Rachel's 1st Bdae

Woohoo... long delayed post. Bought Starfish Patrick for Rachel. Doubt she knows what it is or even like it. It's not the conventional toy- bear, dog, etc. But I like can already. mwahahahaha.

Rachel, eyes?
*points at Patrick's eyes*
CUTE!

Look! Rachel is clapping!

What I feel like doing right now

Cycling from home to Changi runway
Enjoying the cool sea breeze along the way
Taking in the relaxing atmosphere
Free of troubles
No crowds
The sun a little hidden by the clouds
Stopping at that long stretch of road
Setting up my tripod
Taking pictures of passing planes in black and white
While Kh sits next to me reading a book

a PERFECT afternoon.


Cost:
2 x bicycle
1 x camera
1 x tripod
1 x Kh

Time:
Priceless

Updated Wishlist

Time to update my wishlist! Items and prices revised.

2009 Wishlist:
- Year-end Cambodia+Laos+Vietnam backpacking trip ($1000)
- Lonely Planet: Cambodia ($40)
- Lonely Planet: Laos ($40)
- Grad trip ($700)
- EF 50mm, f1.8 lens ($139)
- Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens ($849)
- Speedlite 580EX II Flash ($869)
- Powerboat course + yacht club membership ($280)
- Baking class ($80)
- Language class ($200)
- Ukulele ($50)


Current Wishlist:
- Year-end Taiwan/China/Turkey trip ($2,000)
- Lonely Planet Guidebooks
- Speedlite 580EX II Flash ($699)
- Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens ($675)
- Benro Carbon Fibre Tripod C-058EX ($328)
- B+W MRC F-Pro Circular Polariser 58mm ($115)
- Korean basic class ($300)

Movie Blog 2010

10th Jan-

It's kind of late, but Happy 2010 to all! And I'm back to movie blogging!

19th Mar-

Getting lazy to update... zzz

My Movie Rating Guidelines

1 stars: Don't even bother.

2 stars: Quite bad.

3 stars: Not too bad.

4 stars: Must watch!

5 stars: Die die must watch!

Clash of the Titans
On Thursday morning (movie premier), I went online to check the movie timings for this movie, and I was thoroughly surprised to see that 3/4 of the seats for the night timings are already booked. I was thinking, this movie must be really good! As usual, Kh and I were too stingy to do online booking cuz of the extra charge, so we went to Shaw Balestier opposite his house where the theatres are never full. Sad to say, we thought the movie was utter rubbish. It was boring and extremely unrealistic. Other than the graphics itself, there was absolutely nothing to look forward to. I'd have to say the whole movie itself is just an excuse to make a good 3D movie. So yeah, if ya going to watch it at all, do it in 3D, else don't watch. 

3 stars  

Confucius

When I first heard that Chow Yun Fat will be starring as Confucius, I was like O_O.... him of all people...I just couldn't imagine. After watching, I think he has proven to me that he can actually pull off this role quite well. That said, Kh and I felt that the movie didn't do Confucius justice. Confucius is after all, known to be the most highly regarded philosopher of all time, rather than a military strategist, and the movie didn't bring that point out quite well. The movie spends much portraying his days in politics and his life in exile. While I think these are important to include as they are majoring turning points in his life, I felt that there was too much focus on them. I'd like it better if they tell us more about Confucius' philosophies and how they came about. 

3.5stars 

Shutter Island

I'm not a fan of Leonardo Dicarpio but I always felt that he is a very talented actor, very versatile, like Johnny Depp. I think the trailer was very well cut. It was good enough to capture attention and invoke curiousity and yet it didn't reveal too much such that you feel like you've watched the entire movie (see Sherlock Holmes). I got freaked out everytime I watch the trailer but still I really wanted to know about this "mystery" that they were talking about all the time. So having watched this, I can safely say that it is NOT horror or mystery, rather, more like a psychological thriller. I'm not gonna give spoilers here because I think this movie is absolutely worth watching. Warning: You can go insane from watching this. 

4 stars 

Green Zone

Matt Damon... one of my fave Hollywood actors of all time. This movie is another collaboration between him and the Bourne movies director. I was really curious as to how true the story is to the real Iraqi War. Did a quick search, and apparently, it's completely fictional, probably just an adaption of one of the conspiracy theories that tries to justify American presence on Iraqi soil. Had I not done that I would've believed this story to be true simply because the movie was so convincing. That said, I was also slightly disappointed with the ending. I felt that it ended too abruptly and it didn't make a strong enough point as to the purpose of the whole movie.

3.5 stars

Hachiko: A Dog's Story

Based on a true story in Japan, this movie is about how a loyal dog, Hachi, goes to the train station to wait for its master to come back from work everyday, and continues doing so for the next 9 years (until it dies of old age) after the master passes away. Even today, a bronze statue of Hachi still sits at its usual waiting spot in honour of it.

I found this movie really touching and heartwarming. It says something about the relationship between humans and dogs and how even a dog is able to teach humans the meaning of love and loyalty. That aside, it also amazes me how good an actor the dog is (even better than some people in fact!). How does it learn when to fetch a ball and when not to? And how does it learn to act old and dying? This dog is indeed a true talent. A side note: Richard Gere still looks really good!

4.5 stars

From Paris With Love

This movie is about how a rookie secret agent (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) partners with the pro (John Travolta) and learns from him in his first assignment to stop a terrorist attack.

I've never watched an action movie with so much humour packed into it. Would say I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, except that I wished it wasn't so predictable.  

4 stars

True Legend

Well, Beggar Su, creator of the famous "Drunken Fist", is indeed a true legend, but the story is neither true nor a legend. Too much exaggeration of gongfu skills. Poor CGI--it's so obvious that much of the acting is done in front of a green screen.

