Nuff said actually...
This was a video which I managed to see halfway before I went to work a few days ago. The video gave me an impression to the point that I ave to put it here :p
The song is nice, actually - An indie song sang by an indie band in U.S. - I think they won't stay indie too long since they are getting quite some airplay around with the new album called Contra. The first single was Cousin and this sencond single is calle Giving Up The Gun...
Watch the video, it'll surprise you :)
Hint: There are 5 'guests' in the video :p
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Dream
Sigh.............
Exams are in the air, with the kids going for their "FIRST FORMAL COLLEGE EXAMINATIONS" - such an exam are usually the worry of many a lecturers, including MOI. Why? Their results kind of portrays what lecturer been teaching. good results - good lecturer, bad results? O.o
It's also where I am slightly free, as I do not have classes. Alas, the free time is taken over by the INVIGILATIONS I have to do instead... Aiyo... And other admin works... I don even have the time to so call update my other blogs too, including the work blog. =.=
This is where daydreams are kinda cool, at least u can take a bit of time "imagining happy things" for a moment to yourself, before the reality of the day comes crashing in again.
Which entails me to say some things:
1. OWLCITY is kinda alright as an entertainer. His songs are surprisingly DREAMY and sometimes sweet. Don expect any complex rythm or anything though. The melody is so simple u'd think it was an 80s song. So far 2 singles came out, namely Fireflies and Vanilly Sky. Ain't too bad videos too. Latest single is know as early birdie...
2. Some upcoming movies that I watched its trailers are kinda exciting. These included the new version of Nightmare on Elm Street and Predator.
3. TRON!!!!! HARRY!!!!
4. Night Horrors books from White Wolf Publishers are oh so good :)
- got one already about 2 months ago, titled Immortal sinners. The vampire details of the characters are so fleshed out nicely. Wanted to buy others too... Including Wolfsbane (on werewolves) and Grim Fears ( on Changelings)
- ended up managing to order another 2 others, Dead something (vamps again) and Unbidden (mage :P)... Will hope to get it by MAY :)
Exams are in the air, with the kids going for their "FIRST FORMAL COLLEGE EXAMINATIONS" - such an exam are usually the worry of many a lecturers, including MOI. Why? Their results kind of portrays what lecturer been teaching. good results - good lecturer, bad results? O.o
It's also where I am slightly free, as I do not have classes. Alas, the free time is taken over by the INVIGILATIONS I have to do instead... Aiyo... And other admin works... I don even have the time to so call update my other blogs too, including the work blog. =.=
This is where daydreams are kinda cool, at least u can take a bit of time "imagining happy things" for a moment to yourself, before the reality of the day comes crashing in again.
Which entails me to say some things:
1. OWLCITY is kinda alright as an entertainer. His songs are surprisingly DREAMY and sometimes sweet. Don expect any complex rythm or anything though. The melody is so simple u'd think it was an 80s song. So far 2 singles came out, namely Fireflies and Vanilly Sky. Ain't too bad videos too. Latest single is know as early birdie...
2. Some upcoming movies that I watched its trailers are kinda exciting. These included the new version of Nightmare on Elm Street and Predator.
3. TRON!!!!! HARRY!!!!
4. Night Horrors books from White Wolf Publishers are oh so good :)
- got one already about 2 months ago, titled Immortal sinners. The vampire details of the characters are so fleshed out nicely. Wanted to buy others too... Including Wolfsbane (on werewolves) and Grim Fears ( on Changelings)
- ended up managing to order another 2 others, Dead something (vamps again) and Unbidden (mage :P)... Will hope to get it by MAY :)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Dance more
As i was saying previously, dance music changed so much right at the turn of the
21st Century, when hip hop and gangsta rap became more pronounced, with 50cents, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Busta Rhymes and others appearing with danceable rap... Listen to In da Club, the beat is so busting... I bet u are moving a bit to the tune u are remembering from it itself...
These music got more complex with meshes or mixes of different genres, again especially with hip hop... Hip hop began fusing with pop, producing dance tunes like ones u listen from Destiny's Child, B'yonce, Eve, Missy Elliot...
Anyways, the point here is that the meshing and complexity that occured now made the music scene more chaotic than order. It's kinda hard to dance to a song already, cos they are soo specific already... How to dance to In da club? Head bob, breakdance a bit... Can u do the pop choreograph from it? Can but hard... this is due to the tune itself.
Unlike the 80s, 90s. Dance was considered more "pure" in ways that u can nearly dance to any of the songs... Does this dilute the song? No actually... U in fact can create better moves along with it. The flow and pattern is wider. Experimentation is easier too...
Now, we have seen some of the vids already previously, and like other pop songs, they are "dancy", not pure dance...
Dance iteslf is different... U have a range of heavy beats in dance, which beats at a certain period in the song, making repetitions and such too. It is also divisible... U have jungle house, pure house, trance, acid jazz, fusion jazz, etc.
The good djs will be able to make a person dance to their songs, that is their duty. What? I am stating that: As long as u can dance to it,it's DANCE. Examples of such DJs include Chemical Brothers, Paul VAn Dyk,and others below :)
ATB
Armin Van Buuren
Prodigy
BT
21st Century, when hip hop and gangsta rap became more pronounced, with 50cents, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Busta Rhymes and others appearing with danceable rap... Listen to In da Club, the beat is so busting... I bet u are moving a bit to the tune u are remembering from it itself...
These music got more complex with meshes or mixes of different genres, again especially with hip hop... Hip hop began fusing with pop, producing dance tunes like ones u listen from Destiny's Child, B'yonce, Eve, Missy Elliot...
Anyways, the point here is that the meshing and complexity that occured now made the music scene more chaotic than order. It's kinda hard to dance to a song already, cos they are soo specific already... How to dance to In da club? Head bob, breakdance a bit... Can u do the pop choreograph from it? Can but hard... this is due to the tune itself.
Unlike the 80s, 90s. Dance was considered more "pure" in ways that u can nearly dance to any of the songs... Does this dilute the song? No actually... U in fact can create better moves along with it. The flow and pattern is wider. Experimentation is easier too...
Now, we have seen some of the vids already previously, and like other pop songs, they are "dancy", not pure dance...
Dance iteslf is different... U have a range of heavy beats in dance, which beats at a certain period in the song, making repetitions and such too. It is also divisible... U have jungle house, pure house, trance, acid jazz, fusion jazz, etc.
The good djs will be able to make a person dance to their songs, that is their duty. What? I am stating that: As long as u can dance to it,it's DANCE. Examples of such DJs include Chemical Brothers, Paul VAn Dyk,and others below :)
ATB
Armin Van Buuren
Prodigy
BT
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Dance baby dance
An inter highschool dance competition was held in my workplace not so long ago, I think about a few days ago.
The dances by the schoolkids and the songs they choreographed to made me think about the definition of dance in this modern time... YES. MODERN DANCING.
Now songs that people dance are sooooo different from my time.They now have so many different beats, hip hop, gangsta rap (no idea how they dance to it), pop, even rock... Not to mention that Korean and Japanese are thrown into the fray now, with the burst of Korean group acts like 2Ne1, Kara, Super Junior, 2AM, Shinee and so much more...
Back in my days we used to have either pure pop (band songs mostly) or dance pop... Who were the purveyors? Janet, Madonna, Kylie, Cher... These singers know how to make people dance...
Pop dance? ATC, Aqua, Ace of base... yes they were cheesy at times, but they do know how to make dance songs... We can practically choreograph a whole dance to their one song, no need to "mesh" songs together like nowadays...
sigh...
Anyways, below are some of my favourite ones...
