Blood: The Last Vampire (2009, Japan) | Rating: 2.5/5
Even though I haven't seen the anime, it seemed like a promising movie if you look at all angles of the box. Well, I must say I was rather bored with the story and hardly even remember nor understand what was going on half the time. I don't even if it was just me half pay attention as I was multi-tasking or it really was kinda "meh". I thought the visuals were intriguing, but they overused a lot of the special effects during the fighting sequences.
Casshern (2004, Japan) | Rating: 3.5/5
This movie was sent to me by an awesome friend that has great taste in movies and this one was a pretty good one. I wasn't completely amazed overall, but it is worth taking a look at. It has some cliché conflict issues of love, father/son relationships, and the government trying to fix things but only screwing things up even more. The cinematography is stunning! I love the colors and action sequences a lot. The story dragged along a little, but still managed to keep my interesting all the way to the end. Although, I was a little upset with the conclusion.
Ghost in the Shell 2.0 (2008, Japan) | Rating: 3/5
I've tried to watch the original '95 version, but sleep deprivation and deep thinking movies do not go together very well. So, I noticed we had the enhanced CGI version at my workplace and I had the pleasure of being the first to view it. I'm already on the Ghost in the Shell bandwagon. I played the game and adored the show that aired on Adult Swim, so I was looking forward to finally seeing the movie. I was...a little disappointed. It was an alright storyline, but the art lost me. I'm glad the Major got off those steroids before jumping on ship for the Stand Alone Complex series.
Psycho Ward (2007, Canada) | Rating: 1/5
I watched this movie somewhere in October on a whim from work. The cover art is deceiving and the summary on the back seemed interesting. Unfortunately, there was little to desire from this low budget Canadian slasher. The camera angles are very amateur, the storyline is weak, and the acting worse than a kindergarten play. I would avoid this movie like a plague.
I checked out their stuff on YouTube and it was decent. I saw a comment referring them as a gothic Elvis style. I suppose I can agree with that. Their style is definitely for the older folk. The crew adjusted things on the stage and flipped the screen around to a rose and the name "Dommin". They walked past our right side in the gated area leading up to the stage and prepared to perform. They had decent energy. More mature than Aural Vampire's and Kristofer talked to us a few times. It was entertaining watch Konstantine rock out on the keyboard and set the mood for each song with Billy's strong bass. Since I'm not that familiar with their music, I do know they played "Dark Holiday", "My Heart, Your Hands", "Tonight", and Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Dying in Your Arms Tonight".
My friend and I moved back to our spots on stage right and awaited TBM to approach the stage. They opened up with "In the Dark", getting the crowd super pumped and the energy just escalated from there. Chibi was all over the place and had this devilish, playful vibe about how she moved and sung. Everything sounded 10 times better in person than a recording, which I didn't think was possible. I felt everything flow inside and out. Deep connection was made, but nothing life changing. Rainbow was an interesting fella to watch spaz about with his guitar and step in occasionally for back-up vocals. Chibi dedicated songs to each band that performed before them and I think they grew closer to Aural Vampire throughout the whole tour, which is awesome! Japan and Canada unite!! So, here's my crazy attempt at a setlist:
I haven't listened to N.E.R.D in ages. I think the latest song I heard was "She Wants to Move". I knew a couple or so of their older songs and some collaboration pieces that Pharrell had done with other artists, but nothing I could sing/rap word for word. Nonetheless, I still enjoy their music and apparently one of my friends that went with me is a bit of a fan of theirs as well. They mostly did songs from their latest album, Nothing, and plugged it a few times, but they did perform "She Wants to Move", "Maybe", "Rockstar", and "Lapdance". They had a ton of energy and more people were willing to get up and move. When they didn't, Pharrell commanded them to get up on their feet and let the music flow through their body. He made us have a little jumping contest from section to section too.
One of my friends and I returned just in time, from the merch table, for the opening with 2-D, Noodle, and Murdoc preparing for the show, then the orchestra played in the background and big glowing letters spelling out "Gorillaz" above them. Slowly people stood up and stared at the big screen above the band's name, the members entered the darkened stage along with a marching band from Chicago, and watched the island appear before us and soon Snoop Dogg in a fancy, gangsta pirate outfit on the screen. He did the first track vocal track of the album to start the show, "Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach". It was very smooth and perfect. Before I go any further, I have to throw in my imperfect setlist:
Now I guess I'll go down the list of songs and comment on them from what I remember. There were a lot of songs I was happy and a bit surprised they played. They mixed it up from every album they released and we just kept moving and yelling to everything they threw at us. I didn't think the legendary Bobby Womack was gonna show up for "Stylo", but he did and he got down with it! He also did "Cloud of Unknowing". He gave credits to Damon for writing the song and that it was one of his favorites. Someone brought out a stool for him to sit on and he preached it to us. There were a couple people in the back yelling his name. It was great! There were a lot of special little guests that got to be part of their own songs. An Arab-American orchestra did the intro to "White Flag" and immediately the rappers ran out and got us pumped. Damon brought out a giant white flag for the fans up front to hold and wave it around. 
They kinda failed and it got wrapped up around the pole. Once they got it open, they had a good swaying motion down for the rest of the song. The adorable Miss Yumiki Nagano of Little Dragon came out and performed a couple songs with Damon, "To Binge" and "Empire Ants". I think she's super cute and I love her voice! "Superfast Jellyfish" had an interesting little video in the background with various fast foods and snacks and of course a goofy little jellyfish. The "Last Living Souls" video ended with the two last men that have been wandering in the desert being zombies, which was an interesting concept. Fell in love with "Dirty Harry", especially with the video they played with the demented Gorillaz-esque kids swaying to the music. 
Classics like "Dare" was exciting and I couldn't help not dancing like Noodle in the screen and I adored the vocalist who sung for her. "Feel Good Inc." and "19-2000" had high energy as well and people were excited. The rappers had a lot of fun with the first song and everyone went wild when the guy did his signature laugh for all of us. "Clint Eastwood" was very "wow"! The rappers got us extra pumped for the song and it was great way to close out the show.