Moonlightin' in a place called HERE.

[dvampyrlestat]

My friend/officemate/uni classmate Majo got married to her long-time boyfriend Mike a couple of weeks ago. Because they couldn't get a long leave from work for a proper honeymoon, they took the previous weekend for a quick getaway. And what do they do?

They buy a book for me.

*Ah. I feel so loved*

I've just started reading the book, but this early I am liking it. This is probably the closest to chick-lit I'm actually going for, and I sometimes even refuse to strictly classify it as such. To be honest, though, the first reason I checked Cecelia Ahern was because she happened to be Nicky Byrne's sister-in-law. Loved her first book P.S. I Love You, then read her two others (Rosie Dunne, If You Could See Me Now). I needed this read. I think I was too Steve Berry-saturated. Lolz.

I've finally caught up with Moonlight.

In this TV series, vampires can't be killed - only paralyzed - by driving a stake through the heart. They can walk under the sun, but prolonged exposure is dangerous. 

It focuses on Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin), an 85-year-old vampire living in Hollywood and working as a private investigator. He's given up feeding on humans and instead stocks up on supplies from the blood bank (Angel, anyone?). In a way, his profession is his way of somehow atoning for what he is. His 'conscience', mentor and bestfriend Josef Kostan (Jason Dohring) does not share this restraint, however. More than 400 years old, he still enjoys the pleasure of the flesh. And blood. And he believes in hiding in plain sight, being a high-profile businessman.

Enter Beth Turner (Sophia Myles), intrepid and beautiful reporter for the Net-based Buzzwire. She meets Mick, and soon after, an unlikely partnership is formed as they both work on same cases. But there's more to this meeting than meets the eyes. 

Because more than twenty years ago, Mick had to save a child from his vampire wife Coraline (Shannyn Sossamon) who 'turned' him on their wedding night. In order to save the little girl, he had to kill Coraline.

The little girl was Beth.

..............

Ok.

First off. 

The cast is gorgeous. You might've seen Sophia opposite James Franco in Tristan and Isolde before. This is Alex O'Loughlin's first high-profile role. But I did notice him as Marshall in August Rush. Shannyn Sossamon had been in some films before (never really did like her. Here, too.). I never watched the 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd so I never knew much about Jason Dohring. It was about a boy-turned-dog, wasn't it. Huh. No wonder.

I like vampire stories. I grew up with Buffy, and followed Angel. I dig Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. *cough*hencemyusername*coughs* I read Twilight and its two succeeding books....and I wish it were written by a different author. Actually, I didn't even finish the third book. It was too painful. And I don't plan on reading the fourth one. I've read better fanfiction writers.

The acting was quite okay. I'd have to say Sophia Myles is the strongest actor in the bunch, and what little scenes Jason Dohring has, he steals each one of them. He has this presence, and couple that with his wry remarks and laconic wit, and you could say he's the 'thinking vampire' as opposed to Mick's 'feeling vampire'.



I am grateful that Beth's character is no damsel-in-distress, and even as she was fascinated by Mick and his world, and eventually falls for him, she's not that stupid to want herself to be turned.



Mick's character was described as charming and charismatic, and Alex O'Loughlin does charming and charismatic so smoothly. When he transforms, you could actually believe he is this monster. 



The Mick-Beth dynamics was complicated by her District Attorney boyfriend who is soooo nice that you'd wish he was a complete asshole so you can root for Mick and Beth. In the middle of the series, the return of Mick's presumed dead wife Coraline further complicates things. 



The repartee between Mick and Beth are quite fun to watch, because you sense more than romantic tension between them. They can be work-partners, then friends, or professionals, then they turn up the heat and the scene crackles.

It was cancelled after 16 episodes. Which is sad. This is a pretty good series, considering. And it has a lot of direction it can go to.

David Greenwalt from Angel also writes on this one. The pace was ok, and the plotlines were more than interesting, enough to hold your attention.

You know what this series lacks, though?

Joss Whedon.

'Nuff said.

pics from moonlight-archive.com

Remember my cardinal rule about CD singles, and me breaking that rule because of "truth"?
I hold the same for photobooks.

In fact, the only real photobook I have is F4's 2002 Meteor in Barcelona. And it was a present.

In a couple of weeks I'll be getting Arashi is Alive Photobook. Another rule yet broken.

