127 Hours

Just watched 127 Hours while cooped up in my hotel room in Washington. Yes, I'm years behind, but at least I finally watched it! With all the hype and accolades, I have to watch it! How as the movie? I thought it was good. No ups and downs, and pretty plain jane, it's more of a 'silent killer' movie. You don't expect much from this movie, yet you're impressed by what happened.

It's based on a true story of an Aron Ralston, who went on a trip to Utah Canyonlands National Park, ALONE. And got trapped by a fallen rock, which crushed and sandwiched his arm. 127 hours is the total time he was trapped, before he finally decided to cut himself loose. Along the way, he did a lot of reflection on his life and people around him.

Well, I watched it while having my dinner, and the most gross part where he broke his own arm, and cut through the flesh with a blunt knife happened after I've finished my dinner. And boy, was it a WRONG choice! Note to others: Do not watch that part after a meal. It could have been my jet lag and tiredness that made me nauseous, but I didn't feel that great.

Watching that movie reminds me of myself. He went on the trip without telling anyone, and he regreted it dearly. I do that quite often too! Alot of times, when I travel on my own, I don't tell anyone my itinerary in details. Just a brief 'Oh I'm going to Thailand, south thailand during this period', and off I'm gone. And I don't exactly report back my location to my family periodically. Same goes when I'm overseas on business trip. Touchwood, but nothing has happened to me so far. Though watching that movie made me think twice. You know, I like to do some adventurous things when I travel (like hike up mountains, trails, explore unchartered territory, snorkelling in open sea alone etc etc), and a lot of times, I do those alone without anyone's knowledge. So you know, if anything happens, no one would know! Like when I was alone in Khao Sok National Park in the late afternoon, and almost got myself lost on returning. Those were the times when I thought in my mind 'Shit, no one knows I'm here'. What happens if I slipped and fall suddenly? Then again, I'm not the sort who reports every little details, lo and behold, someone will try to stop me from doing some things!

But the movie made me wana go UTAH!! That place is amazing! Just the kinda place I would love to explore. Especially that part where he took the 2 girls crawling in a tight space and slide way down into a pool of crystal clear blue water! AMAZING! I would love to do that!

Glad I finally watched that movie. It really takes a lot of resolve to break your own arm and cut through your skin and flesh and tendons etc. So make sure you bring a good swiss army knife so that at least when you cut through something, it's 1 clean strike. And he didn't give up after that! He continues to be active, climbing and scaling mountains and doing sports and everything! That's the positive attitude to take in life!

What would I do in similar situations? *Shivers* Touchwood, *Pui Pui* I never want to be in such situations.

It's Gonna Be Legen.... wait for it.... hope you're not lactose intolerant because here comes dairy! legendary!!!!

What Up! Haha... I've been so caught up with 'How I Met Your Mother' that I just can't get it outa my head! I've completed all 3 seasons during my 'short' 3 wks stay in Shanghai, holed up in my comfy hotel room, with the TV on most of the time, esp wkends, juz watching watching n watching! Oh man, Barney Stinson is THE MAN! He's like Yoda, but instead of being little and green, he wears a suit and is AWESOME!! hahah man man, that guy is THE BOMB! E'ryone out there should go catch it! FYI, in case u don't knw, the title is THE quote from THE man Barney & is so way COOOOOL! Ok the whole sitcom rocks, not juz Barney, so go watch it!

Hhaha, i'm like in this craze sitcom mood. Can't wait to watch Season 4, juz downloaded 'Two and a half men' till season 5 (thanks to my sis) & can't wait to watch it. Bought like TONS of sitcoms from Shanghai (Yes, now u guys knw what I have been up to in Shanghai all these times), and like so many to start watching!!! Next time i'm in Shanghai (yes, it is the same city AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN), u knw wat i'll b doing... It's like 'When I'm bored, I stop being bored and be AWESOME! True story!' hahah

p/s: There is actually a Barney Blog http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=159613800166&h=mqAFF&u=nhf6S&ref=mf It is THAT serious man!

