BusterMachine

As you might have noticed within the past few years, Hollywood has started to lose inspiration when it comes to coming up with new stories for it’s movies. They’ve turned into rehasing old movies, or turning comic books and video games into new movie franchises. And now, Hollywood has found a new source of inspiration for future blockbusters: Anime.

It started this year with the live-action adaptation of the well-loved classic anime, Speed Racer. The Wachowski Brothers of The Matrix fame worked their magic in turning the funky anime world of Speed Racer into reality, and from what I’ve seen it was a huge success, however the same can’t be said for ticket sales. They’ve proved though that it’s feasible to turn anime into enjoyable movies.

Over the past few months, a lot of producers and directors have announced that they’ve acquired rights into turning a lot of popular anime into movies. Here’s a list:

• Director Steven Spielberg will be working on a live-action adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s Ghost in the Shell, one of the biggest anime titles ever. Ghost in the Shell’s numerous anime and manga adaptations have been highly successful, and has garnered a huge fanbase in the US and around the world.
• Spiderman 3 star Toby Maguire will the executive producer of the movie version of Robotech, the American adaptation of the Japanese anime classic Macross. It’s an epic space opera focusing on romance, transforming robots, and alien invaders and is also very popular around the world for it’s engaging storyline.
• Leonardo DiCaprio will serve as producer for the Hollywood adaptation of Akira, one of the first anime movies to gain worldwide acclaim. Akira introduced audiences worldwide to a new form of storytelling using animation, featuring a meticulously detailed futuristic post-apocalyptic setting, a mature storyline with themes such as youth culture, social unrest, psychic ablities and delinquency. Also of note was it’s highly advanced quality of its animation, which is why it’s highly regarded as the best anime movie of all time.

Akira trailer:

• Hit anime Dragonball will be getting a film adaptation directed by James Wong and produced by one of Hong Kong’s biggest producers and stars, Stephen Chow. The show experienced a following in the States because of it’s highly energetic fighting sequenes, as well as the characters including the hero Goku, and his various enemies and allies. Though the fan reaction to the movie has been quite negative, the director promises that they were able to incorporate the anime style fighting in the show, like chi blasts and dynamic action sequences. It’ll be shown on April 2009.

Magazine scan promoting the Dragon Ball live-action movie:

Although Hollywood is losing it’s creativity when it comes to making new stories, I’m pretty optimistic in their enthusiasm to adapt these anime titles to the big screen. I hope they’ll be successful enough to make the mainstream audience aware of the unique storytelling and themes explored in anime, and somehow make them want to watch the originals where these movies were adapted from.

Are you in or out? Most people are really excited on who is going to win in American Idol’s season finale. I’ve been watching it from time to time but for some weird reason, i’ve been hooked to it for some time now. If you’ve watched the audition screening prior to the contest, you will notice that, that part is the funniest of ‘em all!

But watch this, it might be the funniest video you’ve ever seen in Idol history. Of course, William Hung is now phased out and is considered ghetto if you know what I mean. I hope Mariah donesn’t get insulted.

I got my hands on Electronic Arts’ latest version of their Need for Speed blockbuster series, Prostreet yesterday and I spent all day playing it and felt the need to share my experience.

Here, you have to build the ultimate battle machine,take it to multidisciplinary showdowns and pit your skills and reputations against the world’s best street racers.  The Need for Speed Prostreet is a racing experience like no other. For the first time, you’re designing and building a car, compete in iconic locations from around the world and battling in four distinct racing styles, grip, drag, drift and the all-new speed challenge.

The atmosphere is electric, complete with energetic crowds, photo-realistic vehicles and billowing smoke - all designed to embody the pressure and intensity of the gladiatorial challenge known as Show Down.  Prostreet is the realization of the power,aggression and rivalry that embodies street racing culture.

Have you seen the news? There was this huge earthquake in China yesterday, and around 30000 people are dead. Along with the other catastrophes happening recently I can’t help but think that maybe the end days are approaching… I wonder if that December 2012 conspiracy is true after all?

This is embarrasing, but recently I’ve been spacing out for a few minutes. Sometimes while on the middle of doing something I just stop and do nothing, and it’s been bothering me for a while. Anyone else out there spacing out like this? In any case I think it’s harmless but it’s quite annoying. Good thing it doesn’t happen when I’m with people, otherwise I’d die of embarassment.

Then again, I guess it could prove useful sometimes, like for joining this staring contest.

At the moment Jessica Alba got the top spot, though I can’t blame her, she’s so cute.

A new show premiered this spring season called “Toshokan Sensou” (Library Wars). I just got into this show recently and it’s really good. Production I.G. was in charge of the animation and they made everything looks crisp and somehow different than the usual anime.

Here’s the trailer:

The story takes place in near future Japan, where a Media Improvement Act is passed to crack down on items that violate civil liberties and disturb public order, and censorship is enforced by a special committee. On the other hand, another law was passed at the same time, Library Freedom Act, where libraries attached to the local government can claim jurisdiction over books and documents to protect free speech, and to do so the libraries employed their own self-defense forces. Eventually, the struggle between the two factions have escalated into armed conflicts. It might seem outrageous but in today’s world, it might actually become reality.

It’s definitely one of the best shows this season and I’d like everyone to give it a try.

This might sound unbelievable but, as I was strolling the park earlier I saw a guy being mugged. I froze in panic but good thing someone was able to call the cops and they were able to catch the muggers. It’s easy to say that times have changed and it’s a normal facet of life nowadays but seeing it with your own eyes makes you want to do something about it… we definitely need change in this country.