Review of Hero ( MAJOR SPOILERS INCLUDED, PROCEED WITH CAUTION :))
So the question on everyone's lips is: Is "Hero" better than "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"?
My opinion: Absolutely.
I caught the movie last night at GV Grand, which boasts an excellent big screen -- reserved for the newest releases -- as well as a terrific sound system ( perfect for this film, as I will explain later ).
A good friend of mine, who's also a wuxia fan, was with me. And let me tell you, if you're ( like me ) totally clueless about "cultural" Chinese films, it helps a great deal to see "Hero" with someone who knows a lot about this genre. Reason? Certain scenes seem extremely cheesy, and the audience couldn't help giggling quite a number of times. For example, the swordfight between Sky ( Donnie Yen ) and Nameless ( a really cool Jet Li ) pauses suddenly mid-battle as the latter requests an additional song from an old blind musician. Then there's the other fight between Flying Snow ( Maggie Cheung ) and Moon ( Zhang Ziyi ), which ends with the latter being slain and doing a few pirouettes before dramatically collapsing onto the ground. Standard wuxia fare, my friend assured me. Nothing unexpected. Gave me a good perspective! :D
Okay, on to the story. Basically, it starts with Nameless arriving at the palace of the Emperor of the Qin dynasty, claiming to have killed the king's 3 dreaded assassins. He is promptly rewarded, and asked to retell his tale. In the process, the emperor picks up on suspicious details, and later on, manages to see through this supposed hero's version of events, discovering the truth at the very end.
The movie is told in 3 different ways. It begins with the lie, then the emperor's amended story, then the authentic version. The now-famous colour-coding scheme is as follows ( with helpful insight from above friend ): red represents the lie, blue the amended truth, green the past, and white the actual truth. Each sequence is a feast for the senses!
The fight scenes are brilliantly choreographed, and far superior to those in "Crouching Tiger...". The pace is so fast it's sometimes impossible to see their every move, so don't blink! I feel that the main reason I enjoy "Hero" is because the actors are so much younger than Chow Yun Fatt and Michelle Yeoh -- though both are capable actors, they falter during intensely physical sequences. With veterans like Jet Li, Donnie Yen and Zhang Ziyi, wuxia comes alive and sends shivers down your spine as you watch them engage in mortal combat. Aided by fantastic sound effects -- which greatly enhance the clang of the swords, the whoosh of a tornado of autumn leaves or a swirling silk gown, the soft plop of a drop of water -- it is cinematic drama in top form.
Now we come to the actors, of which I shall only mention the 4 who made the biggest impression on me. Zhang Ziyi excels once again as a hot-headed but beautiful and skilled swordswoman, adding just that extra "oomph" to any period wuxia film. Jet Li defies all laws of gravity and physics, and is clearly at home in this movie, in comparison to hair-raising turns in "Lethal Weapon 4" and "Romeo Must Die".
Still, my favourites are Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Maggie Cheung. The former used to entertain my family during my childhood days, as we faithfully followed the TV series "The Duke of Mount Deer". Since then, he has forged an admirable career for himself, though I haven't actually caught any of his more famous projects. In "Hero", he steals the show without a doubt. A dead ringer for Jim Caviezel ( who starred in "Frequency" and "The Count of Monte Cristo" ), he also shares the latter's affinity for emotional roles. Be it anger, love or remorse, Leung exhibits them all flawlessly and effortlessly. If this doesn't get him an Oscar nomination, I don't know what will.
As for Maggie Cheung, she shines like the sun in her role as Flying Snow. Possessing fine-featured beauty and grace, she adds layer upon layer of complexity to her character. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the plot, she spends the entire film locked in perpetual sorrow or rage. However, watch for a scene somewhere in the middle of the movie, where she parts ways with Broken Sword in the desert, before fighting it out with Nameless. As she walks to her ride, she suddenly turns back to look at her lover, and in that split second, a tentative but unforgettably gorgeous smile touches her lips. And the next moment, it's gone. It is a poignant few seconds, the stuff classics are made of.
The screenplay is terrific, and the script, extremely well-written. Even the English translation succeeds in preserving the poetry of the original dialogue. The climactic scene is guaranteed to resonate for quite a while after you leave the theatre. The theme is so much more all-encompassing, almost at a level similar to that of the "Lord of the Rings" saga, yet it can also be intensely personal as well.
A truly visionary effort from the master Zhang Yimou.
"Hero" has already become the all-time highest-grossing film in China, and has received numerous glowing reviews from the Western media. Chances are high that it will win the Oscar for Best Foreign Film this year, but it remains to be seen if it will earn accolades in the directing and acting departments.
Don't wait any longer. This MUST be seen on the big screen, so get your tickets now.
Next movie I'm greatly looking forward to seeing: Catch Me If You Can. ( Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg -- a film buff's nirvana! :))
Thursday, January 09, 2003
Wow, just read the papers this morning, and this is really unbelievable!
There's a new reality TV show in the US, called Joe Millionaire. Modelled after the wildly successful Bachelor series, no doubt, but with a major ( albeit cruel ) twist -- 20 women will fight for a single man who's supposed to be filthy rich, but in fact, is only a construction worker pretending to be a multi-millionaire.
Everybody together now -- WHAT?!?!
Admittedly, this piece of news has piqued my interest no end, thus my visit to its website. Obviously all the women were kept in the dark about the man's real identity, and all I can say is, those who were eliminated early must be thanking their lucky stars right now!
However, this show definitely offers some fascinating looks into the ugly side of the female psyche. From the Internet synopsis of the pilot episode, snippets of the women gushing over a man they think has $50 million in his pocket makes me want to bury my head in the ground. The women who were chosen are educated and sophisticated professionals -- one of them's a doctor, apparently -- which makes their hypocrisy and materialism all the more intolerable. I can only imagine the "winner's" horror when she's finally told the truth.
Hope the show comes to Singapore soon. Stay tuned!
Next up, Ronan Keating fans here should get their tickets fast. He's giving a concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on February 7th, Friday. I've followed his career since his Boyzone days, and his voice has gotten better with age. I'm currently blasting his album - Destination - in my car, and the songs are great. The next time you go to Borders, HMV or That CD Shop at Great World City ( places where you can sample CDs without having to feel obligated to buy ), the good ones to try out are "We've Got Tonight" ( a duet with the lovely Lulu ), "The Long Goodbye", and "If Tomorrow Never Comes".
There's a new reality TV show in the US, called Joe Millionaire. Modelled after the wildly successful Bachelor series, no doubt, but with a major ( albeit cruel ) twist -- 20 women will fight for a single man who's supposed to be filthy rich, but in fact, is only a construction worker pretending to be a multi-millionaire.
Everybody together now -- WHAT?!?!
Admittedly, this piece of news has piqued my interest no end, thus my visit to its website. Obviously all the women were kept in the dark about the man's real identity, and all I can say is, those who were eliminated early must be thanking their lucky stars right now!
However, this show definitely offers some fascinating looks into the ugly side of the female psyche. From the Internet synopsis of the pilot episode, snippets of the women gushing over a man they think has $50 million in his pocket makes me want to bury my head in the ground. The women who were chosen are educated and sophisticated professionals -- one of them's a doctor, apparently -- which makes their hypocrisy and materialism all the more intolerable. I can only imagine the "winner's" horror when she's finally told the truth.
Hope the show comes to Singapore soon. Stay tuned!
Next up, Ronan Keating fans here should get their tickets fast. He's giving a concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on February 7th, Friday. I've followed his career since his Boyzone days, and his voice has gotten better with age. I'm currently blasting his album - Destination - in my car, and the songs are great. The next time you go to Borders, HMV or That CD Shop at Great World City ( places where you can sample CDs without having to feel obligated to buy ), the good ones to try out are "We've Got Tonight" ( a duet with the lovely Lulu ), "The Long Goodbye", and "If Tomorrow Never Comes".
Wednesday, January 01, 2003
Discovered a wonderful Viggo Mortensen website today.
Featuring everything from the latest news to his biography, and in-depth accounts of his other talents, such as painting, poetry and music, you can also enjoy numerous gorgeous pictures of this remarkable man.
I particularly enjoyed the sections devoted to his paintings and photographs, which show how he has an astute eye for capturing beautiful images both on film and canvas.
Also check out the poetry category, where you can even hear Viggo reciting his various writings. Though some of them are a little cheesy, others are hauntingly memorable. Anyhow, he has a deep and soothing voice, and will especially charm when speaking Spanish, sigh. :) Not that I understand any of it, of course. :D
If he decides to record an audio book, I'll buy it for sure.
Featuring everything from the latest news to his biography, and in-depth accounts of his other talents, such as painting, poetry and music, you can also enjoy numerous gorgeous pictures of this remarkable man.
I particularly enjoyed the sections devoted to his paintings and photographs, which show how he has an astute eye for capturing beautiful images both on film and canvas.
Also check out the poetry category, where you can even hear Viggo reciting his various writings. Though some of them are a little cheesy, others are hauntingly memorable. Anyhow, he has a deep and soothing voice, and will especially charm when speaking Spanish, sigh. :) Not that I understand any of it, of course. :D
If he decides to record an audio book, I'll buy it for sure.
Monday, December 30, 2002
Here's my review of "LOTR: The Two Towers".
Warning: spoilers included
First off, it's unbelievably fantastic! In fact, this is an understatement! I sometimes find it difficult to fully describe this absolute masterpiece, because it's just so many things rolled into one excellent 3-hour film.
I loved "LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring", but the second in this trilogy surpasses its predecessor in numerous ways. Sure, I've heard that some people didn't enjoy this movie as much because the scenery isn't as visually stunning -- and yes, this is true. When compared to "Fellowship", which had the benefit of being the first LOTR film, and thus gave us our first glimpses of Middle Earth, with the Shire, Rivendell, Moria, etc, "Towers" can't come close in terms of breath-taking sights.
But "Towers" isn't about inspiring awe in that manner. No, this second installment is much darker, as the protagonists progress further towards Mordor, and come face to face with 10,000 Orc warriors in the final bloody battle at Helms Deep. We witness the gradual transformation of Frodo ( Elijah Wood ), who comes under the ring's power andturns on his friend Sam in one emotional, nail-biting scene. Gollum ( the amazing Andy Serkis ) has a much larger role here, and again demonstrates the ring's all-encompassing evil. The other members of the now-broken fellowship -- Aragorn ( the delicious Viggo Mortensen ), Legolas ( equally yummy Orlando Bloom ) and Gimli ( John Rhys-Davies ) -- also face their own obstacles, but again persevere and triumph, to much cheering from the audience. :)
Peter Jackson has repeated his feat, producing a masterpiece that will make all Tolkien fans proud. He picks up the pace, and with help from his excellent visual effects team, conjures up an eye-popping climactic battle scene -- the most remarkable one I've ever seen, might I add. However, he admirably intersperses all the action with intimate moments -- Frodo's spiritual and emotional turmoil, Sam's unwavering loyalty towards his best friend, Gollum's dual-personality monologues, the knowing looks exchanged between Aragorn and Eowyn ( a luminous Miranda Otto ), and my personal favourite: a scene where Aragorn is near-death, and dreams that he is at Rivendell with Arwen ( aptly cast Liv Tyler ). This last sequence is bittersweet and gentle, with superb acting from the two stars, who manage to convey the deep love the characters have for each other. Truly one of the most enduring romances of our time.
But LOTR wouldn't be complete without at least 1 spectacular scene. "Fellowship" had the encounter with the demon in Moria, and "Towers" its battle at Helms Deep. Jackson does well in creating momentum as the war draws near, so audiences experience the urgency and fear as the characters make preparations to defend their fort. Lace this with beautiful lines, and you've got the perfect mix. For example, when the king of Rohan asks Aragorn, "What can Man do when faced with such reckless hate?", the latter replies, "Ride out and meet it." And in a poignant scene where Frodo almost gives up on his quest, Sam manages to change his mind by saying, "There's still good in this world, and it's worth fighting for."