Then I get this on my inbox:

*********************************************
NEOIPS-146
Satoshi Ohno/Arashi Satoshi Ono Complete Otakara Photo File  BOOK
1300 yen US$12/110.02  Release Date:2008/09/16
Description:Arashi member Satoshi Ono's personal photo book release! Features varisous photos since the start of his Johnny's career. Size: A5. *The release date is subject to change. *Kazynari Ninomiya, Sho Sakurai, and Masaki Aiba's photo books are expected to be released on October.
URL - http://cdjapan.jp/d.html?KEY=NEOIPS-146
*********************************************

*sigh* I am so GONE.

The TaipeiCon....anyone with ANY info. Please....:)

Comments

[silgari.livejournal.com]

I love to get books as presents! Lucky you! I'm reading Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. She's a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning! It's really a good book and I'm only on page 80!
I saw Jason Dohring in Veronica Mars, I think he did a good job there! But I have never seen Alex O'Loughlin!
Hehehe I grew up with Buffy and Angel too! Love their relationship!

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

Me, too! especially good books, or books by those I am curious about!

Toni Morrison is a wonderful writer! I wish I can read more books of hers, but I've only read one so far. Maybe when I am up to some heavy stuff then I'll look for some of her books again.

I never did get into the whole Veronica Mars thing....maybe because I was preoccupied with Lost and Smallville? But after finding out that Jason Dohring's there, it's on my list of to-download-series. It's going to be a looooong one, though, considering how many seasons it ran.

Alex is hot. Major hot. I thought at first he was Irish...but it turns out her was Aussie. Oh well. Still close. Haha!

Yay!! I loved Buffy TVS! And I followed Angel too. :) I also liked their relationship (Season Three, was it? When Angel reverted to his old self as the monstrous Angel? One of my favorite arcs in the Buffy series).

But I gotta say I was also very pleased when it became a Buffy and Spike thing. :))))

[silgari.livejournal.com]

Books are perfect gifts!

Which one have you read? I also read Paradise by Toni Morrison! I really like strong female characters! And when a book is really good, you just don't wanted to end...

I watched a couple of season of Veronica Mars. It's a good series, the stories are very Agatha Christie-like. I have never watch Lost, I think I have seen only one episode, and i watched because they were in a city and I went WTF! When ever I see Matthew Fox i remember Party of Five..
I've been watching Smallville on and off. I think Tom Welling is the sexiest superman there is!

That guy Alex is pretty hot! Australian actors are so handsome! AND he probably has an accent right? Love man with accents!

OH YEAH! When Angel was bad Angel... sexy! But Spike HAS AN ACCENT TOO... yummy! If you can choose one, which one would you choose?

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

They are!
Th irony of this situation, I haven't given them a wedding present yet (they had a Civil Wedding, the Church Wedding sometime end of this year) and they were the ones who gave me the book. Ahahaha!

I've read BELOVED....You should try it!!!

LOST makes use of flashbacks 50 per cent of the time, which was well done (i'm not much of a flashback fan), I must say. :)

Ah YES! Party of Five!!! I did not faithfully watch its later parts, but th first ones....yeaaaahhh....I loved the siblings dynamic in that show. :)

He is! Hot, hot, hot. Too bad he had to dispense with the accent in the show since his character's supposed to be American, and an Angeleno at that.

If I can chosse one....Spike. Hands down. I love two-dimensional characters. :) And brooding Angel can only do so much for me. Haha! Buffy needs someone like Spike, I daresay. :)

[silgari.livejournal.com]

Hahaha.. what are you going to give them? I have a wedding this weekend and the gift I send was some sushi dishes! I hope I get invited to there house and have some sushi XD

Ok, Beloved... adding to the list! I'm loving this book Song of Solomon! I even read it on the bus on my way home.. hehehe!

Oh.. so that was a flashback, it makes sense! I'm not a flashback fan either, sometimes you get a little confuse! I just like them when they use it properly.. like in Maou, but I do think they are abusing the use of the same scene, thank God they added something new with Shiori there and the basket ball. AND THE PRESPECTIVO OF NAOTO... he never meant to do it.. loving every minute of Maou. I hope I wake up early and watch the next episode on Keyhole!

Spike is hot! Plus Spike is ultimate bad guy! And he wears leather pants! How many people can pull that off?

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

Well, Majo had been bugging me for a lampshade since early this year when she told us she's getting married. :) Already I have some ideas what type of lampshade, I just have to source out the raw materials and find someone to actually put it together. :) She made it easy, telling me what she wants. Well, she basically 'assigned' them, telling this person she wants this from her, then this from another. Haha! She's so efficient!

