Bleach 365 Hot Damn!

I was getting tired waiting for the Vizards to show up, and last week my wish finally came true! It was a grand entrance for the masks. The new chapter (365) really cooked up some heat! I'm all puppy-eyed for next week's release to see what the Vizards can really do.

Among the most awaited scenes is between Muruguma Kensei and Hisagi Shuhei. I like Shuhei's reaction upon seeing his idol after years of thinking he was long dead. Not that there was anything fruitful, since Shuhei was down and badly injured. I doubt Kensei saw him, and I'm not sure he'll be able to recognize the boy he once saved (though the '69' mark will get him thinking, I'm sure). I just hope KT will touch on this sooner than later.


Another reunion we were waiting for was between Shunsui and his former vice captain Lisa. Their meeting was quite.. normal, should I say? It got me thinking that maybe Shunsui knew of the existence of the Vizards. Captain Yamamoto certainly does, and it's not so far-fetched that the old captains would know about it.


Here's my theory: I think when Shinji Hirako and the gang were revived as Vizards, they came to Yamamoto for some support. But as they were already part hollows, the captain of the Gotei 13 shunned them away. Perhaps the other captains that time (Shunsui, Ukitake, and Unohana, specifically) knew and kept it between them. Or perhaps Yamamoto didn't tell them at all.


The problem with this theory is regarding Aizen's crime. If my thoughts on Yamamoto knowing about theVizards' history is true, he should've also known about Aizen's role in all of it. KT better have something good to tie up loose ends on this matter. Meanwhile, there's a week before the next chapter comes out and I'm tapping my foot in impatience.


***credits to Sleepy Fans Scanlations***

My Movie Meme

I've left this blog postless for so long now I think I've gotten rusty. I do have a lot of things I want to share; I didn't just sit and do nothing during my 2-month absence here. But my fingers don't seem to be in the mood for typing. For now, I'll make post my version of the movie meme from my friend's blog as my comeback to my happy crappy blog.

Take the top 100 grossing movies: italicize the ones you've seen.

1. Titanic (1997) - $600,779,824
2. Star Wars (1977) - $460,935,665
3. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - $434,949,459
4. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) - $431,065,444
5. Spider-Man (2002) - $403,706,375
6. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003) - $377,019,252
7. Passion of the Christ, The (2004) - $370,025,697
8. Jurassic Park (1993) - $356,784,000
9. Shrek 2 (2004) - $356,211,000
10. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002) - $340,478,898
11. Finding Nemo (2003) - $339,714,367
12. Forrest Gump (1994) - $329,691,196
13. Lion King, The (1994) - $328,423,001
14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) - $317,557,891
15. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001) - $313,837,577
16. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) - $310,675,583
17. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) - $309,125,409
18. Independence Day (1996) - $306,124,059
19. Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) - $305,411,224
20. Sixth Sense, The (1999) - $293,501,675
21. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - $290,158,751
22. Home Alone (1990) - $285,761,243
23. Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) - $281,492,479
24. Shrek (2001) - $267,652,016
25. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - $261,970,615
26. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) - $260,031,035
27. Jaws (1975) - $260,000,000
28. Monsters, Inc. (2001) - $255,870,172
29. Batman (1989) - $251,188,924
30. Men in Black (1997) - $250,147,615
31. Toy Story 2 (1999) - $245,823,397
32. Bruce Almighty (2003) - $242,589,580
33. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - $242,374,454
34. Twister (1996) - $241,700,000
35. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) - $241,437,427
36. Ghost Busters (1984) - $238,600,000
37. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - $234,760,500
38. Cast Away (2000) - $233,630,478
39. Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997) - $229,074,524
40. Signs (2002) - $227,965,690
41. Rush Hour 2 (2001) - $226,138,454
42. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) - $219,200,000
43. Ghost (1990) - $217,631,306
44. Aladdin (1992) - $217,350,219
45. Saving Private Ryan (1998) - $216,119,491
46. Mission: Impossible II (2000) - $215,397,30
47. X2 (2003) - $214,948,780
48. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) - $213,079,163
49. Back to the Future (1985) - $210,609,762
50. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) - $205,399,422
51. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - $204,843,350
52. Exorcist, The (1973) - $204,565,000
53. Mummy Returns, The (2001) - $202,007,640
54. Armageddon (1998) - $201,573,391
55. Gone with the Wind (1939) - $198,655,278
56. Pearl Harbor (2001) - $198,539,855
57. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - $197,171,806
58. Toy Story (1995) - $191,800,000
59. Men in Black II (2002) - $190,418,803
60. Gladiator (2000) - $187,670,866
61. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) - $184,925,485
62. Dances with Wolves (1990) - $184,208,848
63. Batman Forever (1995) - $184,031,112
64. Fugitive, The (1993) - $183,875,760
65. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) - $183,405,771
66. What Women Want (2000) - $182,805,123
67. Perfect Storm, The (2000) - $182,618,434
68. Liar Liar (1997) - $181,395,380
69. Grease (1978) - $181,360,000
70. Jurassic Park III (2001) - $181,166,115
71. Mission: Impossible (1996) - $180,965,237
72. Planet of the Apes (2001) - $180,011,740
73. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - $179,870,271
74. Pretty Woman (1990) - $178,406,268
75. Tootsie (1982) - $177,200,000
76. Top Gun (1986) - $176,781,728
77. There’s Something About Mary (1998) - $176,483,808
78. Ice Age (2002) - $176,387,405
79. Crocodile Dundee (1986) - $174,635,000
80. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) - $173,585,516
81. Elf (2003) - $173,381,405
82. Air Force One (1997) - $172,888,056
83. Rain Man (1988) - $172,825,435
84. Apollo 13 (1995) - $172,071,312
85. Matrix, The (1999) - $171,383,253
86. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - $171,301,428
87. Tarzan (1999) - $171,085,177
88. Beautiful Mind, A (2001) - $170,708,996
89. Chicago (2002) - $170,684,505
90. Three Men and a Baby (1987) - $167,780,960
91. Meet the Parents (2000) - $166,225,040
92. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) - $165,500,000
93. Hannibal (2001) - $165,091,464
94. Catch Me If You Can (2002) - $164,435,221
95. Big Daddy (1999) - $163,479,795
96. Sound of Music, The (1965) - $163,214,286
97. Batman Returns (1992) - $162,831,698
98. Bug’s Life, A (1998) - $162,792,677
99. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - $161,963,000
100. Waterboy, The (1998) - $161,487,252


