Rurouni Kenshin is my favorite anime series of all time (hubby likes it, too). So much so that we had Kenshin and Kauro action figures as caketoppers atop our wedding cake. When we learned that the live-action film will have an exclusive screening on SM Cinemas, we got excited and marked the date on the calendar.
But alas, despite our intentions to watch it on the first showing day, work got in the way and it wasn't until 3 days later, a Saturday, when our schedule permitted us.
SM got the exclusive rights to screen the Rurouni Kenshin movie but it had limited run in some SM Cinemas near us, so we decided to head to SM Mall of Asia, where it is shown in 4 cinemas. We got there at around 12:30 p.m. and learned that the 2 p.m. schedule was already full. It must be a hit, I thought.
We bough tickets for the 5 p.m. slot and spent the next 4 hours strolling inside the mall. We honestly thought we were still early when we came up at 4:30 p.m., but was surprised to find a long queue waiting outside Cinema 1, where the 5 p.m. schedule will be screened. We even had to double-check if all these people were really lining up for Rurouni Kenshin. And they were. It was a hit indeed.
Rurouni Kenshin is the fictional story of Himura Kenshin, a legendary swordsman hired by the government as an assassin during the Meiji Restoration period. After killing so many people, he decided to become a wanderer and vowed never to take another soul again. Rurouni Kenshin loosely translates to Kenshin, the Wandering Swordsman, or simply Kenshin, the Wanderer. Here in the Philippines, the anime series was called Samurai X, referring to the X scar mark on Kenshin's face. And perhaps, an allusion to Kenshin being an ex-samurai.
Obviously, the movie also revolved around that story. They chose to tell the Takeda/Opium arc, where Kenshin and his friends fought Kanryu Takeda's group to stop them from peddling opium, and the Udo Jin-e arc, where he had to deal with Jin-e, another samurai murderer from his past, who believes that they who lived by the sword can never turn their backs from killing.
These story arcs were separate from each other, but in the movie, they were combined as a single story. As such, modifications in the story and some characters were inevitable, but forgivable because I understand that they had to compress everything into a 2-hour movie.
For example, Jin-e was not part of the Takeda's band of hired bodyguards. But in the movie, he was the leader of the group, replacing Shinomori Aoishi. The Oniwabanshu (Oni) group members were also misrepresented. There's a masked man, who at first we thought was Hanya, but had the hair and cape (in black) of Hiko Seijuro. When he revealed his face, his silver spiked hair resembled that of Enishi (Tomoe's brother), had a scarred face (which I couldn't identify), but talked like Aoishi.
Another glaring deviation was the inclusion of Jajime Saito, who didn't appear originally in any of the two arcs, but later at the beginning of the Shishio/Kyoto arc. For me, his inclusion was to pander to the fans. Sure, it would be nice to highlight the long-time rivalry between Kenshin and Saito, but the movie had too much going on already, to put a proper light on this angle. As a result, the duel between Kenshin and Saito, which to me is one, if not the best fight scene in the series, wasn't given justice. It wasn't even close to the real sword fight.
But as far as fighting scene goes, everything else was superb. Kenshin fought they way he fought in the series. I read somewhere that they used minimal CGI and relied mostly on rope-technique for the fighting scenes. The stance was perfect, the speed, the agility, the sword technique - it was believable. All that's missing was Kenshin's eyes turning amber when he turns into Battousai.
Casting and character portrayals were commendable as well. Sansouke and Yahiko were hilarious, Megumi was foxy and Kauro was cute and feisty. Together with the perfect setting, it's as if you're watching a live-action of the anime series (well, it is a live-action film of the anime series). What I also love is the small, subtle details that are distinctly Rurouni Kenshin (especially Kenshin's Oro face).
It is a great movie but it's not perfect. One flaw that others usually point out is the weak character development. There were a number of characters introduced without properly 'introducing' them. As a fan, it's easy (and fun and nostalgic, too) to identify these characters and understand their roles in the story. But it can be confusing if you're not familiar with the series. Also, I find some characters were not really necessary to the movie story, but it was delightful to see them in the movie nonetheless.
Rurouni Kenshin was a great movie adaptation of an equally great anime series. It stayed as faithful as possible to the plot and characters, and Kenshin's story was told beautifully while preserving the heart and soul of the series. But more than anything, it is a wonderful fan movie, made by a fan, for the fans. It's a good example of why anime series must be made into movies by people who know them by heart.
