entered stasis lock for 4 million years. When the volcano eventually erupted, their on-board computer Teletraan-1 reactivated them and rebuilt their bodies using data from vehicles and objects on Earth (presuming these vehicles & objects to be the dominant life-form, because to them only robotic beings are considered "alive"). So they now are able to transform to Earth vehicles or objects and therefore the war continues on our planet. This isn't an elaborate/full description of events because I'm not going to go into further detail which will take forever. Go watch G1!
News on the Live-Action Movie Anticipation for the live-action version of this insanely popular classic hit cartoon/toyline/comics has been building up for more than a year before this movie was launched. Purist fans of the original 1984 series, dubbed "Generation One" or "G1" have defended the roots of the story for as long as I remember. So it was no surprise that from the moment the first designs leaked onto the net, it brought much disappointment and anger throughout cyberspace. News came out that the live-action movie would be produced by Steven Spielberg (my hero) and directed by Michael Bay (who produced awesome movies like Armageddon, Pearl Harbor and The Island) and would see changes applied in order to make it more realistic and believable. The new designs were obviously more alien, and had thousands of parts, quite unlike the boxy simplified forms of the G1. Prime had flames, Bumblebee was not a Volkswagen Beetle, Megatron looked like... err... a pile of junk... Cries of blasphemy and death threats were everywhere (yeah laugh all you want but it was dead serious back then) but as things slowly progressed and bits and pieces were unveiled, (most) fans started to accept these new designs. It was almost as if they were slowly letting us see the designs as to make us gradually warm up to them. The trailer followed much later, and after the long wait, all we got was a short clip of Mars Pathfinder landing on the red planet and getting destroyed by an unidentifiable robotic silhouette. The teaser trailer fared much better, showing clips of a couple of robots and transformations but it was severely chopped into pieces, as if to prevent us from seeing the actual Transformers (which turned out to be the whole idea eventually). The feature trailer, which appeared closer to the movie release date was the one that got everyone's attention (including most G1 fans). It sort of changed people's reactions and all of a sudden everyone wanted to watch Transformers. Suddenly it was cool to watch Transformers, like Transformers and buy Transformers. Transformers, all of a sudden, was THE most "IN" thing in the market. I admit this actually annoyed me in a way, as there was a time we Transformers fans were considered weird by the majority, and collecting figures or anything related was deemed weird. Heck, I even got some looks from people I know when they knew I subscribed to Dreamwave and IDW comics... But I guess it's all okay, as it means Transformers is getting a new lease of life and in the process, get many new fans that will keep the franchise alive. Okay, on to the review... bear in mind that I watched my 1st screening at the exclusive movie premiere with a whole theater of die-hard Transformers fans, so the experience "may" vary depending on which cinema you visit (but hey, you can always make it as happening as you want by screaming or cheering loudly during the movie... haha).
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
The Movie The opening credits start with UiP, Paramount and Dreamworks logos appearing one-by-one, but soon you realize it's not as it seems. They all have been tweaked to emit metallic sounds as they beam onto the screen. To give you a slight taste of what's to come. Then the words "Before time began..." were uttered, by a familiar, fatherly voice. Yup, make no mistake, it's Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime in the original G1 cartoon. He gives one of the most memorable intros I've seen in recent times (and the crowd goes wild!). He explains that Cybertron lies in ruins, and both the Autobots and Decepticons went searching all over the universe to find the Allspark, the mysterious magical holy cube that brought them life. And just as all hope seemed lost, they received news from a (to them) new unknown planet, called Earth... and that epic score plays and massive mechanical words transform in front of your eyes...
"TRANSFORMERS"
I dunno about you but I was starting to weep from that moment... It was one of the best openings for any movie like... ever! No messy titles, names, etc... just straight to the point! The story then moves to a SOCCENT base in Qatar, where a US chopper lands at the base. A robotic face could be seen through the pilot's face and the helicopter's rotors stop in an instant. Yeah, an instant. It was from that moment that you knew something was bound to happen... The rotor blades raise up slightly before folding-up, then the G1 transformation sound is heard (the crowd goes wild!) and the chopper transforms like nothing you've ever seen before... thousands of independently-moving pieces shifting into place, sliding and screeching until finally there was a figure standing upright in the darkness. It was Blackout, a Decepticon, the first Transformer to appear in the movie (the crowd goes ballistic). He fires rounds of EMP (Electro-magnetic-pulse) blasts and eliminates the entire US army single-handedly. The scene where his 3-fingered hand reaches towards the database, clamps onto it, pulls it towards himself and scans for files (complete with superb orchestral background) was an experience to behold, and will give you chills down your spine. It may finally occur to you by now that you're watching Transformers, yeah Transformers... in live-action... on the big screen... and they're real... as real as can be! Tons of explosions, flying tanks and gunfire is seen next, including a scene where a scorpion-shaped figure is released from his body. It's Scorponok, Blackout's loyal minion, who proceeds to dive into the sand. The whole scene will leave you breathless. And that's how action movies SHOULD start... with mind-blowing ACTION!