OH well, i've nth much to update except for the fact that i've been to Shanghai for like the past 3 mths for like EVER!! N yes, will be gg back again in May n possibly aft june again... So the only thing i'm so LOOKING forward to is my diving trip in 9days! Sipadan! One of the TOP diving spots in the world! Oh man, I just can't wait! It's been such long time since my last beach holiday. I want the SUN SAND SEA and FUN!! Ooo, bikini shopping! Yes, I knw i have like 4 or 5 sets of bikinis, but that doesnt stop me from wanting to acquire more! Nice ones mind u. It gives me the motivation to strive harder to get that swimsuit body wahahahhahah! Still trying, getting there but not quite...

Ooo completed 60laps of swimming non-stop n it felt AWESOME! I've upgraded myself by 20laps.

Ok seriously, i have nth much to add... Sounds like a pretty boring life i've been leading so far. But well it's all good. I s'pose i'll have more to add after my annual dive trip in 9days!!! Yes, n i'll b back with a wicked tan! n some pretty photos. Oh did i mention that we'll be staying in the middle of the sea, like houses on stilts, with no land in sight nearby (heard the nearest land is like 15mins boat ride at least away). So cool rite! Yes, no escape man! Either u like it or jump into the water n drown! N heard the bathroom is open air! Facing the endless sea, & showering... sounds kinda kinky??? Hahhaha juz hope nobody canoes pass while u'r showering kekeke...

N ah, i'm back up with those youtubes reality TV shows like all the Next Top model series (yes they'r back again). Jesus, they nvr stop & i can't stop NOT following thr all of them! Call me youtube-junkie i don't care. Those shows r good fun!

The Curious Curse of Benjamin Button

Watched this epic movie last night in my hotel room. Gosh, I LOVE IT! Not brad Pitt but the movie. FYI, this movie is abt a man who was born old, and gradually grew younger (appearance wise) as he aged. Eventually, he ended up as a baby (natural progression is it’s reverse growth) but theoretically he was an old man. This is a story of his life, his encounters, his LOVE of his life.

Beneath the magical, out of the world idea of a baby being born old and grows younger as he age, lies a beautiful love story, about love found, love lost & love re-kindled only to let go for a better tomorrow. As Benjamin puts it ‘Nothing lasts’. It’s true in a way. We all die in the end, and what we have now will not last us past our ultimate death. Love, as almighty and sacred as it is, will end with the passing of the loved ones. But we must make the most out of the limited time we have, no matter what. Better than to have loved and lost, than not at all.

Watching Benjamin & Daisy toil over the years, from young kids to teenagers to young adults & finally together at the later stages of their lives, when finally they meet at the right junction in age & appearance. The right time to love & hold. You ponder – Is there the ultimate Love of your life? Benjamin & Daisy have loved each other since young, but circumstances forbid them to be together. And they remained in love with each other over the years, even when they had other pple in their lives through the course. And the passion & lust & love in their eyes when finally they met, after so many years!

Daisy: Sleep with me
Benjamin: Absolutely

Magical! That just abt describes the feelings they have for each other!
Ask yourself, will u wait half your life for this one person? Do you believe in THE ONE? We all want to find our soul mate, our love, but if you were to be under such bizarre circumstance, what would you do? I'm not sure I’m strong enough to handle this.

She knew it would not last, it can nvr and will not last. Benjamin will grow younger until he’s not fit to take care of the pple ard him. But they still stuck to each other, & had a baby girl. That’s when he realized, this cannot last, this cannot make sense. He chose to leave, & Daisy watched him leave. Sometimes, to love is to learn to let go. He chose to let go because he knew that was what he had to do, to give Daisy the best. He loved her & didn't want to watch her suffer.

How would you feel if you cannot grow old together with your loved ones? Would you want to watch your loved ones grow old & eventually die while you do not? I don’t.

p/s: Cate Blanchett was SPECTACULAR & SPLENDID!!! She should have a nomination!

Watched the movie ‘Yes Man’ recently (in fact yesterday night). Similar points from both movie – Take the chance! Don’t regret, just do it! Sometimes, life is about taking risks & doing the things u really want to do & not say ‘NO’. Of cos, selective circumstances render ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, but morale of the story is, JUST DO IT (Nike slogan). A lot of times, we don’t live our lives to the fullest it can go just because we are concerned about a lot of minor things or because we just don’t bother to. Like Benjamin, he went to live his life & got what he wanted. Like Carl, after he learnt to say ‘Yes’, he felt relieved & excited about what future holds, & of cos found his true love! Maybe it’s time for all of us to stop & think about what we want in our lives, what we want to achieve.

