Movie Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

In the 21st century, A teenager Percy Jackson discovers he's actually a demi-God, the son of Poseidon, and he is the prime suspect when Zeus' lightning is stolen. Percy must master his newfound skills in order to prevent a war between the Gods that could devastate the entire world. He and his friends embark on a cross-country adventure to catch the true lightning thief, save Percy's mom, and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Do you know what is this story about the ancient Greek gods, such as Zeus, Hades, Athena, Hermes and others? Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods, but did you know to get there all you have to do is take an elevator secretly located inside the Empire State Building to get there? I was shocked to learn Medusa owns a stone-status shop! in New Jersey and...What?! Underground of Hell is located in Hollywood?!

When I watched the Medusa's part, it remind me to read a greek story about Perseus cut her head..With help from Athena and Hermes, who supplied him with winged sandals, Hades' cap of invisibility, a sword, and a mirrored shield, he accomplished his quest. That is why it is similar when Percy are saving his mother as his quest while he are fighting with evil monsters with a daughter of Athena and half-goat man. He also have a sword, winged shoes and gold mirror which given by a son of Hermes, Luke.

There are a magical training facility is set up in the woods for their half-human, half-god children (referred to as demigods) to learn their skills, such as they learn how to fight with used the swords, how to plan the strategy battle, etc...Like Harry Potter who learn how to use magic in the school castle... :P

But, Lotus casino in Las Vegas part is very boring. They better to use Cerberus, three-headed dog, guarded Hades' underworld when Percy and his friends visit Hades! -_- Because they use the monster dogs who guard Hades's home. Why Hades is a fire demon?! For me, he is not demon..He just is god of death who ruled the underground 'Hell'. so, it is not impressive about Hades' part. Percy and Luke always fighting in the air... O_o He is very strong when he used the magic of water.. He really need water because it can heal and power up on him!

Saint Seiya : The Lost Canvas

THE SUMMARY

The Lost Canvas unfolds the story of the previous Holy War, taking place in the 18th century, 250 years before the original series, in the Saint Seiya universe.

During the Holy War, Athena's Saints fights against the Specters from Hades. One day, Gold Saint Libra Dohko is impressed by Tenma 's ability to use the cosmos when Dohko finds him, he asks Tenma to attend the Sanctuary in Greece to become Athena's Saint.

There, he finds Sasha who is revealed to be Athena's reincarnation. She is also Alone's sister and Tenma's childhood friend from an orphanage from Italy. By that time he meets her, he fails to protect Sasha from Worm Raimi and it causes him to become more determined. As promised, he become Pegasus Bronze Saint after only 2 years.

During the next two years while Tenma is away for the Holy War, Alone encounters Pandora who recognizes him as Hades's reincarnation. Upon discovering who he is under the influence of Hypnos and Pandora, he is ready to gather his Specters and starts launching the war against Athena. His identity is soon discovered by Tenma and Sasha.

What will happen upon their discovery on Hades's identity? Sasha who wishes to live with Tenma and Alone again like the time they were in the orphanage... Tenma who wishes to save Alone, even if he must injure him for that.

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Remember I wrote about the original Saint Seiya in very first previous entry? Here's another sequel to the original one...Ooops, I should say it is pre-sequel as it happened 25o years ago before the original one. So, mostly of the characters in the original Saint Seiya are the reincarnation from The Lost Canvas. Plus there are many new characters are introduced such like Crane Yuzuriha, Altar Hakurei (Elder Jamir) and some from Hades's.

I really pity on those characters - Tenma, Alone and Sasha. Unlike the original Saint Saint, Sasha, Alone and Tenma had a special bond. Sasha is the sister to Alone while Tenma and Alone are best friends. But Alone eventually become Hades, their arch-enemy. Sure they are suffering because they have to fight against Hades in order to protect their world but in their heart, they are resistant to do so.

