aya-chan’s Neighborhood

Here are some promotional posters of the 3 leads from The Slingshot/Story of a Man/남자이야기.

Below are the two main songs played in the drama. I translated one because the final line kept resounding in me as I watched the drama. How I wished that Yong Ha sang for the drama! =/

Thank you so much! It's because of you that I am keep making videos and improving my skills!

Thanks for your support! This new year, more and more fanvideos! ^__^

今年もよろしくお願いします

★ Main Account: http://www.youtube.com/user/arashistyle5 ★

★ Backup account: http://www.youtube.com/user/stormystyle5 ★

 

RECENT VIDEOS

~ Aiba-chan's birthday Fanvid ~

~ Oh-chan's birthday Fanvid ~

~ Smile Fanvid ~ Breath me ~ Vito x Hana-chan ~

I got this inspiration from a column in The Singapore Straits Times I read today.
So I'm doing my own list.

1. I won't buy a designer bag.

There was a time I was thisclose to buying an LV carry-all. But I'm quite happy with my humble, very functional Longchamps (I bought a smaller black one last Christmas) that are still lightweight even if I dump a lot of things inside.

Besides, I remember NB when we accompanied MG in scouring Bangkok's designer bag shops last year.

"Why would you buy an LV?" he asked MG. "Or any designer bag for that matter? If you buy one, you have to match it with your lifestyle. You can't go take the train or the bus in Beijing anymore. You need a chauffeured car. You need the right clothes. Even the right house. Buying a bag like that is just mafan (troublesome)."

To make the long story short, MG failed to buy a bag with us around.

2. I won't underestimate the power of the mind, dreams and faith.

Even if at times I doubt if they ever work. And I hope to see the proof that they do, this year.

3. I won't judge a book by its cover.

Because I might miss on a good person or, literally, on a good book.

4. I won't stay awake past 11 o'clock.

That's my cut-off, even if friends are online or there are lots of new Arashi videos on YT and other distractions on the Internet. Or even if it's World Cup time already (yeah right). So I hope to finish this list before 11 tonight.

5. I won't laugh or comment at a person's weight.

Seriously, what is it with Filipinos that the first thing they notice about a person is the weight? "Tumaba ka! (literally: You've grown fat)" is a common greeting back home. Which in my head, I always reply with the "F" word.

The first thing I did upon returning home from my almost 2 weeks vacation in the Philippines was check my weight on the scale and was aghast to see that I have gained a bloody five kilos. In just that short period. I'm glad I don't live in Manila, otherwise, I'd feel miserable everyday (which may be a helpful thing, if misery would make me lose my appetite and prevent me from eating and thereby lose weight and be as skinny as Kim Chiu).

The next time I am about to make a comment about someone's weight, I'd look at myself first. Maybe other people should too.

6. I won't say the F-word.

So there goes my reply to #5.

7. I won't waste time on annoying things and annoying people.

There, that's already like five seconds wasted typing that line.

8. I won't turn my nose up on a Hollywood movie.

Especially since The Green Hornet, with Jay Chou, is coming out this year.

9. I won't buy useless things.

Like the acupuncture guides I bought on new year.

Great, starting the year right indeed.

Maybe I should find some use for useless things instead.

10. I won't make a new year's resolution list.

Wait, isn't this a new year's resolution list?

I can't wait!!!

I want to see more! 15s aren't enough! Specially, for GANTZ preview T.T

Rips thanks to zomboid

Unusual pair, but they look so great together in this photoshoot! ^_^

Source: suoncom jo.in

More Arashi on TV mags!
Arashi on the cover!

I hope Jun will have a new hairstyle soon ^^;

( Enjoy! )

More Arashi on TV mags!
Arashi on the cover!

( Enjoy! )

Akemashite Omedetou!
Happy new year!

I have been party for 2 days, I am a bit tired! xD

Many TV mags with Arashi photoshoots are out! ^___^

( Enjoy! )

My 2010 horoscope said: "Keep the ball rolling and keep your eye on the ball."

I want to take that to heart.

And this Paulo Coelho card SPEAKS to me a lot especially at the phase I am in right now.

To be honest, I had second thoughts of watching The Founding of a Republic.

China Daily, the state English paper, is required reading for me DAILY and I didn't want to overdo the propaganda.

But curiosity got the better of me and so I went to Lido this afternoon to see the film that marked the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in October last year. (Side comment: I don't remember if I read it or heard somebody say, but notice how communist countries love to include "People" and "Democratic" in their names. Think DPRK too, a.k.a. North Korea.)

I must admit part of it was curiosity to see the big stars who were making cameos in the film as well. In fact, all throughout the movie, I was playing the "spot-the-big-star" game.

The film covers the period from 1945, shortly after WW2 ended, to 1949, when Mao Zedong was inaugurated as president of the new republic formed after the communists split with the Kuomintang (KMT) led by Chiang Kai-shek (CKS), who retreated to Taiwan.

Like this review, I was expecting the worst especially on how KMT and CKS were portrayed. I need to read and brush up on my history of the Chinese civil war but nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised that CKS was shown to be somewhat of a compassionate leader in the end.

But I couldn't help squirming everytime the subtitles used "liberate" as the communists overtook most Chinese cities but as many reviews have pointed out, the nuance was lost in translation. Surely, liberation and communism don't go together, do they?

Now, I am curious what my Taiwanese friends think about the film. I'll ask them when I meet them later this week.

In the meantime... spotting-the-star was on.

In the first few minutes of the film, there was Jet Li, playing a Navy officer of the KMT. In the last few minutes of the film, there was Andy Lau, playing Yu Jishi, a KMT general who received the order from CKS not to attack Beijing anymore signaling the absolute defeat of the Kuomintangs.

In between, there was Eva Huang (I was amazed that I could recognise her) as a Xinhua broadcaster, Leon Dai as a military officer, Donnie Yen and Zhao Wei (Vicky Zhao) as China League leaders, Zhang Ziyi as a female communist leader, Tony Leung Ka-fai in a funny role as a bystander and Jackie Chan as a reporter. The roles of Eva, Vicky, Leung Ka-fai and Jackie were all fictional, however.

Not all cameos made it to the final product, though, like John Woo whose part was edited out. Tang Guoqiang, the actor who played Mao Zedong, really looked like him.

I'd say that Jet Li and Andy Lau's brief appearances were both given prominence, especially Andy's who had a close-up before fade-out to Mao Zedong's inauguration. Watching him on the big screen, I must say he really has a strong presence and it makes me want to watch Infernal Affairs again.

Between the two China, I have great respect for both. I am also an eager student of both. And if there's one thing that I learned from the film, it's that war is really mafan.