I’m guilty of saying ‘No’ a couple of times, just cos I was too lazy to get out of the house, just cos I felt comfy & safe just staying at home, watching my videos & anime, living my normal routine everyday. Maybe it’s time to change the routine. Maybe a change will bring good to me. Maybe like Carl, I may find someone along the way….

Would you PAY to watch the UNKNOWN??

I WOULD NOT!!

Ok let me explain this topic. Recently, in UK, they have this mysterious or rather surprise screening of movies. Which just means, pple Q-up and buy tickets to the cinema to watch a movie which they have absolutely NO IDEA what it will be. So which means when u buy the ticket, u'r actually buying to watch an unknown movie!! It could be a movie from 20years ago, or a movie so obscure you had no idea such a movie existed in the 1st place or it could just be anything! Apparently, in UK, the movies were chosen from a list on the website and results only revealed when the curtains are drawn, lights are darkened and film starts to roll!!

Apparently, such a SURPRISE screening is also into SIngapore! Recently i was browsing GV website to search for another movie obviously. And chanced upon this 'Surprise Movie'. At 1st i thot it was the title of a movie. But turned out, it was literally a surprise movie. Nothing is known about what movie it is. You just have to pay for the ticket & turn up to find out! And it's a movie NEVER shown b4 ever! So u can rest assure that u will not be paying to watch sth u watched b4.

However, here comes the question. Y pay to watch the unknown? I mean u totally have no idea what u will be watching!! What if it's a damn boring, full of dialogue movie? Or a draggy love story too hard to digest? Or a slasher film so gross that u would walk out immediately?? Y pay to make urself suffer in the event tt the above come true? It would be a waste of $$. Watching movie shld be enjoyable. Y pay for sth u hv no idea & what if it turns out to be sth u would NEVER pay to watch, not even DVD at home.

I know some pple will say life is full of surprises!! Come on, take the challenge MAYBE it'll be good. But I would rather stay safe than be sorry. IMAGINE they showing B&W movie (kill me 1st). Not even Titanic can lure me in! Hahhaa. LOTR is in a different league but i already have the complete DVD.

Well pple out there, go ahead and try GV's surprise movie screening & let me know the results! I'm too SCARED to try & waste my $$ hahahahahah... Shall go watch 'Watchmen' Next sat!! Yippie! My 1st movie in 2009!!

NTM Fever!

For those who do not yet know, NTM = Next Top Model. It all started with ANTM = America's Next Top Model. The one & only original series hosted & created by Tyra Banks (FYI supermodel) which spawned the many many different versions all over the world, from Britain to Germany to even Thailand!

What makes this so interesting is the bitchyness of the contestants & also to ogle at those chio bus (well some not so chio) & the different themes of pictures they take on every week. Really quite cool & impressed by some amazing talents who can just become drop dead gorgeous in front of the camera!!! Of cos the hosts & judges make for interesting TV show - "Smile with ur eyes!". "Connect with the camera", "Fierce eyes", "Show me model"... Oo la la! So bitchy yet entertaining! I can say i'm an expect with modelling now hahaha... Ok maybe more of looking & analysing others than myself being one...But hey, maybe i have got potential... Judge for urself:

Moody feel to the picture..sexy pose ya

Attitude pose

Haha okok, maybe i shld take more front view shots..Ok i'll try but it's just tat i'm not used to taking full frontal shots hahaha..alwz feel abit weird..

Talking abt NTm craze, I've watched all NTMs english version. Yes, from America, canada to British to Australia! Every NTMs that is in English, i've watched, not just 1 season but ALL seasons! I have even watched Germany NTM with english subtitles! Yes some are great, some just suck big time. Case in point, Germany NTM is fantastic! The contestants r really professional & even greater than ANTM!! They are just so BEAUTIFUL & the tests & training given on GNTM are so much better! They even get to go on real job assignments that expose them to the real fashion world! Prizes & rewards are so much better as well! They also get more training (like catwalk training etc) throughout the whole show. Not like in ANTM, u only see like 1 or 2 trainings & that's it! U can really see the contestants grow in GNTM! N i agree that they are so much better in quality. They really have the kinda star quality & air to them! Great!

