Pirates of the Caribbean III

One of my most anticipated movies of the year, I very excitedly went to see it the first day it was out. And no, I was not one of those people who went to see it at midnight dressed in Pirate costumes. Although I must say, I did see a few on the streets and the effort put into these costumes is to be commended.

Anyways, onto the movie (and if you don't want to know what happens next- time to stop!). This time it talks about how the crew sails to the World's End to save Captain Jack Sparrow, who got eaten by Davy Jones in the last movie. First they sailed to Singapore to find the Chinese Pirate, Sao Feng (played by Chow Yun-Fat), to get a ship and to steal/get the map to go to the World's End. I'm not sure I like the portrayal of "Chinese" culture here, I've been there and in any century, Singapore is not like that and I don't think they speak Cantonese there. But then again, I guess this movie IS fictional and a lot of things (like immortal squid monster pirates) don't exist.

So they sail to the World's End and saves Jack, who in turn very cleverly leads them back into the real world, where they are accosted by Pirate Sao Feng and people from the East India Company and a whole lot of treachery occurs. So much that I couldn't even keep track. But everything just turns out so perfectly, that one wonders if they (esp Jack's many escapes) planned it or were just spontaneously clever and lucky.

But the basic idea is that Will Turner wants to fight the Flying Dutchman to save his father, who we discovered has gone mentally crazy and all, until the very end.

Meanwhile, Davy Jone's heart lands in the hands of the East India Company and he follows their command, threatening the power of the 9 pirate lords of the sea.

So they all convene to their private lair, Shipwreck something I think, and have a meeting. Here, Captain Barbossa comes back from the dead (first movie) and tries to convince everyone to free the Calipsa, to get the power of the sea back or something.

And Calipsa turns out to be the voodoo woman who seems to know everything from the last movie. Turns out, she's also the reason Davy Jones cut his heart out and everything. Eventually she does get set free, but I don't really see what use it was as she turned into a pile of crabs and created a storm.

Into all this is Elizabeth, who by pure chance, becomes the leader of the Chinese Pirates and the "King" of Pirates by vote. She then declares war to the East India Company and all the other pirates had to heed her. She actually played a really big role in this movie.

Oh and in the heat of battle, she and Will gets married, which I thought was really cute. But then again, marriage with Will (or whatever role Orli is playing) would be cute in any circumstances :PDoesn't he look so handsome and piratey? He SO does not look girly.... I was REALLY sad when he died. I was worried that he'd look like an ugly squid when he turned into the captain of the Flying Dutchman, but luckily he came back and looked handsomer than ever. Just one question, does that mean that after 10 years of doing his duty, he and Elizabeth can live happily ever after should they stick together? Or that they are just doomed to be forever seperated, and Will will remain young forever and Elizabeth will get old and die?

And then of course there is Captain Jack Sparrow himself. Whenever I see him, I can't help but admire the amazing make-up and Johnny Depp's acting. Johnny Depp just looks soooo unlike Captain Jack Sparrow!

Although what was with all the hullucinating of multiple Jack Sparrows? That was kind of weird. And at many points, I didn't know whether to like or hate him, because there were so many betrayals between all the characters that its hard to tell!

Overall the movie was.....very complex. For the whole 2 hr and 45 minutes, we all just sat there trying to follow and figure out what is happening. And to be honest, 3 hours after watching the movie, I still haven't quite figured everything out. Like, what is the point of freeing the Calipsa? And why do they even bother fighting against the Flying Dutchman? They're immortal! Their ship won't sink and their crew can't die. But I did so love all the little funny bits. Like the adorable monkey, the get up of the french and chinese woman pirate lord and everything that Jack said!

I'm surprised to hear that there may be a fourth one coming out.....I think its better to stop at three before it feels too much like they're trying to make a movie out of nothing.

Paper and Skin

From the moment the stunning Akiko graced the stage the pencils were out and ready, the sketchers up and down head nob began and things got off to a serious start.


