Tribute to Adam Lambert

I am posting this in Hong Kong...I wrote the following on Thursday midnight - when the America Idol aftermath was still fresh.. yet I had no Internet access...

Maybe it’s God’s will that my Internet connection can’t be fixed this evening. Maybe it did me good to be distracted from the shocking American Idol finale result this morning.  That’s the problem with me. It’s not just Idol. It could be anything else.  I am one who gets easily addicted, transfixed and even obsessed.

But I just had to write something. And as I am typing this on Word (to be posted on my blog later), I am listening to the MP3 and WinAmp files friends had sent me of Adam Lambert’s performances from A.I.  And I’m never tired of them.

In these four months or so, I’ve grown to be more and more crazy over this guy who has such unique style and enormous talents in singing and performing. He is not just a great singer, but smart, articulate, genuinely amiable and modest. 

Ya, I know I have already dedicated a post to him – claiming him to be the next American Idol.

But I was wrong. It seems America is not ready for such an outstanding, in a friend’s word `in-your-face’ type of artist. They still prefer someone with mass appeal. Just look at the past winners, from 1st season winner Kelly Clarkson to last year’s David Cook – all of them are commercial hotties who have such mass (read: pop) appeal. So this year, although almost everyone from the judges to Adam’s fans and enemies have predicted he would take the title, finally he lost out to the dark horse that is Kris Allen.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not bashing Kris. In fact, I was impressed by his refreshing rendition and arrangement of his music, and his improvement was quite stark in the last month. He is no doubt a talented musician – plays several instruments well - and a copetent singer.  And also cute, humble and nice.  Thus he has attracted a legion of fans who had suddenly grown to huge that their votes managed to topple that of Adam’s.

But you see, if Kris is that handsome dark horse, Adam is the magical unicorn. Ok, this analogy seems strange, even to me but you get what I mean. Adam is such a superb and brilliant artiste that has not failed to mesmerized performance after performances. Some dislike him cos he’s `loud’ – and said he likes to scream. But hey, how many people can actually possess a crazy vocal range like that and able to master it!  He sings with utmost passion, expression and convicting, with the most awesome and often bold showmanship.

I was reading the Net last night after the performance show (ya, Internet was intact then). I already had a hunch when I read many entertainment/news websites that said Adam ‘s talent is superior and did better than Kris in the finale show, HOWEVER, they rightly thought it’s Kris who will win the title. The reason I see it is quite simple. Kris is not more talented, but he has become more popular than Adam. By popular, I mean he demeanour and his brand of music has mass appeal thus garner a large fan base. And although this is just a theory but some people think Danny Gokey’s supporters and voters probably swing towards

I respect people have their own preferences..  you can dislike Adam but to dismiss him as crap or can't sing is either a blatant blindness or lie. And I don’t hate Kris at all. He’s sweet and unassuming. If Adam was not in the competition, he would have been my favourite besides the spunky and talented teenager Allison. Kris as they have more similar background. Whereas Adam is just so different, and in a different league altogether.

It’s quite funny but endearing to see Kris himself seemed to be shocked by winning and had twice mentioned Adam’s name. He blurted out: `but Adam deserves to win~' but the sly Ryan Seacrest quickly interjected and asked him to say how he felt.

Oh well, votes have been cast. It is official that Adam is 1st runner up while Kris is the new American Idol. Earlier, I read many out cries from Adam’s ardent fans that he has been robbed of the well-deserving title. That it is so unjust. But to be optimistic and look beyond the competition, we know Adam did NOT lose to Kris as a singer or performer.  It has happened in the past, not the true best singer/performer take on the crown. In fact, shortly after the announcement when everyone was congratulating Kris, I caught Simon Cowell’s expression – that of incredulous or a sense of unfairness. I don’t know, it’s just my guess.

What I LOVE about Adam is how cool and gracious he is!  Even if and I’m sure he would have felt disappointed, he didn’t show a hint of it. He's NOT the sore loser and from what he said later, he was seemed genuinely happy for Kris.  And I’m sure Kris would react the same too if Adam were `crowned’ (sigh, if only he were!)  