Timbaland managed to squeeze in due to his enigmatic dance tunes. He manages to make a song dancable like mad in this currenlt chaotic musical era...Hence in my list.
Ahh... Her famous dance tune, not to mention her "costume"... My favourite comeback song from her.
Janet is as good as her brother Michael, if not better. Her choreographs might not be active like MJ's Dangerous/smooth criminal, but she damn have her own good moves. Don't believe it? look at this vid, and check out Scream.
Ace of Base were the 90s dance group, with hits like Happy Nation, all that she wants, beautiful life. They disbanded towards 2000. The video here was the latest from them, in 2006. It's good. Not too dancy, but good.
ATC might not ring a bell within the 90s, as there were quite a number of European dance groups that time. But they were not too bad with the beats too. More famous for the song "Around the world - lalalalala" song, the video up is another dance beat, albeit a less known, but good one too.
Aqua came into the 90s with a godly cheesy song known as Barbie song, which received heavy criticism and airplay, both media and internationally. Their song that time heavily had double entendree in the song. Yet the dance beat made it huge around the world.
They the followed with more danceable tunes like Dr. Jones, lollipop, Cartoon Heroes, and a definite ballad piece "turn back time". They split in 2000, before coming back in 2009 with a greatest hits album and 3 new singles. Below are 2 of the 3 new ones. I liked mama said as it's sooooo different from their earlier ones. Back to the 80s sound like them again...
Other dance artists includes Lady gaga ( a new one again, like Timbaland - but great dance tunes)and Sugababes, purveyors of "cool teen dance tunes" (to me lah), but their vids are shown anyways... :)
The dances by the schoolkids and the songs they choreographed to made me think about the definition of dance in this modern time... YES. MODERN DANCING.
Now songs that people dance are sooooo different from my time.They now have so many different beats, hip hop, gangsta rap (no idea how they dance to it), pop, even rock... Not to mention that Korean and Japanese are thrown into the fray now, with the burst of Korean group acts like 2Ne1, Kara, Super Junior, 2AM, Shinee and so much more...
Back in my days we used to have either pure pop (band songs mostly) or dance pop... Who were the purveyors? Janet, Madonna, Kylie, Cher... These singers know how to make people dance...
Pop dance? ATC, Aqua, Ace of base... yes they were cheesy at times, but they do know how to make dance songs... We can practically choreograph a whole dance to their one song, no need to "mesh" songs together like nowadays...
sigh...
Anyways, below are some of my favourite ones...
Timbaland managed to squeeze in due to his enigmatic dance tunes. He manages to make a song dancable like mad in this currenlt chaotic musical era...Hence in my list.
Ahh... Her famous dance tune, not to mention her "costume"... My favourite comeback song from her.
Janet is as good as her brother Michael, if not better. Her choreographs might not be active like MJ's Dangerous/smooth criminal, but she damn have her own good moves. Don't believe it? look at this vid, and check out Scream.
Ace of Base were the 90s dance group, with hits like Happy Nation, all that she wants, beautiful life. They disbanded towards 2000. The video here was the latest from them, in 2006. It's good. Not too dancy, but good.
ATC might not ring a bell within the 90s, as there were quite a number of European dance groups that time. But they were not too bad with the beats too. More famous for the song "Around the world - lalalalala" song, the video up is another dance beat, albeit a less known, but good one too.
Aqua came into the 90s with a godly cheesy song known as Barbie song, which received heavy criticism and airplay, both media and internationally. Their song that time heavily had double entendree in the song. Yet the dance beat made it huge around the world.
They the followed with more danceable tunes like Dr. Jones, lollipop, Cartoon Heroes, and a definite ballad piece "turn back time". They split in 2000, before coming back in 2009 with a greatest hits album and 3 new singles. Below are 2 of the 3 new ones. I liked mama said as it's sooooo different from their earlier ones. Back to the 80s sound like them again...
Other dance artists includes Lady gaga ( a new one again, like Timbaland - but great dance tunes)and Sugababes, purveyors of "cool teen dance tunes" (to me lah), but their vids are shown anyways... :)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Copernicum and others
Well. It's official. The heaviest element to date has just be named COPERNICIUM.
Also, based on the periodic table that we have been seen eversince the beginning of our school years, it is kinda obvious that they do need a slight re-do on the table don u think? This table was in a sense the "lates" one, with atomic number going highest to 103 (Lr - Lawrencium). THAT WAS WAY PASSE now... We have till 112 for pete's sake!!!!
Anyways, to those who wants to know, the elements after 103 till the latest is below:
104 - Rf - Rutherfordium
105 - Db - Dubnium
106 - Sg - Seaborgium
107 - Bh - Bohrium
108 - Hs - Hassium
109 - Mt - Meitnerium
110 - Ds - Darmstadtium
111 - Rg - Roentgenium
112 - Cn - Copernicium
Be good in chemistry!!! :p
Also, based on the periodic table that we have been seen eversince the beginning of our school years, it is kinda obvious that they do need a slight re-do on the table don u think? This table was in a sense the "lates" one, with atomic number going highest to 103 (Lr - Lawrencium). THAT WAS WAY PASSE now... We have till 112 for pete's sake!!!!
Anyways, to those who wants to know, the elements after 103 till the latest is below:
104 - Rf - Rutherfordium
105 - Db - Dubnium
106 - Sg - Seaborgium
107 - Bh - Bohrium
108 - Hs - Hassium
109 - Mt - Meitnerium
110 - Ds - Darmstadtium
111 - Rg - Roentgenium
112 - Cn - Copernicium
Be good in chemistry!!! :p
Monday, March 22, 2010
Album review : Brother
A review post. WOW...
Anyways, this review is on Boyzone's LATEST ORIGINAL album entitled Brother
YES. I AM A BOYZONE FAN. STILL A BOYZONE FAN. Never like other bands, even when their songs are noteworthy (Back for good,quit playing games with my heart,bye x3). HATED WESTLIFE (Songs were ok though..).
There. I said it.
Now on to the review.
Boyzone kinda left off and disbanded in about 2002, if I'm not wrong - I am a fan, not a FANATIC. They disbanded on the heels of other boybands that did the same; all during the so-called GLORY DAYS of boybands. Now, unlike other groups; Boyzone was more into covers and ballads. Their hits at the time they left off included Words, Love me for a reason, Everyday I love you, Baby can I hold you tonight, A different beat,No matter What as well as faster tunes like Picture Of You. These songs were the ones that differentiated them- cos their songs were sugary sweet ballads.
Coming back in 2008/2009, Boyzone tried to jump back into the music scene like Take That (which did the same that year)with some life concert, and a Best of ( Yet again..) album that had 3 new songs. Didn't make impact - unless on Lite Fm.
At the end of 2009, rumours had it that Ronan and company were in the midst of producing a new album, before the tragic death of Stephen Gately, or more known as Steo to them in October 2009.
Due to that, the album was shifted in its direction and ended becoming a tribute album of some sorts. Hence the title of the new album BROTHER.
To the noobs, this album will be MEH for them, especially in this era of fast hip hop, dance tuned musicology (Jason Gerulo, Bieber, L. Gaga, Byonce, etc). You will not get the album, unless u are a fan.
For me, I didn't know till I saw it a few days ago in a musc shop. Then my friend told me the single came out for it.. SINGLE?!?!?!
It was a tribute single in a way, yet containing Steo's vocals here. A departure of sorts for Boyzone, the song is not too bad, with raggae tinge to it. The lyrics were written by Mika himself as well. Title of the song was apt also, in my opinion : Gave It All Away.
The single is bound to get onto the fans especially, with the opening lines helmed by none other than Gately himself - I will learn to live b4 I die... (SO SCARY...)
