Jepalang Update

Haven't updated in a while, not for the lack of inspiration, but time. And probably motivation.

Work has been busy, especially since next Friday would be my last day, so there are a lot of things to wrap up and hand over. The clients aren't in good shape but I think they'll survive. I'll leave the sappy conclusion till next Friday, if time permits then.

CDs wise, I've bought too many! Like close to 10 over the past 2 months. 蘇打綠's "陪我歌唱" album is a minor disappointment. The 'live' CD faced an uphill task trying to capture the essence of their 'live' performance, which I can only describe as mesmerizing. It didn't fall flat, but didn't exactly deliver either. You really have to be there to experience the incredible energy of a 'live' 蘇打綠! The studio CD fares even worse - it's nowhere near the quality of their first three full-length albums, so I'd rather non-sodagreen fans give this entire album a miss and get their second album instead.

Caught two movies over the past month with the gang - "Iron Man" during aj's chalet and "Accuracy of Death" yesterday.

"Iron Man kicks off summer on a blazing high note and practically dares the competition to measure up. It's been years since a movie superhero was this fierce and this funny. All praise to acting dynamo Robert Downey Jr., who brings so much creative juice to the party that Iron Man achieves instant liftoff. " (Variety) Christian Bale (Batman) may have finally found a worthy contender who's less serious, more flamboyant, and a lot funnier. Downey also has the help of the stunning (in more ways than one) Gwyneth Paltrow. There's really no need to elaborate on the obligatorily dazzling special effects, though the script could do with a bit of editing to tighten the pace. But then, I'm just nitpicking.

"Accuracy of Death", though, really needs some 'picking up'. Those who've seen the movie should know what I mean. It goes about 3 apparently isolated acts at a leisurely, yawn-inducing pace and tries to connect them together at the end, with a modicum of success. "The middle one suffered through a whole emotional and narrative disconnect from the other two, with slow pacing and uninteresting yakuza characters to fill time", to quote an apt review.

Unlike the sense of shocking revelation in "The Sixth Sense" and "Memento", the twist at the end imparts a sense of artificialness because the connection is not well developed and it seemed more out of convenience than genuine brilliance.

The clues, or so-called threads that link the episodes together are scarce and laughable - (1)girl who becomes singer; (2)guy whose mother who abandoned him happened to be a singer; (3)old woman who happened to abandoned her son. It turns out that (1) and (3) are the same person, and (2) is their son. What a great surprise! Erm yeah. And don't get me started on the absurb plot.

But I did like the third act and its feel-good vibes. The themes of life, death, happiness and fulfilment of purpose in life are not all bad but just woefully underdeveloped. Takeshi Kaneshiro's death god is likeable and goofy, good for eye candy and some laughs but otherwise bland and uninspiring. The telepathic mongrel is more irritating than cute, and quite redundant. All in all, "Accuracy" is quite disappointing for a Japanese production.

The good thing is I got some revision in Japanese, and it feels good to be able to catch words, phrases and whole sentences here and there. I really should watch more Japanese dramas, if only Mediacorp would dump the weepy Korean dramas and screen more of them.

Vietnam backpacking trip coming up. I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time, but it's excellent prep before the big move. Ciao soon.

Happy Labour Day!

In conjuction with Labour Day, here's the MV of Mayday's latest single.

五月天 - 小太陽


Incidentally, the sun these days has been anything but "small". It seems that the dreaded "summer" is here again, and I'm melting under the scorching heat. We should really be harnessing all this "free" energy. Solar is the way to go! And it's the engineers who will be doing the research and making this a reality, yeah engineers! A meaningful (albeit not so lucrative) field I might pursue in college, who knows? There are so many things I can and want to do in college! *excited*

My term of employment is ending soon, which is actually sorta a relief because I've been too distracted to start preparing for my move. And that's in 3.5 months! There's a lot of stuff to settle, and I've been ever the procrastinator. Inertia has become my middle name. NS does that kind of thing to you, the guys would know what I mean. Our brains are rusty, and Math and Science is no longer part of our consciousness. More like extra-conscious [pun intended ;)]. Which is terrible, because everyone says the engine course is tough!

I'd just try to stuff all these worries away in one corner of my shrinking brain and try to enjoy this weekend's chalet (courtesy of aj). Happy birthday, pal. Can't wait to hear you play the cheapo guitar. LOL.

One last note: go watch "The Forbidden Kingdom"! Loads of fun, excellent popcorn entertainment with great action choreography and fab cinematography. Not to forget fabulous eye candy in the form of Liu Yifei and Li Bing Bing who are totally my type - 气质型美女. =)

This week

One word: busy! Work has been piling up, and I've been clocking 12-hour days, without any OT pay. =( The novelty is starting to wear off, I guess, and I've come to conclude that it isn't a job that yields instantaneous, immediate satisfaction - especially when your clients are not entirely appreciative. My current batch is already better than the previous, just that a lot of them are too preoccupied with other stuff, and I can't say I can't empathise. Perhaps I should just be like Melvin and leave them to their own devices. *evil grin*

I like yakking with the colleagues, and discussing stuff that we're gonna do in uni. At least I now have people to lunch with, and I've sorta graduated from micro-supervision, but I've also been given (somewhat) more work. Give and take, I see it as "job progression" and that's probably something to be happy about.

The job isn't exactly difficult but the returns are more long-term and you'd need a lot of patience and passion to sustain a career, say for 30 years. Probably not my dream kind of job, but then again, the same can be said for a lot of occupations.

