Adam Lambert Photos & Videos from the Singapore Grand Prix, 26th September 2010




Taking a short break from blogging about France, so Adam's S'porean fans can have a look at these.

Please feel free to download! Just right click on your mouse. :)

Here's a shot of the crowd at the Village Stage
in Zone 1.
I arrived with a couple of colleagues who didn't really feel up to jostling with the die-hard Glamberts in front, so I stayed near the back for the first 20 minutes or so.



Once my companions left for the F1 drivers' parade, I was free to roam as I wished, and managed to "excuse me, pardon me" my way through to a much better position, close to the stage. Woohoo!



Unfortunately, I can't tell you exactly which song matches each picture. Offhand, the ones with the backup dancers probably include Fever, Strut and If I Had You ( these came later in the set, after I moved ).







Ah, Adam looks gorgeous, as always. :D
























If anybody remembers what he was singing in this shot, please leave a comment. I was too excited and busy with the camera to take note. :)

Adam did not disappoint with his performance - flawless and powerful vocals, sexy stage presence, lots of attitude that complemented the fast numbers fabulously.

Special mention goes to his live rendition of Soaked, which I tried to record but my camera decided to die on me so I missed out on the glory notes. Argh!

Adam's at his best when in the high registers. I got goosebumps despite the sweltering weather, and my male colleague - who's married with kids - even leaned over to comment that Adam's got one impressive set of pipes!

The Sunday show was only 40 minutes long. Supposed to start at 5:40pm but was delayed till 6pm, so I felt a bit cheated ( 20 minutes is significant! ). Not sure what happened, and there was no encore, most likely because the organizers wanted the crowd to go watch the drivers' parade ( but honestly, no-one there could care less, we were all screaming for Adam! ).

Still, it was great to see him at last. I've been a fan since his days on American Idol, and it was a lucky coincidence that he happened to be at a stage near my location, on the one day I was at the race.

The icing on the cake: I didn't have to pay for anything. :)

Best wishes for a long and successful career, Adam! I hope to see you at a full concert - with seats this time - in the very near future.

YouTube video links are also up!

If I Had You, and Strut.

Enjoy!

Holiday Musings - Part 1

It's been a hectic week back in Singapore, but I think a blog entry will help keep some of the nostalgia in check.

For the record, I miss France. Tremendously.
And yes, it is indeed the best overseas trip I have ever had.

Chats with friends who've been there previously revealed experiences that ranged from unpleasant to downright terrifying. The general consensus being that the French are typically unfriendly, kinda snooty, and occasionally prone to racially-motivated acts of aggression.

These same friends were understandably surprised by my overwhelmingly positive accounts. As per my usual habit, I joined a tour group comprising travellers from all over the world. We visited the French countryside for 2 weeks via coach, with a local tour director handling our travel arrangements, but were regularly left on our own to explore the area separately.
Thereafter, my mom and I extended our stay in Paris for another 6 days.

As such, we had ample opportunity to interact with the locals and observe them in their natural habitats, so to speak.

Of course, I'm familiar with this style of touring, having taken at least 1-2 overseas trips every year for the past decade, often with the same company, or flying solo with mum +/- dad in tow. I would've opted for a completely independent free-and-easy format, if not for the language barrier. ( Sadly, while I was offered the chance to study a 3rd language in secondary school - I was interested in French - my parents eventually decided not to enrol me in classes. )

So why do I say this is the best trip ever? Not because of the scenery ( New Zealand and Bavaria top my personal list for now ), and not because of the fun factor ( NZ, Tokyo, Las Vegas and Manhattan take the cake ).

It's hard to pinpoint one particular reason, so I'll mention a few:

1) I find France's rich history and culture endlessly fascinating.

2) The French language is music to my ears. It sounds good even when you curse. :)

3) Paris is now my favourite city, toppling Manhattan from the top spot.

4) I was lucky enough to meet many friendly and kind locals everywhere I went. Not just in shops / restaurants / hotels, but on the street as well. Assistance was rendered when requested - despite the language issue - with a few even going out of their way to help us out, and always with a big smile.

5) Our tour director, F, was beyond excellent. Took fabulous care of us on a daily basis, and taught us tonnes about French idiosyncracies. His commentaries were insightul and peppered with hilarious anecdotes. He may not be considered good-looking, but his charm more than makes up for it. Really like him. A lot.

6) The tour group was, as always, an eclectic bunch. Lots of Australians and Canadians this time round, and surprisingly, zero Americans. A first! Met a fellow doctor - another first! A few of our meals together practically turned into Saturday Night Live skits, causing me to laugh so hard I teared up and almost choked on my drink. Great memories. :)

7) Lots of foodie adventures. Croque monsieur, escargots, poulet / canard / poisson / St-Jacques cooked to perfection ( can't describe them exactly 'cos most of the menus were in French ). Even had a lunch where I cooked my own fish on a hot stone. And a dinner in Beaune prepared by a Japanese chef, consisting of pre-appetizers and pre-desserts that stimulated the taste buds beautifully ( fish- and beef-flavoured mousse, anyone? ), with a wagyu beef main course which I will sigh about forever.
Let's not forget a lunch in Nice, just steps away from the Grimaldi palace, featuring an escalope of some kind ( indecipherable menu yet again ) that melts in your mouth, drenched in the most heavenly cream sauce.
Can't imagine what my cholesterol level is like right now. Hopefully my liver is working properly.

8) All the beautiful French people. Naturally, those in Paris are usually dressed to the nines while those in the countryside are more casual. But there's no denying their drop-dead gorgeous looks. I used to drool over the Italians, but the French are 10 times better.
( I stare at the locals a lot when I travel, so trust me on this. :))

What I enjoyed most was the eye candy at restaurants, hotels and shops. The service industry appears to be dominated by men ( excluding women's boutiques, that is ), and a lot of these 20- and 30-something-year-olds look like models. Tall, slim or athletically built, perfect teeth, perfect hair, flawless manners, oodles ( and I mean ooooooodles ) of charm.

Compared to all the other countries I've visited, the French definitely take service very seriously, practically elevating it to an art form. At restaurants, if you stop to read the menus posted on the notice board outside, someone will usually come up to you to offer you the actual thing, invite you to sit down, or hover in case you have a question ( usually with a welcoming smile or greeting ).
At hotels, aside from opening doors, the bellhop follows you right into the lobby, offering help with your packages even though you don't ask for it.
At one renowned tea shop, the sales staff ( I'd just like to mention that I had the best time talking to him 'cos he is so freaking, unbelievably handsome :)), followed me around as I selected flavours, arranging the boxes on a counter to keep track of my purchases, opening containers for me to smell the tea leaves, then giving me loads of extra bags to present as gifts to my friends / relatives.
At a famous perfume shop in Nice, a lady also followed us from counter to counter, even though we didn't request her help. She took the trouble to describe all the fragrances in a bath soap set we were inspecting, and we ended up buying 5 of them.

