Libera me, Domine, de morte æterna, in die illa tremenda

I first heard about Monga awhile back, and basically forgot about it for a while. However it was recently released on Taiwan, so it's back on my radar.

Monga stars Ethan Ruan, Mark Zhao, and Rhydian Vaughan. The story takes place in the 1980's, and is about a group of boys who join a gang. (Review here)

Now, it's a gangster film, action and everything. But I'm not interested in that. I'm interested in the history there. The film is set in Wanhua, which is a district of Taipei. Wanhua is a place full of contrasts to me. On one hand you've got Ximending. Ximending is "the Harajuku of Taipei", a place where youth culture is rampant. Everything in Ximending proper is shiny, new, and marketable. On the other hand, in Wanhua you've got Longshan and the surrounding areas. The area around Longshan is quite interesting. It's old, building are built on top of buildings there. It's also full of old people, who are often found just randomly sitting on the sidewalks. This area also used to be the red light district, and there's still a lot of seediness around. When we first went to Taiwan, Wanhua was one of the first places we went, and it's one of my more enduring memories of Taiwan.

Now, since the movie is set in the 80's, towards the end of the KMT martial law period. So at this time, Taiwan was finally able to become something, and the people had more freedom. I'm looking forward to seeing how that translates into film.

Also: Ethan Ruan. I LOOOVE Ethan Ruan. He, of course, does dramas well, but I love when he plays against type in movies (see: Exit No. 6). Also the pseudo-gay stuff between Ethan and Mark that the Taiwanese media has been kicking up is intriguing, to say the least. I'm not a huge fan of Mark Zhao, but I do enjoy some random hot boy skinship as much as the next person ;D



Note of awesome: I recognize places in the trailer. Places I've totally been. OMG that reminds me! When I was staying in Wanhua last August, they were totally filming something. I wonder if it was this movie!!!!!

(OMG people, I HATE allergies! I cannot adequately describe how miserable I am. It must be a new allergy, but who knows what to... I need some damn Benadryl, and possibly some calamine lotion)

FINALLY LJ is back for me. Just random, and out of the blue, I can now access it. It's about time, I was going crazy.

Anyway, several things;

1. I'm sick. It sucks. I get sick once, maybe twice a year (I'm not counting my chronic headaches, because that's not immune system), and it's always at the most inconvenient of times. I really hope it's gone before I fly to Taiwan, because while it's just a slight cold, I don't want them thinking I have the flu, and then quarantining me.

2. I finished Triple. I do believe my thoughts echo darkeyedwolf and miss_magrat's, I didn't hate it, but still, I ended up feeling cheated by the whole thing. Not speaking to each other for two years? Random. Oh well, in my head they're together, and happy because obviously they're in love, and I'll be damned that in another 2 months tops, they're together and happy (if, you know, this were readl). It's funny, you know, just when I think I can't possibly love this show anymore, it becomes more and more delightful. I'm really, REALLY sad to see it end.

3. I finally got around to watching Lust, Caution (can you believe they were selling it for only $5?!), and holy shit was it amazing. INCREDIBLY DEPRESSING, but amazing. I was particularly impressed with Lee Hom, I thought he was amazing. Throughout the ENTIRE thing I kept urging his character to make a move on Jia Zhi, because he was obviously in love with her. Either way, the film was beautiful (what Ang Lee film isn't beautiful?), and REALLY interesting. I'm not really interested in ancient Asian history that much, but modern Asian history fascinates me. This movie spoke about the Japanese occupation of China during WWII, and it was just very well done.

4. Yesterday at the gym I saw a car that looked exactly like Hwal's car in Triple!! I got all excited, but alas, no Shin Hwal, no Lee Haru. Not even a Hae Yoon or Hyun Tae.

5. Finally saw Harry Potter 6. I liked it plenty (I half wished I had watched it to study the film theory, because I KNOW there was a shitload of good film metaphor in there), but it seemed very stilted to me. I know there's only so much they can do with the time limit, but still. The cuts were jumpy, and the plotline shaky (they seemed not to explain enough). Even the characters were strange, like Hermione didn't seem herself at all, and the whole Ron/Hermione relationship was portrayed fairly oddly. MAYBE it's because I was so invested in the books, but while I did like the movie, I can't say I found it amazing. My favorite remains Prisoner of Azkaban, which was an AMAZING adaptation of the book (I wrote my honors thesis for a film class on the use of light and dark in PoA, as well as the use of color in GoF).

6. I leave in nine days.

This is like, my 80th post today, but I've been finding interesting things!

I was browsing the China Post website today, and read about a new movie that came out recently there, Yang Yang (which was produced by Ang Lee's brother, and advised upon by Ang Lee himself!).



Yang Yang stars Sandrine Pinna (from Miao Miao and Summer x Summer), Huang Jian Wei (from Do Over, Tea Fight, and Black & White), and Zhang Rui Jia (aka the reason I'm watching).

So from the description it reminds me of an odd mix between Eternal Summer, Miao Miao, and Summer's Tail.

I have a massive thing for Rui Jia, and I love seeing him in movies, because, IMO, he's one of the best, most underappreciated actors in Taiwan. He's been fabulous in everything he's been in (he particularly stole my heart in Love Contract), but in twdramas he tends to get pushed aside in favor of the more popular idols like Mike He (Love Contract), Wu Zun (Tokyo Juliet) or Joe Cheng (Love or Bread). On the other hand, he shines in movies. He was amazing BEYOND BELIEF in Eternal Summer, and he really did a great job in Summer's Tail. I haven't seen Invitation Only yet, so I can't speak to that.