That’s what I love of this season’s A.I. as well – all the contestants were such good friends and genuinely care for each other. I can see that especially in Adam and Allison, and even Adam and Kris who was his roommate before. And remember when Matt Giroud was (not very deservingly) saved by the `Judge’s Save’, all the rest were just ecstatic for him, hugging and jumping around! Never the thought that if he was saved, there would be double the chance of them being eliminated in the following week, came into their minds. 

And I really believe that Adam did harbor any jealousy or ill feelings, although some of his fans (not me) may.  You know, Adam has always been so confident of himself and the artiste that he is. But his head was not in the cloud that he could be sure that he was definitely going to win – especially with the enormous growth of popularity his competitor was getting.  So he must be prepared to not win it after all.. if it’s not meant to be.

But being on American Idol was definitely a platform that propel him to greater heights – now the whole world had known him,  heard and saw how talented and versatile he is, and how he WOWed the audience with his ….(I am running out of adjectives like Paula said) style and showmanship.  So ya, he may not win the title nor get that coveted Idol contract, he is already a superstar in his own right. And his future career is bright. He would be phenomenal.

So, here's my tribute to my one and only American `idol’ - the most remarkable contestant who has brought excitement and excellence to this season’s show that has never been seen.  You might not have won the title, but Adam Lamber, you are already THE WINNER to me, as well as for millions of your fans across the globe.

 post-A.I. finale video shows what a great person Adam is!!

Amazing Awesome Adam

Presenting the next American Idol - Adam Lambert!



Yup, mark my word.

He is by far the most talented and a bomb of a performer.. Adam is in a league of his own. Not that others aint good but he is just far superior.

He has superb showmanship, and that's complemented by really amazing vocal as well..On top of it, this man simply exudes charisma and charm... a true artiste at heart, and a versatile one too!

One week, we would see him dressed up in punk-rock style belting and dancing to `I Can't Get No Satisfaction' or `Black & White'; and then he would suddenly turn into a demure gentleman crooning the most heart-felt and haunting tunes of `Tracks of My Tears' or `Mad World'. He even took the risk to present his own daring love-it-or-hate-it Middle-eastern sensual version of `Ring of Fire'.

Whatever songs, whatever genre or style he sang, he did them with such aplomb that the performance just stood out among the rest. So much so even the cynical Simon Cowell would give him a standing ovation!

Gosh, I can't help but admire such sheer talent! He is miles better than many established recording artistes out there! And it helps that he's pretty cute.

(ok, so certain `evidences' may point to his curious sexual preference.. but gay or straight, what really wow us is him the singer/artiste)

I can shower praises on and on. 'Coz ya, I have a confession to make.. I'm totally obsessed with Adam Lambert! For so many nights, I've been browsing YouTube, Googling and scanning Amercian Idol website just to listen to him, watch his video and read news about him..

Call me biased if you wish, but I also have met many others who aren't crazy about him yet could not deny that he's simply brilliant

So, thank you Adam Lambert, American Idol Season 8 is so much more a pleasure and excitement to watch just because of you.

Donnie The Man!

Pardon the pun. Thing is, I haven't watched a Chinese movie I like for quite some time - but now I can say Ip Man and Donnie Yen rocks!

So it's a martial arts biopic based on the life of Yip Man, Bruce Lee's first `sifu. It's hard to believe that the real Yip Man was really THAT cool. I mean, Donnie's portrayal of the kung-fu master is unbeatable, and completely invincible!

Well, fiction or not, I would say Ip Man is a good movie - one that balances the gripping drama and the awesome action. Oh boy, the way Donnie Yen executed his `Wing Chun' martial art was simply superb and thrilling to watch! Yes, there was quite some violent and brutal parts (the movie is rated 18SG) but I would watch again just for the martial art alone!

The other characters in the movie was also pretty well casted. Trust them to find actors with real martial art background, which no doubt made the whole fighting that much exciting to watch.

I read an online review which was pretty well written but a little critical. It was interesting to read what writer said about Donnie Yen's real character is quite the opposite of the humble Yip Man he portrays. I don't know what Donnie Yen is like in real life but indeed, the martial art master's character is one that is pretty intriguing.

Well, I would definitely recommend this movie - and yes, you need to watch it on big screen for that real `ooomp!!'

