Hans Zimmer Live - The Next Level, 7 October 2026, Singapore Indoor Stadium

It's been 4 busy months since my last entry, but I feel compelled to post this.

I've been a huge Hans Zimmer fan since 2000's Gladiator, but looking at his filmography on IMDB, his work goes as far back as 1984 when he was just 27 years old.

The first scores of his which I would've heard were for The Lion King and Rain Man, although I didn't take note of his name at the time. 

He also composed for The Rock but it didn't hit me as hard as Gladiator did.

From 2000 onward, his career really took off - Hannibal, Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, the Kung Fu Panda films, Sherlock Holmes, Inception, Man of Steel, Interstellar, Dune Parts One and Two, Top Gun: Maverick and F1: The Movie.

He had a concert at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix which I knew about but didn't attend because of the outdoor venue.

He was always on my bucket list, so I was overjoyed when he finally returned 7 years later.

I consciously avoided watching YouTube videos so I could experience it fresh, and it was absolutely astounding!

I was immensely lucky to snag an 11th row centre aisle seat, which was randomly allocated by the SISTIC ticketing system.

There was a tall guy with a big head in front of me, but I managed to take gorgeous photos and videos by raising my arms.

The entire event was a whopping 3 hours long ( excluding the intermission ), with 2 acts and an encore.

Considering the mind-boggling volume of Zimmer's work, some notable scores were understandably left out ( The Rock, Kung Fu Panda, Top Gun: Maverick ).

However, the setlist included a great mix of genres, from grand sweeping themes ( Interstellar, Inception ) to lighthearted playful tunes ( Sherlock Holmes, Pirates of the Caribbean ).

The highlights for me were the following:

F1: The Movie

An exhilarating piece with a pulsating beat that generated euphoria through the 10,000-strong crowd.

Coupled with colourful high-speed graphics on the giant screen, the effect was incredible!

Pearl Harbor

Titled Tennessee, this haunting melody is one which I've loved for more than 2 decades, and never thought I'd hear live.

It was the only full-length recording I made that night, and I've been listening to it repeatedly.

Just unbelievably gorgeous.

The Lion King

The final performance in Act Two was a spectacular medley that moved me to tears.

Featuring Lebohang Morake, the South African who sang on the original 1994 soundtrack, it gave me major chills!

The large screen graphics of African animals were wonderful, and the 20-member African choir added great poignance with their powerful vocals and beautifully choreographed dancing.

Interstellar and Inception

Both scores feature simple melodies comprising just a few repetitive notes, but the musical arrangements give them an amazing otherworldly quality. 

For Interstellar, there was even someone suspended in mid-air, wearing a costume that was fully covered in crystals.

Wow...

Gladiator

Zimmer's most famous work was an electrifying 20-minute medley! ( I timed it haha. )

He also brought the original singer, Lisa Gerrard, whose vocals on Now We Are Free had me reaching for the tissues.

Pure bliss.

Despite being an ardent fan of movie music for 45 years ( it started in kindergarten with Disney cartoons and John Williams ), I've only attended 2 concerts with actual Hollywood composers so far - the first was Justin Hurwitz in March 2025.

Watching my idols on stage as their scores are being played are truly out-of-this-world experiences!

While John Williams will always be my favourite, Hans Zimmer is far more versatile, utilizing a vast range of styles from classical to pop/rock and electronic.

I'm constantly fascinated by how composers create such exquisite music. It's really pure genius.

I'm not sure if other similar concerts will materialize - the closest possibility is Justin Hurwitz's return with a show that features pieces from other films - but I'm crossing my fingers for John Powell ( How To Train Your Dragon )!

Based on a Google search, the other famous composer who tours is Danny Elfman. Someone please bring him to Singapore!

This was the best show I saw this year, and one of the best I've ever attended.

It also made me miss my mum, who loved many of the movies Zimmer scored, especially Gladiator and Pearl Harbor. She would've loved this very very much.

Here's the setlist if you'd like to hear the repertoire.

Till next time! 

Film Review - Interstellar

My reviews have been delayed for the past year, but I persist because for some reason, people are reading them. :)

And while this probably isn't going to make a huge difference since most moviegoers catch new releases within the first week, I hope this post will make you ponder over a few things, and perhaps help you pass a bit of time in a pleasant manner.

The spoiler-free verdict: 9/10, definitely worth seeing.


And now, SPOILERS AHEAD, SPOILERS AHEAD, SPOILERS AHEAD!








First, I don't consider Interstellar a film about space. Or space travel.

I realize it sounds preposterous, but that's exactly how I feel.

And it isn't a bad thing. Not by a long shot. In fact, I give writers Jonathan and Christopher Nolan huge credit for once again exceeding all my expectations, just like they did with Inception and The Dark Knight.

