On Mr. Harry Potter...

Monday this week was a little bit somber. For several womanly reason (and by the way I am legally supported by the Japanese legal system to take my womanly day once a month) I decided to work from home. Heck, I had my PowerBook on me anyway and it had been declared 'personal information' free by the administrator, so off I went - working in my PJ with music blazing loud in the background.

After a wee bit, I decided to change the background scene. I put "Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire" on the DVD and started watching it (while working a little bit). Man, that's a good movie. Next thing I know, I re-watched all four Harry Potter DVDs in reverse order and kept on feeling petrified. Yeah, I'm a sucker for fantasy stories, and the Harry Potter series especially . Read the books a million times, and watched the movie also nearly as many times as I read the books.

Of all the characters, I adore Hermione Granger the most. She's mental, yeah, sure. She always behaves as if she knows-it-all, but the thing is, SHE DOES! And she always means well. And how cool is that to be going to school where the library has all the answer that you're looking for in the most complete book collection.

And... the Weasleys. Oh, they're fun and fab!!! Except Percy, of course, he's just plain weird and desperately pathetic. And look at Ginny!! She has grown to look prettier and prettier over the years. And Ron finally developed a strong character of his own.

And of course Albus Dumbledore just rocks. He's just awesome. The things he know! The things he can do!! I wonder why he's not married. To be very frank, I'm actually confused why all of the teachers at Hogwarts are unmarried. Surely it's not the requirement to become a teacher, right?

Of course I like Harry, but I just don't get it why he's always so mad. That kid is just darned bitter, I'm telling you. He was much more affectionate when he was only in his first year at Hogwarts.

And Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows will come out on July 21. I need to read that book and find some answers. Damn you, Snape! You traitor, traitor, traitor!!! But if Gandalf can come back and help Frodo destroy the ring, then I can't see why Dumbledore can't. After all, he is supposed to be the greatest wizard of all time.

I am waiting in anticipation for the new movie to come out on July 20. I am taking Divydoo to see that. Can't think of any better movie to take her to, since she's a fellow Harry Potter freak herself.

Yes, Harry Potter rocks.

Sunday musing: on movies, John Mayer and Ellen DeGeneres

It's 2:47 pm and it's dark,
It's dark because the room has no light,
Outside the day is bright and shining,
Alas, I have to stay in this darkness until 5 pm.

The life of a mole in a mole hole
This is my life.

Again, I can't complain. I do love this job.
However, as we are progressing in the final group and after 1 hour there seems to be no more new findings, I decided to muse over some more exciting things.

Such as what?
Such as the package from Amazon that just arrived last night in the mail. Thanks to C-Genilimaa's recommendation, I decided to enhance my DVD library with a few movies, mostly related to food and period drama. I am looking forward to watch "Eat drink man woman" and "The Wedding Banquet", as well as "Tortilla Soup" soon after I finish watching "Thank you for smoking".

Started watching "Thank you for smoking" last night. I like it. I've gone as far as 50 minutes into the movie, but was caught short because I fell asleep like a log afterwards. There is one thing that I don't get about this movie, however. The DVD box is marketing it as a hillarious movie, a comedy and hyped to be a funny one. Having spent 50 minutes with that movie, I don't recall laughing hysterically even once. I chuckled in different places, yes, but not yet laughing. Maybe I'm not there yet, maybe the best one is yet to come. What I can say, though, this movie is pointing out some really absurd, yet valid, points. It got you into thinking.
Later tonight after I get home I will watch the remaining of the movie and then I'll get back to Montchan's review at Chaos.

Also, I found out today that John Mayer writes in his blog regularly, too. He has a very interesting perspective on some unusual issues. Oh, and I like his music too.
Check out his "Ruminations on a treadmill" entry. Good stuff about Chris Rock and Elvis Costello.

Got me thinking of one of my favorite DVDs of all time. It is Ellen DeGeneres' stand-up show "Here and Now". Here she started talking about procrastinating and procrastination and the things that make her procrastinate and next thing you know she wraps everyone to join her in the procrastination process. Absolutely genius and HILLARIOUS. Gosh that woman is funny. I've listened to it like 3,000 times and I still laugh, and the beauty of is it does not matter where you start listening, because that is the point of procrastination.

Documentary Film Screening: 'Cinadkeran' & 'Song of the Arayo'

Extending the words: should you find yourself in Tokyo on March 2, 2007 and would like to find a very interesting to do, you need not look for more.

One of the Tuesdays, a documentary filmmaker, will have a film screening right on that day.

Below is the complete information:

‘Cinadkeran’ & ‘Song of the Arayo’

18:15-19:00 Symposium: ‘The World of the Cinadkeran and the Yami Tribe’

Hosted by: Jin Akira (film-maker), with:
- Professor Inui Naohiko (of Gakushuin Women’s College), who specialises in the life and culture of the Yami;
- Professor Minagawa Ryuichi (of Keio Senior High School), who specialises in the spiritual culture of the Yami;
- Andrew Limond (director); and
- Kitamura Minao (producer).

Programme

19:10-19:27 ‘Song of the Arayo’
[17 mins, in Japanese with English script provided]


The ‘arayo’ (dorado) is a sacred fish. An old man fishes far out to sea in his traditional hand-made boat on the first day of the fishing season. This film is a window into the unique worldview of the oceanic Yami. It has already been shown in Germany and Japan to critical acclaim.