Here's hoping to a part 2 and 3. I'd love to see the Shishio/Kyoto arc and Tomoe/Enishi/Kauro arc on the big screen.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Product: Veet Hair Removal Wax Strips
Instead of posting my review of Veet Hair Removal Wax Strips, I will give a few tips on how to do DIY underarm waxing. I've been waxing my underarm for a year now, and I kind of developed my own technique.
This can helpful to those who want to try DIY underarm waxing but haven't figured out how to do it yet.
But briefly, let me say that yes, Veet Hair Removal Wax Strips (or most wax strips) work, provided that you use them properly. Once you've perfected DIY underarm waxing, these wax strips are the best and cheapest alternative to going to salon/beauty shops to have your underarms waxed.
Why I choose wax strips:
There are two Veet Hair Removal Wax Strips sizes: the regular long one for the legs and the shorter one for the face. Both can be used for underarms and both boxes will contain 12 wax strips and 2 oil-paper wipes. The facial wax strips, I think, is cheaper by P100 than the regular wax strips.
If you use the longer one, just cut the wax strip in to 3 or 4 smaller pieces, depending on how small or big is the area covered with hair. I usually cut it into 3.
If you use the shorter one, of course you don't have to cut it anymore. But bear in mind that the facial wax strips are narrower, and won't usually cover your whole underarm area. It's also best for finer, softer hairs.
Before you start waxing:
If you have someone to help you place the strip in the proper area and pull it after, the better. If not, you can stand in front of the mirror to see where to place the strip.
Ok, let's start my DIY underarm waxing procedure:
Brush you hair with a comb or your fingers so that most of them are in one direction.
To lightly warm the wax, rub the strip between your hands for a few seconds. Or you can use the trusty hair dryer to heat the strip. But if you do, wait for the strip to cool down a little because a hot wax strip can cause wax burn. And I tell you, you don't want that. Wax burn = dark underarms.
Place the strip on your underarm, particularly in the area with most hair. Don't worry about not covering your entire underarm as you can wax these areas later.
Gently smooth out the strip with your hand, making sure that most hairs are sticking to the wax.
Then pull quickly (or have someone to pull it for you). The quicker the better, and make sure to pull against the direction of the hair growth.
Not all hair will be pulled out so you need to wax again. But instead of placing the strip in the same area, use the edge/corner of the strip to target a smaller area where the remaining hairs are. You can also use the middle part, but don't spread it out. Don't stick the whole strip on your underarm, only on the part where there are hairs.
As much as possible, don't wax the same area more than thrice because this will irritate your underarm skin and will often cause wax burn. A stinging sensation is normal, but if you skin starts to hurt, stop waxing in that area. Do the "smaller area" technique above.
Actually, you only need to wax your whole underarm once or twice, to get most of the hair. The "smaller area" technique can finish off the rest of the hair.
You can reuse the strip but if hair is not sticking to it anymore, use a new one. This is also the reason why I cut the long strips, because it's more practical. This way, I can use one box of wax strips for at least 6 sessions.
Depending on how sensitive your skin is, redness and a slight burning sensation will follow. This is normal, as long as it doesn't hurt too much.
After you've finished waxing, use the oil-paper wipes to remove the wax on your underarm. Or better yet, use Human Heart Nature Sunflower Oil. It soothes the skin, eliminates redness and prevents wax burns. Plus it's natural, unlike the wipes that come with Veet that has parabens.
Don't scrub your underarms during bathtime for at least 3 days after waxing, or until the burning sensation subsides.
If you can, use the sunflower oil as a deo for a week. It really works wonders.
And that's it! My DIY underarm waxing tips. I've had lots of wax burns and dark underarm episodes before I finally got the right procedure. I hope it will work for you.
Also, you can use other wax strips, like Glam Works, Beauty Formula. They work the same way and are even cheaper. Goodluck!
This can helpful to those who want to try DIY underarm waxing but haven't figured out how to do it yet.
But briefly, let me say that yes, Veet Hair Removal Wax Strips (or most wax strips) work, provided that you use them properly. Once you've perfected DIY underarm waxing, these wax strips are the best and cheapest alternative to going to salon/beauty shops to have your underarms waxed.
Why I choose wax strips:
- I don't have to heat them. I'm afraid to use hot wax on my underarm.
- They are safer and less messy than heating wax and applying it on your skin.
- They are a lot lot cheaper than salon underarm waxing. One box of 12 strips can last up to 5 or 6 or more waxing sessions.
- An epilator is a lot easier to use and might be more efficient, but I don't have the budget to buy one yet, so I'll stick to wax strips for now. The same goes for laser hair removal.
- Waxing definitely gets rid of chicken skin, so forget about plucking or shaving.