Ah, and now I have become a Donnie Yen fan! He rocks!!

David Cook - my idol hero!!

I know the whole world - well, at least American Idol fans - is talking about it but I just can't help but also jump onto the bandwagon. At least for tonight.

Yes, David Cook did it!! He rocks till the end.. and a deserving winner too!!

I watched the result show late and managed to keep myself away from the news and Internet till I found it out for myself.. Admitted, it was a very tough American Idol finale - a competition that was of the highest standard and exciting to watch. Little David (Archuleta) rose to the occasion and delivered three solid performances with powerful vocals. Cook was his usual self - he seemed a little tense actually, and risked it a little by choosing songs that were, according to Simon, not really competition material.

Still, his amazing track record had taken him through to the end. Maybe some, like Simon who later apologised to Cook, thought Archuleta was probably the better one during the finale, but the majority of Americans obviously thought Cook deserves the title more. He won by an amazing 12 million votes!

Personally I did think Archuleta sang VERY well, but the problem is, he is only suited singing ballads and as an `idol', he really is still too green. He has LOTS of potential definitely. But Cook, on the other hand, is already a STAR in personification. And although he is more towards the rock genre, he practically could turn any song into his own. And one thing he has a upper over Artchuleta - that is creativity and originality in interpreting songs.

Having said that, even if Archuleta had won, I would be quite happy. Just that he unfortunately faced the toughest opponent. Had he been in another season, maybe he could have won hands down.

So yeah, American Idol Season 7 was a blast. Although I only started following since last season which the finale was nothing compared to this one, I also learned this season was definitely one of the best.

Just hope Season 8 is the same, or even better!?

Oh before I end.. whoever thinks David Cook is cocky better think again.. he might have this `look' on his face (Simon called it smug) that is interpreted as cocky but if you have opened your eyes during the competition.. you can tell he is actually very humble and amiable..

So yeah, congratulations David Cook. I'll definitely buy your album when it's out.

Extra `Special' Effect for Three Kingdoms

I couldn't believe GSC could do this to its audience!!

I hadn't watched `Three Kingdoms - Resurrection of the Dragon' - starring the dashing Andy Lau - until tonight. But as it was already showing since beginning of the month, we got to watch it in a smaller hall - ie. Hall 15 of GSC Mid Valley.

When the movie started, Lynn and I thought the screen was kinda weird. The people all looked thinner than usual. Even Sammo Hung's round face had become long!!

What happened was, instead of showing the movie on a wide-screen format, the screen was lengthened and what we saw was a elongated/compressed version!

We were hoping they would rectify the problem soon.. but no. Well, it was quite annoying as it really distorted the picture. But what could we do? So we just had to make do with it and watched on..

It didn't help that the bulk of the movie - the war and battle scenes were just so messy and a blur. The director chosed to use close-up and OTT artistic shots. And then we had to watch a compressed version of it.. well, just to say I couldn't make out the fighting scenes.. and it wasn't enjoyable.

But guess what? At the ending scene, suddenly the screen black out for half-a-second and before anyone cried foul, the wide-screen was restored!! So we got to watch the last two minutes of the movie properly. And gosh, what a difference seeing a normal looking Andy Lau finally.. and so much better looking too.

Sigh. Guess it's just our luck. I had an urge to make a complain. But what use would that be as I'm not going to watch this movie again..

So how's the movie? Well, I didn't like it. With its rich historical setting for story and characters, it could have been much better. But instead, it was another war movie with glorified gore and violence, but not much human relationships and emotions..

Of course, the extra `special' effect we got didn't help.

Too much blood and deaths..

For once, the censor rating was right. Hours after watching this movie, I still could not erase those gruesome and bloody scenes from my mind!!

I must say that despite the amount of blood and gore Sweeney Todd contains, it's definitely a movie I don't regret watching. It's pretty ingenious and brilliant! Because there were songs (yep, it's a musical - a dark Gothic one) and the exaggerated engineered designs and colours of the set, it has made the slitting of throats and the free flowing of blood artistic and stylistic.. But even so, I could hear the audience, especially the girls squirming in their seats..I was one of them.

