As another year draws to a close, I'm making an effort to post this entry because entertainment-wise, it was pretty spectacular. 😊
Favourite movies
How To Train Your Dragon
The live remake was almost identical scene-for-scene to the original animated film but still had me using up tissues, thanks to a soulful turn from the very talented Mason Thames, and a gorgeous CGI-rendered Toothless.
It also blew up the box office, grossing more than US$600 million globally. I'm so happy!
Weapons
As a hardcore horror fan who's frequently disappointed by movies that try too hard, this was a pleasant surprise.
Though the first half doesn't quite mesh with the second hour, things suddenly take a major turn and stress me out very effectively.
Now that Ari Aster ( Hereditary, Midsommar ) has gone off to do weird indie stuff, I'm glad others have taken up the mantle.
Nuremberg
This quiet film seems to have been overlooked by audiences, but since I've always been fascinated by WWII - especially the Holocaust - I found it extremely moving.
Aside from the stellar cast, the script stands out for its introspective observations about human nature, good vs evil, and how easily tyrants are made.
Other notable mentions:
F1
Despite being a predictable crowdpleaser, it also boasts a nuanced performance from Brad Pitt ( who looks AMAZING for his age omg ).
As someone who did track medical team cover twice for Singapore GP, it was certainly a nice trip down memory lane.
Jurassic World: Rebirth
I held off watching this for a long time because I don't like Scarlett Johansson, but it turned out to be IMO one of the best in the Jurassic Park franchise ( after the original and first Jurassic World installment ).
Still not fully convinced Ms J is a badass dinosaur hunter, but I was most interested in Jonathan Bailey, who provided eye candy and deflected my attention from his co-star.
Love the action sequences which are spectacular.
Favourite TV shows
There were many, so this is a significantly condensed list.
Dexter: Original Sin and Dexter: Resurrection
By some strange but very happy coincidence, both series came out in the same year and I was ecstatic. 😊
Each was excellent in its own way, but Resurrection clearly won since it has a confirmed sequel while Original Sin wasn't renewed (argh!).
I've been such a huge fan of the Dexter universe for 19 years ( I've also read the novels ) and couldn't be happier to see Michael C. Hall gleefully chopping up villains again.
The Pitt
I agree that it's an ER rip off in a way, but the format is significantly different ( a single shift spread out over a season ) with details about the characters' personal drama kept to the bare minimum.
Emergency physicians everywhere - myself included - concur that it's the most realistic ER-based show ever made, and Noah Wyle anchors it with his calm reassuring presence.
Season 2 starts on 8 January. Looking forward to it!
The Studio
This farcical comedy won big at this year's Emmys and deserved every single award.
I love how it poked fun at Hollywood's over-the-top woke culture, with one episode dedicated to a casting nightmare storyline that had me in stitches.
Seth Rogen is absolutely hilarious, carrying the show with his frenetic energy and trademark nervous laughs.
Glad to hear that it's been renewed for a second season. Can't wait!
The Diplomat season 3
Definitely one of Netflix's crown jewels, I've been hooked since the premiere and S3 did not disappoint at all.
I'm constantly amazed by how the writers manage to make espionage and tradecraft entertaining. The dialogue speed is so fast, I regularly got lost even with subtitles turned on. 😅
The show is definitely buoyed by the perfect cast - Keri Russell with her Type A+++ personality, Rufus Sewell as her laid back but constantly scheming / interfering spouse.
S3's highlight was the addition of Aidan Turner as Kate's love interest.
An actor I've been a fan of since his days in The Hobbit trilogy and Poldark, he had sizzling chemistry with Russell and spiced things up tremendously.
Not sure if he'll be back in S4, but I hope so!
All Her Fault
This had a slow burn but packed a real punch in the second half.
Glad I persisted till the finale because everything came together only in the last episode, which made the entire journey extremely satisfying.
If you decide to watch this, pay extra attention to the character played by Jake Lacy.
He isn't the lead but is actually very pivotal in multiple subplots. How his character's actions over the span of decades ( starting from childhood ) impact others and eventually lead to the shocking conclusion is a very ingenious twist.
I salute the incredible writers.
The Beast In Me
Not super high quality but still very good.
The main draw for me was Matthew Rhys, whose career I've followed for 20 years, since 2006's Brothers and Sisters.
He's played a wide variety of roles but this is probably his darkest.
The plot sort of fell apart in the last few episodes, but I hung on just for him. Not a bad watch overall.
Notable mention:
The Day Of The Jackal
It came out in late 2024 but I saw it in early 2025 so I'll include it in the list.
One word: stupendous!
Having seen Eddie Redmayne in many films, this is by far his finest performance.
Who knew this gentle, affable redhead with the cute freckles could play such a cold, calculated assassin?
The production value is top notch, on par with what you get in 007 movies.
The superb script, supporting cast and directors also add to the high octane excitement.
