Utada Hikaru 宇多田ヒカルの

I can't believe I've never heard of her until a few days ago. I was bored, so I looked up Kingdom Hearts and found the themesong for it. After downloading and listening to 'Hikari' (Simple and Clean is the English version), I fell in love with her music.

And then I looked up her bio. First thought: HOLY CRAP, SHE HAS SO MANY AWARDS! (not to mention a Tetris (on DS) monster. She's really good xD). I could ramble on about her, but you can just read her bio anywhere on the web.


Utada Hikaru kicking people's as--behinds in Tetris for DS.

Her voice control is awesome, and she knows where to breathe, and how to make it subtle. In her early songs, her higher register was a bit weak, but now, even that is legendary. She can make the high notes relaxing, unlike most singers who force it up there (Yes, I am a music geek..I take choir). She can also do phrasing, and packs a bunch of emotion behind her words. Not to mention her English is very natural.

Although Utada can't really sing rock, her ballads are all mighty. They are really soothing, and her voice is very..pure.

She also writes her own songs, which makes her even more awesome! =)


Her ULTRA BLUE album picture. The reflections in her eyes are cool. xD

Some Utada songs I recommend:

Flavor of Life - Ballad Version
This song is unmatched, in my opinion. I put the ballad version because this one is more popular, plus, I like it better than the original!

Hikari
The themesong for Kingdom Hearts (Japanese).

Simple and Clean
The themesong for Kingdom Hearts also, but it's for the English version. Surprising, this was really, really good. I think this is the only English adaption of an Asian song I like! The lyrics were good.

Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words) - 2007 Mix -
This is a cover of Frank Sinatra's song. Even though I've never heard the original, I still like this song. Utada has excellent English.

First Love (Original)
I okay with this. My friends like it, but I personally find it a bit slow.

Yes, I know, I'm an obsessive Hikki fan. =)

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

I stumbled upon this movie while I was bored at home, watching TV. The one I saw was English dubbed, so some of the names were a bit different from the ones that are subbed in English. I find that weird. O_o

Anyway, I loved this movie for some reason, so I'm blogging about it. Keep in mind I am not a hardcore Naruto fan; the only Naruto thing I have seen is this movie!

----------------------

The movie starts out with these three guys (named Shishimaru, Brit, and Tsukuyaku, as I later found out on Wikipedia..) and this Princess (Princess Funn/Gale, depending on the version) fighting this dude with weird clothing (Mao). They have to fight Mao's army of dead people, and decide to unleash this chakra on them (rainbow I think..).

Princess Funn/Gale


Mao


The chakra thingy =)


After they defeat the Mao dude, a rainbow appears. Cheesy much? xD

It turns out that it was a movie that Nartuo and his gang was watching. They're hanging from the ceiling (I find that weird..) and Naruto falls off from the excitement. They get yelled at by this guy, and the people in the theatre throw stuff at them for being so noisy.

Naruto seems a bit worked up...


Sasuke has to prove they have tickets, and Sakura seems pissed..

The title scene flashes in, and that brings us to the next scene.

Team 7 (Naruto's team of ninjas, consisting of: Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki and team leader, Kakashi Hatake), with the absence of Kakashi, were somewhere with a poster of 'The Adventures of Princess Funn/Gale'. They were apparently waiting for Kakashi. Naruto wonders if there is someone like Funn out there, when suddenly, a horse with Funn on it passes them.


The huge poster of 'The Adventures of Princess Funn/Gale'.


Sakura is having a fangirl moment! xD


Then returns to crushing on Sasuke. Weird girl..

A split second later, they see a whole group of dudes wearing black armour and riding on black horses chasing Funn. There's this big chase scene, but I won't go into detail about that. In the end, some guy with sunglasses tells the black armour dudes to get her, and they all jump on top of her. (That's gotta hurt!) Then again, Funn turns out to be Sakura! O_O


Wtf? Funn?


Dudes in black


The guy with sunglasses!


Shouldn't that hurt?!


