I think the Bourne Trilogy could possibly be the best spy/thriller movies ever made. The first two Bourne film; The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy were awesome. Good action sequences, great plot, great action and most of all, a focus on character over action.
And The Bourne Ultimatum is no different, it dovetails perfectly into the series. And like the previous two films, the best part of it was how they focus on telling the stories of the characters and adding on to what was established in the previous two films.
The film once again has great action as well. The chase scenes in Tangier and New York City were really by the edge of you seat stuff. But the one scene which I loved the most was the spy vs spy one set at Waterloo station. That was such an awesome scene that the only way to describe it would be to say "go watch it."
I think the key to the success of these films was how they made the stories about the characters. In action films, the emphasis has often been on action over story telling (take that Michael Bay) but I have always felt the best action films have been those that managed to tell a great story about interesting characters and that was what this film had in bundles. You not only get charged up by the action but you get drawn in to the story and you feel for the characters. Even the James Bond films are starting to move towards that direction but they still have a long way to go before they can match up to the three Bourne film.
This is one film that is definitely worth a watch. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I think its worth watching twice! To me, this film was everything that Transformers failed to be. 9.5/10.
p/s: I love Julie Stiles! She's gorgeous. She lights up the movie....
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Arsenal: Champions League Football
Yes! We beat Sparta Prague 3-0 at home and that means another year of Champions League Football. The team seems to be playing well this year even though we lost some key players. But I still think the squad is rather thin. Hopefully we bring in one or two more players before the transfer window closes but so far so good.
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
A poem for today I
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying :
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer ;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may go marry :
For having lost but once your prime
You may for ever tarry.
~ Robert Herrick,
'To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time'
Here is a poem that I really like. Enjoy. :)
Old time is still a-flying :
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer ;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may go marry :
For having lost but once your prime
You may for ever tarry.
~ Robert Herrick,
'To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time'
Here is a poem that I really like. Enjoy. :)
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
"Condemnant Quod Non Intellegunt"
I happen pass a friend's blog post one day because I was bored and was looking for things to read. While reading one of her post, I was sparked by something that she wrote. I am not going to go into what it was specifically simply because every one is entitled to his/her own views on things. I told one of my good buds, Jo, about it and she was not a happy camper (Btw, the friend who blogged it was a mutual friend of ours and Jo's kinda a touchy person).
Anyway, we spoke about it on MSN and that was when I thought I'd address the issue which bugged me to begin with: conformity and the death of the individual.
I have said many times on this blog of mine that I am a Christian, not a perfect one, but one that tries to be better all the time. I have my good days and my bad days. My good habits and my bad ones. But one thing I have always maintained through the best of my abilities is my own personal ideas and ethics. What I see to be right and what I see to be wrong. Now, without getting into a huge spiritual debate about this, lets just say that yes, the Holy Spirit leads and guides but it is Man who must make the choice to follow. I believe everyone can agree on that. (Anyone who doesn't, stop reading now and go to some other more Holy webpage)
What angers me most about most Right-Wing Churches (are there any other kind?) that exist in Singapore is the way they often criticize something without understanding it; and often without even having looked into it. Lets take Harry Potter for example. Personally, I have nothing against it. It's just a story book. Yes, it talks about wizards and witches and magic, but the way the Church paints it is that the book is pure evil because it preaches the above-mentioned topics. Now, I find this unfair. How can the Church support works such as The Lord of The Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia and yet be so against Harry Potter? Both of those series deal with magic. Gandalf is a wizard for crying out loud. Is it simple because both authors of those books are Catholic and Christian respectively? So are we saying we are not against the story but rather the person who wrote it? I mean, make you arguments and you stands clear.
Why can't we take what's good about those stories and focus on that instead? I mean, if you look at Harry Potter. What is one simple basic Biblical principal that can be found in it? It's not hard. It's the love one has for his friends. If you take the story as a whole, you can summarise it into one single verse in the Bible: "Greater love has no other than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ~ John 15:13". Am I the only one who sees this? I am not even a theologian, much less a pastor. Maybe instead on jumping on the band wagon of speaking before understanding, we could perhaps exercise a little more patience and restraint?
I my humble opinion, wisdom without knowledge is simply bullshit and knowledge without wisdom is just facts. Maybe we should actually put both together for once rather then make them mutually exclusive.
