American Idol Season 7

I really tried to stay away from this but got trapped after accidentally watching one episode. So I’ve been following AI7 since a few weeks back and it’s so damn obvious what’s going to happen. Unless America decides to fuck around with the votes and take for granted to not vote for their favourites, this is what I think will happen:

That wavy-blonde haired chick who annoys the shit out of me is going to get booted out. Then the black girl who sings like La Toya and unfortunately has as much stage presence as La Toya as well (ie, like cardboard) will go. Well it doesn't matter who gets booted out first, but what remains is that ALL the girls will go before the men start leaving. Next will undoubtedly be the drummer with dreadlocks. I mean the dude has only ONE singing style and honestly he’s not that great a singer. The only reason why he’s sticking around is because the chicks are worse than he is and the fact that he looks moderately cute. His looks doesn’t do it for me at all in the first place because he reminds me of that annoying Elaine from Seinfeld and that’s just so wrong. So after all the girls are gone, he HAS to go.

I can’t even remember their names because they are pretty much forgettable. But it was clear that the men were way better than the women in this season. And much clearer who the REAL talents were in this episode.

This means that we will see the 2 Davids battle it out in the finals. I think this is going to be THE most exciting finals American Idol will ever have. There’s no clear cut winner because they are both just so damn good at their own thing. Every time I watch both of these guys perform my eyes glaze over like I’ve fallen in love.



Let's break it down:

David A:
1. Major cute factor
2. Voice of an angel and able to hit all the right notes at all the right times.
3. Strength in ballads and girly songs (is he gay?)
4. So much emotion in his face when he sings he sends shivers down your spine and makes grown men cry.
5. My favourite performance - Imagine

David C:
1. Major cool factor
2. Voice of a husky rockstar who never fails to surprise me by reaching and holding his high notes and even though the rock character is not original he is still a billion times more talented than Chris Daughtry
3. Strength in acoustic rock songs and surprisingly quite flexible with other genres too
4. He doesn’t just sing, he gives you a freaking rock concert
5. My favourite performance – Billie Jean

I like them both so much. Every time I hear David A sing I’d be like “man there is NO way he’s not going to win this. Then I head David C sing and I’d be like “SHIT this guy is freaking AWESOME”. But if you break my arm and force me to choose a winner… I think David Archuleta will win. David Cook is an amazing performer with outstanding vocal skills, but David A is more mainstream and that puppy-eyed face would appeal to a wider crowd (not to mention MOST girls).

David Cook doesn’t even need to win because he’s so going to come up with his own album anyway lah! Chill!! Chill!!

Hennessy Artistry @ Velvet

high happy people

This happened exactly one week ago but I was too busy procrastinating to post it up. I haven't been clubbing in ages. Sometimes I feel I may be getting too old for this.

HAH.

TOO OLD FOR FREE BOOZE AND GOOD FUN?

OVER MY DEAD BODY!

PLEASE. MORE. INVITES. FOR. BOOZE. PARTIES. GIVE. ME.

BOOZE. EVENTS. MAKE. ME. SO. HAPPY.

ST has all the details about the event right here.

Because I'm a blogger and a bit of a narcissist this post WILL have pictures containing a lot of ME in it having a helluva fantastic time.

Did I mention that I had a helluva fantastic time? I did? Well I have to say it again.

I had a HELLUVA fantastic time!


always posing with men. so shameless

This is by far THE BEST event I’ve been to, EVER! Why? Because the booze did not stop coming until even after we left! If I died and gone to heaven, I expect ALL booze parties in heaven to be like this.

FREE-FLOWING BOOZE + DECENT ENTERTAINMENT + DECENT AMBIANCE + GOOD CROWD = EVERYBODY HAPPY + SUCCESS!!!!!