9) Lots of memorable places / activities.
More to follow in a later post, but here's a compressed list.

#1: the Louvre, which was just a 3-minute walk from our hotel. Crowded and a nightmare to navigate ( I got lost twice even with a map in my hand, so don't be a hero, just keep asking the staff seated in the various rooms for directions ), so booking a guided tour proved the right decision. ( Our guide for the day, V, is a walking encyclopaedia, has a delicious sense of humour and is clearly gay. Loved him to bits. :))
We covered a few of the must-sees ( Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa, to name two ), before being left to our own devices.
I made a direct beeline for the sculpture galleries, which are AWESOME. I thought the one at the Met in NYC was amazing, but this is way more impressive. I could've stayed there all day, but started to get a headache while mum's energy level began to wane, so we left around mid-afternoon.
Will definitely return the next time I'm in Paris.

#2: a Segway ride around the city.
If you're going to ride a Segway, Paris is the place to do it!
But a word of caution: if you haven't ridden one before, it can be very VERY dangerous.
Evidence: my mom fell off and dropped out of the tour, and I lost my balance just before the tour ended, crashing into a barrier and giving myself a humongous bruise on the leg. ( At least nothing happened during the tour itself, which lasted 4 hours. Great value for money! )
The contraption is quite easy to manoeuvre, especially if you know how to ride a bicycle ( balancing ability is key ), but the tour guides for this company are mostly young guys in their 20s, and they go extremely fast on the narrow sidewalks. Add the heavy foot traffic, numerous crossings and uneven ground, and you've got disasters waiting to happen.
Doesn't help that everyone has to sign indemnity forms before the tour starts.

#3: Giverny, aka Claude Monet's place of residence.
About an hour's drive from Paris, quaint and, IMHO, utterly enchanting.
I booked this tour purely out of curiosity ( the water lily pond featured in his famous painting is located here ), but found myself falling in love with the place.
Will of course upload photos at a later date. The water lilies weren't blooming when we visited, so we concentrated on the main garden just outside Monet's house.
It isn't large, and in fact looks totally chaotic, with an unkempt appearance. But somehow, it actually works. Lots of exotic, strange-looking blooms, in a riot of bright colours. There're many paths for you to stroll along, and every one offers something new to gawk at.
The house itself is, again, quite small. The paintings are copies - originals were moved to museums ages ago - but make sure you enter the studio, which is clearly the largest room in the building, and arranged to match a photograph taken many years ago.
The place has a very peaceful, happy vibe. I felt the same way when I visited Winston Churchill's Chartwell residence 15 years ago.

Also stopped for lunch at a lovely 200-year-old water mill / restaurant. The dessert was a slice of apple pie with a sauce that is to die for. Spent 15 minutes in the beautiful garden, snapping pictures and gazing at a bunch of cows soaking in the river. There was just... something about that scene. Pastoral is the best way to describe it. I honestly could have stood there looking at those cows for hours.

10) The French's appreciation of Asian women.

As the tour progressed, I began to realize that all that friendliness wasn't a case of simply good manners or maintaining service quality.
Perhaps we're considered a little exotic - although this seems a tad impossible in tourist hotspots like Nice and Monaco, but that's where I kept getting stared at. Most flattering, I must say. :)
A few of them asked whether I'm Japanese, and my penpal E, who plays for the other team ( if you know what I mean ), kept beaming at me appreciatively from across the table during our 3-hour chat, even though it would've made more sense if I'd been a guy.
Ahhh, European charm at its best. :)

Shall conclude the post here for the time being. There's still lots more to discuss, but that will have to wait till my medical cover duties at the F1 race are completed.
Just found out that my location is in close proximity to the stage where Adam Lambert will be performing. Hope I get to see him in person! :D

Quick Update From Paris



aka Bliss Part 27. :)



It's Day 18 of my vacation, and just returned to the City of Lights yesterday evening, after concluding a 2-week-long tour of the countryside.

Details from our journey will follow in a later entry. For now, all I can say is that I'm enjoying myself thoroughly, and have been most fortunate to meet many locals who've been nothing short of delightful. Made lots of new friends from the tour itself. Our Tour Director and coach driver have also exceeded expectations, and I was very sad to bid them goodbye.


However, my mom and I now have another week to explore Paris on our own, with a couple of outings to Versailles, Giverny and the Loire Valley lined up as well.


Considering a few horror stories I've heard from various people who visited France in recent years, I was definitely apprehensive about making the trip. Not sure if it's our good fortune, or whether the French have mellowed, but all our experiences thus far have been very pleasant.


The cuisine had its ups and downs, but I blame it on the organized tour group dinners, a few of which were rather disappointing. But when my mom and I went hunting for restaurants on our own, we often struck gold. I already count at least two of our meals - in Beaune and Monaco - among the best I've ever had. There was another one in a small town, but I don't even know the name of the place, and we basically ordered randomly from a French menu.


Perhaps that's part of the appeal of these gastronomic adventures - not really knowing what we're going to get, so when the meal turns out to be great, it makes the whole experience that much better.


Also, let's not forget all the handsome young male waiters who seem to have cornered the restaurant business. Hardly see any waitresses around anywhere, not that I'm complaining. :)


It really is quite amazing how unbelievably good-looking some of these chaps are. At one sidewalk cafe in Nice, there were 4 gorgeous hunks strolling around at the same time, with the best of the lot - a dark-haired version of Ryan Gosling (!) - serving us. And believe it or not, I managed ( though ununtentionally ) to get him very flustered at one point. Don't ask me why, I just sat back and enjoyed the display. :)

And yes, it appears that Asian women are prized by the Frenchmen, both young and old. I guess it helps that I look much younger than my real age, plus the fact that I dress well and smile a lot more when I'm overseas. It's easy when you're not bogged down by stress or fatigue. The weather also agrees with me, as evidenced by a healthy tan and perpetual rosy cheeks. :)

Mum and I are now staying at yet another different hotel in Paris. First one when we arrived in late August was in the Opera Quarter. Second one was yesterday, near the Eiffel Tower. Today's is in the Tuileries district - excellent location, close to many museums and monuments, all within walking distance. And our toiletries are from Bulgari. Yow. :D