___
Finally met up with the gang yesterday for a belated birthday celebration for Zebra and it was fun! But tiring as usual, because I'm perpetually sleep-deprived (thanks to chronic insomnia) and alcohol intolerant.

We watched "Definitely, Maybe" which was cool and great for valentines but I'm not too into the romance genre so it didn't do much for me. But at least it's more sophisticated than your typical rom-com fluff, so I was sufficiently engaged to not have succumbed to ZzzZz. The cast of relative unknowns (except for Rachel Weisz and Abigail Breslin) made up for the lack of star power with honest performances, and the script, though meandering and lacking in a climax, is not without its charms. At the very least, it eschews cliched dialogue that plagues many similar Hollywood offerings for sincere and heartfelt lines and manages to deliver a wholesome, feel-good experience.

After that was dinner at Holland V followed by chilling at Wala-wala. I like the mood and the vibe! Music's great as well but it was loud when the band started to play, such that a lot of the vocals was drowned out as all the instruments vied for attention - a common gripe when bands play 'live' gigs. A little more balance would have been great. And some of the song choices were pretty obscure but it's all good. They are really talented, esp. the drummer and guitarist!

I was drifting off midway after just one small glass of vodka but managed to stay awake till the end. The un-sober me is still quite good at "big fish-small fish"! *beams proudly* There wasn't any more public transport by the time we left so we walked all over trying to look for Night Rider buses but to no avail.

Did I mention Zebra was lugging along a 10+kg dumbbell - his birthday present - the entire way (with some help from the rest)? LOL. Way to go, I'm sure he'll develop a drool-worthy body pretty soon. Then he can make full use of the NUM Mr. Hamsup singlet we got him. Muaha.

Anyway we eventually decided to share a cab back to AMK/Hougang and I slept over at Zebra's place. Thanks, bro. =)

Juno!

Caught "Juno" on a spontaneous date with aj. The both of us had wanted really badly to see this pic since it was released, but somehow procrastinated until now. We ought to become movie buddies since we share a penchant for critically-acclaimed movies, most of which are more "thinking" and less of your average popcorn flicks. Then I'd have someone to watch obscure films with!

But don't be mistaken, I love my popcorn flicks and blockbusters. In fact I've caught practically all the major blockbusters released in the past two years. It's just that I have no affinity for poorly reviewed fare, which a lot of these tend to be, and they often turn out to be a woeful waste of time and money that I try to avoid these days.

Ok back to "Juno", which really isn't "obscure" in any sense of the word. A quirky indie sleeper hit, yes, but an accessible one at that. Much more so than "No Country for Old Men", I'd safely say, but this in no way diminishes its merits because it's meant to be a different kind of movie.

My verdict: "Juno" is an absolutely fab, hilarious movie. Definitely one of the best comedies I've watched in a while - better than "Knocked Up" even - because it's lighter on slapstick and heavier on wit.

Who says teen flicks can't be intelligent? "Juno" has plenty of smarts in the form of the sharp-tongued titular character played by the incredibly talented Ellen Page, as well as courtesy of the Oscar-winning script.

The entire movie is peppered with acerbic one-liners, sarcasm-infused drawls and witty retorts that put your brains on overdrive just trying to process all that humour - irony, sardonicism, cultural references and all - spilling forth. But once you get into the swing of it, the laughs come naturally and it's an absolute joy to watch, especially with an appreciative audience.

If you're looking for emotional depth, there's plenty as well. Juno and her coming-of-age story is as endearing as it gets. The potential adoptive parents - Marc (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) - start off as a typical, likeable couple but morph as their personalities emerge and complexities arise in their seemingly comfortable marriage, prompting Juno to question if "love can be forever". Juno's parents, played by the excellent J.K. Simmons (who looks eerily familiar because he's the editor in Spiderman) and Allison Janney, are genial and brimming with compassion. With due credit to the cast, it's "a film bristling with vitality and heart, without resorting to glibness or sentimentality." -USA Today

It's not frequent that a comedy gets nominated for so many academy awards and wins for best original screenplay. The quality genuinely shows.

And to round it off, "'Juno' is hilarious and sweet-tempered, perceptive and surprisingly grounded. It's also a gust of fresh air, perspective-wise." - LA Times

Unreservedly recommended.

More Confetti; We are all Masochistic!; Reviews Galore

Happy birthday, sis! All the best in your studies and future endeavours - including in finding a bf. =)

Can expect even more confetti next week. LOL. And my bleeding wallet isn't happy.

Anw I have been pretty free this past week - those who know will know why - so I managed to catch "No Country For Old Men", and "The Spiderwick Chronicles" (erm not my choice). Add to that "黄城 "(erm not my choice again) last week and "The Kite Runner" two weeks ago.

Hmm not too shabby, but I'm missing "There Will Be Blood" and "Juno"(!!), which I still really want to watch. I've kind of given up on the rest. And people have been recommending this and that movie but I don't think I have that much time and $$ to catch them all so yeah. More movie dates, anyone?

黄城夜韵
Nostalgia, man. My first time watching 黄城 was in J1, to support aj. Missed J2 (coz of blocks and they say it sucked), and then went in J3. J4... I was probably stuck in the jungles so yeah. And now J5! It's always great seeing the 黄城 people putting in so much blood, sweat and tears for the production, and reaping the rewards - the experience, the friends - at the end of it.

I always ask myself if I'd have joined 黄城 if given another chance. I dislike impossible hypothetical questions, because there's really no point, but indulge me for a moment. I seriously think I'd have, because I've always wanted to be part of something big - like a performance, or a team competition. Like SYF as well, which I, too, regret not being part of.

