Pages

Saturday, October 31, 2015

"Somewhere Only We Know" Bluray Movie Review

Chinese movie "Somewhere Only We Know" was released in theaters around the world in February 2015, and has finally been released on DVD and bluray in September! I first saw the movie in theater, and blogged about the storyline and my love for everything about the movie here. In this post, I'll just be doing a quick unboxing of the bluray version.
I pre-ordered the bluray Region A version on YesAsia.com for roughly $22USD from this webpage. I ordered a few other items to reach past $39USD, which is when YesAsia offers free shipping with tracking. I had received damaged goods from YesAsia before due to poor packaging, so I specified to be especially careful this time, which they were. My packaged shipped 2.5 days after I placed the order, and arrived about 13 days later, all in perfect condition.
There is an exterior slipcase that is the exact same as the bluray case cover, excepted printed in low quality (as in, the backside is a bit fuzzy to read).
Here is the backside of the bluray case cover, which is much clearer to read.
Here is a closeup of the backside, which is probably too small to read. The backside has the summary in both Chinese and in pretty good English. The movie is in Mandarin (and some lines in English), and has subtitles in Chinese (both traditional and simplified) and in English. The movie is 110 minutes long. A warning about playing this disc, I believe you need to have the most updated system for your bluray player or PS4. The disc itself only contains the movie, no special features.
The inside is very simple, with just the disc and two stills from the movie.
Here are both images.

Overall, because I love this movie, I also love this bluray. It would be nice if there was more thought put into the packaging and if there were included special features, but I'm still quite happy with this.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Infinite: 24 Hours Single (First Press Normal) Review

Following the release of Dilemma on April 29th, 2015, 24 Hours is the second single that Infinite has released in Japan ahead of Korea, making Inspirits unsure of whether Korean versions will ever be released officially. This is also the first time Infinite has released a version per member, along with a normal version and a limited version, making for a total of nine versions of this single. The first press normal edition comes with a 16-page photobooklet and a random photocard out of eight (though I heard it's very common to pull the group card). While the normal edition can also be non-first press, all other versions are only first press. The limited edition comes with a DVD, a different 16-page photobooklet, and a photocard. These two versions include the Japanese versions of "24 Hours," "Just Another Lonely Night," and "Together." The member version, which I review here, has that member's image on the disc, and instead of "Together," the third track is that member's message.
Here I'll be reviewing the first press normal edition of 24 Hours. I ordered it from YesAsia for $15.99 and it arrived nine days after being shipped. I honestly wasn't going to buy this single until after Woollim released the Korean version, but I've been waiting for five months and couldn't wait any longer. So here it is^^ One last thing: I also always tend to order the limited edition first since it's labeled as "limited," but it seems like the first press normal edition gets sold out first so I've started buying that one first instead.
Here is a closeup of the external sticker. That smaller sticker hanging out on the first photo is from YesAsia.
This CD comes with an external slip case. Here you can see the two photoshoots they used for the normal edition. (They are honestly both a little weird to me...I wasn't excited about the photobooklet).
The top and bottom sides of the slip case have the logo, new font, and album title in a metallic sheen, just like on the front. The sides of the jewel case have the same design printed.
The backside of the slip case has individual photos of the members in those floppy white tops.
This is the front of the jewel case and photobooklet, as well as the digital album cover.
Here is the backside of the jewel case, which is a very similar photo to the front.
Here is the inside of the jewel case.
Underneath the CD is an image of a chandelier.
Inside the first two pages of the photobooklet are the random photocard and the event paper.
These photocards are different from Infinite's usual rectangular cards from their Japanese releases; they're like Infinite's Japanese debut BTD photocards with the rounded edges. As expected, I pulled the group card. All the photocards are from the limited version photoshoot (which I'm very happy about, those photos and outfits are so much more appealing).
The backside of the photocard has the album title and new Infinite logo and font. This is the first time Infinite has used a new logo and font on a Japanese album. Sadly the photocard shifted inside the photobooklet before I opened it, and the corner was dented.
There were several events going on, so I'm not sure exactly for what this event application is. There was an event going on where if you buy all nine versions, you can apply for a bonus DVD; another one is the 24 Hours release event.
The photobooklet, including both covers, is 16 pages long. There is one photo of each member from the white shirt photoshoot.
There are two pages of mini group photos from the other photoshoot. I personally don't like the layout of the page; it's just so chaotic and the photos are weirdly cropped and layered on top of one another.
The last five pages are the lyrics and staff credits.
I'm so proud of Infinite and Woohyun for creating "Together"; it's such a deep and meaningful song.