The Rue de Rivoli is just a street away. Met E, my penpal from Paris, for afternoon tea at Angelina, and ended up chatting for 3 whole hours, about everything from food to music to family. My mom joined us, of course ( she was NOT going to let me meet a stranger in a foreign country alone ), and can't stop singing E's praises either. The restaurant was packed to the brim, with lots of tourists and a few locals, but definitely a fashionable crowd. I was particularly pleased with a table adjacent to ours, populated by 4 gorgeous young men who fit the jet-setting, playboy mould to a T. I think one of them sat next to mom and I at a Chinese restaurant later during dinner, but with a different chap whom he didn't seem to know that well, based on their conversation. That was interesting. :)

This is what I love about France ( not just Paris ). People-watching has never been one of my favourite pursuits - I prefer to eat and run in Singapore, who the hell cares about the other diners? But the French have helped me learn to relax and appreciate life a lot more. The first few days were a little tough, as we waited up to 30 minutes between courses, and a typical dinner took 2-3 hours to complete. As our trip progressed, time passed more smoothly, and I found myself daydreaming, savouring a beautiful sunset, feeling the cool breeze on my face, and really tasting the food I was eating.

I'm often homesick when away for more than 2 weeks, but currently find myself extremely reluctant to return to Singapore...

Bliss Part 26

My long block of annual leave started 3 days ago, and the exhaustion has finally hit me with its full force.

Happens every year. Funny how being free of work commitments - particularly gruelling shifts - can make you feel even more tired compared to normal days. This is why I spend a lot of my time snoozing on coaches when on tour. Makes my mother a bit naggy - "You're missing the guide's commentary!", "Look at the scenery!" - but after a while, she understands my needs and leaves me alone.

Of course, if our Tour Director turns out to be a gorgeous hunk, I won't be sleeping much this time round. Heh. :)

Speaking of gorgeous men, there're quite a few of them at the YOG. Covering the boxing event for a few days, and I can finally say that I see the appeal of the sport, even though my background knowledge is considered pathetic.

Yesterday, I spent 2-3 hours with near-ringside seats, thanks to my involvement with the on-site medical team. Turned out to be quite exciting, and discovered the important - and damn powerful - roles referees play.

Interesting bit of drama between the American coach and a ref from China, when the latter stopped the match in Round 1 and declared the Russian boxer the winner, apparently because he didn't think the American boy was fit to continue. I swear a real fight would've broken out if not for a big group of YOG officials intervening. Those of us in the medical team were on edge for 10 minutes, ready to apply bandages and bring a stretcher!

I also had a nice eyeful of a few of the better-looking referees, mostly in their 20s or 30s, all Caucasian. They had to walk right past our station during each match's 2nd round ( awaiting their turns to referee or judge the next match ), and often came right up to us to get gloves and gauze. Everyone looked very serious, but I'm sure if we'd given them a smile or two, they would've reciprocated.

A big shout-out to the GREAT audience at the boxing arena yesterday. Lots of energetic locals yelling their support for the athletes, plus a few foreigners - from African and Germany - practically coaching from their seats in the stands.

Can't imagine what it's going to be like during the finals on Wednesday! :)

Have also been catching up on a few favourite movies. One I'd like to highlight is The Illusionist, starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Rufus Sewell ( Jessica Biel's in it as well, but I just find her soooo bland ).

Was released around the same time as The Prestige ( Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman ), and probably suffered a poorer box-office performance as a result of it. A real pity, because The Illusionist is, in my opinion, far better in terms of plot, script and acting.

Paul Giamatti is splendid as Chief Inspector Uhl, a far cry from his typical high-strung or comedic persona in most of his films. His scenes with Edward Norton are tense and riveting. The costumes are to-die-for, and Norton's delivery of master magician Eisenheim's stage performances are elegant, even sexy. ( I happen to be a David Copperfield fan, and quite a few of the illusions featured as quite similar in terms of theatrical flair. )
Highly recommended!

Time for a break before heading to the YOG venue.

Eat Your Heart Out

Here's that cover I mentioned in the last entry.

Didn't realize the hoopla it was causing in the States. Bet this'll be banned from local newsstands.

Some critics have labelled season 3 "vampire porn". Not an entirely inaccurate assessment, but hey, the characters comprise bloodsuckers, shapeshifters, lycans and other supernatural beings. Don't expect G- or even PG-rated stuff, okay?

If there's anything to complain about, it's the ludicrous Twilight series which, granted, needs to be diluted to cater to the tween girls set, but is clearly unrealistic to the point of insulting the viewer's intelligence.

And may I just say that Alexander Skargsgard ( left, who plays Viking vamp Eric Northman ) is absolutely delish this season. Much more screen time and interaction with fellow characters - men included, if you know what I mean. :)

Bliss Part 25

Another crazy week has gone by. And when I say crazy, I mean ER patient attendances hitting 450 post National Day weekend. Ridiculous!

Coupled with one busy night shift and 2 others in P1 and P2, with no proper off day in between ( spent that teaching at an ultrasound workshop ), plus a tonne of travel preparations...

The result? A number of surgeon friends expressing concern about my "losing a lot of weight" and "looking damn tired".

Thank you, at least you noticed. Colleagues who see me everyday can't tell the difference.

Oh well, another week has gone by, and I'll be OUTTA HERE very very soon. :D

Hence the Bliss theme continues heh.


A couple of cool TV episodes to recommend:

True Blood season 3 episode 8 is so fan-freaking-tastic, it made me cry. Seriously.
Of course, it helps if you're a fan of the show and have been following it since the pilot.
Funny thing is, despite the violence, gore and ( sometimes gratuitous ) sex scenes, S3 has surpassed S1 and S2 in terms of script and character development.
There's a lot more wit, the cheesiness ( e.g. Bill and his melodramatic "Sookie!" proclamations ) has been toned down significantly, and previously secondary roles ( Eric in particular ) are now front and centre.
And need I say more about Franklin Mott? It really sounds like he's dead, but still makes erotic appearances in Tara's subconscious, with hilarious results.

Another GREAT series you really mustn't miss: The Closer.
Season 3, which currently airs on WarnerTV every Tuesday night, is sooooo unbelievably amazing.
Just caught Episode 6, one of the funniest yet ( there were a couple of great episodes in S2 as well ).
Again, a huge advantage if you're a loyal fan. I've developed great affection for all the characters, and their dynamic relationships make the experience that much more enjoyable.
Challenging cases, humourous dialogue, nefarious criminals and justice conquering all - this is as good as it gets, people.

Hmm, it appears that local cable has skipped episode 5 ?reason. Hallmark did the same thing with The Good Wife ( something concerning a cartoon that mocked the prophet Mohamed ). Should catch the online version sometime to find out why.