Alright, that would be enough for a review. Go to OneManga : Saint Seiya : The Lost Canvas or MangaFox : Saint Seiya : The Lost Canvas to read for your own evaluation. =P

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Yoooo~! Sorry for being away for a quite long time...and yeah, I'm back here to write some reviews... Recently I watched some movies and read some manga, and I'm gonna write those reviews down. One by one... Be patient ya..

What I am writing its review is the movie "The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" which has finally came out after 7 years the second sequel of its line : The Mummy Return.... =_= pretty long time already.


THE SUMMARY

Opening with the rise to the power of Emperor Han, the Dragon Emperor who had successfully conquered most of enemies as well as he mastered five elements. He however, is not able to conquer his own death and he decided to seek for a sorceress named Zi Yuan who knew where to get the secret of immortality. He wanted Zi Yuan for himself and instructed his General not to touch her. Too bad as they have fallen in love during their search for the secret of immortality. Unknownst, their journey was spied by someone who's loyal to Emperor. Upon their return from the search and Zi Yuan made a ritual for the Emperor, she then was invited to the balcony to witness the murder of her beloved man. Soon, the Emperor discovered that he together with his army is cursed into terra cotta statues. Zi Yuan of course, successfully escaped to somewhere wounded.

Jumped in 1947, the O'Connell couple was given a task to deliver "Eye of Shangri-La" to a museum in China. Their adventure began as Roger Wilson who worked with Alex O'Connell during the exavation to locate the Dragon Emperor's tomb in a league with a paramilitary army group led by General Yang. General Yang had resurrected the Dragon Emperor with the "Eye of Shangri-La" into the animated terra cotta statue form. A msyterious Chinese lady tried to kill the Dragon Emperor with dagger but she failed as they escaped away.

At this time, the O'Connells family must stop the Dragon Emperor who wishes to plunge the world into his merciless, unending service. With the guide of Lin, a mysterious Chinese lady, they chased to Himalayas and tired their best to block them from locating the pool of Shangri-La. In the process, Lin summoned her friends, Yeti to assist them to block them as well but the Emperor succeeded in locating the pool of Shangri-La. Rick O'Connells get injured during protecting his son, Alex.

The O'Connells reached Shangri-La first and got Rick healed by Zi Yuan who is later revealed to Lin's mother and she was rescued by a Yeti after escaped from the Emperor over 2,000 years. O_O They were ambushed by the Emperor who was able to shower into the pool without any problem. The pool restored him to human form and granted him a shapeshifting ability as well. He transformed into three headed dragon and kidnapped Lin to the excavation site to summon his Terracotta Army.

At the same time, Zi Yuan managed to revive the undead army that buried beneath the Great Wall by sacrifricing her immortality and that of her daugther. Led by the General Ming, the massive battle ensued while Zi Yuan went to fight one-to-one with the Emperor. She sacrifriced her life to steal the dagger then gave Lin the dagger and told her to stab the Emperor's heart. Alex and Rick joints to stab the Emperor causing the Emperor to be destroyed.

The peace restored back at Imhotep, a pub which was once operated by Jonathan... Alex and Lin dancing, finally can kiss. And the old O'Connells were dancing as well..

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The concept of the Mummy 3 is a bit disappointed. I thought the concept of the Eygptian mummy would be re-stylized to Asian but the one that Jet Li portrayed is not really the Mummy. What the heck the Mummy can transform into three headed dragon? The concept run off from the basic concept of Mummy. Hahaha.. Whatever.. it's only my personal opinion since I love the "undead". It reminded me of doing this concept during my Final Year Project before the graduation.

Anyway, the story is just good...Let's say if there is 10 stars for voting, I would give its only 6 stars. Hahaha. Brendan Fraser still did a good job. But I missed Rachel Weisz who portrayed Evelyn back in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. Her character was very attractive - lovely and adventureous. But this time, Eve is totally different, really a rough and forceful woman! I feel like wanna faint when watch her action. OMG! =D If there is a sequel from The Mummy, I wanna Rachel Weisz back to return to portray this Evelyn!!! I wish!