But maybe because I've only seen the end result, the glorious moments, and not fully grasped the sacrifices they entail. As they say, 台上一分钟，台下十年功. ATEC comes real close, I guess, and the satisfaction of having completed it was immense, especially after all that we went through. It definitely wouldn't have been the same had it been just a walk in the park.

So there, we're all masochistic in some way because we find joy in challenges. We make life difficult for ourselves (or life make it difficult for us), and celebrate when we live to tell the tale.

Ok back to the drama itself. The entire production felt very amateurish, which is to be expected of a predominantly student production. But what disappointed most were the scripts.

The first play is your typical "try-to-be-cheem" melodrama but the actors failed terribly trying to pull it off. Can only say 历练不够 bah. Zebra was dismayed by the quality of the props as well.

The second was slightly better. The script actually held a lot of promise with the interesting premise - all the characters actually had a part in causing the death of the twin of one of the girls, and the sinister stories unravel when they find themselves trapped in a haunted house. They succeeded in creating the ominous atmosphere but alas, the twist that everyone was looking for didn't materialise - just as the ghosts didn't - and they settled on an less-than-satisfying abstract ending after copious moralising.

The third was, by consensus, the best of the lot. As are most comedies, it was relatively easier to digest, but managed to strike a chord with the audience with its straightforward presentation, laudable acting and a pertinent theme.

The Kite Runner and No Country For Old Men
Both book adaptations share breathtaking cinematography and rousing scores but the latter demonstrates, by far, greater competence in scripting, acting and direction.

Which is only to be expected, as "No Country for Old Men" swept four oscars for best picture, directing, adapted screenplay and supporting actor while "The Kite Runner" garnered only average reviews.

It has the perfect mixture of suspense, humor, and compelling performances. "Another triumph for the Coen Brothers, No Country has the perfect mixture of suspense, humor, and desperately compelling performances. The seemingly simple story hides a more complex narrative, and high tension is maintained throughout." - RT consensus

But whereas "Kite" is buoyed by the commercial sensibilities of Khaled Hosseni's debut novel, "No Country" feeds off Ian McEwan's dark morality tale. So I guess "No Country" is not for everyone unless you are satisfied with the seemingly simple story, but "Kite" should be palatable to those who've read and loved the book, though it is nowhere near as poignant or touching.

The Spiderwick Chronicles
"A decent entertainment -- not up there with the 'Harry Potter' and 'Lord of the Rings' sagas, but a notch above 'The Golden Compass' and 'Narnia'." -Time

So there, another fantasy picture cum CGI fest. Nicely done, but boasts nothing we haven't seen before. Rather like "Bridge to Terabithia" in look and feel, but expect more action and humour thrown in for good measure.

Blockbuster Update

I know cobwebs are gathering around my blog so here I am to sweep them away, with a "blockbuster" update no less.

CNY was great, not because of the ang pows, but the company and all the goodies! 04S7A 团拜 especially, and the mj session at zebra's house. Lady luck has finally shown her true colours - her presence is so ephemeral and unpredictable, but that's probably the beauty of it. If only I could get hold of a bottle of Felix Felicis!

My router has been giving me problems but I've gotten a new one and my internet connection speed has finally picked up! Yeah. So all along it wasn't SH's fault. I just haven't been realising the potential of my bandwidth.

I'm starting to build rapport with some of my clients, but a number of them are will be leaving soon so it's kinda sad. The job isn't hectic but definitely can be stressful, with 20+ expectant faces staring at you and holding on to your every word. I enjoy the experience though when I'm with some of the clients, but the rest of them just bore me to tears. It's not entirely their fault though, just the way human dynamics works - sometimes there's just no sparks. Chemistry is the word! =) (pun intended)

Blockbuster 1
I am hooked on "Heroes"! Or technically, was hooked. Hayden Panettiere (Claire) is so chio~! I was rushing through season one but the ending was so anticlimactic. And the first episode of season two didn't look that promising either. Well now that most of the mystery has come to light, the impetus to watch has been diminished. Which might explain why ratings in the US for season two dropped. And the WGA writers' strike (which has now been resolved) didn't help.

Blockbuster 2
I've only watched CJ7 so far, and it's rather mediocre. Definitely not comparable to Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer. Only a few parts were truly hilarious, and it isn't that much of a tear jerker either. The entire effort just feels half-baked, the characterisation weak, and the plot surprisingly hollow, even by Stephen Chow's standards. The movie lasted less than 90min but it failed to sustain my interest with its recycled jokes and so-so CGI effects. I still miss the 无理头 周星驰.

Variety has a pretty good review (better than all the local reviews combined) which nicely sums it up: "Heavy on CGI slapstick and light on meaningful emotional content, "CJ7" is a spotty first foray into family-friendly entertainment by Hong Kong multihyphenate Stephen Chow. "E.T."-inspired comic fantasy about a poor boy adopting a cute alien catches the eye but not fully the heart with its undernourished father-son dynamics, critter hijinks and smattering of social commentary."

So that's all for this very random update.

P.S. From now on, I'll only blog if there's something I really want to share so I'll probably switch to fortnightly updates.

Movies Galore

When Oscar season meets CNY, what you get is movies galore!