My eyes were fixed on Viggo Mortensen this time round -- Orlando Bloom caught my attention in "Fellowship", but his boyish good looks are overshadowed by Mortensen's rugged masculinity. :) Here is a man who was made for the role of Aragorn. Possessing the necessary physicality and agility, yet extremely capable in bringing out the character's soft side, he is a sight to behold, and eats up the screen whenever he appears. No wonder Miranda Otto, who plays his new love interest Eowyn, told reporters that she had no problem acting as if she were in love with him.
Already in the running for 2 Golden Globes ( Best Picture and Best Director ), "The Two Towers" also draws parallels with the political chaos in the world today. Sauron and Saruman can represent the Osamas and Saddams, and the Orcs the ever-increasing forces of al-Qaeda and other jihad affiliates. The theme of good versus evil resonates at this time of impending war between America and Iraq, and especially after 9/11. But there's always an optimistic conclusion to the tale, and good will triumph in the end, as long as we hold fast to our principles, and people with courage, loyalty and integrity still exist.
I'm rooting for "Towers" to win the Best Picture Oscar come March 2003. A long shot, perhaps, but it never hurts to hope!
You MUST see this movie!
Warning: spoilers included
First off, it's unbelievably fantastic! In fact, this is an understatement! I sometimes find it difficult to fully describe this absolute masterpiece, because it's just so many things rolled into one excellent 3-hour film.
I loved "LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring", but the second in this trilogy surpasses its predecessor in numerous ways. Sure, I've heard that some people didn't enjoy this movie as much because the scenery isn't as visually stunning -- and yes, this is true. When compared to "Fellowship", which had the benefit of being the first LOTR film, and thus gave us our first glimpses of Middle Earth, with the Shire, Rivendell, Moria, etc, "Towers" can't come close in terms of breath-taking sights.
But "Towers" isn't about inspiring awe in that manner. No, this second installment is much darker, as the protagonists progress further towards Mordor, and come face to face with 10,000 Orc warriors in the final bloody battle at Helms Deep. We witness the gradual transformation of Frodo ( Elijah Wood ), who comes under the ring's power andturns on his friend Sam in one emotional, nail-biting scene. Gollum ( the amazing Andy Serkis ) has a much larger role here, and again demonstrates the ring's all-encompassing evil. The other members of the now-broken fellowship -- Aragorn ( the delicious Viggo Mortensen ), Legolas ( equally yummy Orlando Bloom ) and Gimli ( John Rhys-Davies ) -- also face their own obstacles, but again persevere and triumph, to much cheering from the audience. :)
Peter Jackson has repeated his feat, producing a masterpiece that will make all Tolkien fans proud. He picks up the pace, and with help from his excellent visual effects team, conjures up an eye-popping climactic battle scene -- the most remarkable one I've ever seen, might I add. However, he admirably intersperses all the action with intimate moments -- Frodo's spiritual and emotional turmoil, Sam's unwavering loyalty towards his best friend, Gollum's dual-personality monologues, the knowing looks exchanged between Aragorn and Eowyn ( a luminous Miranda Otto ), and my personal favourite: a scene where Aragorn is near-death, and dreams that he is at Rivendell with Arwen ( aptly cast Liv Tyler ). This last sequence is bittersweet and gentle, with superb acting from the two stars, who manage to convey the deep love the characters have for each other. Truly one of the most enduring romances of our time.
But LOTR wouldn't be complete without at least 1 spectacular scene. "Fellowship" had the encounter with the demon in Moria, and "Towers" its battle at Helms Deep. Jackson does well in creating momentum as the war draws near, so audiences experience the urgency and fear as the characters make preparations to defend their fort. Lace this with beautiful lines, and you've got the perfect mix. For example, when the king of Rohan asks Aragorn, "What can Man do when faced with such reckless hate?", the latter replies, "Ride out and meet it." And in a poignant scene where Frodo almost gives up on his quest, Sam manages to change his mind by saying, "There's still good in this world, and it's worth fighting for."
My eyes were fixed on Viggo Mortensen this time round -- Orlando Bloom caught my attention in "Fellowship", but his boyish good looks are overshadowed by Mortensen's rugged masculinity. :) Here is a man who was made for the role of Aragorn. Possessing the necessary physicality and agility, yet extremely capable in bringing out the character's soft side, he is a sight to behold, and eats up the screen whenever he appears. No wonder Miranda Otto, who plays his new love interest Eowyn, told reporters that she had no problem acting as if she were in love with him.
Already in the running for 2 Golden Globes ( Best Picture and Best Director ), "The Two Towers" also draws parallels with the political chaos in the world today. Sauron and Saruman can represent the Osamas and Saddams, and the Orcs the ever-increasing forces of al-Qaeda and other jihad affiliates. The theme of good versus evil resonates at this time of impending war between America and Iraq, and especially after 9/11. But there's always an optimistic conclusion to the tale, and good will triumph in the end, as long as we hold fast to our principles, and people with courage, loyalty and integrity still exist.
I'm rooting for "Towers" to win the Best Picture Oscar come March 2003. A long shot, perhaps, but it never hurts to hope!
You MUST see this movie!
Sunday, December 22, 2002
Okay, I happened to be on the Internet, and thought I'd post this 'cos it's pretty unbelievable stuff.
I just watched a recording of "Temptation Island: Australia" and my jaw hit the floor. Yes, despite having liberal views regarding Western morals, the shenanigans on this Australian series ( ie. featuring native Aussies, instead of a bunch of Americans ) were positively SHOCKING. Sure, there were the usual drunken parties, overt flirtations and skimpily clad tight bods, but this pilot episode had 2 intoxicated women kissing each other -- yes, it was shown on Singapore TV! Intentional? Perhaps, in which case the Singapore Broadcast Authority is once again practising double standards -- ""Sex And The City"? No way! "Temptation Island: Australia" which depicts women tonguing each other? Proceed!"
I couldn't care less if this show continues to be screened every Saturday night. I think Singaporeans are becoming quite promiscuous and can handle this sort of thing without any problem. But please, if this reality series is considered okay for local consumption on free-to-air TV, then I think someone on the SBA needs to reverse the decision to ban "Sex And The City" ( which is based on FICTIONAL characters, btw ) from cable television. You do see a point in what I'm saying, right?
I just watched a recording of "Temptation Island: Australia" and my jaw hit the floor. Yes, despite having liberal views regarding Western morals, the shenanigans on this Australian series ( ie. featuring native Aussies, instead of a bunch of Americans ) were positively SHOCKING. Sure, there were the usual drunken parties, overt flirtations and skimpily clad tight bods, but this pilot episode had 2 intoxicated women kissing each other -- yes, it was shown on Singapore TV! Intentional? Perhaps, in which case the Singapore Broadcast Authority is once again practising double standards -- ""Sex And The City"? No way! "Temptation Island: Australia" which depicts women tonguing each other? Proceed!"
I couldn't care less if this show continues to be screened every Saturday night. I think Singaporeans are becoming quite promiscuous and can handle this sort of thing without any problem. But please, if this reality series is considered okay for local consumption on free-to-air TV, then I think someone on the SBA needs to reverse the decision to ban "Sex And The City" ( which is based on FICTIONAL characters, btw ) from cable television. You do see a point in what I'm saying, right?
Saturday, December 21, 2002
This post is dedicated to reality shows.
The final 2 episodes of The Amazing Race 3 weren't as exciting for me, as I was on call the day it was screened, and already read about the winners over the Internet prior to watching the recording. But I can tell you that this series is by far the most engrossing of the 3, because all the contestants are captivating in their own ways, and the race was really really tight all the way to the very end.
Not to mention resident whiner Flo Pesenti, who grated on my nerves throughout the 2 hours with her incessant crying, shouting, threats to quit, etc. Prima donna and immature spoilt brat rolled into one, it's truly a miracle that she and Zach went on to clinch the milllion-dollar prize. I concur with the majority of opinions on the Net -- that Zach should get the whole million, and Flo should get nothing. After all, in the final leg, all she did was sit and pout, or delay the team by refusing to carry out their designated tasks, or putting in half-hearted efforts at best. Zach was the one running around booking airline tickets, figuring out the clues, and most importantly, pacifying Flo and doing his best to persuade her to stay in the race. In Vietnam, the latter really wanted out, but poor Zach put his foot down and told her, "This is my race too, so we should talk about it." Right on, Zach. You tell that selfish woman like it is.
Actually, I already suspected that Flo and Zach won the money, especially after an interview with the twins Drew and Derek in the papers a couple of days ago revealed that Drew is now long-distance dating Flo. Not only did it raise my eyebrows, I practically choked when he said all sorts of forgiving and nice things about her awful tantrums on international TV, citing reasons like how stressful the circumstances were, how fragile she is, and so on. But you know what? I think a lot of that motivation comes from the fact that Flo's now got half a million buckeroos in her bank account. Plus, she's absolutely hung on the guy, so you can bet she'll splurge a lot of her prize money on him. Smart move, Drew.
As for Zach, I'm sure he's won millions of female hearts all over the world with his good temper, optimism, and overall nice-guy demeanour. Not once did he lose his cool, and neither did he resort to any dirty tricks -- but let's give Flo some credit for playing a clean game too. He's wonderfully sweet, and I hope he finds an equally nice girl who'll make him happy. A word of caution to him though: most women he meets from now on will know about his fortune, and being the easygoing person he is, he may end up getting duped. So good luck to you, Zach. Wish you all the best.
Teri and Ian are the oldest couple to make it to the final, so good for them. Too bad Ken and Gerard didn't win. They're definitely the nicest team of the entire lot.
Survivor:Thailand had me on the edge of my seat. Brian is definitely an excellent player, and though he isn't the best person to win, he played his hand like a pro and got what he wanted. Ken was a hot favourite -- handsome, nice, a police officer basking in the post 9/11 adulation -- while Helen worked really hard only to be sabotaged by the guys at the crucial point. If she'd won the last immunity challenge, she would've gotten everyone's vote, no question. I think it was a big waste that people like Brian and Clay ended up being the final two. As one jury member said, he chose Brian because he's "the lesser of the two evils", meaning he didn't want either to win, but had no choice but to vote for one of them.
Well, Survivor has always been the best of all the reality shows, and the next season promises to be even more exciting, as it will take place in none other than the Amazon. Woohoo!
Temptation Island:Australia starts tonight at 11pm on Channel 5. No idea if it's gonna be Americans vacationing down under, or a local Australian population.
The final 2 episodes of The Amazing Race 3 weren't as exciting for me, as I was on call the day it was screened, and already read about the winners over the Internet prior to watching the recording. But I can tell you that this series is by far the most engrossing of the 3, because all the contestants are captivating in their own ways, and the race was really really tight all the way to the very end.
Not to mention resident whiner Flo Pesenti, who grated on my nerves throughout the 2 hours with her incessant crying, shouting, threats to quit, etc. Prima donna and immature spoilt brat rolled into one, it's truly a miracle that she and Zach went on to clinch the milllion-dollar prize. I concur with the majority of opinions on the Net -- that Zach should get the whole million, and Flo should get nothing. After all, in the final leg, all she did was sit and pout, or delay the team by refusing to carry out their designated tasks, or putting in half-hearted efforts at best. Zach was the one running around booking airline tickets, figuring out the clues, and most importantly, pacifying Flo and doing his best to persuade her to stay in the race. In Vietnam, the latter really wanted out, but poor Zach put his foot down and told her, "This is my race too, so we should talk about it." Right on, Zach. You tell that selfish woman like it is.