The main (non-Transformer) character in the movie is Sam (Spike) Witwicky (played by Shia LaBeouf), a young boy who tries to sell off his ancestor's belongings (turns out his great grandfather, Archibald Witwicky was an amazing explorer who found Megatron early in the 20th century) and has a crush on super-hot classmate Mikaela (played by the supercute & babelicious Megan Fox). He earns his first car from his dad (a really cheapskate Sparkplug) by earning $2000 and an A from class (after bargaining with the teacher with "what would Jesus do?"). The scene at the used-car lot with Bobby Bolivia (played marvelously by Bernie Mac) will get the whole cinema laughing even before he utters a word. There's also a lil tribute to G1 Bumblebee as there is a yellow Volkswagen Beetle sitting next to the movie Bumblebee (who is a yellow 1974 Chevrolet Camaro). Thanks to Bee's lil tricks, Sam chooses him as his first car... and this leads to fun after fun... Bumblebee's first unveiling brings such a sense of wonder rarely experience in the movies since perhaps Jurassic Park or maybe the recent Lord of the Rings trilogy... This movie is simply a joy to watch!
Lots of stories unveil later, there is Frenzy (not looking like his G1 counterpart at ALL, but cute) a funny fella who becomes a boom-box and Barricade, a Decepticon who uses deception literally, as he transforms into a Saleen Mustang police car. When the time comes for Barricade to fight Bumblebee, you get awesome full-blown transformations... close-ups of Bumblebee's feet shows all the advanced mechanical motors moving inside. This is like nothing you've seen in the movies... the technical splendor will leave you dazzled. Expect lots of heart-stopping car chases and tons of rolls and fights... Michael Bay leaves you hardly any room to rest, with non-stop action from scene-to-scene... (the whole cinema bursts into cheers at every transformation and fight)
Eventually Bumblebee earns Sam and Mikaela's trust, and takes them for a ride (after which Mikaela questions about his alt form of a "crap Camaro" and pisses him off) and also gets a new form soon after. He then brings them to a location to wait (oh, before I forget, Sam does this real slick move of getting Mikaela to sit on his lap, and she does! Oh God she's so hawt~). Wait for what? Well, wait for one of those most classic moments that will go down well in cinematic history... probably worth the admission price alone (It's the single BEST scene from the whole movie...)
Four asteroid-like objects enter Earth's orbit slowly, crash landing in various places... including a swimming pool and a stadium... (the whole sequence comes complete with more awesome orchestral music that will give you goosebumps). These objects turn out to be the Autobots, and they all scramble to search for their alt forms to transform to (eh... no Teletraan-1? Yeah, in the movie, Transformers can scan any object, as long as it can fit their mass). Ratchet picks a nearby green Hummer H2 rescue vehicle... Ironhide, who fell into a pool, scans a GMC Topkick nearby (kick-ass truck!!!) and Jazz, being the flashy showoff he is (darn he's so cool), picks a Pontiac Solstice from the Pontiac showroom... Optimus Prime scans a huge truck with flames... soon, the Autobots all sped to their meeting point where Bumblebee, Sam and Mikaela were... Then there was that awesome moment where out of the misty darkness a huge truck emerges, stops and transforms... with the most advanced, awesome, jaw-dropping transformation ever... all the inner-workings were visible and tons of shifting metal moving around.... tyres stop and break apart into four pieces each, windshield splits, head emerges, faceplate splits apart... nothing will prepare you for the sense of wonder in seeing Optimus Prime transforming for the first time on the big screen... (the crowd goes wild!) When the words "I am Optimus Prime..." were uttered by Peter Cullen, the cinema is filled with a roar unlike any I've ever heard before... Hands were clapping, tears were falling and cheers were aplenty... This was the moment the fans were waiting for... Optimus Prime was REAL~
Ironhide had a wicked sense of humor, and has the best lines in the movie like "Feeling lucky, PUNK?", "You have a rodent infestation... shall I TERMINATE?" and "The parents are very IRRITATING, can I take them out?" He just loves showing off his cannons... and when he actually uses them, boy are you in for a ride! Ratchet also has a gem of a line... "The boy's pheromone levels suggests he wishes to mate with the female"... lol... I really like Jazz, he's a lil like the G1 version, but his voice is really low and he didn't play any rock and roll music~ And oh, his 1st phrase in the movie was "What's cracking lil' bitches?"... haha... and finally, Ironhide and Ratchet get different alt modes and molds...