Sushi dishes! Cute! Well, these two, Majo and Mike, I doubt they'd care for anything sushi or anything-dishes cause they're most likely to buy takeout food than prepare something. :)

I like flashbacks when they're nicely done and written in. Otherwise, there's that risk of disorienting the viewers. And you're right. I'm glad that in the later eps of maou, not a lot of flashbacks now.

SPIKE is major HOT! I like how he kinda 'turned over a new leaf' upon his feelings for Buffy, but did not REALLY entirely change, know what I mean? He's still mean, he's still evil, he still loves to cause chaos, but he's changed somehow. It's more believable than him turning into...a saint, or something. :)

Leather pants, tight shirt and leather jacket. NOT A LOT of people can pull that off.

[silgari.livejournal.com]

Efficient or controlling?? Those 2 things can get a little to confusing.. XD

Spike is hot yeap! You have to be with one of those guy once in your life. Bad guys.. u gotta love them!

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

Well, in her case, she's efficient. :)
We've gotten used to each other's quirks already, having been together for a long time, and then going on out-of-town trips and sharing rooms and stuff, so some people might watch us and think we're fighting, when we're actually just playing around. :)

We were talking about leather pants, and I was watching Nino on MS and zeroed in on his hot leather pants...who would've thought our eternal little-boy would look sizzling in the thing!?

btw....did you know James Marsters (Spike) is 40-something when he played Spike?!

[silgari.livejournal.com]

That's so good! Work is so much easier when you get a long with the people you work with! They become your friends!

Don't hit me.. I haven't seen the MS performance. I'm downloading Maou first! Remember the motto: Ohno first! Hehehe! As soon as I finish that then I'll download MS!

40-ish? Damn! Just Like Wine...Better with Age

btw... it's mother's day here today! Tell your Ohno-loving mother I say hello to her! What's your mother's name? :)

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we get along. We've been classmates in a few classes back in uni, but we had our own crowds back then, then she ended up coming to the office I worked in. :) And I can totally launch into any conversation with her about this TV show and that, and her husband, Mike, is my book-chatmate. :)

I won't hit you! I'm watching Maou now as we speak. I'm crying!!!! And the MS perf, I quickly converted for my iPod. hehehehe. I'm that nuts. But really, don't ruin your resolve over something so small as MS. :)

Yes! I was surprised, too when I found out his real age. Man...you said it best, just like wine. :)

Really! You've a different date for Mother's Day? Ours is on May. :) And my mom's name is Florita. :)

[silgari.livejournal.com]

hose are the best! The ones you can have meaningless conversations and very intense conversations! My best friends and I have known each other for 20 years now (we went to kindergarten together) and we can talk about everything and we don't get bored!

OMG you're crying? Ok, it just finish downloading! I'm so excited!!!

Yes like wine... older men! What other older man you like? hehehe.. that question sounded kind of creepy!

Yep, today is mother's day! Then tell Florita I say happy mother's day! hehehe

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

YES! Or those you can stay in silence with then walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you ever had. :)

I'm crying!!!! Watch it!!! Then tell me what you thought?!?!?!!?

That's not creepy at all. It's normal to like, right? Hmm...let me see....my definition of older men would be those in their forties and fifties, right? Ok...off the top of my head. Jon Bon Jovi is one. James Marsters. Colin Firth (i just like him when he acts).

....

I'd have to get back to you on more of those. Haha. Can't think right now.

I know yours. Bono.

XDD

Yes! Will do!

[silgari.livejournal.com]

YES! Exactly! Those conversations are the best!

Holy mother of GOD! I just saw Maou! My head is dizzy! I think I understand just 10% of what they were saying XD but still... Holy $%&%! Best episode so far! And Ohno is kicking Nino's ass in acting! There are so many good moment here! When Naoto enters the room when Ryo is with his sister... Ryo's face!!! You really feel everything is going to be reveal there! And then we Ryo starts to cry! (What was she saying?) I only understood that she believe in him! And at the end when they have the surprise party for Ryo!!! I started crying there, he's feeling the love!!! Oh God.. and when he hugs Shiori!!!!!!!!! What is he going to do!!!????? And Naoto's scenes with he's father (he's gonna die for a hearth attack that for sure). My mother walk in the room when I was watching and she asked.. why are you so hyper? And I was like "HE JUST SAID HE WASN'T AN ANGEL".... she was like.. o_O ok..just breath!

