Howel's moving castle - random comment

First time I watched Howl's moving castle, it is in Japanese original voice with Chinese subtitle.   This time, with my daughter, we switch to English dub.  I generally dislike voice dub for Japanese Animes.  Japanese, as the language, sounds very cute, which match the big eye, perfect doll like characters very well.  The sound are often short and bursty and very "Kawaii".  However, this time, I am falling in love with the voice dubbing of Howl.  His voice is low and slightly coarse.  To be honest, Miyazaki version of Howl is a bit too soft wimpy and feminine to be liked. The English dub give Howl a more mature charm and transform the character completely. He suddenly became so much more attractive that had inspire my desire to learn more details about the character from the book.

However the book and the movie are very different.  Although much of the setting and plot and characters remained the same, because the way character are portraited, the characters in the book are much more complex and all around therefore more real life like.   In the movie, Sophie, the heroine,  are stamped with Miyazaki's signature.  In all Miyazaki's work, the heroines are more or less the same: strong minded and determined with a somewhat fragile and delicate look and love for the nature.  They all show great courage under the special circumstance and are all very noble, almost too noble and kind for my liking.  The book version of Sophie is more normal, in such way that she react to the scarecrow the same way a normal girl would. Who wouldn't creep out from a one foot scarecrow stalking you?  She also shows more jealousy and can get mean from time to time.  Where in the movie, Sophie is more accepting and kind and despite of all the wrong that has been done to her, remain gentle and kind.

In the movie, Howl's love for Sophie is also more obvious and Sophie's admiration is written on her face from scene one.  With the book, because of the point of view is limited from Sophie's angle, the chemistry between the two are much more subtle.  You literally have to read between the lines to feel the attraction between the two who fights on daily basis.  Both characters are flawed but somehow they complemented each other in a strange way and was always there when needed help most.

And most importantly, the movie has a great deal of anti-war theme,  and that just parted the movie and book their separate ways.

Naturally I was a bit unsatisfied after reading the book, as my original purpose of reading the book, was to search more details about the character Howl.  But because the book and movie are so different, that goal is not accomplished. I honestly cannot say I like one or another better just because they seem to be complete different story to me, much like two historic novel base on the same historical figures if you know what i mean.

I went further search for the voice actor for the dub, and find out it is actually by a profession actor, unlike some of the cheaper production of dubbing.  It is Christian Bale.   All of the sudden, I love batman that much more and hope he come out with more movie soon.

If I can have only one.... Fall lust list

Well, there are so many goodies came out for fall from Anthropologie.  Granted many of those wish bubbles would burst after trying it on as they often do, here is the If I can have only 1 list --

If I can have only 1 vest from Anthro for the fall,

Falling in Love vest

If I can only 1 dress for the fall, it would be

Learning Curve Dress.

If I can buy only 1 jacket  for the fall, it would be

cream confection jacket

If I can buy only 1 sweater it would be

Best of the bunch Cardigan

If I can buy only 1 pair of shoes/boots, it would be

What is your fall lust list?

Stay cool

So temperature should come down a little bit today and tomorrow should go down to the comfortable high 70's.

I forgot to close the patio door in the morning yesterday, so by the time I got home, it was pretty hot.  Usually we take the kids to the pool in hot days like this, but during lunch, I over heard the girl next table mentioning yesterday was the "festival of the ghost" as the "kind of the death" give a break to all his servants who normally guarding the dead spirit.  Basically there will be a lot of dead spirit turn loose on the street during this time of the year, so it is better to stay home.  Well, while it is totally a Chinese superstition and I honestly can't say I believe that, but the conversation creeps me out.  Even I know it is totally ridiculous to feel this way, I cannot feel easy taking the kids to YMCA last night.  So we end up staying home and turn on the water hopscotch toy that we rarely use.   At first the kids are pretty cautious as the water is very cold.  But after a while, they got used to it and had quite some fun.

Here is the outfit for hot weather.  Somehow an extra hot day like this always make me want to wear bright color.  But that was a bit too bright for the gloomy boring work environment so I end up toning it down with a navy sweater.  After all, inside is AC and bringing another layer for someone who is always cold cannot be bad.