The movie was not all about robots (to die-hard fans' disappointment)... in order to create a sense of realism, they showed how the US military reacted, and they also revealed a top-secret group called "Sector Seven" which deals with these robotic alien beings... basically a bunch of cracks who try to throw their weight around, and ransacked the Witwicky household.. The Autobots also took a visit to the household earlier in search for Sam's great-grandfather's glasses, which hold the coordinates for the Allspark within it (etched out by Megatron's guidance system when he activated it by accident). There were several star performances by the human characters, and many, many hilarious scenes, especially the scene where the FBi infiltrates that annoying hacker's home (complete with over-the-top drama) and also a really memorable moment where the Autobots had to hide from Sam's parents... at one time, transforming into cars and trucks while parked on the lawn... thinking they were hiding! This movie has the laughs in the right places and all the seriousness in the right places too... The scene where Bumblebee gets captured and tortured by Sector Seven will make you hate those guys and cry for the poor fella...
There's another scene that would get many fans' attention... Prime states that when all fails, he would place the Allspark in his chest, fusing it with his spark, thus destroying them both. When he opened his chest, the crowd all screamed with cheers, hoping to see the Matrix of Leadership, but there was none to be seen. Only a slight shine to symbolise his spark, but the shape of it's holder DOES seem a lil like the Matrix. Maybe it's an easter egg~ hehe... he also says his trademark phrase, "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings", to much applause and that was also the phrase that was voted the most on the official site (the winning phrase would be uttered in the movie).
Sector Seven was later revealed to have Megatron in frozen custody. Megatron crash landed in the arctic after chasing the Allspark. Not realising that he was heating up fast from entering the atmosphere (due to greed and impatience), he landed right on the arctic ice and was soon swallowed into the freezing waters. The shock that followed sent him into stasis shock and left him frozen for thousands of years... only to be awakened in 1969 when a blunder while transporting him to his new location in Hoover Dam caused him to defrost. He was frozen back into stasis thanks to the sacrifices of a few good men. (How did I get this? Go read the Movie Prequel Comic and Novel for the full story!)
Frenzy was the one who located Megatron's whereabouts and alerts the other Decepticons, Starscream (an F22-Raptor! woohoo!!!), Bonecrusher (A Buffalo mine-clearing vehicle), Brawl (an Abrams tank... note that his name mistakenly appears as "Devastator" in the movie subtitles) and Barricade and Blackout... Note that they all speak in Cybertronian, hence the need for subtitles... The Decepticons display an awesome sense of loyalty towards their leader Megatron, especially with Blackout going "All Hail Megatron!". Another one of those amazing moments in this film...
Starscream arrives first and attacks Hoover Dam (not before showing awesome acrobatic skills and in-flight transformation) and Frenzy disables the generators, allowing Megs to thaw... "Megatron is melting!" Once Sector Seven learned that Bumblebee posed no threat, he was released (after lots of quarreling)... Bee proceeds to get the Allspark, which then transforms into a smaller cube (the only evidence of mass-shifting in the movie).
The scene in which Megatron reanimates is an awesome one. His face screams pure evil (complete with sinister glowing red eyes) and his scream "I AM MEGATRON!!!" will bring chills down your spine... (of course the cinema goes wild... and I screamed so loud!) Hugo Weaving (of Lord of the Rings, The Matrix and V for Vendetta fame...) did a good job of Megs, but I still wished it was Frank Welker. his voice was more distinctive and instantly recognized as Megs himself.
Anyways, the puny humans fire at him in vain and try to freeze him back, but he just smashes everything away effortlessly... (cinema screams and cheers everywhere) then transforming in a split-second with a heavy-clunking metallic transformation sound, and flying out of Hoover dam in a second with a loud, *FWOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!* that earned the most "WHOA"s in the cinema, complete with thunderous applause... Megatron RULEZ! He flies out, and gets greeted by his 2nd-in-command, Starscream (who proceeds to say "I live to serve you Lord Megatron"... haha as IF!)... Megs' phrase "You disappoint me again, Starscream" (after learning that the humans have escaped with the Allspark) earned loads of cheers, it was just like the cartoon... too bad that's the only time they do that... (Btw, Starscream was voiced by Charles Adler, the same dude who voiced Cow, Chicken, Cousin Boneless, the Red Guy and I. R. Baboon in the cartoon Cow and Chicken). LoL!
Cut to another scene, Sam and Mikaela inside Bumblebee in a convoy with Sector Seven head to the city and along the way meet up with Prime, Ratchet, Jazz and Ironhide, who all proceed to do E-turns to join the convoy... amazing stuff, well executed...