I intend to watch (in no particular order):

1. Atonement (Golden Globe Best Drama, Original Score)
   
2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (GG Best Foreign Language Film, Director)
   
3. Away from Her (GG Best Actress, Oscar frontrunner)
4. Sweeney Todd (GG Best Comedy/Musical, Actor(Comedy/Musical))
5. The Kite Runner - loved the book and reviews are generally favourable
   
6. Cj7 - who could possibly miss anything from Stephen Chow?
7. Ah Long Pte Ltd - Fann Wong as Ah Long!

And when these come to town:

1. Juno (14 Feb)
2. There will be Blood (21 Feb)
3. L: Change the World (21 Feb, depend on reviews)
4. Charlie Wilson's War (28 Feb)
5. No Country for Old Men (13 Mar)

Eastern Promises

My first movie of 2008 turned out to be an excellent thriller helmed by David Cronenberg. The acclaimed director of "A History Violence" (which I missed coz it was rated R21 IIRC) reteams with Viggo Mortensen - best known as Aragorn of LOTR fame - and ropes in Naomi Watts (21 grams, King Kong) to create sufficient mainstream appeal for a film that is otherwise not your common Hollywood fare.

The fact that "Eastern" managed to keep me in rapt attention for the entire length of the movie bears testimony to the accomplishments of the script, direction, production, and acting. It certainly didn't seem like a 1 hr 41 min movie, and that's as great a compliment as I could give.

If "Enchanted" is your typical colourful Disney/Hollywood illusion/delusion of a near-perfect world where characters sing, dance, fall in love and live happily ever after after a few minor hiccups, "Eastern" is the antithesis, and possibly much closer to reality. Cold, dark and harsh, it explores the "dark side" of human nature, and recognises that people may not be what, or who, they seem, because the line between "good" and "bad" is never as distinct as we'd like it to be. The characters are self-aware and sophisticated, motivated by different forces but so inextricably intertwined that you'd never doubt, for a moment, that you'd do what they've done had you been in their shoes.

And not surprisingly, the most recognition goes to Mortensen's daring, and at the same time, nuanced performance, "stunning in its intensity and cunning in its ambiguity" (Philadelphia Inquirer) - you really have to see it to understand. It "lends a moral complexity to Eastern Promises that makes it much more than just a very accomplished action thriller" (New York Post). As for the much reported nude fight scene - and yes, you do get to see Mortensen's willy for those interested - I'd leave you to come to your own conclusions.

Of course, one could look at the violence and deem it as excessive and sensationalistic (akin to the sex in "Lust, Caution"), but its stark protrayal of gory brutality is very much justified in creating an awareness of the circumstances the characters are thrusted into, and hence genuine fear and empathy without which the gravitas of the film would be seriously diminished.

Perhaps USA Today best sums it up: "If you don't mind bloodshed and are drawn to taut thrillers with fascinating characters portrayed skillfully, Eastern Promises is just the ticket."

P.S. And I almost forgot about the brilliant Golden Globes-nominated score! Some of the riffs sounded vaguely familiar, and I instantly understood why when I saw the credits - the score is by Howard Shore, who composed, orchestrated, conducted and produced (most of) the music for the entire LOTR trilogy - my all-time favourite soundtrack.

Top 2007

Top 5 Movies of the Year:

I was rather selective with the movies I watched in 2007, depending on Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus for good measure. It turned out pretty well because I had some genuine difficulty picking just 5 from an eclectic mix of 20 odd, mostly excellent films I caught in the past year. In no particular order, though I've attempted to pick movies from different genres. A pity no Chinese movie impressed enough to make the list, though I thought Lust.Caution was a worthy contender - poignant, beautifully melancholic, well acted, and great production values all around, but slightly lacking in the 'wow' factor - minus the sex.

Click posters for reviews

Top 10 Albums of the Year:

Six of '06's Top 10 released new albums in 2007, but sad to say, none of them made the list. I was positively underwhelmed by F.I.R. and 林宇中's new releases, while 张惠妹 and 櫻桃幫 suffered from lack of exposure on my part. 曹格 and 林俊杰 failed to surpass their past efforts, allowing newcomers to take their place in this year's list.

2007 saw me getting into indie music in a big way, thanks in large part to sodagreen. 'nuff said about them. Cheer Chen was a logical progression, being an acclaimed earlier protege of sodagreen's mentor-producer. Having also featured in 2005's edition, I've always had something for her girlish voice and intimate compositions. The Decemberists' indie rock formula is refreshing, unlike anything on the pop charts - much like sodagreen when I first heard them, while NIN strikes a chord with their inspired alt rock sound.

And then there are the usual suspects - Stefanie and Tanya, both on their first new release after switching labels, and finding renewed success. Peggy's long-awaited album didn't disappoint - juxtaposing a fairy tale theme with greyish undertones, it was sombre (real dark) but brilliant. Fish and Ayaka represent the successful commercial releases, delighting with their mainstream, k-friendly tunes.

As usual, I only rank albums I purchased (but not necessary released) in 2007, which is a lot, actually. I don't even want to know how much I spent on all these CDs lest I die of haemorrhage of the heart.

And once again, in no particular order. 11 albums listed in view of sodagreen's dominance - their first two albums should have been in past years' Top 10!

Click cover art for reviews (if available)

《無與倫比的美麗》 蘇打綠

《小宇宙》 蘇打綠

《蘇打綠同名專輯》 蘇打綠

《花的姿態經典實錄》 陳綺貞

《許願盒》 許哲珮

《逆光》 孫燕姿

"Goodbye & Hello" 蔡健雅

《崇拜》 梁靜茹

"First Message" 絢香

"The Crane Wife" The Decemberists

"Year Zero" Nine Inch Nails

Stardust

I am a sucker for the fantasy genre, be it books or film, so it should come as no surprise that "Stardust" really appealed to my inner escapist. At 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, I entered the theatre with high expectations and am glad I wasn't let down.