I highlighted the movies I have yet to watch to completely ake this list all slanted!

Joongbo Fever Goes On and On..

I knew I was just trying to convince myself. It was a futile effort, since even now I still go over what goes on in their world and read the fanfics. Ahhh... I guess this Joongbo fever just won't die.

I'm actually confused as to how I could be this addicted to the Ssangchu/Lettuce couple. Hwang Bo and Kim Hyun Joong has parted ways and are focusing on their individual careers now. It's been months already since their married life in WGM ended. Yet here I am, still looking for updates at Chonsa's blog, browsing over Ssanggchudream's LJ and reading the fanfics over at the forums. I even have Hwang Bo as my desktop wallpaper!

It's just not me to be so hung up on on-screen couples, especially those who have ended their pairing like Joongbo. Their fanbase is also pretty big; around the world, Joongboers are growing. You can check out the numerous blogs and the several Joongbo forum members. We're growing!

Ahhh... these two. How could they have become so addictive? I've only heard of Hyun Joong and SS501 vaguely in the past but he is now a familiar face to me in the kpop scene. I have never heard of Hwang Bo before WGM but she got me hooked now. I am really a fan of hers (no matter how much my sister raises her eyebrow at me for looking up to the Lady General). I don't know when this craze of mine is going to end but I don't think it'll be soon. Honestly, I won't mind if it never goes away.

My Favorite Supporting Characters in Bleach

There's been about 4 (?) popularity polls rounding up the Bleach characters that the major characters in the Bleach universe are sure that they are loved by many already. So for my own list of favorite characters I excluded the lead characters of the Bleach series, and only took note of those that didn't get too much air time.

Among the excluded are (of course) Kurosaki Ichigo, Ishida Uryuu, Kuchiki Rukia, Inoue Orihime, Yasutora Sado/Chad, Abarai Renji, Urahara Kisuke, Kuchiki Byakuya, Histugaya Toushiro, and Matsumoto Rangiko. Captain Histugaya has always been popular, and since Lt. Matsumoto is almost always with him, they're also excluded.

And my list goes as:

The fathers --- Kurosaki Isshin and Ishida Ryuken: Well, there's some history here. How they seem to be great friends and how they "lost" their powers. In Ryuken's part, he may have just kept quiet about his Quincy powers. Still, their sons were on the verge of dying a couple of times and they're still just watching from the sides. I have these thoughts that maybe Isshin was part of the Royal Guard and Ryuken paired up with him or something. It'll be big when they reveal everything to their sons, and to us.