There are two Veet Hair Removal Wax Strips sizes: the regular long one for the legs and the shorter one for the face. Both can be used for underarms and both boxes will contain 12 wax strips and 2 oil-paper wipes. The facial wax strips, I think, is cheaper by P100 than the regular wax strips.
If you use the shorter one, of course you don't have to cut it anymore. But bear in mind that the facial wax strips are narrower, and won't usually cover your whole underarm area. It's also best for finer, softer hairs.
Before you start waxing:
- Make sure to wash your underarms, but don't wax right after you take a bath. Your skin is softer and more sensitive and therefore more prone to wax burns during this time. I usually wait at least an hour.
- Don't put anything on your underarms. No deos and make sure you're not yet sweating.
- Make sure your underarm hair is long enough, at least an inch long. Otherwise, you'll just be in a wax mess and won't be able to pull anything out. Even if the package says it can pull hair as short as 2 cm, don't believe it.
If you have someone to help you place the strip in the proper area and pull it after, the better. If not, you can stand in front of the mirror to see where to place the strip.
Ok, let's start my DIY underarm waxing procedure:
Brush you hair with a comb or your fingers so that most of them are in one direction.
To lightly warm the wax, rub the strip between your hands for a few seconds. Or you can use the trusty hair dryer to heat the strip. But if you do, wait for the strip to cool down a little because a hot wax strip can cause wax burn. And I tell you, you don't want that. Wax burn = dark underarms.
Place the strip on your underarm, particularly in the area with most hair. Don't worry about not covering your entire underarm as you can wax these areas later.
Gently smooth out the strip with your hand, making sure that most hairs are sticking to the wax.
Then pull quickly (or have someone to pull it for you). The quicker the better, and make sure to pull against the direction of the hair growth.
Not all hair will be pulled out so you need to wax again. But instead of placing the strip in the same area, use the edge/corner of the strip to target a smaller area where the remaining hairs are. You can also use the middle part, but don't spread it out. Don't stick the whole strip on your underarm, only on the part where there are hairs.
As much as possible, don't wax the same area more than thrice because this will irritate your underarm skin and will often cause wax burn. A stinging sensation is normal, but if you skin starts to hurt, stop waxing in that area. Do the "smaller area" technique above.
Actually, you only need to wax your whole underarm once or twice, to get most of the hair. The "smaller area" technique can finish off the rest of the hair.
You can reuse the strip but if hair is not sticking to it anymore, use a new one. This is also the reason why I cut the long strips, because it's more practical. This way, I can use one box of wax strips for at least 6 sessions.
Depending on how sensitive your skin is, redness and a slight burning sensation will follow. This is normal, as long as it doesn't hurt too much.
After you've finished waxing, use the oil-paper wipes to remove the wax on your underarm. Or better yet, use Human Heart Nature Sunflower Oil. It soothes the skin, eliminates redness and prevents wax burns. Plus it's natural, unlike the wipes that come with Veet that has parabens.
Don't scrub your underarms during bathtime for at least 3 days after waxing, or until the burning sensation subsides.
If you can, use the sunflower oil as a deo for a week. It really works wonders.
And that's it! My DIY underarm waxing tips. I've had lots of wax burns and dark underarm episodes before I finally got the right procedure. I hope it will work for you.
Also, you can use other wax strips, like Glam Works, Beauty Formula. They work the same way and are even cheaper. Goodluck!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Food: Melona Strawberry Iced Bar
I've been reading about Melona Iced Bar but couldn't find it in any malls near my place. Good thing, we went a little further one grocery-shopping day, and I saw Melona products in SM Supermarket in Southmall, Las Pinas City. So I took 1 box to finally taste what a lot of people have been raving about.
I don't think that Strawberry is it's most popular flavor, but I love Strawberry, so nevermind the bestseller.
The flavor is light and didn't taste too sweet or too artificial, as most strawberry flavors do. What I like most about it is it's more on the creamy side and not icy, like your regular iced popsicle. A premium ice cream on a stick? Is it even an ice cream?
Yes, it's good but maybe not something I'll develop a craving for. But I'll buy again, for sure, if only to try the other flavors. I read Banana and Honeydew are good.
I don't think that Strawberry is it's most popular flavor, but I love Strawberry, so nevermind the bestseller.
The flavor is light and didn't taste too sweet or too artificial, as most strawberry flavors do. What I like most about it is it's more on the creamy side and not icy, like your regular iced popsicle. A premium ice cream on a stick? Is it even an ice cream?
