The Muppets

Supremely cheesy, childish, predictable, cliche movie. I think if I were ten I might have enjoyed this, but at this age, not even childhood nostalgia can take this movie out of the gutter of un-enjoyableness. It literally made me cringe on multiple occasions out of embarrassment on its behalf. It's like watching a friend do something terribly stupid and unnecessary. Painful.

Material Queen: Final Episode (and final rant)

Yeah, I had that WTF expression too

It took two weeks of MQ rest and assurances that 22 really was the final episode for me to finally give in and watch it. It's one of those things where I figured I'd already made it through the worst, so might as well watch the happy ending unfold.

I'm not sure what to say about it (aside from the upcoming rant, that is). I mean, with a show as awful as MQ became, I had very low expectations. But even those managed to be disappointed.

Office Girls: Partway Thoughts

I know this will definitely put me in the minority again on a show, but I'm really not that excited by or impressed with Office Girls. I'll caveat that by stating I've only watched through episode 7, but really, if a drama doesn't get me after 7 hours, I think the odds of it making a 360 are pretty slim.

Boku to Star no 99 Nichi: Episodes 1-3 Impressions

I watched this during a lag over the weekend, mainly out of curiosity and partly because there isn't much else I'm interested in starting/continuing right now. Overall, I'm satisfied but not addicted. It's a fun drama for if you have time to kill, but is definitely not very high-quality in either acting or story. Kim Tae-Hee is gorgeous and very winning as Han Yuna, and I suspect most people are watching just for her. As they should, since this is the least she's ever annoyed me in a role (I'm probably in the minority, but personally thought she was irritatingly whiny in My Princess). As Han Yuna though, Kim is effervescent and cheerful without being an excessive crybaby.

In Time with You: Post-Episode 8 Thoughts

Looking on other blogs, it seems ITWY has inspired two very distinct groups of followers - the one that loves You Qing for how realistic she is, and the one that hates her characterization for its selfishness and inconsistency.

I don't lean particularly strongly towards either, as I can recognize and agree with points from both. However, the past two episodes are definitely pushing me towards the "dislike" group. I can understand and respect much of her behavior up through episodes 5-6. She's upright because she has strong views and secret insecurities, she's obnoxious to Maggie because the latter is a whiny, annoying little 5-year-old who's separating her from her best friend, and she takes advantage of Da Ren's patience and kindness because he allows and even passively encourages her to do so.

Material Queen: Almost-Final Review

Good god, will this drama ever end???!!! I started writing this review under the impression that it would end at 20 (which is already stretching it). Only, to find out at the end of last week that nope, there would be a 21. And having just finished 21, guess what? Still no ending!!!! Omg kill this story already. It's drowning way beyond repair and to keep it any longer is pure suffering, both for it and for the poor audience members that feel forced to finish it. 

Honestly, I've never been so pissed off by an extension before. Don't advertise something as 20 episodes, then out of the blue give us a string of unqualified story-draggers (and detractors) to prolong the angst, pain and stupidity. So, so, soooo idiotic, every controversy plays out as if it had been written by a 10-year-old. Everything is predictable, nothing is original, and characters have no inner depth except for a secret mean streak.

Cirque du Soleil: Totem show, San Francisco

So this isn't really a movie or drama, but I figured it fell close enough. This past Tuesday I went to see the Cirque du Soleil show in SF, by AT&T park. It was entertaining, and the first ever of their shows for me. I wasn't wowed, but I thought the costumes, music, and acrobatics paired beautifully. While I've seen the Beijing Acrobats do even more amazing stuff, this was designed more as an entertainment show for all ages rather than simply an acrobatics display. They've got clownish acts paired with more dangerous, high level shows. My favorite was a segment involving six girls riding 10-foot-high unicycles tossing and catching bowls with one foot. It was quite thrilling to watch.