Off standby today but feeling gross. Still have to get a whole lot of errands done. Sigh...

Bliss Part 24

Another fortnight has passed, bringing me even closer to my upcoming vacation. :)

What else is there to be happy about?

First, one of my all-time favourite actors, John Cusack, is now on Twitter, woohoo!

Haven't quite managed to coax a direct reply out of him just yet, but I'm optimistic that I will succeed at some point.

Second, I just found out that my Tour Director is a guy. With a very nice name. I hope he'll look good as well, but am more concerned about whether he's going to be accomodating, which is the most important factor.

Having encountered enough female tour guides over the years, a man will be a welcome change. Cross fingers. :)

Third, True Blood season 3. Blowing my mind with every new episode, but needs to tone down the gore a little ( yes, even I can't stand it sometimes ).

My appreciation for Franklin Mott ( played by a gaunt but delightfully overwrought James Frain ) hit its peak in episode 6, but promptly came to a swift conclusion when poor Franklin's skull got bashed to smithereens by an angry Tara.

But that's not how vampires die, right? So he could actually survive this? All right then. :)

Fourth, the Glee compendium of music. Volumes 4 and 5 contain so many of my favourite tracks, I hit cloud nine when I first blasted them on my iPod.

There's the groovy tribute to '80s disco ( Safety Dance ), the awesome rock duets ( Dream On, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Faithfully ), a jaw-dropping rock anthem ( sexy Jonathan Groff sings Bohemian Rhapsody ), Broadway hits ( I Dreamed A Dream ), Burt Bacharach covers ( One Less Bell To Answer ), swing ( Lady Is A Tramp ), Lady Gaga classics ( Bad Romance, Poker Face ), ending off with a beautiful rendition of Over The Rainbow.

The Glee cast is so talented and versatile, they can do no wrong regardless of what's thrown at them. Lea Michele and Groff ( whom I've loved from the first time I heard them on the Spring Awakening soundtrack, despite never watching the musical ) are vocal powerhouses with serious acting chops. Cory Monteith ( Finn ) has improved tremendously within one season, now hitting glory notes effortlessly. Mark Salling's ( Puck ) role keeps getting juicier, and his performance of Lady Is A Tramp showcases his talent perfectly. Chris Colfer ( Kurt ) is unbelievably excellent, whether belting a Lady Gaga piece or delivering high kicks on a Broadway number.

The guest stars are also great fun, especially Neil Patrick Harris ( superb job in Dream On ), Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel ( both Broadway veterans ).

But my favourite, of course, has always been Matthew Morrison. Fell in love with his voice on the Hairspray sountrack ( B'way musical, not the inferior Hollywood movie version ), and never tire of his many performances on the TV show.

Wish Jersey Boys' John Lloyd Young could've caught a bigger break though. Surely he deserved something better than a tiny cameo in one episode? Would've been nice for me to be able to say: I've seen this famous Glee actor in person! :)

Fifth, the Sun Festival 2010 cometh! This year's lineup is much better than 2009's, IMHO. Definitely attending at least one of the events, after I ask the organizers a few questions. Must get my money's worth, after all.

Still, if David Foster's coming, why not Clay Aiken or Josh Groban? ( He produces albums for both guys. ) Argh!!!

Anyway, enjoy the pictures. Till next time...

Bliss Part 23

First, the countdown has begun.

Yes, it's that time of year when I prepare for a long overseas trip, to preserve what sanity I have left. And the past 10 months have reinforced the fact that one vacation is sorely insufficient.

So as I do tonnes of research for the upcoming tour - and believe, the reading alone is keeping me up nights - I've also asked my parents about the possibility of a shorter trip to a nearby destination, sometime next April / May.

Sounds like they're all for it. Only issue is my annual leave, which is already almost maxed out ( I take some of that leave when I do medical cover for sports events ), and the state of my pocket ( I pick up the tab for my parents' travel expenses ).

But the way I see it, if you don't spend quality time with your family now, you'll only regret it later.
And my parents are fun travel companions - game for anything from taking a speedboat down NZ's Dart River, to helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon, and running around Tokyo's subways. :)


Other things to smile about:

Nip/Tuck season 5 - now airing on AXN Tuesday nights at 11pm.
I completely skipped season 4 because I didn't even know it was on TV till it was too late, but fans will still be able to follow the storyline, since Sean and Christian have uprooted themselves from Miami and moved to LA to make a new start.

3 episodes in - albeit with the usual snips from the censorship board - I'm totally hooked. Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon have never looked better. The script remains tight and filled with dark humour. And the kooky characters, they just keep a-comin'. Bradley Cooper is a hoot as a narcissistic TV actor starring in a medical drama that makes absolutely no sense. One hilarious scene has the "doctor" shocking a "patient" with 580J! I laughed till my sides hurt. :D

Portia de Rossi also guest stars, but I'll refrain from revealing any spoilers. Let's just say it's a most delicious plot development. :)


True Blood season 3

Airs on HBO Monday nights, but honestly speaking, don't bother with the PG-rated local cable version, because it takes too much away from the uncut original. And you need to see this sans snips.

I've given up on reading the novels ( too long-winded for my taste ), and I'm very sure the TV adaptation is far superior.

S3 launches like a rocket from the get-go, as Bill gets kidnapped by a pack of werewolves and Sookie enlists the help of Eric the Viking vamp to find him. Lots of new characters enter the picture, from Alcide the super-hot werewolf, to Franklin Mott ( perhaps the scariest vamp on the show ), and Sam's long lost family of shapeshifters.

The nudity is abundant as well, and the problem is, a lot of the more important conversations occur while one or more cast members is in the buff. So if you watch the censored version, you'll have no idea what the heck is going on.

And since we're all grown-ups here, let me just tell you there're a couple of sex ( or near-sex ) scenes which boggle the mind. One involves Franklin and Tara ( the ultimate orgasm, it appears ), another between Bill and Lorena ( twisted - literally! ), and a truly bizarre exchange between - of all people - Bill and Sam. The last one's soooo weird. But in a funny way. :)

I'm sure you can find it online somewhere. Megavideo, you're a lifesaver. :)

Inception - A Review




Yes, I've finally decided to stop the Bliss theme. For now, that is. :)



The last film I caught at the cineplex was none other than the very enjoyable Iron Man 2. And as my work / family / social commitments continue to escalate, a trip to the theatre has become a major decision. So if I think a movie isn't worth the time or effort, I'm more than happy to wait for the DVD.





