I really wanted to write this yesterday, but I was so tired I wasn’t sure if I could really think coherently, much less write coherently.

SO! The GANTZ movie premiere! 1/20/2011, 5 p.m., Graumann’s Chinese Theater, Hollywood, CA.

It began with this:

An email I stared at in complete disbelief for awhile before it finally began to sink in. Even then, it didn’t feel completely real until I was actually there. It didn’t even feel real on the drive (which was spent playing Super Junior’s 톡톡톡 on repeat - incidentally, I also acquired that song that very morning, which means I’ll forever associate it with Nino and MatsuKen).

I met Misato there (my second ticket was for her). As a quick aside, she’s the third Tumblr friend I’ve met in person. It didn’t seem awkward any of those three times. I don’t know what it is about Tumblr, but there are no awkward silences, no desperation to fill the air with words.

In any case, I still couldn’t believe they were actually going to be there. Particularly Nino (I didn’t know much about MatsuKen at the moment…and I still don’t, but I intend to watch all the movies of his that I can find :P ). I can hardly imagine how Misato must have felt, being such a huge Arashi fan and a MatsuKen fan too.

Even though there was already a line when we got there, it turned out perfectly for us. For one thing, they entered on the side we were standing on. For another thing, they paused for ten seconds or so, right by us. So…for half a minute, they were within two-three feet of us.

MatsuKen had a bit of a smirk on his face, but at the same time, he looked a little shy. His head was bowed slightly as they walked in. Nino, on the other hand, strolled in coolly, his head held high. He looked so used to it :P And both of them looked so good in their suits.

Nino looks…bigger in person, even though he’s still short. Seeing how small he is onscreen just makes it weird to think he’s taller than me, if only by an inch.

Misato teared up a bit and I don’t blame her at all. It was overwhelming enough for me, a new fan. I can’t imagine how someone who’s been such a big fan for so long must have felt.

Eventually they let us in, handing us our shirts as we walked in and we played the waiting game for a bit (but not too long). Then Nino and MatsuKen entered - from the back, which was nice because they passed by all of their fans because of this. It was pretty funny because when they first entered, everyone cheered. But then the cheers died down and you could hear just the section they were passing cheer.

They were introduced, welcomed us in English (I wish MatsuKen’s greeting had been filmed in this video too) and left the theater. And then the movie began.

Thoughts during the movie:

• Ugh, why is this in English?
• OMG they’re so cute ♥
• OMG naked girl
• The girls’ English dubbers are completely UNBEARABLE
• Holy shit, this is gorier than I expected
• These aliens are surprisingly scary
• OMG THE THOUSAND ARMED BUDDHA IS FREAKING TERRIFYING :O
• What?! NOOOO. ;_;
• asdfghjkl;…the ending…why can’t Part II be right now?!?!

Of course a lot of clapping and cheering proceeded to happen. They brought down the stars of the movie who were sitting two rows behind us in the theater the entire freaking time. They were that close without us even realizing it. *facepalm*

They got back onstage and answered questions. I was pleasantly surprised to realize I understood a good 60-65% of their Japanese. Not bad for someone who is completely self-taught ^^

They didn’t answer all that many questions because their answers were a bit long-winded :P (and there was also the whole having-to-translate-them thing). BUT! It was pretty awesome because they answered a couple of questions from audience members once the satellite camera thing was turned off.

Basically, they were cute and perfect. Also, Nino and everyone in the theater basically wished we’d been able to watch the original Japanese audio and not some ridiculous English dub that made the dramatic moments more comical than they should have been.

It must have been so nice for them to sit in a theater of people who were laughing and gasping and awing at the appropriate moments of the movie. It’s something they probably don’t get to experience often.

I think I might end up buying this. a) I liked it that much, b) every time I watch it I’ll remember this perfect day, c) I’ll get to watch it in their actual voices.