It'll be too much to list out all the awesome scenes of the movie (if you've read this far and still haven't realised it's a BIG-TIME spoiler, it's really your fault...) but the short battle between Optimus Prime and Bonecrusher was one of the most breathtaking... Nevermind that Bonecrusher's transformation alone was superb, from how his components break apart, wheels are dropped, followed by large arms grabbing those wheels and forming the legs (which are on skates, mind you) and his head appears... Prime takes out his energon axe (sword or whatever... it's a tribute to the cartoon) and shoves it up Bonecrusher with much violence, shattering his head to smithereens... (of course I'm not too happy with the result... Bonecrusher was one of my favs in the movie and that happened too fast) Bonecrusher had only one line, "I HATEEE YOUUUU~!!!" right before Prime executes him...
But anyways, the amount of action, destruction and mayhem that follows as Bumblebee, Brawl, Blackout, Jazz, Ironhide, Ratchet, Starscream, Megatron and Optimus Prime battle it out in the city... It would make you numb due to the excessive action-packed sequences (a repeat watch should help you a bit, the more the better...). I've watched it 3 times (at the time this was written) and I caught something new with EVERY viewing! Brawl single-handedly took on a number or Autobots and the army... and took quite a beating, continuing to fight even after losing an arm... Starscream was a tough one too, hitting 2 Autobots on ground with relative ease in one scene... and before that, flew with a squadron of Raptors, then transforming, destroying a few, transforming back to join formation, then transforming to robot again to wreck more havoc... again and again... all in a single scene! Blackout sends shivers wherever he goes, especially on one scene where he lands on a building and Sergent Lennox (Josh Duhamel) says "We're so DEAD". (by now the cinema was roaring with cheers and excitement)
Ironhide does this super-kick-ass move in which he transforms while on the move (with wicked slow-motion G1 transformation sound), punches the ground to launch himself in the air, dodging 2 of Brawl's missiles, then firing his twin cannons (one blue, one reddish-orange) to the ground, propelling him into the air... landing right in front of a girl (who proceeds to scream) and does a cartwheel... all this, in SLOW-MOTION... (and the crowd goes wild!)
Jazz fearlessly takes on Brawl head-on, calling him a "Decepticon Punk". Military attacks, Autobots fight, Decepticons attack... Oh, and Megs shows his brutal side by grabbing Jazz, flinging him in the air, transforming, stepping on him, then grabbing him with both of his hands. Jazz goes, "You want a piece of me? You want a piece of me?"... Megs replies, "NO, I want TWO!" and rips him into two... Poor Jazz...
A lil later, Megs and Prime duke it out... it's a Transformers fan's dream come true with all the action and explosions... you just don't want it to end! (My goodness the cinema was so noisy with cheers, tears and screams) Prime and Meg's final battle was totally awesome, although it's arguable that not enough was shown. Megs was portrayed to be stronger than Prime when they should actually be equals... But you have to admit, his cannon was totally awesome (a combination of both his hands, instead of permanently attached to his arm like in G1) and one hit sent Prime flying onto a building. Megs seemed totally insane... almost like a psychopath, unlike his calm self in the cartoon. He screamed pure evil, and would stop at nothing to get the Allspark. Prime even say a line from the previous Transformers cartoon, "One Shall Stand, One Shall Fall"... and there were so many cheers. That one sure made G1 fans happy...
Anyways, their fight was too short, and it ended in a climax where both him and Prime were downed after a fall from a building. Prime sliced off one of his legs and just as he was reaching the Allspark within Sam's grasp, Prime tells Sam to shove it up his chest (he does seem suicidal at times). Sam instead shoves it up Megatron's ass... err... I mean chest... therefore making it fuse with his chest and sending him into a Transformer's equivalent of a heart attack... Poor Megs falls instantly...
Prime then goes "Sam... I owe you my life... we are in your debt"... what nonsense!!! The great Optimus Prime needing a lil boy to save him? But my biggest guess was it was meant to be a blow to Megatron, who viewed humans as bugs (he even flicked one, saying "disgusting"... much to the audience's laughter) and the irony of being brought down by one. And it also gave Sam the confidence and self-esteem he needed. Anyways, a satisfying end to a wonderful battle... although it was sad seeing Ironhide carrying Jazz's body to Prime...
The ending leaves a number of points which could be used in the sequel. Optimus Prime was seen taking a shard of the Allspark from Megatron's chest (maybe they can work something out? or maybe restore Jazz?)... Scorponok was still alive somewhere (he only lost a tail... and he CAN regenerate, right?)... Barricade was M.I.A (well, he was supposed to have been killed by Prime along with Bonecrusher, but the scene was somehow cut out)... and after the credits, Starscream was seen flying off to space (presumingly looking for backup?).