Actually, I already suspected that Flo and Zach won the money, especially after an interview with the twins Drew and Derek in the papers a couple of days ago revealed that Drew is now long-distance dating Flo. Not only did it raise my eyebrows, I practically choked when he said all sorts of forgiving and nice things about her awful tantrums on international TV, citing reasons like how stressful the circumstances were, how fragile she is, and so on. But you know what? I think a lot of that motivation comes from the fact that Flo's now got half a million buckeroos in her bank account. Plus, she's absolutely hung on the guy, so you can bet she'll splurge a lot of her prize money on him. Smart move, Drew.
As for Zach, I'm sure he's won millions of female hearts all over the world with his good temper, optimism, and overall nice-guy demeanour. Not once did he lose his cool, and neither did he resort to any dirty tricks -- but let's give Flo some credit for playing a clean game too. He's wonderfully sweet, and I hope he finds an equally nice girl who'll make him happy. A word of caution to him though: most women he meets from now on will know about his fortune, and being the easygoing person he is, he may end up getting duped. So good luck to you, Zach. Wish you all the best.
Teri and Ian are the oldest couple to make it to the final, so good for them. Too bad Ken and Gerard didn't win. They're definitely the nicest team of the entire lot.
Survivor:Thailand had me on the edge of my seat. Brian is definitely an excellent player, and though he isn't the best person to win, he played his hand like a pro and got what he wanted. Ken was a hot favourite -- handsome, nice, a police officer basking in the post 9/11 adulation -- while Helen worked really hard only to be sabotaged by the guys at the crucial point. If she'd won the last immunity challenge, she would've gotten everyone's vote, no question. I think it was a big waste that people like Brian and Clay ended up being the final two. As one jury member said, he chose Brian because he's "the lesser of the two evils", meaning he didn't want either to win, but had no choice but to vote for one of them.
Well, Survivor has always been the best of all the reality shows, and the next season promises to be even more exciting, as it will take place in none other than the Amazon. Woohoo!
Temptation Island:Australia starts tonight at 11pm on Channel 5. No idea if it's gonna be Americans vacationing down under, or a local Australian population.
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Aaaahhh... I've got my new fix :) and it's called "Fear Factor"!
The latest season is currently being screened over Channel 5, but I've already seen a few of the episodes, thanks to cable TV ( AXN Channel 19, to be precise ).
Yet another addition to the reality show genre, FF is exciting because it's constantly testing the boundaries. Last year, I was actually bored by some of the challenges, but the new season promises lots of icky, scary stuff. Just look at the trailers for a quick preview -- I especially enjoy the one that ends with "bon appetit!", featuring all the creepy-crawlies that contestants have to swallow, e.g. LIVE larvae of various species, gigantic cockroaches, worms, or as in last night's installment, pig uteruses.
No big deal, you say? Yesterday, I watched a bunch of really tough-looking participants ( including 3 beefcakes ) gag and choke on the pig organs, which measure 15 cm in length, look raw ( though the host claims they're cooked ), and need to be ingested within a minute each. Unfortunately, everyone had to toss for the number of uteruses they had to eat, and all of them ended up hitting the number 5. Watching them was painful, yet eerily enjoyable. :P
Anyhow, watch for more out-of-this-world antics, such as a challenge to walk completely nude in front of an audience, having tarantulas poured onto your head in an enclosed tank, and yes, more eating of the most disgusting things imaginable. The prize money? $50,000, which equals slightly more than $100,000 in local currency, and isn't that much when compared to "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race". But FF banks on psychological endurance more than anything else, and most obstacles can be overcome with the right attitude -- hence, the constant heckling from fellow contestants, in a bid to rattle whoever is up next. Best of all, it's a competition where it's really anyone's game, where slim women can beat men twice their size, where the small-sized beat the Xenas and Goliaths, where your luck can literally run out ( e.g. if you have a terrible phobia of spiders, and the challenge happens to involve tarantulas ). So keep your Monday nights free, or at least, set the VCR timer!
Side point here. Just want to post something about a nice restaurant I went to a week ago with some friends. It just opened in November, and is called Colours By The Bay, located at the Esplanade ( aka Singapore's newest theatre for the arts, and recently graced by Jose Carreras, Jessye Norman, the New York and London Philharmonic orchestras, and The Swingles Singers ). I like to call this place the reasonably-priced alternative to Mezza9 ( which is housed within the Grand Hyatt Hotel at Scotts Road, and offers mouth-watering dishes, but at great expense ). Colours offers choices from 7 different eateries, all located next to each other, and you can sit in 1 restaurant and order from the other 6 without having to move. The prices vary, but are generally very affordable, and with a group of 5, you can share 5 dishes, and pay less than $20 a head. Plus, there's no service charge, though the waiters and waitresses are quite good at their jobs.
Our menu included:
1. Chilli soft shell crab noodles from The Garlic Restaurant -- spicy/sweet, very fragrant
2. Mussels with garlic in a claypot -- from the same place, again very tasty
3. Vegetarian pizza -- from Al Dente Trattoria, lots of cheese, not bad
4. Tau hoo with Thai sauce -- from the Thai restaurant ( sorry, can't recall the name right now ), quite delicious
5. Sashimi platter -- from the Japanese restaurant, very very good ( but then, I have a weakness for it! )
The winebar cum club, Embassy, is just next to Colours, so you can retire there for post-dinner fun and drinks. But they play techno music there, so we headed down to Embargo next to One Fullerton instead. Not a bad way to spend an evening. Too bad the parking fee at The Esplanade is $4, really steep, and non-redeemable, aargh!
Last but not least, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for the following shows:
1. This Wednesday, 18th December, Channel i, at 7pm -- a documentary on Matt Damon's career.
2. X'mas Eve, 12mn, need to check which channel -- Nobody Someday, a documentary on Robbie Williams
The latest season is currently being screened over Channel 5, but I've already seen a few of the episodes, thanks to cable TV ( AXN Channel 19, to be precise ).
Yet another addition to the reality show genre, FF is exciting because it's constantly testing the boundaries. Last year, I was actually bored by some of the challenges, but the new season promises lots of icky, scary stuff. Just look at the trailers for a quick preview -- I especially enjoy the one that ends with "bon appetit!", featuring all the creepy-crawlies that contestants have to swallow, e.g. LIVE larvae of various species, gigantic cockroaches, worms, or as in last night's installment, pig uteruses.
No big deal, you say? Yesterday, I watched a bunch of really tough-looking participants ( including 3 beefcakes ) gag and choke on the pig organs, which measure 15 cm in length, look raw ( though the host claims they're cooked ), and need to be ingested within a minute each. Unfortunately, everyone had to toss for the number of uteruses they had to eat, and all of them ended up hitting the number 5. Watching them was painful, yet eerily enjoyable. :P
Anyhow, watch for more out-of-this-world antics, such as a challenge to walk completely nude in front of an audience, having tarantulas poured onto your head in an enclosed tank, and yes, more eating of the most disgusting things imaginable. The prize money? $50,000, which equals slightly more than $100,000 in local currency, and isn't that much when compared to "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race". But FF banks on psychological endurance more than anything else, and most obstacles can be overcome with the right attitude -- hence, the constant heckling from fellow contestants, in a bid to rattle whoever is up next. Best of all, it's a competition where it's really anyone's game, where slim women can beat men twice their size, where the small-sized beat the Xenas and Goliaths, where your luck can literally run out ( e.g. if you have a terrible phobia of spiders, and the challenge happens to involve tarantulas ). So keep your Monday nights free, or at least, set the VCR timer!
Side point here. Just want to post something about a nice restaurant I went to a week ago with some friends. It just opened in November, and is called Colours By The Bay, located at the Esplanade ( aka Singapore's newest theatre for the arts, and recently graced by Jose Carreras, Jessye Norman, the New York and London Philharmonic orchestras, and The Swingles Singers ). I like to call this place the reasonably-priced alternative to Mezza9 ( which is housed within the Grand Hyatt Hotel at Scotts Road, and offers mouth-watering dishes, but at great expense ). Colours offers choices from 7 different eateries, all located next to each other, and you can sit in 1 restaurant and order from the other 6 without having to move. The prices vary, but are generally very affordable, and with a group of 5, you can share 5 dishes, and pay less than $20 a head. Plus, there's no service charge, though the waiters and waitresses are quite good at their jobs.
Our menu included:
1. Chilli soft shell crab noodles from The Garlic Restaurant -- spicy/sweet, very fragrant
2. Mussels with garlic in a claypot -- from the same place, again very tasty
3. Vegetarian pizza -- from Al Dente Trattoria, lots of cheese, not bad
4. Tau hoo with Thai sauce -- from the Thai restaurant ( sorry, can't recall the name right now ), quite delicious
5. Sashimi platter -- from the Japanese restaurant, very very good ( but then, I have a weakness for it! )
The winebar cum club, Embassy, is just next to Colours, so you can retire there for post-dinner fun and drinks. But they play techno music there, so we headed down to Embargo next to One Fullerton instead. Not a bad way to spend an evening. Too bad the parking fee at The Esplanade is $4, really steep, and non-redeemable, aargh!
Last but not least, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for the following shows:
1. This Wednesday, 18th December, Channel i, at 7pm -- a documentary on Matt Damon's career.
2. X'mas Eve, 12mn, need to check which channel -- Nobody Someday, a documentary on Robbie Williams
Sunday, December 15, 2002
Anyone follow the exploits of Temptation Island 2? Wow, this season was really addictive. :) And the final episode aired just last night. Result: 2 couples split, 2 couples stayed together. But there were also additional twists, and 2 couples' fates changed later on -- the one that broke up got together again, and the one that intended to carry on with each other broke up. Okay, some pretty mindless stuff to preoccupy myself with, but it does offer some lessons for anyone who's ever been in a relationship. The one I felt for the most, surprisingly, wasn't Catherine and Edmundo. No, I actually applaud Kelly for finding strength to leave Mark. If you don't follow the show, you'll be asking, "What???" But for those who do, you may share my views.
As for Scrubs, which I intially hated, I've had a complete turnaround and absolutely love the show now. :) The characters grow on you, especially J.D. and his resident, Dr. Cox. The former is lovably good-hearted, someone we can all identify with as we go through various stages of our medical career, and the latter is a grouch with a hidden heart of gold, fighting the administration to provide proper healthcare for poor patients. In this day and age of materialism, even in a so-called "noble profession", Dr. Coxes are vital in preserving what's left of our dignity.
Speaking of dignity, there was an article in the Life! section of The Sunday Times today, about how men and women react differently to jealousy in relationships -- females tend to stay silent and become depressed, and males respond with violence/rage or drinking binges. ( That's the general gist of it. ) There were a few case reports as well, about how one woman tied her husband's wrist to her own while they slept, and another ( well-publicized ) incident where a woman bashed cars when she suspected her spouse of cheating on her.
Here's what I have to say: the first woman's off her rocker, of course. But the second? She merely did what most females would love to do, but fear to. As a victim of a cheating ex, I can confidently say that if we live in a society without any penal codes, most of the male species would be wiped out. We just have more self-restraint. Food for thought the next time you look at a woman. :)
As for Scrubs, which I intially hated, I've had a complete turnaround and absolutely love the show now. :) The characters grow on you, especially J.D. and his resident, Dr. Cox. The former is lovably good-hearted, someone we can all identify with as we go through various stages of our medical career, and the latter is a grouch with a hidden heart of gold, fighting the administration to provide proper healthcare for poor patients. In this day and age of materialism, even in a so-called "noble profession", Dr. Coxes are vital in preserving what's left of our dignity.