Yes, it's good but maybe not something I'll develop a craving for. But I'll buy again, for sure, if only to try the other flavors. I read Banana and Honeydew are good.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Product: Jason Shampoo and Conditioner (Long & Strong Jojoba)
Because of great results I had with Jason Thin to Thick products, I decided to buy another Jason, this time their regular shampoo and conditioner. And here is my review of Jason Shampoo and Conditioner, [Long & Strong] Jojoba variant.
Jason is known for natural products. In fact, my favorite hair oil is their Pure Jojoba oil. So when choosing a regular shampoo and conditioner after using Jason Thin to Thick (I would like to continue using this product if only it wasn't expensive, read my review here.), I still stuck to the brand.
Jason shampoo and conditioner line has a lot of variants and I remember having a hard time deciding which to get. I was choosing among Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and Jojoba. In the end, Long and Strong Jojoba won me over because it promises healthy hair growth. (Yes, I was still in that "I want to grow my hair more" phase).
Right off the front label, it says No Parabens, SLS, Phthalates, which is very good for me. I think the 16 oz bottle cost around P300 more or less. It's a big bottle so I find the price reasonable (or cheap) enough.
The scent reminds me of baby powder. It's floral but not too strong like most commercial hair products. It doesn't linger much on the hair, but you still get that clean, fresh smell. The shampoo is a yellow and transparent liquid, while the conditioner is white with a thick consistency.
So, okay - on to the results:
The shampoo feels sticky on the hair especially after I rinse it off. The conditioner is okay, but I feel it barely moisturizes my hair. In fact, using both these products made my hair dry and brittle. I mean, my hair is dry and brittle to begin with, and using them didn't help at all.
At times, my scalp would itch. I think it's because I wasn't able to rinse thoroughly. It can be hard to wash the shampoo off my hair.And I'm having hairfall again, though not as bad as before. But the increased amount of strands that collect on the bathroom drain and on our bedroom floor is definitely an indication. Maybe it's because my scalp is dry and not healthy.
So overall, Jason Long & Strong Jojoba Shampoo and Conditioner are a big flop for me. I won't buy them again, either together or separately. However, I might buy another Jason hair product. After all, this shampoo and conditioner combo didn't promise to have moisturizing properties, so I really can't hold them against something they didn't claim to do.
Jason is known for natural products. In fact, my favorite hair oil is their Pure Jojoba oil. So when choosing a regular shampoo and conditioner after using Jason Thin to Thick (I would like to continue using this product if only it wasn't expensive, read my review here.), I still stuck to the brand.
Jason shampoo and conditioner line has a lot of variants and I remember having a hard time deciding which to get. I was choosing among Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and Jojoba. In the end, Long and Strong Jojoba won me over because it promises healthy hair growth. (Yes, I was still in that "I want to grow my hair more" phase).
Right off the front label, it says No Parabens, SLS, Phthalates, which is very good for me. I think the 16 oz bottle cost around P300 more or less. It's a big bottle so I find the price reasonable (or cheap) enough.
The scent reminds me of baby powder. It's floral but not too strong like most commercial hair products. It doesn't linger much on the hair, but you still get that clean, fresh smell. The shampoo is a yellow and transparent liquid, while the conditioner is white with a thick consistency.
So, okay - on to the results:
The shampoo feels sticky on the hair especially after I rinse it off. The conditioner is okay, but I feel it barely moisturizes my hair. In fact, using both these products made my hair dry and brittle. I mean, my hair is dry and brittle to begin with, and using them didn't help at all.
At times, my scalp would itch. I think it's because I wasn't able to rinse thoroughly. It can be hard to wash the shampoo off my hair.And I'm having hairfall again, though not as bad as before. But the increased amount of strands that collect on the bathroom drain and on our bedroom floor is definitely an indication. Maybe it's because my scalp is dry and not healthy.
So overall, Jason Long & Strong Jojoba Shampoo and Conditioner are a big flop for me. I won't buy them again, either together or separately. However, I might buy another Jason hair product. After all, this shampoo and conditioner combo didn't promise to have moisturizing properties, so I really can't hold them against something they didn't claim to do.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Product: Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner
Back when there were very few natural/organic beauty products produced locally, I would always ogle at Burt's Bees website and wonder how I can get this: Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner (+ the Garden Tomato/Carrot Complexion Soaps as well). There are a lot of good reviews about this product on the website that I was so convinced it would help me get rid of my pimples.
After a few forum searches and inquiries, I found out that Beauty Bar carries this product line. And it was just my luck that there's a Beauty Bar branch at a mall near us. But to my dismay, this toner cost around P900 at that time. I was still a college student and despite my fervent yearning, it was simply too expensive for me.