I didn't plan on watching Inception. It wasn't something I'd been anticipating with bated breath, though I did mark the release date in my diary.





And no, Leonardo DiCaprio is definitely not the main draw for me. Rather, it's director Christopher Nolan, whom I've worshipped since seeing the jaw-droppingly awesome Memento years earlier, followed by his next masterpiece, the best Batman installment thus far - The Dark Knight.





So what's the verdict, you ask? A rating of 8.5/10, compared to perfect 10's for Memento and The Dark Knight, to help you understand the comparison a little better.








BEWARE OF SPOILERS AHEAD





I'm not the sort who enjoys rehashing plotlines, so let's just share opinions here.

The best thing about Inception - aside from its genius director / writer Chris Nolan - is the cast.

A true dream team led by DiCaprio, and beautifully supported by Marion Cotillard ( whose turn in La Vie En Rose haunts me to this day ), Cillian Murphy, and the massively talented but sorely underrated Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

First, Leo DiCaprio. I've had mixed feelings about him for many years. Loved some of his work ( What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Romeo + Juliet, The Man In The Iron Mask, Catch Me If You Can, The Aviator ), disliked some of it ( The Beach, Body Of Lies ), was relatively unaffected by Revolutionary Road and Blood Diamond, and couldn't get past the foul language in The Departed.

I also didn't enjoy watching him balloon in weight over the past decade.

So yes, I'm thrilled to see him back in top form, thanks in large part to Nolan's deft guidance ( he always draws the best performances from his actors ). Of course, the script already provides rich material for Leo to chew on, but his portrayal of Cobb is extremely admirable, so bravo for that.

Second, Marion Cotillard. I personally think she has the best role in the movie, despite not having the most screen time. I knew little about her character, Mal, before seeing Inception, so learning more about her as the story slowly unfolded added a lot to the overall enjoyment.

This is only the 4th Cotillard film I've watched, but her meteoric rise to fame in recent years is certainly well-earned. She always pours her heart and soul into every role she plays. And even though a distinctly foreign accent can sometimes prove an insurmountable obstacle in Hollywood, her skills as a thespian have practically wiped it out of the equation.

She looks really cool shooting a gun. Action flick in the works, I hope?
( A check with IMDB reveals perhaps the next best thing: yet another thriller about a disease outbreak, co-starring Matt Damon and Jude Law. Add a few shootouts please. :))


Third, Cillian Murphy. I'm not familiar with his work aside from the Batman movies and Red Eye, but couldn't be happier that Nolan picked him for a pivotal role here. Robert Fischer Jr, heir to a sprawling business empire, is tormented by his father's last words, yet compelled to follow in Fischer Sr's footsteps.

Cobb and team's assigned mission: to somehow convince Fischer Jr to tear this empire apart, by planting the idea in one of his dreams.


Which brings me to point #4 ( and don't worry, Joseph Gordon-Levitt will not be missed out :)).

The astounding script, written by Nolan himself.

Wachowski brothers, consider yourselves beaten to a pulp.

Sure, there's bound to be some comparison with The Matrix, but Inception doesn't need to rely on kungfu stunts and New Age mumbo-jumbo to hold an audience's attention.

Instead, we have fascinating conversations about the dream process, how we perceive our subconscious experiences, and the ability to train one's mind to defend itself against intruders.
In Nolan's world, dreams can have multiple levels, with the deepest ones lasting decades when in reality, only minutes have gone by.

My favourite plot ingredient: the "kick" - a failsafe method whereby dreamers can be awakened from even the most potent sedation. Usually preceded by a trigger - e.g. a particular piece of music - followed by a physical jolt of some kind, ranging from a simple chair tilt to driving your van off a bridge.

How bloody cool is that! :D


Fifth, the visual effects. They are fan-freaking-tastic. 2 in particular have stuck in my mind:

1) A scene where Cobb and young apprentice Ariadne ( Ellen Page ) practise constructing and manipulating dreamscapes. She manages to literally fold the scenery, so certain parts move vertically, and others turn upside-down.
My jaw dropped.

2) The final section of the film, where Cobb's team put Fischer Jr under, and move through each subconscious layer in turn. There's a thrilling car chase, a zero-gravity hotel scene, an avalanche, and to top it all off, a trip to Cobb's own secret world, where skyscrapers stretch as far as the eye can see.


And yes, sixth. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whom I know best from his teenage years on 3rd Rock From The Sun, and adorable performances in 10 Things I Hate About You and (500) Days Of Summer, has carved a career and gained a cult following from indie films, with very occasional forays into mainstream blockbusters.

As Cobb's right-hand man, Arthur, JGL is always dressed to the nines, his dark hair slicked back, his facial expression either serious or mildly irritated. His character may be a tad one-dimensional - most of the team members don't have much of a backstory - but his screen presence is clearly felt, and he is perfectly capable of holding his own against the likes of Leo, Cotillard and Ken Watanabe.

I am especially impressed with his gun skills. This dude has action star written all over him. He looks like a pro handling firearms. Someone please hand him a role that is worthy!


I guess my main complaint about Inception is the ending, which was a little abrupt. I understand what happened to Leo, but would've liked an explanation about Watanabe's character's fate as well - the latter was in major subconscious limbo, did he make it out with his mind intact?

Also, there were a few other plotlines I didn't fully comprehend, the biggest of which is Mal's descent into madness and suicide, apparently a direct result of Cobb's manipulation. Heavy stuff.

Overall, Inception was definitely not a waste of time, and I will watch it again once it hits cable. I'm quite surprised that the movie has stuck in my head for more than 24 hours, for reasons unknown. I just can't help replaying certain scenes over and over again in my head, as if there's some subliminal message embedded somewhere, making it impossible to erase the images from my mind.

Mr. Nolan, are you conducting an experiment of your own? :)

Whatever you do, DO NOT MISS THIS.

Bliss Part 22

... is catching 5 international musical child prodigies on-stage, for an almost 2-hour concert that cost only $60 per head!

I'm now co-contributor on JustWatchLah.com, thanks to a friend who recruited me into his motley crew of writers.

So future reviews will probably be transplanted to the other site, but I'll provide the necessary links here, of course. :)

First post located at here. Enjoy!

Bliss Part 21

A quote from Darkly Dreaming Dexter:

"Anyone can be charming if they don't mind faking it, saying all the stupid, obvious, nauseating things that a conscience keeps most people from saying. Happily, I don't have a conscience. I say them."

A startling but not entirely unexpected discovery: despite featuring the same killer as the TV adaptation, the book's storyline is, in fact, markedly different.