That night I discovered that Hennessy can be mixed into COCKTAILS! OHMYGOD. I KNOW! WHICH CAVE DID I JUST CRAWLED OUT FROM?


wah ky's face the same colour as my dress

I seriously had no idea that there was any other way to drink Hennessy other than how my parents and Chinamen drink it - neat or on the rocks. I thought mixing Hennessy with anything else would be sacrilegious, like how mixing Glenfiddich single malt with anything else will reserve you an express ticket straight to the hot fiery pits of Mount Doom in Mordor (but I do it anyway because I’m still not used to that lingering bitter taste that stays at the back of your tongue after drinking any hard liquour straight, sorry). That’s why I was never interested in Hennessy, that and the fact that it was associated with.. er.. more “mature” people and chinamen

Until that Friday night where we were continuously plied with 4 cocktails made from Hennessy.



Of the 4, Miami was my absolute favourite. It was so damn delicious I was instantly and madly in love. It tastes exactly like how long island tea with a dash of mojito would taste like. A blend of sweet and sour with a lingering refreshing aftertaste. Absolutely YUM. The other 3 paled in comparison for me. To be fair, I think it was because Miami was the strongest tasting cocktail of the 4 and they made an oversight by serving it as the first cocktail, making the other more subtle cocktails taste bland.

I loved Miami so much that every single time a server passes by with a tray full of those delicious glasses of pleasure I grabbed as many as my tiny grubby hands would allow regardless of whether I have finished my drink or not. Besides, the server was being real friendly and nice, always asking if I wanted anymore every time he sees me.

Friendly servers rock. They make me happy. If I was made the supreme ruler of all beings, I would cast in stone that friendly servers are the only type of servers that will ever exist. Friendly servers make people happy. Happy people make good parties.


kim so hot can die

Anyway I digress. Where was I? Oh yes. Hennessy Miami is divine. I went crazy looking for the recipe which I easily found on the Hennessy’s website! I thought it would be a mixture of 4-5 other type of liquors but no! Miami is really too simple to make at home! Here is the recipe, because you’ll have to see it to believe it:

1 part Hennessy
1 part fresh lime juice
1 part syrup
Fresh mint leaves

I am totally going to make this at home all the time and drink and he happy and have I told you that I totally and absolutely love this drink I think I have but I have to say it again because I love it I love it I LOVE IT okay I go make some more now then maybe post about it later kthxbai!


I like this picture, and that is why it's here.

Pictures stolen from:
Kim
Simon
ST

A Letter To My Favourite Kungfu Actor Of All Time

Dear Mr. Jet Li,

Hello! How are you? First of all, I’d like to say that I’m a HUGE fan. Been a fan since the first movie I saw you in, I think that was Once Upon a Time in China, and have fallen head over heels ever since. I even wanted to learn kungfu because of you! I've watched Once Upon a Time in China (1,2,3,6), Last Hero in China, Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2, Tai Chi Master, Swordsman, Bodyguard from Beijing, My Father Is a Hero… loved it loved it! The way you kick so much ass without even breaking a sweat just takes my breath away. And that look you always have - the sullen, serious, unsmiling, intense, one-look-can-kill-you face when you kick ass. Wah, seriously can die. Well, eventhough Blackmask and Dr Wai wasn’t so great I let it slide and still taught you were one of the best things that ever came into my life after Nutella. I loved you so much back then I used to cut out all your big movie ads from the papers and kept them, just so that I could feel closer to you. On retrospect it sounds a little psychotic but hey I was young and delusional what can I say?

Then you started to venture into Hollywood. I thought hey why not. If he can make it so big in China, I’m sure America can’t be that hard. If Bruce Lee can so can he. If Jackie Chan can so can he. He’s cuter than Bruce, less annoying than Jackie, and definitely more ass-kicking than both of them combined because he uses REAL Shoalin kungfu! How can he not make it?

I remembered your debut English film. Lethal Weapon 4. I was so excited! Lethal Weapon 4 wasn’t too bad at all, watching the 2 out of touch middle-aged cops who’ve been through one too many gun-fights and getting rather sick of all the action taking cheap shots at each other was hilarious. I thought you were excellent as the stereotypical Chinese gangster. I was however, quite upset that you were only given about 10 minutes of face time in the movie, and that Mel Gibson killed you off too easily and quickly – HAH as if he could in real life, them stupid gwai lohs are so unbelievably full of themselves man.

