Movie Review~Paradise Kiss (Japanese)

Title: Paradise Kiss

Screenwriter: Kenji Bando

Based on: Paradise Kiss manga by Ai Yazawa

Director: Takehiko Shinjo

Producer: Shinzo Matsuhashi, Toshiya Nomura

Main Cast: Keiko Kitagawa as Yukari Hayasaka, Osamu Mukai as Jouji Koizuma, Yusuke Yamamoto as Hiroyuki Tokumori

Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy

Release Date: June 4, 2011

Running Time: 116 minutes

Language: Japanese

Links: IMDb ~ Wikipedia ~ Movie Site

Synopsis: Yukari Hayasaka is a high school student who has become tired of her life of constant schooling. She then comes across a group of student fashion designers in need of a model for their "Paradise Kiss" clothing label. Yukari knows nothing about the fashion world and is taken back by the group's eccentric ways, but she soon comes to admire their free thinking ways and ability to pursue their dreams with a one track mind ...

Trailer: 

Paradise Kiss Live Action Trailer English... by iheartsha

My Rating: 9.5/10

My Thoughts: I loved this movie! It was so cute and fun!

Picture Credit: exolimpo

Story: I've noticed that usually movies based on manga are pretty good in terms of story and characters. The stories seem complete and well thought out. It was the same with ParaKiss. It had a really good story. There was humor and funny situations but it also had serious themes about finding yourself as a person and standing up for yourself. It was about friendship and passion. It made me laugh and it made me cry but more than that it made me think about my life and if what I was doing was what I actually wanted to do. This movie is something I think everyone can relate too. It is inspirational.

Picture Credit: asianwiki

Characters: As I said is the case with most manga-based movies, the characters seemed real and complete. They were characters you could relate to. I especially felt very close to Yukari as we were very much alike. I loved how every character had a back story. The side characters were treated like real people not like they were there just for the sake of having them. I think this is something this movie did very right and I am glad it did justice to the minor characters. The major characters were really good too. I loved seeing Yukari grow and change. Jouji was someone with issues and I loved seeing him change as well. The actors did a very good job playing their respective characters!

Picture Credit: asianwiki

Romance: The romance was very sweet and believable. I love how it wasn't overly cute and childish. It was innocent but it was also serious which enabled me to take it seriously. I also love how it was progressed along with the friendships and Yukari's growth and that it wasn't the only main focus and everything else was thrown to the side.

Picture Credit: shoujospain

Overall: I loved this movie and would highly recommend it if you are in the mood of a rom-com or just want  to watch a movie with which you can relax. This movie has the perfect blend of different themes and is executed really well. 

Updates

As you may have noticed, I finally changed the blog layout. I also changed my rating system. From now on all the reviews will have a rating out of 5, including .5 ratings. I have changed the ratings of my previous reviews and from now on this is the rating system I will be using.

That's all for now. Hope you are enjoying your summer!

~Hira

Currently Watching

Despite it being summer holidays I haven't had time to watch many shows because of my evening classes. I'm watching 2 ongoing dramas, 1 completed drama and 1 variety show. Here is the list off stuff I've been watching these days:

1. Roommate (Variety Show)

I'm really enjoying this! It's a great way to relax after a tiring day. It's very funny and sweet and I look forward to it a lot, especially when I have had a bad day.

2. Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup

I've seen the first half of this drama. It is completed but I have been unable to take out time to start watching the next half. I hear it isn't that good so I'm also wary of watching it.

3. Trot Lovers

It's still early to say how I feel about this one since only 2 episodes have aired till now but what the hell happened to Ji Hyun Woo?! Well I guess it's his character but it is seriously very weird and not funny at all. I love Jung Eun Ji in this one! I'm also loving Shin Sung Rok! The story is okay up till now. Lets see where this goes... I'm reviewing this drama episode by episode on My Drama List so if you want to read my reviews you can read them there. My screen name is Hira-M.

