Month: February 2010

Movie Review: Book of Eli

I will NEVER EVER read a Wikipedia page on a movie, EVER AGAIN!

I wanted to find out if the movie storyline was derived from a myth or history. Unfortunately, I spoiled the surprise for myself – I read the plot of the movie. So I had no more surprises. 🙁

Watch it with an open mind

The choreography of the fight scenes was nothing to shout about. For some reason, I still found it slow with not enough impact. Maybe I’ve been watching too many kung-fu movies.

It’s a movie you need to watch with an open mind and heart to enjoy. I can’t mention even a slightest clue because if I did, it’ll spoil the subject of the story already.

However, I would say I really liked how this movie has interpreted its message and core of the subject. It relates itself in the movie without harming others – mentally.

So here I’d ask, what would you do if an apocalyptic event occurred and you survived?

Is it worth watching again?

Yes, twice only for me. Because you can only read a book so many times before you already memorize it. 🙂

Movie Review: Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief

I definitely had no expectations of Percy Jackson but me and Ariel just needed a movie to calm our thoughts. It’s been a great Chinese New Year and this movie was simpler said, entertaining.

Diving in and Hit it!

The plot started of okay but it got a little boring from the middle to the end. However, I seriously found the Computer Generated (CG) effects in the movie commendable. I really felt they did very well in creating the centaur and blending the daylight. Most of the time, we only see them in the dark night. Easier to not notice any imperfections. 😛

The story is great for a kid who loves to imagine they were superman. This creates another imaginary character for them to be submersed. A person who’s father is the God of the Sea and has the ability to control water. Coolness!

There were some bumps in the story I felt wasn’t told properly or enough. But I’ll leave that to you to find out later.

Is it worth rewatching?

Well, I’d skip to the interesting parts. Overall, maybe after a long time. Definite answer, I guess no. Sorry Percy.

However, I think it’s cool when my friend said it’s suppose to be revolving the story of Perseus.

My Chinese New Year Pictorial Celebration

During Chinese New Year, the weather becomes warmer and the skies become clearer. Not to mention, you become tanner. 😉

lightpost
A day to look up

Then, when the family is back for the new year, some like to celebrate it with a bang. So either they have loud fireworks or they invite the lion into their homes.

red cloth
Where's mah lion?!

And during Chinese New Year, expect to gain weight because the spread is massive. Plus, you’d be having a ‘lou sang’ of a time. 😉

food montage
Western spread

Once you’re full and your tummy is bloated like the God of Happiness, you’d want to rub it a few times for some luck. Because the Chinese will open a table for some friendly gambling. The serious gamblers will go to casinos, so keep away the RM50 notes and bring out the RM0.50 coins.

mahjong set
Gin rummy

And if your luck is down, you’ll want to pull out all the stops to not lose as much as RM10 during the session. And trust me, it’s not that difficult to accumulate a RM10 loss with merely RM0.50. 😛

feng shui amulets
Feng shui support

But at the end of the day, it’s really about family. Returning to see your parents and relatives. Tossing the ‘lou sang’ as high as you can to make it come true. Laughing, drinking and eating around the table as one big happy family. 🙂

photo
Family

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! May yours have been a very prosperous one with money, love, family and friends. 😀

Movie Review: The Princess and The Frog

Before there were computers, parents read us bedtime stories to sleep. Yes, we actually fell asleep to the voices of our parents and not the computer generated sound shouting; fire in the hole!

One of the classic stories bear the same title; The Princess and The Frog. Like a fairy tale, it’s about princesses, princes and happily ever afters. The same sort of stories Disney produced ever since the Mickey Mouse days.

Movie poster
Movie poster

Disney Twisted The Frog

However, this remake came with a twist. Instead of the old kissing the frog, living happily ever after, Disney gave their princess a whole new perspective – frog style.

The new story was entertaining and still true to the Disney style; singing, dancing, excitement (for kids) and romance. The scenes aren’t made to make you think or guess but watch. Viewing this movie with an open or childish mind would be best. Just pure fun.

However, Ariel did point out to me Disney has grown up. They killed a character in the movie. But come to think of it, has Disney killed more than 1 heroic character in the same film?

Would I watch it again?

Alone, no. But I would with my future kids. Because I believe all kids need a balance of fairy tale in their life.

It gives them imagination. 🙂