Beat It
Heal the World
Thriller
Heal the World
Thriller
Saturday, June 27, 2009
RIP MJ
Another musical legend passes on. Michael Jackson sure did influence generations with his music and suave moves. I even remembered I played "Heal the World" on the organ when I was little. "Beat it" was incredibly catchy too. There was even this memorable zombie dance routine! Anw just to post some vids on the songs which I liked. RIP MJ.
Transformers = Military Hardware Porn for the U.S of A
I just caught Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and I had kinda mixed feelings on it.
1) Expect a bad plot. Hmm....nobody gives a damn about plot when it comes to action blockbusters anyway. Just indulge in 2 and a half hours of mindless and overwhelming explosions and pretty soon will forget what the whole mess is about.
2) I seriously cannot stand the pervasiveness of American military technology portrayed in the film. It's as if they are touting the American army, navy and air force is the best. Nothing beats the F22s or some huge ass aircraft carrier or coordinated air strikes (they always have to emphasise this) I was particularly appalled that Devastator went down in a single shot from a cannon from an aircraft carrier. Devastator, a fan favourite and possibly one of the stronger Decepticons in the cartoon series....damn. Reduced to rubble and role as a vacuum cleaner in this film. Not very flattering for a character that charmed many back in the 80s for being the first terror in the Decepticon's arsenal for its ability to form into a huge rampaging robot from 6 smaller ones. Oh yeah and did ya know? Devastator has balls too....doubly appalled and seriously WTF!
However while the point on America's military being all bad-ass, it did expose one flaw in it. I was particularly charmed by Soundwave's (the satellite) and Ravage's (the jaguar-like animal) sneak attacks upon the Americans, something which I believe no force of F22s or standard army would guard against, which pretty much mirrors the war on terror that the U.S is fighting now. In short, having too much of all the fantastic military hardware equipment, or how many missiles or bombs won't win a war of espionage, guerilla tactics and a hard-minded enemy.
3) Fight sequences were too short? Was expecting an epic confrontation at the end. But it was over in erm...10 seconds?! Wow...the forest fight scene was done pretty well though. Can't say the same for the ending. Looked more like a hurried job to me. Heard they fried their IMAX digital imaging equipment at the end.
4) Like most sequels, I feel that the first film was better than the second. Action-wise and CGI-wise, although I agree that this sequel was way much better, however the sore lacking point was that it lacked the personal introduction of some of the various robots compared to the first. I think most ppl would brush it off as the robots being one of the film's cannon fodders for another American air strike (particularly evident in the final battle) but did ya know that most of them had names and had interesting personalities in the cartoons? It's kinda sad that they are now reduced to American bomb targets now. One thing which I did enjoy was the interaction between Megatron and Starscream which has been played out in every incarnation of the Transformers franchise. Everybody likes Megs whacking the cowardly Starscream. Nuff' said.
Having said my piece, I think there are more damning articles out there regarding this movie. Particular points of interest so far are about the squabbling twins in the movie whom some ppl have derided it for being a racist stereotype of black ppl. One article I read was from ENI: Robots in Blackface, which was kinda true in a way.
Best quote from the article "“I purely did it for kids.” Bay says. Fantastic, not only have you made a $200,000,000.00 nationally advertised engine of violence, sexism and hate, but you’ve aimed it at children! Genius! Why should we be surprised? This is a PG-13 movie with misogyny, drug use, violence, alcohol, torture, swearing, tons of onscreen graphic death and a massive toy line that says nice and clear on every package “ages 5+.” Cute."
My personal take: the twins were annoying as hell. Just like Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels.
Other points of contention were the Chinese lambasting the first scene set in Shanghai as being too dilapidated and "lok cock". It's insulting to the Chinese!! And the way the U.S military muscles into Chinese territory....wows!!
Having said that, if you just pay 6 bucks and go into the theatre to immerse yourself in mind-numbing explosions and a popcorn chewing blockbuster, don't think too much, go ahead and forget the long rant which I just posted. Cheers!
1) Expect a bad plot. Hmm....nobody gives a damn about plot when it comes to action blockbusters anyway. Just indulge in 2 and a half hours of mindless and overwhelming explosions and pretty soon will forget what the whole mess is about.
2) I seriously cannot stand the pervasiveness of American military technology portrayed in the film. It's as if they are touting the American army, navy and air force is the best. Nothing beats the F22s or some huge ass aircraft carrier or coordinated air strikes (they always have to emphasise this) I was particularly appalled that Devastator went down in a single shot from a cannon from an aircraft carrier. Devastator, a fan favourite and possibly one of the stronger Decepticons in the cartoon series....damn. Reduced to rubble and role as a vacuum cleaner in this film. Not very flattering for a character that charmed many back in the 80s for being the first terror in the Decepticon's arsenal for its ability to form into a huge rampaging robot from 6 smaller ones. Oh yeah and did ya know? Devastator has balls too....doubly appalled and seriously WTF!
