Visitor... Welcome to my Pink Lounge. This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. I hope you enjoy ...
I love them miniatures. It started off with Rolife series, where the first hit had come from a tiny library, followed by a sakura train, and then some—well, it’s this one—most surely one of the longest ones to build. What I was used to was a series of poppable pieces of wood that would definitely break off a piece when the smallest and most proper technique was applied, forcing me to attach the…
My dear reader, and one day, I hope, to call each other friends—welcome to the little corner I call my home. It’s not much; it’s not grandiose; it may not even be comfortable... [ Continue reading... ]
Yes. There is no need for discussion or explaining... [ Continue reading... ]
As the casinos and mob-controlled enterprises had met their demise, so had the “good ol' America,” which compared to today’s faceless enterprises that know no bounds to their greed, had character, and some personality, which we can see in full bloom in Martin Scorsese’s Casino topped to the brim with Joe Pesci’s violence—man, I would not want to be near that person ever, you know something had…
Even the scent of my engineering department’s hallways hadn’t changed. All these years, the physical sensation is the same, but I am emotionally distant. What a familiar place with such unfamiliar faces. It is an honor to get invited every year to host a lecture and get the opportunity to part knowledge on the soon-to-be-graduates with everything that I wish I had known when I sat where they are…
holy cinema �... [ Continue reading... ]
In the brief happy periods that I get to reunite with my besto friendo who had just visited me, here, in the land that he had moved away from in pursuit of greatness, he nerd-sniped me with a rolife building set—oh boy I love those—where after grueling four or five hours, when I found myself awake at three in the morning on a weekday, still building it, let me introduce you, my dear reader, to…
This itself got me Wild... [ Continue reading... ]
Only after my first Les Blank experience in Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers, I know I wanted more. He has this magical ability to both poke fun at something but do it with such an open heart that it stays right on the fine line of being wholesome, yet witty and satirical, and this is of course, the Americans’ adventures through Europe—with all the modern conveniences of life, like traveling…
The premise of hiring a callgirl to seduce your husband that you suspect of cheating, of say confronting him about it is a tough sell. Add on top all the times the movie’s writing hammered how good they were and still are as a couple, then the primary tension has weak legs to stand on. The final twist still pays off, somewhat, even if the viewer can see it coming from a mile away, but ultimately,…
It is a rare kind of experience and the pleasure that comes with it to eat cloves of garlic and a fried rice cooked in sautéed while watching Les Blank’s Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers. It’s absolutely wonderful. What care and love had gone into every reel, capturing the day to day life of all the people on film, loving, enjoying, obsessing over, cooking with garlic. It’s the smallest things in…
Trying to write something about Park Chan-wook’s new film about how we do live in a society is proving to be a more difficult task than I had originally anticipated. The primary reason being that there is not much that I can latch on to here—with the sole exception of seeing my boy Lee Byung-hun looking through for the entire run of... [ Continue reading... ]
There is no Mark Walberg before this—not without his massive Pulp Fiction-esque organ hanging in between his legs that got everyone mesmerized to the point of losing themselves in this plot full of lust, desire, danger, money, and greed—all the greatest things that the 70s is remembered by. Oh, and yes, the adult industry with the overflowing production of pornography is to remembered by everyone…
Here I am weeping with chills running down my spine with the tearducks overflowing with my salty tears, yet I hold myself back from wiping off in fear I could miss even a single frame of this film that I had just seen two days ago—it wante... [ Continue reading... ]
I wouldn’t have expected to see the modern-day Skid Row and Tenderloin presented as this absolute Hell on Earth in a fictional Manhattan, which is really just the average experience of walking down in any large-ish city in the US. The only difference is that I am not hot and jacked and masculine as Kurt Russell, but also badass in a way that is ... [ Continue reading... ]
Wecome back. It is great seeing after all this time since our encounters four years ago, and three years ago, and two years ago, and even last year—wait for it—this year we will be doing the same! However, there will be a big difference for the simple reason of that whenever I drive, it is my spotify that gets connected to the car’s infotainment system and my wife is ... [ Continue reading... ]
I rarely ever open goodreads but when I do, I have a flaming desire to share something either of a magnificent and of an unforgettable read, or something so vile that my dissatisfaction cannot be contained. I am beyond happy to report that today is the day for me to share t... [ Continue reading... ]
Not only is this the “corrected” way to drink espresso, but the true and only way I want to drink it from now on. Having its roots from some time of the early 1920s—there is no better way to feel like a working class Italian of that time having a lunch break before getting back to work with the slight buzz of the infamo... [ Continue reading... ]