Speaking of dignity, there was an article in the Life! section of The Sunday Times today, about how men and women react differently to jealousy in relationships -- females tend to stay silent and become depressed, and males respond with violence/rage or drinking binges. ( That's the general gist of it. ) There were a few case reports as well, about how one woman tied her husband's wrist to her own while they slept, and another ( well-publicized ) incident where a woman bashed cars when she suspected her spouse of cheating on her.
Here's what I have to say: the first woman's off her rocker, of course. But the second? She merely did what most females would love to do, but fear to. As a victim of a cheating ex, I can confidently say that if we live in a society without any penal codes, most of the male species would be wiped out. We just have more self-restraint. Food for thought the next time you look at a woman. :)
Thursday, December 12, 2002
This is in continuation to the previous post below. Yes, the server is sucking again.
Of course, there're so many other treasures to dig up. His fear that his little brother's Scottish babysitter is a psychopathic paedophilic killer. His unbelievable interview with the casting agent of "The Real World", previously a hit reality TV show on MTV. His many conflicts with above baby brother, who deliberately behaves as if he's a victim of horrific abuse. His naked sprint along the seaside during a magazine photo shoot, describing the flopping of a certain part of his anatomy as "a bird shaking the life out of a worm".
But this book may appeal to other medical professionals like myself, because of his many references to the sick -- his parents, his friends, cancer, suicidal attempts, traumatic intracranial haemorrhages. His experiences are accurately and sensitively depicted, again with a dose of intelligent wit.
Word of caution: don't read this with any expectations beforehand, 'cos it will shatter them all. Just buckle up, and enjoy the ride.
A sidepoint here. I noticed an article in Life! today, about some awards ceremony for the local Chinese channel actors, written by Lionel Seah. This guy was kinda snooty, saying things like how someone's outfit was the cheapest, how someone's makeup was too heavy, etc. The nastiness made my stomach turn. Hey Lionel, Sharon Stone once wore a T-shirt under a jacket to a swanky event, and was congratulated for it. If you've got class, you don't need a $10,000 dress in order to look like a million bucks. And he actually thinks Zoe Tay's gown was fantastic? This is in no way an insult to Zoe, but the outfit looked like a dead spider -- or make that many dead spiders. Some people have the weirdest taste.
Of course, there're so many other treasures to dig up. His fear that his little brother's Scottish babysitter is a psychopathic paedophilic killer. His unbelievable interview with the casting agent of "The Real World", previously a hit reality TV show on MTV. His many conflicts with above baby brother, who deliberately behaves as if he's a victim of horrific abuse. His naked sprint along the seaside during a magazine photo shoot, describing the flopping of a certain part of his anatomy as "a bird shaking the life out of a worm".
But this book may appeal to other medical professionals like myself, because of his many references to the sick -- his parents, his friends, cancer, suicidal attempts, traumatic intracranial haemorrhages. His experiences are accurately and sensitively depicted, again with a dose of intelligent wit.
Word of caution: don't read this with any expectations beforehand, 'cos it will shatter them all. Just buckle up, and enjoy the ride.
A sidepoint here. I noticed an article in Life! today, about some awards ceremony for the local Chinese channel actors, written by Lionel Seah. This guy was kinda snooty, saying things like how someone's outfit was the cheapest, how someone's makeup was too heavy, etc. The nastiness made my stomach turn. Hey Lionel, Sharon Stone once wore a T-shirt under a jacket to a swanky event, and was congratulated for it. If you've got class, you don't need a $10,000 dress in order to look like a million bucks. And he actually thinks Zoe Tay's gown was fantastic? This is in no way an insult to Zoe, but the outfit looked like a dead spider -- or make that many dead spiders. Some people have the weirdest taste.
Okay, Blogger seems to be working again. The maintenance people really need to do something about the server problem.
First up, Derek and Drew were eliminated! Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhh! It was a terrible twist of fate, and they couldn't find the clue and were beaten by Ken and Gerard. So sad. Really really sad. Ho Chi Minh City is a real mess, by the way.
And guess what? They misspelled our international airport's name -- "Changai"?!?!? Hello??? Someone needs a caning.
And I suppose you expect me to comment on the finale of The Bachelor? Sorry, it was dullsville, so I'm not going to spend anymore time on it. I think The Bachelor 2 will be lots more fun. Too bad I already know who gets chosen in the end.
I'm finishing up a very good book -- A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers -- which has been in my possession for maybe a year, but which I only picked up last week because I finally found the time to read something other than patient files and textbooks. A Pulitzer Prize finalist, this autobiography rocks, and anyone who doesn't find anything to laugh about in here must be dead. Eggers writes with a manic-depressive tic, oscillating between euphoria and misery with disturbing ease. He almosts degenerates into mindless rambling at times, but is saved by an incredible writing style. He engages the reader, drawing you into his world, letting you share his intimate secrets, exposing his innermost thoughts.
The novel opens with his account of his mother's battle with terminal stomach cancer, with a detailed description of the various ways of coping with epistaxis secondary to thrombocytopenia. He somehow manages to inject humour into the situation -- something about how ridiculous it would be for his mom to die from a lousy nosebleed. And it's this particular trait -- the ability to find something funny in any situation, no matter how miserable -- that makes AHWOSG a riveting read.
First up, Derek and Drew were eliminated! Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhh! It was a terrible twist of fate, and they couldn't find the clue and were beaten by Ken and Gerard. So sad. Really really sad. Ho Chi Minh City is a real mess, by the way.
And guess what? They misspelled our international airport's name -- "Changai"?!?!? Hello??? Someone needs a caning.
And I suppose you expect me to comment on the finale of The Bachelor? Sorry, it was dullsville, so I'm not going to spend anymore time on it. I think The Bachelor 2 will be lots more fun. Too bad I already know who gets chosen in the end.
I'm finishing up a very good book -- A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers -- which has been in my possession for maybe a year, but which I only picked up last week because I finally found the time to read something other than patient files and textbooks. A Pulitzer Prize finalist, this autobiography rocks, and anyone who doesn't find anything to laugh about in here must be dead. Eggers writes with a manic-depressive tic, oscillating between euphoria and misery with disturbing ease. He almosts degenerates into mindless rambling at times, but is saved by an incredible writing style. He engages the reader, drawing you into his world, letting you share his intimate secrets, exposing his innermost thoughts.
The novel opens with his account of his mother's battle with terminal stomach cancer, with a detailed description of the various ways of coping with epistaxis secondary to thrombocytopenia. He somehow manages to inject humour into the situation -- something about how ridiculous it would be for his mom to die from a lousy nosebleed. And it's this particular trait -- the ability to find something funny in any situation, no matter how miserable -- that makes AHWOSG a riveting read.
My leave is ending soon, sob! Okay, better start prepping myself for the ward rounds and night calls which will resume next week. Can't believe time passes so quickly. Sigh.
Anyway, I realize that my Changi compatriots follow my blog on and off, so if David or Siau Chuin is reading this, I'm very grateful for your help in covering the MICU while I'm away. Hope the mortality rounds haven't been too stressful, and please let me buy you a meal when I return. :)
Update!
The Amazing Race 3 episode last week was excellent! First, let me say, "Aieee, Drew and Derek were in Singapore! " Sorry :P But I still don't understand what all the hullabaloo about PCK being chosen to appear is all about. He's described as "a popular TV star", not "a typical Singaporean". And I think he performed very well on the show, being his bubbly and crazy self.
I also applaud those who thought up the tasks for the competitors. Very imaginative stuff that also proved challenging. First, a race to the Orchid Gardens, then a detour, either to the zoo or Choa Chu Kang, followed by a trip to The Fountain of Wealth, and a run to Mt. Faber ( the pitstop ). Considering how even I sometimes get lost navigating the roads here, the teams did remarkably well on their own, and with right-hand driving some more. They even found block whatever, unit whatever, in Choa Chu Kang avenue or street whatever. Wow, I'm impressed.
Everyone's a strong player this time round, and it's anybody's guess who will emerge the victors. My favourites are the twins, of course, but mostly because they've proven to be forces to be reckoned with, and that pretty-boy looks doesn't always equal brains the size of peas, mind you. They're also nice, and haven't played any dirty tricks on the others, unlike the gay couple in the first Amazing Race ( boy, I detested those guys! ). My next fav are Ken and Gerard, the balding brothers who laugh and smile all the time. Ian and Teri -- the bickering middle-aged couple -- are a hoot to watch, and may make it to the final 3, but win? Nah. If the previous 2 seasons are anything to go by, the very last episode always features some dragged-out sprint to the finish line, something Drew and Derek will have no problems with, while Ken/Gerard and Ian/Teri will probably pass out from.
An interesting little twist is provided by Flo and Zach, who describe themselves as "good friends" but appear to be more. Zach seems to have feelings for Flo, but she's blatantly flirting with Drew ( was wondering why Drew and not Derek, but Derek's the one with a wedding ring. Ohhhhhhh... :)) Anyway, Flo's terrible lah. She's so hung on Drew it's nauseating, and I feel so sorry for Zach sometimes. He's such a nice guy, putting up with her screaming tantrums, never losing his temper or patience, carrying her backpacks whenever she gets exhausted, never complaining about anything. Let Drew have her! Zach deserves so much better.
Anyway, I realize that my Changi compatriots follow my blog on and off, so if David or Siau Chuin is reading this, I'm very grateful for your help in covering the MICU while I'm away. Hope the mortality rounds haven't been too stressful, and please let me buy you a meal when I return. :)
Update!
The Amazing Race 3 episode last week was excellent! First, let me say, "Aieee, Drew and Derek were in Singapore! " Sorry :P But I still don't understand what all the hullabaloo about PCK being chosen to appear is all about. He's described as "a popular TV star", not "a typical Singaporean". And I think he performed very well on the show, being his bubbly and crazy self.
I also applaud those who thought up the tasks for the competitors. Very imaginative stuff that also proved challenging. First, a race to the Orchid Gardens, then a detour, either to the zoo or Choa Chu Kang, followed by a trip to The Fountain of Wealth, and a run to Mt. Faber ( the pitstop ). Considering how even I sometimes get lost navigating the roads here, the teams did remarkably well on their own, and with right-hand driving some more. They even found block whatever, unit whatever, in Choa Chu Kang avenue or street whatever. Wow, I'm impressed.
Everyone's a strong player this time round, and it's anybody's guess who will emerge the victors. My favourites are the twins, of course, but mostly because they've proven to be forces to be reckoned with, and that pretty-boy looks doesn't always equal brains the size of peas, mind you. They're also nice, and haven't played any dirty tricks on the others, unlike the gay couple in the first Amazing Race ( boy, I detested those guys! ). My next fav are Ken and Gerard, the balding brothers who laugh and smile all the time. Ian and Teri -- the bickering middle-aged couple -- are a hoot to watch, and may make it to the final 3, but win? Nah. If the previous 2 seasons are anything to go by, the very last episode always features some dragged-out sprint to the finish line, something Drew and Derek will have no problems with, while Ken/Gerard and Ian/Teri will probably pass out from.
An interesting little twist is provided by Flo and Zach, who describe themselves as "good friends" but appear to be more. Zach seems to have feelings for Flo, but she's blatantly flirting with Drew ( was wondering why Drew and not Derek, but Derek's the one with a wedding ring. Ohhhhhhh... :)) Anyway, Flo's terrible lah. She's so hung on Drew it's nauseating, and I feel so sorry for Zach sometimes. He's such a nice guy, putting up with her screaming tantrums, never losing his temper or patience, carrying her backpacks whenever she gets exhausted, never complaining about anything. Let Drew have her! Zach deserves so much better.
Tuesday, December 03, 2002
Ah, being on leave is fantastic. :D Ok, let's get down to it!