However while the point on America's military being all bad-ass, it did expose one flaw in it. I was particularly charmed by Soundwave's (the satellite) and Ravage's (the jaguar-like animal) sneak attacks upon the Americans, something which I believe no force of F22s or standard army would guard against, which pretty much mirrors the war on terror that the U.S is fighting now. In short, having too much of all the fantastic military hardware equipment, or how many missiles or bombs won't win a war of espionage, guerilla tactics and a hard-minded enemy.
3) Fight sequences were too short? Was expecting an epic confrontation at the end. But it was over in erm...10 seconds?! Wow...the forest fight scene was done pretty well though. Can't say the same for the ending. Looked more like a hurried job to me. Heard they fried their IMAX digital imaging equipment at the end.
4) Like most sequels, I feel that the first film was better than the second. Action-wise and CGI-wise, although I agree that this sequel was way much better, however the sore lacking point was that it lacked the personal introduction of some of the various robots compared to the first. I think most ppl would brush it off as the robots being one of the film's cannon fodders for another American air strike (particularly evident in the final battle) but did ya know that most of them had names and had interesting personalities in the cartoons? It's kinda sad that they are now reduced to American bomb targets now. One thing which I did enjoy was the interaction between Megatron and Starscream which has been played out in every incarnation of the Transformers franchise. Everybody likes Megs whacking the cowardly Starscream. Nuff' said.
Having said my piece, I think there are more damning articles out there regarding this movie. Particular points of interest so far are about the squabbling twins in the movie whom some ppl have derided it for being a racist stereotype of black ppl. One article I read was from ENI: Robots in Blackface, which was kinda true in a way.
Best quote from the article "“I purely did it for kids.” Bay says. Fantastic, not only have you made a $200,000,000.00 nationally advertised engine of violence, sexism and hate, but you’ve aimed it at children! Genius! Why should we be surprised? This is a PG-13 movie with misogyny, drug use, violence, alcohol, torture, swearing, tons of onscreen graphic death and a massive toy line that says nice and clear on every package “ages 5+.” Cute."
My personal take: the twins were annoying as hell. Just like Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels.
Other points of contention were the Chinese lambasting the first scene set in Shanghai as being too dilapidated and "lok cock". It's insulting to the Chinese!! And the way the U.S military muscles into Chinese territory....wows!!
Having said that, if you just pay 6 bucks and go into the theatre to immerse yourself in mind-numbing explosions and a popcorn chewing blockbuster, don't think too much, go ahead and forget the long rant which I just posted. Cheers!
Monday, June 22, 2009
After Nobody but CHU comes HAHAHA!
My friend sent me this link which made me recall the news last week that Changi Airport lost out to Incheon Airport in South Korea in airport rankings. This must be the reason why SG lost out! Somebody really ought to bring these girls to Singapore! (FYI, this MV was filmed in Incheon Airport)
Monday, June 15, 2009
NOBODY BUT CHU LA!!!
I seriously don't understand the Wondergirls dance song "Nobody" that seems to be gripping everyone. First someone sends me a link to an er xin vid, which led to me trying to find the original to convince myself that it's not some weird cult dance. Then I see it being reported in the Straits Times commenting it has simple dance moves. Next comes Mr Brown's hilarious parody of the song based on the recent swine flu. Now my bro comes complaining to me that he has to learn the dance moves from this song for orientation camp (the hot new craze in camps nowadays?) and I see a friend with a grad trip video doing the same moves. Wows....
The original
Swine flu. Wash your body!
I was sent this vid. I fell out from my chair...
Some bored policemen
The original
Swine flu. Wash your body!
I was sent this vid. I fell out from my chair...
Some bored policemen
Tranny!!!
I was just recently alerted by my dear friends that Megan Fox is really a man! Alamak, she's just joking only. Wows....for the record, liking Transformers does not translate to liking Megan Fox. I don't wank off to Megan as I don't really find gals with tattoos THAT hot. But what I see is a gal who's very much insecure about her looks from the interview. Even models are so insecure about themselves?!? Oh well....she's only human. Ok enough crap, with about 10 more days to go, bring on the bots anytime cos they are the real stars of the show!! Less human, more bot action!
