Big Bang at the VMAs (MTVJ).

Alas, I cannot quit being a fangirl. I think I was born a fangirl and will most definitely die one. Anyway, tonight was the MTV Japan Video Music Awards...starring Big BANG! (Vanness Wu was also nominated.) Details out of the way - Big Bang was nominated for 2 awards (Best Pop Video - Koe Ki Kasete and Best Newcomer - Gara Gara Go!) and won both. G-Dragon also won for his collaboration with W-inds. Did anyone doubt that these boys wouldn't sweep?

Now, the sprinkles on top of the cherry on top of the icing. An interview, in Japanese, taken from what appears to be the Coca-Cola room. [snark]

• G-Dragon acting a total goof with the Tell Me Goodbye CD.
• Youngbae saying '4 years, 5 years' and sounding like a perfect little American-born Korean.
• T.O.P. looking confused, constipated, or pissed because he's in a obnoxiously sponsored interview room.
• Youngbae, again, giving the sponsors exactly what they want - a Coke-filled moment of ecstasy.

My love for Big Bang knows no bounds.

Is Rain Hollywood's biggest badass?

Right, to all 1.5 people who sometimes read my blog, I have a mission --> VOTE FOR RAIN! The adorable Bi - that is, adorably ripped - is nominated for an MTV movie award this year. He's up against Angelina Jolie, Channing Tatum, Chris Pine, and Sam Worthington for Biggest Badass. And while I do have a soft spot for Captain Kirk (M. Pine), really, Rain was in a movie called Ninja Assassin. That kind of makes Star Trek sound like a dull evening with Grandpa. As for the other nominees, sure, they can all create massive amounts of hurt, but how many are badass enough to be caught posing in this getup?

Right. None. So join the K-pop army and get this adorable ninja killing angel a golden bucket of popcorn!

And in case you forgot how much ass Rain can kick.......

Kathryn Bigelow, you rock!

Another year, another missed Oscars. I still have time to catch up on Hong Kong Film Award pictures though - and stalk the ceremony. Meanwhile, Kathryn Bigelow made many a girl proud last night with her Oscar for Best Director. I doubt her win will bring a tidal wave of new opportunities for women, but at least the award comes with some acknowledgment that chicks don't need a dashing chap to make a good movie. Really, Hollywood, even Hong Kong has its feminist act together, at least when it comes to recognizing female directors. Ann Hui added to her healthy collection of statues by winning for last year's 天水圍的日與夜 (The Way We Are), and previous Best Director recipients include Mabel Cheung, Sylvia Chang, and Clara Law, all of whom boast multiple pieces of HKFA hardware. Especially impressive since the ceremony isn't even 30 years old! Take note, Hollywood.

歲月神偷 ('Echoes of the Rainbow') wins the Crystal Bear in Berlin.

Here's a movie I want to see...歲月神偷 (Echoes of the Rainbow). It just won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, an award that honors movies that pass on cultural heritage. This film stars Simon Yam and Sandra Ng as parents of two boys, one of whom likes to wear a fish bowl on his head, in 1960s Hong Kong. Despite hardships, the family perseveres, as such movies go. Nice to see something outside the triad/action/kung-fu genres getting recognition. There is hope!

2010 Hong Kong Film Critics Society winners and Oscar nominations.

Results for the 16th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards came in a couple weeks ago. There were a few interesting winners that infused some light into the dying Hong Kong cinematic fire. Best Picture went not to a shoot em up stuffed with stars but to KJ (音樂人生), a documentary about a local music prodigy. Meanwhile, Kara Hui (惠英紅), added another Best Actress trophy to her Golden Horse win for her performance as a distressed single mother in At the End of Daybreak (心魔). Mainland actor Wang Xueqi (王学圻) elbowed out all the other bodyguards and assassins, including Hu Jun, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Leon Lai, Nic Tse, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, and Donnie Yen, for the Best Actor prize in that movie (十月圍城). Of course it wouldn't be a proper Hong Kong film awards without some recognition for the star-laced hits that keep the industry afloat. Best Director went to Alan Mak and Felix Chong for the cops v financial industry thriller Overheard (竊聽風雲). Another Lau Ching-Wan film, Written By (再生號), took the top writing prize.

Shortlists include: Prince of Tears (淚王子); Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms (機動部隊 - 同袍); McDull Kung Fu Ding Dong (麥兜粛噹噹); Michelle Ye; Zhang Jingchu (張靜初); Sammi Cheng; Ada Choi; Liu Kai-Chi (廖啟智); and Simon/Ching-Wan/Louis.

On the other side of the International Date Line, the Academy announced nominations for the 82nd annual awards. Entirely predictable in the categories that people care about, meaning that Avatar and The Hurt Locker cleaned up with nine nods a piece. Up in the Air grabbed the most acting nominations with 3 for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress(es). As usual, I have not seen most of the films but will be rooting for one of the 3 that I did see, In the Loop, which is up for Best Fucking Adapted Screenplay. Oscars drop March 7.

News of the Day 1.18.10 plus Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes.

• Oh, those Cubs fans are at it again, thinking this year is the one where they take it all. Better luck next year, folks...or not.
• Some are asking if a standardized test, in this case the MCAT, might not be the best or at least only way of selecting our future doctors.
• The Japanese and their pampered pets. But it's not just the Japanese who are crazy, Hong Kong.
• A short 3 minute clip about Miep Gies who died last week. She helped hide Anne Frank and her family and also kept Anne's diary after they were discovered and sent to concentration camps.
• Mongolian president calls for a moratorium on the death penalty. Hooray! Maybe the U.S. can take a cue.
• Survey finds that 25% of British students feel pushed into their major due to parental or family pressure.
• Did Google employees in China assist in the security breaches that prompted the company to consider withdrawing?
• Casper the bus-riding cat is now a friendly ghost. :(
• We've done away with plastic bags, but now we have a mountain of reusable bags.
• Wow, a no-pants subway ride - in Guangdong - to protest climate change!
• Obama! the Musical. For once, this crazy idea is not coming out of America but Germany.
  

Ricky Gervais hosted the 2010 Golden Globes Awards last night. Early reports cite mixed reviews, but I thought he was grand, well, the parts I caught on youtube. It seems that more of the negative reaction is coming from Hollywood insiders as the host didn't really moderate his attacks on the whole idea of movie and television stardom. He provided some sharp commentary as the "greatest people in the world" were honored last night.