Thứ Sáu, 8 tháng 6, 2012

AKB48

I'm influenced by the manga AKB49 - Renai Kinshi Jourei to dig more infos about AKB48 today.

Ok, not that I only know about AKB48 today. I know something about them but only today I feel interested in them.

First to say, they are really idols. They are not that good at singing and their songs are very very similar. All the songs have the same type of melody. So to say that I like their voices, I have to say indeed no. But I like their performance. The girls tried their best to give the audiences the feel of the songs. I appreciate them for this. Ppl can say that they are a group of young girls who are selling sex since their MVs contain a lot of bikini or short skirts scenes. Oh, it isn't wrong at all. But looking at the culture of Japan and how open they are with sex, it's too normal. The AKB48 girls are still normal and they are able to keep the feel of young girls. SDN48 is the mature version of AKB48 and in their MVs, they tend to have more sexy things that the AKB48 girls dun have. Then, AKB48, you girls are still naive.

Second, their MVs. Well, they have really good MVs. I like the way they film such MVs. Haha, some are very yuri, with the kisses of the girls. Oh well, as long as the guys dun kiss, I think the audiences still feel ok. Uhm, I don't want to mention of yuri feel in their MVs. I'm saying about the way they film. How to say? It's really MVs of young students. No sexy even with bikinis. I can't understand how they can do this? Maybe the girls themselves dun have the sexy factors.

Third, the group. At first, I felt very confused with how many ppl in AKB48. Now after searching for a while, I finally can understand a little. It helps me to follow the manga easier. Also due to the manga, I found the girls mentioned in it. I also found the clip of Takamina solo. Her singing is quite ok which is a big surprise to me. To the ppl who dun listen to Jpop much her singing can't attract them. But Japanese have the different way of pronounce so I find her voice is pretty good. Reading in the manga that she has the best voice in AKB48, I somehow agree. Acchan is more attractive, but Takamina is the captain of team A, the reason is clear. She always thinks for AKB48 and is kind to the juniors. She has the ability of a leader.

What make AKB48 famous? Many ppl asked this question. Before knowing about them, I asked, too. But after today, I partly can understand the reason why. The competition helps them to strive more and more. Kudos to them.Haha, overall I only want to know more about AKB48 because of the manga, still that. Although that, I still hope that they can do more in the future. Who noe, one day I can become a fan of AKB48.

Thứ Hai, 4 tháng 6, 2012

Yamada Tarou Monogatari

I've said before that recently, I read book more and rarely watch series. The most recent series that I've watched is Yamada Tarou Monogatari (The storyline of Yamada Taro). Reasons for me to watch it are (1) the manga and (2) Nino (Ninomiya Kazunari). I started this one right after I've finished Gantz 2, so Nino is a reason.

Hence, I'm writing review for this series.






I. Plot

Yamada Tarou is a student in the prominent class of Ichinomiya Private Senior High School. He is handsome, talented, good at sport and every subjects. Overall, he is perfect prince charming. However, his background is a secret. Some ppl say he is prince of a kingdom, some say he is the heir of a big group. Along with Mimura Takuya - his classmate, another prince charming, they make the dream guys  in the eyes of every single girl in Ichinomiya. But who is the real Yamada Tarou? He is in fact, deadly poor. He lives with 6 siblings and his mother. His father is a wanderer and rarely goes home. All count on Yamada Tarou. Although Tarou never wants to hide his family's background, all the people misunderstand that he is rich and it leads to many funny events...

The plot of Yamada Tarou is unique and funny. All the ppl think of Yamada family but only few people can see the real Tarou beyond his brighten look. Everything happen crazily but logically. In addition, the series is also a very touching song of the love between the family members, the dreams of young ppl and the optimist behavior. Money can't buy love and happiness, in any situation you still can find your happiness as long as you keep the happiness in your heart - it's what the series brings. However, the good job of the authour is that the message of the series isn't brought out morally but naturally. My heart is totally touched when Yoshiko gives her Korokke to Tarou (although she wants it a lot) or when Tarou ran under the heavy rain to back home and covers for his siblings. The view on money of Ikegami Takako is a funny point but I also find that she is real. Her words: "I only can think of money" is actually realistic. Ikegami Takako always dreams of becoming wife of a rich heir, so she is confused when she finds out that Tarou is deadly poor. Being a material girl, Takako tries to avoid Tarou but in the end, she found that good personality if more precious than being rich.

