Initial D: the live action movie
***NOTE***: This following review does have some minor spoilers (mainly from the author's opinion), so read at your own risk. I think however, that I don't give too much away, so go ahead and read it anyway. =)
As an immediate convert to the racing world as a result of the anime series, I was totally pumped when they annouced the making of this movie. Finally, a true street racing movie that didn't have the Hollywood written all over it with show cars instead of real cars. I heard was psyched to hear that they were going to use real cars to drift. None of this Fast and Furious wanna-be-racers-but-all-i-can-really-do-is-look-cool-in-this-car junk. I thought this was a very successful movie in that it was a great transposition/adaptation of the manga/anime series. However was this a great movie? That is the questionable part.
Every race scene in this movie was done right. It was shot exactly how Initial D fans remember it from the series. Camera angles above and around cars as they drifted to turns. Inside and outside views of the drivers as they shuffle their feet in precise motions to make this kind of racing as beautiful as it appears. The cars weren't all flashy, they were just pure, as a racer's car should be. Only true enthusiasts would recognize each cars prowess. The R-32 GTR was a sight to behold (although the driver and his team weren't) as well as the Lan Evo. Overall, this movie was very aesthetically pleasing and could be watched just for that.
One place that Intial D fans will be disappointed however, will be how butchered the storyline seemed. Sure, Initial D had a pretty thin and straightforward plot to begin with, so one would figure it hard to mess up, right? Unfortunately the director found a way... By trying to incoporate many major sequences, that combined with the lead actor's crappy acting skills, lead to the terrible crash and burn of the story of this movie. The director decides to make some changes in the movie also to make things simpler, which would confuse fans at first, but in the end they don't add nor take away from the movie a whole lot. For example, in the movie, Itsuki is really the only street racer wanna-be on Akina as all other of the group of friends, Iketani and Kenji, were not included. Another unfortunate elimination was the inclusion of Ryousuke's brother, Keisuke and his newer RX-7. This probably broke a few hearts but when you think about it, it was probably in the best interest for the movie makers to cut a few characters out, economically and because it would add too much more to the movie. Also, the end race of the movie has Takumi, Ryousuke, and Kyouichi all racing against each other which never happens in the anime.
The cast was an interesting bunch. I wasn't overly psyched however when I found out who was in the cast although some of the people were very well picked. First of all though, I'd like to throw out the most apparent thing about the movie, is that just about every character overacts their part. Even Jay Chou as Takumi. I mean, yeah Takumi is a sullen and quiet character, but Jay Chou kinda makes him look retarded. Maybe it was because I found his Cantonese speaking skills to be at that of a dead lab rat, but he's really gotta stick to what he's good at, or at least what other people like, his singing. I gotta say that although they probably picked one of the biggest stars in Asia for this role, he did not deliver. He definately should've started acting in a smaller role and smaller movie. This movie was too big of a deal for some new kid to come and take the lead role away like it happened here. Anthony Wong as Bunta was probably one of the best picks for his role. He looks kinda like him and he pulls off his part amazingly. I couldn't have picked a better man for this part. Kenny Bee as Yuuichi was decent, although again, overacting = overkill his own part. I hate to say it, but even though I despised Edison Chen as Ryousuke (Ryousuke is pretty much a god of racing, and they found this stoned-eyed kid to play him... dispicable) I have to say that he did a decent job as well. He doesn't have the charisma and respect-demanding look that a Ryousuke should have, but he doesn't make Ryousuke look like a douche either. Shawn Yu's Nakazato is dismissible. The guy that was a bit of a surprise in the movie was really Itsuki who was played with Chapman To. Yes, you will find that he really overacts like crazy, but in a way he runs away with the movie with his own type of comedy. People who aren't used to his sort of (cantonese "PK") humor may find it repulsive, but I thought it was really funny. He brings so much charisma and umph to his role that you really can't forget him from the movie. Overall, if everyone toned down the overacting, and they replaced Takumi with, I dunno someone Japanese perhaps? or even a Takeshi Kaneshiro (with a haircut of course)? I think this movie could have been better already.