For example, the portrayal of detective Maria LaGuerta on paper is unkind to the point of being a little vicious, whereas the screen version is the exact opposite.

And the Ice Truck Killer doesn't make his grand entrance until the last few chapters, unlike the TV character played by Christian Camargo, who enjoys lots of screen time wooing Dexter's foster sister before abducting her then confronting Dexter in a climactic showdown.

I'm sure there're fans out there who may not appreciate this discrepancy. I, for one, embrace it wholeheartedly. :)

Once again, author Jeff Lindsay's macabre sense of humour is infectious. I highly recommend those who are inclined to read every single Dexter novel and watch all 4 seasons of the TV series.


Another recommendation: Jeepers Creepers 2.

I saw this quite a few years ago, but it remains a huge favourite of mine.
Doesn't boast any big movie stars or eye-popping special effects, but thrives on great acting and well-paced direction, coupled with moments of sheer terror thanks to expert psychological manipulation.

A good litmus test: if the opening scene fails to affect you in any way, don't bother watching the rest of it.


I also recommend Paranormal Activity.

This one's creepy. So creepy I don't want to watch it ever again. The first half hour's pretty unremarkable, but things turn around quickly after that, and there's one scene in particular that made my hair stand on end big-time.

DO NOT see this movie alone. And definitely NOT before a night shift! :)


Last but not least, an interesting new comedy, Accidentally On Purpose.

I'm a fan of Jenna Elfman, and couldn't be happier to see her back in fine form as a youngish cougar.

Priceless post-coital quote: "I feel like I tasted the rainbow." LOL!

So many shows, so little time...

Bliss Part 20

YouTube clips from the 2010 Tony Awards!

Matthew Morrison is soooooo delicious. :)

And some kind soul has uploaded the entire ceremony.
Begin with Part 1 and move your way down the list, woohoo!

[ p.s. Check out Part 4, which has a totally hilarious bit at 5 min 20 secs. I shall not ruin the surprise. :) ]

As for Glee, part 2 of season 1 is just too marvelous for words, so here's a chunk of fabulous video clips!

My current favourite: an earth-shattering performance of Dream On by Morrison and Neil Patrick Harris. The last 20 seconds are unbelievable!

Next fave: a dreamy Morrison-Kristin Chenoweth duet on One Less Bell To Answer. I already love this song, but these 2 Broadway veterans whacked it right out of the stratosphere!

3rd fave: another Morrison-Chenoweth duet, this time on Fire. Fantastique!

The best part? The songs are all downloadable from the Internet. Yes!


Something I haven't blogged about yet - my birthday celebration, which by the way, is still ongoing. :)

The b-day weekend itself was spent at the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort. Booked a hotel room for the night and brought my parents along for the ride.
Spent more than 12 hours at the casino itself, retiring to bed only at 3am.
Greatly enjoyed the slot machines - one of which paid me $250 within an hour heh! - but also had a good time watching others at the card and roulette tables. Didn't try my luck at any of them though. $25 per game of blackjack?! I'm too wimpy to blow that kind of money...

A couple of days ago, I spent a laughter-filled evening with friends and relatives, eating our hearts out at Pete's Place at the Grand Hyatt hotel. Haven't been there in quite a while, but the food remains excellent, and I am especially pleased with the fact that I may have matchmade 2 young people in the process. Let's hope for a good outcome! :D

I've got a few other meet-ups scheduled, and the gifts keep trickling in. Some were expected, some were not, but they are all warmly appreciated so thank you! :)

Of course, the real b-day celebration will take place only in late August, when I take my annual holiday overseas. This year's destination promises lots of excitement, particularly in the food and wine departments. I've already contacted someone via a penpal site, who's more than happy to take me around. Looking forward to that!


Current recreational reading: Darkly Dreaming Dexter - i.e. Part 1 of the Dexter series.
Of all the novels, this is the only one that's similar to the TV show, and although I've seen the small-screen version, the book is no less enjoyable.
One of my favourite quotes comes very early: I am a very neat monster.
More quotes to follow shortly. :)

Bliss Part 19

Has it really been 3 weeks since my last entry?

In truth, I feel as if I've been hit by a train, but there's an undercurrent of euphoria mixed with that, so I guess the Bliss theme continues as per normal. :)

There're lots of updates, so please be patient!

First, ICEM 2010 was a rousing success.

And when I say 'rousing', I mean the highest attendance ever for an ICEM event, among other things.

I was in charge of the large group of volunteers who helped run the show. Mostly medical students, with a couple of MO trainees. The M5 who co-ordinated the bunch is a major Type A personality, but extremely efficient and 100% reliable, which made my job that much easier.

Kudos to all of you for your enthusiasm, initiative and resourcefulness. A certain event planning company wasn't doing its job, and the volunteers stepped up beautifully to resolve many issues on the ground. Bravo!

The scientific programme was packed to the brim, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to attend many of the lectures, for free no less, due to my behind-the-scenes involvement.

Many of the speakers are terrific, the topics cutting-edge, with lively Q&A sessions which often left us in stitches.

My only grouse: too many talks crammed into tight timeslots. Many tracks had 8 presentations within 2 hours. Caused a lot of rushing, with no leeway for proper Q&A.

The exhibition area was so much fun, as the vendors hauled their latest gadgets to the venue, setting up elaborate displays to entice delegates over. Unfortunately, the freebies were a little lacking. Mere pens and notepads aren't very attractive, you know.

The SUNTEC location is, as always, THE place to be. I've attended my share of conferences overseas, and still consider SUNTEC the best conference venue yet.

Despite being maybe a couple of decades(?) old, everything still looks brand new and spotless. Even the toilets are exceptionally clean - though I suspect this is partly because many of our delegates aren't Singaporean, heh!

There was lots of buzz these past few days as well, thanks to the PC Show - total chaos - and a warehouse sale.

My sole complaint about the venue: crazy thermostat settings. Certain rooms are too warm, and one particular ballroom is always in bloody 'freezer' mode.

Anyway, enough about that.

TV updates abound. :D

Don't miss Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant. Starts airing on AXN this coming Thursday, at 11pm.

You can read the show summary on your own.

I've been anticipating this for a while, ever since People magazine gave it a rave review. It's a very new series, so thank you, AXN, for bringing it to Singapore!

Watched the pilot episode online a couple of weeks back - intense but also hilarious, absolutely superb!

Olyphant is cast perfectly as no-nonsense U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. I've been a fan of Olyphant's since his memorable performance opposite Jennifer Garner in Catch And Release, followed by Die Hard 4.0 ( he was the villain ) and guest appearances as a hitman with a conscience on Damages season 2. Am thrilled to see him in his element as Givens, complete with the sexiest swagger I've ever seen ( I'm not kidding ), and a tough-as-nails portrayal which I'm confident will earn him an Emmy nomination - and possibly a win.