Another thing that got my mind running was the notion of conformity. When I was growing up in my church in Singapore (at least it was my church then), I was always reminded that we must set ourselves apart from the world. After all when Christ was here, he never conformed to the standards of the time. So we must also do that same, set ourselves apart. But on the flip side, they also tell me that I must follow the line when I am within the church. Do not break rank. Stand side by side. Conform to the standards that exist within the church. Trust me, this has caused me to have more then one crisis of faith. It wasn't until many years later that I finally could put that demon to rest. But the point I want to make is this; by doing that, you set a standard for the people within the church, you drive it into their mindsets every weekend. The end result will be this: The people (ok, Christians if you must) become self-righteous and they start to judge every one and everything in this world by their standards (sometimes without even knowing they are doing it but often they know).
How do I know this? I was guilty of it. And so where my peers. But I realized what I was doing was wrong. My question to the is "have you?". I think its easy to pass judgement on things you do not know, but would that be right? I always remember this: You'll never win people by judging them. You will win them by showing them compassion and you will keep them by showing your humanity and by accepting theirs.
Semper Fi.
Anyway, we spoke about it on MSN and that was when I thought I'd address the issue which bugged me to begin with: conformity and the death of the individual.
I have said many times on this blog of mine that I am a Christian, not a perfect one, but one that tries to be better all the time. I have my good days and my bad days. My good habits and my bad ones. But one thing I have always maintained through the best of my abilities is my own personal ideas and ethics. What I see to be right and what I see to be wrong. Now, without getting into a huge spiritual debate about this, lets just say that yes, the Holy Spirit leads and guides but it is Man who must make the choice to follow. I believe everyone can agree on that. (Anyone who doesn't, stop reading now and go to some other more Holy webpage)
What angers me most about most Right-Wing Churches (are there any other kind?) that exist in Singapore is the way they often criticize something without understanding it; and often without even having looked into it. Lets take Harry Potter for example. Personally, I have nothing against it. It's just a story book. Yes, it talks about wizards and witches and magic, but the way the Church paints it is that the book is pure evil because it preaches the above-mentioned topics. Now, I find this unfair. How can the Church support works such as The Lord of The Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia and yet be so against Harry Potter? Both of those series deal with magic. Gandalf is a wizard for crying out loud. Is it simple because both authors of those books are Catholic and Christian respectively? So are we saying we are not against the story but rather the person who wrote it? I mean, make you arguments and you stands clear.
Why can't we take what's good about those stories and focus on that instead? I mean, if you look at Harry Potter. What is one simple basic Biblical principal that can be found in it? It's not hard. It's the love one has for his friends. If you take the story as a whole, you can summarise it into one single verse in the Bible: "Greater love has no other than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ~ John 15:13". Am I the only one who sees this? I am not even a theologian, much less a pastor. Maybe instead on jumping on the band wagon of speaking before understanding, we could perhaps exercise a little more patience and restraint?
I my humble opinion, wisdom without knowledge is simply bullshit and knowledge without wisdom is just facts. Maybe we should actually put both together for once rather then make them mutually exclusive.
Another thing that got my mind running was the notion of conformity. When I was growing up in my church in Singapore (at least it was my church then), I was always reminded that we must set ourselves apart from the world. After all when Christ was here, he never conformed to the standards of the time. So we must also do that same, set ourselves apart. But on the flip side, they also tell me that I must follow the line when I am within the church. Do not break rank. Stand side by side. Conform to the standards that exist within the church. Trust me, this has caused me to have more then one crisis of faith. It wasn't until many years later that I finally could put that demon to rest. But the point I want to make is this; by doing that, you set a standard for the people within the church, you drive it into their mindsets every weekend. The end result will be this: The people (ok, Christians if you must) become self-righteous and they start to judge every one and everything in this world by their standards (sometimes without even knowing they are doing it but often they know).
How do I know this? I was guilty of it. And so where my peers. But I realized what I was doing was wrong. My question to the is "have you?". I think its easy to pass judgement on things you do not know, but would that be right? I always remember this: You'll never win people by judging them. You will win them by showing them compassion and you will keep them by showing your humanity and by accepting theirs.
Semper Fi.
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
The Daily News...With Me II
It was the Ekka holiday today. So I decided to go into Uni and get some work done since I prefer the Uni when its empty and quiet. A handful of other students were in the library but they didn't bother me. All the offices on my level were empty and quiet.
Peace.
But what I hate about these holidays is the huge crowds that are there when you make your way home. And when you have a "Ekka-type" events, you have children. Children: The bane of my existence. Children, running free with stupid stuff painted all over their faces, yelling and screaming. *Argh*...I really hate children.
I have been told by friends a long time ago that my view of children will change when I reach around 25. Well, I'm 26 now and I hate children now more then I ever have in my whole life. So now they tell me, I'll change my mind when I reach 30, that's 4 more years. Well, we'll see. But knowing me the way I know me, I seriously doubt it.