Kensei Muguruma: By far, he is my favorite among the Visoreds (Vizards). His short temper amuses me and his compact strength is impressive. He was quite the captain back in the Pendulum chapters (I liked his hair better then, too). He showed very cool leadership qualities, and is obviously one of the strongest among the Visoreds. He was the first to turn into Hollow form and it took the rest of the to-be-Visoreds to fight him and Mashiro.

Hisagi Shuuhei: He's finally getting some air time! One of the reasons why I've taken a liking to Hisagi is his connection to Kensei. His 69 tattoo on his cheek is in honor of the former captain for saving his life when he was young. I believe that this is also the reason why Hisagi chose the same squad as Kensei's. I am really excited as to what Hisagi's reaction would be when they finally meet again, with Kensei as a Visored. I'm also wondering how Hisagi would feel when he'll realize that his former captain, Tousen, was the one who stabbed Kensei at the back and turned him to Aizen's experiments.

Kira Izuru: I didn't like him much before because of his subordinance to Ichimaru Gin. But given his poisition then, it was excuseable. Kira has also improved much, and his shikai is really one of the most impressive shikais of the show.

Rose or Rojuro Otoribashi: We still don't know anything about him except that he was the former 3rd squad captain, and newly appointed, too. He has displayed a calm demeanor and seems to be one of the wiser ones in the Visoreds. He might be one of those people who complements "the calm before the storm."

Lisa Yadomaru: They really had feisty vice-captains back in Pendulum days, as compared to the present vice-captains. Shunsui has hinted that Lisa is stronger than the average vice-captain back when she was his lieutenant. Now a Visored, surely her powers have gotten stronger. i also like her "so what?" attitude.

Shinji Hirako: This is another Visored I'm looking forward to when he goes all out. Actually, I'm interested in all the Visoreds. But these four are on top of the others so far. Will he get to fight Aizen in the future? I hope so!

Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake: I like this two together. When on their own, they're either silent or slacking, so there's not much action. But when they're together, you can really see their closeness and their brotherly friendship. They haven't gone all out yet either. I'm not sure if we'll be able to, but I hope so.

Yumichika Ayasegawa: There's just something about narcissistic guys that amuse me. Ayasegawa especially makes me laugh. Ikkaku has already shown us his tough attitude and his bankai. It should be Ayasegawa's turn in the future to show us some good stuff. His true shikai has already been revealed, but we never know, he may also have mastered bankai.

Stark: He's the only Espada that came in on my top 10 (Ulquiorra and Nel came in on my top 20). He's just cool in a ladi back kind of way. He obviously has the same personality as Shunsui. Their strengths are disguised by their dislike of fighting and lazy attitude.

Runner-up!
Chojiro Sasakibe: Who's this, you ask? Well, he is certainly unfamiliar, but he's always there with the Commander Captain. He's the vice-captain of the 1st squad, and this should imply that he's got awesome skills. He certainly has the look of someone authoritative and all-powerful. He's not making any moves in the present arc of the manga and anime. But he'd better in the near future. You can't be a lieutenant of the top squad and not show us anything awesome!

Dragonball Evolution Was Crappy

I knew it when I first heard they were making it into a movie.
I knew it when they cast Justin Chatwin for the role.
I knew it when Emmy Rossum was cast as Bulma.
I knew it when I saw the poster and saw mostly women and no muscles.
I knew it when they made Piccolo the antagonist.
I knew it when I saw or heard no sign of Kririn and the other Dragon Ball heroes.
I knew it when Chi-Chi and Goku were portrayed as the geek-and-popular-girl love tandem.
I knew it when the plot just didn't make any sense at all!

I just knew that Dragonball Evolution would end up crappy.

In the first place, the very idea of adapting the Dragon Ball series into a live action movie never really appealed to me. Why? Because it was unimaginable to take it into live action. The Dragon Ball series is one of those animations that just wouldn't fit right into the live movies for the very reason that live action can't seem to give it justice.

Think about it. Hardcore muscle men, the Super Saiyan mode (not that this was included in the movie), Piccolo's appearance (James Marsters made me hate Piccolo when I really like Piccolo in the anime), the so-far-out-to-the-future technology by Bulma and her father, and even Shen Long the great dragon (who turns out puny in the movie)... I cannot imagine these things in live action.