The video was good. Again, a tribute video, kind emotional. Apparent on the group itself...
The departure was alas, awhile. Even to a Boyzone fan, I was slightly disappointed with the effort, as the whole album seemed to be a 12 songs of tribute, kinda tossed in for sake of paying tribute to their "Brother".
Don get me wrong, it's not that the album is dismal. It had some good gems in it, and the vocal arrangements are more widely lead now compared to before, where only Ronan or gately had the helmlight. This time, Even Mike Graham and Shane Lynch took the lead in a few songs. If they could do this earlier... Oh well.
Back to the album, it was rather safe actually. No boundaries were broken, unlike their previous albums (Different beat - totally differ from other boybands' sophomore albums; Where We belong - all songs were written by the members themselves). It showed a few slightly uptempo songs to me, like Love is a Hurricane. It sounded a bit so so though, like Love is a Rollercoaster sequel to me.
Gems, were good though. I liked the 3rd song in the album. A country tinge ballad titled Ruby, lead by Mikey. Separate Cars - another emotional tribute ballad. Too Late for Hallelujah - very ironic gospel/pop song, and the last single Stronger - also lead by Gately.
All in all, it was a safe album. Buy if u are TRUE fan (like me =.=)
Otherwise, it's a likely miss...
Yet, it can grow on you... First time I heard it, it was a so so. Second time listening, I only didn't like 3 songs... others begin to grow... SO choose at your own peril!!!
Anyways, this review is on Boyzone's LATEST ORIGINAL album entitled Brother
YES. I AM A BOYZONE FAN. STILL A BOYZONE FAN. Never like other bands, even when their songs are noteworthy (Back for good,quit playing games with my heart,bye x3). HATED WESTLIFE (Songs were ok though..).
There. I said it.
Now on to the review.
Boyzone kinda left off and disbanded in about 2002, if I'm not wrong - I am a fan, not a FANATIC. They disbanded on the heels of other boybands that did the same; all during the so-called GLORY DAYS of boybands. Now, unlike other groups; Boyzone was more into covers and ballads. Their hits at the time they left off included Words, Love me for a reason, Everyday I love you, Baby can I hold you tonight, A different beat,No matter What as well as faster tunes like Picture Of You. These songs were the ones that differentiated them- cos their songs were sugary sweet ballads.
Coming back in 2008/2009, Boyzone tried to jump back into the music scene like Take That (which did the same that year)with some life concert, and a Best of ( Yet again..) album that had 3 new songs. Didn't make impact - unless on Lite Fm.
At the end of 2009, rumours had it that Ronan and company were in the midst of producing a new album, before the tragic death of Stephen Gately, or more known as Steo to them in October 2009.
Due to that, the album was shifted in its direction and ended becoming a tribute album of some sorts. Hence the title of the new album BROTHER.
To the noobs, this album will be MEH for them, especially in this era of fast hip hop, dance tuned musicology (Jason Gerulo, Bieber, L. Gaga, Byonce, etc). You will not get the album, unless u are a fan.
For me, I didn't know till I saw it a few days ago in a musc shop. Then my friend told me the single came out for it.. SINGLE?!?!?!
It was a tribute single in a way, yet containing Steo's vocals here. A departure of sorts for Boyzone, the song is not too bad, with raggae tinge to it. The lyrics were written by Mika himself as well. Title of the song was apt also, in my opinion : Gave It All Away.
The single is bound to get onto the fans especially, with the opening lines helmed by none other than Gately himself - I will learn to live b4 I die... (SO SCARY...)
The video was good. Again, a tribute video, kind emotional. Apparent on the group itself...
The departure was alas, awhile. Even to a Boyzone fan, I was slightly disappointed with the effort, as the whole album seemed to be a 12 songs of tribute, kinda tossed in for sake of paying tribute to their "Brother".
Don get me wrong, it's not that the album is dismal. It had some good gems in it, and the vocal arrangements are more widely lead now compared to before, where only Ronan or gately had the helmlight. This time, Even Mike Graham and Shane Lynch took the lead in a few songs. If they could do this earlier... Oh well.
Back to the album, it was rather safe actually. No boundaries were broken, unlike their previous albums (Different beat - totally differ from other boybands' sophomore albums; Where We belong - all songs were written by the members themselves). It showed a few slightly uptempo songs to me, like Love is a Hurricane. It sounded a bit so so though, like Love is a Rollercoaster sequel to me.
Gems, were good though. I liked the 3rd song in the album. A country tinge ballad titled Ruby, lead by Mikey. Separate Cars - another emotional tribute ballad. Too Late for Hallelujah - very ironic gospel/pop song, and the last single Stronger - also lead by Gately.
All in all, it was a safe album. Buy if u are TRUE fan (like me =.=)
Otherwise, it's a likely miss...
Yet, it can grow on you... First time I heard it, it was a so so. Second time listening, I only didn't like 3 songs... others begin to grow... SO choose at your own peril!!!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Relations
As I was playing ze cards in the card tourney today, I noticed that 2 of the players were brothers. These 2 are different from each other, one a slightly chubbier elder while the other a lankier young brother. And the elder was helping the younger in his play..
At this I suddenly had a prompting in my mind: How are relations between siblings of same gender? I have only a younger sister. It is not to say that my relationship with my sister ain't good - we are in a way close to each other. Sometimes, she'll do certain things to help when it's unexpected of her, and vice versa from me...
And yet, I do have things that we won't talk about obviously. Same things go with her. I sometimes see that she would rather talk to the mother about certain things in her room, with the door closed. This is where I (and dad) would know that some things are going on or such...
My relations with my dad ain't really too close, especially after some incidents during my high school and after my uni years. From that point, I don really speak to my dad about much, including private things and such.. Heck, if I can do that, I wouldn't be blogging for most of the part here.
It's not that I miss having close relations. By now, I realized personally, that I'm a lone being. I may show my feelings and such like a book to many people, but in many ways, I don share much with people. Even the closest ones don really know me. I don blame this on anyone or anything. It's just who I am.
Now u may think now how does all this nonsense I am talking about have anything to do with the earlier part (brothers) at all?
Truth is that although I hear a lot of stories on same gender siblings, are they actually true at all? Sisters, brothers, do they share their talks? Do they share ideas? Since they are same gender, does emotion and empathy play a bigger role there?
It's as if the elder brother telling his younger bro, "yes, bro. i know how u feel. I am a guy after all..."
Some stories are so wild it's censored here as well. I think u all know enough by now what type of stories I am referring to here.
Yet... It's so stereotyped in this "siblings thing" that we don really delve into it much. Does the younger sibling REALLY INHERIT materials of the elder one? Examples are obviously clothings, books, blah blah blah... If clothes, does it include EVERYTHING?!? This may sound gross or indecent in ways, but it is something that I for one, don really know if true or not...
Anyways, enjoy the clip below :)
At this I suddenly had a prompting in my mind: How are relations between siblings of same gender? I have only a younger sister. It is not to say that my relationship with my sister ain't good - we are in a way close to each other. Sometimes, she'll do certain things to help when it's unexpected of her, and vice versa from me...
And yet, I do have things that we won't talk about obviously. Same things go with her. I sometimes see that she would rather talk to the mother about certain things in her room, with the door closed. This is where I (and dad) would know that some things are going on or such...
My relations with my dad ain't really too close, especially after some incidents during my high school and after my uni years. From that point, I don really speak to my dad about much, including private things and such.. Heck, if I can do that, I wouldn't be blogging for most of the part here.
It's not that I miss having close relations. By now, I realized personally, that I'm a lone being. I may show my feelings and such like a book to many people, but in many ways, I don share much with people. Even the closest ones don really know me. I don blame this on anyone or anything. It's just who I am.