So most likely it won't end here, especially after Michael Bay expressed interest in making about 4 sequels... and rumors of the 2nd part being green lit... The way things are going for the first movie, I say...
BRING IT ON!!!
When the movie ended, for every viewing I watched, the crowd stood up and gave a round of applause... a standing ovation. This made me proud as we Malaysians are finally mature enough to acknowledge that a movie is good by clapping. Well done indeed... This is what an entertaining movie should be like, it's groundbreaking, it has very high repeat-viewing value and tons of feel good factor.
Conclusion This movie earns a 5-out-of-5-star rating, but if there were more stars it would have earned more, possibly up to 10. The cons do nothing to change the fact that this movie has MAXIMUM entertainment value. If you haven't watch this, you jolly well should because if you aren't, you're just a stubborn donkey who's too afraid or reluctant to admit that this is the BEST movie this year. Michael Bay was right, this ain't no toy movie... Yes, it's by far the MOVIE OF THE YEAR.
Pros: It's Transformers for crying out loud!, Peter Cullen, mind-blowing action, lotsa humor, kick-ass Megatron, many instant classic scenes (make that practically every scene was a moment to remember), almost every line can be made into a quote, ultra-realism, nods to G1 in many ways and that awesome kick-ass score (something in between Lord of the Rings and Star Wars)...
Cons: Megatron not voiced by Frank Welker and looking a bit like an Evangelion, Prime has a weird mouth (should've kept the mouthpiece on at all times like the cartoon), some scenes too blurry or messy (because of designs being too complex, can be solved by repeated viewing), Prime and Megs battle too short, storyline not that deep (but I don't mind it at all!), Brawl labeled as "Devastator", some G1 stuff should have been in or portrayed differently, Decepticons too fragile and Jazz dies too easily, Megs also dies too easily and appears for the last 30mins only...
Neul is one of BoA's older songs. It's from her 2nd (Korean) album NO.1/Neul and is also one of my favourite songs from her. From the first few notes it already captured my interest and has a deep impact because of the simple reason that it just sounds very, very sad. Even without knowing the lyrics, you know this is a sad song, and after knowing what the words mean, it just adds to the sadness... the tale of the pain a girl goes thru when she decides to wait for her loved one... And BoA sings so gracefully, making this a real gem.
Give this a listen, it's worth it.
The song can be heard in this playlist: http://raptorclans.multiply.com/music/item/4
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How long has it been? A lot of time has passed by Why am i hurting so? Why are you hurting? By chance, has something happened? Why aren't you speaking?
It's now.. I'm in front you you.. I need to tell you my mind The long wait.. Waiting for you.. Isn't it dumb?
It's always been like so.. It's always had to be like this I love you for you I still thank you Why aren't you holding onto me? Why aren't you asking anything? Do you think i can do well without you?
It's now.. I'm in front you you.. I need to tell you my mind The long wait.. Waitng for you.. Isn't it dumb?
I know.. The last thing i could ever do for you is separation Please forgive my love that i've realize is not enough I love you.. I still thank you I love you.. I wanted to tell you this
(Credits to Miss_JNY of BoAjjang~)
Translated from (Korean):
oo ri uhl ma man in ga yo cham oh raen shi gan ee heul ruht neh yo wae ja ggoo nae mang ee ah peun guhn ji wae keu ri ah ppa ha na ya hok shi ra do him deun il ee ssuht na yo wae ah moo mal ha ji ahn hat na yo
* ji geum in deh keu dae ah pin deh mal hae yo ha neun deh na eui ma eum eul oh raen shi gan keu dae reul hyang han kil uht duhn ki da rim eul ba bo kat jyo hang sang keu raet jyo keu rae ya haet jyo keu dael wi hae suh sa rang hae yo yuh juhn hee kam sa hae yo wae nal jab ji an hat na yo wae ah moo guht do moot ji an hat na yo keu dae uhb neun nae ga gwaen chan heul guht kat na yo
* repeat
na ahl go ee ssuh yo nae ga keu dae eh geh ma ji mak han ga ji hae jool soo eet neun guh shi ee byuhl bboon ee ra neun guht ee jeh suh ya kkae dal eun na eui mo ja ran sa rang eul yong suh hae jwo yo sa rang hae yo yuh jun hee kam sa hae yo sa rang hae yo ee mal ee ha go ship uht jyo
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MTV This is a really well-made music video... and yeah, it's known to make many fans cry, due to its sad nature and seeing BoA cry~
This is a really lovely song... well, dunno why but I just love how it's sung. The lyrics are quite deep and the tune suits such an emotional song of heartbreak and indecisiveness. Vivian sings really lovely and this song is definitely one of my favourites from her~
The song can be heard in this playlist: http://raptorclans.multiply.com/music/item/4
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Don't speak anymore, we're all too self-centred What we want, what we say are all different things, Making a fake movement, you say you'll leave me Not wishing for anymore separation or emotional blackmail. Don't speak anymore, there's no need for any explanation Your scheme is to hold back in language. The warmth you gave me filled my life I still believed you would only hold my hand. So don't love me, forget my gentleness The moment you hung up the phone, how I hated to part with you. Ten fingers grasped tightly, yet I couldn't get a hold on eternity, The promises you made, I threw them into the whirlpool. So don't love me, I pretend I'm free and easy, It turns out I work hard for love, telling myself you love me. Stubborn for love, in the end still choosing freedom, Silently letting go. (Speaking out slowly, thank you for loving me) I sit still, emptying myself. I delete everything, I don't contact you.
