yakitate japan

i just realized how long it's been since i last posted anything remotely related to anime, so this time i'm revisiting a goofy series that has made me smirk and smile despite the utter silliness of its premise.

Yakitate Japan (should have been more aptly called "ja-pun" if you ask me) is surprisingly entertaining and funny. seriously, i didn't expect that a lengthy series about bread and bakers would be that interesting, but you'd be amazed at how much sugary fluff they can pour into a single bun.

the play on words (you have to read fast to appreciate the humor in some of the gags the writers came up with) and the characters — particularly the judges — who are cast into transports of joy and blissful trance in reaction to the taste of baked goodies are simply out-of-this-world.

talk about absurd!

it looks like the series (3 story arcs, so far) isn't winding down anytime soon. which leaves me wondering what the scriptwriters will do next to complement what they'd already done…

more importantly, could those over-the-top gastronomic reactions ever be surpassed? or is there anything more unlikely than a sunglass-wearing, black-shirted muscle-bound baker with an afro hairdo?

anticipating Stardust and Batman II: The Dark Knight

my friends and i are already salivating over the prospect of watching Neil Gaiman’s Stardust, which should be appearing in local theaters anytime this month. it would be nice to see claire danes again and of course there’s michelle pfeiffer, a personal favorite. robert de niro makes a surprising turn as a pirate (with a funny and unexpected twist heheh), and a number of british thesps like peter o’toole, gary oldman, rick gervais, sienna miller and newcomer charlie cox are also in it.

and then there’s second Batman movie (The Dark Knight, 2008 pa — tagal!) by Chris Nolan, another higly talented and low-key director. this time, christian bale’s Dark Knight will be confronted by Joker (heath ledger) and Harvey “Two-Face” Dent (aaron eckhardt). meanwhile, maggie gyleenhaal takes over the role of rachel dawes, which used to be played by katie holmes (thank heavens for small mercies). an advance peek of the the movie’s rough cut has pleased the viewers so much that it seems highly likely that this second installment will duplicate, if not surpass, the critical and box office success of Batman Begins.

personally, i infinitely prefer chris nolan’s version of Batman compared to those presented by joel schumacher and tim burton, which seemed gimmicky, cartoony and commercial for comfort. for some reason, nolan’s version strikes me as darker, more elemental and visceral image of the Caped Crusader. and of course, there’s the formidable christian bale, who makes every other actor who ever donned Batman’s cape look pale and silly in comparison.

hoist by my own petard

after shamelessly tooting my own horn about some doodles that i've scrawled a few days ago, i found myself at a loss when some blog pals indicated that they wanted a glimpse of my "handiwork."

ewww. i guess this ought to teach me some caution before i go shooting my mouth off again. while i'd been known occasionally to produce some passably decent etchings, i doubt if anyone (with a kind and magnanimous heart) would ever consider them art, much less recommend them for public viewing.

but then again, if i keep refusing to show them it would seem like i just created a lot of hot air over nothing. either way it leaves me in an awkward position. hmmm… after having considered this weighty matter, i've decided to ignore the whole thing. (*sound of paper being crumpled and tossed to an overflowing wastebasket*) there. wasn't too hard, was it?

musings on a rainy day

for some reason my mood usually takes an upswing when it’s raining. maybe it’s because rainy days tend to slow things down. the gloomy sky, far from weighing me down, usually stirs me to reach for my pen (to write) or pencil (to sketch) and let creative juices take over.

today was no different. despite my avowed plans to go out, i just sat there and watched as raindrops splattered against the window pane. bemused, i reached for my pencil and began sketching. for a few moments everything seemed perfect: agreeable weather, excellent mood, and after what seemed like a long time, i was drawing again.

and then i glanced down at my work.

suddenly laughter filled the room — a strange, unfamiliar sound. then i realized it was me. (it’s been a long time since i had laughed like that.)

“ugh! what in heaven’s name is this?” i gasped as i peered at my half-finished drawing. surely i can’t have gotten this bad?

my masterpiece, which looks like a monochromatic doodle of yesterday’s leftover food, stared back at me like an accusing finger. sheesh, even a fifth grader could do better than this. at least nobody’s here to see my pathetic attempt, i consoled myself as i tore the paper hurriedly.

conclusion: sometimes it’s not about the mood or the atmosphere. when you suck, laughter (or a philosophical shrug) is the best way to soften the blow..

* * * * * * * *

i watched The Bourne Ultimatum yesterday. assassin extraordinaire Jason Bourne really kicks ass. when he dispatches his enemies he barely even breaks into a sweat. notably, however, his epic struggle with another superlative hitman (Desh) really pushed him to his limits.

the only bone i have to pick with this slick action flick is that it has strayed so far from the book (written by Robert Ludlum) on which it is based. heck, there’s not even any mention about the real-life notorious hitman Carlos, who’s supposed to be the main reason why the identity for Jason Bourne was created in the first place.

of beginnings and endings

although my routine has been pretty much on a predictable spin lately, i couldn’t help but notice that life has a way of confounding one’s expectations and muddling one’s well-laid plans. some things bloom as anticipated and some things end when you least expect them to.

last friday, we went to a “soft” opening of Trish & Lucky’s newly opened foot-and-nail spa: the Li’l Nail Shop (i need some help here, i’m not sure if i got the name right) at Fontana [sic] Grove near Shopwise Sucat. the place still needs a final polishing but the props are already in place. the shop (2nd floor, right beside another spa) feels and looks like a country den or something; it’s soothing, comfortable and homey. and the chairs! the minute i sat on one of those plushy seats i just wanted to curl up and sleep. man i love those chairs. had they been small enough, i’d have swiped and taken them home with me.

to luck and trish, good luck! we’ll definitely drop by again. sana by that time open na ang Starbucks so we’ll have an additional excuse to gather at your shop.

on a different note, i was saddened and somehow relieved to learn that an old schoolfriend has finally decided to let go of a long-term relationship that has long been a bedrock of her existence. i know my friend is no quitter and i know how hard she has fought to save this relationship. looking back, i realize that things have been sagging for a while now. we just didn’t want to acknowledge that it wasn’t working anymore.

i guess there are times when one has to cut things in order to find the strength to grow in a different direction (hmm… it sounds a lot like pruning). it may not be the conventional notion of a “fairytale” ending but i think that finding the strength to transcend life’s crises in order to make a fresh start is also a form of triumph.

i know it won’t be easy but just hang in there pal.