WOOT OFF

"Winter Sonata" anime

Recently watched episode 0 and 1 of this anime based on the famous K-drama of the same name. You can smell the doom of this romance right away, but I still want to watch it all unfold. Beautifully drawn scenes of a perfect New York and Paris are a gorgeous backdrop to the drama. It's weird to watch the whole thing with Korean audio and Japanese and English subs.

"Waiting in the Dark" (2006)

Just watched "Waiting in the Dark" (also called "Kurai tokodoro de machiawase") starring Rena Tanaka and Bo-lin (aka Wilson, Baron) Chen. It's a super slow movie, but made me tear up several times. It's about a blind girl living alone and a Chinese-Japanese guy played by Chen (cute!) who hides in her house...without her knowledge. She figures it out slowly and we find out why he is hiding there. This is Chen's first completely Japanese-speaking role. I read he has spoken some already in other films, but he is actually a Taiwanese star. Recommended if you can take the large silences in slow-paced film.

"Kimi ni Todoke" ep 3

Episode 3 was released by freemoneysubs. I was all "squee!" like a little girl watching the whole thing. Hits all the "shoujo-y" notes you would want to be hit in this episode. Cute dog, cute guy, making friends... Hope this keeps up!
BTW, other shows I am watching so far this season are "Tegami Bachi," "Seitokai no Ichizon," "Fairy Tail," and "Miracle Train." I can't stop myself from watching the silly "Miracle Train" that anthropomorphizes train stations of the Oedo line (to be exact) into bishies who want to help lost ladies. "Tegami Bachi" seems like a solid show which some heart. "Seitokai no Ichizon" seems like it's getting a little one note, but I'll keep trying. "Fairy Tail" has that current shonen weekly series vibe with lots of action and comedy. I tried to watch "Yumerio Patisseire" but the cute voices stopped me from continuing. I may also watch "Book of Bantorra," but I'm not sure yet. Don't know where this show is heading. The idea is good, but the plot is confusing.
Also, I am continuing to watch "Cross Game" which is consistently good even now, at episode 29.

"Kimi ni Todoke" ep 2

Just watched the sub for episode 2! Check out baka-updates. My number one show this season. I just love it when Sawako/Sadako starts getting some friends. Also, the dog in this episode is way cute, especially when being aggressive. I'm so rooting for Sawako.

Finished "Nobuta wo Produce"; Starting "Kimi ni Todoke"

Four stars for "Nobuta wo Produce." Kamenashi Kazuya really shines in the lead actor role as the popular, but really lonely inside, Shuuji. Yamapi is hilarious as the straightforward, laid back, and jokey Akira. The chemistry of these two make up for any flaws in the plotting and the strange ending.

Just watched the first episode of "Kimi ni Todoke" which I enjoyed. Sort of like "Nobuta wo Produce" in which the popular guy seems to like the outcast girl. I see the pattern...

"Nobuta wo Produce"

Just started watching this 2005 drama. I was looking for something after "Buzzer Beat" and Japanator recommended this like "Buzzer Beat." It looks promising with Yamapi as a star again. When I see him in this role I recognize him from the "NANA" live action movie and "Last Quarter" another movie I wrote about earlier. He looks WAY better in this type of hair. Anyway, I also like this actor from "Koizora" (which I watched on mysoju.com) Kamenashi Kazuya. He's a good actor and also easy to look at. Horikita Maki from "Hana Kimi" is also in this. Ingredients to a good drama included: good looking cast, school bullying, a makeover of an outcast, friendship, and Yamapi hanging all over Kazuya throughout the show in a disturbing fashion. Let's see how the 10 episodes go.