Peace.
But what I hate about these holidays is the huge crowds that are there when you make your way home. And when you have a "Ekka-type" events, you have children. Children: The bane of my existence. Children, running free with stupid stuff painted all over their faces, yelling and screaming. *Argh*...I really hate children.
I have been told by friends a long time ago that my view of children will change when I reach around 25. Well, I'm 26 now and I hate children now more then I ever have in my whole life. So now they tell me, I'll change my mind when I reach 30, that's 4 more years. Well, we'll see. But knowing me the way I know me, I seriously doubt it.
Monday, 13 August 2007
Memoria III
Hearing the stories of heart break that are have come from the lives of my friends have brought a realisation to me: Have I become so numb to the concept of romance that I longer believe in it? I mean, its not that I don't believe in love but maybe I longer believe in the idea of romantic love.
Love has lost that notion of magic that it once held over me. I have come to look at it as secondary to a lot of other things. Maybe I've become more practical then I'd ever hope to be or maybe I'm just tired and stress from the weight of my studies but love no longer seems to have that wonderful warm feeling from that time long ago.
In many a ways, I envy my friends. Their heart breaks and their hopes that one day someone will come and sweep them off their feet. I envy them because I no longer seem to be able to feel that way. Well, maybe one day I will feel like that again. Maybe one day I will feel alive as I once did. There's always hope. Or failing that, there is always photographs; which always brings the wonderful self-reflecting idea of death to one's mind and thus forcing one to really appreciate life.
Or sometimes, wishing for a quicker end to it. Oh well...
p/s: Something interesting happened when I was in Uni on Sat (YES! Sat! I like it when Uni is empty and quiet). I was helping a classmate fix some Avid problems and sensing she was bored of looking at me click the mouse, I let her read my short story. And to my surprise, even though she doesn't know me that well and has never really read my work, she could tell that a lot of the characters in it were based on me. Guess its always a good sign that people can tell your writing style.
Love has lost that notion of magic that it once held over me. I have come to look at it as secondary to a lot of other things. Maybe I've become more practical then I'd ever hope to be or maybe I'm just tired and stress from the weight of my studies but love no longer seems to have that wonderful warm feeling from that time long ago.
In many a ways, I envy my friends. Their heart breaks and their hopes that one day someone will come and sweep them off their feet. I envy them because I no longer seem to be able to feel that way. Well, maybe one day I will feel like that again. Maybe one day I will feel alive as I once did. There's always hope. Or failing that, there is always photographs; which always brings the wonderful self-reflecting idea of death to one's mind and thus forcing one to really appreciate life.
Or sometimes, wishing for a quicker end to it. Oh well...
p/s: Something interesting happened when I was in Uni on Sat (YES! Sat! I like it when Uni is empty and quiet). I was helping a classmate fix some Avid problems and sensing she was bored of looking at me click the mouse, I let her read my short story. And to my surprise, even though she doesn't know me that well and has never really read my work, she could tell that a lot of the characters in it were based on me. Guess its always a good sign that people can tell your writing style.
Arsenal 2 Fulham 1
The Premier League kicked off this weekend and after a whole summer of selling some of the keystones of our team, Arsenal has started the season with a good home win against Fulham. Pity the early mistake by Lehmann let Fulham score early. Otherwise, kudos to the youngsters, especially Van Persie. This is a big year for our new Dutch master.
featured photo III
I realised I had not changed my feature photo for almost 2 months. I must admit, I have been rather lazy to do it but finally I have. Guess I was in the mood to update my blog today. Took this photo with the Nikon D200 and the Nikon 50mm 1.4 lens (if I'm not wrong...I have a 8 minute memory. Blame TV.)
Thursday, 9 August 2007
Oh great...Its the NDP again...
Maybe its just me or maybe its because I have become cynical and jaded like a large portion of my generation but every year when the NDP comes around, rather then get wrapped up in the sense of national pride and patriotism; I get swamped with feelings of annoyance and the anger at the waste of money on the NDP itself. Now, I am not saying that loving your country is not important, in fact I think the opposite. I love my country. It is my home and the one place where I will always find a connection with. If my country goes to war, I'd be more then happy to fight for it.
But I cannot understand why every year we continue to pour money away at an attempt to whip up feelings of patriotism and celebration of the greatness of our leaders and our armed forces and lets face it, the NDP is nothing more then a showcase of how "cool" and "awesome" the SAF is. And coming from someone who has worked with some of the officers in charge of planning previous NDPs, I can safely say this: they are nothing but a bunch of stupid mindless drones who has NO sense of individuality and ideology.