My favourite contestant on GNTM - Hana! She is a sexy babe who is both editorial & commercial & great catwalker! look at how hot she is in the photos! I mean imagine! Too bad she came in 3rd.. Yes GNTM standard is HIGH!! This quality came in 3rd..just imagine!

Worse - British NTM. Really sucky. U would have thought the place where Kate Moss or Sophie Dahl came from should be full of good potentials. But u are so WRONG!!! The contestants suck BIG TIME!!! Really BIG TIME!!! I really do not understand y the contestants r so sucky!!! They cannot model, cannot walk, no personality! UGLY even! What shit! IT's like after so many episodes & training, u would expect them to improve vastly but NONONO, alot of pictures still suck big time! N alot of them don't even have the MODEL look or even figure. I really don't understand. U watch & u really cannot tell or even believe any of them can be a model! Imagine how bad that is! The latest season is much more improved but still bad. Contestants suck big time & the only better one is a plus size model (she looks really good in picture but with a bad attitude) & the rest is just blar..... Seriously eeks eeks eeks...

Canada NTM - season 1 sucks BIG TIME!! the 2 finalists - what the fuck! Both can't walk, both r ugly, no quality...Not sure y they were there in the 1st plc! Anyway the other contestants r not any much better. SEason 2 - Much better! The winner so deserves it cos she is a model! Editorial more than commercial but she is good! Look at the pictures::

Xiaomianyang: This is called vogue! Look at the fierce eyes & expression!

But still, on a whole not a good season cos alot of the contestants CMI!!

Australia NTM - Not bad actually. But the latest season 3, the winner is so damn obvious. She just stands out from the rest & led all the way from the beginning. But not bad la..

Alice winner of Aus NTM 3. So editorial again!

Now, ANTM cycle 9 is coming out soon..Yeah hope it'll be good cos cycle 8 wasn't really tat great... Waiting for GNTM 3 as well but tat's going to take some time...

Oh man i just LOVE NTM. How crazy am i? I can just stick to my comp & watch YouTube whole day!!! My record is finishing the whole season in less than 2 days. Yes, non-stop watching & watching & doing nothing else...Now i have british NTM 3 to keep me company till ANTM 9 comes along...

& not to forget, the host makes a hella difference! Tyra Banks is what makes ANTM so interesting. The other versions, i must say i kinda like australia NTM host for season 1 & 2 cos she's bitchy enuff. The others...bland!!!!! Heidi was great! She was really good as a host & mentor to the contestants, alwz there guiding them for the shoots...I must say she's the best (of cos Tyra is the original so no contest there)

Wana be on top?????? can't wait for cycle 9!!!!! Another endless chase to the finale!!!

Attack of the Sequels!!!

This is the year of the Attack of the Sequels!! Yes, all the Hollywood blockbusters are sequels!!!

Spidey 3, Pirates of the Carribean (part 3), Shrek 3, Ocean's 13, Fantastic 4 (2nd movie), Harry Potter (5th movie), and what have u lined up... Well well, are they running out of ideas for new movies? But then again, if it ain't broken, don mend it rite?

Talking about sequels, notice how many 3rd installments there are! N I have watched all but one! Spidey3, pirates and Shrek 3... I have watched them all...N truth is, 3rd installment doesnt quite live up to expectation.

Spidey 3 - A little too draggy on the emotional parts, the relationships... Too little time on the action. Too many villians n too little time on them. Overall, too slow (it's abt 2.5hrs long i think) and the action only comes in at the very last part which was like rather short. Not my fav (think part 2 is still the best).

Pirates of the Carribean: At world's end - 2.5hrs long movie! Front part too slow and draggy. Introducing new characters, trying to build up the story. We need more Captain jack sparrow, will turner & elizabeth! They are the main attractions! Bu too little focus on them and too late. Only till the middle did the movie pick up steam on the action & adventure. Oh Will turner (aka Orlando Bloom) is just so damn dashing n handsome!! Overall, it is still so much better than Spidey 3. At least the action & the effects are just so cool!! But the thing I don't believe is that Eliz is willing to wait 10yrs for her hubby (Will) for just 1 day of reunion. Phew, is that possible? I mean, isn't that like the same as being a widow? N how many 10yrs can u wait! We're talking 10yrs here, not 10days, 10 weeks or 10mths! Is their love for each other so damn strong to withstand the 10yrs of agonising waiting, longing & lust? In reality, I reali don think it's possible. Somemore, they don't have internet of handphone to keep in contact...