Now u may think now how does all this nonsense I am talking about have anything to do with the earlier part (brothers) at all?
Truth is that although I hear a lot of stories on same gender siblings, are they actually true at all? Sisters, brothers, do they share their talks? Do they share ideas? Since they are same gender, does emotion and empathy play a bigger role there?
It's as if the elder brother telling his younger bro, "yes, bro. i know how u feel. I am a guy after all..."
Some stories are so wild it's censored here as well. I think u all know enough by now what type of stories I am referring to here.
Yet... It's so stereotyped in this "siblings thing" that we don really delve into it much. Does the younger sibling REALLY INHERIT materials of the elder one? Examples are obviously clothings, books, blah blah blah... If clothes, does it include EVERYTHING?!? This may sound gross or indecent in ways, but it is something that I for one, don really know if true or not...
Anyways, enjoy the clip below :)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
2 Bs and an S
And the letter for today are... B and S
Firstly.
B is for Birthday, as in Happy Birthday Dad!!!! :)
Sorry ah, it's actually belated, since I'm only shouting it out 2 hours after ur birth day ended... Anyways, still... Hope ur day and the ones ahead will be better than b4!!!! :)
I'm just writing nonsense here along with the wishes, cos I know he ain't gonna read it. Heck I don think U know I have a blogsite pun right?!?!?! :p
So there. Happy birthday again... u can now officially apply for the special card for the senior citizens :p
And u should. Can get discount in movies!!! :)
B is also for Bernarda Alba. What?!?!
It's actually a play, done by an ex-colleague of mine in the college. me and some other friends went to see the play on Wednesday night at the KLPAC in Jalan Strachan, Sentul.
The play is approximaterly 90 minutes non stop, so u will either have surpress ur bladder or do it somewhere discreetly in the studio... I suggest the initial of course.
Not a bad play actually, in which Bernarda Alba is about a moorish Spanish family in the ancient times. Now this family is headed by an aggressive male hating mother, who has 5 daughters, the eldest coming in rich due to her dead first husband while the other 4 from her recently dead second husband - whom the mother despises a lot.
the family also consisted of 4 other female servants and the mother's insane mother (granny lar). Hence - it's an all female cast.
It is also a musical, which means that 90% of the play is sung out. My friend, who played the youngest daughter could actually sing, along with the others... So props to her.
Plot is simple: It starts right after the funeral of the second husband, where everyone were to mourn. The mother comes and gives new "law" of household and so forth. At the same time, the eldest was to marry a man. This news, along with the locked people starts to create a chain of events that led to an epic ending...
Without trying to spoil more, I suggest u all should go and see it. The final play of Bernarda will be this Sunday... Tickets are RM28. check it out.
Lastly, S is for Sensitivity
Yes, that's right. Sensitivity. Again, without divulging too much, today's happening shows a lot of this misbegotten and unfortunately overhyped feeling. Why overhyped? It's because sensitivity can be overblown out of porpotions, can be manipulated, can be outright true... Yet, it's often misunderstood.
Till now, I can tell u frankly that I can never understand it... Logical mind of mine will always tell me the reason why such feeling pops out, yet the gut/instinct/emotional side of me always feel for it...
So what do I say about Sensitivity then?
Handle it with care. It's like a time bomb. May blow in front of anyone- may hurt ANYONE and that includes yourself.
Firstly.
B is for Birthday, as in Happy Birthday Dad!!!! :)
Sorry ah, it's actually belated, since I'm only shouting it out 2 hours after ur birth day ended... Anyways, still... Hope ur day and the ones ahead will be better than b4!!!! :)
I'm just writing nonsense here along with the wishes, cos I know he ain't gonna read it. Heck I don think U know I have a blogsite pun right?!?!?! :p
So there. Happy birthday again... u can now officially apply for the special card for the senior citizens :p
And u should. Can get discount in movies!!! :)
B is also for Bernarda Alba. What?!?!
It's actually a play, done by an ex-colleague of mine in the college. me and some other friends went to see the play on Wednesday night at the KLPAC in Jalan Strachan, Sentul.
The play is approximaterly 90 minutes non stop, so u will either have surpress ur bladder or do it somewhere discreetly in the studio... I suggest the initial of course.
Not a bad play actually, in which Bernarda Alba is about a moorish Spanish family in the ancient times. Now this family is headed by an aggressive male hating mother, who has 5 daughters, the eldest coming in rich due to her dead first husband while the other 4 from her recently dead second husband - whom the mother despises a lot.
the family also consisted of 4 other female servants and the mother's insane mother (granny lar). Hence - it's an all female cast.
It is also a musical, which means that 90% of the play is sung out. My friend, who played the youngest daughter could actually sing, along with the others... So props to her.
Plot is simple: It starts right after the funeral of the second husband, where everyone were to mourn. The mother comes and gives new "law" of household and so forth. At the same time, the eldest was to marry a man. This news, along with the locked people starts to create a chain of events that led to an epic ending...
Without trying to spoil more, I suggest u all should go and see it. The final play of Bernarda will be this Sunday... Tickets are RM28. check it out.
Lastly, S is for Sensitivity
Yes, that's right. Sensitivity. Again, without divulging too much, today's happening shows a lot of this misbegotten and unfortunately overhyped feeling. Why overhyped? It's because sensitivity can be overblown out of porpotions, can be manipulated, can be outright true... Yet, it's often misunderstood.
Till now, I can tell u frankly that I can never understand it... Logical mind of mine will always tell me the reason why such feeling pops out, yet the gut/instinct/emotional side of me always feel for it...
So what do I say about Sensitivity then?
Handle it with care. It's like a time bomb. May blow in front of anyone- may hurt ANYONE and that includes yourself.
Monday, March 1, 2010
more strange titles
to those who reads my blog. By now u should've been riddled by the title and whatever's written too..
OMG... what the!?!?!?! that's what u would think.
Actually, it's an excerpt from a ficitional book in 1926 titled Invisible Dick.
Now, I am reading through a book aptly titiled Bizarre books, with many odd titled books...
Now some of the odd titled books from the first chapter itself:
- Queer shipmates
- old dykes I have known
- penetrating Wagner's Ring (1978)
- Drummer Dick's Discharge (1902)
- Shag the Pony (1952)
- Girls who did (1927)
- Five Years Hard (1932)
- Games you can play with your pussy (1985)
- Enter Ye In (1939, by a Baxter guy) followed by his next one;
- Going deeper (1960)
- A glowing and Graphic Description of the Great Hole
- Cock Tugs
- Bick Dick, King of the Negroes
- Dick's fairt
- Memorable Balls
- Cock Angel
- Queer doings in the navy
- two Men Came together
- Ay, Ay, Hey Ye a Spunk?
- A love passage
- Scouts in bondage
All these titles were only in chapter 1 itself!!! I was laughing my head off, at the double connotations that they bring out now...
Cock Tugs?!?!?!hahahaha!!!
Not to mention Drummer Dick's Discharge!!! now we'll just go ewwwwwww at first tought!!! hahahaha!!!
Might update on what goes through the book later on :p
OMG... what the!?!?!?! that's what u would think.
Actually, it's an excerpt from a ficitional book in 1926 titled Invisible Dick.
Now, I am reading through a book aptly titiled Bizarre books, with many odd titled books...
Now some of the odd titled books from the first chapter itself:
- Queer shipmates
- old dykes I have known
- penetrating Wagner's Ring (1978)
- Drummer Dick's Discharge (1902)
- Shag the Pony (1952)
- Girls who did (1927)
- Five Years Hard (1932)
- Games you can play with your pussy (1985)
- Enter Ye In (1939, by a Baxter guy) followed by his next one;
- Going deeper (1960)
- A glowing and Graphic Description of the Great Hole
- Cock Tugs
- Bick Dick, King of the Negroes
- Dick's fairt
- Memorable Balls
- Cock Angel
- Queer doings in the navy
- two Men Came together
- Ay, Ay, Hey Ye a Spunk?