Josh Groban's releasing a Christmas DVD/CD package, probably within the next week or so. It's a recording of a PBS concert he gave in October, and includes bonus tracks like his wonderful rendition of "O Holy Night" -- available on his website -- and "Broken Vow" ( which was sent to me by Diane, a lovely Japanese-American lady ). The latter has taken my breath away -- an understatement in itself! Any of you who want to hear this beautiful beautiful song, just email me ( ojj75@yahoo.com ) and I'll forward it to you. I can't wait to get my hands on the DVD!
Just bought "Escapology" by Robbie Williams. Had a quick listen, and have to say that I still prefer his 2 previous albums -- Sing When You're Winning ( with gems like "Rock DJ", "Supreme", "Better Man" and "Eternity" ) and Swing When You're Winning ( his coup de grace! ). Escapology has some nice ones, of course, such as "Feel", "Something Beautiful" and some irreverently nonsensical yet hilarious songs like "Me And My Monkey", with lyrics that relate how his pet cum travel companion was being hunted by the mob. But most of the CD comprises heavy rock, which I found a tad too noisy for my taste. But hey, being a diehard fan, it hasn't stopped me from playing it in my car this past week!
On to reality TV. Tune in to Channel 5 on Thursday at 7:30pm for "The Amazing Race 3: Destination - Singapore". Yep, the cat's out of the bag, and Drew and Derek, the hubba-hubba twin models, were actually in our country! And Gurmit Singh got to meet them! ( Not that it matters to him, I guess. ) It's a 2-hour special, promising lots of laughs and good footage, so don't miss it.
The last episode of "The Bachelor" is next Monday night, and had a fun time watching "The Women Tell All" version yesterday. After thinking Shannon was a prude initially, I now have great respect for her. But I also don't judge Alex for his choice. Some men are ruled by their dumb-sticks ( a term borrowed from "Ally McBeal" ) rather than their brains, and as long as the women they end up with are willing to pander to that, good for them. Thank goodness Aaron Buerge, the hunk from "The Bachelor 2" isn't so shallow. Yes, I know who he chose, thanks to People magazine, and guess what? The lady refused to sleep with him, and he still proposed. Aaaah, if only there were more guys like him. :)
Speaking of People magazine, I've got the issue featuring Ben Affleck, who's been picked as 2002's Sexiest Man Alive. Not top on my list, but I do like him, and have sufficient background info to know that he is indeed a great fellow. And in case you're interested, my choices would've been either Viggo Mortensen ( Aragorn in LOTR, Gwyneth Paltrow's lover in "A Perfect Murder" ) or Richard Gere. But I really worry that his marriage to J. Lo will end in disaster, and make him turn back to alcoholism. So here's wishing you good luck, Ben.
Also attended a concert by The Swingles Singers last Saturday at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Thoroughly enjoyable! Pure a cappella, and of an admirable standard. I was a little surprised by the young age of the members, plus the fact that 2 of the guys are very good-looking. :) The abundance of Christmas songs was a big bonus, with sprinklings of their trademark vocal renditions of classical pieces -- in this particular set, themes from "Star Wars", "Mission: Impossible", and a killer "1812 Overture" by Tchaikovsky. My personal favourites, though, were the Spanish songs: "The Girl From Ipanema" had me swooning, while "The Soul Bossa Nova" ( aka the catchy tune from Austin Powers and the World Cup 2002 ads ) had us in stitches because of its nifty accompanying choreography. And yes, humour is a big part of their performance, thanks to a curly-haired tenor who even pointed out that the spotlight overhanging the stage reminds him of the spaceship from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" -- and it does, by the way. Thank goodness the audience was appreciative, calling the group back for 3 encores, before they indicated their fatigue by singing a lullaby for their last piece, bidding us goodnight and asking us to "go to sleep". Bravo, Swingles! If you're hungry for more info, here's their website address.
Before I sign off, here're more VCD reviews.
Bend It Like Beckham
Didn't really like it, sad to say. Despite all the rave reviews, I found the humour forced, and the story less than inspiring. But it's an overall good effort anyhow. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is fun to watch, doing terrific things for white shirts. :)
About A Boy
Now this one, I absolutely love! Hugh Grant stars as Will, a guy who literally "does nothing", living off royalties from the single hit X'mas song his late father penned decades ago, leading a swinging bachelor's life and hitting on single moms ( ie. extremely vulnerable women ). He starts off loathsome, but later meets Marcus, a precocious yet insightfully intelligent boy who manages to touch Will's heart and later transform him into a better person. Based on Nick Hornby's bestselling novel ( he also wrote "High Fidelity", which made me laugh out loud, but tanked as a film, despite the presence of my idol, John Cusack ), the humour is wry yet guffaw-inducing, and helped in large part by the excellent casting of Grant, Nicholas Hoult as Marcus, and Toni Collette as Marcus' depressed mum. Hoult, in particular, shines, and almost steals the show, portraying an awkward teen who has to cope with a miserable mother and a new school. At first bearing unnerving resemblance to Damien, the devil incarnate from "The Omen", he later shows his true colours and worms his way into our hearts, making us cry and cheer for him as he faces life's many obstacles and subsequently triumphs. Grant, on the other hand, looks lovely without his trademark wimpy flop of a fringe, and pulls off a great performance -- I may even go as far as to say it's his best work so far. Now if only I have time to read the book!
The Sum Of All Fears
Yet another one of Ben Affleck's forays into the mainstream blockbuster action film genre, but this time flanked by heavyweights Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, and a very charismatic Liev Schrieber ( who played Meg Ryan's ex-fiance in "Kate & Leopold" but portrays a ruthless CIA operative/assassin here ). As a younger version of Jack Ryan, Affleck does an admirable job, and is convincing as he rattles off political jargon about Russian presidents and rebel generals. Interestingly, there isn't much hands-on fighting on his part, most of it being carried out by Schrieber or other bit actors in the movie. This remains predominantly a talkie film, with tense, well-written dialogue as the centrepiece. The only blast comes from the nuclear bomb, a scene that is both awesome and harrowing. The first hour is slow, but don't give up, 'cos the 2nd hour is gripping, rivalling "The Hunt For Red October", "Crimson Tide" and (my personal fav) "Thirteen Days" in terms of edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Murder By Numbers
I highly recommend this exceptional thriller, which details how 2 rich prep school students think they've committed the perfect crime, only to be outsmarted by an intuitive homicide detective ( a very convincing Sandra Bullock ). The taut script and direction keep the pace brisk, and special mention goes to the very capable young actors -- Ryan Gosling ( the rascally Richard Haywood ) and Michael Pitt ( brainiac Justin Pendleton ). Had me biting my nails the whole time.
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone
I rented this purely to relive the experience. I've seen it only once, and that was a whole year ago, and am not really sure why I didn't watch it again till now. But I sat down and viewed the first hour last night, and couldn't stop grinning after the first 10 minutes -- the start of the film, if you recall, is dreadful, because it depicts Harry's life with his awful aunt, uncle and cousin. But as soon as the owls started arriving with the letters summoning Harry to Hogwarts, I got goosebumps, and a smile began to spread across my face. It's certainly a fantastic show, and it's pretty amusing seeing the young actors in their pre-pubertal states. I can't get over how darn cute they all are. :) If you ever have a bad day, this is the movie to watch!
Josh Groban's releasing a Christmas DVD/CD package, probably within the next week or so. It's a recording of a PBS concert he gave in October, and includes bonus tracks like his wonderful rendition of "O Holy Night" -- available on his website -- and "Broken Vow" ( which was sent to me by Diane, a lovely Japanese-American lady ). The latter has taken my breath away -- an understatement in itself! Any of you who want to hear this beautiful beautiful song, just email me ( ojj75@yahoo.com ) and I'll forward it to you. I can't wait to get my hands on the DVD!
Just bought "Escapology" by Robbie Williams. Had a quick listen, and have to say that I still prefer his 2 previous albums -- Sing When You're Winning ( with gems like "Rock DJ", "Supreme", "Better Man" and "Eternity" ) and Swing When You're Winning ( his coup de grace! ). Escapology has some nice ones, of course, such as "Feel", "Something Beautiful" and some irreverently nonsensical yet hilarious songs like "Me And My Monkey", with lyrics that relate how his pet cum travel companion was being hunted by the mob. But most of the CD comprises heavy rock, which I found a tad too noisy for my taste. But hey, being a diehard fan, it hasn't stopped me from playing it in my car this past week!
On to reality TV. Tune in to Channel 5 on Thursday at 7:30pm for "The Amazing Race 3: Destination - Singapore". Yep, the cat's out of the bag, and Drew and Derek, the hubba-hubba twin models, were actually in our country! And Gurmit Singh got to meet them! ( Not that it matters to him, I guess. ) It's a 2-hour special, promising lots of laughs and good footage, so don't miss it.
The last episode of "The Bachelor" is next Monday night, and had a fun time watching "The Women Tell All" version yesterday. After thinking Shannon was a prude initially, I now have great respect for her. But I also don't judge Alex for his choice. Some men are ruled by their dumb-sticks ( a term borrowed from "Ally McBeal" ) rather than their brains, and as long as the women they end up with are willing to pander to that, good for them. Thank goodness Aaron Buerge, the hunk from "The Bachelor 2" isn't so shallow. Yes, I know who he chose, thanks to People magazine, and guess what? The lady refused to sleep with him, and he still proposed. Aaaah, if only there were more guys like him. :)
Speaking of People magazine, I've got the issue featuring Ben Affleck, who's been picked as 2002's Sexiest Man Alive. Not top on my list, but I do like him, and have sufficient background info to know that he is indeed a great fellow. And in case you're interested, my choices would've been either Viggo Mortensen ( Aragorn in LOTR, Gwyneth Paltrow's lover in "A Perfect Murder" ) or Richard Gere. But I really worry that his marriage to J. Lo will end in disaster, and make him turn back to alcoholism. So here's wishing you good luck, Ben.
Also attended a concert by The Swingles Singers last Saturday at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Thoroughly enjoyable! Pure a cappella, and of an admirable standard. I was a little surprised by the young age of the members, plus the fact that 2 of the guys are very good-looking. :) The abundance of Christmas songs was a big bonus, with sprinklings of their trademark vocal renditions of classical pieces -- in this particular set, themes from "Star Wars", "Mission: Impossible", and a killer "1812 Overture" by Tchaikovsky. My personal favourites, though, were the Spanish songs: "The Girl From Ipanema" had me swooning, while "The Soul Bossa Nova" ( aka the catchy tune from Austin Powers and the World Cup 2002 ads ) had us in stitches because of its nifty accompanying choreography. And yes, humour is a big part of their performance, thanks to a curly-haired tenor who even pointed out that the spotlight overhanging the stage reminds him of the spaceship from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" -- and it does, by the way. Thank goodness the audience was appreciative, calling the group back for 3 encores, before they indicated their fatigue by singing a lullaby for their last piece, bidding us goodnight and asking us to "go to sleep". Bravo, Swingles! If you're hungry for more info, here's their website address.
Before I sign off, here're more VCD reviews.