Bon Jovi is really handsome! James Marsters of course! Colin Firth.. I think we all fell in love with him in Bridget Jones Diary! XD

Well yeah.. Bono is #1 on my list! I love blue eyes boys! Then... let's see.. the drummer from U2 is pretty hot too, specially in the ZOOTV era http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=VbLH97K_BQU (3.00 minute) So many handsome men out there.. ^_^

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

Holy...indeed!!!! He;s soooo good, right?!

Well...*looks around, bets no one reads this spoiler anyway*
Basically Makiko tells Ryou that she has known all along that he wasn't really Ryou, but that she's thankful, because he has given her the reason to continue fighting, to continue living. She said he made her want to go on living. And (not too sure, but I think, 90%) that she said that now, she can go on living alone. That's when he got up, left, and she whispered Goodbye, Ryou. I'm just not sure who she was bidding farewell to. Her real brother who died (and maybe she was referring to this as closure) or to Tomoo who pretended to be Ryou. I'm hoping the former, because I love these two as siblings. :)

And the HUG! OH THE HUG!!!!!!!!! I adore these two. Shiori and Ryou. Ryoko and Satoshi. :) I am still praying they do a television promo together soon....*sigh*

Colin Firth..i liked him more in Love, Actually. :) The bumbling romantic.:)

I knew it! Haha! You're right, so many handsome men out there. :) Hard to pick, right? I'd have to say Pierce Brosnan's quite hot too, for his age. Must be an Irish thing.;_)

[silgari.livejournal.com]

He's sooooooo good! I was wondering what was he thinking when he was crying? I mean is he into his character that much!? He cry so easily..Wow.. sugoi!

Ahh.. nobody is going to read this... and if someone does.. gomen!
So she knew all alone... but she probably didn't want to be alone. mmm.. interesting question... I think she is saying good bye to Tomoo... do you think he's going to be able to watch her "sister" again after he found out she knew the truth all alone!? I think it would be too painful. But who knows.. I'm just guessing! Btw... does she knows about the murders? Does she knows who Naoto is looking for?

Yes the hug.. she looked so surprise right? I wasn't expecting the hug at all.. or see him so vulnerable in front of anybody! I guess he really loves her. Still.. I wish she hug him back.. she just stayed there in shock.. maybe in the beginning of the next ep? Hahaha who am I kidding.. this isn't HYD! What is your prediction about next ep! What did the preview said? This dorama is eating us alive! How are the ratings? Are they ok at least?

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

RIGHT? And here I thought Nino was the best 'crier' of them. I wonder if Ohno had a hard time making the tears flow, but from that scene, it came out effortlessly. He was oh so good! Note his expressions when he saw Naoto come in, then he hears that Ikehata the reporter sent a CD to Oneesan, then he realizes that the CD is on the player and Naoto was about to play it, thinking his game was up, then the relief when it turns out to be just music, then confusion because Oneesan covered for him, then finding out Oneesan knew...then apologetic...and then being really angry at Naoto afterwards...

goodness...that was long. haha!

From the preview, it seems Ryou was back at his sister's. At least the curtains looked like the one on her room. I don't think she knew about the murders or why the police was asking things. I don't think she cares either. She believes in him, or so she said.

I was also surprised when he hugged her. I thought he'd simply walk away. But for next ep, i bet he'd step back and act as though the hug never happened. That's how controlled he is. :) I think the next ep would focus on the adulterous three. Aniki already knows about his wife and secretary's affair!!!!

Ratings aren't out yet!! But i don't care! It airs at the same time as the Olympics so I'm not too optimistic of high points.

[silgari.livejournal.com]

Yes, effortless tears! THAT scene just shows how good Ohno is at acting! He goes from surprise-relief-confusion-apologetic in just one minute or so.. amazing!

You're right he's gonna pretend it never happened, poor Shiori! She's gonna be so confuse! Damn you Ryou! I can't believe this week is ep 8! We just have a month of Maou and then is over!

I feel so bad for Aniki, he's the good character here.. and his wife is screwing with the secretary!

The Olympics, well it's always hard to go against something so important. I'm one that gets caught up with the Olympics so fast... I love it!

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

True, true! Only a few episodes left!!! I'm so gonna miss this! And I hope he gets to have another project soon. He deserves another turn!!!

Good thing Nino and Ryo has a drama coming up after Maou. heeheheheh

*sob* I haven't had time to catch up with the Olympics.....looks like i'd have to settle for reruns when it's all over....

