When you're older and you have a job

There was a scene in the movie, "My Girlfriend is a Geek" that I enjoyed most:

I remember wanting heaps of comics when I was a kid. I have a paying job now, but most of that money goes to groceries, bills, loans, and daily necessities. A part of me is disappointed in myself when I use a lot of money on anime and graphic novels, but some series and artworks are worth paying for.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 2

I went to watch Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 2 with the same crew as last week. It seems no matter how many times I re-watch sad moments in a movie, I tear up.


I emptied out half of the new tissue pack I had with me. Looking forward to Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 3 when it's out (hopefully in Cineplex theatres again).

Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 1

A few hours ago, I had the opportunity to watch Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 1 on the big screen. Being in a theater full of otaku was fun, except the part where some many people wouldn't stop talking during the movie. There was even one guy who I thought was recording the movie, but after I told him he shouldn't be recording it, he stated that he wasn't. I checked his phone screen--he wasn't recording but taking pictures instead. Really, man. Can you not take screenshots while watching the movie on your computer? I assure you, the quality of your pictures would be much better.

What was nice was not only all the feelings I had while watching the movie, but being able to meet with friends I haven't met in awhile and friends that I wasn't expecting to meet. I even have a message to one of you friends:

Dear bro from the Madoka movie,

I remember your face from YAMA, but I don't remember your name. You should have reminded me your name, because now all I have to call you by is "nurse-man." I'm not apologizing for calling you nurse-man, because the name sounds heroic to me and you being a male nurse is awesome and inspiring.

Respectfully,

Mun-Yeen


What was impressive about the Madoka theater showing is that Cineplex gave out free posters to the first few online ticket buyers AND the first 5 people in line for the movie. The man who received the first poster announced that he was in line for 2 hours before the movie. That's dedication there.

The Film "Earthlings"

Every week, the university faculty I am enrolled in sends emails about events related to their subject, environmental studies. One was about a screening for a film called "Eartlings" on campus today. I wanted to check it out, but the event time was late, so I decided to watch it on my own.

I was shocked by the movie. I didn't think it would be (warning: these may be spoilers) so bloody and violent. It was almost as shocking as the movies and videos about genocide presented back in high school. Animals being treated like things rather than living beings. Like cutting a rock into two pieces or stepping on well-made jello until it's almost nothing but liquid. It's so... cruel? Inhumane? I'm not sure if I have the right to say that because I live off products that humans take from animals. Throughout the film, I just kept imagining the animals as people. Not furries, but actual people. (No offense to the furries out there.)

I remember I wanted to become a vegetarian in my early teens. Meat just started to taste funny to me (though I believe it had more to do with my mother's cooking and her way of storing meat). I told my parents about wanting to not eat meat and they told me it'll never happen, because they won't let it happen. When I entered university, I tried to eat as little meat as possible. I thought all was going well with the grains and the veggies until I had a blood test and found out that I lost valuable nutrients in my body. My doctor told me to take iron pills and to eat vegetables high in iron and red meat more often. Red meat... from cows. When my parents found out about my eating habits, they just wouldn't stop offering me meat--BBQ meat from Chinese meat eateries like Shark's Fin City at Pacific Mall. My family doesn't eat Halal--they don't think about where our food comes from or how it was treated before getting to the dinner table. I was told "who cares about how your meat was treated. Meat is meat and you need it." No matter how much I try to convince them to think about where their food comes from, in the end, they don't really give a damn as long as it looks good and is affordable. I've pretty much given up convincing them to wonder.

Well, whatever. I'll just have to introduce halal, tofu and asparagus dishes later on as a regular lunch and dinner item. Though asparagus does make urine smell different...

Holy Malls! (Literally)

I'm currently working on a paper that mixes systems thinking and consumerism. I'm looking at leverage points to alter people's retail consumer behavior. While looking through a list of materials concerning consumerism in my university's library database, I found a documentary called "Malls R Us". I signed it out and now that I've watched it, I don't think I can view malls the same way again.

Trailer of the documentary Malls R Us:

Malls are like churches: a sacred refuge to people and they help people find themselves. Retail and consumerism have power over people. What would you do if all the malls you frequent all died? Mourn. I know I would. Well... until the next mall opens. ... Okay, I rarely visit malls, but I still enjoy spending time walking around in one. Okay, that depends too. I enjoy spending time in malls when store workers aren't giving me glares or the pursing of the lips (like that woman from Michael Kors).


_{The pursing of the lips}
If I had to choose between visiting a mall or a street full of shops, I'd choose the street shops. I like malls, but there's something about street shops that feel unique, personal, and charming.

_{Image source: satisfythecrave.tumblr.com.}

Sherlock Holmes

I was at the movie theatre yesterday and watched the latest Sherlock Holmes movie. The move was recommended by two friends: one who enjoyed it and another who said it's a good watch for people who don't mind a different approach to the usual Sherlock Holmes in the entertainment world.

I found that the movie follows its name well because the movie focused on both the mystery and the character Sherlock Holmes. The cast made the characters into their own and their acting is marvelous. I like how the music, props, and settings gave the right industrial London-esque atmosphere of a dark yet amusing mystery. The use of details in the movie were also well done.

I don't like how the beginning utilizes busy action scenes to capture the audiences' attention, but at least it works and wasn't too heavy. Overall, I believe Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes stands out because of its new approach of implementing humorous deviation to the name, but the humour is what lessens the movie's long-term impression.