Directed, filmed and edited by: Andrew Limond

19:32-21:05 PREMIERE: ‘Cinadkeran’
[93 mins, in Japanese with English script provided]


Some say that the ‘cinadkeran’ is the most beautiful boat in the world. The Yami tribe has been building such boats for centuries. This documentary is a complete record of the construction of a cinadkeran, from the felling of the first tree, to the boat’s maiden voyage to catch flying fish almost one year later.

Directed and filmed by: Andrew Limond Cameramen: Goto Ippei; Kanazawa Yuji 2nd Unit Director: Jin Akira Sound effects: Saito Tsuneo Audio mixing: Imori Masanobu Narration: Kobayashi Katsuya Academic Cooperation: The Taiwan Yami Culture Research Forum: Inui Naohiko, Minagawa Ryuichi Translation: Siyapen Monod, Siyapen Jazikna (Siyapen Kotan) Produced by: Kitamura Minao, Miura Yoko

TIME: Friday 2nd March 2007 from 18:00

VENUE: ‘Kyurian’ (きゅりあん) The Shinagawa Culture Foundation, 1st floor Hall
Keihin Tohoku Line, Oimachi Station . One minute’s walk after turning left out of the central exit; located in the same building as Marui.

MAP: http://www.shinagawa-culture.or.jp/curian/cumap.html

TICKETS: On the door: 1,500 yen In advance*: 1,300 yen

INQUIRIES: (Japanese) 03-3352-2291, e: info@vfo.co.jp
(English) 080-5672-9920, e: andylimond@hotmail.com

*Advance tickets can either be booked with by Andrew Limond in person, at the contact number or email address above, or, they can be bought directly by using fund transfer facilities at any post-office (please mark the fund transfer slip ‘cinadkeran’, or ‘チヌリクラン’):　郵便振替 00120-2-556390 (ヴィジュアルフォークロア).

Tales from Earthsea: A Viewer's Tale in Tokyo

I want to share with you my amazing discovery yesterday.

Cousin Yudo, my favorite movie-going buddy and I were discussing about a movie that we wanted to go watch.
After much debate over "Pirates of the Carribean 2", "Mission Impossible III" and "Cars"... he talked me into seeing something completely different.
He kept on saying, "Let's go watch that Gedo something movie. It's a Studio Ghibli production and Miyazaki is directing it, I reckon it must be good."
On my comp day yesterday, I finally caved in.
I went with him, not knowing what to expect, except that the movie is an animated one, of a fantasy story.

So, we watched the movie. It was very enjoyable, although I think it's a little heavy for children.

As we were watching the movie, I noticed the set of the story was from some country's seacoast. I kept on thinking and said, "Hmm, this reminds me so much of Spain. The Galician coast, to be exact. Where is the book supposed to be set in? Is it Spain?"

"I'm not sure. It's gotta be somewhere in Europe, though. Look at the old buildings."

"It must be Spain or some Mediterranean country, since the characters seem to have darker skin tone."

Shortly after I said that, the soundtrack music started playing. It was a bagpipe based music.

I said, "I'll be damned, but this is Galician bagpipe."

"If it is a bagpipe, shouldn't this be Scottish, then?"

"Not necessarily, you see bagpipe is also a part of Spanish culture, and I can be wrong, but this music really sounds like the works of Carlos Nunez."

"They do have darker skin tone, they can be Spanish I suppose..."

"Trust me, I know my bagpipes. This one is not Scottish, this one is definitely Galician."

So we continued watching the movie. And it ended beautifully. However, I was still a little unsure about the story-line even after the movie finished.
When I raised my opinion, Yudo said, "Well if you haven't read the books, then I supposed it will be a little difficult to understand the story, especially because this one is not of the first book."

When I inquired about the books, he said, "It's a part of a series. Some western author wrote it, maybe she's European, although I'm not so sure. I can't quite remember what the name is, it's not easy to pronounce. But the series is called Tales from Earthsea."

and then I said... "Wait a minute, is it Ursula Le Guin?"

my cousin yelped, "YES! That's it"

I said, "You've got to be joking! Ursula Le Guin is my client's mother. Oh my goodness. Now everything makes sense!!"

Theo Downes- Le Guin, one of my most cherished clients, often travels to Japan for research projects. Every time he's in town, we always go out for a meal. One of the subject that always comes up is his 'side' business trip that he does for his mother. He often animatedly told me about meeting Mr. Miyazaki, or visiting the Studio Ghibli production house.
The works of Ursula Le Guin is highly noted in the fantasy world. She is a cherished author, and I'm a little ashamed that I haven't yet read any of her books.

Anyway, so we talked about the books and Mrs. Le Guin while waiting for the lights to come out.

As we were talking, we were reading the names of the voice cast, and I wanted to make sure I see who contributed in the music for the soundtrack. When I least expected it, there standing proudly and singularly the name "Carlos Nunez".
Hahaha.... STRIKE 2!!
Carlos Nunez is a good friend that I met at a music festival in Japan in Summer 2005. He is, in fact, my first introduction to the Celtic music. We befriended each other since then. Carlos is a phenomenal musician who was very kind to show me around Galicia when I paid him a short visit in November 2005.
I recalled Carlos was in town for a month earlier in Spring this year. We caught up for meals and phone calls whenever the opportunity presented itself. During which time he often spoke of the works and the recordings that he did. Only yesterday I remember he was speaking very fondly of a work he's doing with an "animation movie about the sea" - that's how he simply put it.

What an amazing coincidence!!!
Never in my wildest imagination would I expect to discover such connection in one small occasion. I would never have put the two and two together.
Going to see the movie with zero expectation and genuinely enjoyed it is one thing, but discovering the amazing surprise elements after watching it has made this movie even more special to me.

Great work, Everyone!!