AXN caused me to hyperventilate - literally - when it decided to air SYTYCD season 5 a few weeks ago.

Why? Because this is the one that features my all-time fave SYTYCD contestant, the glorious jazz dancer, Evan Kasprzak!

I've gushed about him before, but if you didn't read that previous post, I first spotted Evan in season 4, when he blew me away with a gorgeous audition. But he eventually got cut and never made it to the top 20.

Couldn't understand why the judges let him slip through their fingers - I think there were a few season 4 finalists who can't hold a candle to Evan - but justice has been restored. :)

If you'd like to have an idea of what the heck I'm so excited about, go to this link, and fast forward to the 1hr 12 min point.

Part of his appeal is the dance style he's chosen to specialize in. I'm a huge fan of Fred Astaire, and couldn't be more pleased to see it revived by a talented young man like Evan!

The Closer season 2 currently airs on WarnerTV Tuesday nights.

I loved S1, but am loving S2 even more.

Episode 5 was insanely terrific, but episode 11 almost matches it in terms of humour and acting.

I think you'll enjoy this more if you're a woman. :)

The Good Wife S1 just concluded its run on Hallmark Channel a few days ago. Interesting cliffhanger, aided by stellar performances from leads Julianna Margulies, Chris Noth and Josh Charles. ( Yes, if you haven't already guessed, it's a love triangle. )

Great to see JC's role being expanded as the series progressed. Initially, he was just an old friend / old flame turned legal colleague. But his on-screen chemistry with Margulies is undeniable, and the episode where they finally locked lips had me perched on the edge of my seat!

Wish he could've enjoyed a more successful career following his wonderful turn on Dead Poets Society. But hey, it's never too late to make a comeback on television. :)

Here's a little-known movie that I also watched recently on cable, but which you can catch online.

Charlie Bartlett starts Anton Yelchin, Kat Dennings and Robert Downey Jr. Kind of a coming-of-age story about a high school misfit who unwittingly becomes a quack psychiatrist / drug dealer.

Sounds trippy eh? Right up my alley. :D

RDJ plays the high school principal, who's also divorced and depressed and an alcoholic.

Yelchin is the title character, and I gotta tell you, he made a gigantic impression on me here, despite my having seen him in Star Trek and Terminator Salvation ( Terminator 4, by the way, is IMHO the best of the franchise. Why hasn't cable shown it yet!? ).

Didn't really notice him until this film came along. And I bothered to catch it only because of RDJ. How ironic is that!

To illustrate why I've now become a loyal Anton Yelchin fan, play the movie link above ( the highlighted "Charlie Bartlett" bit ), and go to the 11th minute and 45 seconds part. I guarantee it will put a huge smile on your face ( like Evan Kasprzak's audition :))!

His biography is mighty interesting. Even better are his upcoming projects - he's going to play Clumsy Smurf, lol!

Didn't realize there's a Fright Night remake in the works. Wooo, looking forward to that, especially with Yelchin on board as Charley Brewster.

Also, he's rumoured to be a possible replacement for Tobey Maguire in the next Spider-man installment. A little too young perhaps, but other than the age factor, I'm all for it.

I see great, great things in his future. :)

That's all for now. There's actually more but I'm too tired to blog about it.

Till next time...

Bliss Part 18

Choice quotes from The Strain.

To minimize plot revelations, I shall provide only minimal context.

One of the best passages so far ( I'm now 205 pages in ) describes a solar eclipse:

"As the crescent sun continued to narrow, the complexion of the sky became a strangled violet. The darkness in the west gathered strength like a silent, windless storm system, spreading throughout the sky and closing in around the weakened sun, like a great organism succumbing to a corrupting force spreading from within.

The sun grew perilously thin, the view - through safety glasses - like that of a manhole lid being slid shut high above, squeezing out the daylight. The crescent blazed white, then turned to silver in its agonal last moments.

...The end came quickly. The last throes were chilling, intense, the crescent shrinking to a curved line, a slicing scar in the sky, then fragmenting into individual pearls of fiery white, representing the last of the sun's rays seeping through the deepest valleys along the lunar surface. These beads winked and vanished in rapid succession, snuffed out like a dying candle flame drowned in its own black wax. The crimson-colored band that was the chromosphere, the thin upper atmosphere of the sun, flared for a precious, final few seconds - and then the sun was gone.

Totality."

I have to admit that the first 40 pages lumbered along at too leisurely a pace for me. But in hindsight, this was necessary in order to build up adequate momentum and introduce the reader to the key players.

It's quite rare - for me at least - to find a novel which contains everything I could possibly ask for: great characters, fantastic writing, cool story, nail-biting suspense - in equal measure. Usually, I enjoy a book for one or more of these features, with a single element somewhat lacking.

But no, The Strain has exceeded expectations on all counts. Could be due to the fact that I seldom read horror novels ( Dexter's gory, but infused with a lot of humour, which helps take the edge off ). Can't remember the last time I read a truly scary book; even Laurell K. Hamilton's Vampire Hunter series is more action-adventure than hair-raising.

I would highly recommend The Strain primarily for its exceptional writing. Hogan expertly draws you into a beautifully woven tale filled with vivid characters and exciting set pieces.

One of the scenes had me cowering in bed past midnight. Not good if you need to get up early the next morning for a meeting! Superbly written yet again, but if I quote it here, I will certainly ruin the surprise.

Have already expressed hope that a film adaptation will materialize in the near future, but del Toro has his hands full with The Hobbit, and I don't think any other director would be able to match his vision.

Maybe after the book trilogy is completed? Hint, hint. :)

Shall leave you to digest this over the weekend.

Bliss Part 17

Comes in the form of RDJ's 2004 album, The Futurist.

Naturally, this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. It definitely helps if you're already a fan. Helps even more if you're familiar with his work on Ally McBeal, where he first showcased his singing talent to a mass audience.

The Futurist features 10 tracks, 8 of them penned by RDJ himself ( only Your Move and Charlie Chaplin's Smile are covers ).

I was pleasantly surprised by this little nugget of information, because the original compositions are actually very good.

An early favourite - my preferences change after repeated listens ( regular readers will know this :)) - is 5:30, a smooth jazz-pop-rock number that I can't get out of my head.

Another great track: Kimberly Glide, a beautiful, introspective piece that's heavy on the piano arrangement and jazz inflections. Very cool. :)

The song which seems to address RDJ's personal struggles most directly is Man Like Me.
Just read the lyrics and you should be able to see references to drug purchases and not showing up at work ( derailed his acting career twice ).