HK definately left it's mark on this movie, and unfortunately for some Initial D anime lovers, that may have hurt the movie for them. They didn't do a bad job, it's just that when you try to squeeze so much into a movie, it just turns out like the result of a food fight... everything everywhere, and not that pretty of a sight. The fact that this movie may have not been so great, but the ending was kinda left open for more, gives hope that a great sequel could be pulled off a few years down the road. Overall, I loved the driving scenes from the movie and some of the characters. Unfortunately, the story and the other characters kinda killed the movie in the end. I would recommend this to all the Initial D fans out there who haven't already seen it, as well as anyone who really enjoys a good racing movie. Note however, that this isn't the same as your Hollywood Fast and Furious stuff and you won't get all the fluff. Just pure and beautiful racing with drifting. If you're going to watch this as a casual viewer, be warned that this probably won't satisfy your yearning for a great , well rounded movie. Jay Chou lovers will be satisfied, getting to see their stud get more screen time than he really deserves. All in all, I guess I still have to rate this movie on a number scale... ehh... I think it deserves a 6.5/10. A good attempt by the director, but you missed the finish line by more than an inch...
work sucks, but summer rocks
I almost forgot how exhausting working at qfc could be especially if you're not used to working 8 hour days consecutively. Or maybe it was because I stayed up until 2 one night and didn't get much sleep for the next day... o_O;
I'm working 32 hours this week and no it's not gonna be fun. I didn't sign up for this many hours buy my manager specifically came and asked me if I could pick up a few more hours this week because one of the managers needs his vacation time. So I figured if I worked more this week, it would help me get onto the better side of my manager.
I've been thinking it over and I'm trying to figure out how my future with qfc is gonna work out. See, I only went to work there because I thought they would pay me more than any other job I could find somewhere else and also not cause me much hassle of having to find a new job. If you didn't know the rest of the story, I ended up getting the shaft and ended up only making a few dimes above my old wage, around $8.3 now currently about $8.7/hr, since my old contract expired or so they told me, and I ended up just being a whole "new employee." The whole point of me working was so that I could make enough money so that I could move out next year, senior year, into my own place with a few roomates. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to make enough to live all year only making what I am now. I'm also not willing to start working 30+ hours a week for the rest of summer, not to mention having to continue to work during the school year. I have much needed R&R that I need to catch up on after a surprisingly taxing summer quarter. Oh, but summer quarter ended on a very good note. I may have only been taking 13 credits, but I actually got a really good gpa this quarter XD It makes me so joyful to see my hardwork pay off... Anyway back to the original topic. Thus my current dilemma comes to this: I need money. Either I find a new job that pays more or ask for a raise. I figure the first one would take a lot more effort and the probability of it is also highly unlikely. There are very few jobs out there that offer flexible schedules, a decent wage (almost $9/hr is decent... not great, but decent...), and only 2 blocks away from where you live. @_@ (yeah, qfc isn't a great company but it had a lot of pluses as a job for me)
So just ask your manager for the raise, what do you have to lose? I guess the reason I'm holding back is because I keep guilt-tripping myself over the fact that I'm being too demanding of an employee and they will hate me forever. In reality, the company is a very (pardon my french) sh*tty entity. I just found out that one long time employee (20 yrs-ish) was just fired last week because she mis-read a piece of ID of an undercover kid who bought smokes from her. Just like that, the undercover kid told the manager, and they had to let her go. It's really sad I think. Yes it's policy, but I really feel bad for the woman. She's been working at qfc forever and I think she's in her 40's. I don't think she's got a lot of other career choices after being fired here. 'Tis life. It is a cold, cold world out there. (literally... Seattle reminded us today why it's known for it's weather) If you're gonna be soft, people are gonna step on you so you have to be strong and make yourself tough.
Work has also been an interesting experience as well as a crappy one. You see a lot of interesting people out there. Every day, I'll see a lots of housewives, mothers, businessmen coming home, families, teenagers, construction workers, gardeners, elderly people, shady people, bank workers... etc. Mother's are constantly fretting over their kids, trying to keep a straight face when you really know inside their head it's chaotic as heck. Housewives are gossiping with each other in line, holding up everyone... Businessmen are just trying to get out as soon as possible and give no regard to you (I like these transactions, quick and painless). Foreign manual laborers who don't understand what "Do you have an Advantage card?" means and don't ever want to sign up for one always annoys me. I feel like I should always ask every customer so they don't complain later if I didn't, but I know they don't have one, nor will they apply for one. Teenagers who try to act cool by saying their phone numbers and friggin 100words/min or something instead of carrying a card. DUDE, I DON'T HAVE REALLY SHARP EARS, ESPECIALLY AFTER I'VE BEEN WORKING 6 HRS AND WANT TO GO HOME TO EAT. Say it nice and slow and clearly the first time so it gets done correctly. I've said this before, but to reinforce my point, this job is pretty stressful. Everyone expects you to wisk them out of the store quickly and efficiently, baggin their groceries and takign however much they owe and be done with the whole procedure. When you mess up, you get this line of people looking at you, obviously disgrunted act the fact that they have to wait longer because you fucked up, and need the manager's key to make the stupid cash machine move to the next step. I understand why some of the other employees decided to take up another job, but only work at qfc, one day a week. Really, a person can take only take so much before they break. I plan on only working a day or two when school starts too, more because I feel that school really affects my studies. Not only does it take up time, but it really taxes your body too. After a 4-9 or 4-10 shift after school, you really just want to eat something at hit the sack. Thus you really subtract a whole day out of your week. I can't have my work screw over my studies again like it did last Fall quarter... I've learned my priorities.