But you can't deny that Johnny Depp was simply brilliant. He is one actor that I truly admire. His singing wasn't too bad either. The other cast was also well chosen.

btw, if you haven't realised, I'm not posting a review of the movie. So there won't be spoilers. But rather, I just had to let it out of my chest of how this movie had `disturbed' me. Perhaps `disturb' is not an appropriate word.. more like how it startled and left an indelible impression in my mind, and heart..

To think of it, today, death seemed to have besieged me..

I woke up from a bad dream..I dreamt that my grandma, now bedridden and getting thinner and weaker, had died. It was such a vivid dream that I still remember it clearly now.. Then as I woke up, I actually received a news of death! My aunt, who had been battling cancer for more than a year, had passed away early morning. It was expected as her condition was deteriorating.. but I was hoping to visit her. It was all too late and I just returned from the wake when I paid her a final respect..

And yesterday, I had already planned to watch Sweeney Todd today since it's a discount day for movies and I've more or less finished my work. Some friends were watching it at night but I have choir practice so I decided to go to the cinema near my place and watched it by myself.. something I don't really mind doing, weirdly. (After all, you don't talk in the cinema do you?)

I had prepared myself for blood (read this off a friend's blog). But somehow it was still too bloody and morbid and for a while, the uncomfortable feeling began to numb me, especially the second half when Todd and Mrs Lovett were doing the unthinkable!!

But thank God it was just a story, a musical and given a fable-like treatment by the quirky Tim Burton. Yet it was definitely gripping. The music was good - not your happy-happy musical mill. The acting was spendid. And I love Johnny Depp even if in this film, he was a real demon/psychotic/monster.

Ok, now that I've gotten something out of my chest, perhaps I could go to bed and try not to think of the movie anymore, that's if I succeed...

p.s. to match the theme of the post.. I've put the fonts in red.
(apparently it was hard to read so I changed font colour..)

Meet My Daemon

I must say I am pretty captivated by `The Golden Compass' - which I watched at a media preview. I think it has to do with the animals in it..

Not having read the book, I must say I enjoyed the movie - it's creativity and fantasy to a new level, and quite touching at parts. Being an animal lover, I just couldn't' help but be enchanted by the Daemons (the soul of a human being which takes the form of an animal.. and it's always besides you). Oh, and also the gallant ice bears of course..

It is always more heartwarming when the protagonist in a child.. Lyra is super cool, and yes, I love especially her daemon Pan(Pantalamoin) which takes many forms.

No, I am not reviewing the movie.. this post has no spoilers. In fact, thanks to Liz's blog I discovered an interesting test from the movie website called `Meet Your Daemon' - yep, just answer 20 questions truthfully and then it will tell you what is your Daemon!

Presenting to you my Daemon - Pereus




For those of you who know me, you can help to determine whether it matches me by answering a few questions. After 12 days, my daemon will settle into its final form.
Try it out for yourself.. let me know what's yours!

Oh, after watching the movie, I had this candid thought that Jelly is like my little Daemon in a way. She follows me everywhere, literally. Only thing is she can't speak. :p

Hairspray is a blast!

What a movie to start a Monday morning! :)

When I received the invite from GSC for the preview of Hairspray! I just glanced at the cast and the poster and thought it should be quite nice..

I know it's set in the 1960s and thought it was a romantic comedy of sort.. but I didn't expect it to be a musical! And although it appears to be a teenage flick, but it's actually really fun and entertaining.. it's really a blast!!

John Travolta was amazing and almost unrecognisable in his role.. I know I was slow but i thought i remembered wrongly that he was in the show.. until during the end credit that I found out who he was!! And I was shocked! Yes, it was really wicked!

Oh, there's lots and lots of singing AND dancing.. real high energy stuff as well as some more moving moments. The music, reminiscent of the 1960s (think Grease) is really pretty catchy and melodious. I think I'll be going to get a copy of the soundtrack.

But what I love most about it is that they do away with the stereotypical. Instead of having a good-looking babe as the protagonist (which show does not do that?) our leading lady is this short and big girl but with a big heart. And boy, could she dance! Then there is her really huge mother and she's simply a gem.. and that you have to see for yourself ;)

It was really entertaining and fun - a comedy with wits. Besides the many amusiing antics, the dialogues were really hilarious too. I haven't had such a good laugh in a long time! (sorry, Rush Hour 3 was simply slapstick more than anything!)