[silgari.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! He has shown us all he's a really good actor! Yeap now is Nino's turn. Do you like Ryo? He's good looking.. but he seems to be very... what's the word.. cocky...
I haven't watch any of his dramas. Have u?
Well.. I kind of always watch reruns... cos if I want to watch something live, I would have to wake up at 3.00 am XD

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

I like Ryo. :)
Actually, not that I follow Kanjani8, but the only ones I liked among them are Yoko and Ryo.
Cocky, eh? Haha! He's like....the MatsuJun of NEWS and K8, in the sense that he can be quite the sadist. :) He's merciless, that guy, so when his violent role in Last Friends came out, we were all thinking, "it's perfect for him!". But he's funny, he's not THAT scary coz he still manages to be adorable while doing it. :) I like his voice (kinda rough) but I just don't like how he sings very much. :)

And yes, I've seen him in dramas before. I actually liked him first as an actor, then as a JE boy. :) One Liter of Tears. He was very good there. Okay too in Attention Please! In Last Friends, he was terrifying. As in terrifying. But then you pity him too. He's a pretty good actor. So i was really psyched when I heard he and Nino will be in one drama. :)

Haha! We're basically in the same timezone (or close) as Beijing so while the games are going on, I'm at work. bleh.

[silgari.livejournal.com]

I guess you could say that... he is the MatsuJun of News and K8! But I haven't watch a lot of stuff from K8, so I don't know... I watch them once on HeyHeyHey... and they were SO loud! Funny!

He's a good actor? Good.. I'm so looking forward to this drama.

I was checking the time zones, and when is 9:20 am here, it's 11:20pm in Philippines XD It's the beginning of the day here, and you are sleep in the other side of the world... hehehe! Have a good week at work!

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

Yes, they ARE. That's what sets them apart, I guess, because they are mainly comedic acts who also sing and perform. And they live up to their reputations of being country hicks...XDD Yoko is pretty close to Aiba, even goes to dinner with Aiba's family.

He is. Look out for him. He can be pretty intense. :)

Yes! 11.24 right now. And I really should be getting some sleep! Haha!

[silgari.livejournal.com]

Yoko is crazy and very childish... is easy to picture him as Aiba's friend! Cute, he even has dinner with Aiba's family!

Good description.. intense.. now I'm interested!

Yes... go to sleep! ^_^ hehehe.. I'm one to say this.. I always go to bed at 12.00am or 1.

[silgari.livejournal.com]

Yuckie-chan just subbed the MS! God she's fast! So after watching Maou I'll watch them performed! Yaaaaaaaaay!

[loissama.livejournal.com]

what's the story like? is it good?? because i like gossip girl's kinda story!! full of scandal!! and it's been a while since the last time i read novel..

aahhh...the tickets, everyone having a hard time finding one, right?? i don't know, i'm sorry!

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

The story? It has a fairy-tale-like quality to it, about this woman who makes a living out of looking for lost things (and people) and then she ends up being lost in a whole different world as well....:) Pretty innovative. I really should make headway reading it soon, but so much stuff to do....arrghh...

haha! it's lily-white compared to Gossip Girl, no scandal at all. :) I can't say I've read the GG series, only watched the TV version, but I heard the books are more hardcore than the Tv series. :)

[loissama.livejournal.com]

ooo....

yes, the book is even more juicier than the series but i didn't read it until the end just 5 books if i'm not mistaken. you should read it!! they made the series based on the character and the first book or two...just the basic storyline...

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

I'm planning on it. :) But I might just look for ebooks cuz I don't see myself buying them. It's a whole set, right? XDD No, thanks. Ebooks would do just fine. I'm stingy like that. :)

[loissama.livejournal.com]

no, you can buy the individually...you can buy them at the book store....

hhmmm, i'm stingy too, i borrowed my friend's and after high school, we go to different universities, i stop reading it! because the book is number 1 best seller so it quite expensive, then i don't buy it either. not as expensive as harry potter though.

[dvampyrlestat.livejournal.com]

Still, it's a set. No point inbuying one book if you;re not gonna buy the next ones, right?

I'm unlucky that no one I know has a copy of it. Haha! And they're like, shorter compared to your usual novel, right? That's one of my considerations. :)

I'm stingy coz I'm spending on Arashi instead. There. I said it. lolz.

[loissama.livejournal.com]

hahaha!!!

i agree with you!! better buy arashi's stuff than anything else in our fangirl world!