Dream High (the good one) Men

I don't know if this is a universal feeling or something felt by artists, but sometimes I don't want to post something because I don't like part of it. Then I will keep it on my dash or whatever until it eats at me and I either throw it away or finish it knowing that I still don't like it. For this picture I had thought it was good, so for the longest time (a year or so) I had meant to finish it up, but looking at it with fresh eyes I don't feel the same. Regardless it's complete enough for me to send it off into cyberspace and move on with my life.

Damn, I rambled too much.

-Alyssa

Don't forget about my giveaway!!!

Giveaway!

Its official, I have surpassed 3,000 page views!!! This is by no means extraordinary, seeing as of now I have a total of three comments, but whatever I feel like celebrating and having a flimsy excuse for a giveaway. Yes you heard me, a GIVEAWAY!!!! 

This thing is going to be pretty open-ended, whereas I am not putting an expiration date nor am I putting a set amount of recipients. For one, I doubt that there are that many people reading this blog other than for the recaps I did of Dream High 2. Unfortunately unless I suddenly feel inspired or somebody asks me to cover a specific series, that might not happen again. I’ll still continue with mini-reviews and I have plans in store for different outlets of recapping. So if you exist, look forward to that. Secondly, with things so loose I will not feel too pressured to get things done. One day you may or may not receive the prize.

I know, not very promising..but who cares it’s a GIVEAWAY-ish!!!
  

So how to get the darned thing!

All you have to do is comment and I think the system leaves an email for me to follow up with, but if you want to include that, do it! I will email you if you are a winner (a totally random process), asking for your mailing address. If your uncomfortable sharing your information to a complete stranger write down your Grandma’s house for all I care. And that’s it! Be creative with your response if you want, but I doubt that enough people (if any) will reply for me to be picky.

The prizes!!!

•  A signed autograph by me!! …Kidding, I will write you a nice letter; anything ranging from life in college to how the sky is blue. If you have a specific topic in mind that’s cool too, we could even be pen pals <3
•  I created this cheesy Valentine’s Day card type thing that I never sent out, because I missed the date. Still, I feel like sharing it to the world. You’ll get a tiny low quality print of the thing along with a very belated Valentine’s Day message.
•  I will draw almost anything you ask that’s within reason. Keep in mind that I am not the best cartoonist, so it might come out childishly cute or wonky. If it’s something realistic, I’ll need a reference. The drawing won’t be that large though so don’t go expecting a masterpiece to hang up on your wall.

I’ve been inspired to send out mail and thought this would be a good side project /outlet to do so. I have very low expectations on how this will turn out, but I am going to do it! So comment, comment, comment!!

  

…I think that’s it! 

-Alyssa

Glamorous (Extravagant) Challenge a.k.a "Skip Beat!" Episodes 7 and 8 Recap

 EPISODE SEVEN: 

 

     Because the person behind the chicken suit had intimate knowledge of himself, Shang concludes that he/she could be no other than Gong Xi. He puffs his chest due to her low pole position and is happy to hear that she has been fired. Meanwhile Gong Xi walks about, depressed. She bumps into Lian who also is. Not knowing her identity (she is still in the chicken suit) he asks to borrow her phone. She responds that she doesn’t have one, deducts that he needs it in order to do a web search on a confusing term that he stumbled upon reading his script, and offers her assistance instead. He agrees and they sort things out. Later they talk about her being fired, and he cheers her up by saying that he had been fired too many to times to count. He sees them as positives because they contributed to his growth. The pair part on good terms and he even deems her his friend.

     That night she has a nightmare about Lian, Moko, and Shang ganging up on her and the following day she runs into Lian who teases her a bit. Apparently this is a minor revenge for when she had flicked him off (?), but I can’t seem to recall/find when this had happened. During which he notices that she is not wearing her uniform and he tells her that standing out, in any way, is vital to a budding career in showbiz. She acknowledges his words and heads off.

     Gong Xi meets up with her manager to discuss an upcoming commercial audition. Sometime during their talk she learns that she has been rehired as the chicken, though she opts to keep it off her resume. Later at the audition, Gong Xi clings to Moko and as usual she tries to maintain a distance. During the initial round Moko spots a rival of hers (Fei Li Hua) and uncharacteristically begins to waiver. Gong Xi puts an end to it by revving up her spirits with a nice motivational speech.