And looking beyond all the fluff of dance and entertainment and beauty pageant and romance that make up the plot of the story, Hairspray is a tale to champion the underdogs and how one's dream can come true if you believe in it..

Anyway, without giving too much away, lets just say I thoroughly enjoy the movie and make me feel kinda young again.. :p

You see, it is one of those movies that after watching, immediately I know I don't mind catching it again!! The last one was Ratatouille though I wasn't compelled to write about it like this one.. perhaps it's just quite unexpected

Finally, wondering why the movie is called Hairspray? You have to watch it to find out!

McClane My Hero!!

I know with recent releases of some highly anticipated blockbusters such as Transformers and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, this movie has been somehow eclipsed.

But let me tell you.. this balding, slightly overweight man in his 50s is SO COOL on screen that I think he deserves the action hero award of the year!

Yep, i just watched Die Hard 4.0. I know I'm late but I already made a mental note that I MUST watch it on big screen..

You see I missed the press preview - the production house just emailed invites to the newspaper editor and not me although I was the one who went and interviewed Maggie Q! Then later they promised to post me free passes, but they never came. Oh well, so i thought i might as well go buy ticket..not like I couldn't afford it.

Let me digress a bit.. I have had a good day. I did work - for solid three hours - writing out an article (but still not completed). I returned to my `Starbucks office' at Cheras Selatan, ordered a `Coffee of the Week' Gold Coast - which is one of my favourites and then typed away on my laptop sitting in the comfy arm chair. There weren't many people partly I think because the Internet was down! Yep, but good thing I didn't need the Internet and in a way, it gave me less distraction!

So I worked from 2-ish and stopped at 5pm to catch the 5:15pm movie. The best thing about this shopping mall is that besides having Starbucks and TGV cinemas (and also Jusco and some other shops) is that it is just mere 5 mins drive from my house.. and parking is absolutely free!!

Yeah, i am enjoying such a nice, carefree and flexible lifestyle now that I'm a bit reluctant to give it up.. but i know i can't be doing this my whole life!!

Anyway, back to Die Hard 4.0. i have read some good reviews on it so i had pretty high expectation. But no, I wasn't disappointed at all!! Yes, it's heavily action-packed and some of the stunts were so incredible that you thought `gosh, this is impossible!' but still they were executed so well and shot in a realistic way with minimal CGI effects, and that made it really gripping.

But this movie is not all brawn and no brain. There's a rather intriguing plot although parts of it I must admit were a bit too hi-tech for a IT inept person like me! And there was humour as well as heart-warming moments..

I'm not a Bruce Willis fan - though i remember a good friend of mine from university (she's French) absolutely adored him! But I tell you, John McClane is just way TOO cool!! He's totally fearless, almost bordering madness but he has incredible high principles and integrity. He is extremely fast and smart and he has wits and sense of humour.. he's a loving father and great friend - to the extent he would sacrifice his life for them.. Yeah, he's like your dream action hero (minus the looks.. haha)

But I think at 52, Willis doesn't look bad at all.. very macho and manly if you ask me. ;)

And although i enjoyed very much movies like Transformers and Harry Potter but some how, they don't touch you the way this movie does. It's funny cos it's an action movie!! But really, it's in a league of its own. And if you haven't watched it, I will highly recommend it... in my memory, this is better than all the previous Die Hard movies!

Ok, enough of raving on this movie and Willis.. :p Guess what, my next movie will also be an action movie involving cops! I missed the preview of the Hong Kong action flick `Invisible Target'..and since I interviewed the 3 protagonists over the phone, I am curious to watch it. I also read pretty decent reviews on it..it's touted to be really action-packed too!

Hmm.. then maybe I can compare the action scenes between Hollywood and HK movies..

let the Magic start again!

I'm so excited! I'll be watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in less than 10 hours time!!

It's a press preview and although I'm not officially attached to any media company, the nice lady of Warner Brother has accepted this `freelance entertainment writer's request. Really happy!

