Nice Guy Eps. 9 & 10

Nice Guy did a complete U turn at the end of episode 9 and we had to welcome our friend the old k-drama chestnut amnesia. And it was all going so well. Now we have a brain clot, amnesia, murder, blackmail, kidnapping and our titular Nice Guy is going from test to test to his limits.

I actually fell asleep during most of episode 10 and had to rewind and rewatch more than once. Oh well, it was good while it lasted and I want to finish it because I like SJK and MCW.

Now don't get me wrong I love a good makjang to the max but this show was somehow different you know, now it looks like it has taken its mask off.

Meanwhile Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna is going good so I have stopped Salvation of a Saint for a while to wait its turn. Meanwhile I feel so greedy for books that I feel like reading Bir Gün Tek Başına (One Day All By Yourself) a novel I have read and re read and love and also Redbreast (Turkish translation) the second Hole novel by Nesbo.

Salvation of a Saint, Nice Guy Eps. 8

Ok I wanted to treat myself lunch with some good kebab outside in the sunshine by the sea. And what better to accompany me than a good book. But I was not really that into Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna (then) and decided to treat myself to Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino. I loved The Devotion of Suspect X and this one is also very very good but now I have two good books in my hands waiting to be read (yeah what a delightful problem). It was a mistake to start that one. Well now I'm very much into Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna and really curious about what's going to happen in Salvation of a Saint (a murder mystery). And neither is the type of book that you can put down and pick up days later. I have put myself into this situation (and this is probably the only example of a happy problem :) )

I'm also very much into Nice Guy. Barely holding myself back from marathoning it. It is just so good, still not very believable but I don't care. I totally root for Maru and Eungi. And would like to see Jae Hee get her just deserts. Not a yawn in sight during this one and I actually kind of feel guilty to like Song Jun Ki this much. He looks like an angel and he is so much younger than me but I love his voice and he is a naturally talented and smart actor. A winning combination. 

The Accidental Apprentice - End, Hotel Iris - End, Nice Guy Eps I & II, Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna

As our house was being renewed (walls repainted and new floors) I have finished The Accidental Apprentice and was pleasantly surprised by the twists. Never saw them coming. Good job Mr.Swarup.
Then I have started long awaited Hotel Iris which turned out to be very good. It looks into the psyche of the maschochist.

Now I have turned to a Turkish book titled Kumral Ada Mavi Tuna (lit. translation of the title is Brown haired Ada Blue Tuna) - and it tells the story of a Brown Haired Girl called Ada (means Island) and a boy named Tuna (Turkish name for river Danube). It started with a bang and so far I like it a lot.

I also started Nice Guy and the first two episodes were alright if a bit needing to suspend belief. I like the lead trio so far and the main lead Song Jung Ki is really good. 

Rising Sun - End, The Accidental Apprentice - Renovation.

Rising Sun ended and it was a good ride but nothing that prompted me to seek out other novels written by Mr.Crichton.

And I have started The Accidental Apprentice written by Vikas Swarup. Loved his first two books and this one is already so good and I'm not even halfway yet. Also this one makes me want to watch Indian films again.

Last night Inuyasha only lasted me about four and a half episodes. Actually my mother's getting the whole house repainted (interiors) and after that the floors will be renewed. And insallah this will be a good opportunity to actually get rid of everything I have been hoarding for no reason. Let's see if I can handle this project - yeah I guess I have turned into one of those people who call everything a "project".

Inuyasha still

Yesterday I have finally received my shipment which included Nice Guy and Queen In Hyu's Man but instead of watching them, I have returned to Inuyasha (maybe because I missed hearing Japanese talked around me- heh) and it was good to be back. Now I realised I don't really care for Sango and her giant boomerang but other than that all was fine.

From Japan Trip

World War Z  It was intense and watchable but ultimately not my kind of film.

Heat this was not a good one but for some reason I enjoyed it a lot.

A Beautiful Life it is one of those films whose sole purpose is to make you cry. Two great performances (Shu Qi and Lu Ye) wasted in this cry fest (but not in a good way if you know what I mean)

R.I.P.D  Normally this would not be a film I'd visit a theatre to watch but it was the only one in the hour available and I really wanted to watch another film in Japan. The film was forgettable but the experience was not :)

Man of Steel Despite its great visuals and handsome looking leads, this film was not a good one. Weak script and the fact that not all of the elements gelled together in it. And also Diane Lane is too young to play that role.

