Monthly Mania: July 2009

More Sakura and fireworks pictures~ xD

Finally I got this post done! It felt like it would take forever. xD Sorry for the late post! >.< Lots to fit in at this time right now. And then I got writers block and had no drive to blog. -_- Anyways, here is July’s Monthly Mania~ It contains the usual four: a movie, drama series, video game, and an anime.

Movie

Chocolate

Cast:

Yanin Vismistananda as Zen
Ammara Siripong as Zin
Hiroshi Abe as Masashi
Pongpat Wachirabunjong as No. 8

Summary:

The story follows the main heroine named Zen, who was born with Autism. However, along with her Autism, she has uncanny reflexes and a strengthened sense of hearing.

In the past, her mother, Zin, used to have a relationship with a Thai gangster called No. 8. However, he was jealous of her relationship with a member of the yakuza named Masashi. Masashi leaves however, for the safety of both of them. Zin ends up pregnant and tries to write a letter to Masashi, but No. 8 finds out the two kept in contact with each other and is furious and cuts off one of her toes. The two girls are forced to move to a Muay Thai academy. Later on, Zin finds a boy on the street named Moom and takes him in.

Zen continuously takes interest in Muay Thai, copying moves from both TV and from the academy. Later on Zin is diagnosed with cancer, and need to pay for treatment. Unable to do so, Moom and Zen find an old notebook with a list of people who owe Zin money, and decide to collect the debt. This leads to confrontations with various enemies and gangs.

Thoughts:

Well, this is again, a totally different movie. This movie is a Thai action film. So…there’s violence…and blood. So it’s a rated R movie, just to note. But anyways, I always enjoy Thai action films, and this is one I remember enjoying very much. All the actors do their own stunts, and so I guess it just seems all the more real I guess. xD But my aunt bought the movie and so I just watched it from there. Not a very exciting story. xD But it’s a Thai movie so I’m not exactly sure where to watch it online. But I’m pretty sure it’s somewhere on the internet, probably a torrent.

The story is a little slow in the beginning, and the acting can sometimes seems fake or overdramatic, but the action totally makes up for it in the second half. That’s pretty much why I stay away from Thai dramas xD, since their acting isn’t great and don’t have awesome action to make up for it. But anyways, back on topic. Chocolate is a movie that I have to say, is just great. It’s definitely memorable with it’s amazing action sequences. Zen is definitely my favorite character. She makes a lot of funny noises, but that’s because she copies what she sees on TV. And I love the way she pops chocolate into her mouth. xD But other than that, she’s totally that strong heroine that I love. I also love her super senses, making her a total WIN heroine to me. She’s a nice example of someone who doesn’t let Autism stop her. Her brother Moom, is also likable, even as silly as he is. In the long run he’s a good brother figure, and so I like him too.

Overall, an action-filled movie for anyone who loves either martial arts or just pure action you can enjoy. Or at least, I did. It kept me on my toes the whole time, even though the movie was sort of presented like a video game. But despite its flaws, it is a fun, action-filled movie.

Verdict: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10

Drama

Yeah...reusing an image. -_-

Nobuta wo Produce

Cast:

Kamenashi Kazuya as Kiritani Shuji
Yamashita Tomohisa as Kusano Akira
Horikita Maki as Kotoni Nobuko

Summary:

Shuji Kiritani (Kazuya Kamenashi) is a very popular high school boy who is close to Mariko Uehara (Erika Toda), the most popular girl in school, but whom he does not actually love. Akira Kusano (Tomohisa Yamashita), his classmate, does not really have any friends – something that is attributed to the fact that he cannot read the atmosphere well. One day, a very shy girl, Nobuko Kotani (Maki Horikita) transfers to their school and is instantly picked on by a group of girls for her shyness. As a testimony to their youth, Shuji and Akira team up and decide to “produce” her, to make her popular. They nickname her “Nobuta”.

Source–Wikipedia

Thoughts:

Am I the only one who thinks that the second to last sentence sounds dirty?

Well, I just finished watching this drama, and one of the reasons this post took so long (because I had to finish the drama first). Anyways, I’ve heard of this series so much before, that I decided to finally watch it (yeah…no interesting how-did-I find-it stories this issue xD). Anyways, I enjoyed the humor of the show, but also the undertone of it. I guess it’s one of those dramas that pay more attention on friendship. But if you don’t like that sort of stuff, then there’s just some plain humor.

As I’ve mentioned in my Blossom Blabber post, I guess I’m sort of biased and overlooked some details just because I love the cast. Each actor was able to depict their character’s personality well. Sometimes it wasn’t as sharp as others, but that’s because the two main guys are more of singers than actors. Well, the story is title character is Nobuta, but it is Shuji who is the main character, since most of the drama is narrated from his point of view. But I think Akira’s my favorite character. xD He’s just a really funny character. Mariko also ties for my favorite character because she’s just an awesome friend the whole time. She just has good intentions the whole time and I couldn’t think of a time where I didn’t like her. Mariko also helps out a lot, so I guess that makes me like her more? Either way I like her. But all in all almost all of the characters are lovable. All except…one. The music, is okay I guess. It fits with the show, but then sort of gets overused. The ending song is pretty good though. I’ve already posted it up on a Blossom Blabber, called “Seishun Amigo” by Shuji to Akira.