Don't know why.. maybe subconsciously knowing that the book is coming to an end, I just relish the thought of watching, reading anything Harry Potter!

I just read a fellow blogger's `theory' that somehow when the book gets less interesting, the subsequent movie just gets better.. Ok, to many people the first three HP books are like the classic.. and then after Globet of Fire, they were just getting more draggy.. I have to agree in a way as I didn't really enjoy both Order of the Phoenix nor Half Blood Prince as much as the earlier books..

Now look at the movies! I think the first and second were largely forgettable as my friend rightly pointed out, they stayed too close to the books and there were hardly any surprises or adventures.. But the Prisoner of Azkaban and especially Globet of Fire were different, and really became pretty entertaining.. and now, judging from the trailer, Order of the Phoenix should be quite a blast!!

Simply put: good books led to `sucky' movies while `sucky' books led to good movies. Hmm.. do u agree? i just thought it was quite an interesting observation..

Whatever it is, I love Harry Potter - whether books or movies - great or not so great. And the thought that the book series is coming to an end is kinda sad...

But, I'm going to be the first batch of audience who get to watch Order of The Phoenix first in this country!! YEY! Let the magic begins! :D

UPDATE:
I was so `kiasu' (actually i was asked to be there early) that i was among the earliest to reach the cinema and thus got myself a good seat. So how's the movie? Let's just say it is WAY BETTER than the book.. yep, the director had used his discretion to do without the boring/repetitive parts. I heard a few people didn't like it but I thought it was pretty good - maybe a little slow in the 1st half but did not lose any of the magic. What's really cool (besides the awesome showdown of two of the greatest wizards at the end) is the many interesting characters! And yeah.. it gets pretty dark, much darker than the previous movies.. so not really a movie you'd bring a young child to.

Ok, shall not divulge anymore as I know you would not have watched it yet.. :p

a wedding and three movies

It has been another eventful week and I can foresee the coming week will be even more busy as far as work is concerned.

Yep, work has been coming in.. I shouldn't be complaining as at one point, I was worried I wasn't getting enough work thus enough money. Then as if God is answering my prayer... I will have four assignments to finish by next week at least!!

Ok! back to why I so titled this post..


A Wedding

Last Saturday we attended my cousin Sor How's wedding dinner. He tied the knot with a girl from Shanghai - they met while studying in the U.K.

It was a nice and classy dinner at the Reinaissance Hotel ballroom and the food was good (seldom you get high standard fare for a wedding dinner)! I was seated with all my cousins. It was four couples, me and a nine-year-old niece! But since we're family so I didn't really feel like a lamp post or anything; in fact, had a good time of catching up with one another.

Since we were the closest relatives from Sor How's mom's side, eldest aunt and mom decided we should stay back to take photos together with the newly weds..


Sor How and Xiao Ting with the three sisters - eldest aunt, second aunt (the mother of the groom) and mom.


A pix of the cousins and their other halves..


(left) The bride and groom. (right) Bride and groom once upon a time

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3 Movies

I ended up watching three movies this week (in cinemas not DVD) And to think of it, the fortnight before, I happened to watch quite a number of performing arts shows.

Anyway, I (and probably the whole world) had been looking forward to this one.



So when a friend said he's booked tickets and asked whether I wanted to join them on Monday night, I was glad to do so! A good day too as I would be busy the few following evenings.

So did I like it? lets say this is defintely the BEST movie of the three. But hmm.. while it is entertaining, I would not say it's great - which i would not hesitate to label it for `Curse of the Black Pearl'. Basically I feel they just want to cram in too many things - subplots, characters, action..you have it. And then at the end, it is just too complex and `rojak' even. Ok, i still love Jack Sparrow (who doesn't?) and even some cool characters like Capt Barbossa and Mr squid face, or even Sao Feng although his screen presence was small.. Oh, and of course the special effects were fantastic!

Ok, i am even contemplating watching it a 2nd time (if time allows) just because I think I missed quite a bit of the fast-pace, very happening scenes!

Then, on Wednesday, went with Lainey for this movie that I was just curious to watch.. since i also did a write-up on it. Was glad that she was gamed to watch `Ming Ming' - a stylistic HK movie starring the talented Zhou Xun and heartthrob Daniel Wu. I told her it's a fantasy-martial art-romance type of movie.. which turned out to be quite true. But definitely NOT your typical HK movie...



