Tag: Shun Oguri

The Next Red Velvet?

August 3, 2026

No one will replace Red Velvet. If I were to suggest that, I should be summarily executed. Anyway, as you well know, I’ve been hesitant to explore the fourth generation of K-pop, a hesitance so lengthy there’s now a fifth generation. The reasons were twofold. One, as previously outlined, the idol experience is more than the music itself. My interests in groups like Red Velvet and Oh My Girl began with the music, and then gradually I’d fall in love with the members and their dynamics. I love Solar’s chaotic energy and artistry and her chemistry with Moonbyul, and Moonbyul’s no-bullshit attitude and friendship with Seulgi, and Seulgi’s curious mind and so on and so on. I love the demystification of seeing the idols in music videos either playing characters or performing with uniform professionalism, only to then discover their individual selves, which are sometimes dramatically different. I tried this with Kep1er, who are so cool in the video for “Killa,” but in the behind-the-scenes material, they’re a little too kidlike. Only in their early 20s, they’re not too far removed from their teenage years, and it gave me a visceral reaction. As someone in his 30s now, I shouldn’t be so concerned with the interior lives of people that young. No, no, please, hold your applause. Xiaoting just put out a solo track called “Legend,” though, if you’re interested. … More The Next Red Velvet?

Human Vapor | Monster Movie Perfection

July 19, 2026

As the first part of this post is a recommendation, like “I give Human Vapor two thumbs up!” I ought to try for a hook. Perhaps a description of the gory opening scene, a live broadcast where our journalist heroine Kyoko Kono watches her interviewee lifts in the air, smoke swirling into his nose and mouth, and explode. A sensational set piece punctuated by Kyoko splattered with blood, it was not, however, my introduction to the show. Once again, I’m honor-bound to acknowledge the algorithm. Scrolling on whichever one it was, I recognized the term “Human Vapor” as the title of an old Toho movie, and my curiosity about the prospect of its reimagining for Netflix was piqued by a neat-looking teaser trailer. Hazmat suits and journalists and the military in secret labs and boardrooms and underground mines, it was so much of what I love about Japanese monster movies. A dash of gooey body horror with the vapor transformation, and the only piece missing was the loud, brassy score doubtlessly inspired by the work of Akira Ifukube (the trailer was auto-playing on mute). Altogether, it looked like an exciting, rare new series, with surprising implications behind the scenes. … More Human Vapor | Monster Movie Perfection