I was really impressed by Sandrine Pinna in Miao Miao. I think she did an amazing job in that role, and kinda stole the show as a girl who falls in love with her best friend.

So I'm SUPER excited to see this movie. Like, REALLLLLY excited. It's so my type of movie. Unfortunately it basically just came out, so I'll have to wait.

(Yes, I know I'm spamming the flist, but I can't help it right now!)

!!!!!! I just realized that Viter Fan is in Miao Miao!! For some reason I didn't make the connection earlier (Viter is his main stage name, but he also goes by "Wing Fan", thus my confusion).

And Viter is one of my favorite Taiwanese actors. He was FABULOUS in The Best of Times, and I loved him (despite the sparkly low cut shirts) in Ying Ye 3+1!He was my number 20 top Taiwanese guy! (Which I am working on, honest! I hope to have the double post done this weekend)

And shit, I just screwed myself over... I'm on a downloading kick... I'm seriously downloading 15 movies.

Random Viter pic because I can!

Late to the party, but OMG Teafight has been subbed!

Bring on Zai Zai, dearest love of my life, and his tragic blue hair!

I've been behind on everything recently, even more than usual. So, I’m sorry if I haven't answered comments or commented much on entries. It’s been a tough week in that I've been pretty constantly exhausted caused by a change in diet. I fell asleep really early again last night…

Good things have been happening though. I'm making more finalized plans for my study term in Taiwan, which is super exciting. Right now it's down to trying to decide on which school to attend.

Yesterday I was reading some news on an english language Taiwanese newspaper site, and came across a review for a Taiwanese movie I didn't know.

( Taiwanese movie info )

Still watching and loving Kimi wa Petto! Though I'm only on episode 3. I fell asleep in the middle of watching it yesterday...

Yeah. It's weekly now.

( What else I bought from YesAsia )

You know that when GD and TOP drop their solo albums (SOOOOON), I'm going to be ALL over that... And I've heard rumors, but is there going to be another Big Bang album this year? If so, it'll probably be a mini album, ne? Either way, I'd be totally excited.

ALSO, I might be going on a mini drama/blogging hiatus for a few days starting on the 24th/25th. Why? Because City of Glass, the last book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy is being released that day. And I will need to read it nonstop until it's finished. At which point I will become upset that there is no more to read. And then I will content myself with fanfic for a few days until the ennui wears off.

I've been a fan of Cassie's since I first read Draco Dormiens oh so many years ago (in the heyday of fabulous Harry Potter fanfic. Not that there isn't still a lot of good stuff, I just miss the old fics by Lori, AngieJ, Heidi, etc). I basically haven't stopped reading her stuff since 2001. I'm highly saddened that one of my favorite trilogies is coming to an end, but what can you do. At least I get to see if Jace and Clary are actually related (I'm betting not, but you never know).

I'm at home sick today (I've had a headache for three damn days... it's terribly annoying), so I might actually get some stuff that I've been putting off done.

I finished My So Called Love, and I took 403 screenshots, which is RIDICULOUS, and means I somehow have to get through all of them, and find the meaningful ones.

I didn't love the movie. It was disjointed. VERY disjointed. But it was enjoyable enough. But what drew me in, the reason I have 400 screenshots is that it was REALLY pretty. The cinematography was lovely, but in a different way than I'm used to. The cinematographer focused on close up shots in this film, which was smart. It showed the intimacy of the situations. Plus, all of the actors were incredibly good looking. The close ups just really accentuated this.

Anyway, I'm doing a full post but holy shit 400 caps!...

I adored Summer's Tail. It had a slow languorous pace, but still managed to be frantic when it needed to be. It had beautiful music. The characters were great; I cared for each and every one of them. It was a great movie, not in the same way Eternal Summer is, but lovely nonetheless.

I'm (probably) going to write a full review at some point. But not right now. Still feel crappy. I took ~120 screencaps. Most of them of Rui Jia, who I love EVEN MORE now. He's quickly moving up my list of hot guys I'm in love with. I knew he was special when I saw him in Love Contract.

Apparently I REALLY like Taiwanese movies. Every single one I've seen I've loved. I think Eternal Summer has to be one of my favorite movies OF ALL TIME, and I've seen a lot of movies. It's that good (I totally rewatched it today).

Summer's Tail was filmed in Tainan. I was never really interested in going to Tainan in particular, but this film really showed the beauty of the county.



( Mini Summer's Tail picspam )

I just randomly stumbled upon the official Love Contract site. Xiao Feng was supposed to be 21, and Ah Ken was supposed to be 23. Ariel Lin WAS 21 at the time. Mike was 20... He sure didn't look 23.... Rui Jia was 19, he was supposed to be 21. Conversely Lin Yi Hong was 24, playing 21.

Ages interest me...

I made six more icons!
- 2 more Big Bang icons
- 2 Eternal Summer icons
- 1 Formula 17 icon
- 1 Hello My Teacher icon (RANDOM)

I'm up to 25 of them that I like. It's funny, I have a distinct style. Lots of saturated colors and shadows. I think I'll post when I get 40. I should reach that this weekend.

I started watching Formula 17 tonight. It's cute (OMG Tony Yang is adorable), but not nearly as good as Eternal Summer is.

I also found that Crystal Boys is not subbed anywhere. It's also really hard to find raws. I'm torrenting it right now, but only one person is seeding. I'm going to attempt to watch it sans subs. Should be interesting. Maybe my Mandarin will get better.

In other news, I think I've finished most of the good Gokusen fic on ff.net, mediaminer, aff.net, and the shinkumi lj com. I NEED MORE!