The magical world of Stormhold isn't nearly as fantastical or expansive as Middle Earth, but it's colourful and exciting nevertheless. What really distinguishes this fantasy movie from the likes of LOTR and Harry Potter is perhaps the abundant whimsy. "Sprinkled with tongue-in-cheek humor, fairly adult jokes and some well-known faces acting very silly"(Variety), the ensued hilarity makes this one enjoyable, laugh-out-loud ride.

Of course, a great movie wouldn't do without a great plot (think "King Arthur), and "Stardust" benefits from being a Neil Gaiman (American Gods) adaptation. "Its sensibility stays true to Gaiman's style: heroic, wryly funny, but bloodthirsty as great fairy tales can often be"(Charlotte Observer), and it manages to keep the audience engaged by seamlessly weaving three sub-plotlines -the princes, the witches, and the hero, each racing to find the star to fulfil their vested interests- together into an intricate story of adventure and romance.

Impressive special effects have become the hallmark of any decent fantasy movie, and "Stardust" does not disappoint on this count. Visually arresting and boasting a number of magnificent sets and opulent costumes, the excellent production values are apparent. The soundtrack, which bears some semblance to LOTR's, is expectedly well orchestrated and stirring. The catchy theme song, "Rule the World" by Take That (see Hobble-Goggle), though, is less classical and more pop rock, perhaps hinting at the modern sensibilities of this dated tale.

The ensemble cast deserves mention as well. Charlie Cox(Tristan) comes of age convincingly, his charisma coming through as the movie progresses. Robert De Niro's Captain Shakespeare, who has a penchant for cross-dressing and the cancan, is campy though strangely likeable, while Claire Danes(Yvaine) delivers a less than stellar performance, and lacks the ethereality to portray a fallen star, glowing special effects notwithstanding.

Michelle Pfeiffer steals the show as the evil witch queen. "Only an actress as beautiful as the graceful Pfeiffer would allow herself to be rendered bald, aged and grotesque by startling special effects and makeup and have such a great time in the role... Her Lamia is resourceful and genuinely scary rather than cartoonish"(Hollywood Reporter).

All in all a blast of a movie, and shouldn't disappoint if you are a fantasy fan like me.

Block Leave Musings 4: 4 Movies

Caught 4 movies this week - Rush Hour 3, Secret, The Simpsons and Knocked Up.

If I had to recommend one, it'd be Knocked Up. But it's showing at only 1 or 2 screens now, so I had to go all the way to Vivocity to catch it today. Fortunately, it was worth the trip. "A hilarious, poignant and refreshing look at the rigors of courtship and child-rearing, with a sometimes raunchy, always witty script that is ably acted and directed", as the critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes aptly sums up.

The Simpsons movie was pretty good until I saw Knocked Up. It's hilarious at some parts as well, but mostly in a dumb Homer way. I find him incredibly irritating... And there's only so much satire you can stuff inside a 1hr 20min movie. Not exactly the thought-provoking "cartoon for adults" I was expecting it to be.

Many critics panned the tired formula of Rush Hour 3, but isn't that a problem with most sequels this summer? Anyway I thought it was pretty alright. There were some funny moments, while others fell flat, but overall it was pretty entertaining, esp. the climax at the Eiffel Tower. Jackie Chan did look pretty haggard, and his stunts are relatively subdued compared to his earlier works. Age is catching up with him, it seems.

And lastly, Jay Chou's directorial debut, Secret. Nothing outstanding, but I really liked the interesting twist at the end. It takes a while to figure everything out, and I think some in the audience came out of the theatre scratching their heads. But there are some glaring plotholes, and of course, the production isn't as sleek as with more accomplished directors. Still Gui Lun Mei really lifted the show with her nuanced acting and captivating looks which aj is going gaga over.

Next up, The Bourne Ultimatum. No mean feat to coax 5 stars out of Ms Ong Sor Fern, seems like a must-watch.

Busy

The past few weekends, including this one, have all been pretty packed, despite having Fridays off as well. I've watched 3 movies - Hot Fuzz, Transformers & Die Hard 4.0 - in 2 weeks, and surprisingly, all of them exceeded my expectations.

"Hot Fuzz" is your typical witty Brit fare with a huge dash of outlandishness and violent action.

"Transformers" is way cool and ridiculously hilarious, plus I was mighty impressed with Shia Labeouf (Sam), as well as drooling all over the bootilicious Megan Fox (Mikaela).

Die Hard 4.0 ("Live Free or Die Hard" in the US) claims top spot on my movie list this summer, with a good balance of a plausible plot, great action, good humour, apt characterisation, and charismatic leads. I really liked Justin Long (Gabriel), as well as Timothy Olyphant (Matthew Farrell). The latter, like Shia Labeouf, is not your typical good-looking A-lister, but exudes a certain down-to-earth charm that just makes you want to root for him. Bruce Willis (John McClane) distinguishes his hero franchise from the rest with a penchant for humour even in the most perilous of situations, but his invincibility (like most other film heroes) amidst numerous explosions was bordering on absurdity.

Next weekend should be even more fulfilling, with ATEC firmly out of my mind, and Harry Potter 5 in the theatres. But for now, it's preparation for early book-in tomorrow (3pm!! to help OC do up his maps...) and the toughest test yet next week.

Wish me luck.

Ocean's Thirteen

"Ocean's Thirteen" is surprisingly good, after the disappointing sequels that were Spiderman and POTC. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus says "another slick and entertaining heist film", and I fully agree.