     At the commercial audition a partner skit is called into play, where teams of two are given 20 minutes to come up with a performance; two friends have a quarrel about loving the same guy. Gong Xi and Moko are randomly put together and Fei demands that they not be allowed to rehearse, because they are from the same agency. The director suggests a redraw instead, but Moko, with loaded confidence, accepts the challenge. Gong Xi freaks out about it during the waiting time, but on their turn Moko calms her down and tells her to just act accordingly. Their time starts and the two begin to exchange intense looks and amidst it all Moko slaps Gong Xi; completely shocking everyone.

Favorite Moment(s):

 Lian (Choi Si-Won) flicking Gong Xi off with a cleaver in hand; priceless!!

EPISODE EIGHT:

     Before Gong Xi is able to react to being slapped, Moko breaks down into tears. Seeing her friend in turmoil, Gong Xi apologizes, winning over the audience. Things aren’t over yet though, because another skit is issued. This time Gong Xi must come up with the idea. Alone she mulls over what to do, eventually deciding to use a beverage (the item being advertised in the commercial). However Fei observes in the background and decides to one up the duo by using the idea first. After Fei’s performance Gong Xi comes up with a quick fix that leads that wins over the crowd.

     Learning that they have received the parts, Gong Xi decides to go out and celebrate with Moko. The two walk around a bit and over time Moko warms up to her and the notion of friendship. At the end of the day, while Gong Xi is napping, she thanks Gong Xi by giving her some points (the ones exclusive to the Love Me Section).

     Lian’s manager gets sick and in result Gong Xi becomes a temporary replacement. Unfortunately she sucks, making things more difficult for him. At one point she even gives out his schedule to the press, exposing stuff that was meant to be secret; like upcoming projects. She cries in defeat when she realizes the gravity of her mistake, but the ever-so-charming Lian cheers her up by letting her start afresh. He gives her the simple task of finding refreshments, but on her way she spots a poster of Shang and goes nuts. The episode ends when Lian notices her being escorted out for misconduct.

Favorite Moment(s):

The skit thought up by Gong Xi; it was one of my favorite parts in the manga so seeing it live was enjoyable.

REMARKS:

And just like that the plot has pretty much come to a screeching halt, as we are left to amuse ourselves with morals and life lessons…

I keep calling Gong Xi’s “Love Me Section” partner Moko, but it really is Qin. I started calling her that because that is her name in the manga and at the time I was too lazy to figure out what was being used in the drama. Let me know if you want me to correct this.

I am having a hard time commenting on the show. Its fluff, nothing really to analyze, you know?

NOTE: 
This has been written for months, never got around to posting it till now. I think I might have a few more episodes, but after that I don't plan on continuing. I saw the whole series, just stopped writing about it. I'll probably comment on the remaining episodes to finish things off. 

Shameless Promotion

I started one those accounts on Etsy, just to you know spread my work around. If anyone is interested, I have this one painting of my first Korean Popstar love, Rain. I believe the picture is a bit more pale than the real thing...

I also did a painting from the Korean Drama "Big". It has Baek Sung Hyun and Suzy. Funny thing is, never saw the series. Someday?....

And before concluding my ramblings; if you want to suggest a painting/drawing/whatever feel free to comment and I might oblige. After all, comments make me feel warm and bubbly inside!
-Alyssa

CITY HUNTER: Mini Review (-ish)

What I Remember
I know the site "Dramabeans" raves about the drama and while I normally agree with their opinions,  I never really got into it. The hero was too damn whiny and the girl was just going with it, very one dimensional. For whatever reason though I can't forget the scene where the girl is dangling from a roof and the City Hunter is doing his best to lift her up despite having been wounded. On top of which, I believe she was passed out. Meaning, she was nothing but dead weight. Just like much of the "suspense" the drama provided, it was too much.

Verdict: 6/10

Dream High 2 Recap/Summary: Episode 16

EPISODE SIXTEEN (The Freaking End!)

     Things open with Rian performing again, still no singing… After she finishes she goes backstage to greet her friends. Noting JB’s absence, she asks where he is and as she does he “coincidently” walks in. Yoo-Jin gives him the ol’ threat routine, telling JB that he better not chicken out. He still wants JB to kneel down to him. JB heads out onstage and walks on with a limp. His friends that are watching wonder what’s wrong. I’ll tell you what’s wrong, he RAN AFTER HAE-SUNG WITH A TORN ACL THAT’S WHAT!!!!! He trips during the performance and everyone talks in concern.

     Somewhere dark we find JB sitting all alone. Rian approaches him in tears. She says that he should have mentioned his condition and that she should have been nicer. No shit. JB tells her that he will no longer dance and gives her his shoes as a sort of way to seal the deal. He then tells her to live out her dreams, because she has put in more effort than him. Things cut to her onstage and she blabs about how people view her and her journey and JB and shit. Basically it’s a mini montage of the series. She proceeds by singing a song. I started zoning out.