Translated from (Mandarin):
bie zai shuo wo men dou tai zi wo xiang yao de xiang shuo de dou bu tong zuo yi ge jia dong zuo shuo ni yao li kai wo bu xiang zai fen fen he he qing gan le suo bie zai shuo bu bi jie shi she me yu dai bao liu shi ni de yin mou ni gei wo de wen rou zhan man wo de sheng huo wo hai yi wei ni zhi qian wo de shou jiu bie ai wo wang le wo de wen rou gua diao dian hua de na yi ke wo you duo me she bu de shi zhi jin kou que kou bu zhu tian chang di jiu ni shuo de cheng nuo wo diu jin xuan wo jiu bie ai wo jia zhuang wo hen sa tuo yuan lai wo wei ai nu li zhe gen zi ji shuo ni ai wo wei ai zhi zhuo zui hou hai shi xuan ze zi you jing jing de fang kai shou (man man shuo chu kou xie xie ni ai wo) wo zuo zhe bu dong ba zi ji fang kong wo shan chu suo you bu he ni lian luo
(Credits to olivialiu6 of Boajjang~)
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MTV Here's a short performance clip of Vivian singing Bie Ai Wo
I absolutely super-duper-ly love this song... has got to be one of the sweetest love songs ever~ The fact that it comes with both an English and Japanese version is a bonus. The lyrics are sweet, the song well sung, the music... so soft and cosy... When they decided to use this song for the series Densha Otoko (Train Man), it just blended in so well you wonder how it'd be like if it was any other song...
A definite must listen! XD
Both songs can be heard in this playlist: http://raptorclans.multiply.com/music/item/4
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Lyrics: Kenn Kato Music: Face 2 fAKE Performed by: Tsubaki
English Version love, it always makes me heave a sigh love, i know it shows me smiles and joys but love, it sometimes makes me lose my sight so i say i'll never fall in love again
if you want me to trust your words if you want me to take your hands if you want me to hold each other show me what i want
you wonder why i wanna be with you you need to understand the reasons,but i can believe in you will make me strong so i'll be over yester-love i know i have to face the fear and tears to be close to you please don't make me drift away keep your eyes on me in the sea of love
once we fall into the sea of love we can't keep the senses as before love will ask us too much than we can till the day we lose our faith and fall apart
i think it's won't last forever we're not meant to be together no one but you can save me from the despair in my heart
i wonder why you wanna be with me no matter where we are, don't let me go give a thousand words of love to me to let me make sure where i am i know you 're always done your best for me to be close to me you are only one for me keep my eyes on you
sea of love just you and i can see the sea of love spread the end of love please show me the light and let me through say come to me hold out your hand to me to let me be in your love the things i need to be is your honesty
you wonder why i wanna be with you you need to understand the reason,but i can believe in you will make me strong so i'll be over yester-love i know i have to face the fear and tears to be close to you please don't make me drift away keep your eyes on me
i wonder why you wanna be with me no matter where we are,don't let me go give a thousand words of love to me to let me make sure where i am
i know you're always done your best for me to be close to me you're only one for me take my hand you're only one for me keep your eyes on me in the sea of love
Japanese Version nee, yoru no machi no 灯(hi) wa 星座(hoshi) wo utsushita umi nemurenu monogatari futari mo sono hitotsu dake ne
eien no you de shinjite mitakute demo tashikamereba kieteku mono...
nanimokamo yurusetara umarekawareru no kana? yomigaeru itami ga mirai wo shibaru kedo yowaki na kono kokoro wo tsutsunderu akireru kurai sukitooru Sea of love
nee, kono meguriai wa marude kiseki da yo ne? ikutsumo no inori ga futari musunde kureta ne
anata no kotoba ga sashidasu sono te ga dakishimeatagaru sono nukumori ga...