- A love passage
- Scouts in bondage
All these titles were only in chapter 1 itself!!! I was laughing my head off, at the double connotations that they bring out now...
Cock Tugs?!?!?!hahahaha!!!
Not to mention Drummer Dick's Discharge!!! now we'll just go ewwwwwww at first tought!!! hahahaha!!!
Might update on what goes through the book later on :p
Pressure
Such pressure is the feel, when people ask u nearly every single day to update ur blog...
U think i Superman is it? I'm not the one that have plenty of things to shout about one lar...
Anyways, tried my new deck of magistrates against the others yesterday.
One thing that I can say is:
Mantis magistrate is very viable now :)
What am I talking about? It's Legends of the fiverings... Good game. Started since 1998 - 12 years already!!! OMG O.O
just realized it man!!!!
Even my interest in Magic, and other minis weren't that long.
Magic - 5 years (Urza till artifact)
Hordes - 3 years (now don wanna play)
This game is very good still for me. I like it. I like the fact that I can still pimp players with my cards... pimp them nicely somemore. Hahahahahaha!!!!
Not to mention that the pictures are good now.. Look at The scorpion chicks, the mantis courtier, others too...
Also, I have a little craze right now, the word is Vampire.
Specifically, it's Vampire the Requiem. It's a fictional storytelling game - rpg based on a different world, known as the World of Darkness. Here, the vamps are not what we think they are. They are not like the icky saga vamps we are now having, nor like Anne's Rice sensually charged vamps.
These are monsters of the dead. They are inhuman. No feelings, yet they try to have it by 'playing out a certain role' - playing their requiem to life.
It's hard to tell u unless u read through it actually.
but the one thing that caught in this game was the way it was told. Grim, maccabre, logical, good in all ways. Read it and u'll know. Heck. I even bought the novels of it and another book based on it, called Night Horrors: the immortals.
That's my update :p
U think i Superman is it? I'm not the one that have plenty of things to shout about one lar...
Anyways, tried my new deck of magistrates against the others yesterday.
One thing that I can say is:
Mantis magistrate is very viable now :)
What am I talking about? It's Legends of the fiverings... Good game. Started since 1998 - 12 years already!!! OMG O.O
just realized it man!!!!
Even my interest in Magic, and other minis weren't that long.
Magic - 5 years (Urza till artifact)
Hordes - 3 years (now don wanna play)
This game is very good still for me. I like it. I like the fact that I can still pimp players with my cards... pimp them nicely somemore. Hahahahahaha!!!!
Not to mention that the pictures are good now.. Look at The scorpion chicks, the mantis courtier, others too...
Also, I have a little craze right now, the word is Vampire.
Specifically, it's Vampire the Requiem. It's a fictional storytelling game - rpg based on a different world, known as the World of Darkness. Here, the vamps are not what we think they are. They are not like the icky saga vamps we are now having, nor like Anne's Rice sensually charged vamps.
These are monsters of the dead. They are inhuman. No feelings, yet they try to have it by 'playing out a certain role' - playing their requiem to life.
It's hard to tell u unless u read through it actually.
but the one thing that caught in this game was the way it was told. Grim, maccabre, logical, good in all ways. Read it and u'll know. Heck. I even bought the novels of it and another book based on it, called Night Horrors: the immortals.
That's my update :p
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Found out
Well, some of the new kids found out my blogsite, and started commenting about it... "sir! So cute the blog!!! Sir! So nice blog!!! Sir!!! Update lar!!!" =.=
So I think I found my muse for this year- muses in fact... Not really a bad thing, but not too good too...
Anyways, bad news first then - u can never go worse than that ...
My condolences to one of my ex-students, for the departure of her grandmother. This is especially sad as her grandfather passed away no more than a year before this. Kid. Take care of urself ok? :(
Secondly, to those who know about my terminal "thingie", well, I went to ask for an opinion about it yesterday, and got the answer - 10 years... >.> On the bright side, I would've finished paying my car by then...
Ok then, from the bad news to ... news/gossip.
Went to my ex tuition centre where I used to teach after the appointment about 6ish.Went there to visit one of my dear old colleague there, who is friendly like giler... Her name was Kak L. Now... this centre ain't too good to me, as the 2 bosses "let me off" the service at the last minute, and didn't even bother to apologize about it. Luckily for them, Kak L is nice to me, therfore I still visit it...
Anyways, as i went there, there were some suggesstions on some things (that shouldn't be discussed - POLIS nanti :p)so I told lar my opinion on it (still not telling though what it was about). Then, lo and behold, one of the 2 bosses, lady A came in!
Of course, civilized greetings in regards to each other and happy new years were exchanged then. And the lady wet on saying how good it is to see me lar, and blah blah blah... Yeah right. I just smiled...I think she realized and stop it later and walked off for dinner, saying same things still... Same smile still too.
So continuing gossips, me and Kak L talked about our old students and where are they now - people like Joshua, Alex, Shurraj, Sophia, Nad, Harm, everyone I used to teach there... kinda reminiscing it lar... What to do? We all old people... +.+
anyways, also heard about the centre not giving the subject anymore since I was left... Apparently the teacher they hired to do the job didn't really know how to teach it... so the students up and drop the subject... Ended up last year no $&%^*gy...
Now, I'm not really much of an envious or bad person here. But as I heard that, part of my little mind and heart were screaming "YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PADAN KAU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I know - it's sinful to think it that way...
Halfway through our chit chat, Lady A came back, and tried to make conversations lah... so she asked of what I've been reading lately. I showed her my book and she went "oh... such books ah? I dono whether suits me or not.."
" I only go for books like Sidney Sheldon or Daniel Steele ones.." A continued, and porceeded to ask me which Daniel Steele book I can recommend...
So i told her, "Well, Zoya was a good read. One of earliest classics. But the best..It's about blah blah blah blah..."
Lady A was like" wah good ah? ok.Must get it then..." she paused awhile, before asking me further, "So... Zoya huh? Is that a true story, or a story story?"
HELLO!?!?!?!?! It's Daniel Steele for crying out loud!!! 0.0 U shoul all know by now that she writes fiction - fiction authoress... Where in the world did she write a true story?!?!?!
(The only one I read was actually her biography about her son's death... sad one too)
anyways, I just smiled tightly and said: Story lah....
Ish ish ish...
So I think I found my muse for this year- muses in fact... Not really a bad thing, but not too good too...
Anyways, bad news first then - u can never go worse than that ...
My condolences to one of my ex-students, for the departure of her grandmother. This is especially sad as her grandfather passed away no more than a year before this. Kid. Take care of urself ok? :(
Secondly, to those who know about my terminal "thingie", well, I went to ask for an opinion about it yesterday, and got the answer - 10 years... >.> On the bright side, I would've finished paying my car by then...
Ok then, from the bad news to ... news/gossip.
Went to my ex tuition centre where I used to teach after the appointment about 6ish.Went there to visit one of my dear old colleague there, who is friendly like giler... Her name was Kak L. Now... this centre ain't too good to me, as the 2 bosses "let me off" the service at the last minute, and didn't even bother to apologize about it. Luckily for them, Kak L is nice to me, therfore I still visit it...
Anyways, as i went there, there were some suggesstions on some things (that shouldn't be discussed - POLIS nanti :p)so I told lar my opinion on it (still not telling though what it was about). Then, lo and behold, one of the 2 bosses, lady A came in!