Didn’t know much about it but that my mom loves Richard Gere and after seeing it—I understand why. That’s it. Not to oversimplify, but following a story of a girl that is scared of commitment, where dumping three guys at the altar in succession and continuing to live in the same small town middle of nowhere is crazy. I liked the twist and the general feel of the movie, but nothing much to hold on…
Loved reading through GReg TeChnoLogY Anthony Bourdain’s Lost Li.st’s and seeing the list of lost Anthony Bourdain li.st’s made me think on whether at least some of them we ca... [ Continue reading... ]
Watched this a few days after I got married—it’s got that charm of the 90s and early 2000s cinema. A little dose of this and that in here and it makes for a movie to be enjoyed with the whole family. Exaggerated stereotypes, though some, frighteningly relatable—My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a treasure trove of one-liners, catch-phrases, and references that I can throw at any... [ Continue reading...…
Qualifies as a comfort film. It’s inoffensive, pretty fun, shot nicely with little notes—whenever I stay at a hotel somewhere, I’ve developed this habit of just turning this in the background as an ignorable noise, so the TV keeps playing something and gives that missing illumination, since the hotel rooms seldom ever have any light sources that are more powerful than a bed night light or a lamp…
You did a fantastic, really, phenomenal job on this. Simply, incredible. This piece though is a hot pile of garbage, it sucks ass, and it stinks. I’m sure it’s no big deal though. I mean, listen, whatever we can get to, it would b... [ Continue reading... ]
Walking blind into the movie theater—I must confess—I was not ready for what played on the screen. Having just finished worked and hurriedly arriving to my local AMC, so I could rendezvous in time with my friends, the mental and emotional space that Angel’s Egg required in general, and that specific night, was not something I could easily extend. It is one of those experiences that feel richer in…
I built this over the course of two days and it had taken me more time than I have ever originally anticipated for it to take. In part, since it requires every single book to be individually wrapped—this set is a great teacher in patience that I might be just that much more of a holier m... [ Continue reading... ]
They had no reason to cook this hard. I believe this must have been a sting operation of some sort, since when I found out about this show, nobody was talking about it and even the most hardcore anime-watching-following-all-seasons friends I have, nobody had heard of this Chinese show. Only seeing the original trailer of the show had ignited our curiosity from nil to over elevent in a few moments’…
I can’t seem to feel when I want to feel so desperately. When I must feel, why do I not have that sensation? There is something to be said of not being overly emotional or letting the fleeting sensations of the moment control the mind, but there is an equally strong argument to be made in favor of following those gusts of inspiration, as they often lead to places and times that are locked to…
This is an epic tale of love, betrayal, loss, loyalty, mission, and consequences that come with each. The sheer scale of the story told is one to behold. From the moment it started, on a sensitive topic of today—it had not let me go from its tight grip not even for a moment’s time. The music, the cinematography, the separation of the events to the “dangerous fast-moving past, almost a glimpse into…
Minecraft Movie is probably one of the worst movies I have ever had the displeasure of seeing. It’s just straight-up bad, man. I studied films in college, took classes, even did a whole graduate-level course on trash films like Asylum, John Waters, Sharknado, etc., but they all had a charm to eat—they were campy, they had something to say, they tried so desperately to be something that they…
My first memory of seeing this film comes from college, when my mother recommended me see this tale of Nicolas Cage finding out the life he had almost grasped but had let go of with a decision that nobody can really fault him for. The clips and the general inspiration for the film has been living rent-free in my mind since then. As corny as it sounds, but that contrast of Nicolas Cage achieving…
I went to a life-changing concert—well, a club—that gave me the closest experience I could ever hope to get to Alive 2007. It’s been almost a week since then, but my calves and quads hurt pleasantly from all the jumping an... [ Continue reading... ]
I remember growing up next to shelves filled with books of all widths and genres. My parents gave me the taste of collecting books such that one day, when their time comes, someone will read them. It kick-started my love for literature and where I am now. In 2016, while I was living in Armenia, I went to a small (literal hole in the wall) indie bookstore in one of their underground malls near the…
While watching The Be Hero X this Tuesday night, the boys had a healthy dose of four negronis, which prompted us to indulge ourselves in three dinners. It being one of the most frequently ordered cocktails in the world, if not topping the charts—it’s really easy to see why. Incredibly inoffensive, tasty, and straight-forward to make with any ingredients resembling the Big Three. I like to think…
It would be hard to imagine a movie that is more formulaic and predictable than F1: The Movie, yet retains its Top Gun-style charm led by Brad Pitt’s affable performance and the story so inoffensive and straightforward that the total experience, albeit forgettable, is a positive one. The entire setup of our hero being a nomad guy who does it not for the fame and glory (anymore), but for the sake…
I was a little surprised to see the movie that I had just seen airing in my local movie theaters to get mentioned as a new Criterion physical release in one of their emails I get every now and then. Having a fresh movie off the press like that getting a physical copy must serve as some sort of a strong-ish signal of its relative quality. Especially with all the buzz from its numerous awards and…