I suppose Lethal Weapon 4 was enough publicity for you to open the floodgates to so many of your other English movies.

Romeo Must Die
Kiss of the Dragon
The One
Cradle 2 the Grave
Rise to Honor
Unleashed

It breaks my heart to say this to you, my childhood idol, my hero. But I really didn't like all of them (watched at least 4 of them and saw the trailers for the rest). At most they were B grade movies. Sure there were big stars in them. Sure your English was so much better than Jackie Chan’s. But the plots were so lame. The acting so wooden. The script wasn't too great. Your Chinese emotionless made-of-steel “yau yeng” face looked wrong in them. And seriously, white people just don’t have the slightest clue on how to showcase your kungfu prowess effectively in all its ass-kicking glory. It’s as if they were mocking you. And by mocking you they were mocking us, your fans. And I hated that it felt like you were merely their puppet to fuck around with while they poke fun of your awesome kungfu skills. WHY DO YOU KEEP LETTING THEM DO THIS TO YOU? WHY?

Then you had to go act in a weird artsy pretty-looking kungfu movie – Hero, and that idiot director had you walking on water, and flying about like some clown, which I for the life of me, just couldn't accept. Huo Yuan Jia felt too self-indulgent and I didn’t really like that either. But at least you made it up for all of that in The Warlords, which also happens to be one of my favourite movies of 2007. But I felt that it still wasn’t quite you.

It makes me feel very sad that I actually cringe at the thought of your new movies now. “oh no, how bad is the next movie going to suck”. You and Chow Yun Fatt both were excellent Chinese actors given awful shitty roles with lousy cheesy scripts in English movies. Jackie Chan gets away with that because he HAS been playing awful shitty roles with lousy cheesy scripts in Chinese. But no, not you Jet Li. Not Chow Yun Fatt. Please, please I pray you, stop selling yourselves short it’s really too painful for me to watch anymore.

Then one day, as I was loitering around the shopping mall and I saw this GINORMOUS POSTER.



THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM! OMG IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL! MY PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED. JET LI! JACKIE CHAN (bleah)! FLYING-KICKING! OMG! TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! IT’S GOING TO BE AWESOME I CAN’T WAIT TO WATCH IT CAN’T WAIT CAN’T WAIT. Eventhough I am NO fan of Jackie but OMG JET LI you’re doing another wuxia film I can’t believe it it’s really going to be so awesome CAN DIE!!!!

Then I saw your TRAILER!!!! I nearly pissed my pants and squealed in girly delight when I saw your face... your name... you kungfuing with Jackie Chan and… WTF!!!?!?!?!?!?!?

WHAT IS THAT WHITE BOY DOING IN THERE.

IT’S IN ENGLISH?!@?!?!!?!?

HOW THE FUCK CAN IT BE IN ENGLISH.

ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!111111111noe. WTF!!!!!!!!!!

HEY WTF IS GOING ON HERE I THOUGHT IT WAS A WUXIA FILM WTF I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WHAT THE FUCK! ENGLISH? WHITE BOY? HAVE YOU LOST YOU BLOODY MIND?!??! ARGH HULKRAGE HEAD EXPLODE CRUSH FURRY CREATURES EAT RAINBOWS STOMP ON AMERICA

Dear Mr. Jet Li,

I can't even begin to describe the wave of emotions I'm feeling right now. It's like you grabbed my heart out from my ribcage with your bare hands and then tore it to pieces, laughing maniacally at me for being such a fool. I feel like wanting to kill myself just thinking about it. I'm so depressed, so broken. I just want to hide in a dark lonely corner and cry. I don't know what to make of it. This... thing. This... movie. Do I really want to watch this with that horrible sinking gut feeling that it WILL SUCK? Please say something, anything to make me want to watch this thing.

Still your very loyal but heart-broken fan,
FA

Un-Ambitions

Do you remember back in school, those essays which makes you write about your “cita-cita” or those important looking school documents which forces you to jot down your top 3 favourite ambitions of all time as if at the tender age of 7 we KNEW exactly what those jobs entailed?