Sakura the impostor

There's another fight scene where Sasuke and Sakura kick the asses of the dudes in black. Kakashi shows up and asks what the HELL are they doing. Turns out the dude in sunglasses is the guy who hired them for their mission..oops! =)


Sakura and Sasuke tying up their victims.


Alas, Kakashi shows up!


This guy is their client?!

Meanwhile, Funn and Naruto are by this lake. Naruto goes raving about how great the movie was, and imitates one of her lines. Unfortunately, Funn charges off with her horse, ditching Naruto. Ouch.

Yet, Naruto remains determined, and runs next to Funn, while he continues to rave about the movie. Unfortunately for Naruto (once again), she whips her horse, and speeds away! But no..Naruto somehow ends up on her horse! (Wtf?!) They run through a town, while Funn's sleeve get ripped. Suddenly, there are these kids that come out, so Funn pulls the reins and they both fall off the horse.


Funn and her horse, by the pond/lake thingy.


Someone's moody..


Funn doesn't seem all that pleased Naruto is here.


And so she ditches him!


Naruto runs to catch up...


Unfortunately, she's a tad fast..


Yet Naruto manages to get on her horse?!


And they both end up falling!


I shall stop here, since this post is getting a bit long.
More screenshots later..when I have the time XD.

The Ultimate Crime Fighter - McDonald's?

Seems like McDonald's invested in advertising for TUCF...




PS: Yes, I'm still alive. Just lazy, with homework. =D

Updates

It's been a while since I blogged...okay, I'll get straight to the point so I don't get hopes high. I can't blog for at least a week because my orchestra stuff is coming up, so I won't have any time to do this.

As with my fanfic, I have it in my head, but am too lazy to put it down right now. Sorry!

Bye for now,

Taelin.

TVB 40th Anniversary Awards

I've just finished watching 'The Drive of Life,' and I can't say I'm content with the last 15 minutes. It seems to repeat itself, and wraps it up a bit too nicely..

Anyway,I'll shut up about that, and go on with the next important TVB event for me: ANNIVERSARY AWARDS!


Credits to Sehseh's Blog

Best Actor
1. Roger Kwok – Glittering Days
2. Bobby Au-Yeung – Dicey Business
3. Joe Ma –The Conquest
4. Ha Yu – Heart Of Greed
5. Moses Chan – Heart Of Greed
6. Michael Tse – Family Link
7. Michael Tao – On The First Beat
8. Ron Ng – On The First Beat
9. Sammul Chan – On The First Beat
10. Sunny Chan –Green Grass Of Home
11. Kevin Cheng – Devil's Disciple
12. Bosco Wong – Devil's Disciple
13. Damien Lau – Drive Of Life
14. Michael Miu – Drive Of Life
15. Raymond Lam – Drive Of Life
16. Wong Hei – Fathers & Sons
17. Steven Ma – Steps
18. Wayne Lai - Steps
19. Dayo Wong – Men Don't Cry
20. Yuen Biao – The Ultimate Crime Fighter

Best Actress
1. Liza Wang - Glittering Days
2. Charmaine Sheh - Glittering Days
3. Jessica Hsuan - Dicey Business
4. Tavia Yeung - Dicey Business
5. Michelle Yim - The Brink Of Law
6. Shirley Yeung - The Brink Of Law
7. Myolie Wu - War And Destiny
8. Lee Ze Kei - Heart Of Greed
9. Susanna Kwan - Heart Of Greed
10. Linda Chung - Heart Of Greed
11. Sheren Tang - Family Link
12. Kiki Sheung - Family Link
13. Sonija Kwok - On The First Beat
14. Christine Ng - The Green Grass Of Home
15. Sharon Chan - Devil’s Disciple
16. Bernice Liu - Steps
17. Kate Tsui - Steps
18. Cecilia Yip - Men Don’t Cry
19. Yoyo Mung - The Ultimate Crime Fighter
20. Gigi Lai - The Ultimate Crime Fighter