In a year when the GST in has been raised from 5% to 7%, a small but significant increase. Couldn't the money set aside for the NDP be used for something better? Tax breaks perhaps? I mean, it is NOT cheap to put the NDP together and interestingly, the budget for the NDP has never been reveal to the public but I can say this, it is often a 7 figured sum. I am sure there are ways to celebrate our nation's birth without having to spend that much money. (And as my friend remarked, its showed on ALL 3 Free-to-air channels. Talk about a waste of prime time television slots.)
I love my country; I honestly do. And I love this world we live in; maybe not the people (we are after all causing our very own destruction) who live in it but definitely the Earth herself and in a time when wars and famine are claiming the lives of count less innocents, maybe the money can be really but to a better use rather then thrown away in an honestly lame attempt to make us love our country more, to be more grateful to our wondrous leaders who are often above reproach. (ironically, when watching the NDP, a film called Triumph of the Will by Leni Riefenstahl comes to mind. Great film.) Above all, the NDP tries to make us more patriotic. But if you asked me, I'd simply say this: a great writer once wrote a long time ago, "Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious". Oh yeah, and the name of that great writer: Oscar Wilde.
But I cannot understand why every year we continue to pour money away at an attempt to whip up feelings of patriotism and celebration of the greatness of our leaders and our armed forces and lets face it, the NDP is nothing more then a showcase of how "cool" and "awesome" the SAF is. And coming from someone who has worked with some of the officers in charge of planning previous NDPs, I can safely say this: they are nothing but a bunch of stupid mindless drones who has NO sense of individuality and ideology.
In a year when the GST in has been raised from 5% to 7%, a small but significant increase. Couldn't the money set aside for the NDP be used for something better? Tax breaks perhaps? I mean, it is NOT cheap to put the NDP together and interestingly, the budget for the NDP has never been reveal to the public but I can say this, it is often a 7 figured sum. I am sure there are ways to celebrate our nation's birth without having to spend that much money. (And as my friend remarked, its showed on ALL 3 Free-to-air channels. Talk about a waste of prime time television slots.)
I love my country; I honestly do. And I love this world we live in; maybe not the people (we are after all causing our very own destruction) who live in it but definitely the Earth herself and in a time when wars and famine are claiming the lives of count less innocents, maybe the money can be really but to a better use rather then thrown away in an honestly lame attempt to make us love our country more, to be more grateful to our wondrous leaders who are often above reproach. (ironically, when watching the NDP, a film called Triumph of the Will by Leni Riefenstahl comes to mind. Great film.) Above all, the NDP tries to make us more patriotic. But if you asked me, I'd simply say this: a great writer once wrote a long time ago, "Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious". Oh yeah, and the name of that great writer: Oscar Wilde.
Thursday, 26 July 2007
Movie Review: The Simpsons Movie
Like a large number of people my age, I have grown up with the Simpsons. Since their début those 18 years ago, they have grown old with us. An entire generation have grown up to the antics of Homer and family and now they have finally made it to the big screen. While many people have commented on how the quality of the show has gone down, I think its just that when the Simpsons first came out, it was one of a kind but now, there are many other shows that have followed in its footsteps.
So how do I feel personally about this long awaited movie? I think its great. And I'm not saying it just because I am a Simpsons fan and therefore have a nature bias towards them. I'm probably expecting more from this movie then most. After all, it's being written by 11 of the best and most prolific writers of the entire series.
To understand the Simpsons, one has to remember that the depth of the jokes is what makes it different from everything else. Of course there is the zany adventures of Homer but behind everything that happens to him (and the family as a result), there is always a strong moral tale. If you are expecting slap-stick style jokes and gags, maybe you should be watching Mr. Bean instead.
The Simpsons simply reflect pop culture and pop culture moves and changes with the times, and this is what you have to know to fully appreciate what the Simpsons is truly about. I have said so many times before, the Simpsons is really a very deep show and one has to really understand the ideas and philosophy behind the writing to fully and truly get what the show is trying to say.
That said, the movie has a simple but heart warming story. It's a story that really touches on the importance of being a family and what being a family means. The love between a husband and a wife is much more then just say the words "I Love You" to each other every day. It also talks about what it means to be a father. And what does a child really expect from his/her father. This is the central theme of the movie: the ups and downs of being a family and sticking together no matter what.
If you really want to enjoy this movie, remember, the Simpsons isn't about gags and jokes (although there are tons of it in this movie), at it's heart, it's a simple movie about being a family. 9.5/10 from me.