Of all anime, why did they choose Dragon Ball anyway? The series isn't like Marvel or DC Comics where we human beings can really relate to the superheroes because they are human, too. The characters in the Dragon Ball series are made up of different species, and while we can connect with their emotions and storylines, it's a different thing altogether when the entire feel of the whole vast universe concept is part of the story's charm. Dragon Ball isn't just about good versus evil and the "who's stronger?" question. Part of what made the anime a beloved series is because of its universal concept and the unimaginable and unfathomable powers that can only occur in our wildest dreams.

After watching Dragonball Evolution, I felt skeptic over the other live action adaptations that'll be out in the future. The Last Airbender is in the works (with Dev Patel as my fave Zuko?) and I am hoping they won't trash the Avatar series like they did Dragon Ball.

I'm On Bleach

I've gone back to rewatching the animes I have and it made me confirm that one of my favorite anime universes has got to be Bleach. It's one of my favorite animes and manga stories. I even got myself watching fan vids and parodies of it. Sheesh.

Well, as I am in too deep with this anime at present, expect some future posts to be about Bleach and its characters, and my thoughts on it and whatever else. I already have some ideas up my head just waiting to be posted.

Stay tuned!

For now, enjoy this 300 movie parody on Bleach that I found. It's pretty neat!

Shouldn't the Youngest Be Stronger?

This is in terms of supernatural powers and energy in siblings. It is usually the younger one who gets to have the glory in fairy tales and parent-and-children flicks like The Little Mermaid and The Godfather. But there are cases where the older sibling is still supreme over the younger one when it obviously should be the other way around.

Case in Point 1: Son Gohan and Goten

I just finished watching all the Dragon Ball Z movies, and I've noticed once again just how small Goten's presence seems to be. Trunks has much more screen time (although I guess it's about time that Vegeta's royal blood run its course and overtake Goku's reputation).

Being brothers, Gohan and Goten should have the same kamehameha energy. Goten is around 6 years younger so he's still got a lot of catching up to do, and it's understandable that Gohan will be stronger than him during Goten's wee years. But even when Goten and Trunks have grown up to manhood there is still no sign of Goten having an edge with his Saiyan blood. He's also the son of Son Goku, he should have a more significant role in the series! Instead he is cast aside like a supporting character while Trunks goes out to be the frontman of the hero Saiyans of the Earth.

But he and Trunks aren't the issue. It's him and his brother, Gohan. When Gohan was introduced in the series, it has been emphasized that his powers have the potential to be stronger than their father's. While time and again it's still Goku who manages to finish up the fight and kill the enemy, there is no doubt that Gohan is poised to become stronger than him. Now I would have expected the same from Goten. His early training with martial arts and entry to the Super Saiyan level (plus fusion with Trunks) made an impression that he may even be stronger than his brother. But nooo... throughout the series he stays as a happy-go-lucky kid who doesn't really fight it out with the others. And he got less and less screen time as the series went.

Why should Goten be stronger? Well, given that Goku was at the peak of his powers the time they conceived Goten, the kid should've inherited more powered energy than Gohan had, shouldn't he? He also achieved Super Saiyan level at a younger age than Gohan or Trunks did (Trunks being older by a year). Yet he just grows up normally instead of kicking alien butt.

Case in Point 2: Wyatt and Chris Halliwell

I'm pretty sure that Chris Halliwell has more fans than Wyatt does. This is due to Chris' major role for the whole of season 6 of Charmed, and his neurotic kind of love for his family. Not that we Charmed fans can blame him, when you've got a brother who happens to be the most powerful witch in history and is on the edge of becoming evil.

I can get how Wyatt would be powerful, as he is a son of a Charmed one and a Whitelighter and born on the Halliwell manor. But for Chris to be not stronger than him? Just because he was born in the hospital instead of at home, he doesn't have powers like Wyatt does?

He should actually be stronger compared to Wyatt. When you think about it, Chris actually has more reasons to be more powerful than his older brother. The main push on this claim would be because at the time of his conception, Piper was already hailed as the most powerful witch of her time and Leo was already an Elder. Put the two together --- strongest witch + Elder --- we should get a child who inherited far more power than Wyatt. True, Chris was able to crush a valkyrie's heart at will, but it was always reiterated throughout the series that he will never be at Wyatt's supreme and all-powerful level.