Best Supporting Actor
1. Paul Chun – Glittering Days
2. Benz Hui – Dicey Business
3. Power Chan – The Conquest
4. Ngoh Wah – The Brink Of Law
5. Law Lok Lam – The Brink Of Law
6. Jack Wu – Ten Brothers
7. Chui Wing – Best Selling Secrets
8. Wong Cho Lam - Best Selling Secrets
9. Stephen Au - Best Selling Secrets
10. Lau Dan – War And Destiny
11. Sek Sau – War And Destiny
12. Evergreen Mak – Life Art
13. Chris Lai – Heart Of Greed
14. Louis Yuen – Heart Of Greed
15. Kenneth Ma – Family Link
16. Derek Kwok – Family Link
17. Al Wei – Family Link
18. Johnson Lee - Devil's Disciple
19. Ng Wai Kwok – Drive Of Life
20. Bryan Leung – The Ultimate Crime Fighter

Best Supporting Actress
1. Halina Tam - Glittering Days
2. Yoyo Chen - Best Selling Secrets
3. Mimi Lo - The Change Of Destiny
4. Leila Tong - Family Link
5. Florence Kwok - On The First Beat
6. Gigi Wong - Drive Of Life –
7. Toby Leung - Drive Of Life
8. Mary Hon Ma Li - Fathers And Son
9. Fala Chen - Steps
10. Claire Yiu - Steps
11. Charmaine Li -Men Don’t Cry
12. Natalie Tong - The Ultimate Crime Fighter

Most Favorite Male Character
1.Roger Kwok as Ling Fung – Glittering Days
2.Bosco Wong as Cheung Loi Fu – Dicey Business
3. Stephen Au as Mo Gei Yung – Best Selling Secrets
4. Wong Cho Lam as Lau Wa – Best Selling Secrets
5. Ha Yu as Bao Bao – Heart Of Greed
6. Moses Chan as Dak Dak Dei – Heart Of Greed
7. Raymond Lam as Alfred – Heart Of Greed
8. Michael Tse as Joe – Family Link
9. John Chiang as Go Wing Kuen – Family Link
10. Ron Ng as Chung Lap Man – On The First Beat
11. Sammul Chan as Lee Pak Kiu – On The First Beat
12. Sunny Chan as Choi Ga Sing – Green Grass Of Home
13. Damien Lau as Wa Man Hang – Drive Of Life
14. Michael Miu as Wah Man Sek – Drive Of Life
15. Ng Wai Kwok as Ngai Tin Hang – Drive Of Life
16. Joe Ma as Ngai Wing Piew – Drive Of Life
17. Bobby Au-Yeung as Man Tin Chi – Fathers & Sons
18. Wong Hei as Ko Ching – Fathers & Sons
19. Steven Ma as Ching Ga Tsun – Steps
20. Wayne Lai as Lee Lik Keung – Steps
21. Dayo Wong as Hoh Kei Gin – Men Don't Cry
22. Lam as Wong Fei Hung – Men Don't Cry
23. Yuen Biao as Yuen Foh San – Ultimate Crime Fighter
24. Kevin Cheng as Jong Man Hei – Ultimate Crime Fighter

Most Favorite Female Character
1. Liza Wang as Kam Yin - Glittering Days
2. Charmaine Sheh as Lan - Glittering Days
3. Jessica Hsuan as Lee Ching Wan - Dicey Business
4. Tavia Yeung as Tam Chu Mei - Dicey Business
5. Shirley Yeung as Ka Yee - The Brink Of Law
6. Myolie Wu as Koo Ping On - War And Destiny
7. Esther Kwan as Wong Ka Nam - Best Selling Secrets
8. Elaine Jin as Ng Hang - Best Selling Secrets
9. Alvina Kong as Diana - Best Selling Secrets
10. Lee Ze Kei as Dai Kai - Heart Of Greed
11. Michelle Yim as Ling Lei - Heart Of Greed
12. Susanna Kwan as Sai Kai - Heart Of Greed
13. Linda Chung as Sung Joi Sum - Heart Of Greed
14. Sheren Tang as Mung Ga Ga - Family Link
15. Kiki Sheung as Cho Mei Ngoh - Family Link
16. Leila Tong as Siu Maan - Family Link
17. Sonija Kwok as Yuen Wai Nei - On The First Beat
18. Christine Ng as Stella - Love Stems From A Chance
19. Bernice Liu as Lee Sum Ying - Steps
20. Fala Chen as Ching Ka Man - Steps
21. Kate Tsui as Yeung Sze Man - Steps
22. Cecilia Yip as Ling Yuk Chui - Men Don’t Cry
23. Yoyo Mung as Geung Nga Yue - The Ultimate Crime Fighter
24. Gigi Lai as Wong Jing Ying - The Ultimate Crime Fighter