Overall, I really like the two new songs, "24 Hours" and "Just Another Lonely Night." They're slower than Infinite's usual title songs yet are still poppy; I can't wait until the Korean versions are released!

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Infinite: Dilemma Single (First Press Normal) Review

On December 24, 2014, Infinite released their single Dilemma. I wrote more about this single in my review of the limited version of this album here, and here I'll be writing about the first press normal edition.

The Dilemma first press normal edition comes with a 16-page photobooklet and a photocard while just the normal edition only comes with an 8-page photobooklet (according to YesAsia). In this sense, this normal version seems much more limited than the limited edition; this same logic goes for Infinite's most recent Japanese singles Last Romeo and 24 Hours (though YesAsia states the non-first press normal of Last Romeo still comes with a photocard).
I bought a new copy of the first press normal edition on eBay from Japanese seller 08308yusuke for just under $38USD. The seller had quick communication (though he wasn't flexible with my requests), provided a tracking number, and shipped it within 5 days. It arrived 12 days later, in a very large bubble-lined envelope with my CD inside wrapped with another layer of bubblewrap. It also came with some Japanese candies and tea bags. There is a small crack on the side of the jewel case, which is tolerable because it's relatively easy to replace jewel cases.
I was too excited that I had already unwrapped the seal before taking a picture, so that's why the wrapping looks a bit loose. I love how the photoshoot for the normal edition is different from that of the limited edition (but then again, it makes me have the need to get both versions).
Though this normal edition is in the form of a jewel case, I love how there is also this gorgeous exterior slip case.
The lettering on the front cover and sides are reflective silver.
The spines of the slip case are of the same design as on the jewel case.
Here is the backside of the slip case, with another gorgeous photo of Infinite. On the top is the tracklist, which are the Japanese versions of "Dilemma," "Back," and "Diamond."
Here is the front of the jewel case, which is also the cover of the photobooklet.
The backside of the jewel case shows individual photos of the boys wearing the outfits from the photobooklet cover.
Here are the back of the photobooklet and the CD.
Inside the first two pages are the photocard and two pieces of paper.
Like the photocard from Last Romeo, there are eight different photocards, including one per member and one group card. Also similar is that the backside of each card makes up one eighth of a puzzle that has the Infinite logo with "INFINITE" and "Dilemma" printed underneath. All the outfits of the photocards are the same as the photobooklet cover. I got Woohyun's, just like for my Last Romeo~
The backside of my Woohyun card makes up the bottom left of the puzzle.
The black piece of paper is to apply for the handshake event that was held in March 2015 and the teal piece of paper is for the Dilemma Japan Tour that was held earlier in 2015.
The photobooklet is 16 pages long, including the front and back covers. It contains one full-page photo of each member in the outfits from the external slip case.
There are also two group photos using the other outfits, one photo being the photobooklet cover and the other being this one.
Three pages are for the song lyrics.
One page is for the credits. One staff member is named Kim Dong-Woo^^

Overall, I love how Woollim is upgrading the normal edition of these jewel case albums with the external slip cases and different photoshoots than the limited edition. This album definitely contains one of my favorite photoshoots as Infinite looks even more perfect. As for the songs, I'm waiting until they officially release the Korean version of "Dilemma"~

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Infinite Collection Cards Vol.2 Mini Haul from eBay