4. High School King of Savvy

I am LOVING this one!! Amazing story! The two male leads, the actors and the characters, are great! The only problem I have with this drama are the females. Some people say this drama doesn't have respect for it's female characters. I don't think that's the case. I can see what they are trying to do with Soo Young. I believe she is a well-written character. But Lee Ha Na is doing a very poor job of playing her well. Lee Ha Na is supposed to make Soo Young's awkwardness likeable and relatable. Instead she makes it way too painful to watch. Other than that I love everything else about the drama. I'm reviewing this one episode by episode as well so you can check out my reviews on MDL.

What are you watching currently? Are you watching/have watched any of the shows I mentioned? Don't forget to share your opinions in the comments!

Book Blitz~The Prophecy of Arcadia by M. H. Soars

Blurb: 
Being a teenager is tough, especially when you have to pretend to be something you’re not, and you’re in love with someone you shouldn’t. 115 years ago, a small planet called Arcadia was invaded by a vicious alien race and nearly destroyed. Cut off from their resources, the Arcadians turned to Earth for help. A group of Arcadian explorers discovered a Prophecy that claimed their salvation lay in the hands of two children from Earth. To ensure their safety, the Arcadian Council sent their most gifted youngsters to Earth to act as protectors. Samantha is one of them.

To succeed in her mission she must learn to control her Arcadian powers and keep her true identity from her best friend, and the girl she swore to protect, Alexia. But Samantha will soon realize that nothing is as it seems. Someone is trying to prevent the Prophecy from taking place and the prophecy boy hasn't been found yet. There is also a new drug circulating at school that is turning students into freakishly strong menaces.

To make matters worse, distractions keep getting in her way. Such as her love/hate relationship with her “cousin” Matthew. Or her confused feelings toward popular and mysterious Julian. She wants nothing more than to be free to live her life. But the survival of Arcadia depends on her and her friends. Free will is not an option.

Length: 338 pages

Date of publication: Jan 17th 2014

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ayMgFd
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1qt8BYo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MHSOARS
Twitter: @mhsoars

Excerpt: 

Initial weirdness aside, the ride to the camp was pleasant enough. And despite the fact that Julian was a freaking legacy at his school, I discovered that he was charming without an ounce of snobbery. He told me stories about LJM Prep that had me laughing out loud, and also made me realize that private schools weren’t so different from public schools after all. Yeah, the majority of the student body was beyond wealthy, and they would never have to do a car wash to collect money for a field trip, but the drama was still the same. We also talked about Ethan and his accident, and I could see that Julian truly cared about him.

“So, Alexia, I feel like we have a special bond now, being partners in crime and all,” he suddenly said. He didn’t look at me, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.

“Is that so?” I squinted my eyes.

“Yep. So let’s play a game.”

“What kind of game?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“I’ll tell you something that I’ve never told anyone before, and you’ll do same.”

I laughed at that. Right. Like I was going to tell him my deepest secrets.

“Don’t laugh. I’m serious,” he continued.

“Okay, buddy. You go first then,” I was pretty sure he was going to come up with an unbelievable story and swear it was the truth, Sean style.

“No, no, ladies first,” he replied.

I was going to open my mouth to protest, but he turned to look at me, his clear blue eyes more intense than usual. I found myself agreeing to it.

“Fine. A secret that nobody knows, hmmm, let me think,” I said jokingly, but then found myself actually contemplating telling Julian something that was true and meaningful. It was like I felt compelled to be honest with him. I could tell him about Thomas, but then again, Sam and Mia knew about it. I also didn’t want him mentioning it to Ethan. Guys gossiped, too. Finally, I confessed something that I hadn’t allowed myself to dwell too much on until that moment.

“Sometimes, I feel like I don’t belong to my family.”

Julian frowned. “How come?”

I looked out at the window, trying to organize my thoughts. I wanted to explain it in a way that wouldn’t make me sound like an attention seeker. “I don’t know, it’s just a feeling I get sometimes, like I’m a stray they took in, or an alien.”

At my last comment, Julian started to laugh. “An alien? What made you use that word to describe yourself?”

I smiled wryly at him. “Have you seen the size of my eyes? They’re abnormally large. According to Steven Spielberg, I must be an alien.”

Julian shook his head. “You have beautiful eyes, Alexia. Nothing extra-terrestrial about them.”