Most Improved Actor
1. Wong Cho Lam – Best Selling Secrets
2. Wong Yee Hing – More Than Words/ Go! Hong Kong, Go!
3. Johnson Lee – Devil's Disciple
4. Jack Wu – Ten Brothers/Is That Right
5. Amigo Chui – Scoop/Buzz/Jade Solid Gold/Enjoy Yourself Tonight
6. Matthew Ko – Steps/The Ultimate Crime Fighter
7. Stephen Huynh – Dicey Business/Steps
8. Stephen Wong – Brink Of Law/Steps
9. Vin Choi – Brink Of Law/Best Selling Secrets
10. Lai Lok Yi – Glittering Days/Ten Brothers/Heart Of Greed/Green Grass Of Home

Most Improved Actress
1. Selena Li - Change Of Destiny
2. Nancy Wu – Ten Brothers
3. Kate Tsui - On The First Beat / Steps
4. Natalie Tong - Life Art / The Green Grass Of Home / The Ultimate Crime Fighter /
5. Leila Tong – Ten brothers / War And Destiny /Family Link
6. Yoyo Chen – The Brink Of Law / Best Selling Secrets
7. Fala Chen- Heart Of Greed / Family Link / Steps
8. Sharon Chan - Glittering Days / Devil’s Disciple
9. Toby Leung – Drive Of Life
10. Bernice Liu– Brink Of Law / Devil’s Disciple / Steps

Best Series
1. Glittering Days
2. Dicey Business
3. The Conquest
4. The Brink Of Law
5. Best Bet
6. Ten Brothers
7. Best Selling secrets
8. War And Destiny
9. Life Art
10. Heart Of Greed
11. Change Of Destiny
12. Family Link
13. On The First Beat
14. The Green Grass Of Home
15. Devil’s Disciple
16. Drive Of Life
17. Fathers And Son
18. Steps
19. Men Don’t Cry
20. The Ultimate Crime Fighter

Most Favorite Host
1. Amigo Chui – Jade Solid Gold
2. Wong Yee Hing/Suki Chui/Sam Cheuk Ying – More Than Words
3. Michael Hui Koon Man –Deal Or No Deal (I)
4. Alfred Cheung – Deal Or No Deal (II)
5. Lydia Shum – Where Are They Now
6. Hiromi/Wang Cuiling – Tohoku Travel
7. Miriam Yeung & Sammy Leung – Minutes To Fame
8. I Love U Boyz - 愚樂I LOVE U
9. Nat Chan – Challenge Of The Stars
10. Choi Lan/Vanessa Yeung - Market Trotter
11. Adam Cheng/Wong Yee Hing/Konnie Lui – Msyteries
12. 狄娜 - The Rise Of Great Nations
13. Gigi Wong - Secrets Of Soup
14. Harlem Yu & Patrick Tang – Foodie 2 Shoes
15. Liza Wang/Dodo Cheng/Amigo Chui – Enjoy Yourself Tonight

Best Creativity
1. More Than Words
2. Is That Right
3. The Web
4. 光影流情
5. 愚樂I LOVE U
6. Colors Of Love
7. Foodie 2 Shoes
8. A Vegans Gourmet Notebook