MythBusters

MythBusters is an American popular science television program on the Discovery Channel starring American special effects experts, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, who use basic elements of the scientific method to test the validity of various rumors, urban legends, myths and news stories in popular culture. Mythbusters is typically shot in San Francisco; planning and some experimentation takes place at the cast's workshops; some experiments that require more space or special accommodations are filmed on location around the Bay, and occasionally the show travels to other states or countries.. Visit the website Discovery; Mythbusters

Mythbusters is my favorite show, will be exploring the rumors about if you leave your Xmas tree lights on all night it just might burst into flames!! Fun!! Also, a very dangerous vodka myth! The lovely and talented Kari will find out if pouring vodka on a jellyfish sting will ease the pain. Personally, if I got stung by a jelly fish, I'd drink the vokda. But that's just me. It is funny when the other team-three expert assistants;Kart, Tory and Grant try to build some serious alien technology - anti-gravity.. Kart is cheerful girl, who really enjoy to do some experitmentation! That is why she is very good in her favourite subject; science. Grant is a genius?! He can bulid the electronics, and technology by himself.. o_O Tory is good bulider, but he likes to give a try to test some dangerous things by himself!

Try to catch AXN, channel 701 at 9.oopm on every saturday! :D

Onmyo Taisenki

I saw this anime in computer shop and decided to buy because the spirit or supernatural being are my favourites. So I tried to watch =P... Wow, its like Digimon, which the chosen ones use device to release monster. I really enjoy watching this anime.

For your information, Onmyo Taisenki is an anime series, produced by Sunrise, and monthly manga series. However, I never read manga before. Hahaa...

THE SUMMARY

The story centers on Riku Tachibana, 12-year-old Japanese boy who lives with his adoptive grandfather near Tokyo was been taught a series of strange hand movements by his grandpa. Until the day his grandpa is attacked by a Shikigami, strange monsters with human owner near his shrine, Riku comes to the scene and his grandpa instructed him to trigger Drive, a device that is hidden within the shrine to get in contact with Kogenta of the Byakko, his Shikigami.

As Riku's grandpa goes on a journey, the 10-year old crybaby boy Souma Asaka and the 10-year old Taoist girl Nazuna rent rooms in Riku's house. The 17-year old handsome man Masaomi, who teaches Riku the secrets of Onmyoudou, dropps by eventually. The three of them also have 'contracts' with Shikigami.

The main of events of Onmyou Taisenki anime are related to the Chi-ryu, a powerful Japanese financial group related to the Onmyoudou; attempting to open the four Taiten, the 'Four Great Heavens' to free Utsuho, a boy who was born with the power to control yokai had been imprisoned for thousands of years.

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This story is really very good and interesting which the plot of story shows a different expression of feeling, such as every character portrays own personalities. For example, when Kogenta is sent to hell, the friendship that bonded with Kogenta within Riku's heart won't fade out although his mind forget who is Kogenta! Masaomi was being manipulated by Utusho led to its confusion fused with anger. This story is full with some strong expressions such as justice, anger, hatred, happiness and friendship.

Normally, the main antagonist in other anime would be killed in the end but this anime is different. I won't tell you what exactly happened to the main antagonist. =P You better have to see it yourself. If I tell you earlier, then there would be no surprise for you. Haha... Anyway, the ending make me really touched and impressed.

You ought to see this anime, I insist. =D

Saint Seiya

Yesterday I've just finished reading this manga namely "Saint Seiya" which is almost forgotten in present time, and it took me 3 days (@_@) to complete reading yet it is in chinese version >_<. Actually, I have been desperately searching for this manga since my brother bought only one book and it is Volume 8. Still the story in each chapters are still clearly vivid in my mind. It makes its the most favourite manga. This manga was really hard to find in the shop and nowadays, many manga website dont have this manga. =(

And I also bought some anime to relive my memory. However, anime that featured The Sanctuary Chapter and The Hades Chapter are almost incomplete without a few of last episodes. =( Waste my $... Luckily the featured anime of Asgard and Poseidon are completed. I somehow really enjoyed the Poseidon arc mostly because the concept was based on the lost city of Altantis. And also the armors that the villains wore are called "Scales". It's said that those are made of Orichalcum, a rare metal which is said to have existed in the meteorite which sunk the Atlantis.