I blushed at his comment.

“I would have said you look more like an anime character come to life.” Julian continued after a brief moment.

“An anime character? Oh that’s great! I look like a cartoon,” I said, exasperated.

“Yeah, an anime character, all cute with big eyes, that adorable button nose, and curly hair. You’re like, the real live version of Candy Candy.” Julian said trying to suppress a smile.

“Who the hell is Candy Candy? That sounds like a stripper’s name.”

Julian chuckled before he continued. “Google it, you’ll see I’m right.”

I did just that. I didn’t know how Julian had turned my serious confession into an Alexia mock fest. Maybe he hadn’t meant for me to reveal something so depressing and was trying to keep the mood of the trip light. I found the information fast enough and couldn’t help but to gawk at him.

“Julian, Candy Candy is an anime series from the seventies. How in the world do you even know about it?”

“My mother collects anything related to it, not only anime but the mangas too. Candy Candy was my first crush.”

Author Bio:

M. H. Soars is what we like to call a United Nations child. She was born in the United States but grew up in several different countries which gave her a broader perspective of life. She has always been passionate about books and stories and at a certain point had a comic book series going.

With a background in fashion design she always thought she was going to follow that path. But the characters in her head kept begging to be set free. So she decided to write their stories. A couple of years and a baby later, the first installment of her Arcadian Wars series is finally done.

M. H. Soars currently resides in New Mexico with her husband and baby daughter. She loves to read novels in the YA, PNR, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and Chick Lit genres. When not devouring said novels, you may find her shopping online (she's an expert), blogging about fashion, or trying to teach her daughter to walk (even though she's too young for that).

If you would like to learn more about M. H. Soars and her projects you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or check out her blog.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MHSOARS

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/mhsoars

Blog: www.flyingsaucers22.com

Twitter: @mhsoars

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mini Drama & Movie Reviews

I have finished a couple of dramas and watched a few movies but didn't think I had enough content to write a review. It feels wrong to just leave them be so here are some mini reviews:

~DRAMAS~

1. Sly & Single Again

This was such a fun drama to watch! It was light and cute and it really helped take off some of the exam stress. I really liked the acting! The story was okay if you don't take it to seriously, which I didn't. It was a good drama to just relax and enjoy.

2. Emergency Couple

I was addicted to this drama in the beginning! I loved the cast, the story, everything! But then somewhere along the way it turned into a melodrama and I got bored. I signed up for rom-com, not melo! It did come back to rom-com but I wasn't able to love it like I loved it before. Even then, it was a really enjoyable drama! And the best thing? It has the cutest baby in the whole wide world! Baby Gook <3

3. Secret Love Affair

I was blown away by this drama! It left me speechless! This drama is phenomenal! The acting is so true and amazing! While I didn't understand the business stuff in the drama (me being a med student and all) I did get the gist of it. I loved the romance! It never felt wrong or dirty. It was mind blowing, the chemistry these two actors had! And they are almost 20 years apart! I was expecting this drama to make me feel uncomfortable but I was rooting for these two from the get-go. Their love was beautiful! :')

~MOVIES~

1. Codename: Jackal

How hot is that poster?! It looks so good, right? Unfortunately, the movie wasn't that good. Sure I enjoyed looking at Kim Jae Joong. It's a good thing most scenes include him or I wouldn't have watched the movie at all. It's a shame Song Ji Hyo doesn't look as gorgeous as she does on the poster. There is a story... I think. But it is weird and just for the sake of having it. There is no mystery. I think this movie was made to show how good looking Jae Joong is and the other stuff they added just for the sake of it. Even then, I enjoyed it. Why? Well it was good entertainment! Gorgeous boy, funny scenes, a little mystery. It was a light, relaxing movie.

2. The Clue

I really liked this movie! It was a bit absurd though how everyone reacted to the student's death. But still, it was enjoyable. I loved the mystery and the humor! I loved loved loved Kang So Ra! She was really good in this movie! I even liked the romance. It was very enjoyable! If you are in the mood of a light mystery movie, with some comedy and romance, I would highly recommend The Clue.