Ah well.. I guess the distribution of powers isn't all that balanced in the supernatural families. It annoys me though when likeable characters like Goten and Chris are just set aside like they couldn't live up to their family's reputation.

How Animated Fight Scenes Should Be!

I can't help but revel watching the fight scenes of my fave animated shows. Compared to the punch-grab-throw-kick stuff that American animation gives, the Japanese animations are more awesome. And I don't just say 'awesome' lightly. Here are the opening fight scenes of two of my favorite anime.. and I tell ya, this is how animated fight scenes should be!

Seirei no Moribito follows the story of a spear-wielding bodyguard named Balsa and the young prince she has to protect from the assassins sent by his own father, the emperor. It's an anime series made of 26 episodes, and contains great graphics and evolving characters. One of the best animes I've seen, both in visual effects and storyline. It made me appreciate the strength of a spear, too, as I have always viewed this weapon as rather inferior to a sword back then.

This is the opening of the Sword of the Stranger, wherein the star weapon is the sword. Many have said the fight scenes in the movie are badass, awesome, even godly, and I will not be one to disagree. For every synonym of these words, I say yea yea YEAH! Once you've seen the whole movie, how can you say otherwise?

In the video clip, the guy in the red cloak is the villain. As it's the opening fight scene and it's the villain on it, you can only imagine how the next fight scenes would be and how the protagonist of the story is going to kick some serious ass.

Japanese Animated Movies: Short Reviews

One of my goals in life is to have a collection of my favorite animated movies. Me and my anime madness.. tsk. As I collect, I select what to collect, of course. Here are a couple of Japanese animated movies that I have watched these past few weeks as I go trek and check one movie to another:

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: I already made a post on this, concerning time leap. I'll just reiterate my thoughts on the movie by saying that it's certainly one of the great feel-good animated movies from Japan. It's definitely a must-watch --- great story, great animation, believable emotions.

Howl's Moving Castle: Hayao Miyazaki shows how he's one of Asia's most talented artists and storytellers. This guy really has a vast imagination to be able to cook up the many settings and "magical advances" in Howl's Moving Castle. This movie was nominated for the Academy Awards, understandably. The movie reflects a lot of emotions and all the characters are really brought out to life by the flow of the story. Christian Bale voices the childishly charming Howl, although I can only remember little of how Bale's voice sounded so smooth.

Spirited Away: This is perhaps Hayao Miyazaki's most successful film, as it won the Academy Award, again understandably. The movie tells the story of a girl plunged into a world of magic and sorcery, all the while trying to cling to her identity. I think perhaps the morale of the story is to always remember who you are, even if the others try to rule over you. Miyazaki again brings out his big imagination here. He's really impressive.

Vampire Hunter D: Given the fact that this movie was made many years ago, I guess I can excuse the bad drawing (very thick outlines, and that's bad when the movie's setting is already dark). Still, this is not a movie I would want to watch twice. It follows Vampire Hunter D in one of his missions to rid the world of vampires, even with the knowledge that his father is the great ancestor of all vampires, Dracula. While the story remains the same, the book is still more catching.

Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust: Another Vampire Hunter D movie.. but this time, there's improvement in everything --- drawing, storyline, effects, etc. It features another one of D's missions as a vampire hunter, and lightly touches on his views as a half-vampire. This one is better than the first, no doubt, with a far more intriguing flow and more believable characters (at least in the sense that it's in a vampiric setting).

Sword of the Stranger: I saved the best for last. This movie is so cool! Dramatic cool, like Rurouni Kenshin and Seirei no Moribito mixed in one. The story follows a boy chased for his blood (not clear in the movie why him specifically), and a stranger who turns out to be a very skillful swordsman. The action scenes were impressive, with detailed movements and awesome moves. The drama was equally moving and heart-warming. I even fell in love with the dog, among other things. This movie is definitely one of my favorite animated movies.

Selected Pandemonium / Hyakki Yakou Shoko

Stepping aside from the popular genre of martial arts and action in manga stories, I found another favorite among the supernatural.

Hyakki Yakou Shou, or Selected Pandemonium, is an ongoing manga series, created by Ima Ichiko. I wonder why this manga isn't that popular. It mixes the supernatural and old Japanese beliefs with that of modern lifestyle. I like how the story doesn't go over the top with human-to-demon fights and demonic possessions and such. The story flows calmly, and seemingly realistic. After reading Naruto, Bleach, Claymore, and other popular mangas with exagerrated scenes and circumstances, Selected Pandemonium offers sanctuary from all those ninjutsus and swords.