I must admit I have a certain bias against unrealistic movies. I have a tendency to favour movies which are based on true stories, because these are the movies that can it be truly inspirational/horrific/whatever. Between this and "14 Blades", I'll say I like "14 Blades" more.

2 stars 

14 Blades

I did not enjoy this movie at all. I thought "Bodyguards and Assassins" which has a very simliar theme, was way better in comparison, in terms of storyline, choreography and acting skills. I felt that only Donnie Yen and Zhao Wei played their roles well. Qi Yuwu and Wu Zun on the other hand, did such a bad job that Kh and I felt that even the eunuch did a better job than them. I also hated how lame the story got sometimes.

1) Donnie Yen's nemesis' name is 脱脱. Everytime someone in the movie says her name, there will be a roar of laughter coming from the audience. I also had the feeling that even the actors themselves are trying to stifle a laughter.

2) 脱脱 seems to have a demonic presence about her. Her abilities and fighting style are so unrealistic.

3) The movie ended with Zhao Wei looking far beyond and imagine seeing Donnie Yen and she says,"人是要有希望才是幸福的。" Oh please. 

2.5 stars 

Invictus

This is a true story about how newly elected President Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) united the post-apartheid South Africa through rugby. Invictus (Latin for "unconquered") is a poem which Nelson Mandela gave to the captain of the South African rugby team (Matt Damon) which inspired him to lead the team to victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

I found this movie very inspiring and touching, pretty much similar to movies like "Hotel Rwanda", "Tears of the Sun", "Blood Diamond", movies which touch on real-life issues and show how people arise victorious, despite all the setbacks and sufferings placed before them. In the movie, Nelson Mandela wrote this poem in his prison cell, where he had spent 30 years of his life in, as a result of engaging in anti-apartheid activities.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate

I am the captain of my soul.

4 stars

Planet 51

I love how cute the storyline is. An astronaut landed on the planet and the aliens thought the astronaut is an alien. LOL. Interesting perspective. Other than that, it was pretty boring in the middle. I would've liked it to be more funny and slightly more touching (for the ending). Suddenly I'm reminded of "Up" and my fave tagline from it "I do not like the cone of shame!", and I'm thinking to myself, yes that's exactly the kind of movie I wanna watch. =)

3 stars

Law Abiding Citizen

This is a pretty interesting story about a failed justice system, and how the victim (Gerard Butler) forces his prosecutor (Jamie Foxx) to fix the justice system by putting him in the same shoes. The story has an early climax, but it steadily goes downhill from then. I did not like how the movie ended. I felt that this being a movie about morals and social justice, should have a more conclusive ending. Overall, if comparing similar prison films, “The Shawshank Redemption” is much better.

P/s: There was a scene where Gerard Butler took off his clothes before the police arrested him. WHY? I don't know. Maybe to increase ratings? Nothing compromising though, other than his glorious butt crack. And yes, he still has his washboard abs from "300".

3.5 stars

Couples Retreat

It was not as funny as I hoped. Nevertheless, I did enjoy a few laughs.
-Jason's "overefficiency" with his powerpoint presentation on the 5 steps to depression.
-"The code is ASSTASTIC."
-"Please excuse my nudity!" (said in an unembarrassed manner)

3.5 stars

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

This was quite boring as well. Spoiler alert: I'm very sure there will be a sequel.
Steve has a very very lame reason to want to become a vampire. Darren also became a vampire because of a very very lame reason. Hmm, I think the producers have got to try harder than that! That said, it isn't bad enough to make me NOT wanna watch part 2.

2.5 stars

Bodyguards and Assassins

December is a good movie season. Unfortunately, I was not in Singapore for most of December. And definitely, you don't expect places like Laos and Cambodia to have cinemas. In fact, seeing a shopping mall, even that of the size of our good old Heartland Mall is enough to make you scream in excitement. It's times like these that Kh and I realise we're not cut out for rural living, whether we care to admit it or not.

Fret not, there's always JB if you miss any movies in Singapore. I caught this movie very recently at Cathay City Square for only 10RM. Watched it in Cantonese with English, Chinese and Malay subtitles--something you won't find in Singapore. I believe it's always good to watch movies in the native language. Some of the vibes just get lost when you translate them to another language.

Anyhow, I thought the movie was rather boring at first, but that's probably how it is for most historical films. History bores people. I'd probably put it in the ranks of "The Warlords" and "The Nanjing Massacre", which are comparatively not as good as "Red Cliff", "Red Cliff 2", and also "Ip Man" which also stars Donnie Yen. Interestingly, Donnie Yen has been getting quite a number of major roles of late. It's only recently that it came to my attention that he started out as a young star, and was actually quite good. Probably the place where I least expected, I caught a very very old movie of him on the "VIP" bus in Cambodia--something about some dance off. Even then when he was a young boy, I could already see a lot of potential in him. Wonder what took him so long to make it big?

3.5 stars

Facebook and Me

I'm in the midst of designing a new Facebook game which my company hopes to launch. As a result, I was on Facebook all day for weeks, just trying to understand the mechanics, and the different types of Facebook games. You all know how much I dislike Facebook. Prior to this, the only times I ever log in was to accept friend requests and nothing more.

I was on Facebook today and I saw Jf online.

Me: hey
Jf: yo. OMG why are u on facebook!!!
Me: work hazard.
Jf: .................... haha dun tell me ur addicted le
Me: i even started uploading my pics and playing facebook games
Jf: ya i nearly died when i saw u tag me in photos. damn weird. (*I always hate it when people tag me in photos.)

Now I feel so.... common.