PLOT OVERVIEW

Seven years back before the events at the focus of the series, one hundred orphans from Japan are sent to different countries for the training to become a saint of Athena. Because of some orphans died on the training, one of these orphans called Seiya who is sent to the Sanctuary in Greece and obtained the Pegasus Bronze Cloth is being focused as the main character. Returning to Japan to find his older sister who disappeared on the same day Seiya went to the Sanctuary, Saori Kido, makes a deal with him to go to fight in a tournament called the Galaxian Wars where the orphans who survived and became bronze saints must fight to win the most powerful cloth: The Sagittarius gold cloth. If Seiya goes to compete there, Saori would start a search to find the sister of Seiya. Soon, Seiya befriends with the other Bronze Saints, Andromeda Shun, Dragon Shiryu, Cygnus Hyoga and Phoenix Ikki. As the myth of the saints, they have to fight together to protect the reincarnation of Athena from ant danger.

SANCTUARY ARC
It begins with the "GalaxianWars" tournament which the Bronze Saints has to participle to obtain the prize of Sagittarius Gold Cloth. However, it was interrupted by Phoenix Ikki who stole the Sagittarius Gold Cloth at bequest of Pope Ares. Soon, they discovered that Saori Kido is the reincarnation of Goddess Athena and Pope Ares were behind all the happening. The Saints went to the Sanctuary to battle the twelve Gold Saints and figure out who is Pope Ares really.

ASGARD ARC
The Bronze Saints have to travel to Asgard to battle Hilda who is corrupted and influenced under the Nibelung Ring. Under the influence of the Nibelung Ring, Hildy attempted to flood the Earth by melting the polar ice and summon her seven God Warriors. In order to retrieve Odin Robe to restore Asgard back to what it was, the Saints have to battle God Warriors to get the gem in their own possession. While Athena take Hildy's place temporarily to pray and stop the flood. Are they able to get the Odin Robe and break the curse of the Nibelung Ring?

Note: It didn't exist in manga.

POSEIDON ARC
The war against Poseidon who wishes to drown the Earth with the Great Flood to purify the planet. The Saints has to rescue Athena who is imprisoned inside Main Breadwinner in the realm of Poseidon which is just underneath the world's oceans by battling seven Poseidon Mariner and breaking the Mammoth Pillar. Still, they were unable to demolish the Main Breadwinner and were confronted by Poseidon himself. Will the miracle happen? And who will be victorious?

HADES ARC
Sensing Hades has returned to Earth along with the 108 Demon Stars as Scepters plus the revived Gold Saints and other Saints. The mission of the revived Gold Saints is has to get through the Sanctuary to get Athena's head for Hades. Understanding the true intention of the revived Gold Saints and Virgo Shaka's suicide, Athena sacrifriced her herself for the ability to live in the underworld. The Bronze Saint discovered the true intention of the revived Saints, who came to live once again to warn Athena about Hades and reawaken Athena's Holy Cloth. With the upgraded Bronze Cloth to ultimate level with Athena's Blood, they have to awake their 8th senses and continue to wage the ongoing war in the Underworld. What will happen afterwards?

Sounds exciting, is it? You want to know the ending of each arc, go to buy anime or read manga at http://www.manmankan.com/html/280/index.asp.

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Well, that's my overview after reading a complete series. Hmm, in my opinion, this series is basically very good. Unfortunately, this series are stopped and discontinued due to low rating and left with uncompleted Heaven arc. I really wish the artist, Masami Kurumada can continue this arc. I'm interested to read more and more. It is really the best I ever read in my life. If can, I also wish the artist Masami Kurumada to remake this series to be better storyline.

Hopefully my message can reach Masami Kurumada. =D

For your reference, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_seiya