*This movie is even better the 2nd time around!
p/s: to all those Strait Times reviewers: do yourself a favour and get a brain before you review another movie. Bloody w***ers...I'd do to them what Maggie's doing to the monkey...
So how do I feel personally about this long awaited movie? I think its great. And I'm not saying it just because I am a Simpsons fan and therefore have a nature bias towards them. I'm probably expecting more from this movie then most. After all, it's being written by 11 of the best and most prolific writers of the entire series.
To understand the Simpsons, one has to remember that the depth of the jokes is what makes it different from everything else. Of course there is the zany adventures of Homer but behind everything that happens to him (and the family as a result), there is always a strong moral tale. If you are expecting slap-stick style jokes and gags, maybe you should be watching Mr. Bean instead.
The Simpsons simply reflect pop culture and pop culture moves and changes with the times, and this is what you have to know to fully appreciate what the Simpsons is truly about. I have said so many times before, the Simpsons is really a very deep show and one has to really understand the ideas and philosophy behind the writing to fully and truly get what the show is trying to say.
That said, the movie has a simple but heart warming story. It's a story that really touches on the importance of being a family and what being a family means. The love between a husband and a wife is much more then just say the words "I Love You" to each other every day. It also talks about what it means to be a father. And what does a child really expect from his/her father. This is the central theme of the movie: the ups and downs of being a family and sticking together no matter what.
If you really want to enjoy this movie, remember, the Simpsons isn't about gags and jokes (although there are tons of it in this movie), at it's heart, it's a simple movie about being a family. 9.5/10 from me.
*This movie is even better the 2nd time around!
p/s: to all those Strait Times reviewers: do yourself a favour and get a brain before you review another movie. Bloody w***ers...I'd do to them what Maggie's doing to the monkey...
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
One day more
24 hours more and the Simpsons will finally be on the big screen. I am excited beyond worlds. I am already planning to wake up early and watch the first show of the day. I can't wait.
If only every thing else about this week was as good as waiting for the Simpsons.
If only every thing else about this week was as good as waiting for the Simpsons.
Monday, 23 July 2007
This week only: Simpsons week!
I am getting more excited as the days count down to Thursday. I have decided that I will watch the first show of the day and then I'll be a happy boy for the reminder of the week. I cannot believe my long wait for the Simpsons movie is finally coming to and end. Given the already crappy start to my week, at least its something to look forward to.
4 more days...
4 more days...
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Spinning:gninnipS
Have you ever woke up one morning and felt like the whole world was spinning right in front of you and you just was spinning along with it. I felt like that this morning...it was weird. Either I am over dosed with drugs (the legal kind) or I am under dosed...either way, this morning was weird. Took me almost 20 mins before I could actually stand properly. No idea what the heck was going on. Maybe its due to lack of sleep; my horrid insomnia has returned this past week with a vengeance. Hate it...stupid lack of sleep.
On a good note though, I've been watching tons of Simpsons in the past week preparing myself for this coming Thursday. I might even get up early and watch the very first show of the day! Haven't done that for any movie since Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith...hehehe. Guess I am a Simpsons freak after all. Hahaha...
6 more days.
On a good note though, I've been watching tons of Simpsons in the past week preparing myself for this coming Thursday. I might even get up early and watch the very first show of the day! Haven't done that for any movie since Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith...hehehe. Guess I am a Simpsons freak after all. Hahaha...
6 more days.
Friday, 20 July 2007
Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I've yet to read a single Harry Potter book (gasp!). But you see, I have this horrible problem, I'm a horribly impatient person especially when it comes to film trilogies and books. I really cannot stand waiting and so I will get down to reading them when the final book comes out and a box set is releases. Oh yeah, I like box sets too. Actually, I just like boxes.
So I'm going to grade this film on the basis of the film itself. Personally, I expected more from this film. The preceding 2 films were very good and very entertaining especially The Prisoner of Azkaban. They really focused on the characters and the development of those characters. However, I was left rather disappointed by this sequel. Maybe because David Yates had 2 films to tell the story he wanted to tell but there was a lack of both character development and a rather laboured form of storytelling.
The film itself was rather slow moving and the plot seemed rather confusing. And sadly, it really lacked the character development that was prominent in the last 2 film and since this is the 5th Harry Potter movie, I think its time to really focus on the relationship between the characters and make us care more about them. This in my opinion will only build up the excitement to the next film. After all, if you care about the characters, you will care about the story. I think in films like these were it is set in magical and fantastical world, one can get overwhelmed by showing too much of the world and forgetting that in the end, a film is a story about relationships. I really could not feel the lost of the death of Sirius Black which to me is a major turning point in the series.