I couldn't help but start buying on eBay to complete my Infinite Collection Cards Vol.2 set. I really like buying from the eBay seller tobewithkpopbuyer; I bought from this seller three times (once for my most favorite photocard, New Challenge's Myungsoo, another time for Paradise's Sungyeol) and both times my merchandise was really well packaged to guarantee its safety. This seller's items are usually bidding style, starting as low as $0.99USD, and they were always free shipping. Because this seller sells the same photocards every few weeks, I was able to wait a few rounds until finally I won the Sungyeol photocard for under $5. Now onto my latest purchase~
I really didn't want to get into bidding on eBay again because it's really addicting, but I wanted to get the Sungyeol rare solar system card (#002) for my friend. So I bid it and won at $6.50, which in my opinion is too much. I think a rare card should be at most $4 because if I were to buy another box just for rares, each rare would've cost me $4 (as a box with shipping is roughly $40).
And somehow I ended up bidding and winning the Sunggyu standee at $9.02. I honestly wanted the Woohyun and Hoya standee and my thinking was if I have Sunggyu and Sungyeol, eventually someone will want to trade with me. I'll probably just end up trying to collect all seven in the end.

I was really happy about the packaging of these items! I know how difficult it is shipping out standees, but this seller knows how to package these goods well. First the envelope was made of plastic so it was waterproof, and the seller added a "DON'T BEND (PHOTO)" sticker on the top. It was tightly wrapped around the goods inside.
Inside, the Sunggyu standee was on one side and the Sungyeol card was on another side of a thick piece of card stock, then tightly wounded together with saran wrap.
Then it was placed inside a really snug bubblewrap envelope before being placed in the plastic envelope.
The seller also gave an unofficial Exo photocard as a gift. With my lack of knowledge in Exo items, I thought it was an official photocard at first. But then I compared it with my own Exo photocard (I don't want to talk about why I have this photocard...), and they are different.
The only damage was to the back of Sunggyu's head, where the tip got a bit squished. But this is understandable, as my Sungyeol standee came like that inside the tin box.

I'm so happy with the packaging, that I definitely wouldn't mind ordering from this seller again. Bidding is so addicting though (and I always bid more than I originally say I would), so hopefully I can hold off from eBay for a bit.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Infinite "Lucky Guys" Official Collection Cards Vol.1 [New Box]

Now that it's been almost two years since the release of Infinite's Lucky Guys Vol.1 collection cards and Woollim recently released Vol.2, I decided to buy another set of Vol.1 at a cheaper price. I found a new one on eBay for $29.98 including shipping, sold by Korean based seller grapemusiccd. They've since raised the price by $5, so I'm glad I bought it when I did. Originally Vol.1 was selling for about $32 before shipping. I did a review of Vol.1 (it was one of my earlier posts so it's not that great) here, the Vol.1 binder here, and bought two separate packs here. I'll just show the cards I got from this set instead of doing a full-on review. I decided to make the photos bigger since the cards are so small, so it's best to view it on desktop version.
My package was shipped the following day and arrived in 15 days with registered shipping. It came in a small box that has enough room to fit three sets inside.
My one set was surrounded by one layer of bubble wrap and then the remaining room was filled with a bundle of bubble wrap, so it was overall very well secured and my set arrived in perfect condition.
This is the order of the 10 packs I got (left: Sunggyu to Myungsoo (top to bottom); right: Hoya to Myungsoo (top to bottom)). I was really surprised that I didn't get any Sungyeol packs (and not just because I get Sungyeol the most often); I always thought every set should come with one of each member, and then three duplicates. Though I already completed my normals, I'm so excited to see the 10 rare cards! Maybe today will be the day I pull a Myungsoo card...
Here are all the cards I got, in the order they came in inside their respective packets, so some of the cards are upside down. This set is such a great collection; I can't believe my luck has come again. The last Infinite item I got was the limited Reality album, where I got two Sunggyu photocards and two Sungyeol event cards. And now I got an extra rare card in one of the packs, for a total of 11 rares! And...I pulled TWO Myungsoo rares, this is a HUGE moment for me! And it's a Myungsoo scratch card, wow. I was surprised to have only pulled one Sunggyu normal as well.

And now some of my random observations~
For one of my normal cards, the machine had cut it incorrectly. In the left photo, you can see the red line on the left where the end of the card should be and on the right you can see how half of the card number information is cut off.
Something else I noticed as I was laying out my cards, the backside of # 091 and the front side of #098 use the same exact image of Hoya (though the colors are slightly different), whereas the other members' cards for these same types of cards are different.

In all, these cards are really addicting and getting this box is making me want to finish my rare collection...but I have invested way too much into this and should really stop myself.