Some lame-o vid for a CGI hotter Fox
Some lame-o vid for a CGI hotter Fox
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Hanoi - A Cultural Experience
Started off the day to the museums. First up, visiting Uncle Ho, as the Vietnamese affectionately call him. I'm referring to the late President Ho Chi Minh, where he is given a hero's burial in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (modelled after Lenin's Tomb in Moscow). The body is embalmed nicely (heard that the body is flown to Mother Russia for maintenance yearly) and of course no photos, no sign of disrespect and perhaps the largest security presence I have seen so far in guarding it. Anw once we have paid our respects, we went to the nearby museum and grounds to learn more abt this guy's past
The Presidential Palace that Uncle Ho refused to work in cos he deemed it too extravagant. Influenced architecturally by the French as it resembles the palaces I saw in Europe before
Instead, Uncle Ho chose to work in a smaller humble house
Children out on a school trip
We got this very confused guard to take a pic with us. At first he thought we wanted him to help us take a photo, but we dragged him in anw. I'm sure the girls did not mind!
The cap with the red star is a popular souvenir
Entrance to the One-Pillar Pagoda
Vietnamese come here to pray if they want to have a child, hence the bountiful presence of lotuses
Ho Chi Minh museum
A visit to the Temple of Literature next. It's the country's first university
This structure is a familiar sight on all the street signs in Hanoi
It is said that rubbing the head of the tortoise will bring good luck in the examinations. Damn....why din I do this b4? Maybe a CAP 5 from here?!
A crane standing upon a tortoise. Think it was meant to symbolise success
Was thinking of grabbing this for a friend. Vietnamese brides anyone? In the end we left with charms instead
Whole place gives me the very Chinese temple feel
Lunch at this popular but slightly more expensive than usual joint for pho noodles
Refused to have pho as I have been eating it for most of the time. Time for something different....broken rice with pork pie!
Broken rice just means the rice grains are finer. The pork pie comes as a lump of processed meat, unlike that served in Europe where it really comes like a rounded pie
Coffee anyone?
Creme caramel to top the dessert
Museum of Ethnology, which covers mainly the culture and ritual practices of the ethnic groups in Vietnam. My favourite museum here in Hanoi
Our little red dot in Vietnamese!
Baskets of traps on a bicycle
Santa Claus sure did customise his wheels on his trip to Vietnam! Anw the exhibit was more of showing the presence of Catholics in Vietnam
Stools!!
A personal favourite was the open-air museums which featured real exhibits of the kind of houses the different ethnic groups lived in. Over here, a water puppet theatre is featured
And this huge structure is a Bahnar communal house, with a height of 19 m. Think of it as a gathering spot for the villagers
Quenched my thirst from the kettle
The reason why the houses were built to tall was to allow the men who hunt in the jungles to find their way back effectively. Alternatively, can also view it as the taller it gets, the more power it represents
Our very own communal gathering
An Ede Longhouse that is over 42 m long
A Giarai tomb surrounded by sexually explicit wood carvings and other carvings of pregnant fertility. It's odd that the Giarai mix the dead with fertility...hmm...
Posing by one of the carvings.....nope no other poses for the other explicit ones...
Instead, Uncle Ho chose to work in a smaller humble house
Children out on a school trip
We got this very confused guard to take a pic with us. At first he thought we wanted him to help us take a photo, but we dragged him in anw. I'm sure the girls did not mind!
The cap with the red star is a popular souvenir
Entrance to the One-Pillar Pagoda
Vietnamese come here to pray if they want to have a child, hence the bountiful presence of lotuses
Ho Chi Minh museum
A visit to the Temple of Literature next. It's the country's first university
This structure is a familiar sight on all the street signs in Hanoi
It is said that rubbing the head of the tortoise will bring good luck in the examinations. Damn....why din I do this b4? Maybe a CAP 5 from here?!
A crane standing upon a tortoise. Think it was meant to symbolise success
Was thinking of grabbing this for a friend. Vietnamese brides anyone? In the end we left with charms instead
Whole place gives me the very Chinese temple feel
Lunch at this popular but slightly more expensive than usual joint for pho noodles
Refused to have pho as I have been eating it for most of the time. Time for something different....broken rice with pork pie!
Broken rice just means the rice grains are finer. The pork pie comes as a lump of processed meat, unlike that served in Europe where it really comes like a rounded pie
Coffee anyone?
Creme caramel to top the dessert
Museum of Ethnology, which covers mainly the culture and ritual practices of the ethnic groups in Vietnam. My favourite museum here in Hanoi
Our little red dot in Vietnamese!
Baskets of traps on a bicycle
Santa Claus sure did customise his wheels on his trip to Vietnam! Anw the exhibit was more of showing the presence of Catholics in Vietnam
Stools!!
A personal favourite was the open-air museums which featured real exhibits of the kind of houses the different ethnic groups lived in. Over here, a water puppet theatre is featured
And this huge structure is a Bahnar communal house, with a height of 19 m. Think of it as a gathering spot for the villagers
Quenched my thirst from the kettle
The reason why the houses were built to tall was to allow the men who hunt in the jungles to find their way back effectively. Alternatively, can also view it as the taller it gets, the more power it represents
Our very own communal gathering
An Ede Longhouse that is over 42 m long
A Giarai tomb surrounded by sexually explicit wood carvings and other carvings of pregnant fertility. It's odd that the Giarai mix the dead with fertility...hmm...