As the room started to heat up, temperatures rose and throats became dry the obligatory cool down drinks were beginning to flow. Our model's kimono started to slip, pages were being flipped and The Pink Cow was beginning to overflow with sketchy enthusiasts.

As Akiko went off to powder her nose and down some hard earned water the comps were held and TOKYOMADE prize packs given. We were honored to have Tokyo designer Kens Scratch in the house. He kindly offered up some of his fabulous accessory pieces as much sort after prizes.

Like all luscious things it was over far to quickly and now we are left waiting oh so eagerly for the next edition of Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School, Tokyo > June 27!

Ugly Betty Season 1 Finale

One of the hottest tv shows this season, the finale was last Thursday. And boy, has a LOT happened since its premier- I don't even know where to start! But I shall try, so if you don't want to know what happens- don't scroll down!

Based at the head of the fashion industry, Mode Magazine, the main character is ironically the most unfashionable person one can imagine- Betty Saurez. At first, I thought it was a sort of spinoff of Devil Wears Prada and so have been waiting for a magical transformation since the premier. But no, despite temptations of the wardrobe sale and being best friends with the wadrobe manager, Christina, Betty has stuck to her true self, unfashionable self- and you know what? I think it actually grows on you, its quite endearing. And if you look carefully, her completely awful looking outfits are actually very coordinated!

Relationship-wise, she started off dating Walter who works at a place similar to Best Buys and at first dumped her for another girl and then came crawling back to her. He tried to fit into Betty's new "Mode" life, but alas, they didn't work out. Meanwhile, there was Henry the accountant, who is just SO sweet, I was totally vouching for him and gave a WHOOP when Betty dumped Walter. But then comes a Charlie and messes things up. ARGH. I'm so frustrated for Betty. They're MADE for each other.

Family-wise, Betty lives with her sister Hilda, her nephew Justin and her father Ignacio. Justin is AWESOME. I love him. I just love how he's even more excited and knowledgeable about Betty's job than she is, and he's not afraid to be himself and all even if it means not fitting in. Plus, his acting antics are just great. And unlike Betty, her sister Hilda (Justin's mother) is a beauty queen. Drama occurs between her and her son's father, Santos. And just when things were about to go right, it gets messed up with a blast. Part of me feels really bad for Hilda and Justin, but the other part realises that if things went happily ever after, what else would the writers write about next season?

And then there is her father, whose status as an illegal immigrant becomes known and the family goes through a spam lawyer and a crazy psychotic immigrant worker (Constance) who tried to marry him to get him legal residency. But alas, he ends up back in Mexico, where I predict his past is going to come back and haunt him next season. (And I think we are going to see that guy who Hilda sat with while everyone went to the little blue house, a LOT more).

Work wise, this is Betty's boss Daniel Meade. The heir to the Meade publications empire and playboy. But with Betty's help, we eventually see his serious side and see that his activities is just a result of all the pressure he faces. He just looks so cute and lost that I feel sorry for him!
First he falls in love with Sofia, an up and coming magazine editor, who was out to con him from the start for a story to launch her magazine, hiring a stripper to pretend to be the perfect boyfriend and all.

Then, just when he gets over that embarassment, the scary bunched up woman in the institution thingy turns out to be Daniel's brother, Alex, who they all thought was dead. Turned out, he just went to get a sex change. And indeed, Rebecca Romijn, is starting to look manly to me. She comes back with a vengeance because her father wouldn't accept his/her sexual preference and fights with Daniel and all. But towards the end, I think all conflict is resolved and the bonds of brotherhood holds. Although I wonder what happens.....

And then there was that whole thing about Fey Summers, Bradford Meade's ex mistress and ex Editor in Chief of Mode. All this time, they made us think that Fey Summers was not dead, with Bradford sneaking around and everything. Very clever. And then there was Claire Meade. At first she seemed like an unimportant victim in this whole story, but in the end, Who knew she had so much in her? And I don't understand? What is with men and feet fetish? Its just that I've been seeing this fetish a lot on TV shows lately. First in Sex and the City, then in Dirt and now in Ugly Betty. What is with feet that would make you cheat on your wife and blind your good judgment?