Another issue I had with this film is Daniel Radcliffe's acting is starting to really affect the series. He seems only able to portray happy, angry and sad in a fixed rotation of said emotions. As the lead in the series is easily being out acted by Emma Watson (who is truly becoming a beautiful leading lady) and Rupert Grint. New addition Evanna Lynch really steals the show as Luna Lovegood. Her performance lights up the film every time she appears on screen. Another good set up for the next film is the increasing screen time for Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) given her much more important role in the next 2 books.
I am hoping the next one will really start to bring the relationship of the characters to the fore front and start making us non readers of the book care about the characters and the situation they are facing; that after all was the strength of Lord of The Rings. 6/10.
So I'm going to grade this film on the basis of the film itself. Personally, I expected more from this film. The preceding 2 films were very good and very entertaining especially The Prisoner of Azkaban. They really focused on the characters and the development of those characters. However, I was left rather disappointed by this sequel. Maybe because David Yates had 2 films to tell the story he wanted to tell but there was a lack of both character development and a rather laboured form of storytelling.
The film itself was rather slow moving and the plot seemed rather confusing. And sadly, it really lacked the character development that was prominent in the last 2 film and since this is the 5th Harry Potter movie, I think its time to really focus on the relationship between the characters and make us care more about them. This in my opinion will only build up the excitement to the next film. After all, if you care about the characters, you will care about the story. I think in films like these were it is set in magical and fantastical world, one can get overwhelmed by showing too much of the world and forgetting that in the end, a film is a story about relationships. I really could not feel the lost of the death of Sirius Black which to me is a major turning point in the series.
Another issue I had with this film is Daniel Radcliffe's acting is starting to really affect the series. He seems only able to portray happy, angry and sad in a fixed rotation of said emotions. As the lead in the series is easily being out acted by Emma Watson (who is truly becoming a beautiful leading lady) and Rupert Grint. New addition Evanna Lynch really steals the show as Luna Lovegood. Her performance lights up the film every time she appears on screen. Another good set up for the next film is the increasing screen time for Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) given her much more important role in the next 2 books.
I am hoping the next one will really start to bring the relationship of the characters to the fore front and start making us non readers of the book care about the characters and the situation they are facing; that after all was the strength of Lord of The Rings. 6/10.
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
The Simpsons Movie Countdown: 10 days to go
18 years in the making. The greatest family television is coming to the big screen. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie. I've waited so long for this to come. I think this is the movie that I've been looking forward to most this year. Can't wait.
"Spider pig, spider pig, does what ever a spider pig does..."
Hehehe. 10 more day.
"Spider pig, spider pig, does what ever a spider pig does..."
Hehehe. 10 more day.
Sunday, 15 July 2007
The Daily News...With Me I
A new house mate is moving in this weekend but due to some miscommunication between my other house mate and me, it came as a bit of a surprise but all is well. It just caught us a little off guard and the house was not really ready but everything worked out in the end. So all is good!
Finally after being in Australia for 3 years I actually get a proper Aussie as a house mate but alas its only for a short few weeks before I myself have to move to a temporary holding house until I leave this country for good.
3 years have flown by and it seemed like such a short time has passed but I guess that's how life is. A year seems so long but when you break it down, it really is a very short time. And now as I prepare to finish up my thesis and move home for good, another phase in life starts for me. And to be honest, its something that I am really looking forward to.
I know I will change my mind once I start working but right now, my brain and my body is tired from studying. I never realized how much fun it actually is to study. Secondary school was hell because I had to do some many subjects which I honestly hated and found useless. But once I got into the Arts, I finally found a place where I belong. I guess that's the irony of life, what you hated as a child turned out to be the very thing which brings joy to you all those years later. Oh well...till next time.
Finally after being in Australia for 3 years I actually get a proper Aussie as a house mate but alas its only for a short few weeks before I myself have to move to a temporary holding house until I leave this country for good.
3 years have flown by and it seemed like such a short time has passed but I guess that's how life is. A year seems so long but when you break it down, it really is a very short time. And now as I prepare to finish up my thesis and move home for good, another phase in life starts for me. And to be honest, its something that I am really looking forward to.
I know I will change my mind once I start working but right now, my brain and my body is tired from studying. I never realized how much fun it actually is to study. Secondary school was hell because I had to do some many subjects which I honestly hated and found useless. But once I got into the Arts, I finally found a place where I belong. I guess that's the irony of life, what you hated as a child turned out to be the very thing which brings joy to you all those years later. Oh well...till next time.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Of all the stupid things...