nanimokamo uketomete subete wo azuketa nara ano koro no sunao na jibun ni aeru kana? tozasareta kono mune ni michite yuku akireru kurai hitamuki na Sea of love
sagashite ita kotae ga anata ni aru "shiawase ni naritai" wasurekaketa kibou ga ima yomigaeru shinjitai Honesty
watashi wo uketometara hitomi wo sorasanaide kono umi no kanata de hitori ni sasenaide sen no ai no kotoba to, yasashisa to, akireru kurai hitamuki na...
nanimokamo uketomete subete wo azuketa nara ano koro no sunao na jibun ni aeru kana? tozasareta kono mune wo hiraku kara You are only one for me, take my hand tsunaida yubi wo mou hanasanaide
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MTV - Densha Otoko - This is so super-touching, it makes me weep each time I watch it... - Be warned, contains SPOILERS
MTV - Japanese Version - The original music video, performed by Tsubaki
Now this is rather interesting... it's a hit song from Alizée's 2nd album, and means something like "fed-up" in English. It's catchy, fresh and French... it's something different for a change... give it a listen, perhaps you might like it too :D
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I have sweet skin In my bubbly bath I splash a little I laugh about it... My fish stirs In my bubbly bath I wrap him up tenderly, I Tell him:
I don't have any problems, I laze around... No troubles, I laze around In the water in which I bathe, that is what's important Quite content in the atmosphere of the times
I have sweet skin In my bubble bath I loaf in the shadow Of bombs. All is delicious Docile offence: I make a list Of the things That irritate me:
I'm fed up with those who cry, Those who don't go faster than 2 kph, Who lament and who obsess Over the idea of a fixed idea, I'm fed up with those who rant and rave, With extremists for whom its all or nothing, Who see only the negative in life Who lead me on hypocritically I'm fed up with the older sister Who whines and cries about everything, Fed up with the rain, with zucchinis That make me throw up under the covers, I'm fed up with these cynics, And in the fields, the autumn crocus, I'm fed up with being fed up, as well!
I have sweet skin In my bubble bath No seismic tremors I relax (Right here...) And refresh myself, (Oh yes...) It's my aquatic state, Getting there is tricky
Translated from (French):
J’ai la peau douce Dans mon bain de mousse Je m’éclabousse J’en ris Mon poisson bouge Dans mon bain de mousse Je l’emmitoufle, je Lui dis
J’ai pas d’problèmes, je fainéantes Pas de malaises, je fainéante Dans l’eau je baigne, c’est l’important Bien à mon aise, dans l’air du temps
J’ai la peau douce Dans mon bain de mousse Je bulle à l’ombre Des bombes Tout est délice Délit docile : Je fais la liste Des choses qui M’indisposent
J’en ai marre de ceux qui pleurent, Qui ne roulent qu'à deux à l’heure, Qui se lamentent et qui s’fixent Sur l’idée d’une idée fixe J’en ai marre de ceux qui râlent, Des extrémistes à deux balles, Qui voient la vie tout en noir Qui m’expédient dans l’cafard J’en ai marre de la grande soeur, Qui gémit tout et qui pleure, Marre de la pluie, des courgettes Qui m’font vomir sous la couette J’en ai marre de ces cyniques, Et dans les prés, les colchiques, J’en ai marre d'en avoir marre ! Aussi
J’ai la peau douce Dans mon bain de mousse Pas de secousses Sismiques Je me prélasse (ici...) Et me délasse, (oh oui...) C’est mon état aquatique Y’a comme un hic
(Translations done by The_Honorable, he did mention there might be some variables in the translation)
I really love this band... when My Chemical Romance came out with the 1st single from their 2nd album, I was so excited, and even more when I found myself into the song so quickly... the band matures more with this song and it's really an improvement. It's dark, edgy yet catchy and addictive... I really look forward to other songs from this album. Give this song a try, it's really good...
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When I was, A young boy, My father, took me into the city To see a marching band He said "son when, you grow up, will you be, the saviour of the broken, the beaten and the damned." He said "will you defeat them, your demons, and all the non-believers, the plans that they have made, Because one day, I'll leave you, a phantom, to lead you in the summer, to join the black parade."
When I was, A young boy My father, took me into the city To see a marching band He said "son when, you grow up, will you be, the saviour of the broken, the beaten and the damned."