Well, I'd love to write more, but I'm about to keel over and hit lay my head tgfsagdsssssssssss the keyboaaoard, so i'ma head out noww. nite -_-zzzz
Yay for pics...
Just thought I'd post some pics from my bday!! Thanks to cousin Jen for lending the camera. =D
The Pro Bowler =)
The Bowling Crew. Zhu looks a little intoxicated, no?
The "Danger" David. Beware, he tooled everyone in the second game of bowling!
I guess Jen took this pic because she was actually beating me at this point. Note the frame guys... rest assured I took care of this little mishap by the end of the game.
I told you Zhu was a little... "off" throughout the night... =P
Yeah, the toothpaste... part of a game, as well as the cards... really guys! What else would be we be doing.
Well that's all I got, it was great fun the entire night. =) Time to get back to finals studying T_T *sigh*
Family Reunions
My family reunions are so chaotic usually. If it's not the huge/loud family dinner at some chinese restaurant, it's because of the hurried/hectic schedule that the family tries to accomodate when people get together. That and some people are just indecisive. I've found that sometimes family reunions can happen too often, and sometimes not often enough. Not surprisingly, my dad's side (the ones that live in the Seattle area) meets fairly often, every other week or so for a meal or something else. I'm guessing this spawned from a more tightly held family from the previous generation. My dad sees his parents almost every week, and if not calls them. Yes, very dedicated I guess. Me? We'll get to that later. My mom's family doesn't really ever have large family reunions. It's mostly a relative or two and their families getting together usually. They also happen yearly.
In either situation, I can't say that everyone gets along with everyone else. Happens with every family. On my dad's side, the people who don't get together just don't come to the weekly/biweekly dinners as often. It doesn't affect everyone else too much, as long as most of the family is there. (sad but true)Confrontations among the opposites are avoided, probably for the better. On my mom's side, confrontations aren't avoided, they're met with full force. Sometimes they stir up even more than was initially concieved. Why this happens? I'm not entirely sure. Conflict of interests, mis-communication or lack there of, or simply because of bad scheduling are examples of reasons that happen in any situation. Why am I writing this? Because I'm the only guy among 4 women who are in the fiercest battle this side of Mercer Island. And man, I've had enough already >_<. I don't mean to offend women, but listening and *trying* to help hurts my head more than getting a brain freeze. These things just can't be sorted out sometimes and the best medicine is just time. Which is probably why these reunions happen every year. They forget what happened last year, so they get together the next year, only to repeat the process. Add a relative, stir, wait 3 minutes and viola; Instant chaos. I'm taking this a tad to far for the general audience, so if you're not related to me, make sure you forget this the next time you see any of my family.
What compelled me to write this was reflection about my own future family. Personally, I'd like to see my kids and other family somewhat-frequently (like different relatives every few weeks), but not so often that it drives my life. Having family to catch you when you fall is essential to life, however learning to be self-sufficient is also a must. There will undoubtedly be times when you need someone to help you. Family (and some friends) will always be there for you. I've been told that my parents have been both very strict on me to hold family bonds tight, as well as to be very independent/responsible. How it works, I dunno, but I guess I'll find out more about myself in the future.
One final question to the rest of you I'll raise is this, if confrontation really is painful, would you keep seeing that person, if they were family? Could you really cut the blood bonds forever? Is it in your best interest to do something like that? I'm thinking that this would get mixed responses from both more Amercanized folks as opposed to the Asian folks out there. I mean it's easy to stay away from someone you dont like at school, but family? You'd have to take some pretty desperate/far out measures to rid yourself of them. Not that I'm suggesting anything. I just wish everyone could get along. Can't live w/ family, can't live w/o them.