Of course, civilized greetings in regards to each other and happy new years were exchanged then. And the lady wet on saying how good it is to see me lar, and blah blah blah... Yeah right. I just smiled...I think she realized and stop it later and walked off for dinner, saying same things still... Same smile still too.
So continuing gossips, me and Kak L talked about our old students and where are they now - people like Joshua, Alex, Shurraj, Sophia, Nad, Harm, everyone I used to teach there... kinda reminiscing it lar... What to do? We all old people... +.+
anyways, also heard about the centre not giving the subject anymore since I was left... Apparently the teacher they hired to do the job didn't really know how to teach it... so the students up and drop the subject... Ended up last year no $&%^*gy...
Now, I'm not really much of an envious or bad person here. But as I heard that, part of my little mind and heart were screaming "YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PADAN KAU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I know - it's sinful to think it that way...
Halfway through our chit chat, Lady A came back, and tried to make conversations lah... so she asked of what I've been reading lately. I showed her my book and she went "oh... such books ah? I dono whether suits me or not.."
" I only go for books like Sidney Sheldon or Daniel Steele ones.." A continued, and porceeded to ask me which Daniel Steele book I can recommend...
So i told her, "Well, Zoya was a good read. One of earliest classics. But the best..It's about blah blah blah blah..."
Lady A was like" wah good ah? ok.Must get it then..." she paused awhile, before asking me further, "So... Zoya huh? Is that a true story, or a story story?"
HELLO!?!?!?!?! It's Daniel Steele for crying out loud!!! 0.0 U shoul all know by now that she writes fiction - fiction authoress... Where in the world did she write a true story?!?!?!
(The only one I read was actually her biography about her son's death... sad one too)
anyways, I just smiled tightly and said: Story lah....
Ish ish ish...
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
SLOW
It's been quite some time since I last updated the blog here... Must be a kind of burn out I think, since I was handling another blog site for my office too... (as if i did a lot there pun =.=)
Anyways, tried to write some things later here but surprisingly received a mind block there? Me? Mind block?!?!
WEll, i do get those at times... but nowadays, blogging is like writing poem without a muse... the emptiness... loneliness.... so artsy :p
well, what had happened then within these 2 weeks? (surprised that only 2 weeks passed)
Went to Tropicana Mall once for lunch by myself (YES. ALL BY. MYSELF. BOO HOO)As I headed back I saw an advert that wrote of a miniatures shop that just opened on the first floor of the mall. Curious, I went to see it.
By gosh, the shop sells miniatures made of hard resins, bronze and pewters. And boy, they are seriously gorgeous!!!! U remember the dragon minis and toys that D and D/ McFarlane is selling nowadays in hobby/toy shops? The ones here are seriously better!
The shop's named One Legend shop, and it sells miniatures of not only fantasy (dragons, faeries) but also from Egypt, 3kingdoms fiction, greek gods, medieval knights and so forth. The prices ain't really too high also.
Secondly,my kids graduated!! :) :(
It all happened last Friday. My kids and some others graduated for their certificate and will start their first year in Uni sometime this year.. It was a small celebration, with the staffs and parents coming to the convocation. About 15 of them graduated, including my 5 kids there.
Nerissa and I
Sam and the other girls after graduation
From left: Anna, Jia, Ash and Fairuz
Abu and Jia
someone had too much to drink apparently
Sam with a tie on head... don ask why...
Everyone did the face after a boring sitting. Guess who won...
Ash showing her bored side
"meh. how come i have to take with him?"
Lui Lui!!!
Anyways, these were some of the pics taken then. Well, kids. Congrats!!! Happy graduating and I hope for the best for all of u wherever u go..
Sob sob!!!!
*Lonely....*
Anyways, tried to write some things later here but surprisingly received a mind block there? Me? Mind block?!?!
WEll, i do get those at times... but nowadays, blogging is like writing poem without a muse... the emptiness... loneliness.... so artsy :p
well, what had happened then within these 2 weeks? (surprised that only 2 weeks passed)
Went to Tropicana Mall once for lunch by myself (YES. ALL BY. MYSELF. BOO HOO)As I headed back I saw an advert that wrote of a miniatures shop that just opened on the first floor of the mall. Curious, I went to see it.
By gosh, the shop sells miniatures made of hard resins, bronze and pewters. And boy, they are seriously gorgeous!!!! U remember the dragon minis and toys that D and D/ McFarlane is selling nowadays in hobby/toy shops? The ones here are seriously better!
The shop's named One Legend shop, and it sells miniatures of not only fantasy (dragons, faeries) but also from Egypt, 3kingdoms fiction, greek gods, medieval knights and so forth. The prices ain't really too high also.
Secondly,my kids graduated!! :) :(
It all happened last Friday. My kids and some others graduated for their certificate and will start their first year in Uni sometime this year.. It was a small celebration, with the staffs and parents coming to the convocation. About 15 of them graduated, including my 5 kids there.
Nerissa and I
Sam and the other girls after graduation
From left: Anna, Jia, Ash and Fairuz
Abu and Jia
someone had too much to drink apparently
Sam with a tie on head... don ask why...
Everyone did the face after a boring sitting. Guess who won...
Ash showing her bored side
"meh. how come i have to take with him?"
Lui Lui!!!
Anyways, these were some of the pics taken then. Well, kids. Congrats!!! Happy graduating and I hope for the best for all of u wherever u go..
Sob sob!!!!
*Lonely....*
Monday, January 4, 2010
Movies and their nuinsances
Movies of 2009. All I can say is just, WAH!!!!
The number of movies and their variety increased within the decade with the introduction of Comic/Fictional books adaptation as well as the introduction of asian movies, especially in the horror genre and action genre.
Now, adaptations from books has already been done before, but the adaptations from comics, or graphic novels were a novelty at that time. Movies such as X-Men (I,II,III), Hulk (Ang Lee) and Punisher, as well as 300, Sin City revived the movie industry very much, with the advancement of CGI technology. Now we can see super-powered humans using super powers like laser eyes (Cyclops), giant (Hulk), camouflage (Mystique, Psylocke) with such realism that it seriously began to attract people again to the cinemas.
Apart from the graphic novels, CGI technology advancement also enabled effects that couldn't be done last time do-able now. This included the effects of "magic" found only in the minds of fantasy readers last time, being abled to be pictured onto the silver screen. With such technology, many fantasy books were adapted as well (remember LOTR?). Such books included the massively popular Harry Potter series, Narnia chronicles, Eragon, Dark Is Rising, and so forth.
Even TV series were irrevocably changed from 2000 till now. Series like X Files that were so scarce and others with good plots came in abundance. The series included LOST, GOSSIP GIRLS, DEXTER, HOUSE, MONK, and so forth...
Asian countries on the other hand, contributed alot to the hollywood industry both directly and indirectly as well. Horror movies from Japan, Korea and Thailand were both imported into U.S. and adapted as well into hollywood (watered down though) versions. These movies included Ringu (RING), Ju-On (GRUDGE), One Missed Call, Shutter (Shutter), The eye and others more. With the introduction of Asian movies, these Asian actors/actresses received their (justly) credits, some becoming part of hollywood movie acting crews as well. They included action stars like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Zhang Zi Yi, Michelle Yeoh (our own !!! :) )as well as others.
Enough of the decade's commentary. I feel like a movie critic now...
Anyways, as I said, year 2009 ain't different from the others before it. In fact, there were more "effects" ladden movies than before if I'm not wrong. I can't say that I've seen all movies that came out, but I do know that I saw most of the main ones... Here are some of them that are to be mentioned, be it worthy or not.