Posing by one of the carvings.....nope no other poses for the other explicit ones...
We ran a little late for the Army Museum which was kinda a bummer as I was hoping to learn a bit of the communist past and the Vietnam war from there. But the museum closed and we were whisked to one of the larger shopping outlets in Hanoi. Note: shopping ain't my thing and it resembled another one of our centres in SG. Anw dinner time was the catch here as we ate right outside the shopping centre by the roadside. It's amazing to see office ladies and common folk huddled around by the roadside for a meal. And what's more amazing, the place was run by a Uncle Ho lookalike...this nice Vietnamese old man that settled us down before whipping up our meals
Goose pho....been a long time since I ate goose meat....Mmmmmm
I tried stacking stools to try to elevate the height so that I could reach my bowl. No success.....
This dessert is fantastic! Resembles like our cheng teng mixed in a cup!
Our friendly and helpful Vietnamese friends
Ended the night at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Found it enriching as I could roughly follow what the play was about. I don't understand why people would find this boring or fall asleep as it's just an hour long and there are various different acts in between that convey different meanings. For god's sake, read the brochure!!
Goose pho....been a long time since I ate goose meat....Mmmmmm
I tried stacking stools to try to elevate the height so that I could reach my bowl. No success.....
This dessert is fantastic! Resembles like our cheng teng mixed in a cup!
Our friendly and helpful Vietnamese friends
Ended the night at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Found it enriching as I could roughly follow what the play was about. I don't understand why people would find this boring or fall asleep as it's just an hour long and there are various different acts in between that convey different meanings. For god's sake, read the brochure!!
The guys then decided to head over to club the night away. But being sceptical of the night scene in Vietnam, I decided to retire early. I was right. Not only did the clubs close by midnight (most Vietnamese, especially the girls, have a strict curfew), my friends ended up in Funky Monkey, some gay bar just round the corner of our hotel. Yep, a gay bar. Pass!
The next morning, Thao offered to take some of us on a motorbike ride around the place. The girls were clearly excited abt it as it was quite an experience to be weaving around the traffic in a bike.
The communal market. Bears some French influence in its design
Still remember the structure which I mentioned was present as a symbol on all the road signs in Hanoi? This is it.
Views around Hoan Kiem Lake. Hoan Kiem means "returned sword", and the name comes from a legend in which King Le Loi was given a magical sword by the gods, which he used to drive out the invading Chinese. Later, while boating on the lake, he encountered a giant turtle, who grabbed the sword and carried it down to its depths, returning it to the gods from whom it had come. This scene was re-enacted in the water puppet theatre too.
The turtle with the sword!
St Joseph Cathedral, suddenly feels like Europe all over again
One difference about the cathedral here and that in Europe is the window grilles. Over here, the grilles are patterned in a Chinese architectural fashion
Another interesting sight is seeing murals upon a backdrop of houses
The interior, while not as majestically decored as that in Europe, serves sufficiently for the mass services for the Catholics here
Sights along the Old Quarter in Hanoi
Plenty of cyclos carrying customers (pronounced sic lo)
Bought some water chesnuts from this lady
A busy and crazy traffic crossing we had to endure everytime for the past 2 days
The communal market. Bears some French influence in its design
Still remember the structure which I mentioned was present as a symbol on all the road signs in Hanoi? This is it.
Views around Hoan Kiem Lake. Hoan Kiem means "returned sword", and the name comes from a legend in which King Le Loi was given a magical sword by the gods, which he used to drive out the invading Chinese. Later, while boating on the lake, he encountered a giant turtle, who grabbed the sword and carried it down to its depths, returning it to the gods from whom it had come. This scene was re-enacted in the water puppet theatre too.
The turtle with the sword!
St Joseph Cathedral, suddenly feels like Europe all over again
One difference about the cathedral here and that in Europe is the window grilles. Over here, the grilles are patterned in a Chinese architectural fashion
Another interesting sight is seeing murals upon a backdrop of houses
The interior, while not as majestically decored as that in Europe, serves sufficiently for the mass services for the Catholics here
Sights along the Old Quarter in Hanoi
Plenty of cyclos carrying customers (pronounced sic lo)
Bought some water chesnuts from this lady
A busy and crazy traffic crossing we had to endure everytime for the past 2 days
And here ends a unique trip to Vietnam. Was particularly surprised and touched that our Vietnamese friends actually bought each one of us postcards. They certainly made the whole trip a lot more meaningful!
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