Best Variety Show
1. More Than Words
2. Deal Or No Deal
3. Where Are They Now
4. Tohoku Travel
5. On The Road
6. 光影流情
7. Body Talks
8. Market Trotter
9. Ten Years After
10. Secrets Of Soup
11. Foodie 2 Shoes
12. 舞動奇跡

Best Promotion Clip
1. Heart Of Hong Kong
2. Mr. Hong Kong Contest 2007
3. Miss Chinese International Pageant 2007
4. Devil’s Disciples
5. The Rise Of The Great Nations
6. Chinese New Year
7. St. Valentine’s Day
8. TVBuddy
9. 功夫之星
10. Drive Of Life

Credits to Popular Asians

Taelin's Choices:

Best Actor: Ha Yu
I do love DOL, but Ha Yu's Tong Yan Gai is truly memorable. His comedy is so great, and he can be really serious when he wants to. This veteran truly deserves this award in his outstanding performance in 'Heart of Greed'.

Best Actress: Susanna Kwan
Despite the popularity behind Lee Sze Kei, I think Susanna should win instead of her. Susanna's performance in 'Heart of Greed' was way more memorable than Lee Sze Kei's, but maybe it was just because of her evil character.
Another thing: WHY THE HELL IS SHIRLEY YEUNG ON THE LIST?
Last thing: I would have chosen Charmaine Sheh as my choice if they chose her for her awesome role as Wing Sau Fung in 'The Drive of Life'. Her performance in DOL is way more powerful than 'Glittering Days'. Why is that series on the list anyway..?

Best Supporting Actor: Ngai Wah Kwok
I love this guy's Ngai Tin Hang. I hated him at the beginning, sympathized with him when he was dying, and appluded him for helping Wah Ze (spelling). His emotions were strong, and his acting was superb. I can't wait to see him as a lead.

Best Supporting Actress: Florence Kwok
I don't know who else to pick. She was funny in 'On the First Beat'. Yeah...

My Favourite Male Character: Ha Yu as Tong Yan Gai or Moses Chan as Dak Dak Dei
I love them for their comedy skills! Their roles are extremely memorable; I still remember their ringtones, haha. The characters were 3D; Dak Dak Dei was just too cute at times =).

My Favourite Female Character: Charmaine Sheh as Ah Lan
I love her little pig! Her lisp was funny too (I know, this comment was a bit mean), and I applauded Charmaine on her hard work on this character: the lisp and the singing. go Charm! =)

Most Improved Actor
I don't know the people in here.

Most Improved Actress: Leila Tong or Natalie Tong
It's about time one of them won this award. Why is Toby Leung on this list??

Best Series: The Drive of Life or Heart of Greed
Both of these series deserve an award, for their excellent scripts. They both lack one thing though; a memorable ending.

Most Favorite Host
Again, I dunno.

Best Creativity: Is that Right?
I find it creative that they actually have a game show about the Entertainment Circle. xD It's funny to watch them state the rumours and stuff.

Best Variety Show
Dunno.

Best Promotion Clip: The Drive of Life
It was awfully grand. =)

That's all for now. =)
Bye!

Underneath the Passtion: Episode One

Underneath the Passion
Episode One: A Wild Encounter

Walking silently through the yellow sand, a young woman (Charmaine Sheh) clutched a basket of produce tightly. As the wind gradually picked up, she began to pick up her pace. She fixed her cloak as the wind blew harder than ever. In the distance, a small town crept into her vision, growing bigger as she approached it.

As she approached the town, her eyes scanned for a spot on the streets to sell her produce. The streets were littered with merchants, and places were scarce. Spotting a place with shade, she quickly attempted to claim the spot as her own, but another person, a man, was also rushing for the spot. She lifted her head to speak to him.

"Please get out of my place," she said, trying to retain herself.

The man (Raymond Lam), holding his own basket of produce, looked up. "Miss, I spotted this place first. Working is a man's job. You're just a woman, what do you know?"

She glanced at him with weary eyes and said, "More than you."

"Well, I spotted this excellent spot first, and no one, especially a woman, can stop me from taking it. Go back home and let your husband do the selling."