The Proposal
This romance comedy has all of the romance comedies before it, the plot, the humour, the plot... But it stuck into my mind because of the casting. Both main casts, the ageing Sandra Bullock of Speed/While U Were Sleeping fame and Ryan Reynolds of Van Vilder/2 Guys, A Girl fame actually had chemistry going between them in the movie. They are helped by quite a number of veteran actors/actresses as well. The humour therefore seemed more realistic compared to other romedies (YES... MY OWN WORD).
Did I mention Sandra Bullock?
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
The earliest "Summer Blockbuster", this movie kinda blockbusted to me instead. The effects were as good as expected, and Hugh Jackman is inside it. Coupled by the fact that it was about his past, where u can see the beginnings of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds again) and Sabretooth (forgot his name, good acting though); the action unfortunately couldn't hide the fact that the plot was weak, compared to even the weakest X Men movie (X Men III). This movie is mentioned because it's an X men movie still, and it has mutants, like GAMBIT :p
UP
Trust PIXAR to create wonderful and beautiful movies as well as good storylines. Up actually started on a sad note, where we see how the old man came to be, before setting up to a good 80+ minutes CGI animations.
The boy is cute, the dog is cuter, the bird is cutest.
Oh, not to mention a gorgeous short animation before preluding the movie. Still bring smiles to me everytime I remember about the clouds :)
Alien Vs Monsters
2009 provided quite a number of animations, such as Up, princess and meatballs. Another one that stood out for me that year was Alien Vs. Monsters. A parody of sorts, the animation starred many voice-talents including the ever pretty Reese Witherspoon, High Laurie, Seth Rogen as a group of monsters- YUP... Monsters - that was taken and kept by the U.S. government to fight off alien invasions. Simple plotline, nothing as deep as Up.
The thing that attracted me to this show was (apart from Reese's voice) the monsters. They are a hoot as they seriously parody the monsters from occult movies of the 60s/70s. These monsters included the 40ft woman, the blob and the lagoon beast. Young uns' may not know, but these parodies are well worth the cartoon versions :p
Terminator Salvation
What can I say about this movie? Bale, Worthington, the machines, gosh. THE MACHINES!!!!!
Transformers 2
People say it's all because of Eva Mendez in hot pants... I say it's the decepticons... Constructicons (b4 merge) to be exact!!!!
And the *clang clang*
Harry Potter and the Half blood prince
We get to see Dumbledore die (U all should KNOW BY NOW), destruction of the "hocrux", romance (squel, girls..) and Hermione!!!!
Avatar
If u don mind going trough the gruelling slow first 1 1/2 haours of the movie, the show is good towards the end. Plot is actually engaging in a way, as director knows how to make good story... And Sam Worthington is there again... He's seriously turning out to be a good actor from down under...
GI JOE
The toys are back on the action screen!!! Take that, Thundercats!!!
And the baroness.... ooh...la...la...
9
This animation was a surprise movie for me, as it wasn't shown in Malaysia at all. I got the trailer thnx to Youtube, and was hooked onto it. When I saw the show, it was like watching Final Fantasy Spirits Within - epic in a way... Directed by the russian guy who directed Night watch, Day watch and Wanted, 9 is a good show.
Star Trek
WHoosh... This is my favourite. I've never really like star trek, except for voyager series. But this show put the stars in star trek wei. With a story that started the thing yet manages to make it into a whole new timeline, it is THE MOVIE by far...
Seeing Spock talking to Spock was good too.
New Moon
Just to mention. Gals swoon around this movie, either supporting the dead hero or the beast hero. For me neither. I like it for the posters it came with...
Sherlock Holmes
This movie came out at the end of December, and my, it's worth it... Truth to say, I felt a bit apprehensive intially when I saw the trailer. Downey as Holmes?!?!?!
And I saw the movie... BAM!!!! Fantastic!!! Can't say brilliant though, as Holmes to me shouldn't be a fighter, according to his literature...
But the movie was wonderfully done, with all the cast having chemistry around each other. Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and the villain too (Prince Septimus of Stardust) played very well here.
And the promotional posters!!!
The number of movies and their variety increased within the decade with the introduction of Comic/Fictional books adaptation as well as the introduction of asian movies, especially in the horror genre and action genre.
Now, adaptations from books has already been done before, but the adaptations from comics, or graphic novels were a novelty at that time. Movies such as X-Men (I,II,III), Hulk (Ang Lee) and Punisher, as well as 300, Sin City revived the movie industry very much, with the advancement of CGI technology. Now we can see super-powered humans using super powers like laser eyes (Cyclops), giant (Hulk), camouflage (Mystique, Psylocke) with such realism that it seriously began to attract people again to the cinemas.
Apart from the graphic novels, CGI technology advancement also enabled effects that couldn't be done last time do-able now. This included the effects of "magic" found only in the minds of fantasy readers last time, being abled to be pictured onto the silver screen. With such technology, many fantasy books were adapted as well (remember LOTR?). Such books included the massively popular Harry Potter series, Narnia chronicles, Eragon, Dark Is Rising, and so forth.
Even TV series were irrevocably changed from 2000 till now. Series like X Files that were so scarce and others with good plots came in abundance. The series included LOST, GOSSIP GIRLS, DEXTER, HOUSE, MONK, and so forth...
Asian countries on the other hand, contributed alot to the hollywood industry both directly and indirectly as well. Horror movies from Japan, Korea and Thailand were both imported into U.S. and adapted as well into hollywood (watered down though) versions. These movies included Ringu (RING), Ju-On (GRUDGE), One Missed Call, Shutter (Shutter), The eye and others more. With the introduction of Asian movies, these Asian actors/actresses received their (justly) credits, some becoming part of hollywood movie acting crews as well. They included action stars like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Zhang Zi Yi, Michelle Yeoh (our own !!! :) )as well as others.
Enough of the decade's commentary. I feel like a movie critic now...
Anyways, as I said, year 2009 ain't different from the others before it. In fact, there were more "effects" ladden movies than before if I'm not wrong. I can't say that I've seen all movies that came out, but I do know that I saw most of the main ones... Here are some of them that are to be mentioned, be it worthy or not.
The Proposal
This romance comedy has all of the romance comedies before it, the plot, the humour, the plot... But it stuck into my mind because of the casting. Both main casts, the ageing Sandra Bullock of Speed/While U Were Sleeping fame and Ryan Reynolds of Van Vilder/2 Guys, A Girl fame actually had chemistry going between them in the movie. They are helped by quite a number of veteran actors/actresses as well. The humour therefore seemed more realistic compared to other romedies (YES... MY OWN WORD).
Did I mention Sandra Bullock?
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
The earliest "Summer Blockbuster", this movie kinda blockbusted to me instead. The effects were as good as expected, and Hugh Jackman is inside it. Coupled by the fact that it was about his past, where u can see the beginnings of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds again) and Sabretooth (forgot his name, good acting though); the action unfortunately couldn't hide the fact that the plot was weak, compared to even the weakest X Men movie (X Men III). This movie is mentioned because it's an X men movie still, and it has mutants, like GAMBIT :p
UP
Trust PIXAR to create wonderful and beautiful movies as well as good storylines. Up actually started on a sad note, where we see how the old man came to be, before setting up to a good 80+ minutes CGI animations.
The boy is cute, the dog is cuter, the bird is cutest.
Oh, not to mention a gorgeous short animation before preluding the movie. Still bring smiles to me everytime I remember about the clouds :)
Alien Vs Monsters
2009 provided quite a number of animations, such as Up, princess and meatballs. Another one that stood out for me that year was Alien Vs. Monsters. A parody of sorts, the animation starred many voice-talents including the ever pretty Reese Witherspoon, High Laurie, Seth Rogen as a group of monsters- YUP... Monsters - that was taken and kept by the U.S. government to fight off alien invasions. Simple plotline, nothing as deep as Up.