In all my years as a Christian, I have never been able to understand the reasons why when someone reaches a position of power within a church, the suddenly set themselves above and beyond everyone else. And then one day as I was sitting in church, I had an epiphany, the reason they do it is simply because they are no better then anyone else but they think they are. They desire power and control the same way a dictator or a ruler or an emperor would.
And once they have that power, they will do whatever to make sure they keep it. They move to get rid and cast out anyone who thinks differently, who choose a different way of living. Anyone who does not share their ideology is suddenly evil. They become the judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one.
Suddenly, at that single moment, I realised that they are nothing but mere humans who believe they are better then anyone else. Suddenly I realised they too can be wrong and that the Church is NOT perfect. In fact, they are far from it and what makes them so disgusting is that they act as though they are. They are nothing but humans. They are people but yet the act divine. They say God speaks to us all but if we hear something different form them, we hear God wrongly. It seems that they are the only ones whom seem to understand what God is really say. I have two words for that: Utter Bullshit.
The church cannot even unite itself with each other, constantly fighting between the different denominations, how can they become one uniting force it was meant to be. I am sicken by all this in fighting. Statements like this only serves to convince me that religion is evil. Once again I find myself at odds with dogmatic religion. To me, organized religion does nothing but to divide us. To separate us from the one thing that unites us all on this world: The fact that we are mortal and we are all human.
We cannot forget our humanity because it is in our humanity that we will find our common ground.
And once they have that power, they will do whatever to make sure they keep it. They move to get rid and cast out anyone who thinks differently, who choose a different way of living. Anyone who does not share their ideology is suddenly evil. They become the judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one.
Suddenly, at that single moment, I realised that they are nothing but mere humans who believe they are better then anyone else. Suddenly I realised they too can be wrong and that the Church is NOT perfect. In fact, they are far from it and what makes them so disgusting is that they act as though they are. They are nothing but humans. They are people but yet the act divine. They say God speaks to us all but if we hear something different form them, we hear God wrongly. It seems that they are the only ones whom seem to understand what God is really say. I have two words for that: Utter Bullshit.
The church cannot even unite itself with each other, constantly fighting between the different denominations, how can they become one uniting force it was meant to be. I am sicken by all this in fighting. Statements like this only serves to convince me that religion is evil. Once again I find myself at odds with dogmatic religion. To me, organized religion does nothing but to divide us. To separate us from the one thing that unites us all on this world: The fact that we are mortal and we are all human.
We cannot forget our humanity because it is in our humanity that we will find our common ground.
Sunday, 1 July 2007
Movie Review: Transformers
I am not a real big fan of Michael Bay. He's done a number of really fun action packed films but he has also made one of the worse movies I have ever watched in my whole life, Pearl Harbor; the film it self was almost as tragic as the attack. Honestly, I don't think he's done a film that I enjoyed since The Rock. And I enjoyed Transformers as a kid growing up, so when I found out he was doing Transformers, I was not in a very happy mood.
But I went to watch it anyway, I mean it was Transformers and it was produced by Spielberg himself so it really couldn't be that bad.
Well, the effects, the Transformer robots were awesome! Some of the best CGI work I have seen in a long while. And the fight scenes were good; especially the one when the special forces were fighting Decepticon Scorponok. But sadly, 45 mins into the film, after the wow of the effects and the action, I found myself bored. The story line started out promising but was never worked into its full potential but instead the focus was turned to the awesome fighting scenes between the robots which I am all for it. But after a while, you really need something more going for it. You need a strong story to pull it all together, like what was done in the Star Wars IV and V and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy but sadly, the it was missing in Transformers. It just confirms for me the fact that Michael Bay can do excellent action films but when it comes to the story telling aspect of the films, I still find him lacking.
I give it 6/10* but mainly cause I like the Transformers as a kid and the CGI was awesome. The story (or there lack off) really got me bored.
*The story gets a 1/10 for me. Which means the action and the CGI were worth 5/10 of the total score.
But I went to watch it anyway, I mean it was Transformers and it was produced by Spielberg himself so it really couldn't be that bad.
Well, the effects, the Transformer robots were awesome! Some of the best CGI work I have seen in a long while. And the fight scenes were good; especially the one when the special forces were fighting Decepticon Scorponok. But sadly, 45 mins into the film, after the wow of the effects and the action, I found myself bored. The story line started out promising but was never worked into its full potential but instead the focus was turned to the awesome fighting scenes between the robots which I am all for it. But after a while, you really need something more going for it. You need a strong story to pull it all together, like what was done in the Star Wars IV and V and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy but sadly, the it was missing in Transformers. It just confirms for me the fact that Michael Bay can do excellent action films but when it comes to the story telling aspect of the films, I still find him lacking.