Polis. Askar. Doktor. Peguam. Guru. Bomba. Jururawat. Juruterbang. Arkitek.

Every year until you’re done with school we fill in the blanks with anything that sounds professional and "normal" so that your teachers won’t look at your parents weird at PTAs and your parents wouldn’t in turn, have to counsel you about the importance of having a professional 9-5 job and a steady stream of income.

Like many sensible, filial Asian children with no real direction of their (my) own I resorted to studying the safest subjects. And after more than 7 years of running in circles and not winning anything in the rat race – I still don’t have an inkling of what I REALLY want to do. But I DID learn that there are SOME things which I DON’T want to do and I wished that I was more informed about them when I going through the phase of having to actually DECIDE what I wanted to do with my life.

But lo and behold! After 7 years of real-life research, I can now finally unveil to you my Un-ambitions: Jobs I would never want to do again.

1. Financial Accountant
Yes I am an accountant my profession but I’m not ashamed to admit that I hate it. Month in month out I’m staring at pages and pages of Microsoft Excel worksheets and hundreds of linkages - churning out Income statements, Balance Sheets, Cash Flow statements, Statements of changes in Equity, Notes to financial statement, Company taxes, yearly budgets, audits and annual reports. I have a different level of hate kept especially for annual reports. Let’s face it, the only thing investors ever want to know about the company is how much damn money are they going to get back in return. But instead we churn out this freaking 300 paged full of self-indulgent testaments and technical garbage nobody gives a shit about. Financial instruments disclosure. Intangible assets. Off-Balance Sheet items. Deferred taxes. Subordinated notes. Gain on sale of securities held for trading and derivative financial instruments. Redeemable convertible unsecured loans. Non-Cumulative guaranteed preference shares. Nobody gives a shit about those things except fellow anal retentive regulators, accountants and auditors.

Financial accounting is tedious. Monotonous. Robotic. Repetitious. Boring. And most of all, after doing it for so many years, it starts feeling pointless and empty. Very unfulfilling. You are a number crunching lifeless drone with no mind of your own. If people asks me whether accounting is the way to go for them I will always say this, unless you have the character of a piece of chalk – NO. If they like numbers so much they are better off doing something in the finance industry. All that said, taking up at least a couple of basic accounting units is very important because ALL companies DEPEND on numbers to function. So, yes take some accounts in school but NO, don’t do it for a living. Wasting five young years on this was my biggest regret in life. As you can see I am still very bitter about it. Whether it MADE me the bitter bitch I am now or I have always BEEN a bitter bitch remains to be proven, though.

2. PR
I met this really eye-catching decked-out girl at a club who was a friend’s friend. Very lady-like and poised. Seems pleasant enough when I’m talking to her… but her phone would ring every hour and when she is on the phone I could see that she transforms into this whole different person. She suddenly develops a weird unrecognisable foreign accent, laughs a little too loudly and shrilly, sounded a few tones higher than normal. I learned from her that she does PR for a very prominent group and the first thing she told me after I wowed was “there is nothing glamorous about this job”. Yeah right, I thought. I could do this. How hard is it to be nice to clients all the time and look fabulous? I really wanted to give this job a try which is why my current job entails some elements of PR. I thought hey, I’m an extroverted kind of person. I think I understand people more than numbers. I love eating and drinking for free. I can multitask. It’s not too hard, right?

Wrong.

To enter into the world of PR one WILL need to have a certain flair and chameleon-like ability to be anything or anyone when the situation calls for it. Which means you have to constantly put on different masks all time and I don’t mean like China’s secret face-changing technique. To potential clients and people who are useful to you, you are their best friend ever, you constantly kiss ass, you promise the moon and stars, you whisper sweet nothings into their ear and recite the most beautiful poetry ever on demand. To please the selected few special people, nothing is impossible. Yet in the same breathe you turn into this nasty pushy unreasonable dragon bitch, demanding your underlings to get the shit done by yesterday or else. It's like being a two-faced fake. Fortunately not everybody is like this. Unfortunately a lot of people are. It’s just the way the industry works.