     Yoo-Jin finds JB and chews him out, in the tough love kind of way. JB just wishes him a good performance, but he says he doesn’t need it because he always does well. Back onstage, Yoo-Jin closes his eyes in preparation and the scene ends in light.

Eight Months Later.

      All the Super Idol kids step out of a bus and a list of fans and reporters await them. Except, Yoo-Jin’s not with them, he is on the sideline. Things flashback, just about a minute into the flash forward, and it shows Yoo-Jin purposely screwing up his audition. He plays a few strings/chords/whatever and says nothing but “G-Minor”. He ends his performance by saying that that is all he is right now and that he will go out on his own. Backstage Rian lightly scolds him and somehow manages to get her arms around him in the process. He he. Shin Jae-In (the guy in charge of these damn competitions) tells Yoo-Jin that he is making a mistake, but Yoo-Jin replies that he isn’t. He walks away, Rian follows in glee, and Jae-In smiles. 

       In the now present, as in back to eight months later, Rian and Yoo-Jin are seen talking. They start off with some friendly small talk, but soon Yoo-Jin questions her about why she didn’t decide to go solo. Apparently she had won the random last minute competition. Rian replies that it’s all because of her friends. Yoo-Jin smiles at her sincerity, begins to make fun of her, and gets his hands on her face. Just as they semi-kind of share a moment JB walks in and asks if they are really going out. Yoo-Jin dodges this by asking if Hae-Sung is coming and JB says that he shouldn’t ask. Yoo-Jin complains that he can think of her if he wants. JB says that Hae-Sung was the one who liked him, as in not Yoo-Jin. The two bicker and Rian breaks it up by saying Hae-Sung liked her most. She dangles the famed pendent in front of the two. 

     The whole flash forward thing has brought us to graduation day. Some people give speeches, the students clap. Rian is brought to the stage and announces that she will be reading a letter in Hae-Sung’s place. Lame. A montage of Hae-Sung and everyone’s journey soon ensues. Again, lame. Another mini montage of their graduation plays.

Eight Years Later. Really?!

     JB is now in charge of making music and is sporting a really ugly perm. Why can’t we go back to the days when JB had the really hot bleached hair?? Someone is purposely sabotaging his looks, I just know it. Ui-Bong now instructs a dance class. Some of his students chatter about his looks. Just as he calls them out for a lecture, Lee Seul comes in and tells him to stop, they are a couple. 

     In a dressing room Teacher Yang (JYP) starts complaining about his outfit and dance moves, but his fellow teachers encourage him. The whole thing is teasing JYP (the real-life person) and his old style. To add to the funny, Teacher Yang is auditioning for a show that he is moonlighting for in real life. Meaning, JYP plays himself judging Teacher Yang. Okay, so I’m not the best at explaining this scene. In short, JYP is playing two roles, Teacher Yang and himself. The whole thing is supposed to be a joke (a very dumb one).  

     The Nana, Ji-Woo, and Hong Joo triangle continues and Ji-Woo is still at a loss. 

     Yoo-Jin is now a teacher of rock music and thank our lucky stars, he has a decent hairdo.

     Rian and Hae-Sung run into each other on a plane and the two have a small chat about what they are up to. Of course, they are both successful. During their talk they both discover that they have been called by Yoo-Jin. Getting to school they are happily surprised to see the new students dancing and singing to the “B Song”. 

      Somehow Hae-Sung ends up in charge of directing a play and she tells Rian that she must audition. The two end up laughing after some small bickering. JB and Yoo-Jin walk in and things start to get campy. Rian looks at JB and gestures toward Hae-Sung with her head, he just smiles.

     Backstage the girl playing Hae-Sung applies makeup, preparing herself for her role. Rian comes in and starts dabbing off the makeup, telling her that she must be “average, average, Average!” Hae-Sung enters and chuckles. Rian pulls out a ugly duck sweater and asks that the girl playing Hae-Sung wear it. The two laugh some more. Hae-Sung then proceeds to check out the props. At one point someone asks her about chopsticks and a spoon. Hae-Sung had forgotten, but thankfully she stills carries the chopsticks that JB got her.

     The play, that I’m guessing is a regurgitation of the drama, opens with Rian telling everyone that they are B. Things continue with the rest of the team giving heartfelt words and blah blah blah. A new rendition of the Dream High theme song is performed. I’m not a big fan of this version, the spark is gone. The drama ends with some parting words from the group. Something like, our dreams have changed, but perhaps we will become someone else’s dream. 