Apart from the introduction which presents the premise of the heist, the rest of the movie benefits from tight pacing and a decent script. There are quite a few funny lines, in-jokes and various real-life references, but I'm not sure the heartland audience -we watched at Junction 8- had any inkling, because there weren't many laughs except at the slapstick humour parts. Which sort of diminished my enjoyment of the movie, because I was quietly smirking instead of laughing out loud, and feeling awkward when it seems that I'm the only one/few who got the joke. I'm pretty sure that if I were watching with a younger/more ang moh audience, there would have been more commotion in the theatre.

Anyway, those who have watched "11" and "12" would know this movie isn't, and shouldn't be about the laughs. The real highlights are the multitude of elaborate tricks Ocean and gang have up their sleeves, and in that regard, I think the scriptwriters were pretty ingenious. Its predecessors and m:i:3 set pretty high standards for the "heist" genre, so I'm glad "13" isn't a letdown in the stratagem stakes.

It helps that the sets were well-designed, and the all-star cast gave a laudable performance. A sombre-looking George Clooney demonstrated why he is only one of two men twice voted the sexiest on the planet; the other being co-star Brad Pitt, who looks slightly haggard though still oozing manly charm. Matt Damon has grown into his comedic role since the first movie, and it's one of those rare instances that I'm impressed by him. I liked Andy Garcia's playful wile, though Al Pacino was less ostentatious and more subdued than I was expecting him to be as the main antagonist. Ellen Barkin, the only notable female in the testosterone-charged cast, was also great comedy relief as the "woman of a certain age" who has fallen head over heels over Damon's character - with a prosthetic nose, no less.

And the Oprah segments are incredibly hilarious, yet pretty inspiring!

Overall a satisfactory movie experience, and a breath of fresh air amidst all the CGI-infested summer blockbuster sequels. Great for guys and gals alike.

Overbloated POTC

You can never have too much of a good thing (e.g. $$). So when you feel something is too much, it probably isn't a good thing. "Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End" is one of those instances when a movie tries to stuff in too much for its own good.

Clocking in at 2 hours 48 min of swashbuckling action, it's way overbloated. You probably wouldn't fall asleep, but it does get you wondering at some point when it is ever going to get down to serious business and quit dilly-dallying around, like Captain Jack Sparrow.

Many people can't seem to get enough of Johnny Depp, who reprises his role as the most famous pirate since Captain Hook. But the producers probably got a little too carried away this time round. What you get is too much, or rather, too many Jack Sparrows, in dubious scenes reminiscent of a certain 'Hougang Chalet'. Otherwise, Depp is dependable as always to deliver an excellent performance and draw in the big bucks.

Double/triple-crossing also happens more often than in any mafia movie, with characters switching allegiances at the snap of a finger. Which can be pretty confusing if you are wondering who's on who's side, and sometimes you're not sure if they're even making sense. It all just seems a little contrived. Or rather, there are too many "hidden agendas" giving rise to a number of convoluted and awkward plot twists.

Cast-wise, apart from Depp, Chow Yun Fat (Sao Feng) and Geoffrey Rush (Barbosa), most of the other leads put in mediocre performances. Keira Knightley (Elizabeth) shows some guts, but her looks probably get more attention than her acting. Orlando Bloom (Will) is forgettable, and a much bigger vase than Knightley. Naomie Harris (Tia) was superb in her cameo in Dead Man's Chest, but brings nothing much to this movie. Tom Hollander (Lord Beckett) is a little too sissy for my tastes, and can't positively command the screen as the biggest villain in the trilogy.

That is not to say the movie is worthless. As with its predecessors, the sets, action and effects are meticulously designed and brilliantly executed. Humour, fortunately, is sustained, thanks in large part to the many sidekick characters, including a monkey and a parrot. The rousing score and haunting theme ('Hoist the Colours') also stand out. If the producers could just trim the excesses, and cut it down to a lean and mean 2 hours, it might have been a more worthy conclusion to this popular trilogy.

Anyway, everyone's gonna watch it regardless of the reviews, so I wouldn't even bother to recommend it (or not). But at 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, you might do well to curtail your expectations before entering the theatres.

Bridge to Terabithia

Watched this movie on a date with aik joon today. Was deliberating between this and "28 Weeks Later"- both well-reviewed new releases - but opted against the latter as aj didn't want something gory.

Anyway "Bridge"'s trailer is highly misleading, but I already knew this before entering the theatre, so I couldn't say I was tricked into watching it. Touting it as "from the producers of the Chronicles of Narnia" and focusing mainly on the visual effects of a colourful fantasy world (by WETA of LOTR fame) , its accomplishment as a "powerful portrayal of love, loss, and imagination" (Rotten Tomatoes) is greatly understated.

To quote more reviews (since I'm lazy to think and can't possibly express myself as well as these critics):

"Everyone involved genuinely seems to believe in the power of imagination to enliven -- and enlighten -- the darkest realities, and that's a magic this film captures beautifully" -New York Daily News

"The beloved children's book has not just survived but thrived in its adaptation to the screen, its delicate combination of coming-of-age angst, tragedy and fantasy handled with assurance and taste" -Washington Post

"Elaborately mounted, expensively produced and filmed with style and empathy" -Chicago Tribune

So if you are looking for action a la "Narnia" or "LOTR", you might be sorely disappointed. But otherwise, it's a heartwarming (and at times, heartwrenching) film worth seeing, albeit on DVD and not in the theatres.