So what do I think Interstellar is really about?

The full answer is extremely complex - and I no longer have the luxury of time ( or brain stamina ) to pen lengthy essays like I used to. But the main message I took home was how extraordinary human beings are, in both good and terrible ways.


The concept of planet Earth being in peril and prompting heroic measures to save it isn't new, of course. Remember Armageddon and Deep Impact?

Where more cerebral versions are concerned, there's Contact ( which coincidentally also starred Matthew McConaughey ) - and hey, turns out it's also NOT about space after all! But it's one of my favourite "space" films of all time, and now, Interstellar joins the list.

While there're more than enough scenes to satisfy those who expect a grand spectacle, for me, those are merely the icing on the cake. Instead, the main course comes in the form of astute and multi-layered character studies, all of which got my synapses firing, and which will likely stay in my head forever.


Two, in particular, stand out. Professor Brand - aka the guy who came up with the whole save-the-Earth plan, and wonderfully portrayed by Nolan's regular collaborator, Michael Caine - initially comes across as a veritable saint, only to be revealed near the end as duplicitous. Because despite formulating 2 possible outcomes, he opted not to tell anybody that he always knew only one of them might succeed. This was a major WTF moment for me. I mean, my jaw literally dropped. I don't expect many viewers to agree, but Brand's action struck me as shockingly ruthless and cruel. And yet, one can also argue that he may have done it out of love, because he also sent his own daughter on the mission, hoping to save her above anyone else.

The other is Dr. Mann, featured in one of the best cameos I've seen in a long time. Played perfectly by Matt Damon, Mann also possesses a dark side, manipulating others with great skill, but only for the purpose of self-preservation. A tense sequence involving Mann's struggle with and subsequent overpowering of Cooper ( McConaughey ), followed by an adrenaline-pumping explosion and a split-second life-saving decision made by Cooper, was exhilarating! A truly magnificent example of movie magic!

The entire cast is excellent, and I can't single anyone out because they're all great. However, I do love TARS the robot. A lot. I was curious about this character after reading about it in Empire magazine's interview with Nolan ( there wasn't a picture attached, just a bunch of cryptic descriptions ), but the final product is marvelous! Indisputable proof that less can be more, because our notions of artificial intelligence in a physical form ( as opposed to computer software like what we saw in Her ) have been tainted by the likes of Star Wars, A.I., Wall-E and countless other shows. And Nolan cleverly subverts this influence by crafting a machine which is honestly quite ugly, but gradually reveals a personality ( snarky humour! ) and quite a few nifty abilities ( it's made up of 4 finger-like pieces, which form a cogwheel that can whirl through a body of water and save people! ). Super cool. :)

Then there's the soundtrack by Hans Zimmer - nothing short of AWESOME. I'm familiar with his signature style ( he also wrote music for other Nolan films like The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, as well as Man Of Steel ), but this is by far his best. I've read complaints about the ear-splitting volume on Interstellar - which I disagree with - but this may have highlighted the score much more clearly, with gut-wrenching effect. Unfortunately, there was a lot going on so I can't name specific scenes, but if you decide to watch the film again in the future, keep your ears open!

Last but not least, Mr. Nolan the director.
I've been a fan since 2000's Memento, and have seen every single one of his movies since then. He never disappoints, and has only gotten increasingly better with time. In addition to handling action on a grand scale with amazing skill ( and style ), he always manages to inject a distinctly human element into his work, through a thought-provoking script filled with classic quotes ( remember The Joker's line in The Dark Knight? "Insanity is like gravity - all you need is a little push." ), complex scenarios that test the limits of one's conscience, and numerous career-high performances which only he can draw out.
( I also think he's absolutely gorgeous. Who does his hair? It's glorious! :))

Interstellar isn't flawless, of course. I was completely confused by the last 15 minutes, although there're a few helpful explanations on the Internet, and a hokey bit about "love and gravity" which I think I blocked out ( the repressed memory was triggered by this rather hilarious piece ). Perhaps I'll appreciate the movie more after figuring out what the heck happened, but in spite of this, I still think it's an incredible achievement, and a terrific way to spend 3 hours of my precious time.

Comments are welcomed! For the next entry, I hope to review The Newsroom season 3, which just started airing this week. It is just sooooo freaking fantastic! :)

Review: Man Of Steel

Time constraints allow only 1 entry so far this month, and I'm going to dedicate it to the first film of 2013 to leave me in complete awe.

I realize reviews have been mixed, so take this as a personal opinion, and form your own if or when you see it.

My verdict: Man Of Steel is INCREDIBLE.