Vocals-wise, RDJ reminds me a lot of Tom Petty. Not an exact fit, but the styles are pretty similar, no?

Of the covers, Smile is a winner indeed. Can't find a high-quality recording of the original RDJ version on YouTube, but this Enigma-esque remix is nice too.

Any chance of an encore album? :)


Another activity I'm enjoying immensely these days: reading a damn good novel.
Namely, Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's The Strain.

And I just realized that Amazon posted major spoilers, argh!!!
Don't scroll down if you don't want to ruin the experience!

It's a terrific book - fast-paced, intelligent, with vividly drawn characters, lots of intrigue, and minimal foul language.

Since I assume del Toro isn't that well-versed in the English language, I shall give Hogan credit for the exquisite prose. Haven't gotten this many goosebumps since Jeff Lindsay's Dexter In The Dark. I'm only 100 pages in, and can already count quite a few great passages scattered within the compact-sized chapters. Will try to quote them in the next entry.

I borrowed this months ago but had to return it when I got side-tracked by other tomes. Finally managed to get my hands on it last week, and will try my darndest to finish it just in case someone decides to place a reservation.

It's amazing how much reading can be done just before bedtime and during breakfast. :)

Till next time...

Bliss Part 16

Video time. :D

I remember the dance routine, but forgot that it was on American Idol. Absolutely hilarious!

Bad resolution, but you can see what you need to see.

I've watched this before. Great stuff.

Assorted clips assembled into a montage.

Chances Are

Man Like Me

River

Kimberly Glide

Going to download his 2004 album, The Futurist, very soon.
As you can tell, I'm craving all things RDJ at the moment. Bear with me, it will pass at some point. :)

Bliss Part 15

The Robert Downey Jr (RDJ) saga continues.

I'm no longer a diehard cinephile, preferring to vegetate at home with my DVD player / laptop these days. But I made the effort to catch Iron Man 2 at the theatre last Wednesday.

And it was sooooo worth it. :)

Was it as good as Iron Man? I would say yes. Despite having established the superhero's background story - which made for quite a few cool scenes as Stark experimented with his invention in the first film - the sequel had its fair share of thrills and spills.

And since I assume everyone's seen the movie - if you haven't, then the spoilers probably won't matter anyhow - I'll just state for the record that the crash-cum-Whiplash-vs-Iron-Man-blowout scene at the Monaco Grand Prix was quite an eye-popper!

Especially Stark's super-awesome briefcase that transformed into a self-assembling Iron Man suit. Woooo. :D

RDJ is in his element, as always. Arrogant and politically incorrect, Tony Stark is clearly having the time of his life flaunting his wealth and new-found fame, and now battles not one, but two, villains, comprising a Russian rogue physicist ( a severely under-utilized Mickey Rourke, but nice accent ) and an unscrupulous arms dealer ( a most superb Sam Rockwell ).

Along the way, he is aided by his US Army pal Lieutenant-Colonel Rhodes ( I still prefer Terrence Howard to Don Cheadle ), his trusty assistant Pepper Potts ( good chemisty ), and now, Agent Romanoff, played by the sultry Scarlett Johansson ( she doesn't do much acting, but boy does she look good in a skin-tight ?leather? suit! ).

And if you weren't hanging onto the edge of your seat in the climactic showdown with a terrifying army of drones, I ask: are you dead?

So gushing over Iron Man 2 aside, I've been catching up with RDJ's filmography, and count approximately 15 films of his that I've seen over the past 20 years.

The earliest one being Chances Are from 1989, when he was 24, and I was 14.

It's one of those dead-husband-reincarnated-as-a-young-man type of comedies. Fluffy stuff, but memorable because RDJ did a great job with the limited material he had. And those huge eyes framed by long lashes went a long way in making him a credible romantic figure. There's a piano scene which is quite breath-taking. Am sure it's on the Internet somewhere. :)

Other RDJ movies I've caught: Only You, Chaplin ( his best by far ), Air America, U.S. Marshals, Bowfinger ( small role ), Gothika ( dumb show but worth watching just for RDJ alone ), Zodiac ( terrific performance, very tormented ), Tropic Thunder ( hilarious, though all the explosions gave me a headache at the end ), the Iron Man series, The Soloist, and of course, his stint on Ally McBeal, which almost heralded his comeback before his drug addiction relapsed.

Which reminds me - I'd like to rewatch his Ally McBeal episodes, just to see how I'll react now that I've become a much bigger fan.

My favourite RDJ film thus far, however, is Sherlock Holmes. And I couldn't be more pleased to read that a sequel is already in pre-production, also to be directed by Guy Ritchie.

The reviews were not kind, even though Holmes made a nice profit at the box office. I remember critics disapproving of the manner in which the great detective was portrayed, but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

RDJ plays his character with debonair charm and great panache, yet infuses it with an undercurrent of personal torment. I thought the latter was rather prominent in a tense scene where Holmes meets Watson's fiancee, Mary, for the first time. His attention to detail impresses her initially, but this is quickly derailed when he later makes a wrong assumption and ends up with wine dripping down his face.

The script doesn't explain why Holmes behaved in such a cruel manner, especially when assessing his best friend's future wife. But I found it utterly fascinating - surely there must be something in his murky past to account for his cynicism? Let's hope the sequel will help us solve the mystery. :)

While RDJ's impersonation of Charlie Chaplin was flawless, here he breaks away from the Holmes we've all become familiar with ( i.e. stuffed old shirt in a gawky getup ) and turns a British sleuth flick into an international blockbuster.

I could listen to his accent forever - it's absolutely perfect!

Jude Law is also aptly cast as the more serious half of the duo. He shares terrific chemistry with RDJ - even more than Rachel McAdams, who's Holmes' romantic interest.

They've got quite a number of bickering scenes, one of which had me laughing out loud. It's around the 36th minute. Holmes points his violin bow at Watson, irritating the latter and causing him to remark, "Get that out of my face."

Holmes then nonchalantly replies, "It's not in your face, it's in my hand."

To which Watson counters, "Get what's in your hand out of my face."

I love it! :D

So before I sign off, here're a couple of excellent YouTube clips of RDJ:

Part of a Jimmy Kimmel interview - he mentions Singapore, heh!

He's also an accomplished pianist and singer, so you can listen to him covering The Police's Every Breath You Take, together with choice video snippets from the Ally McBeal series.

Last but not least, part of the awesome Grand Prix scene from Iron Man 2!

Till next time...