And finally, I shall leave you with this quote:

"Terabithia picks up a lot of emotional punch as it rolls along, and anyone leaving the theater with a dry eye should be checked for a pulse" -Detroit News

For the record, there was no need to check for a pulse in my case. ;)

Birthday, Spidey, Tank

Happy birthday, aik joon!!! He seems to have bad blood (pun unintended) with mosquitoes, for them to give him dengue twice and now malaria (both mosquito/blood-borne diseases, if you didn't get what the pun was about). I'm pretty sure he now shares my abomination for mosquitoes.

Jinny, zejia and I popped by his house today midnight (0000hrs) to give him a birthday surprise. We had a birthday cake and song, like what we did for zejia's birthday (albeit in the dying seconds and with a really miserable slice of cake). Hope we can carry on the "tradition", though we should opt for less fattening cakes in the future. LOL.

Watched "Spiderman 3" on thursday. A bare bones review would have read something like this: The action and CGI rocked but the plot and dialogue sucked, esp. in comparison to the critically-acclaimed sequel.

But for most of us action junkies, the many well-choreographed and executed action sequences would have been a real blast. It's almost non-stop action peppered with crappy dialogue (except , probably, for Aunt Mae's wise words), many subplots, and comic relief moments. There are attempts at characterisation, especially with Sandman, but having time split between 3 villains meant they aren't (or couldn't be) as well developed as Dr. Oc in spidey2. Can't have the best of both worlds, I guess, unless you're talking about the LOTR trilogy by Peter Jackson, which took three 3-hour++ films.

I thought Toby Maguire (Spidey) put in a credible performance, switching between wide-eyed earnestness and the darker venom-consumed spidey pretty convincingly (apart from the comical interlude). Kirsten Durst (MJ), as usual, could not extricate herself from the sobbing/screaming vase stereotype of the fairer sex in male hero comics. But she shares a chemistry with Maguire, developed over three movies, and that's great.

Went back to HC to watch Tank's school concert (free) after the movie, and I was pretty impressed. Not because he was a great 'live' singer, but because, to quote zejia, "he sang seriously, making sure every 尾音, 拉音, 假音 and every 转音 was done probably...the thing I had felt most today was his sincerity and the effort (he) put(s) in when he sings". 认真的男人最吸引人。Yep, plus he's humble, and I can see how his down-to-earth demeanor easily endears him to his audience.

One more day of rest tomorrow, and it's back to camp.

The Lives of Others

Caught this oscar-winning foreign (German) film at The PictureHouse today and it had greater emotional impact for me than the equally acclaimed (and fellow academy award nominee) Pan's Labyrinth. I'll leave you to read the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes (95% positive!) but it really is a thought-provoking and moving movie which is not that arthouse at all.

Despite being set in Cold War era East Germany, its themes are pretty contemporary and relevant to our world today. The synopsis introduces it as a "political thriller and human drama", and it is very much so. It explores the complexities of human nature in a subtle but poignant manner that leaves you pondering, and ruminating even after the credits roll.

Life is so often about the lives of others. Of people we love, hate, desire, aspire to, or even those we (claim we) can't be bothered about. We derive vicarious pleasure from reading books and blogs, watching TV and movies, and learning about the experiences of others. We see through their eyes, learn to understand their perspectives, and enrich ourselves with their little anecdotes and life stories. We get affected, and we empathise. We give, and we take.

But we live for ourselves (and some might say our loved ones), make our own decisions (when we are old enough), and come to bear the consequences of these decisions. Follow your whims, not. Follow the whims of others, never. We should all learn to think for ourselves and not be puppets of others, or the system. But Singaporeans are too pampered, sheltered and well taken care of by our Big Brother. For better or worse.

To quote a common army phrase: "Wake Up Your Idea!!!"

CNY Wish List

I posted my CNY wish list 2 weeks ago and I've actually fulfilled most of it within the past 2 weeks.

1. Nice buffet - CHECK
Had a company steamboat at Marina Bay yesterday. Should qualify since it's buffet style, but it wasn't exactly nice. Too much meat (I love my veges!) and the fumes are a real put-off.

2. Dreamgirls - CHECK
Decent movie, though Jennifer Hudson's performance is a little overhyped IMO. I think she went OTT (over the top) at quite a few parts. Beyonce's rendition of "Listen" is more my cup of tea, plus she's such eye candy, I wouldn't blame Jamie Foxx's character for choosing her instead of Hudson. Eddie Murphy is refreshing in a non-comedy role, though I think he didn't deserve to win a best supporting actor oscar, which he didn't. It may be (based on) a musical but it's pretty accessible fare with pop-ish songs & choreography, and a straightforward plot which raises some issues like racial discrimination against coloured people.

3. Letters from Iwo Jima - CHECK
I rented Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" to watch over the CNY break, which might have diminished the impact of "Letters" somewhat when I watched it yesterday. The latter is co-produced by Spielberg (I think not many people know this since the film is largely credited to Clint Eastwood). There was a sense of deja vu here and there, though I thought "Letters" is more polished (in terms of the cinematography and production) and raw (in terms of the portrayal and material) at the same time, had more depth, better characterisation, and a more poignant storyline.

It also reinforced certain war stereotypes (*Spoiler*such as in the scene where the Japanese soldiers brutally stabbed their American POW *Spoiler*) and then demolished some (*Spoiler* such as the Japanese officer who cared for his American captive while the American soldier killed the Japanese deserters *Spoiler*), which is not unexpected - but laudable nonetheless - given the fact that the film is told from the Japanese perspective. It's a refreshing take, and serves to dispel the entrenched misgivings arising from the often one-sided portrayal of all Japanese soldiers as cruel and inhuman.