I’m aware that there are many ways a person can PR… but unfortunately the ones I have to deal with are mostly the types who are enveloped in their "I'm better than you" air of pretentiousness which I rather not associate myself with or model myself after. Plus having to go all out to kiss everybody’s ass and revolve my life around work (because in PR, you are working 24-7) is just not for me. I have a fear that if I am in the industry long enough, the pressure, lifestyle and pace would suck me in so deep it mutates me into this superficial monster. My hats off to you guys who do this for a living, I'm just not made for this.

3. Educator
I’ve never formally taught. But I can tell from my limited experience that I cannot do this. I’m VERY impatient. When somebody comes and asks me to explain to them something that seems damn simple to me (like the double entry rule), I would try to explain it to them as best as I can, but I do it at warp speed. Words jump up from my mouth like a bullet train at rush hour in Japan and I just expect the person asking to be able to follow. In my (irrational) mind I’ll be like, this is too easy! Then the person would ask questions to clarify. Questions, questions and more questions. I get fidgety and frustrated. And while I am trying as hard as I can to slowly explain something I am mentally screaming “WTF. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND. ARE YOU A STUPID RETARD DID YOUR MOTHER DROP YOU WHEN YOU WERE A BABY WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES DO YOU NEED ME TO EXPLAIN THIS STUPID THING TO YOU I WANT TO KILL YOU AND SHIP YOUR REMAINS TO INDIA AND FEED YOU TO THE GODDAMN RATS OMG LEAVE ME ALONE MOTHERFUCKER!”.

I can’t even begin to imagine teaching children. Do you have any idea how spoilt and warped kids are these days? And the parents? Even worse. Before the day is through, the only thing I’ll probably manage to get into their thick skulls is my hand. Crushing it.

I don’t quite enjoy the prospects of losing friends or living in a contained 8x8 space metal bars for a door for a prolonged period of time. So teaching is out for me.

Thus conclude my Un-Ambitions. I've shown you mine. Now show me yours!

The Kite Runner

A story of 2 childhood Afghan friends torn apart by the protagonist's cowardice who eventually faces up to his past and attempts to atone for his childhood misdeeds only many, many years later.

If you're looking for a feel-good cotton candy rainbows kind of movie then this is definitely not it. Do not let the poster fool you.

It's a very emotional movie. Raw human emotions were depicted so believably I easily forget that it's all an act. It pushes you to feel terrible. It compels you to confront with genuine human emotions relating to difficult, morally-challenging decisions ordinary people are make to survive. It'll make you cringe.

Although there were plenty enough of realistic light-hearted scenes which you can relate to, making you smile as you're transported back to your fondest childhood memories - it was the dark ones that leaves an impression on you. The brutal and unpleasant taboo moments which grab you by your shoulders and force you to keep looking, leaving you with that bitter aftertaste of it in your mouth, a cold chill down your spine and a guilty pang in the inner recesses of your stomach.

It's beautiful, but beautiful is such an inappropriate word to describe it because it's so emotionally disturbing at the same time.

The storytelling was brilliant - fluid and gripping, very unlike a lot of adapted-from-a-book type of movies. I haven't read the book, but those who have said it was a very good adaptation.

The acting was excellent. The scripts were good. The scenes were shot so well.

No it's definitely NOT one of those pretentious try-hard inde-artsy push-my-holier- than-thou-virtues-down-your-throat type of movie at all. I hate those types of movies anyway.

Can't say too much, because trying to recall the story would make me depressed and unsettled all over again.

A very good watch, and I would recommend it highly. Any movie which is moving enough to make grown boys cry is worth a watch, in my humble opinion. ;) So do come prepared with some tissues though, trust me.