Then there is WIlhemina Slater, the creative director of Mode, and has been plotting all season to get her hands on the throne as Editor in Chief of mode. At first I thought she was just a pawn under another mastermind- the masked woman who turns out to be Alex, but turns out, she's a woman of her own. But you got to admire her determination to succeed and devotion to the industry.

Although we're reminded of her good side, through her failed relationship with that Texas guy, her daughter and her assistant- she DID swap her wedding date to have him back. Its hard to decide whether I hate or love her. And for a woman her age, how chic are those outfits she wears?

And into all this, there is Mark the assistant and Amanda the receptionist. I just LOVE the two of them, their antics and the things they say are hilarious.
I especially love Amanda because out of this whole "fashion" industry show, her outfits are the cutest and chic-est that is close to our age. Plus, the two of them do have their own little side story, and it seems that Amanda will play an even larger role next season.

Overall, as much as I love this show, I think the quality has gone down since the first few episodes. WAY too much have gone on that its starting to get slightly ridiculous. I miss those episodes where something goes wrong, and Betty comes in and saves the day. Perhaps it will get better again next season?

Wow, I just wrote a whole essay on Ugly Betty....if only school papers were so easily written!

SS07: Neon Bright Colors on the Runway

In case you've been in the dark this season, neon bright colors are back. My first reaction to this trend? Eww. . . Having been raised in the 90's, I was taught that neon colors were a fashion faux pas and I've always wondered what my mom was thinking when she bought that electric blue top now sitting in the back of her wardrobe.

Turns out, she just had incredible fashion foresight. Neon colors appeared everywhere on the runway this season in sync with the futuristic look also making a come back. It most prominently dominated Christopher Kane's collection. Electric blue, bright yellow...

...lime green, bright red, you name it!

Slightly less futuristic in design, Jil Sander has an equally vibrant collection in eletric blue, green..

and hot pink. It really adds a punch to the typically simple Jil Sander designs. And something a bit flirtier, we have this hot pink dress from Costume National.
Another funky yellow dress, this one is from Preen. And although not my favourite shade of green, I like how D Squared2 matched this bright green cropped blazer (?) with a sporty bottom.

Personally I am still having trouble adjusting to such glaring shades. Hence I prefer the tamer side of this color palette, such as this electric/royal blue shade on the Belstaff and Julien MacDonald runway.
And of course, there is my favourite color of all time, purple. Even electric purple. The color is just so rich, striking and flattering to most skin tones! I'm loving these two shades on the Gucci and Prada runway.

Photo Credit: Elle.com

Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School Tokyo

Come on down to The Pink Cow, Shibuya and get your burlesque/arty/alcohol/frivolity fix! Tomorrow (Wednesday May 23) night 8:30pm - 10:30pm.
TOKYOMADE is the offical sponsor of this fabulous Tokyo event so you may even be lucky enough to pick up some gorg prizes as well as have a ton o fun!
Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School, Tokyo
The blog
New York

Luck of the Irish

I swear to you I am the luckiest girl on the planet...
Look what just discovered in my inbox > > >

Your E-mail address has won you US$4.6M
UK LOTTERY ORGANIZATION
TICKET FREE/ONLINE E-MAIL ADDRESS WINNINGS DEPARTMENT.

I have also won the UK National Lottery, Powerball and been approached by various wealthy African business and asked if I would kindly take millions of dollars off their hands! I simply cannot believe how all my luck has come at once!

In fact I have won something about 765 this week!! Once I cash all my winning tickets in, tickets that I ever so luckily didn't even have to buy, I will shout you all a long tall glass of whatever you desire!

Gonna eat alot of peaches...

This picture has nothing really to do with what I wanted to post about but before I get onto what I am really going to say I have to pay my respects to CUTiE mag on it's 20th anniversary. I always manage to find something I must have (grey holter vest from Ehyphen) and it is ALWAYS sold out by the time I get to the shop...possibly a good thing.
Anyway we are moving! Not exactly to the country but we will no longer live in Shinjuku... TBC