The whole movie was very artistically and stylistically shot - after all the director Susie Au is famed for directing music videos. It has a rather interesting though obscure plot. Dialogues were few and some scenes were pretty much slow moving. But what we could have tolerated as something unique and new escalated into something quite ridiculous..

About the cast, all I can say is Zhou Xun is still a very good actor while Daniel Wu is pretty much wasted in this movie - actually he wasn't even the male protagonist and more like a guest star.

Well, although i didn't really like it, at least it wasn't unbearable.. some people can even argue it is `unique' and `interesting' in its own ways..

But.....but, the same couldn't be said of this new movie from our neighbours from the South - which is only to be released next week.




Some people call it a `horror-comedy' - (as the roles are all ghosts!) But horror definitely it is not, and comedy? it has the most slapstick, stupid and preposterous content you can ever imagine.. and at many parts, crude as well!

Actually it had some promising ideas in the beginning - that's totally new and refreshing. But alas, the movie just detariorated along the way. No doubt the type of over-the-top comics and humour belong to Stephen Chow's `mou lei tau' genre. But at least those HK`mou lei tau' movies, while appear silly, are funny. The so-called jokes and comical antics in `Men In White', sadly were plain stupid and ludicrous - they fall flat at their face and really NOT funny..

Ok, it was a bit funny in the beginning but over all, this movoie was quite painful to watch, unless you can leave your brain at the cinema entrance first..

Since this was actually work, the ironic thing was we then had to interview the film director and cast members after the movie and hear them rave how they enjoyed working on it and how interesting they thought it is. I like the director and cast - they were amiable and chatty and have no airs at all! And they were all very open to answer all our questions.

Such a shame about the movie though..

There goes another season...

So that's the end of American Idol Season 6 - the only TV show that I've been following these days.

Don't know why but am feeling kinda `lost' now (heh, maybe that's an exaggeration) but I think I'll miss it.. since faithfully watching for about 3 months. it has been pretty entertaining I must admit. Will miss all the singing and performing, the drama and the guessing game, and Simon Cowell's comments..

I actually set my alarm clock at 8am with intention to watch the Finale result show live.. but due to real lack of sleep, decided to go back to sleep after 15 mins. And managed to catch the whole thing from 8-10pm just now.

This time, no one leaked the result to me (and I purposely didn't want to find out). But from the previous day's performance and the tips from the judges, I was quite sure (and hoping too) that it would be Jordin!. And I was holding my breath when Ryan Seacrest announced at the last minutes. And then sighed a relief.. YES! Jordin Sparks had won - with due merits!

Somehow I was quite moved when she sang the last song fighting back tears.. I mean, this is like an impossible dream that has come true overnight for an ordinary girl - who of course possesses much talents. Winning American Idol is just something so huge that her life will totally turn around..

And for us viewers, I guess we will have to wait till early next year again for another new season. Maybe in the meantime, I can check out some local reality/talent shows. Heard `So You Think You Can Dance' is not bad... and then there is Astro's Talent Quest..

But still, nothing beats the buzz and excitement of American Idol. :p

American Idiots

Shocking! How could this happen? I can bet millions of audiences across the globe who follow American Idol are crying foul when its best contestant has been booted out!

Melinda Doolittle, who has been giving sterling performances consistently throughout and possesses the most amazing voca, is out of the final - totally undeservingly.

Like many people, I was hoping for a Melinda-Jordin final. Blake has a good enough run to reach the semi-final with his so-so singing talent. Although some of us had a hunch that he might make it through with his throng of female fans! (and yes it did happen!)

What were the voters thinking? It just goes to prove that when it comes to a contest based on sms votes, popularity upstages true talent. Even for a supposedly huge and credible show like this.

Call me `ulu' but I've only started following AI this season (yeah, i somehow didn't catch the previous seasons). It's the ONLY TV show that I've been following and I must say I have enjoyed it very much and I thought the standard of performances were pretty good. But what a shame that the results had to come to this..