More info:
Official website
On IMDB

See You Again

If you're caught in a jam or waiting for the lights to turn green and you notice this frighteningly average looking girl bopping her head up and down, waving her hands about and looking like she's screaming at nobody in particular while thoroughly enjoying herself.... chances are it's me singing and dancing (as much as I can) to this:

The last time I freaked out
I just kept looking down
I st-st-stuttered when you asked me what I'm thinking about
Felt like I couldn't breath
You asked what's wrong with me
My best friend Lesley said "Oh she's just being Miley"
The next time we hang out
I will redeem myself
My heart it can't rest till then
Woh woh I
I can't wait to see you again

I feel really dirty for liking this song a little tooooooo much. It's such a shallow, kiddy, bubblegum pop song... but it's so fun and upbeat I just can't help myself!!!! I st-st-stuttered when you asked me what I'm thinking about!

OMG STOP ME.

Aww come on, you like it too right? right RIGHT???

Happy Friday! :)

The Maxis Venus Affair

I’m really excited that big names are welcoming bloggers to participate in their promotions and events. It does go to show that Malaysian brand managers are beginning to appreciate the growing significance of the internet and alternative channels in marketing strategies. As for me, I’m a firm believer of accepting free stuff with an open heart and a big smile of gratitude. :)

Last week, I was invited by Maxis for “The Maxis Venus Affair” - a campaign to promote their USB modems catering only to ladies - the campaign I mean, not the modems.

Ladies only? How so? Well, if “Venus” didn’t already give it a way – then THIS should.


Here comes the bride....tum tum tee tum

Pink and white balloons draped in sheer, flowy fabric suspended over the entrance of the event which resembles more or less an entrance to a wedding banquet hall. Can it be even more girly?

Oh, yes it can.


mine mine mine mine

All over the ceiling - pink and white HELIUM-FILLED BALLOONS.

I don’t know about you, butOhmygod I absolutely go nuts over those stuff. Who says they are just for kids? Yeah you can say that to my face when I am holding a fistful of the pretty helium-filled rubber of JOY while you stand there helplessly envying my loot with tears in your eyes calling me silly names in defiance because I DON’T CARE I HAVE THE BALLOONS YOU DON’T NYEH NYEH.

I have to admit that there was a bit of a pink overload but I know a certain somebody who wouldn’t mind it at all…. and well, I do so like my share of pink. I suppose there has to be some truth to the stereotype of pink=girls otherwise how would the stereotype exist in the first place, right?

And to make it even MORE female-oriented there were booths offering makeup, makeovers, hand massages, and photo print-outs (to help unleash the inner camwhore in you!).


I really wanted to get my hands on one of them nifty Canon photo printers!!!

If I’m not mistaken – any girl who strays into the event hall was given an African Daisy, which by coincidence, is my favouriteST flower in the whole universe because they are such happy flowers wheee!


Getting a hand massage... and looking rather unfit... bleh

Users who sign up for their RM138/month package during the event would also receive (among other girly stuff like makeup vouchers, magazines..) this:


The USB modem is tiny!!

A trinket box and a modem pouch for the (duh) USB modem. (Translated as “free, pretty, semi-functional stuff which compel girls to want to OWN it”). If cosmetic companies pull this sort of packages off so well – why not telco providers eh?

Personally, I think this sort of marketing campaigns are great. IT-related promotion packages have traditionally been very boring. There’s not a single person I know who can get by without 1) a computer of some sort or 2) internet and let’s face it – every provider sells basically the same thing. Which is why marketing campaigns that focus on the “feel-good factor” is an excellent differentiation strategy to set its brand apart from its competitors. Just my 2 sen. :)

Thanks Noora for patiently showing me around! And thank you Maxis for the free stuff!

It's Monday!

Good thing: Traffic was a breeze
Bad thing: It's monday!

I spent half of Saturday in KL, and the other half drunk, and then embarrassed myself in front of people I hardly know, woot! And then on Sunday I slept in the whole day to recuperate, watch loads of telly and Rome. Pretty good weekend eh? How was your weekend?

In The Papers Today

Proposal to prosecute non-Muslims for khalwat

KUALA LUMPUR: A seminar on Syariah Law review wants non-Muslims found committing khalwat (close proximity) with Muslims to also be held liable.

