Shugo Chara! and Shugo Chara!! Doki!

The Japanese anime series is about an elementary 5th grade girl by the name of Hinamori Amu. On the exterior, she exudes the cool and spicy image while within closed door, she is just an average shy girl. Her life changing moment comes when she wishes for Guardian to help make her change. Overnight, 3 new adorable Shugo Chara appeared and transformed her life ever since.

Shugo Chara! started in October 2007 running a total of 51 episodes. The sequal is renamed Shugo Chara! Doki and started from October 2008 and running to today. There are quite a number of interesting twists and friendship stories throughout the series. New characters are also being introduced over time. It is amazing how friendship can overcomes obstacles in life and bring people closer together.

I'm looking forward to the ending and especially the interesting romance between Amu-chan and Ikuto. Though Tadese and Nagihiko are both good looking, I somehow likes Ikuto over the rest. :) What will happen to them? I guess we all have to wait and see for now.

Yume Tsukai

If dream manifests into physical realm, will it do good or harm? Will it take over control and create more trouble? What happen to the dreamer, the original creator of the dream?

Yume Tsukai is a TV anime series which explores dreams when it cross over to reality. Leader of the ring is Touko, followed by her younger sister, Rinko, Tachibana Hajime and Satoka. The sister pair works closely together in helping people who encounter problems when their dreams become a reality and take over control. Hajime is called in from time to time while Satoka is the newest and least experienced.

The anime explores an interesting aspect of dream vs reality. This theme is also seen in Paprika, who helps people in their dream to understand the root of the dream issues. A pretty good run for my time over the weekend in finishing 12 episodes of this rather interesting series. I have yet to fully explore this area, perhaps I should go dream about it... and I might learn more the next day. Hmm... interesting is the only comment I have about this anime for now.

Elegy

Elegy is as poetic as its name. The movie is strange, mysterious and somber as an elegy.

David Kepesh is a well know literacy celebrity and professor. He is always in pursue of beauty and never allows himself to settle for any woman. He fled from his marriage and has ever since soured his relationship with his son. His only comfort is Caroline, a businesswoman, whom he has an open relationship for the past 20 years.

The day Consuela Castillo enters into his life become a turning point which puts him in chaos. From an intelligent, smart and confident man, David becomes a insecure, jealous, possessive and childish little boy. He yields for Consuela. Yet, he also fears deeply that his beautiful Consuela will either leave him or be swept away by another young man given their over 30 years of age difference. He has refused to commit to Consuela despite their 2 years relationship.

Consuela decides to end the relationship when David has once again refused to show up for a family event, this time it is her graduation party. She disappeared from David's life for 2 years while he learns to pick up pieces of his broken self. When Consuela shows up on a new year's eve, breaking the news of her cancer, David finally sees beauty and open up his heart for the first time in (probably) 40 years.

The movie is very poetic driven, trying to show the inner struggle of a man who is refusing to open up his heart. The conflicts are very subtle and yet powerful. Words and emotions aren't always that easy for a man to communicate and in this movie, you notice that struggle for David. It got a little draggy at a couple of spots in the movie. Overall, it is a decent movie.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 fairy clouds.