Bend It Like Beckham
Didn't really like it, sad to say. Despite all the rave reviews, I found the humour forced, and the story less than inspiring. But it's an overall good effort anyhow. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is fun to watch, doing terrific things for white shirts. :)
About A Boy
Now this one, I absolutely love! Hugh Grant stars as Will, a guy who literally "does nothing", living off royalties from the single hit X'mas song his late father penned decades ago, leading a swinging bachelor's life and hitting on single moms ( ie. extremely vulnerable women ). He starts off loathsome, but later meets Marcus, a precocious yet insightfully intelligent boy who manages to touch Will's heart and later transform him into a better person. Based on Nick Hornby's bestselling novel ( he also wrote "High Fidelity", which made me laugh out loud, but tanked as a film, despite the presence of my idol, John Cusack ), the humour is wry yet guffaw-inducing, and helped in large part by the excellent casting of Grant, Nicholas Hoult as Marcus, and Toni Collette as Marcus' depressed mum. Hoult, in particular, shines, and almost steals the show, portraying an awkward teen who has to cope with a miserable mother and a new school. At first bearing unnerving resemblance to Damien, the devil incarnate from "The Omen", he later shows his true colours and worms his way into our hearts, making us cry and cheer for him as he faces life's many obstacles and subsequently triumphs. Grant, on the other hand, looks lovely without his trademark wimpy flop of a fringe, and pulls off a great performance -- I may even go as far as to say it's his best work so far. Now if only I have time to read the book!
The Sum Of All Fears
Yet another one of Ben Affleck's forays into the mainstream blockbuster action film genre, but this time flanked by heavyweights Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, and a very charismatic Liev Schrieber ( who played Meg Ryan's ex-fiance in "Kate & Leopold" but portrays a ruthless CIA operative/assassin here ). As a younger version of Jack Ryan, Affleck does an admirable job, and is convincing as he rattles off political jargon about Russian presidents and rebel generals. Interestingly, there isn't much hands-on fighting on his part, most of it being carried out by Schrieber or other bit actors in the movie. This remains predominantly a talkie film, with tense, well-written dialogue as the centrepiece. The only blast comes from the nuclear bomb, a scene that is both awesome and harrowing. The first hour is slow, but don't give up, 'cos the 2nd hour is gripping, rivalling "The Hunt For Red October", "Crimson Tide" and (my personal fav) "Thirteen Days" in terms of edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Murder By Numbers
I highly recommend this exceptional thriller, which details how 2 rich prep school students think they've committed the perfect crime, only to be outsmarted by an intuitive homicide detective ( a very convincing Sandra Bullock ). The taut script and direction keep the pace brisk, and special mention goes to the very capable young actors -- Ryan Gosling ( the rascally Richard Haywood ) and Michael Pitt ( brainiac Justin Pendleton ). Had me biting my nails the whole time.
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone
I rented this purely to relive the experience. I've seen it only once, and that was a whole year ago, and am not really sure why I didn't watch it again till now. But I sat down and viewed the first hour last night, and couldn't stop grinning after the first 10 minutes -- the start of the film, if you recall, is dreadful, because it depicts Harry's life with his awful aunt, uncle and cousin. But as soon as the owls started arriving with the letters summoning Harry to Hogwarts, I got goosebumps, and a smile began to spread across my face. It's certainly a fantastic show, and it's pretty amusing seeing the young actors in their pre-pubertal states. I can't get over how darn cute they all are. :) If you ever have a bad day, this is the movie to watch!
Wednesday, November 27, 2002
Apologies to recent visitors for the cryptic "test post" entry. :) I'm trying to install a comments function on my website but there're some hiccups which I'm attempting to rectify, so we'll have to see if it's successfully added in the near future.
Anyhow, my annual leave is coming up, so looking forward to that. I need a break quite badly, but at the same time I feel guilty about the other MOs suffering as a result. So if any of my fellow colleagues read this -- I'm really sorry! But I sure appreciate your help and understanding. :)
Nothing much to add actually, but the latest episode of The Bachelor finally revealed Shannon's true colours. This is a woman who's extremely pretty and sweet-looking, but turned into a veritable crazed psychopath when she wasn't picked for the final two. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but if you saw the look in her eyes, it's guaranteed to make you lose control of your bladder. Even Alex was visibly shaken, after she stamped out of the mansion and confronted him before huffing off in the limousine. But I'll bet he's relieved too. Can you imagine being married to someone like her? I'd want to kill myself!
So now only Trista and Amanda are left. Who gets chosen in the end? Clue: Alex likes the one who's top-heavy. But she's very sweet and easygoing, so good for him.
New link: Love Stinks 4 Sure, which I chanced upon today while checking out the Blogger site. Written by an American woman and filled with witty putdowns of what seems like every single man she encounters, it's funny and relaxing, and probably addictive too. No photo of the poster though, but who cares?
Anyhow, my annual leave is coming up, so looking forward to that. I need a break quite badly, but at the same time I feel guilty about the other MOs suffering as a result. So if any of my fellow colleagues read this -- I'm really sorry! But I sure appreciate your help and understanding. :)
Nothing much to add actually, but the latest episode of The Bachelor finally revealed Shannon's true colours. This is a woman who's extremely pretty and sweet-looking, but turned into a veritable crazed psychopath when she wasn't picked for the final two. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but if you saw the look in her eyes, it's guaranteed to make you lose control of your bladder. Even Alex was visibly shaken, after she stamped out of the mansion and confronted him before huffing off in the limousine. But I'll bet he's relieved too. Can you imagine being married to someone like her? I'd want to kill myself!
So now only Trista and Amanda are left. Who gets chosen in the end? Clue: Alex likes the one who's top-heavy. But she's very sweet and easygoing, so good for him.
New link: Love Stinks 4 Sure, which I chanced upon today while checking out the Blogger site. Written by an American woman and filled with witty putdowns of what seems like every single man she encounters, it's funny and relaxing, and probably addictive too. No photo of the poster though, but who cares?
Thursday, November 21, 2002
Today's post will be a little haphazard. Just finished rounds, and I've got some quiet time to myself, so thought I'd share an introspective moment. :)
Just finished reading this month's issue of Reader's Digest, and there's a brainteaser segment on the last page which really proved how one-tracked my mind is. Here're a few examples:
1) How many animals of each sex did Moses take on his Ark?
Answer: It was Noah, not Moses.
2) Which is correct to say: "The yolk of the egg is white." or "The yolk of the egg are white."?
Answer: Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow, not white.
I answered both wrongly. Duh! :D
Another worthwhile exercise is making lists of top 10 favourite things for each of your 5 senses, ie. sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste. So just off the top of my head, I'll compose my lists now. Comments are most welcome.
Sound:
1. My cat purring
2. The voices of Josh Groban, Russell Watson, and most recently, Mario Frangoulis ( thought I'd put this all under 1 entry and leave myself a few extra choices )
3. Side-splitting laughter ( preferably my own :))
4. "La Campanella" by Franz Liszt, being played ( competently, of course ) on the piano
5. Nigel Kennedy and Itzhak Perlman playing anything on their violins
6. The sound of the ocean
7. Children at play
8. Kevin Spacey saying, "You...have...no...brain..." in "The Buddy Factor
9. A completely silent pager ( even better if I happen to be on call at the time! )
10. Prayer ( be it in a church or a Buddhist temple )
Sight:
1. The Great Ocean Road in Melbourne
2. A gorgeous lake in Hever Castle in the outskirts of London
3. My cat fully stretched out in contented slumber
4. Sleeping babies
5. A scene from "The Legend of Bagger Vance", where Will Smith strolls along a beach at sunset, then does a little jig upon hearing that Matt Damon's character had won the golf championship.
6. A photo I took in Perth, of 2 wild dolphins suspended in mid-air as they leapt out of the ocean.
7. Another photo, this time of Loch Lomond, covered in a thin cloud of mist, on a cold rainy day.
8. Robbie Williams in concert
9. Michael Ball during any of his performances
10. When any of my patients improve, open their eyes, and smile at me. :)
Smell:
1. Laksa
2. Anything my mom cooks
3. The ocean
4. A rose covered in morning dew
5. "White Linen" from Estee Lauder
6. "Light Blue" from Dolce & Gabbana
7. Books ( both old and new )
8. Freshly washed clothes
9. The Mezza9 kitchen -- sit in the right place and it's pure heaven
10. Rain
Taste ( my favourite! ) :
1. Laksa
2. A juicy ribeye steak
3. Sashimi dipped in wasabe and soya sauce
4. Pinot Noir
5. Champagne
6. Root Beer
7. Pasta from Sketches at Robertson Walk ( bring breath mints! )
8. Roast beef I once ate at Penshurst Castle in the outskirts of London in 1994 ( yes, it's that fantastic! )
9. Warm apple pie on a windy day ( ate this on a patio in the Yarra Valley, Melbourne -- most enjoyable! )
10. The Mushroom Swiss burger from Burger King
As for the last category -- that of touch -- I can't think of more than 3, so I'll leave that alone for now. So try this out for yourself, and see if the entries surprise you. Have fun!
email: ojj75@yahoo.com
Just finished reading this month's issue of Reader's Digest, and there's a brainteaser segment on the last page which really proved how one-tracked my mind is. Here're a few examples:
1) How many animals of each sex did Moses take on his Ark?
Answer: It was Noah, not Moses.
2) Which is correct to say: "The yolk of the egg is white." or "The yolk of the egg are white."?
Answer: Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow, not white.
I answered both wrongly. Duh! :D
Another worthwhile exercise is making lists of top 10 favourite things for each of your 5 senses, ie. sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste. So just off the top of my head, I'll compose my lists now. Comments are most welcome.
Sound:
1. My cat purring
2. The voices of Josh Groban, Russell Watson, and most recently, Mario Frangoulis ( thought I'd put this all under 1 entry and leave myself a few extra choices )
3. Side-splitting laughter ( preferably my own :))
4. "La Campanella" by Franz Liszt, being played ( competently, of course ) on the piano
5. Nigel Kennedy and Itzhak Perlman playing anything on their violins
6. The sound of the ocean
7. Children at play
8. Kevin Spacey saying, "You...have...no...brain..." in "The Buddy Factor
9. A completely silent pager ( even better if I happen to be on call at the time! )
10. Prayer ( be it in a church or a Buddhist temple )
Sight:
1. The Great Ocean Road in Melbourne
2. A gorgeous lake in Hever Castle in the outskirts of London
3. My cat fully stretched out in contented slumber
4. Sleeping babies
5. A scene from "The Legend of Bagger Vance", where Will Smith strolls along a beach at sunset, then does a little jig upon hearing that Matt Damon's character had won the golf championship.
6. A photo I took in Perth, of 2 wild dolphins suspended in mid-air as they leapt out of the ocean.
7. Another photo, this time of Loch Lomond, covered in a thin cloud of mist, on a cold rainy day.
8. Robbie Williams in concert
9. Michael Ball during any of his performances
10. When any of my patients improve, open their eyes, and smile at me. :)
Smell:
1. Laksa
2. Anything my mom cooks
3. The ocean
4. A rose covered in morning dew
5. "White Linen" from Estee Lauder
6. "Light Blue" from Dolce & Gabbana
7. Books ( both old and new )
8. Freshly washed clothes
9. The Mezza9 kitchen -- sit in the right place and it's pure heaven
10. Rain
Taste ( my favourite! ) :
1. Laksa
2. A juicy ribeye steak
3. Sashimi dipped in wasabe and soya sauce
4. Pinot Noir
5. Champagne
6. Root Beer
7. Pasta from Sketches at Robertson Walk ( bring breath mints! )
8. Roast beef I once ate at Penshurst Castle in the outskirts of London in 1994 ( yes, it's that fantastic! )
9. Warm apple pie on a windy day ( ate this on a patio in the Yarra Valley, Melbourne -- most enjoyable! )
10. The Mushroom Swiss burger from Burger King
As for the last category -- that of touch -- I can't think of more than 3, so I'll leave that alone for now. So try this out for yourself, and see if the entries surprise you. Have fun!
email: ojj75@yahoo.com
Tuesday, November 19, 2002
Just a short entry, as I really really need to say this!
I recently heard this absolutely beautiful song over the classical station the other night, and found the CD that it was taken from.