This was among the proposals made at the two-day seminar organised by the Islamic Institute of Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) and the Syariah Judiciary Department Malaysia.

Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mohd Asri Abdullah said the seminar had proposed that non-Muslims committing khalwat with Muslims should also be sentenced accordingly, but in the civil courts.

“We don’t have the jurisdiction to sentence non-Muslims committing khalwat with Muslims,” he told reporters after closing the seminar on behalf of department director-general Datuk Ibrahim Lembut at Ikim here today.

“The Muslims can be sentenced in Syariah courts, and the non-Muslim partners can probably be sentenced in the civil courts, to be fair to both parties.

Who died and gave them the right to prosecute people who are NOT practicing their religion and indirectly forcing their religious values down our throats?

Why the fuck do they feel like they need to jaga tapi kain orang lain and tackle the semut di seberang pulau when gajah di depan mata also they cannot tackle?

What will they think about proposing next?

Ban pig farms?
Prohibit the sale of alcohol?
Close down all clubs and pubs?
Tear down temples and churches?
Burn the entire Genting hill down?

It really boggles the mind how these people consistently manage to pull this kind of stupid fascist shit out from their asses consistently.

The Sufiah Yusof Fiasco

I guess one of the ways you can get your own government to "help you" (whether you want them to or not) is to do the following:

+ Be really good at something and make sure it's overexposed kaukau in the local media.
+ Go overseas (migrate, study, runaway)
+ Do something really "bad"
+ Make sure it garners the attention of foreign media and your birth country is highlighted
= $$$$ASSISTANCE$$$$!!!!!111oneoneone

Eh wait, didn't Namawe do just about the same thing and got into MORE trouble instead? What was the missing variable? Hmm...

Spiderwick

Spiderwick is yet another kiddy-fantasy movie adapted from a children's book. Oh no? Oh yes! The trailers were showing everywhere since last year and it looked so promising I was itching to watch it! No regrets! It was definitely not your usual Narnia (plastic kids), The Golden Compass (only the CGI characters were lovable), or Harry Potter (argh stop it already) as the significant difference with those and this was that in Spiderwick, the kids COULD actually ACT! Sigh, it's lame that the ability to act doesn't seem to be a requirement to star in a movie anymore these days.

I especially liked the protagonist - Freddie Highmore (one might remember him in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) who takes on a dual role as a pair of TWINS and I loved BOTH his characters. He does sorta reminds me of Haley Joel Osment in his younger years circa 1999 in The Sixth Sense - except Freddie is more English, better at being emo, and a bit more cuter haha! David Strathairn played his role as Arthur Spiderwick so perfectly I wished he was MY granduncle! And the CGI! Oh the CGI were so pretty! There were critics bitching that the movie relied on too much CGI but that's not being really fair. In this century of King Kong and LOTR, is there really any other way to showcase goblins, trolls, ogres, sprites and the other twin so realistically without spending too much time and money? Paper and wire works? Clay and stop motion? Electronic puppets? Yeah right STFU let's see you make your own fantasy movie without CGIs, morons.

I can't quite comment at how true it is to the book but apparently it's a mishmash of the entire series of five but completely left out book four. Thanks Wikipedia! But from someone who never read the book before the plot of the movie was very straightforward and the story-telling was fluid, very unlike a certain jumpy and disjointed installment of a certain wizardboy movie which even managed to confuse its own avid/rabid fanboi readers.

The movie can be a tad bit scary at parts for chicken hearted kids (like me; I had to close my eyes a bit and peek out of my hands hehe), but it's no where as creepy, terrifying and adult-oriented as Pan's Labyrinth (which was a pretty darn good movie in its own right but why was it marketed as a kiddy movie here? Sure it's a kiddy movie if you don't want them kids to sleep alone in the dark for the REST OF THEIR LIVES).

Overall it's a thoroughly enjoyable kiddy movie!

My first good movie of the year and it definitely rips Be Kind, Rewind into shreds.

Thanks for the tickets Eyeris! :)