The thing that attracted me to this show was (apart from Reese's voice) the monsters. They are a hoot as they seriously parody the monsters from occult movies of the 60s/70s. These monsters included the 40ft woman, the blob and the lagoon beast. Young uns' may not know, but these parodies are well worth the cartoon versions :p
Terminator Salvation
What can I say about this movie? Bale, Worthington, the machines, gosh. THE MACHINES!!!!!
Transformers 2
People say it's all because of Eva Mendez in hot pants... I say it's the decepticons... Constructicons (b4 merge) to be exact!!!!
And the *clang clang*
Harry Potter and the Half blood prince
We get to see Dumbledore die (U all should KNOW BY NOW), destruction of the "hocrux", romance (squel, girls..) and Hermione!!!!
Avatar
If u don mind going trough the gruelling slow first 1 1/2 haours of the movie, the show is good towards the end. Plot is actually engaging in a way, as director knows how to make good story... And Sam Worthington is there again... He's seriously turning out to be a good actor from down under...
GI JOE
The toys are back on the action screen!!! Take that, Thundercats!!!
And the baroness.... ooh...la...la...
9
This animation was a surprise movie for me, as it wasn't shown in Malaysia at all. I got the trailer thnx to Youtube, and was hooked onto it. When I saw the show, it was like watching Final Fantasy Spirits Within - epic in a way... Directed by the russian guy who directed Night watch, Day watch and Wanted, 9 is a good show.
Star Trek
WHoosh... This is my favourite. I've never really like star trek, except for voyager series. But this show put the stars in star trek wei. With a story that started the thing yet manages to make it into a whole new timeline, it is THE MOVIE by far...
Seeing Spock talking to Spock was good too.
New Moon
Just to mention. Gals swoon around this movie, either supporting the dead hero or the beast hero. For me neither. I like it for the posters it came with...
Sherlock Holmes
This movie came out at the end of December, and my, it's worth it... Truth to say, I felt a bit apprehensive intially when I saw the trailer. Downey as Holmes?!?!?!
And I saw the movie... BAM!!!! Fantastic!!! Can't say brilliant though, as Holmes to me shouldn't be a fighter, according to his literature...
But the movie was wonderfully done, with all the cast having chemistry around each other. Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and the villain too (Prince Septimus of Stardust) played very well here.
And the promotional posters!!!
2009 is past
well, starting the new year with working tomorrow, and I can't bloody sleep.
Since it's that way, my as well jot down some things that's been in my mind.
Apart from the events in Malaysia in the past 2009, that year brought out quite a number of events in the entertainment industry of the world too.
one of the biggest event, both surprising and shocking, had to be the death of Michael Jackson. Died on the 26ht June of apparent cardiac arrest,51 years-old Michael was pronounced dead by the time he was rushed to the hospital.
His death left millions of fans mourning like no one's business (although none committed suicide, like what Kurt Cobain's death did) around the world. His funeral was a world wide affair, its ceremony televised live around the world, with guest artists performing (singing, telling stories, crying). It was also the first time we got to see his 3 children on stage.
Incidentally, Michael's death got everyone buying up his albums again, therefore skyrocketing his album sales after so long. This in fact, boost up his finance by quite a degree, as he was reportedly to be in debt (for his ranch) before this.
Currently, his children are in custody with Michael's mum.
Scarcely few days apart, another artist died - Farrah Fawcett. The 62-years old iconic actress of the hit 70s show Charlie's Angels succumbed to cancer. Her death, mourned by many wasn't really given its credits, due to the larger hype around Jackson's death instead.
Not only these 2 artist, but many more died in 2009. The notable included:
Stephen Gately- gay singer from Boyzone died of natural causes (it seems though that he died choked up on his own vomit) in Spain, after a night with his bf. Died at the age of 33.
Brittany Murphy - the co-star of the cult favourite Clueless died of cardiac arrest in late December, triggering a shock throughout hte acting community. Aged 32.
Andrew Martin - the WWE wrestler who died from an accidental overdose of oxycodone. It was later determined by forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu that Martin had severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy, an Alzheimer's-like form of brain damage that fellow pro wrestler Chris Benoit was found to be suffering from shortly after his death in 2007.
Dom Deluise - the comedian who was a regular in many of Mel Brooks's movies. I know... u kids are going who??? But trust me, he's a good comedian.
Jett Travolta - the untimely and unfortunate tragic death of the son of John Travolta kinda opened questions as to this kid's condition. It was known that he suffered from Kawasaki's disease (rare genetic disorder), the father denied that Jett was autistic though. He died at the fragile age of 16 on January 2 in their parents' holiday house due to an epileptic seizure.
Natasha Richardson - the wife of actor Liam Neeson. Natasha died of an tragic accident during a ski trip when she received a fatal head trauma. She passed away after a 2days coma. She was known to portray some good roles, I remembered her in Maid in Manhattan and the Parent trap notably...
These deaths are seriously tragic this year, as all of them were accidental and sudden. RIP to all of them...
Since it's that way, my as well jot down some things that's been in my mind.
Apart from the events in Malaysia in the past 2009, that year brought out quite a number of events in the entertainment industry of the world too.
one of the biggest event, both surprising and shocking, had to be the death of Michael Jackson. Died on the 26ht June of apparent cardiac arrest,51 years-old Michael was pronounced dead by the time he was rushed to the hospital.
His death left millions of fans mourning like no one's business (although none committed suicide, like what Kurt Cobain's death did) around the world. His funeral was a world wide affair, its ceremony televised live around the world, with guest artists performing (singing, telling stories, crying). It was also the first time we got to see his 3 children on stage.
Incidentally, Michael's death got everyone buying up his albums again, therefore skyrocketing his album sales after so long. This in fact, boost up his finance by quite a degree, as he was reportedly to be in debt (for his ranch) before this.
Currently, his children are in custody with Michael's mum.
Scarcely few days apart, another artist died - Farrah Fawcett. The 62-years old iconic actress of the hit 70s show Charlie's Angels succumbed to cancer. Her death, mourned by many wasn't really given its credits, due to the larger hype around Jackson's death instead.
Not only these 2 artist, but many more died in 2009. The notable included:
Stephen Gately- gay singer from Boyzone died of natural causes (it seems though that he died choked up on his own vomit) in Spain, after a night with his bf. Died at the age of 33.
Brittany Murphy - the co-star of the cult favourite Clueless died of cardiac arrest in late December, triggering a shock throughout hte acting community. Aged 32.
Andrew Martin - the WWE wrestler who died from an accidental overdose of oxycodone. It was later determined by forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu that Martin had severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy, an Alzheimer's-like form of brain damage that fellow pro wrestler Chris Benoit was found to be suffering from shortly after his death in 2007.
Dom Deluise - the comedian who was a regular in many of Mel Brooks's movies. I know... u kids are going who??? But trust me, he's a good comedian.
Jett Travolta - the untimely and unfortunate tragic death of the son of John Travolta kinda opened questions as to this kid's condition. It was known that he suffered from Kawasaki's disease (rare genetic disorder), the father denied that Jett was autistic though. He died at the fragile age of 16 on January 2 in their parents' holiday house due to an epileptic seizure.
Natasha Richardson - the wife of actor Liam Neeson. Natasha died of an tragic accident during a ski trip when she received a fatal head trauma. She passed away after a 2days coma. She was known to portray some good roles, I remembered her in Maid in Manhattan and the Parent trap notably...
These deaths are seriously tragic this year, as all of them were accidental and sudden. RIP to all of them...
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