Moving on

Shrek 3 - Well what to say... It's just an animation. It is realli damn funny though, but i think the supporting casts outshone shrek! Yes, it shld not been called Shrek anymore but Shrek N Friends ( more emphasis on Friends) cos the supportings are just too damn furnie & interesting! Like Pinochio (just love the way he managed to talk his way through, hiding the fact that he knows where Shrek is but still not lying cos he can't), Gingerbread man (how he juz phased out when threatened, hence avoiding being asked by Prince Charming), Puss (Oh he is just so cute with his innocent eyes), Donkey(irritated by his incessant talkings but furnie)... Shrek? Who cares?! Of cos, as un-Disney as it is, it is still a Happily Ever after ending... with 3 Ogre babies!! Brainless movie, good for de-stressing and getting things off my mind..

So what's next? Maybe I shld watch Ocean's 13 to complete my list of trilogy watched. But then again, I don't like any of the actors in the movie. George Clooney - Y do pple find him so sexy? Argh he's old n ugly! Brad Pitt - Ar... No comments, don reali like him anyway. Matt Damon - Not good looking but the least hateful of the lot. The rest - No recollection at all! Haha.. It's just a heist movie. Can't even rem Ocean's 12 plot. Fantastic 4, not a fan.. What movie to watch? Harry Potter? Maybe lo, just to complete the series, not a fan as well.. Think out of the 4 movies, at least 2 i watched it on DVD (pirated somemore) keke...

Haha, maybe i shld just stick to my YOutube videos! Yes, I'm now offically a YouTube Whore!! Hooked desperately on YouTube, watching all my Next Top Models series - American, Canada, Britain, Germany, Australia, U name it I watch it. Oh man, YouTube is just such a wonderful invention!!! I can just spend my whole day watching non-stop! Now following Canada's NTM.. Finishing up Germany's NTM soon... Yes, I'm a video whore.. I still have my animes to catch up.. I need more free time!!

The Departed

Watched "The Departed" yesterday night..The remark version of the original HongKong movie "Infernal Affairs" ("IA"). Truth be told, original is always the better one. Yes, I prefer "Infernal Affairs". Not just the way the story is unfold, but the characters potrayal and development. (Infernal Affairs poster is nicer too :P)

Hollywood version - Loud, violent and outlandish.
HongKong version - Subtle, silent and emotional.

Take the lead character - The Police mole (Leonardo's character). Played by the reputed Tony Leung Chui Wai, his was a very subtle and emotionally challenged mole in the secret society ("SS"). His struggle with his identity was potrayed not so much through physical actions or hystericals, like what Leo did. His was more heart-felt and identifiable. Yes I prefer Tony's potrayal.

Also, "The Departed" did not develop the intricacies of the characters entanglement, which "Infernal Affairs" did to a rather wonderful effect. The mentor-mole relationship between the head of police and the mole was well-developed in "IA" but was nowhere to be found in "The Departed". It made the death of the police officer much more heartening.

The rooftop scene. Not much developed or shown in "The Departed" but is a highlight of "IA". The tension between the two, just watching the two actors fight it out was great. (FYI, Andy Lau was the SS mole). "The Departed" quickly ran past that scene...while "IA" delved into it further, explaining the contradictions in the moles' minds.

我是警察。我也是警察。

Those were the words spoken by the Tony and Andy respectively (the police mole, and the SS mole). It was THE phrase at that time.

I felt really sad and down when Tony was killed, but I did not really feel that bad about Leo's death. Well, original is always the best, hard to beat. But then again, IA had 3 episodes to unfold the whole story and with its haunting theme song.....But "The Departed" isn't that bad. It is still an 'A' star movie of the year.

FYI, I wasnt and still is not a BIG fan of the movie, albeit the appearance of my favourite idol Leon Lai in the last installment of the trilogy.