Fast forward to a few years later, I was already employed and have even started buying smaller and cheaper Burt's Bees items (lip balms basically). And I loved them. I was sold to Burt's Bees. But I have grown hesitant to buy the Garden Tomato Toner, because even if I can afford it already, I still find it expensive.
I did end up buying the soap and the toner (while my friend gasped at the price that I was paying for the two items) and was excited to finally try them on my face. I love the packaging - the smoked vintage-y glass bottle and like that the toner didn't smell of alcohol or any harsh chemicals. It smelled a little sour though, like the sourness of fresh tomatoes.
I was so thrilled about using the product that I sort of expected that it would miraculously transform my skin into kutis-artista. Well, maybe not THAT much, but my expectations were high nonetheless. I've used other local-brand toners before and I didn't like the effects on my skin. Upon application, my face would turn red. Then super shiny. After a few days, my mom noticed that my face looked darker than the rest of my body. Because of that, I vowed never to use another facial toner again.
But Burt's Bees, I argued to myself, is different. It's natural and it has people swearing by how effective it is. And it's too expensive a toner for it not to work wonders. Unfortunately, it yielded the same disappointing results. I wanted to give it a few more days, thinking maybe my skin needed to adjust to the new product first before it reveals the promised healthy, even-tone, pimple-free, oil-free layer. But my face got darker and darker each day and I started to develop small bumps on the forehead. The shine/oil nor the pimple weren't showing any signs of retreat either. I felt like if I continue using it, things will just get worse for my skin.
So I stopped using it after only two weeks of trial. Being natural doesn't mean that it's effective and just because it's effective for a hundred people doesn't guarantee that it will have the same effect on you (assuming that all those reviews and testimonials on the website are real).
I didn't throw it away, though. I fell in love with the bottle so I kept it inside my closet, along with my other not-so-good purchases . Then one day, while in a hurry to go to work and looking for something to clean my shoes with, I took a handful of cotton, and wet it with the toner and used it to clean my shoes. You know, it's a good leather shoe cleaner and that's how I've been using it since then. Too bad that it just ended up as an expensive shoe cleaner. But at least I found good use for it.
After a few forum searches and inquiries, I found out that Beauty Bar carries this product line. And it was just my luck that there's a Beauty Bar branch at a mall near us. But to my dismay, this toner cost around P900 at that time. I was still a college student and despite my fervent yearning, it was simply too expensive for me.
Fast forward to a few years later, I was already employed and have even started buying smaller and cheaper Burt's Bees items (lip balms basically). And I loved them. I was sold to Burt's Bees. But I have grown hesitant to buy the Garden Tomato Toner, because even if I can afford it already, I still find it expensive.
I did end up buying the soap and the toner (while my friend gasped at the price that I was paying for the two items) and was excited to finally try them on my face. I love the packaging - the smoked vintage-y glass bottle and like that the toner didn't smell of alcohol or any harsh chemicals. It smelled a little sour though, like the sourness of fresh tomatoes.
I was so thrilled about using the product that I sort of expected that it would miraculously transform my skin into kutis-artista. Well, maybe not THAT much, but my expectations were high nonetheless. I've used other local-brand toners before and I didn't like the effects on my skin. Upon application, my face would turn red. Then super shiny. After a few days, my mom noticed that my face looked darker than the rest of my body. Because of that, I vowed never to use another facial toner again.
But Burt's Bees, I argued to myself, is different. It's natural and it has people swearing by how effective it is. And it's too expensive a toner for it not to work wonders. Unfortunately, it yielded the same disappointing results. I wanted to give it a few more days, thinking maybe my skin needed to adjust to the new product first before it reveals the promised healthy, even-tone, pimple-free, oil-free layer. But my face got darker and darker each day and I started to develop small bumps on the forehead. The shine/oil nor the pimple weren't showing any signs of retreat either. I felt like if I continue using it, things will just get worse for my skin.
So I stopped using it after only two weeks of trial. Being natural doesn't mean that it's effective and just because it's effective for a hundred people doesn't guarantee that it will have the same effect on you (assuming that all those reviews and testimonials on the website are real).
I didn't throw it away, though. I fell in love with the bottle so I kept it inside my closet, along with my other not-so-good purchases . Then one day, while in a hurry to go to work and looking for something to clean my shoes with, I took a handful of cotton, and wet it with the toner and used it to clean my shoes. You know, it's a good leather shoe cleaner and that's how I've been using it since then. Too bad that it just ended up as an expensive shoe cleaner. But at least I found good use for it.
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