It's called Sometimes I Dream, by Mario Frangoulis, who's considered a veteran musician, but is in fact less than 35 years of age. Greek in origin, but raised in Africa, and later musically educated in the UK, he's also a violinist and composer, who's sung in productions of West Side Story, Les Miserables and various operas.
His album is mostly new-agey fare, ranging from slow introspective numbers ( including a theme from "Life Is Beautiful" ) to exuberantly happy pieces like "Luna Rossa" (which never fails to bring a big smile to my face, even at 7am in the morning, when I battle traffic jams to get to work ).
Frangoulis has, in my opinion at least, an AMAZING voice, far surpassing those of Russell Watson's and Josh Groban's ( two other young "prodigies" who've made pots of money these past couple of years ). So don't be surprised if Mario soon kicks them both off their pedestals. He obviously has received much training, and shows this off in all the songs featured. However, he's also capable of singing more standard pop fare, as evidenced in his ease when switching suddenly from lung-bursting high notes to more mellow melodies.
My favourite piece in this astounding CD is "Sometimes I Dream", a hauntingly romantic number with Middle Eastern tinges that remind me of the film "The English Patient". It also doesn't hurt that he's good-looking, with smouldering dark eyes. But this is definitely one "newcomer" who's going to make huge waves in the music scene.
His official website offers samplings of songs from the album, so take a listen and see if you end up buying it, 'cos I couldn't resist!
I recently heard this absolutely beautiful song over the classical station the other night, and found the CD that it was taken from.
It's called Sometimes I Dream, by Mario Frangoulis, who's considered a veteran musician, but is in fact less than 35 years of age. Greek in origin, but raised in Africa, and later musically educated in the UK, he's also a violinist and composer, who's sung in productions of West Side Story, Les Miserables and various operas.
His album is mostly new-agey fare, ranging from slow introspective numbers ( including a theme from "Life Is Beautiful" ) to exuberantly happy pieces like "Luna Rossa" (which never fails to bring a big smile to my face, even at 7am in the morning, when I battle traffic jams to get to work ).
Frangoulis has, in my opinion at least, an AMAZING voice, far surpassing those of Russell Watson's and Josh Groban's ( two other young "prodigies" who've made pots of money these past couple of years ). So don't be surprised if Mario soon kicks them both off their pedestals. He obviously has received much training, and shows this off in all the songs featured. However, he's also capable of singing more standard pop fare, as evidenced in his ease when switching suddenly from lung-bursting high notes to more mellow melodies.
My favourite piece in this astounding CD is "Sometimes I Dream", a hauntingly romantic number with Middle Eastern tinges that remind me of the film "The English Patient". It also doesn't hurt that he's good-looking, with smouldering dark eyes. But this is definitely one "newcomer" who's going to make huge waves in the music scene.
His official website offers samplings of songs from the album, so take a listen and see if you end up buying it, 'cos I couldn't resist!
Sunday, November 17, 2002
Sunday morning 11am, and I'm on call -- again. Second Sunday call this month, with the first overlapping over a public holiday weekend. I've also got 6 calls in total, compared to 5 for the rest of the medical officer pool. Not sure if that's an oversight, or due in part to my upcoming 2-week-long leave. In any case, I'm exhausted, and praying very hard for a quiet 24 hours today. All of you in the ER, have mercy! :)
Anyhow, I watched Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets yesterday, so here's a review.
Instead of rambling on about the history of this wonderful series, I'll just say right now that the second movie installment is spectacular. Extremely faithful to the book, filled with eye-popping effects, with the introduction of a few new characters who are played fantastically by the respective actors.
Though the main players remain the same, they've definitely acquired a rapport with each other and the rest of the cast and crew. The comic timing is spot-on, the close friendship and camaraderie obvious, the pain very realistically portrayed. So what if Daniel Radcliffe ( Harry Potter ) and Rupert Grint ( the always hilariously goofy Ron Weasley ) have gone through the early stages of puberty and now croak their lines? The maturity in their acting more than makes up for that. And Emma Watson ( who's made Hermione Granger a role all her very own ) continues to excel, and appears to be blossoming into a very beautiful young lady ( a la Natalie Portman ).
Other characters like Professors Albus Dumbledore ( Richard Harris ), McGonagall ( Maggie Smith ), Snape ( Alan Rickman ) and the ever-jovial Hagrid round up the list. Sadly, Harris passed away after completing this film, and word has it Ian McKellen ( who plays Gandalf in Lord of the Rings ) has been wooed to replace him. Personally, I think Sean Connery would make a good Dumbledore. We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose.
Draco Malfoy is still in top form, and his role has been beefed up this time. I can't remember the boy actor's name offhand, but credit goes to him for making Draco so hateful that you really want to slap him whenever he shows up with his trademark sneer and greasy hair. My favourite addition, however, is Lucius Malfoy ( played to perfection by Jason Isaacs, who was Mel Gibson's arch enemy in "The Patriot" ). Banking on his villainous looks, he sports long flowing platinum blond hair and a long black cloak here, spewing his lines with a voice that rarely rises above a mere whisper. He literally steals the show at times, even when sharing the screen with main attractions Harris and Radcliffe. A stroke of casting genius!
Watch out too for the lad who plays Tom Riddle ( a character whose true identity I shall keep secret so as not to spoil the shocking ending ). I really don't know how they picked these actors, but everyone seems to be tailor-made for their respective roles. Even the girl who portrays Moaning Myrtle is a hoot!
Kudos too to the animators responsible for Dobby the house-elf. This had the potential for degenerating into a Jar Jar Binks debacle, but Dobby is adorable.
The only disppointment is Kenneth Branagh, who plays Gilderoy Lockhart, a narcissistic liar and egomaniac. True, we're not supposed to like him, but I found his performance forced and uninspired. Rumour had it Hugh Grant was the original choice. Maybe he would've done a better job.
There're some lovely scenes worth looking out for -- the flying car sequence, the Whomping Willow, the Quidditch match with a heart-stopping race between Potter and Malfoy ( beat this, George Lucas! ), the magic duel, a terrifying chase through The Dark Forest, and of course, the finale in the Chamber itself. The climactic scene is indeed very frightening, and I wonder how the children who see this movie will handle it. But judging from the peals of delighted laughter ringing throughout the theatre after the show ended, I think kids nowadays are growing up a lot faster than we did.
Chris Columbus, the man responsible for the first 2 Harry Potter films, will be stepping down after this, and the reins will be handed over to Alfonso Cuaron, who directed the revived version of "Great Expectations" ( which starred Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke ) and "A Little Princess". Hopefully, he will remain true to the spirit of the Harry Potter novels, as the next episode ( Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban ) is a hot favourite for many readers ( including myself ), and is the most poignant and touching among all the books Rowling has written so far.
So what're you waiting for? Go see this fabulous movie! :)
Anyhow, I watched Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets yesterday, so here's a review.
Instead of rambling on about the history of this wonderful series, I'll just say right now that the second movie installment is spectacular. Extremely faithful to the book, filled with eye-popping effects, with the introduction of a few new characters who are played fantastically by the respective actors.
Though the main players remain the same, they've definitely acquired a rapport with each other and the rest of the cast and crew. The comic timing is spot-on, the close friendship and camaraderie obvious, the pain very realistically portrayed. So what if Daniel Radcliffe ( Harry Potter ) and Rupert Grint ( the always hilariously goofy Ron Weasley ) have gone through the early stages of puberty and now croak their lines? The maturity in their acting more than makes up for that. And Emma Watson ( who's made Hermione Granger a role all her very own ) continues to excel, and appears to be blossoming into a very beautiful young lady ( a la Natalie Portman ).
Other characters like Professors Albus Dumbledore ( Richard Harris ), McGonagall ( Maggie Smith ), Snape ( Alan Rickman ) and the ever-jovial Hagrid round up the list. Sadly, Harris passed away after completing this film, and word has it Ian McKellen ( who plays Gandalf in Lord of the Rings ) has been wooed to replace him. Personally, I think Sean Connery would make a good Dumbledore. We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose.
Draco Malfoy is still in top form, and his role has been beefed up this time. I can't remember the boy actor's name offhand, but credit goes to him for making Draco so hateful that you really want to slap him whenever he shows up with his trademark sneer and greasy hair. My favourite addition, however, is Lucius Malfoy ( played to perfection by Jason Isaacs, who was Mel Gibson's arch enemy in "The Patriot" ). Banking on his villainous looks, he sports long flowing platinum blond hair and a long black cloak here, spewing his lines with a voice that rarely rises above a mere whisper. He literally steals the show at times, even when sharing the screen with main attractions Harris and Radcliffe. A stroke of casting genius!
Watch out too for the lad who plays Tom Riddle ( a character whose true identity I shall keep secret so as not to spoil the shocking ending ). I really don't know how they picked these actors, but everyone seems to be tailor-made for their respective roles. Even the girl who portrays Moaning Myrtle is a hoot!
Kudos too to the animators responsible for Dobby the house-elf. This had the potential for degenerating into a Jar Jar Binks debacle, but Dobby is adorable.
The only disppointment is Kenneth Branagh, who plays Gilderoy Lockhart, a narcissistic liar and egomaniac. True, we're not supposed to like him, but I found his performance forced and uninspired. Rumour had it Hugh Grant was the original choice. Maybe he would've done a better job.
There're some lovely scenes worth looking out for -- the flying car sequence, the Whomping Willow, the Quidditch match with a heart-stopping race between Potter and Malfoy ( beat this, George Lucas! ), the magic duel, a terrifying chase through The Dark Forest, and of course, the finale in the Chamber itself. The climactic scene is indeed very frightening, and I wonder how the children who see this movie will handle it. But judging from the peals of delighted laughter ringing throughout the theatre after the show ended, I think kids nowadays are growing up a lot faster than we did.
Chris Columbus, the man responsible for the first 2 Harry Potter films, will be stepping down after this, and the reins will be handed over to Alfonso Cuaron, who directed the revived version of "Great Expectations" ( which starred Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke ) and "A Little Princess". Hopefully, he will remain true to the spirit of the Harry Potter novels, as the next episode ( Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban ) is a hot favourite for many readers ( including myself ), and is the most poignant and touching among all the books Rowling has written so far.
So what're you waiting for? Go see this fabulous movie! :)
Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Unfortunately, I missed the latest episode of Survivor: Thailand, and haven't had the chance to check out the website yet, so those of you reading this who know which contestant got booted off after Shii Ann, please email me at ojj75@yahoo.com and fill me in. Much appreciated. :)
Last night's episode of The Bachelor reached a new low, but that's exactly what kept me glued to the goggle-box till 11pm, despite being on call today :P
Alex went out with 3 women on individual dates, and made out with one of them on national TV. Funny thing is, Amanda ( the lady in question ) thought nothing of frenching him with the cameraman zooming in, but became extremely embarrassed when the Japanese waitress accidentally walked in in the middle of their little interlude. Talk about double standards!
The other finalists ( 8 were cut to 4 ) are Trista ( a professional cheerleader ), Shannon ( the one I'm rooting for ) and Kim ( a professional nanny ). Rhonda, who was among the 4 who were not picked, had an anxiety attack after the session, necessitating some paramedic attention. Melodrama, indeed. Good thing Alex didn't pick her. If she'd gotten through to the final round and then been ditched, she'll probably commit suicide.
Next week should provide even more interesting fodder. The 4 women will bring Alex home to meet their parents, and the trailer reveals some tension and discomfort, which should be a hoot. I'm wondering about the exact turning point where Alex decides to drop Shannon ( if you recall, I did say in my previous post that she did not reach the final 2 ). Might be her parents, hmmm...
