January 2010

  • Astropia

    By akgoemans on 1/29/10 8:24am
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    Let the games beginLet the games begin
    I've had to wait for a while before I could watch this one. But it was well worth it. The movie in question is Icelandic comedy called Astropia (I refuse to call it Dorks and Damsels, which sounds way too silly). With its references to comic books, sci-fi classics and RPG gaming sessions, this book is a geek's dream come true.

    The story revolves around a somewhat ditzy model called Hildur. Maybe calling her ditzy is a bit harsh but ... she has made some bad decisions regarding her life. For one thing she is dating this sleazy car salesman who is in trouble with authorities for money issues. Well, once he ends up in jail, she has to bunk in with friends and figure out what to do with her life. Now, she needs a job.

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  • Funny Chinese Animated News

    By akgoemans on 1/22/10 2:35am
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    Super ConanSuper Conan
    A friend pointed out this Chinese animated news story about the whole Conan/Leno kerfuffle. Can I just say that this was one of the best summaries of the event I have seen so far, not to mention really entertaining? Looks like they add animated updates about a number of news events, most of which, I must admit, are local news presented in Chinese.



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  • Huggable Henchmen

    By akgoemans on 1/18/10 9:32am
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    Grr, who ate the boss' lunch?Grr, who ate the boss' lunch?
    You know what's interesting about anime and manga that detail diabolical plans for world domination and what not? Lovable henchmen, that's what. Show me a story that has an evil genius hellbent on taking over the world and, more often than not, he will have a charismatic minion who distracts most of us from the rest of the story. Or worse, have us rooting for him throughout the tale. Of course, creating likable henchman is not an easy task; many have epic fails when overtaking such a venture. Well, let's check out those that make it to this list.



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  • The Suggestive Saddle Machine?

    By akgoemans on 1/18/10 8:13am
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    She's having a bit too much fun?She's having a bit too much fun?
    Can I just say this now … I hope never to see anyone try this in a public place. So far I have been lucky, unlike this poor bloke. Yea, if I were him in that situation, I would be traumatized too.

    The topic in question is a saddle-like exercise gear. You know, you get this machine which has a saddle that moves (shakes? Gyrates? Grinds?) under you. As if that was not bad enough, turns out, you can set it to different speeds. Ooooh, this is just as bad as that jerky-hand-motion dumbell!


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  • Hollywood Celebrities in Japanese Ads

    By akgoemans on 1/15/10 12:26pm
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    I was looking for a hilarious Dutch TV ad about Commando, that over-the-top Arnold Schwarzenegger flick, when I came across these Japander ads. In case you were wondering, Japander refers to instances when well-known Hollywood folk take part in a Japanese ad, you know, for a lot of money and all that. Some of them are merely cute while others are really bad. Bad in a 'I can't believe they did this' way.



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  • Floor Faber

    By akgoemans on 1/8/10 7:52am
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    If you like TV shows revolving around quirky female characters (think Ally McBeal and Samantha Who), Floor Faber will certainly interest you. The show itself is a Dutch production which was broadcast at the end of 2009. It was well received and hopefully this means that the DVDs sets will be available in other languages.



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  • Frank Chickens: Surreal Japanese PoMo, aka The 1980's

    By msarko on 1/6/10 8:04pm
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    click to see videoclick to see video

    The Internet has skewed some of our cultural perspectives, especially thanks to its tendency to foster irony and kitsch well into realms of absurdity. This includes exchanges of bizarre pop entities from foreign nations in such high volumes that they lose a lot of what makes them strange. Take, for instance, the recent development of American perceptions of Japanese culture. At its worst, ironic Japanophilia results in a series of blunt punchlines about anime, vending machines and the inability to differentiate R sounds from L sounds. Of course the whole of modern Japanese culture isn't as broad and simple as that, but the cacophony of the Internet makes us forget that sometimes. So, when an odd bit of pop detritus like "We Are Ninja", the novelty electronic dance hit produced by avant-pop group Frank Chickens in 1984, hits our screens we're quick to dismiss it as just another crazy video from the Far East. Given its time, place and creators, I'd like to argue that "We Are Ninja" is anything but.



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