Top: Anthro (2008) Bottom: Anthro It Is Your Move skirt Cardi: Anthro blooming Lattice cardigan

Hot Hot Hot

I thought I had escaped the heat from Seattle, and now we are getting to the 90s. I know, it is very wimpy. But I am so spoiled by the cool weather in the bay area.  We don't have AC at home.  We had just returned the portable AC to Costco because we hadn't open it once this year since we bought it. The timing of return couldn't be more awful.  We should have checked the weather forecast before we did that.

Here is the OOTD.  This is one of those days that I am actually glad I am at work.

Top: Anthro Buds and Branch tank Bottom: Chalk and Charcoal skirt Cardi: JCREW ruffle cardigan 

Review: Frill Force Jacket

After missing out on the Klinton Trench, I thought Frill Force Jacket is my second chance when it show up on the website.  I got the chance to try it out at the Seattle downtown store.

First of all, the color of this jacket is a bit drab.  It doesn't agree with my asian skin tone too well. The color on my screen was a bit more brown, which is more to my liking.

Then comes the issue of fitting.  I tried size 4, considering I might want to give some layer underneath in the winter.  It is unstructured, nor does it flare out much, which is what I needed for my straight figure.  The length is hitting at a odd spot for me too.  I'd like it to be slightly shorter, so I think the petite version might help a bit in this case.  I also felt like there should be another roll of buttons somehow, but it could be just the angle my daughter took the shot from. The sleeves are a bit long for me and might get fix by going with a petite size.

I do like the hood, which can be useful with the rain we have in the winter.  It might be better if the hood is removable however.  I also like the material, it is not as stiff and slippery like the Klinton Trench.  It is pretty heavy weight for a jacket but lighter than a coat.  It is the right warmth level for what I wanted.  I am not too sure about the ruffles as I am a bit ruffle-out these days. This jacket in general feels more casual than the Klinton Trench.

Frill Force Jacket has some good potentials, but it is a pass for me.  I might consider trying out the petite if it ever goes on sale.

OOTD

This is more like outfit of the day before yesterday :-) I was going to send to Cat for her weekly wear anthro to work feature,  but I was too tired on Thursday night and fall asleep when my little girl ask me to stay with her for a couple of minutes during bed time.

I realize it takes real discipline to stick with blogging, so I really admire people who have something new everyday.

Stores are full of fall goodies now and I imagine they have to get rid of the summer stuff pretty soon.  I am patiently waiting for Anthro's grand island dress to go on sale.  Most of the day this week felt pretty fall to me already, especial after the shock of the 90 degrees in Seattle.  My co-worker poke fun of me the other day because I was wearing the sweater.  She is pregnant so naturally she felt hot all the time. I pick up the dress at Seattle, for $30!  Our local store rarely rarely have any 2nd cut item unless they are really awful looking.  Even the first cut item sold out too quickly.

Dress: Anthro rope-in Dress
Sweater Antro Outdoor Cafe Cardigan
Belt: JCREW

Why I don't do fitting room reviews -- Kirklees Seater coat

Saw cat's review on kirklees sweater coat at anthrodottir today.  Here is the version I tried on and I can see why I don't do reviews.  When some piece doesn't work for her, she still looks good.  When some piece doesn't work for me?  I look pregnant.... The store does not have a extra small so I tried a small. I should size down.  The color somehow has a old dirty muddy feeling to it.  I really love the peter pan collar. But it kind of blends in with the print.

Worth mentioning is that the picture is taken by my daughter.  That explains the head cut off, right?  I said to her "make sure you had the entire sweater in the picture" and she follow the instruction perfectly.

We had a pretty good time shopping Anthropologie together at Downtown Seattle.  The only problem is Anthropologie opens till only 8:00pm, even on weekdays.  So everyday after dinner when we casually browse through stores, they are Closed by the time we get there!  Somehow my daughter really likes this double outdoor chair on the second floor. This is her and her gap stuff bunny, which got lost at the seattle airport.  She was very sad and cried on the airplane.

Personally I think she is a much better model than I am. Picture below is when we were at the gap trying out stuff for her.  Love the hat on her and thought I would buy it on line when I get back so I can use a coupon code for the full price item.  It turns out online doesn't have it.