I give it 6/10* but mainly cause I like the Transformers as a kid and the CGI was awesome. The story (or there lack off) really got me bored.
*The story gets a 1/10 for me. Which means the action and the CGI were worth 5/10 of the total score.
Saturday, 30 June 2007
The cost of silence
When I looks back at the history of the world, I can't help but realise that the history of Mankind is marked forever by conflict. Wars are fought for so many reasons. The clash of ideas, the clash or religion (more wars have been fought over religion then any other reason), the desire of conquest, the clash of cultures and numerous other reasons.
Some wars we understand. Some we can even agree that it was a war that was needed to be fought. Some wars have no meaning at all. No one knows why it was fought but all we know is that it was fought. The price that is paid is never paid by the people who made the decisions to fight it. The price of war is the bore by the families and the loved ones of those who have died doing their duty to their flag.
War is pain. Nothing good comes out of war but yet we cannot stop fighting. One conflict after another. Everyday we read the news, we watch our television sets. People die. But we don't care. We become numb to the news. We forget the pain that a single death causes. We tell ourselves it had nothing to do with us. Why do we do this?
Maybe its because the blood that is being spilt today has something to do with us? Maybe we are to blame for all this. Today we are becoming more and more afraid to speak up. Growing up in Singapore, we were taught to not speak up against the government or else we'll get into trouble. The fear of punishment was put into us at an early age. But someone of us never could accept it. I couldn't. I guess that's why I have never felt comfortable growing up. I have so much I want to say but often no idea at all how to say it.
Everyone who has something good to add to this world should find a way to do it. Maybe its about time for me to do that. Because the price for keeping silent might one day prove to be too much to pay. I guess I'm rumbling a bit today...I'm just having one of those days when I got tons on my mind and nothing to really tie it all together.
Some wars we understand. Some we can even agree that it was a war that was needed to be fought. Some wars have no meaning at all. No one knows why it was fought but all we know is that it was fought. The price that is paid is never paid by the people who made the decisions to fight it. The price of war is the bore by the families and the loved ones of those who have died doing their duty to their flag.
War is pain. Nothing good comes out of war but yet we cannot stop fighting. One conflict after another. Everyday we read the news, we watch our television sets. People die. But we don't care. We become numb to the news. We forget the pain that a single death causes. We tell ourselves it had nothing to do with us. Why do we do this?
Maybe its because the blood that is being spilt today has something to do with us? Maybe we are to blame for all this. Today we are becoming more and more afraid to speak up. Growing up in Singapore, we were taught to not speak up against the government or else we'll get into trouble. The fear of punishment was put into us at an early age. But someone of us never could accept it. I couldn't. I guess that's why I have never felt comfortable growing up. I have so much I want to say but often no idea at all how to say it.
Everyone who has something good to add to this world should find a way to do it. Maybe its about time for me to do that. Because the price for keeping silent might one day prove to be too much to pay. I guess I'm rumbling a bit today...I'm just having one of those days when I got tons on my mind and nothing to really tie it all together.
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Movie Review: Fantasic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
I watched the first Fantastic 4 and the only thing I liked about it was Jessica Alba. But this second one was different: It had Jessica Alba. And it had the Silver Surfer. Well...that's about it. There wasn't really anything wrong with the film. But as compared with the rest of the other comic book movies, it was just to clean. Too much for the kids.
The lack of a darkness of it makes it a nice fun show for kids but not something that I enjoyed. But like I said, there was nothing wrong with the film in the end.
I have always liked the Silver Surfer. For as long as I remembered, he was the first superhero that I knew of as a kid so to see him on screen was exciting. The story itself was simple if somewhat boring and expected. The CGI and animation work was good but that in itself can't carry a film. It's something you would enjoy if you were a kid but sadly it wasn't something I enjoyed. 4/10.
The lack of a darkness of it makes it a nice fun show for kids but not something that I enjoyed. But like I said, there was nothing wrong with the film in the end.
I have always liked the Silver Surfer. For as long as I remembered, he was the first superhero that I knew of as a kid so to see him on screen was exciting. The story itself was simple if somewhat boring and expected. The CGI and animation work was good but that in itself can't carry a film. It's something you would enjoy if you were a kid but sadly it wasn't something I enjoyed. 4/10.
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