Incidentally, "Days of Glory", another war film I wrote about in a previous entry, was also nominated for an Oscar in best foreign film. In hindsight, it is apparent that it borrowed heavily from "Saving Private Ryan", and the only thing original about it was probably its theme of racial discrimination (again) in the French army. I personally feel it didn't deserve an oscar nomination.

4. Just Follow Law - CHECK
Typical Jack Neo fare, though it is sub-par when compared to his previous works like "I Not Stupid". It does a laudable job poking fun at the rigidity & ludicrousness of some of our government agencies, policies, and civil servants, but that was more of an appetiser which whetted the audience's appetite only to let us down with the equally ludicrous body-switch formula. The only saving grace is perhaps Fann Wong's performance which alone is worth the price of a ticket, albiet a weekday ($7) one.

5. Tank - 延長比賽 (改版) - X
Yet to be released in Singapore.

6. 曹格 - Superman (改版) - CHECK
7. 張惠妹 - 愛的力量 10年情歌最精選 - CHECK
Just got these 2 albums. Might post some impressions of "Superman" later on.

8. Norah Jones - Not Too Late - X
I think I will wait for the "Special Edition". Anyway I am quite broke already after all that splurging (see checked items above).

Next up, Stef's new album, Avril Lavigne's new album - Best Damn Thing, and the summer blockbusters (all those sequels!).

One final thought: SEX sells. After Stanley Huang's album topped the Taiwan G-Music sales charts by stripping, Peter Ho does the same. Poor Singapore's Yida, who is obviously more talented than Ho, can't even manage a top 10. Sigh.

Top 2006

Top 5 Movies of the Year:

This list was picked from the more than 20 movies I watched this year. Mostly chosen for their entertainment value, with some consideration given to technical elements such as cinematography, script, acting and plot.

1. Death Note I & II
2. The Departed
3. Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man’s Chest
4. The Devil Wears Prada
5. The Prestige

Top 10 Singles of the Year:

《盛 夏光年》 is my undisputed Single of the Year, as well as my favourite 五月天 song in their entire catalogue so far. 阿信 at his best, demonstrating his lyrical genius once again. 《失戀學》 is a distant second, with its catchy melody and noteworthy lyrics. 林俊杰's simple but addictive 《忘记》 is no. 3. 《梁山伯與茱麗葉》 which is overplayed to death on local air waves, manages a forth position with its creative lyrics, refreshing melody and 曹格's vocal prowess. 孫燕姿 rounds up the top 5 with 《雨天》, a quality composition by 李思菘 & 小寒, coupled with Stef's powderful 转音 and emotive rendition.

1. 《盛夏光年》: 五月天.阿信

2. 《失戀學》: 林宇中

3. 《忘记》: 林俊杰

4. 《梁山伯與茱麗葉》: 卓文萱 + 曹格

5. 《雨天》: 孫燕姿

6. 《雨櫻花》: F.I.R.

7. 《Perhaps Love 這是愛嗎》: 宫 - 我的野蛮王妃電視原聲帶

8. 《再見我的愛》: 櫻桃幫

9. 《手》: 莫文蔚

10. 《黄金甲》: 周杰倫

Top 10 Albums of the Year:

曹 格 snatches first spot with his debut. His incredible vocal stylings never fail to spice up any song he croons on. The result is a quality album with no fillers. Add to that the fact that he composed most of the unashamedly commercial songs, and you have a winner in 格格 Blue. 张惠妹 returns to the fore with her last album with Warnermusic, 我要快乐?. As always, Amei is technically flawless, and her choice of a more 内敛 style of singing this time round worked surprisingly well with the quality compositions. 林俊杰 proved that his creative juices are still flowing by putting out his forth album 曹操, an ambitious project lifted by the epic scale title track, soulful ballads Sarang Heyo只对你说, 熟能生巧 & 原来, as well as fast numbers such as 波间带 & 进化论. His ranking is also bolstered by his excellent JJ World Tour Concert. F.I.R. puts in a creditable performance with 飛行部落, which offers a polished and coherent sound, and a good mix of fast, mid-tempo and slow numbers. The Beatles: Love seals its top five performance with remixed hits from one of the most popular bands in history, and for good reason.

*I only rank albums that I own.

1. 曹格: 格格 Blue

2. 张惠妹: 我要快乐?

3. 林俊杰: 曹操

4. F.I.R.: 飛行部落

5. The Beatles: Love

6. 宫 - 我的野蛮王妃電視原聲帶

7. Keane: Under the Iron Sea

8. 櫻桃幫: 親愛的王子

9. 林宇中: 林宇中個人首張專輯

10. Love Psychedelico: Early Times

The Last Name

Caught "Death Note 2: The Last Name" yesterday and I was pretty impressed by how the screenwriter managed to compress the entire manga series - which I faithfully read - into two movies by making intelligent plot alterations and simplifications. This is where The Da Vinci Code failed as a movie, even though the source material (the code-cracking parts, in particular) made for excellent reading.

The battle of wits between L and Light is less evident than in the first movie since they are working mostly on the same team with Light plotting in the background, but the unexpected ending (a total deviation from the manga) is brilliant both in concept and cinematographic execution. The lines and acting for the ending sequence pack punch (compared to the abysmal Eragon), *spoiler* and you might, for one moment, find yourself sympathising with Light and concurring with his world view. Equally moving was the scene where Mr. Yagami saluted L for his sacrifice. *spoiler* This is a movie with soul (and much more so than the manga), which is rare for a comic adaptation. Highly recommended.