Since I fell asleep during the final ten or so minutes and have no intentions of going back and seeing it through—I don’t know how the movie ends and it doesn’t matter either. Entertaining KPop Demon Hunters for some fun songs might be a good ... [ Continue reading... ]
Scrolling through the home page of my Criterion Channel, Sexy Beast was not my top pick—far from it, really. I did everything in my power to avoid picking this movie for our evening watch. Not that there was much that I could do, but offering two other films and spinning the three of them in an online wheel of fortune and Sexy Beast beating the two, I thought to myself, “Gods themselves must be…
iPhones are so bad in low-light shooting that the all kinds of chroma and luma noise get so bad to the point that I simply cannot edit them in any shape of form that could be presentable to the public. Especially since I also like the look of 50mm lens by having all my pictures taken in 2x mode—the actual canvas turns out to be a random sample of pixels each with a random color of your choosin...…
Pre-Lynchian nightmare decanted straight out of Robert Altman’s mind. I genuinely hated the first half of the movie—either the mood was not right or I was too tired or simply not in the space to see it for what it is. The second half though took me for such a wild spin that the feeling I was left with after finishing it had haunted me for the next week or so. The absurditiy and terror of the final…
You can never go wrong with a Manhattan. I can never go wrong with a Manhattan. There does exist a number of perfect combinations of foods and beverages, like cappuccino and a croissant, like fish and chips with a Guiness, like an americano with a bagel—like a Manhattan with a steak. Even if I’m not treating myself to a nice cut of a red meat—the sharp yet viscous sensation of this drink is almost…
My father once told me, “Only if the new generations are better off than the last, then that is progress. That is why you must be better than I am.” I have never forgotten those words as they guide me on what it means to move forward, not just yourself, but everyone around me and especially those who will come after me. There is nobody quite like Yasujirō Ozu, who distills down universal values…
My office has a monitor that plays Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation around-the-clock every day—I never get tired seeing it throughout the day, watching it while doing my chores, thinking about it randomly, or feeling it when I need it the most—that about sums up my relationship with this film. Roger Ebert said it ... [ Continue reading... ]
I am a lifetime John Wick customer. Show me anything made by the same people or in the same world and I am in, same deal as Matrix and Ballerina was no exception. Only having a few seconds of John Wick in the beginning of the movie made it all worth it. Everything that appeared after was a treat for t... [ Continue reading... ]
Bubble gum with the flavor of “/The Devil Wears Prada/” and I love “/The Devil Wears Prada./” The whole movie with its plot walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, where the duck in this hypothetical scenario is an A24 product. Has its charm and wit; can’t forget about the fucking gorgeous cinematography and scenes that truly stand out—I’m thinking of the din... [ Continue…
We have these widespread series at work, where speakers are invited to present on any topic they find interesting—does not have to be related to anything one is working on nor does it even have to be about tech. Some talk about their gardens, others about financial planning, etc. And what a surprise, I got an invitation to become a speaker at the end of one of the maj... [ Continue reading... ]
This felt like eating a nice dessert, not too heavy, but light and leaves you satisfied in the moment. There is a good message of the sheer scale of one’s inner Universe and the absolutely minuscule importance of one’s life in the grand scheme of the surrounding Universe. It’s a good contrast shown by the reverse chronological telling of Chuck’s life. Since I also happen to like Tom Hiddleston a…
A less compelling story and a package as a whole compared to the previous installments, nonetheless, still fun to watch and has that MI secret sauce to it that keeps bringing me seeing it every time in theaters. The threat of AI, how on the nose, is omnipresent but hard to believe in or feel that something real is at stake. There is no character to it, not real sense of danger, as the claim that…
Going through Juzo Itami’s filmography in an almost random-like order offers one of the more jarring experiences I have had with any other director’s portfolios. The one anchor that is impossible to remove from any of his films, to the point where it would not be a moving picture made by Juzo Itami—Nobuko Miyamoto starring as the central character, as the heroine of the story, the star that…
Torpedoing ourselves back from the late 80s to late 90s, a perfect decade, I find myself in the same situation of seeing all the familiar faces maturing yet again with age as we come out of A Taxing Woman. Not much is different; Nobuko Miyamoto is the star that will steal the show, but in ways I could not have foreseen. Her acting was absolutely superb and it was the first for me in seeing the…
Juzo Itami did it again—a wonderful story, a Western story of ambition, rivalry, and triumphic glory. If Tampopo told us the story of a struggling ramen shop, then this film’s core setting is even more mundane—the supermarket. Like Goro from Tampopo helping out Tampopo, now we have Tampopo—played by the one and only, Nobuko Miyamoto—helping out Goro’s “Honest Mart” fight off the existential threat…