Sometimes I get the feeling, she's watching over me And other times I feel like I should go When through it all, the rise and fall The bodies in the street And when you're gone we want you all to know
We'll carry on, We'll carry on And though you say you don't believe Your memory will carry on We'll carry on Until my heart I can't contain it The anthem won't explain it
And we will send you reeling from decimated dreams You're misery and hate will kill us all So paint it black and take it back Lets shout it loud and clear To fight it to the end we hear the call To carry on
We'll carry on, And though your dead and gone believe me Your memory will carry on We'll carry on And though your broken and defeated Your weary widow marches on And on we carry through the fears Oh oh oh
Here's the poignant faces of your piers Oh oh oh Take a look at me 'cause I could not care at all Do or die You'll never make me 'cause the world, will never take my (heart) You can try; you'll never break me You want it all, I'm gonna play this (part) Won't explain, or say I'm sorry I'm not ashamed, I'm gonna show my (scar) You're the chair, for all the broken Lose it here, because it's too me I'm just a man; I'm not a hero Just a boy, whose meant to sing this (song) I'm just a man; I'm not a hero I Don't Care
We'll carry on We'll carry on And though you're dead and gone believe me Your memory will carry on We'll carry on And though your broken and defeated Your weary widow marches on (Do or die You'll never make me 'Cause the world, will never take my (heart) You can try; you'll never break me You want it all, I'm gonna play this (part) Won't explain, or say I'm sorry I'm not ashamed, I'm gonna show my (scar) You're the chair, for all the broken Lose it here, because it's too me I'm just a man; I'm not a hero Just a boy, whose meant to sing this (song) I'm just a man; I'm not a hero) We'll carry on We'll carry on We'll carry on We'll carry on We'll carry on
BoA's songs have always been beautiful, and this one's really, really nice... it tells a tale of a girl missing how her love with this guy used to be, and how what she felt will stay even if she has moved on to love someone else... remembering all that they went through... pretty deep stuff, and BoA pulls this off perfectly~
Do watch the music video too, it's a masterpiece...
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winter fairies sparkle and come spiralling down because i have nothing to do, I put my mouth to the picture of a smiling face
we'll never line up together in the long lines for the movie we promised to watch even as a friend, i miss you we can never go back
CHORUS1 i like you, i want to meet you the kiss tells of ten billion snowflakes somewhere by chance, until i can see you once again i'm not forgetting you baby, and can i still like you? i'll never forget you
in an instant, i notice i'm by myself it's true loneliness, isn't it? it's overflowing
i won't forget that it's important to think for someone to love no matter how many times i change my address that voice and that dream won't leave me
CHORUS2 even when the time flows, even if i have a different romance i'll be sure to remember you the destiny that we would meet, the warmness we felt i can say from my heart, that i was glad it was you until the day i can see you again
BRIDGE the future can't stop it's coming the lonely road coming faster, forever i was happy even if i'm wounded when i love someone, i'm just alive
CHORUS1 i like you, i want to meet you the kiss tells of ten billion snowflakes somewhere by chance, until i can see you once again i'm not forgetting you baby, and can i still like you? i'll never forget you
Translated from:
Fuyu no yousei-tachi ga kagayaki maioritekuru nanimo suru koto nai kara egao no shashin kuchizuketa
yakusoku shita eiga no nagai retsu ni futari shite mou narabu koto wa nai no
dakedo kokoro wa soba ni iru kara tomodachi ni mo Miss you mou nido to modorenai
anata ga suki de aitakute kisu ga hyaku oku no yuuki wo tsutau no dokoka de guuzen ni meguriaeru hi made wasurenakutemo baby suki demo ii desu ka? zutto wasurenai
tatta hitoribbochi no jibun ni kizuita shunkan hontou no sabishisa da ne afurete wa mata komiageru
hito wo ai suru sonna omoi wo ima taisetsu datte wasurenai tte omou kono ADORESU wo nando kaetemo sono koe mo yume mo watashi wo hanarenai no
toki ga nagarete chigau koi shitemo anata wo omoidasu deshou Deaeta unmei ga kawashita nukumori ga anata de yokatta de kokoro kara ieru yo itsuka aeru made
mirai wa can't stop yattekuru kanashii hodo hayaku Forever shiawase datte kizutsuitatte dareka wo ai suru toki Just alive
anata ga suki de aitakute kisu ga hyaku oku no yuuki wo tsutau no dokokade guuzen ni meguri aeru hi made wasurenaku temo baby suki demo iidesuka? zutto wasurenai
Once in a while, one particular song comes along and really captures your heart with its message and beautiful tune. I guess this is one of those type of songs... It's just so soft and sad sounding, the message is about love... how it can be challenged, how far would one go to keep it together. If you watch the music video, you'd notice it blends so well with the movie and song... it's just so nicely done. Beautiful... really worth a listen. (From the Original Soundtrack of the movie "Heart")
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Disini kau dan aku terbiasa bersama menjalani kasih sayang bahagia kudenganmu
pernahkah kau menguntai hari paling indah ku ukir nama kita berdua disini surga kita
bila kita mencintai yg lain mungkin kah hati ini akan tegar sebisa mungkin tak akan pernah sayang ku akan hilang
if u love somebody could we be this strong i will fight to win our love will conquer all