Life of Pi the book was way better as it usually is but I did like the film. The visuals were very very impressive and more importantly blended perfectly with the story.

I couldn't finish The Silent War since the plane has landed but sadly this is not a good film either. The point they were trying to make seemed more important than telling a story or getting a decent editor. Tony and Zhao Xun were both excellent but even if they gave the best performances in the world, it wouldn't have saved this film (I feel a bit bad writing about it since I have not completed it but left a final 10 minutes or something).

In the Woods I liked this one very much. Great pyschological suspense and the way it ended was interesting. I'll be seeking more from this author.

Revenge Wears Prada unfortunately this happened to be the only English novel I have not read in that small "books in English" section in Kyoto so I bought it and read it. It was nowhere as good as the first one (and come to think of it, none of her other books were).

And on my return:

You'll Meet a Tall Dark Stranger I love Woody Allen, and I like this film too. It is not one of his best but a lot better than a lot of other films in the world.

Dan in Real Life Only watched this because I didn't want to fall asleep (I never experience jet lag but it is always easy to fall asleep while watching tv). It was ok I suppose but I'm not enamoured with Steve Carell (yet I have seen a lot of films starring him!!!) but Juliette Binoche was a darling as she usually is.

started

Rising Sun I remember watching this film long ago and liking it but cannot remember how it ended. Now I'm reading the book and it started very good. Mr.Chrichton is a good writer and this one is turning out to be a decent airport novel (which fittingly I have purchased at the airport)

Safe Word - End, In The Woods, The Best Divorce - Eps.9

 Safe Word ended and I'm not completely unhappy with it but it sure killed my porn reading tendencies. Only romance novels for me as far as literary erotice is concerned.

I have started  In The Woods by Tana French and I'm loving it so far.

The partner switch in The Best Divorce kind of happened in the episodes I have watched yesterday. Hamasaki and Konno San started dating and Hoshino and Uehara kissed, but it was a drunken kiss initiated by Hoshino and didn't mean anything. And when these two found out that their exes started dating they were so shocked and broken hearted. Especially Hoshino, she cried and cried and I think she took the cruel criticism of Konno very hard. There was so truth in what Konno said although she could have been kinder. And now just as Hamasaki and Konno are getting their groove on, I think Konno has found out that she is pregnant (by Uehara, Hamasaki and she did not have sex) we can only guess because she arrived late to their movie date and she had that shocked and dazed expression on her fave and then we saw the used pregnancy test packet at her bathroom.

The Bat - End, Safe Word, The Best Divorce Eps.7

The Bat ended on a high note. I remember having the same sensation while reading Headhunter. I guess this is Jo Nesbo's style. Slow start and it slowly escalates. Also there was skydiving in this book and the feeling was accurately described (as much as it can ever be).
Safe Word sequel to Carrie's Story and it is just as adult as it can be. And while reading this book I think I maybe cured of my S/M fiction reading since I feel myself being disgusted at some parts (although never as disgusted as my attempt at reading 120 of Sodom by Marquis De Sade -and I have already read all the other books- I remember getting physically sick- I was this close to throwing up- and I had to leave it, even thinking of returning to it makes me queasy). So it seems like I have had it with this genre. I'll finish it since I have already read 3/4 of it but I see where it is going.

Meanwhile after 7 episodes of The Best Divorce, I like it a lot. And this is mostly due to Eita. He is just so adorable but not in an idol way.
Our couples are breaking up at this point. Ex threw her no good partner out of the house, refusing to make up. And Hamasaki and Yuka were going so well but after Hamasaki uttered kind words about her ex and how nice a time he had with her, Yuka left the house. She actually wrote a long, emotional letter to him but in the end threw it out and wrote a short note at the back of some scrap paper.

Jersey Girl, Beyond Outrage, Scenic Route, Point Break, The Odd Story of Timothy Green, The Best Divorce Eps.1

This weekend was all about lying in and watching films (YES!)

So in no particular order

Jersey Girl now I have an unexplained fondness for Ben Affleck. What can I do? I love the guy. And he is so good in this one. Tears were shed and in a good way too.