When the cruel result was announced at her face, Melinda smiled and was a picture of grace and peace. There wasn't a hint of disappointment or bitterness. I really admire her for that.. And I really believe her career will go far, with that kind of voice.

Sigh, I'm not excited anymore for the final next week.. To me and many others, Melinda's exit has given the show an anti-climax already.

I found this more detailed analysis piece which I agreee totally with the author! Of course, there are many similar sentiments expressed all over cyberspace.

So, perhaps (sarcastically) they are just looking for an `idol' and not a true singer after all.

two excellent and crucial documentary films..

If u notice, it's been a long time I ever blogged about a movie I watch.. for these days I don't watch that many movies and also, those I've watched do not give that impetus to want to talk about it..

But here, I want to talk about two movies - incidentally both are documentaries from the U.S. One is yet to be released (although made last year) while another one was release in 2004.

On Friday, I watched An Inconvenient Truth at a special screening at KLPac thanks to free passes from Eyeris



Most people who heard of it know it as a movie with former US vice-president Al Gore in it, and yes, it's about global warming/climate changes. But you may wonder how would a movie about ecological and environment be that interesting?

That I urge you to watch it for yourself. I dare say this is the film that has the most impact on me for a long long time.. I think the other film that I remember having that much impact (if not more) was `The Passion of the Christ' a few years ago.

Here I quote a film critic: "If you see only one movie this year, make it An Inconvenient Truth. It may not be the year's best movie, or its most entertaining, but it's certainly the most terrifyingly crucial."

Another wrote: "You don't need to like Gore, or trust him, or even believe him to get a swift kick in the pants, one that'll scare the hell out of you..."

Yes, even though I know global warming is a truth and is happening.. what was shown in this movie will kinda jolt you and wake you up. Well, at least if you still need to live on earth..! There was so much scientific research and evidence in this movie but yet, the way it was presented had a good human angle to it so it's not dull, yet highly educational and informative.

I hardly knew about Al Gore besides he was the vice president to Clinton and a presidential candidate against George W.Bush in 2000. This movie is no doubt a campaign for raising awareness for global warming, something he had worked on since losing the presidency.. well, one could see it as a political campaign of sort for Gore, but still no one will look at it with skeptical eyes in the light of the truths about the perennial danger of the world climate and environment we are living in these days.. and it's great to see the passion and dedication Gore devotes to his cause.

Speaking of politics and American presidency, this brings me to a movie which I've wanted to watch since it won the Cannes Best Picture 2004 - the controversial but brilliant Fahrenheit 9/11.



I bought the original DVD from HK end of last year for I had difficulty finding an original copy here earlier.. it cost HK120 but it's worth every penny as it has many exclusive and extra features and scenes in this edition.

Michael Moore is a genius.. and if I've new found respect for Al Gore, watching Fahrenheit 9/11 just made me confirm my dislike for George W.Bush and detest him even more! It's pretty cool how Bush is like the main character in this movie with Moore being the narrator mainly.. but yet the idiot of a president never volunteers himself to be starring in this movie that digs up the ugly stuff of himself..

There is no denying that the researches behind this movie had been so thorough that if the facts presented were not accurate, Bush and his administration could have sued Moore already. But instead, Moore was able to expose and look at what really happened behind `The War Against Terror' propagated by Bush. And what I hated to see most was the Iraq war.. how innocent lives on both sides of the continents were sacrificed because of greed of someone in power. It was heart-wrenching watching loved-ones of those died in this unnecessary war - not just the Iraqi civilians but the American soldiers losing their lives for a so-called `war against terror'

This is so sad.. if I were American, I would be so angry and disillusioned.

Anyway, the movie, if you haven't already known talks on serious and grave topics but watchable thanks to Moore's witty satire treatment to it.

If I were Bush and watched this movie, I would be so so embarrassed. And I don't see how he would be able to run for another term. Might as well step down with a little dignity left than to lose a mile to the Democrats candidate.

So go watch An Inconvenient Truth' when it opens in cinema next week. And get a DVD of Fahrenheit if you've not already watched it.. these are movies that really worth the time as you learn something important as well as being engaging... as opposed to many blockbusters these days one watches purely for entertainment purpose - and sometimes, can be a waste of time and money!