There are parts when the show seems incredibly unrealistic, but it’s also a touching show. Even though there are hints of romance, it’s more focused on friendship. The beginning is more fluff, until the second half where it’s, well, dramatic. But all in all, it’s a show that’ll make you just go “aw…”

Verdict: 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] 8 9 10

Where to watch it: Youtube or Veoh

Video Game

Final Fantasy X

Summary:

Final Fantasy X begins late in the story, with the main character, Tidus, waiting with his allies outside the ruined city of Zanarkand. Tidus narrates the series of events leading up to his present situation, which spans most of the game’s storyline. It begins in Tidus’ home city, the unruined and high-tech Zanarkand, where he is a renowned star of the underwater sport blitzball. During a blitzball tournament, the city is attacked by an immense creature shrouded in water known as Sin. The city is destroyed, and Tidus and Auron are taken by Sin to the world Spira. (Source–Wikipedia) He meets several other people throughout his journey through Spira, ultimately leading to the goal to destroy Sin.

Thoughts:

Well, I’m sure most people have heard of the Final Fantasy franchise. I’m a big fan of the franchise, but I think Final Fantasy was the first FF game I played (I worked my way down xD). Well, I usual watch my brother play it, but I’ve played several parts and usual read the strategy guides xD. Anyways, I have to say that I liked all of the games, but the two I liked the most were X and its sequel, X-2, which I originally planned to include for the video game segment. But then I thought it would be better to have the original. It’s a game that has a couple complexities, but also able to keep my attention along the way. Plus, it has some romance in it. x)

Anyways, the game isn’t actually too complicated, if you listen to tutorials. It also has the Combat Turn-based System, which means that you don’t have to worry about time pressure (which helps to anyone who’s new to gaming). I liked the storyline, since it’s actually pretty deep and complex. But what can you expect from FF? The graphics are great if you consider the year it was made. It was pretty revolutionary for the FF franchise in my perspective. The characters are one of the strong points of the video game. Each character has their own fleshed out personality along with their past. The chemistry between the character is also refreshing to see. All of the main characters are great in their own way. Tidus is that cheerful protagonist who has that unfaltering determination. Yuna is the…I don’t really know what the right word for it, but I guess she’s…the kind, mature? I really don’t know how to describe her since I haven’t played the game in years, but I remember her being my favorite character. That’s all. Rikku is the cheerful, upbeat thief, but lovable to me. And as usual, the music is fantastic. That’s all I need to say on it.

Overall, a great game for anyone who wants a pretty long, yet keeps-your-attention game. It has the action, story, hints of romance, that I believe most people would enjoy.

Verdict: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [9] 10

Official Website: http://www.square-enix-usa.com/games/FFX/

Anime

Nanatsuiro Drops

Summary:

Tsuwabuki is a normal student, though not very social. One day he meets a new transfer student, named Sumomo Akihime, and another girl, both the only members of the gardening club. Tsuwabuki is forced by a teacher to join this club. But then he bumps into a strange guy with dog ears, switching his drink with they guy’s by mistake. Drinking it, he is turned in a stuffed animal. The teacher tells him that the only way to turn back to normal is to find the chosen girl and let her catch the seven stardrops. This girl is Sumomo, that accepts to help him, though she’s not allowed to know the animal’s true identity.

Source–MAL

Thoughts:

Even though it’s adapted from the game Nanatsuiro Drops (an eroge Dx), it’s a nice, cute, short anime to watch. But anyways, Nanatsuiro Drops is the show where Sumomo (my banner girl) is from. It’s a short series, but is a cute mahou shoujo nonetheless. I watched it last year, so I forgot a lot of details about it (it’s a somewhat forgettable series). I found it from crunchyroll, with those, “recommendations for you” thing (yeah, I look at those). It just looked like a cute series, so I decided to check it out.

The storyline is the typical mahou shoujo-like story. Even though there are some parts where it is corny or cheesy, it’s a cute romance story all in all. The music I guess you can also say…is typical? It’s the cute sort of music I guess you could say. It wasn’t something that stood out, but again, cute. And now, the characters. Sumomo is obviously my favorite character in this show. Besides her being cute, she just has a cute, a little shy, but cute personality. She’s like a typical shoujo heroine, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like her. Sometimes she’s a little on the weaker side (she cries a lot), but it doesn’t get on my nerves. It makes me want to huggle her. xD She always tries her best, so an approved heroine! :D The guy protagonist…well, I sort of forgot about him, so I had to watch an episode to trigger my memory xD. But anyways, he’s I guess a likable main guy. Nothing really special appeals to me about him though. He’s so cute as a stuffed animal though!~ X3 I love watching the chemistry and how both characters interact. It’s just sweet and cute. But I do have to add that the animation is great overall.

A fun, charming, sweet love story mixed in with the mahou shoujo genre, this is a cute short anime that I’d recommend for shoujo lovers. Oh, now writing about it makes me want to rewatch it.

Verdict: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10

Since crunchyroll has removed the videos since last year, you can find it throughout veoh and youtube.

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Well, finally finished it.  I thought I had better ones planned…but I guess it’s the same. Dx Or I just didn’t write it as well this month because I was distracted way too much. But anyways, hoped you enjoyed MM!~