Beyond Outrage it has been years since I have last seen a Takeshi Kitano film. And I still like the guy. This film is all about the power struggles between yakuza, and between police and yakuza.

Scenic Route dud of the weekend and I have to admit to fall victim to my shallow tendencies. Josh Duhamel is so easy on the eyes I said, how bad can this film be? And it was bad, very bad (I still watched it to the end for some reason)

Point Break an oldie, but still a goodie. Patrick Swayze (RIP) is so good in this. And now that the curtain of adoration has lifted from eyes, Keanu Reeves' performance was really bland. He looks great though. I liked this film even better with this viewing and thought that Johnny Utah had a major crush on Bodhi.

The Odd Story of Timothy Green liked this one a lot. The actors were fine, the sets and the costumes great.

I have also tried to watch a Korean film called The Voice of A Murderer but I fell asleep at the beginning and only woke up at the (grim) end.

Also watched the first episode of Japanese Jin and it was good. Although I doubt that I'd go ahead and purchase it.

Meanwhile The Bat makes me fall asleep. I hope that it will pick up as I read along.

Meanwhile I took a break from Inuyasha and started

The Best Divorce well this is one of those quirky Japanese dramas. Eita quickly becomes a fave actor and I think I'll go on watching since he is not only a good actor but also cute in a natural way. It is about a couple who love eachother but also extremely annoyed with eachother as they live together. Now we first get to see and listen to the man's point of view. He constantly complains about his wife's sloppy living and clumsiness. He is one of those fussy times who wipes the sink, folds the towels etc. He is doing all the housework and cooking too. The wife is one of those manic pixie dream chicks who are fun to hang out with but she doesn't contribute to the workload in the house, at all. But slowly we see that the man also kind of ignores her and his only interaction is through his complaints. One day she puts on make-up (at the advice of her colleague at the laundry she operates - the laundry used to belong to his parents) and he doesn't even notice. And when there was a considerable earthoquake his only e-mail to his wife is "is my bonzai OK?". Anyway he insisted on a divorce and she finally agrees (after realising that he is just not that into her). But as the divorce suddenly becomes serious, we see that the man actually loves her. But neither of them want to admit their feelings.

The secondary couple is the old flame of the Man's from college and her husband who is a cool looking man who appears to be a bit of a Casanova (but we are not sure of him yet).

Something Wonderful - end, The Bat, Inuyasha

Something Wonderful ended up being a great ride. Kudos Judith McNaught and thank you. Now I have started to read

The Bat written by Jo Nesbo. This is the first book his fiction detective Harry Hole appears and so far so good.

Inuyasha was once again a good viewing, however things have started to get repetitive and now I'm curios about how they will spice them up. I think the head villain Naraku has got to go. But this is one of the unlikely scenarios.

The Painted Veil

The Painted Veil This is my third viewing of this film an I still love it to bits. Read the novel and loved it too. I respect and liked the changes they made in the film and Edward Norton is so good.

Ok tonight my plan is to continue Inuyasha (to my surprise I actually miss it).

Something Wonderful turns out to be a rom com novel. I'm waiting for the adult scenes to show up now but anticipation is part of the fun too no? 

Pride and Glory, The Little Drummer Girl - End, Something Wonderful

Pride and Glory only watched this again last night because I love to watch Edward Norton on screen. Seriously, he is an amazing actor and I like the way he looks too. The film on the other hand was meh. Didn't stand for multiple viewings.

Finished The Little Drummer Girl and once again kudos Mr.Le Carré. I like the way he leisurely tells a story and the way it accelerates towards the end. Sadly spy genre is not a fave of mine (although this doesn't mean that I'm looking forward to read Solo). My favorite of the genre remains to be Casino Royale, which kind of blew me away so that I think have read 2 more Bond novels but never got that vibe again. Of course The Little Drummer Girl kind of wrecked me in the end (not the ending particularly which was the best possible ending for our female lead but still I needed something drastically different so I started

Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught. And it totally did the trick. I actually laughed out loud at one point. This seems (so far) especially good for people who like a perfect male lead (Duke, great looking, sexy, successful) whose cold heart will be thawed because of our lovely heroine.