One reason for me to watch Yamada Tarou is the manga. It's one of my favourite manga. I like it due to its unique storyline and the drawing is good, too. Although it's a comedy, it isn't the "boobs and cups" type like some ecchi (I don't say that among the ecchi there isn't good stuff. I'll review on Elfen Lied soon). To compare with the manga, basically the contents of Yamada Tarou are kept but there are changes. I don't find these changes are bad but I think the manga has some more logic points. However, I highly appreciate some changes likes the relationship of Ikegami Takako's mother and Tarou. The manga is funnier but the series has more touching scenes, therefore, equal points. I know that there is another Taiwanese version of Yamada Tarou ft Vic Zhou but I haven't watched this one so I can't comment.

II. Characters and Acting

 - Ninomiya Kazunari as Yamada Taro: Stated that I've watched Gantz and Gantz 2 before I watch Yamada Tarou, therefore I've know  Nino before that. In fact, I kinda dislike Nino in Gantz and Gantz 2, mostly because his face isn't suitable for the role Kei in Gantz. However, in Yamada Tarou, he has my vote. In the beginning of the series, when all the girls in Ichinomiya wowed at Tarou (Nino)'s handsomeness, I actually laughed because I think he is only cute. However, as much as I watch, Nino impressed me with his acting. He portrayed a guy that can do everything for his family very well. The expressions he had whenever he is with the family show how caring he is. And his confused face in the part when they suddenly becomes rich is also well done. Plus, he has a very bright smile. In Yamada Tarou, I believe that Nino is the most suitable. Uhm, but Nino's acting in the Mimura family part is not good. I don't know why but Nino seems to be forced in this part, like in some parts of Gantz. I think it's his weakness. He is simply better to the sensitive roles than acting cool. However, I think that the Best actor award for 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix of Nino is totally well deserved.

- Sakurai Sho as Mimura Takuya: Sorry Sho fans, I don't find he is handsome. However, I think he is attractive. His character isn't hard to portray so I can't evaluate Sho's acting much. Uhm, I have to comment that I don't like the hairdo Sho has in Yamada Tarou. I like Mimura in the manga more. But when Mimura teases Tarou, I find Sho's acting is natural. His eyes, his smirk, very suitable to the situation. In the same part, I think Nino's acting is forced while Sho shined at this moment.

- Tabe Mikako as Ikegami Takako: I know that many people hate the character Ikegami Takako in the beginning. She is simply a day-dreamer material girl. Lolz, I find it's interesting. Takako can be very material but at the same time, she is naive. I can see her character in many teenagers. Tabe did a quite good job with the role. Although she isn't pretty, I find her future bright as her acting can bring her far. Now I'm waiting to see what Tabe Mikako can do with Liar Game movie 2012.

- Oshinari Shugo as Sugiura Keichi: Along with Nino, Oshinari is definitely suitable for the role Sugiura. Although Sugiura of Oshinari isn't as crazy and pervy as in the manga, Oshinari did a very good job. When Sugiura dreams of Tarou, Oshinari's expressions are so good! His changes of emotions are well done. Oshinari, you've did a great job!

- Yamada kids: The 6 kids did very good job and they are damn cute. I personally like Muranaka Haruna as Yamada Yoshiko the most. She is so adorable.

- Matsuoka Mitsuru as Yamada Kazuo: Nothing much about him but I want to say that he looks like a mouse :D. Really that.

III. Conclusion

If you want a series to entertain yourself, Yamada Tarou is for you. If you want to watch something touching about the love of family members, Yamada Tarou is also for you. It's cute, light-hearted and meaningful. Although the ending is a bit rushed and few eps are draggy a bit, it's still very nice. A 4.5/5 series.

Thứ Sáu, 1 tháng 6, 2012

Pre-story of Kun Lun - Review

 Pre-story of Kun Lun



《 kun lun 》( feng ge ) wen zi ban / quan liu ce [PDF]


 I. Introduction

Last time I talked about Cang Hai of Feng Ge. Must know that Feng Ge only published 3 books at this moment: First one is Pre-story of Kun Lun, second is Kun Lun, third is Cang Hai. However, Pre-story of Kun Lun and Kun Lun are actually one, therefore ppl only say of Kun Lun and Cang Hai. But Pre-story of Kun Lun also can be considered as a separate book of Kun Lun. I haven't finished Kun Lun because I don't really like the main character Liang Xiu but I prefer its pre-story more. Can say that this pre-story is the reason why I was interested in Feng Ge and chose to read Cang Hai. So thank to Pre-story of Kun Lun, I know about Kuk Chun.

This is why I'm writing this review for Pre-story of Kun Lun. You can read it without having to read Kun Lun, but you can read both if want.