Sadly, it was completely overlooked at the Emmys, getting only one nomination for cinematography. Unbelievable. 😵
Favourite books
I always try my best to read when I can, but this is becoming a losing battle due to age and decreasing energy levels.
Here're a few titles I enjoyed in the past 12 months.
Non-fiction
Lucky Loser by Michael Kosta
The clear winner, beating the rest hands down.
I know Kosta from Jon Stewart's The Daily Show, where he's a regular co-host and never fails to crack me up.
His memoir is exactly like him in tone and humour.
I didn't realize he was a tennis pro in his 20s before switching to standup comedy.
The stories he shares from both parts of his life are told with brutal yet hilarious honesty, with not a single dull moment.
I have a habit of flipping pages to speed things up, but not with this book! I read it from cover to cover.
Now that I know what he went through, I love him even more. 😊
Brain Rules for Aging Well by John Medina
This was a revelation, buoyed by Medina's breezy writing style which made even scientific facts easy to digest and retain.
Due to personal experience with close relatives who suffered from dementia, I have a major phobia of this condition, and regularly search for information on how to keep it at bay.
Brain Rules provides lots of practical tips backed by evidence, which I will make an effort to adopt.
White Ivy by Susie Yang
I finally decided to read this years after seeing rave reviews in various publications.
The plot isn't exactly groundbreaking, and the ending left me rather disappointed, but Yang has a beautiful - almost hypnotic - style which I find rare among younger writers.
It's the only fiction title in my favourite books list ( after I powered through a number of novels ), so consider it a great compliment.
My Next Breath by Jeremy Renner
I started on this recently but am already profoundly moved by it.
As a longtime fan of his work, reading a firsthand account of his harrowing snowplow accident was traumatizing, even with my 20-year background in emergency medicine.
This is also a testament to how powerful the writing is - though fashioned as a flowing narrative, Renner chooses his words carefully, ensuring maximum impact when it matters.
I've taken a break to read some lighter fare for now ( yes, it's that distressing ), but will be sure to return to it soon.
Mr. Renner, I am really really glad you're still with us, and doing so well. 😊
Megathreats by Nouriel Roubini
I read this because I was curious about our collective future.
It's very sobering - and likely triggering for those with underlying anxiety issues - but I think it's important for everyone to understand the numerous perils we constantly face, instead of existing in a bubble of blissful ignorance.
That said, it's also extremely depressing that most of the world's problems are beyond our control, and we're essentially hurtling towards an unavoidable self-destructive end.
I just hope I won't be around when that happens, haha.
Favourite stage shows
I'm ending off with the biggest highlights of the year.
It was nothing short of epic! 😁
La La Land - Live in Concert
This was the very first time it was held in Singapore, with 3 shows that sold out very quickly.
The best part, of course, was composer Justin Hurwitz's presence as conductor, which made it unbelievably poignant.
Sitting in the beautiful Esplanade Theatre with fellow fans as his Oscar-winning score soared above us and the movie played on the big screen was an out-of-body experience!
The icing on the cake was my brief meet-and-greet with Justin after the show, during which we had a short chat and I presented him with a custom-made poster to commemorate his visit to Singapore.
A very lovely gentleman; hope to see him back here soon for more performances of his work. 😊
Phantom of the Opera
Another first for me - I watched it twice in 2 weeks.
After some initial concern about the casting of Ben Forster, I ended up crowning him my favourite Phantom so far ( I've seen 6 different productions - 4 in Singapore and 2 on Broadway ).
Ben's vocals aren't as impressive as a few of the other actors I've heard, but he more than makes up for it with raw emotion and superb acting.
It was also such a pleasure to meet him at the stage door after the second show. Another very lovely gentleman. 😊
Jimmy Yang
After watching his clips on social media and his specials on Prime, I was thrilled to finally see him on stage in person.
He was absolutely on fire that night - not a single recycled joke, and lots of side-splitting stories we could all relate to.
I definitely rank him on par with Trevor Noah.
Jerry Seinfeld and Ronnie Chieng cannot compare.
Come back soon, Jimmy!
Adam Kay
This was so funny I laughed till I cried.
This Is Going To Hurt is the funniest book I've ever read, and I wondered how it would translate to a stage show.
Adam's routine was ingenious - a combination of deadpan readings of selected book passages, interspersed with wacky medicine-themed ditties.
Greatly appreciate the chance to meet him and get a cherished autograph post-show. He was deeply grateful when I told him how much I love his book. 😊
The Script
It was my second time watching this terrific Irish band, and my first time in the front row woohoo!
These guys never disappoint, and I got lucky again when lead singer Danny O'Donoghue strolled past and gave me a high five. ( He did this at the previous concert I attended, but I was in the tiered section. )
Wow, this turned out to be a lengthy post!
Guess it's been an eventful year.
Will be even more exciting in 2026 - already have SIX shows lined up, 5 in the first quarter alone.
Looking forward to all the catharsis. 😄