Iijima Ritsu has a sharp sixth sense that he inherited from his deceased grandfather. This ability makes him a magnet to supernatural beings, some of which are not so friendly with humans and are dangerous. To protect him, his grandfather instructed one of his pet spirits to inhabit Ristu's father's dead body. This spirit-demon, named Blue Storm, is still passing off as his father in front of his mother, grandmother and other people. Only Ritsu knows the truth, and of Blue Storm's mission to protect him.

Ritsu is not the only with a sixth sense in their clan. Although not as strong as him, his two other cousins, Tsukasa and Akira, can also feel spirits and demons. Both of them used to disregard their abilities, Tsukasa denying hers and Akira forgetting her own. Tsukasa is especially reluctant to admit her ability, although her sixth sense is just as sharp as Ritsu's.

The manga mainly tells distant stories of each other. One chapter will focus on one story at a time, all concerning Ritsu and the people connected to him. Another thing I like about this manga is how it somehow connects with everyday life, at least for someone like Ritsu who has sixth sense and attracts a lot of spirits.

I'm now looking for the live action Japanese series of Selected Pandemonium. I can't find any online, and there're no sub versions for me to enjoy. Really, why isn't this popular?!

Manga direct downloads: ETC

99 Books Meme

Bored and surfing aimlessly through my friends' blogs, I read up an old post of demigod031's blog and decided to try the list myself:

99 Books Meme

Here’s a list of 99 books that I may or may not have read (or even desire to read). The rules are as follows;

- Bold the ones you’ve read
- Italicize the ones you want to read
- Leave unaltered the ones that you aren’t interested in or haven’t heard of

And away we go…

1. The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (JRR Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (JRR Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (JRR Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (JK Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (JK Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (JK Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (JK Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (JRR Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (George Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. The Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (F Scott Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (JK Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
68. Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)
69. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
70. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
71. Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
72. Shogun (James Clavell)
73. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
74. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
75. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
76. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
77. The World According to Garp (John Irving)
78. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
79. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
80. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
81. Of Mice And Men (John Steinbeck)
82. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
83. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
84. Emma (Jane Austen)
85. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
86. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
87. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
88. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
89. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
90. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
91. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
92. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
93. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
94. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
95. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
96. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
97. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
98. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
99. Ulysses (James Joyce)

Time Leap

Two of the movies I watched yesterday had time as an important concept. Time leap is where we get to take a short travel or a kind of jump into another time, whether in the past or in the future. The movies reiterated the importance that time can either heal or hurt us and those around us. It also emphasizes the notion that you've got do what you've got to do.. as soon as possible and as right a time as possible. In the words of Chiaki Mamiya in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, "Time waits for no one!"

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: This Japanese animated movie has been in my collection for weeks now, but I've only had the chance to watch it yesterday. It has a very flowing plot, and the story is very heartwarming. There were scenes that made me cringe, particularly the episodes where the main character, Konno Makoto, and her friends are supposed to be killed in an accident. But I guess it was part of the impact that the movie wanted to give to the audience. Time leaping, when used in an irresponsible and careless acts of selfishness, can cause hurt to others. Makoto was really hapy about being able to leap back into the past to correct her unlucky cicrumstances, but in every episode she changed there was always a person who gut hurt. And they get hurt harder than she was. A fellow classmate was constantly bullied, and her friends got killed. And before she knew it, she only had one more chance to leap through time and fix everything.

Frequency: There wasn't exactly a person leaping through time in this movie. But if you consider talking to a person from another time through a battered old radio as leaping through time (like I do), then let us consider time leap as one of the modes in the movie. John Sullivan gets a chance to talk to his father, Frank Sullivan, who died in his fireman duties when John was still a child, through a radio control system that his father owned when he was still alive. Through this, John was able to warn and save his father from getting killed in a fire accident. But while his father got to survive to see John grow into a cop, his mother was gone and murdered years ago instead. In a race through time to save his mother, both John and his father track the serial killer who killed his mother. I especially like the ending of the movie, where both father and son were assaulted by the killer in their own times.

It goes without saying that time leap can have disastrous consequences. There will always be a losing end to the bargain. But it also shows us how time can help and heal. In John's case, they were able to save his mother and keep their family intact. In Makoto's case came the knowledge that time still flows and balances equations even if you go back and make yourself an addition, thereby realizing that in every happiness there is pain. All we can do is learn how to cope with it and flow with time.