Last piece of gossip before I sign off and prepare for yet another call: Jennifer Lopez is apparently now engaged to Ben Affleck, even before finalizing her divorce from Cris Judd. I don't really understand why Affleck, a self-proclaimed swinging single who's dated the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, would be serious enough about J. Lo to want to settle down with her. Thought he'd have better taste. And besides, I wouldn't marry someone who's got a horrible track record. Anyone want to place bets that Ben will soon become Ex Number Three? :)
Right then. Wish me luck. I'm off to unpack my night bag.
Last night's episode of The Bachelor reached a new low, but that's exactly what kept me glued to the goggle-box till 11pm, despite being on call today :P
Alex went out with 3 women on individual dates, and made out with one of them on national TV. Funny thing is, Amanda ( the lady in question ) thought nothing of frenching him with the cameraman zooming in, but became extremely embarrassed when the Japanese waitress accidentally walked in in the middle of their little interlude. Talk about double standards!
The other finalists ( 8 were cut to 4 ) are Trista ( a professional cheerleader ), Shannon ( the one I'm rooting for ) and Kim ( a professional nanny ). Rhonda, who was among the 4 who were not picked, had an anxiety attack after the session, necessitating some paramedic attention. Melodrama, indeed. Good thing Alex didn't pick her. If she'd gotten through to the final round and then been ditched, she'll probably commit suicide.
Next week should provide even more interesting fodder. The 4 women will bring Alex home to meet their parents, and the trailer reveals some tension and discomfort, which should be a hoot. I'm wondering about the exact turning point where Alex decides to drop Shannon ( if you recall, I did say in my previous post that she did not reach the final 2 ). Might be her parents, hmmm...
Last piece of gossip before I sign off and prepare for yet another call: Jennifer Lopez is apparently now engaged to Ben Affleck, even before finalizing her divorce from Cris Judd. I don't really understand why Affleck, a self-proclaimed swinging single who's dated the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, would be serious enough about J. Lo to want to settle down with her. Thought he'd have better taste. And besides, I wouldn't marry someone who's got a horrible track record. Anyone want to place bets that Ben will soon become Ex Number Three? :)
Right then. Wish me luck. I'm off to unpack my night bag.
Thursday, November 07, 2002
After being literally thrown in the deep end, I'm happy to report that my first week in the medical intensive care unit has been a fruitful one. The usual consultant covering the ICU with me is on leave, so I've been mentored in the meantime by a young registrar, who's a really really nice guy and supervised me on loads of procedures. As a result, I've gained the confidence to do most line insertions solo. And let's not forget my horrendous but extremely exciting call last Sunday, during which 6 cases came to the ICU, 3 or 4 of whom were sick beyond imagination, requiring me to set lines on more than half of them ( also solo, had an easygoing reg on call with me -- many thanks to him for entrusting these sickies to my care ( popping by only when I paged for help ). So to paraphrase a Starship song: Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now. :D
Patients here in Changi, however, are a far cry from those in the Singapore General Hospital, and even the National University Hospital. Most people there aren't fussy, and they're honest with you. Sure, there're a few unreasonable ones who make stupid complaints about small things, but I currently have an ill patient here in the MICU, whose son INSISTS on speaking to a consultant everyday -- he refuses to talk to anyone more junior. He's also trained in biochemistry ( though I'm unclear about his exact job ), so he'll ask to see his father's blood test results and will then grill you on what treatment is being instituted for the various abnormalities. He once even asked to read the case notes, but I told him outright that it's confidential and only medical personnel are allowed to see them. Don't think he was too happy about that.
My main peeve, though, was during my Sunday call, when this same guy strolled up to me while I was frantically scribbling in the file of a new admission ( unstable, intubated, you get the picture ), and asked to speak to me about "something". He was brandishing a thick file at the time, which I assume contains tonnes of information regarding his dad's medical history. But I'm the sort who can't care less about stroking someone's ego when there's an emergency going on, so I told him ( nicely, might I add ) to wait while I attended to the ill patient, and that I would talk to him later. He gave me a sweet smile and said, and I quote, "Don't worry, I understand. It's okay."
Guess what he did next?
First, he went up to the nurse-in-charge and told her I "wasn't very receptive", then he walked out of the ICU and didn't return. So after I settled the new case, I thought he'd left, and so I popped over to another ward to review other admissions. Later in the afternoon, the nurse told me he was still waiting to talk to me, but by that time, other new cases were arriving in droves, and I again couldn't find any time to chat with him.
Monday morning, he waylays the consultant upstairs, and tells her nobody downstairs wants to speak to him, but she's aware of this guy and his attitude, so she sends him back down. And that's when he starts this habit of talking only to the ICU consultant, and has left me alone ever since. ( And believe me, I am NOT complaining! )
I'm sure I'll meet more of such unreasonable relatives, and patients. But my stand is, if you want doctors and nurses to jump whenever you snap your fingers, go to a private hospital and pay for the service, instead of pushing your weight around in a government institution. Unfortunately, the administration is always sympathetic to the "clients", and fully investigate any complaints that are filed -- a huge waste of time and resources, in my opinion. Hence, one of the main draws of emergency medicine is minimal contact with any nasties, and even if we need to carry balls, it's usually only for a short time ( unlike daily rounds and worse, clinics ).
Patients here in Changi, however, are a far cry from those in the Singapore General Hospital, and even the National University Hospital. Most people there aren't fussy, and they're honest with you. Sure, there're a few unreasonable ones who make stupid complaints about small things, but I currently have an ill patient here in the MICU, whose son INSISTS on speaking to a consultant everyday -- he refuses to talk to anyone more junior. He's also trained in biochemistry ( though I'm unclear about his exact job ), so he'll ask to see his father's blood test results and will then grill you on what treatment is being instituted for the various abnormalities. He once even asked to read the case notes, but I told him outright that it's confidential and only medical personnel are allowed to see them. Don't think he was too happy about that.
My main peeve, though, was during my Sunday call, when this same guy strolled up to me while I was frantically scribbling in the file of a new admission ( unstable, intubated, you get the picture ), and asked to speak to me about "something". He was brandishing a thick file at the time, which I assume contains tonnes of information regarding his dad's medical history. But I'm the sort who can't care less about stroking someone's ego when there's an emergency going on, so I told him ( nicely, might I add ) to wait while I attended to the ill patient, and that I would talk to him later. He gave me a sweet smile and said, and I quote, "Don't worry, I understand. It's okay."
Guess what he did next?
First, he went up to the nurse-in-charge and told her I "wasn't very receptive", then he walked out of the ICU and didn't return. So after I settled the new case, I thought he'd left, and so I popped over to another ward to review other admissions. Later in the afternoon, the nurse told me he was still waiting to talk to me, but by that time, other new cases were arriving in droves, and I again couldn't find any time to chat with him.
Monday morning, he waylays the consultant upstairs, and tells her nobody downstairs wants to speak to him, but she's aware of this guy and his attitude, so she sends him back down. And that's when he starts this habit of talking only to the ICU consultant, and has left me alone ever since. ( And believe me, I am NOT complaining! )
I'm sure I'll meet more of such unreasonable relatives, and patients. But my stand is, if you want doctors and nurses to jump whenever you snap your fingers, go to a private hospital and pay for the service, instead of pushing your weight around in a government institution. Unfortunately, the administration is always sympathetic to the "clients", and fully investigate any complaints that are filed -- a huge waste of time and resources, in my opinion. Hence, one of the main draws of emergency medicine is minimal contact with any nasties, and even if we need to carry balls, it's usually only for a short time ( unlike daily rounds and worse, clinics ).
Saturday, November 02, 2002
The start of yet another new posting, this time in Medicine, Changi General. I'm currently in the MICU, and after a jerky start, things are settling down nicely, and I'm looking forward to many adrenaline rushes from numerous opportunities for resucitations and invasive procedures. ( Sorry, emergency medicine trainees love this sort of thing. :))
I must say general medicine is a far cry from my previous medical rotations -- namely, gastroenterology, haematology and cardiology. Gen med is so... general. And over here, you can get anything when you're on call -- cardio, geriatrics, renal, haemato, gastro, the works! Definitely fertile training ground.
I'm also here with a number of fellow year-mates, and some junior MOs who were once my housemen. The rest also seem very nice, so that's another good thing.
Anyway, what's the deal with the censors completely banning an episode of Six Feet Under? So now taking Ecstasy on TV is deemed inappropriate? Even when it's obviously accidental poisoning? Yeesh! With this little move, don't expect to get "Sex And The City" on the small screen here anytime soon. That series is so blatantly provocative the censors will probably have a heart attack during the preview.
As I predicted, Shii Ann has been booted off Survivor:Thailand. I can't say she didn't have it coming though. She seems to be paranoid about racism, and is too bossy for anyone's liking. Well, at least she got pretty close to hunky Ken ( the good cop, literally ), who was the only person who supported her, but couldn't exert enough influence to ensure her stay.
Competition on The Amazing Race 3 is heating up as well, with teams running neck and neck with each other. Two people I'd like to see eliminated are best friends Aaron and Arianne, who are so full of themselves they make me nauseous.
Out of curiosity, I visited a website featuring The Bachelor, and I know who Alex Michel chooses in the end. I won't tell you who she is, but I'm disappointed that it isn't Shannon. If you're interested, use the Google search engine with the keywords "the bachelor TV show". You will also get a sneak peek at The Bachelor 2 ( this new fellow is even cuter ) and the upcoming The Bachelorette.
More quotes before I sign off:
1. "He fumbles at your head like a freshman yanking at a panty girdle."
-- Hannibal Lecter voicing his despise for his minder, Dr. Chilton, in "Red Dragon"
2. "But you were a very happy child."
"That's because I was too young to realize what freaks we were."
-- a mother-and-daughter conversation from "Six Feet Under".
That's all for now. Thanks for reading!
I must say general medicine is a far cry from my previous medical rotations -- namely, gastroenterology, haematology and cardiology. Gen med is so... general. And over here, you can get anything when you're on call -- cardio, geriatrics, renal, haemato, gastro, the works! Definitely fertile training ground.
I'm also here with a number of fellow year-mates, and some junior MOs who were once my housemen. The rest also seem very nice, so that's another good thing.
Anyway, what's the deal with the censors completely banning an episode of Six Feet Under? So now taking Ecstasy on TV is deemed inappropriate? Even when it's obviously accidental poisoning? Yeesh! With this little move, don't expect to get "Sex And The City" on the small screen here anytime soon. That series is so blatantly provocative the censors will probably have a heart attack during the preview.
As I predicted, Shii Ann has been booted off Survivor:Thailand. I can't say she didn't have it coming though. She seems to be paranoid about racism, and is too bossy for anyone's liking. Well, at least she got pretty close to hunky Ken ( the good cop, literally ), who was the only person who supported her, but couldn't exert enough influence to ensure her stay.
Competition on The Amazing Race 3 is heating up as well, with teams running neck and neck with each other. Two people I'd like to see eliminated are best friends Aaron and Arianne, who are so full of themselves they make me nauseous.
Out of curiosity, I visited a website featuring The Bachelor, and I know who Alex Michel chooses in the end. I won't tell you who she is, but I'm disappointed that it isn't Shannon. If you're interested, use the Google search engine with the keywords "the bachelor TV show". You will also get a sneak peek at The Bachelor 2 ( this new fellow is even cuter ) and the upcoming The Bachelorette.
More quotes before I sign off:
1. "He fumbles at your head like a freshman yanking at a panty girdle."
-- Hannibal Lecter voicing his despise for his minder, Dr. Chilton, in "Red Dragon"
2. "But you were a very happy child."
"That's because I was too young to realize what freaks we were."
-- a mother-and-daughter conversation from "Six Feet Under".
That's all for now. Thanks for reading!
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