3. A Werewolf Boy

I watched this movie with a friend when I spent the day at her house. This movie is so cute and adorable! I can't think of any other words to describe it. It reminds me of the book Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. The romance was so sweet! Amazing acting by Song Joong Ki! I loved this movie!

Horror Fest!

Well not exactly "fest". More like me watching and reading nothing but horror a.k.a the reason I haven't been posting much. After my exams I have been craving horror like crazy! So I watched a bunch of horror stuff with my little brother. And now I'm going to share that stuff with you guys!

1. The Others

This movie was really good! It was pretty slow and there weren't many scary scenes but the mystery and suspense was really good! This movie needs patience and attention. If you can give that then I'm pretty sure you will enjoy this one.

2. El Orfanato (The Orphanage) (Spanish)

I loved this one! It had many scary scenes. The suspense of the story was really good and it was built up really well! I really liked this one and would highly recommend it. The ending made me very sad. :'(

3. Hansel and Gretel (Korean)

This one was really boring! Sure there were some scary scenes and the story was really good but it was way too slow and I got bored. I only watched it through to the end because of my brother. But the kids' acting was very good!

4. A Tale of Two Sisters (Korean)

Now this one I really liked! Lots of very scary scenes and awesome story and mystery! I know it can be a bit confusing but I thought that that's what made this movie special. It was delivered whole but you can chose to believe what you want to. 

5. Coma (Korean)

Coma isn't a movie, it is a five episode miniseries. It is very very scary! It is confusing at first but everything makes sense when you watch the last episode. The story is really good! It is suspenseful and has a good mystery. The horror scenes are very horror! But they are the good kind of horror! Recommended for people who enjoy a good horror film.

6. Dead Silence

This one I watched with my best friend. And we loved this movie! It was deliciously scary! The story was creepy and awesome! And we really enjoyed watching this one!

Have you been watching anything horror lately? I would love some good recommendations so comment your favorite horror movies and books below!

Book Blitz~Primordial Dust by Sarah Daltry

Book Info:

Title: Primordial Dust

Author: Sarah Daltry

Genre: Fantasy (Romance/YA)

READ THE FIRST CHAPTERS HERE!

A princess, trained to behave. An assassin, betrothed to her. A thief, whose eyes she dreams of at night. A kingdom at war, torn apart by the suppression of magic and truth, as well as family secrets that threaten to destroy decades of peace. Questions of loyalty, of morality, and of free will culminate in a fantasy novel about forging one’s own path and choosing one’s own destiny.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LBJUD1A
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LBJUD1A
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id882388686
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/primordial-dust-sarah-daltry/1119608748?ean=9781498998468
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/primordial-dust
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/441741
All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-primordialdust-1522644-153.html

