Is anyone going to the Sydney Film Festival? It's going to be held from 4 - 22 June. I've already bought a FlexiPass 10 - redeemable for any 10 movies. I'm already watching Crows: Episode 0 and Sukiyaki Western Django (both directed by Takashi Miike) with my sister and have bought two tickets to A Gentle Breeze In The Village for my mum, so I still have four tickets. I can't decide what other films to watch, but I might be going with my friends from high school to see a couple of French Films. I like French movies, but I just don't know what's good.

I'm totally stoked about watching Crows on the big screen and I wouldn't have known about it if I wasn't a member of the Oguri Shun LJ community - how sad. I've watched it twice and just love it. I need to make more Crows icons to spread the love. Apparently Oguri Shun is now dating his co-star from Bimbo Danshi, actress/model Yamada Yu. She kind of has masculine facial features.

I called up the JET desk in Sydney and it turns out they received both my Certificate of Health and Criminal History Record Check documents and have forwarded them onto Tokyo. If there's any problem with my dodgy Certificate of Health, the JET desk said they would contact me. The final step is to wait for a Contracting Organisation to offer me a place, which is the case with almost all participants on the shortlist and happens around the end of May, Early June. I've been reading forums about current and former JETs and apparently Hokkaido (my first placement choice) is one of the most popular placement requests, so my chances of getting placed there are slim. But then, after watching an episode of Cartoon KAT-TUN, where Akanishi and Nakamaru were sent to the town of Rikubetsu, the coldest town in Japan as part of a batsu game, I've started to think twice about wanting to go there. I don't know if I'll be able to survive in  -13 degree weather and apparently some of the JETs living in Hokkaido have problems with their pipes freezing.

I had a customer at work today who sounded just like Kermit the Frog. He was asking me about ACT! Licenses and I just couldn't take him seriously. All I could think of was: "Why are there so many... songs about rainbows?"

I'm going to my cousin's book launch tomorrow.  That's right, she wrote a children's book. It's called Byron and the Chairs. I'm very busy and important.

Oh wow... I just heard a radio rip of KAT-TUN's new single 'DON'T U EVER STOP'. It's really catchy! I was kind of worried when I heard reports that the sound of their new single would be more 'dance' than 'rock' but it's totally KAT-TUN-rashii yo. I can't wait until my CD arrives! I ordered the first press limited edition with the (no surprises for guessing) Jin + Koki solos.

Oh... my... god. The 'Hell yeah' towards the end of the song is so freaking sexy. It's Jin right? RIGHT?!

I just took got my blood pressure taken. It's 110/66. Isn't that on the low side?

I finally watched Crows Zero (without subtitles), starring Oguri Shun and Yamada Takayuki. I'm embarrassed to say I only understood about 10% of the whole movie. Oh my gosh... I failed. They were talking so gangsta (literally) that I had no idea what was being said. But visually, it' was stunning. The fight scenes are absolutely brilliant. The blood and gore made me nauseous towards the end, but being able to ogle Oguri Shun in such a bad-ass role was totally worth it. I have also taken a liking to the blonde guy in CZ (I forget his name but the actor is Takaoka Sousuke) and couldn't remember what movie/drama I had seen him in before but then I googled him and it turns out he had a minor role in Battle Royale (2000) as Boy #11. He's also in the movie We Shall Overcome Someday (2004), which will be showing at The Japan Foundation on May 28th. I must remember to go and watch it. I signed up to become a Japan Foundation member but haven't done anything with my membership since joining.

Work has been quiet the past week, probably because everyone has already gone on holiday. I'm leaving to go to the Blue Mountains with my family tomorrow, which should be fun. I haven't been there since fifth grade, so I don't remember much except for the Three Sisters (famous rock formations, for the non-Aussies). Well, I better go to bed now.

To my fellow Aussies... I hope you have a nice, relaxing ANZAC long weekend.

EDIT: I just realised that SARS have subbed the first episode of Zettai Kareshii! OMG... this is the best weekend ever.

I went to Crossing's place for a Disney Trivial Pursuit/movie night slumber party last night. It was so much fun! I kind of sucked at TP, though. Like I couldn't remember the name of the jaguar from 'The Jungle Book' (turns out it was 'Bagheera', which totally rings a bell) and I didn't know the name of the fairy from Pinnochio (The Blue Fairy - I guessed the Good Fairy and was close). I just sucked, but not as much as Kara who couldn't get a single piece. Meanwhile, Lisa kept getting questions about Mulan, which were just so easy to answer. And they had questions about Atlantis, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Seriously, who even watched those movies? Ok, I heard Lilo & Stitch was pretty good, but it was totally not my generation.

We watched 'The Notebook' after the game and I didn't shed a tear. My eyes didn't even water; am I some kind of android or something? I'm usually the biggest crybaby but lately I haven't cried about anything, not even when I left Japan. I guess I was expecting too much since my friends kept hyping up how sad it was. It was sad but a bit corny at times and I don't know why but I don't like seeing old people kiss each other.

When I got home, I took a shower and watched 'Densha Otoko' (Train Man) with my mum. Densha was such a geek but the story was so sweet I was kind of moved because I can relate to the geekery. Granted I am not so much of a social retard but seeking relationship advice on late night IRC channels is something I know I've done before. Yamada Takayuki is quickly becoming one of my favourite actors after I watched 'Say hello to him for me' (2007) on the plane to Singapore. I'm eagerly anticipating the DVD release of his latest movie 'Crows Zero' also starring Oguri Shun. His image in 'Crows Zero' looks totally different so I'm interested to see how versatile he can be.