Movie Review - The Host (2006)

From the depths of the Seoul River lies a monster created by environmental waste.  This creature surfaces and causes all types of chaos, attacking anyone near the water.  One particular family becomes totally entrenched in the middle of this ordeal when their youngest relative is taken.

The Host separates itself from other creature features in that the crisis places its focus mainly on family dynamics and relationships.  The neglectful father, named Park, is thrust into full obsession about finding his daughter and holding on to the hope that she is still alive.  Park's brother and sister have difficulty seeing him as anything other than a useless burnout.  Each family member must find what they can do best to outmatch this unique foe.

Outside of this solid B movie structure lies some significant subtext as well.  Many citizens are quarantined after the first attack; others who were considered significantly exposed to the mutated animal were even experimented on.  A toxic chemical is deployed on local river zones to supposedly disinfect the trail of harmful biological waste.  It seems like these drastic measures taken to protect the city, inflicts more damage on the people.  The Host is altogether thrilling, funny, and thought provoking.

The Host is available for stream on Netflix.

Rated R for creature violence and language

       

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Casey Anderson

Casey Anderson, the man whose best friend is an 800lb bear named Brutus.



This is not an exaggeration.

As a child growing up in the wilderness of Montana, Casey was known as the "animal magnet". Somehow animals were always able to find him and he loved it. After college, he became an animal keep and travelled around the world and met a lot of unique animals. Then Brutus entered into his life.

"Brutus was born in an overpopulated wildlife park. Casey rescued him from being euthanized and built a new sanctuary just for Brutus. A natural performer, Brutus was comfortable around people, making him a perfect assistant to teach park visitors about grizzly anatomy and conservation — and starring in educational videos and even feature films and television shows." [via]

Even to this day they remain close, they work together promoting grizzly awareness or just goofing around on feature films, tv shows, and commercials. Brutus was even his best man at his wedding!

Who could imagine that a bear could become so tame that he can attend a wedding and a Thanksgiving filled with people.

It looks so surreal, that the bear looks photoshopped...

Though working with animals has endangered his life before, it hasn't stopped him from doing what he loves.


 "...if it's your passion, you lick your wounds and turn the corner."
[more photos]

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Why is Everybody afraid of Love?

This is old, but I had to add it to our funny section. It still makes me laugh :)

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Food Art

I guess mommy never told Dan Cretu to not play with his food :P

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Savoir Adore

Fantasy Pop.

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Movie Review - Bringing Out the Dead (1999)

Martin Scorsese's underrated Bringing Out the Dead recaptures the sleepless nights of Taxi Driver. In this picture, New York City's streets is painted with druggies, gangsters, hookers, pimps, bums, and many other lost souls (Paul Schrader should also be credited for writing the palpable atmosphere).  Frank Pierce (Nicolas Cage), a paramedic, teeters between heaven and hell as he works through the hours before dawn.  It is through great depths of tragedy, black humor, and unlikely salvation that Frank discovers the necessities of life and death.

Frank has been working the night shift for countless years.  A dark cloud has fallen over him because he hasn't saved a life in a long time.  His initial love for the job has flipped to hate, having to bear the guilt of each death along the way.  He hasn't slept in days.  

To accompany Frank on this spiritual journey are a series of colorful EMT partners.  Each sidekick distracts their minds in order to suppress the atrocities of the job;  Larry (John Goodman) uses thoughts of what food to eat at their next break, Marcus (Ving Rhames) flirts with one of the dispatchers (Queen Latifah) he went on a blind date with,  and Tom (Tom Sizemore) reacts in aggression by lashing out at those he believes are just out to hurt others.  Bringing Out the Dead is a compelling study of the modern ferrymen who accompany souls across the river to the other side.    

Bringing Out the Dead is available for stream on Netflix.

Rated R for gritty violent content, drug use and language

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Genki Sudo

 

One of my favorite unique musicians is Genki Sudo. Not only is his music videos intriguing, but also his background. Though I was introduced to him as a singer, songwriter, dancer; his beginnings lie within MMA fighting.


Genki was born in Tokyo on March 8, 1978. His father was a Seafood manager and chef.

He started learning Greco-Roman wrestling in high school and went on to Takushoku Junior College where he won the JOC (Japanese Olypic Committee) Cup All Japan Junior Wrestling Championship.

In 1998, Genki moved to Los Angeles, dropped out of Santa Monica College and began practicing Brazillian jiu jitzu.

Kenichi Yamamoto

In 2001, Genki fought against Kenichi Yamamoto. Before the fight they had a private bet that if Genki won Kenichi would give him his UFC championship belt. As a result, Genki won and unofficially received the belt. Japan's media recognized him as the "UFC Japan Champion"

In 2006, Genki defeated Damacio Page by submission at K-1 Dynamite and surprisingly announced his retirement.

Damacio Page

Before his fights, Genki was known for his flashy entrances. So jumping into the music industry was not as shocking as some might think. After retiring from fighting, Genki went on to start an amateur baseball team for people 30 and over, wrote 8 books, got married, created the musical group World Order, became the best manager for Takushoku University's wrestling club, dipped his feet in acting, started graduate school, and gained his black belt in jui jitszu all before the end of 2010.



Do what you love :)

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Amazing 3D Pencil Drawings

"Ramon Bruin is a 31 year old talented freelance artist, who graduated at the Airbrush Academie in the Netherlands.  He is mostly a self-taught artist. Besides a great passion for airbrush, he also draws and paints. With experience in multiple techniques and materials like acrylic-, oil, water paints, charcoal,
paint pens, pencils and graphite he makes unique artwork." [via]

See more of his work here.

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Devastating.

Only in Korean Dramas...

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Movie Review - Lost in Translation (2003)

Two Americans in different periods of their lives find themselves lost under the flickering neon lights of Tokyo.  Bob Harris (Bill Murray), an over the hill actor, is shooting photos for a Japanese whiskey ad campaign.  Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is staying at the same hotel with her working husband (Giovanni Ribisi), a photographer.  When Bob meets Charlotte, an unlikely relationship begins to unfold.

Despite the significant age difference between the two protagonists, they have many things in common.  Bob is on the outside of his movie career looking in while simultaneously trying to keep his 25 year marriage afloat.  Charlotte is still looking for something to be passionate about after finishing college.  Her husband is too busy with his work to notice.  Both characters are at the tail end of eras in their lives, confused and uncertain.    

The state of the main characters may lead one to assume that this film is melancholic.  It is contrarily humorous and heartfelt.  Bob tends to stumble onto many misunderstandings because of the language barrier and his tall figure.  While shooting the scene where Bob is in the studio for the whiskey commercial, writer/director Sophia Coppola had to cover her mouth because she was laughing so hard.

After Bob and Charlotte meet, they move through the city with new eyes, enjoying the surroundings together.  Japan offers many unique experiences, but maybe it's all meaningless without someone to share it with.  Whether you are in your mid 20s or pushing a midlife crisis, Lost in Translation offers emotions we can all relate to.

Lost in Translation is currently available for stream on Netflix.

Rated R for some sexual content

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Unbelievable Origami by Nguyen Hung Cuong

Nguyen Hung Cuong started perfecting his craft at the very young age of ten. He uses unique paper ( dó) made in the villages of Vietname, which is where he is from. His goal is create pieces by using only one piece of paper. [via]

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