Excerpt: 
Alusia smiles wanly. “What happened in Kooram?” she asks.
“There was a party. We were dancing. Seamus and I were celebrating our engagement...” I pause, ashamed. He sits beside me, unaware of my role in this, oblivious to my own deception. “It was my fault.”
Seamus takes my hand. “Alondra, stop. You know this has nothing to do with you.”
“It has everything to do with her,” Alusia interrupts. “And her mother.”
“Look, although Alondra seems thankful for whatever you want to share with her, I don't care what these secrets are. This is not her fault and she does not need you blaming her.” Seamus's anger is new to me. I have been so amazed by his calm, his kindness; he is more like a Demorian now than I have ever seen him, and I have watched him cut a man's throat.
Alusia sighs. “I do not mean to assign blame. But we can no longer pretend that this was a rogue attack, that these events have not culminated in bringing you here, that fate has not worked its magic to get this book into her hands.” She runs her fingers along the book on her lap.
“It's fine,” I say. “But it was not fate. Maybe I did not make the only bad choices, but choices got us here. And I, for one, am tired of hearing about fate.”
“The attack,” Seamus continues. “It was sudden. A siren spell warned us before the mages were slaughtered. I don't know how they breached the Demorian guard, but without the dying spell of an elder mage, no one would be sitting here right now with you.”
“So you ran?” Alusia asks.
“I don't run,” I argue. “In fact, I am only here because someone kidnapped me in my sleep.”
“It was her father's wish,” Seamus mumbles.
“The forces came quickly. We spread the word to meet in the caves and Kooram split into two groups: those who were running for the caves, and those who would stay behind. My parents were with those running, but I stayed. Ereditus, our commander, rallied the troops. Seamus was already by my side. My friend, Lormander...”
I stop and think of that moment. Sanara's face, broken by the choice he was making, is etched into my memory. I watched her fingers slowly fall from his hand and the agony in her glance as she turned back to see him one last time tore me asunder. And now, somewhere, are they reunited? Did she lead everyone to Tallagut? Did he stay behind in the caves to face his death, remembering her kiss as the blade entered his heart? I choke on the images and tears rest on the precipice of my eyelids.
“We stayed,” I repeat. “There were so many of them. It was chaos. Smoke billowed from the streets, from our homes, from everything that was my childhood. I saw young boys, thinking they were brave, split in twain as the attackers stepped over the corpses, trailing death. What I remember most was the sound. The crash of swords, the screams of the fallen, the crackle of burning. The details are hazy. We left Kooram in ruins when we saw that we were outclassed. I walked through fields of carnage to the caves, only to wake on the other side, in a mirror world, yet untouched.”
“The king, he asked that we come here. He said you had the answers, the only weapon we could use against him,” Seamus adds. My shattered body sits beside him, but my mind and my soul are still with the dead.
“I am an old woman, and a forgotten mage,” Alusia says. “I am also the keeper of secrets and memories. I do not forge steel. My only weapon is knowledge. But that I have in abundance, and I believe it is time Alondra take her share.”
She rises from the dusty chair and approaches. I sense my hands as they lift to take the book she offers; the leather cover is hardened, but smooth to touch. I run my hand along the spine and trace the embossed seal.
“Please take this to your room. You will need time, and you will need privacy. When you are done, I will be waiting for your questions.”

Dream Cast:

Alondra: A princess of a kingdom lost in time and wrapped in secrets. Snarky and difficult, because life has always been easy, she is unprepared to be the leader she needs to be when her city falls.

Seamus: A trained assassin tasked with keeping his own city, and all the cities of the kingdom, safe. Betrothed to Alondra for diplomatic reasons. Much kinder than his profession reveals.

Layla: A young girl trained to be an assassin, sent to kill the son of the king. Her hopes rest on succeeding in her quest, because if she fails, there is no alternative but death.

Tevlin: The mysterious man who captures Alondra’s heart on a night before the world fell apart. His eyes whispered secrets, but they may be secrets that led to the ruin of everything she held dear.

About the Author:

Sarah Daltry writes about the regular people who populate our lives. She's written works in various genres - romance, erotica, fantasy, horror. Genre isn't as important as telling a story about people and how their lives unfold. Sarah tends to focus on YA/NA characters but she's been known to shake it up. Most of her stories are about relationships - romantic, familial, friendly - because love and empathy are the foundation of life. It doesn't matter if the story is set in contemporary NY, historical Britain, or a fantasy world in the future - human beings are most interesting in the ways they interact with others. This is the principle behind all of Sarah's stories.

Sarah has spent most of her life in school, from her BA and MA in English and writing to teaching both at the high school and college level. She also loves studying art history and really anything because learning is fun. 

When Sarah isn't writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking the internet for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

She has written several books, most notably Bitter Fruits, an urban fantasy in the Eden’s Fall series, Backward Compatible: A Geek Love Story, and the six book New Adult Flowering series, including Forget Me Not, Lily of the Valley, Blue Rose, Star of Bethlehem, Orange Blossom, and Ambrosia.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://sarahdaltry.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahDaltry
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SarahDaltry

Top Ten:

Sarah’s Favorite Fantasy Movies:

1. The Princess Bride
2. Labyrinth
3. The Neverending Story
4. Brave
5. The Wizard of Oz
6. Shrek
7. Pan’s Labyrinth
8. Harry Potter (all of them)
9. Bridge to Terabithia
10. Mirrormask

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