This pre-story is about Liang Wen Jing - father of Liang Xiu in Kun Lun. The story starts when Wen Jing and his father Liang Tian Duk come back home. In the way, they accidentally meet the corpse of a young guy, then they know that he is Jia Wan Wang - killed by the prince of Song. To cover this one and to save Song kingdom from Mongolians, Wen Jing is forced to act Jia Wan Wang.

II. Review

1. Plot

Although it is short, I highly appreciate the storyline of Kun Lun tian ji juan. It is much more interesting than Kun Lun, in my opinion. All the characters are written very well. I guess one reason is its length. The character development of Liang Wen Jing is very logical from the beginning to the end. Can say that time goes by but his character doesn't change. He is still the thoughtful person inside the mask of a silly guy. And one bonus point to this Pre-story is the love of Yu Ling and Wen Jing. I rarely feel that Feng Ge's strength is in love aspect but with Kun Lun pre-story, Feng Ge has this feel of love.

This one is Feng Ge's first published novel. After publishing this, he becomes famous, a new star in the wuxia novel world of China. It has its own reason. The writing in Kun Lun tian ji juan is very mature to his age (Feng Ge was 25 when it was published). It shows that Feng Ge is serious with his work. Although its wuxia smell is kinda normal and not really creative (compare to using Maths in wuxia for Kun Lun, Business in wuxia for Cang Hai and upcoming Ling Fei Jing with Music), Kun Lun tian ji juan is satisfied with the wuxia. I guess the reason is that Feng Ge wants to save some good things for Kun Lun so he didn't invest much in this pre-story. The purpose of this pre-story is only to let ppl know about the past of Liang Xiu.

Hence, it reminds me to Sword and Sabre of  Jin Yong with a pre-story. I often compare Feng Ge to Jin Yong because I partly agree that Feng Ge is affected by Jin Yong quite a lot. He might be Jin fan, it shows in the way he writes his book and develops the character. I don't say it's bad because among the Jin followers, Feng Ge is definitely a "Feng" (phoenix). He is able to make his own world. But I also think that Feng Ge's mind is more open than Jin Yong. The generation? Maybe. Feng Ge's chacs are not bound by the old morals as much as Jin Yong. Jin Yong tried to let some of his chacs out of his circle but not really. With Feng Ge, he has characters like this, for example Kuk Chun or Gou Ru Monk. Liang Wen Jing is also a type of person that hasn't appeared in Jin Yong's novels. He is silly but thoughtful, seems lazy but actually deep and sensitive. He knows what he wants and what he can do, but also thinks for other ppl. He isn't hypocrite or tries to be a guanzi. He is himself, nothing can make him change. I blv that Wen Jing is the most free character that Feng Ge ever had, even understand himself better than Kuk Chun (but Kuk Chun is smarter than Wen Jing :D).


2. Character

Liang Wen Jing is the main character of this novel. As said, he is himself. He knows himself but also a thoughtful person. I'm impressed with a Wen Jing that always tries to run away from the role Jia Wan Wang but doesn't scare of dangerous to collect the money stolen by Gong Yang Yu because "My father worked very hard in five years to have this amount of money". Note that his father doesn't know about this, and seem like he doesn't care for this amount of money. This action of Wen Jing is very natural and comes from his heart, not an act. And he finishes the role Jia Wan Wang perfectly, makes the Mongolians scares 3 words Jia Wan Wang to death. If he wants, he can take this role forever and even becomes a king, but no, Wen Jing chose Yu Ling, even that they know her sifu can kill them one day.

Yu Ling - a Mongolian, is the dizi of Xiu Tian Suet. Her sifi is an evilily - lolz, ok, I'm kidding - but the love of Yu Ling and Wen Jing is of course a forbidden love. From Wen Jing's ppl and from Yu Ling's sifu. But they don't care and they still love each other. Yu Ling is never a good girl, all she does is for Wen Jing and for Wen Jing only. Sword and Saber? Yes, kind of. But not that she is impressed with he himself. Haha, in fact, at first she thinks he is useless (somehow he really is). By a joke of Gong Yang Yu, they are forced to be loved, and then love. I feel that Yu Ling is an interesting girl. The bad girl aspect in her is more funny than both of bad girls in Sword and Saber. So to compare, I like Wen Jing - Yu Ling in here more.

Uhm, other than two main characters, I don't favour any more characters in Kun Lun pre-story. So that's it.

Conclusion: To read or not to read?

To read! I vote for this one if you wanna find something to read after finishing Cang Hai. Read Kun Lun if want, but Kun Lun tian ji juan is highly recommended. If you like Kuk Chun, you will like Liang Wen Jing. I can't say the same thing to Liang Xiu :D.