"Time waits for no one!"

Getting Over Joongbo.. Finally

Slowly but surely. This is how it goes when getting over an addiction that was never meant to last. When popular lettuce couple Kim Hyun Joong and Hwang Bo said their goodbyes on the reality-variety show We Got Married (We Just Married / Sunday Marriage), there was nothing else to do but accept the finality of it.

It's a little hard, though. I think it's the same for any other kind of addiction. The Korean show We Got Married was one of the things I looked forward to every week. I enjoyed watching the lettuce/ssangchu couple enjoyed their married life. It was a fake marriage, but Hwang Bo and Kim Hyun Joong displayed showed such sparkling chemistry between them that left many fans wishing their "love" and marriage was real.

Count me in among the Joongbo fanatics. They were my favorite couple among the cast of WGM. Despite many criticisms and discussions about their marriage --- Kim Hyun Joong being one of the hottest idols of Korea and Hwang Bo being six years older than him --- the lettuce couple showed that marriage can be fun and happy indeed. They showed that it's not all about candlelit dinners and romantic conversations, that a peanut necklace would be more than enough as long as it was given with the whole heart.

I guess it was also because of the wife's and groom's personalities that also attracted me to the couple. I am now a huge fan of Hwang Bo, because of her honest and outgoing personality. She's my definition of what a woman should be --- independent, living life to the fullest while also helping others out and doing charity, very spirited, and has a really big heart. As for Kim Hyun Joong, hmmm.. he's really a unique one. I actually like him better when he's with his Hwang Buin, but I can't deny that he also has some charm of his own. His 4D personality makes him say unpredictable things, and he has this drive for success and a passion for music and his work. He has a very blunt personality that can be a little contradicting to his pretty boy image.

It's been more than a month now since their last episode together, and I'm slowly getting back to reality. I still keep tabs on how Hwang Bo is doing with her projects. Hyun Joong is apparently doign well with his still increasing fame with Boys Over Flowers. I'm also still reading Joongbo fanfictions. But time will come when all this really has to end.

Despite this reality, I still hope.. that in the future Hwang Bo and Hyun Joong will get together again, and maybe really end up for real. :p Haha... oh, but that would really be fantastic news!

Federer and Nadal Broke My Heart

Rafael Nadal did it again. He dethroned Roger Federer once again, this time in the Australian Open last weekend. I cringe whenever I recall the match. Federer made a lot of mistakes and they contributed a lot to Nadal's victory. On the last set, with Nadal leading at 5-2, I was seriously hoping that Federer would turn the tables and catch up to become the champion. But alas, Nadal was persistent and Federer crumbled.

I felt like crying together with Federer. I have nothing against Rafa. He's another one of my favorite players in lawn tennis, and I'm glad that it was he who took over the World Number 1 title (instead of some egoistic bigmouth like Andy Murray). But in choosing between him and Federer, I'm all for Roger Federer!

They broke my heart, especially when Federer cried in the end. To the greatest player of all time: It's killing me, too!

Crappy Update to Myself.. and To Whoever Feels the Same Way

One of my resolutions this year was to fix things as I go along through them and minimize procrastination (which is a very great flaw of mine). So far, I still haven't finished half of my listed "projects," a.k.a. stuff to be fixed/arranged/organized. What's worse is that new things seem to be sticking up in front of me, making me unable to ignore them.

This is really taking up a lot of my energy and brain noodles. Couple that with me being a little paranoid and a worrywart, and a little obssessive-compulsive.. heck, I'm stressed. Maybe it's just my psychological worry that I'm stressed. But I searched over the symptoms of stress and I have most of them: back pain, heavy shoulders, inconsistent sleep, appetite loss... and I get sick easily these days.

I really need to get out. Time for me to go back home for a while and smell some fresh air, away from the cigarette smokes I smell everyday at the office. Time for some outing on a peaceful neighborhood, play some tennis and jog around the pineapple fields at Sunday's dawning. And maybe drive our family's pick-up for a quick driving lesson before I surrender to a driving academy in the city.

Times like this, I should write down my resolutions and goals for the year. Some people may think this useless. A friend of mine would point out that we won't be able to follow through with them in the end. Still, some basis for a year's existence never hurt. In my case, it can help me to stop messing with my own mind and worrying about petty things.