***Beware of spoilers ahead. Apologies, but I can't do it justice without going in depth.***

Let's start at the beginning - not this reboot, but the original movies which starred Christopher Reeve.
I saw Superman when I was in kindergarten, and the experience was nothing less than life-changing. Not only was I formally introduced to my first superhero, it's also my earliest memory of eye-popping special effects ( before I saw Star Wars ), and believe it or not, my first crush on an actor. :)
Superman II made an even bigger impression - that's the one with Zod - and remains my favourite of the Reeve franchise.

Bryan Singer's 2006 update was a massive letdown despite the presence of my all-time fave actor, Kevin Spacey. Aside from an awkward script and lacklustre directing, they made a huge mistake in casting Brandon Routh who, though physically appropriate for the role, is a terrible actor.

To be honest, I didn't have high hopes for Zack Snyder's reboot. I enjoyed some of his earlier work - 300, Sucker Punch - but didn't connect with Watchmen or Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. And while his films are known for being visual adventures, they suffer in the script and acting departments.

Man Of Steel also has its flaws - a few clunky scenes and lines, a less-than-stellar villain - but these are totally obliterated by the brilliant parts.

You're welcome to disagree, of course, but the first scene that practically tore my heart out of my chest involves a school bus careening off a bridge. Young Clark Kent defies his adoptive father's repeated warnings to keep his powers hidden, lifting the vehicle to safety, then diving into the river to rescue a bully who tormented him moments before the crash.

This sequence moved me immensely, and no other superhero movie has ever had the same effect.

There's another scene, also featuring young Clark as he's cornered by a group of bullies who taunt him to fight back. Somehow, he manages to restrain himself, and only after someone helps him up (the same boy he saved from the river ) do you see his hand release its hold on a pipe that is deformed as a result of his superhuman strength.

Another major tissue moment for me. :)

These two scenes really stand out for the following reasons:
1) We know Clark has superpowers, and so does he.
2) However, he chooses not to use them even when he has good reason to.
3) He is invincible, yet becomes the target of bullies.
4) His obedience to adoptive father, Jonathan, is truly remarkable.
5) In spite of his tender age, his unwavering sense of morality is already established.

The original films never explored Clark's youth in detail. I think it's much harder for a child / teenager to control his primal urges, especially when he's fully aware of his abilities. Making a conscious decision to do the opposite is almost impossible for someone in his position. Hence the poignance of these scenarios.

These insightful snippets are utilized to great effect in the form of strategically placed flashbacks - another format not employed in the earlier movies.

Adult Clark also has his fair share of turmoil - i.e. leaves home, spends time working on a fishing boat and a diner - before discovering his origin and true purpose.

The parallels with Jesus Christ are glaringly obvious, especially when taken together with Jonathan Kent's cautionary words about the world not being able to accept Clark's powers, and Jor-El's intonation about Kal-El becoming human so he can be a bridge between two worlds. There's also the number 33 being tossed around - Superman's current age in Man Of Steel, also Christ's age when he was crucified.

David S Goyer and Christopher Nolan co-wrote the script, and I definitely would like to know why they chose to tell Superman's story from this particular angle. Maybe when I have time, I'll do an exhaustive Google search and solve the mystery.

Henry Cavill does a splendid job as Clark / Superman. I watched all 4 seasons of The Tudors and he featured prominently in the series, so I'm no stranger to this handsome young man who narrowly missed snagging leading roles in Casino Royale and Twilight. Christopher Reeve is a very tough act to follow, but Cavill is a very worthy successor.

Empire magazine mentions the lack of humour in Man Of Steel, but I don't mind it at all. It's a welcome change from the formulaic blockbuster with its snarky one-liners and gimmicks. MOS doesn't match The Dark Knight's foreboding gloom, but its somber tone fits the storyline and adds a nice touch of maturity.

Amy Adams is lovely as Lois Lane. I've never been a big fan of Margot Kidder's clownish portrayal, and Kate Bosworth lacked fire. Adams may not have that much to do here, but she exudes a classy intelligence and demonstrates good chemistry with Cavill. Their single kiss was a tad forced, but hopefully things will improve in the sequel ( already announced, woohoo! ).

Michael Shannon as General Zod was quite disappointing - unfortunate, considering his impressive body of work thus far. After the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch ( Star Trek Into Darkness ) and Guy Pearce ( Iron Man 3 ), Zod comes across as a bit of a wimp. This is not helped by redundant lines like "This can only end one way - either you die, or I do." Huh???

Russell Crowe does an admirable job as Jor-El, rising above the campy armour costume, winged creatures and strange names. But it is Kevin Costner who is the beating heart of this film. No other superhero mentor comes close to Jon Kent, who nurtures an extraordinary child and transforms him into an exceptional adult.

Oh yes, the visual effects are also quite spectacular. I wasn't paying as much attention to those though. :)


I'll probably watch this many more times when it's released on DVD. Suffice to say, it's my favourite superhero movie to date, regardless of its commercial performance.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for reading. :)