Tears began to blur her vision, but she remained calm. "I will not - "

At that exact moment, the little village erupted in chaos.

"They're coming, they're coming!" The villagers began to run in all directions. The man suddenly grabbed her hand and started looking for cover.

He scanned the village and muttered under his breath, "So soon, I thought the government could do better than this..."

"What are you doing?" She yelled, trying to free her hand from his grip, but all was in vain.

"Do you want to die a horrible death?" He screamed back, and pulled her into a house with him. Unfortunately, he tripped over a rock and they both fell flat on their faces.

"How could you trip on a rock?" She dusted the sand off her face and clothes. "What's happening? Why do we have to hide?"

He glared at her for a second, and then responded. "For your information, I just saved your life, so don't comment on my stupidity. Secondly, have you been living under a rock for the past few years? The Japanese are here!"

"The Japanese?"

" 'Tin ah!' " He cried out in desperation. "Okay. The Japanese are invading China, so it's best to avoid them. I heard the nasty rumours about what the Japanese men do to Chinese women.."

"Okay.." She eyed him wearily. "So, what do you go by?"

"Lee Bo Yi," he said casually, "How about -"

A dark shadow suddenly appeared, and gunshots were fired. "FREEZE, AND SHOW YOURSELVES!"

Romance is in the Air =)

Wow, it's been so long since I last blogged here!

I've been busy with school. Crazy band teachers are back, insane PE teacher that wants to kill us all, weird Mando teacher, and Math...self-explanatory! My friend swears that the PE teacher's eyes are ALWAYS red. I still have bruises from volleyball (oh joy, the next unit will be football..in October..in the rainy Vancouver..). I've switched to oboe in band! AND REEDS ARE $10! Mando is something that raises my GPA (so easy, except for pinyin..doesn't make a lot of sense..) Lastly, I struggle to not fall asleep everyday in Math. Good at Math, but I HATE IT. GRR.

Sorry, I just had to blow that off. School's weird.

One last thing, and I'll move away from my personal life: PROVINCIAL HONOURS ORCHESTRA! =) I got accepted, haha.



I have made my online Chinese name!

Chinese: 張寶淇
Cantonese: Cheung Bo Kei
Mando: Zhang Bao Qi

Random much? Well, I like it..my real Chinese name is so weird.

Back to "The Drive of Life"!




50 episodes gone, 10 more to go!

I find Mrs. Wah irrational. Sure, Sau Fung had harmed the Wah family before, but you can tell she's really changed for good and truly loves Zhen Pong. And anyway, what's the point of Bing Yee and Zhen Pong being together if they both know that Zhen Pong loves Sau Fung, and not Bing Yee?

I hate Wing Piew. How can he be so evil? He fricken KILLED his uncle, tried to get his parents to lie in court, etc. Mr. Wah saw through that, but Mrs. Wah is blind, I tell you.

Now I know why people said that Sau Fung and Siu Fen would be good friends. Thank you, Ngai Ting Hang! =)


Since Fairchild is showing the Dance of Passion, I thought it'd be okay to talk about it. Episode 20 was shown on Friday, and I admire Ada's acting even more. Her breakdown and yelling at her late husband was wonderfully done; not to subtle, not too over-dramatic. Her sudden change in mood was awesome too. I loved how one second she's talking peacefully with Chun Fen (well, the tension was there, but no extreme movements..yet..), and the next second, she's yelling at Chun Fen, with that evil look in her eyes.

Charmaine's acting was good in this episode too. When Ming Fung was telling her the truth behind the 'borrowing seeds' incident, her tears were dropping one by one, getting faster as time passed. Excellent acting by Charmaine here.

They're showing the CIB Files here starting Monday. The only role I like Bowie as is a cop, so this should be interesting. By the way, I nearly choked when I saw Maggie Siu's hair! OMG, not her style at all!

I don't know why, but they've been showing a little clip of the Drive of Life here for some reason. Weird, eh?

Well, that's all for now.