QUICK SUMMARY:

A bunch of montages, flash forwards, Yoo-Jin exits the idol world, JB can no longer perform, and everyone ends up happy. 

EPISODE REMARKS:

As an ending, this episode sucked ass. It was montages and happy scenes strung together. Yeah, it’s good that we aren’t left with some stupid last minute cancer or whatnot, but still…What I freaking HATED was that no one really got together, in terms of the main characters. It wouldn’t have been bad, had romance never been hinted at. However it was and I was pissed. Then there is the whole Rian and Hae-Sung thing. Good for them, they are all chummy, but why the hell didn’t the show play on that earlier?! It’s nice to not have a bitch character, especially ones that do 180 personality changes out of the blue. Although the show gave little answers and a big fat bow wrapped on everyone’s problems, the ending could have been worse. So…good for them I guess.

SERIES REMARKS:

I know I shouldn’t relate this drama to the first, but they gave me no other choice. What the hell am I supposed to think when I see the new kids singing the first Dream High’s theme song? On the acting scale, both had some wooden actors, though JB managed to double the damage. As for story, Dream High 2 managed to take a good concept and burn it to the ground; taking it to random music videos, lack of direction, and stupid plotlines. Oh, and the damn clichés. But if for some reason you disagree, let me know why. Maybe you liked them both?

Despite it all, I kind of liked some moments that the show had, RIAN AND YOO-JIN FOR THE WIN! 

COMMENTS AS THE WRITER:

I kind of rue the day I decided to recap the series, bad idea. But, I figure that it’s all about improving. It let me know how much time goes into this and how it kind of takes some of the joy out of just watching. I know I had a brief hiatus from the last recap, but life kind of took over and to be frank, I really didn’t mind not getting to the last episode. I can’t stress this enough, but PLEASE comment. It would brighten my day to know that at least one person is reading this, because site views are unreliable.  

Sorry for the long ass post, but hey it’s the finale. I did it!

-Alyssa

Swing Girls (2004) Review

Normally I have a format to how I review things, though I haven't really shown it. It's usually broken up into acting, story, impact, and production. This time I have decided to just write down some of my key thoughts and run with it. Please let me know your thoughts on this matter and suggest ways in which I can improve!!

Thoughts:

I am not very cultured in music; give me a music sheet and my eyes will glaze over. Meaning, I am basically limited to my opinion; does it sound good or not. There’s no science and it is definitely subjective. That being said the statement made in the final half hour, “There are two types of people in this world; people who swing and those who don’t.” worked for the movie and had me almost nodding my head in agreement. Of course it’s not true and is as cliché as it gets, but the movie succeeded in drawing its viewers into that world.

I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for romance; making the small storyline between the two main characters, Tomoko and Takuo, an excellent treat. What I loved was that it was underplayed and subtle in a non-subtle way. There was one scene, and I hope I’m not spoiling too much, where the two are chasing each other in the midst of a snow ball fight. Tomoko trips and Takuo hovers over her; armed and ready for his target. He stops when he sees her looking straight at him, becoming aware of her for the first time. Now one would think that he is in the dominating position, but it is Tomoko who has him wrapped around her finger. Shown when he decides to drop the snowball and offer to help her up, only for her to make an escape. The whole scene is about two minutes long and despite the two never discussing their feelings, the movie was able to convey emotion almost on par with a romantic genre.

If I had to order the things that I loved in this movie, the romance between Tomoko and Takuo would be put on the backburner because the chemistry of the “Swing Girls” group whole would be first. The dedication that the school kids had was amazing, even though it was all fiction. One person following their passion is one thing, but a group? It takes a lot of trust and cooperation. Think about it, if you decided to start a business how many of your friends could you persuade to join in with you? Not many. It was refreshing and a bit envy worthy to watch the group of kids find their own way. From saving up money, realizing they suck ass, to becoming a crowd moving band. It’s the classic underdog story without the competitiveness. These kids are doing it all out of pure pleasure. Which made things endearing and the few shifts from realism bearable.

Now, I did skip some parts, both fault to the pacing of the movie and my personal agenda (which includes writing reviews, recaps, and art).  However, it made sense and there were few (if any) scenes that weren’t necessary to creating the illusion of reality. The movie did manage to counter this by having a good sense of humor and dialogue, especially when the group was just starting out.

Verdict:

Despite its positives, this movie may not be for everyone; in the sense that it should be watched on a lazy Sunday or with ease of mind. In addition there is the whole Jazz/Swing thing that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. In short, it’s worth a watch, but it’s not a “must see now!” thing. 

Rating: 7.5-8/10