Keanu Reeves As Spike Spiegel

My love for Keanu Reeves is still alive, and it has been burning brighter when I heard he would be playing Spike Spiegel in the live action movie of the popular anime Cowboy Bebop. As I think more about it, the more I'm in for him having the role. I really wouldn't have it any other way!

Keanu has been in a lot of fire with his acting skills because of his blank expressions. His latest movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still, gave him a rain of criticisms because of this. I won't argue with this because I know this to be true. But I don't think this will be the case with Cowboy Bebop.

For one, the movie has a futuristic setting, with space mobiles and lots of action. We've seen Keanu as Neo in the Matrix trilogies, didn't we? There's also the character of Spike Spiegel, arrogant, cocky, with the kind of laid-back attitude of a cool cowboy. Keanu as Constantine was cool, and Keanu in Speed and Street Kings was cocky and arrogant.

The only problem I see, and what I'm really itching to see, is the funny and quirky expressions by Spike Spiegel at times of humorous setbacks like having a female, a kid, and a dog on his ship. I'm not sure how he'll do, but I'm excited as to how Keanu will take this into the screen.

It's Not All About the Money.. Kaka Stays at AC Milan!

After suffering through unimportant news of Cristiano Ronaldo and his wild ways, news about my favorite European football player finally surfaced. As expected, it was nothing like C. Ronaldo's circulatory updates like his current car and his current girl. As expected, Kaka's made more noise in the world of soccer.

Kaka was in a deal with Manchester City, with Man City offering a record-breaking sum of 100 million pounds for the Brazilian to transfer to them. It raised a lot of eyebrows how they could offer a player that much. I read an article where there was a comment that even C. Ronaldo isn't worth that much (Personally, with his thick skin and big head, he scores lower than Kaka.. yeah, I don't like him at all).

Thankfully, Kaka declined the offer, deciding to stay at AC Milan. I breathed a sigh of relief and almost clapped for joy! Somehow, I like Kaka and AC Milan together. Kaka would still be my favorite player even if he switched to another team, but he's become such a big part of AC Milan that I can't see him in another team.

Majority of the people believed that Kaka would turn down the offer, even if that was such a very huge amount. Most players would have already accepted the offer, I bet, especially with how European football works today. The gist of it is that it all comes down to the money and how much they're going to get by playing for a team. This fact is really disheartening.

But Kaka didn't disappoint. It was not all about the money for him. He's already the highest paid player in AC Milan. I believe he's more than contented with his salary, even if he's not the highest paid athlete in the field. Kaka is as he is. He'll go for a club or a team with a competitive status and a big goal to become champions. That is what AC Milan is, and what Manchester City has yet to become (though it seems it'll them a long time).

In the midst of all this riot over the sum of money involved, I felt the world become lighter because there are still some people who think of their principles in life rather than be swayed with money.

On My 12 Days of Christmas...

Not counting my days of arrival and departure, I really had 12 days of fun and leisure at my hometown as I took a break from the hustles of work and city life. There were some 'oops,' disappointments, and some more crappy moments during the break though. Here's an oopsy rendition of mine of the ever popular song The Twelve Days of Christmas:

*Getting right to the last part of the song...


On the 12th day of Christmas, misfortune showed to me...

12 donuts dunkin'
................... I almost got sick of donuts. Our father bought a dozen every other day.

11 breakfasts passing
................... We woke up late almost everyday that we go straight preparing lunch.

10 pm still dinging
................... 10 o'clock signals the start of my work back in the city.

9 Buddha wrapping
................... My sister and I had to wrap many little Buddha statues as presents to our relatives.

8 discs a-waiting
................... I brought a lot of DVDs to watch over the break but somehow I didn't get to watch them all.

7 cousins missing
................... Really. How could they not show themselves?!

6 books just lying
................... I brought books and bought some more, but I only got to finish two.

Fiiiiiive thousands goooooone...
................... I actually had to spend more than 5,000. This line refers to the number of 1,000 bills I spent for the gifts and the New Year's lechon.

4 nights with beer
................... Beer is always present whenever I go out with my old pals from high school.

3 with wine
................... My family prefers to drink wine, though. My mother and sister are especially lovers of wine. I come in third place.

2 injuries
................... I got one on my left hand, and a bigger one on my right. I was useless for a week because I couldn't use my hands efficiently.

and a hairstyle that's anime-eeeeeeyyyy...!
................... The hairstylist cut it wrong because he has never done the style before. I can forgive him. Still, I have one funny hairstyle right now.