IVANtypes

Revamped blog is LIVE!

2011-01-11T22:59:00.002+08:00

Allow me to direct you to my revamped blog on Tumblr.

http://ivankeytan.tumblr.com

PAUSE...content revamp!

2011-01-09T03:14:00.000+08:00

There's been nothing much going on here 'cos a content revamp is the works. Hang in there!

REEL BYTES 2010-52

2010-12-27T22:00:00.001+08:00

THE TOURIST
[drama, thriller]

A BETTER TOMORROW
[action]

FREAKONOMICS
[documentary]

LET THE BULLETS FLY
[comedy, drama]

JUST CALL ME NOBODY
[comedy]

Merry Christmas & TAIPEI New Year!!

2010-12-24T14:16:00.000+08:00

Finally, the holiday season kicks in. Assignments shall go on hold for the next week or so as I usher in the New Year at Taipei! More on that later. I would first like to wish all my family, my kors and dis, and friends a very merry Christmas!!

After the partying on Christmas and possibly Boxing Day, it's time for TAIPEI 1111. Why 1111? That's because I will be crossing over to 2011 in Taipei. So instead of the boring Taipei 2010/11, I decided to themed it as 1111 (1 January '11). More on that will come soon in my first video post before departure.

TAIPEI 1111 will be from 28 December to 4 January. So I will not be contactable on my mobile phone during this period. Twitter, Facebook, Msn and email are still readily available means of communication. Haha! Cheers to my trip...it's gonna be a blast!

Happy Holidays!

THE GHOSTS MUST BE CRAZY ~ 3.5/5

2010-12-24T14:00:00.001+08:00

Two stories for the price of one sound like a good deal. But it also comes with the inevitable comparisons. On the back of Where Got Ghost?, the first “hormedy” (fusion of horror and comedy) by Jack Neo and Boris Boo, this film has its mixed moments just like its predecessor.

The first story The Day Off is directed by Boris Boo, and is again army-themed. Ah Nan (John Cheng) and Ah Lei (Wang Lei) are on their last reservist training which is the most strenuous of all. They decide to cook up grandmother tales to malinger and avoid it. However, they encounter an obstacle in their no-nonsense platoon commander (Chua En Lai). All is about to change when their sickly section mate (Dennis Chew) faints while digging a trench.

The setting is familiar to those who have gone through National Service. And that is an advantage regardless of the plot. Once again, the bantering and antics of John Cheng and Wang Lei as the two reservist soldiers prove to be the highlight. The scene of the “flying” land rover is well shot and appears as if it is projecting towards the audience. However, the same cannot be said of some scene transitions where there are too many sharp cuts. Nevertheless, it manages to balance the horror and comedy elements to deliver a credible first half.

The second story Ghost Bride by Mark Lee, making his directorial debut, is a stark contrast to the first. It seems more like a parable rather than a “hormedy”. Ah Hui (Henry Thia) has little money and just lost his honey. A stranger Ah hai (Mark Lee) approaches him with an option of striking it rich to win back his honey. Ah Hui engages the help of the deceased and when it is payback time, a ghost bride awaits for him at the solemnisation table.

Uneven pacing, over-indulgence in CGI effects, lame humour and the lack of horror elements plague the second half. The only horror could possibly be a cringe-worthy cross-dressing moment. The use of CGI effects is good in a couple of scenes. The snake appears very real and the image created by the flood of moving urns is spectacular. But with the subsequent recreation of hell, it seems like the amount of CGI effects has crossed the line. Is Henry Thia overexposed? He seems to reprise his roles to the extent that it gets a tad tiring watching him.

While the two films will definitely bring laughter, depending on your sense of it, the former is the better of the two. Have a “hormical” time!

MEET THE PARENTS: LITTLE FOCKERS ~ 1.5/5

2010-12-23T16:20:00.000+08:00

What the “fock”! Claiming to be “This Christmas’ funniest comedy!” in publicity posters, it would be true if this were the only comedy offering during the festive season.

Five years after Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) and Pam (Teri Polo) set up a family of four, it is time for the extended family to reunite at the fifth birthday party of their twin children. Prior to that, Jack Brynes (Robert De Niro) attempts to seek assurance that his son-in-law Greg is ready to step into the role as the “Godfocker”. Greg’s fidelity is tested when he meets with a seductive pharmaceutical company’s representative Andi Garcia (Jessica Alba). The tension between Jack and Greg escalates and culminates in a childish scuffle that begins as fast as it ends.

After the box-office success of Meet The Parents and Meet The Fockers, expectations are high for this third instalment. However, the zenith of “fockerisation” has been attained in the previous two films and it is time to break the “circle of trust”. The plot remains in gear one throughout. The climax scene continues in a plateau state. The use of shock to jolt the audience (the vomiting and blood-spurting scenes) is a feeble attempt, since they are already in the movie trailer. With a load of recyclable aka trashy sexual humour, this comedy plunges to unsavoury depths.

Boasting a star-studded cast of veteran actors like Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand, one would rub his hands in glee. Unfortunately, none of them left an impression. They look jaded and merely “going through motion”. Even the introduction of the voluptuous Jessica Alba could not save the film from an awful script and mediocrity.

The only amusing part of the film is the video remix of Greg’s speech, which runs alongside the credits roll and lasts for about a minute. That finally gets the audience cracking with laughter but it is too little too late.

With the demise of this film and the lack of Christmas-themed films, there seems to be little festive cheer in the cinemas this season.

REEL BYTES 2010-51

2010-12-23T00:23:00.004+08:00

YOGI BEAR (3D)
[animation, action, adventure]

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS (3D)
[adventure, comedy]

MEET THE PARENTS: LITTLE FOCKERS
[comedy]

MERRY CHRISTMAS...from my friends!!

2010-12-20T14:26:00.001+08:00

REEL BYTES 2010-50

2010-12-19T23:49:00.000+08:00

TRON: LEGACY (3D)
[action, adventure]

TIME TRAVELLER: THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME
[drama, fiction]

GO FIND A PSYCHIC!
[comedy]

FACING ALI
[documentary]

TRON: LEGACY (3D) ~ 3.5/5

2010-12-15T14:20:00.000+08:00

Neon is the order of the day as “programmes” in luminous blue and orange clash on The Grid. Presented by Walt Disney Pictures, the opening sequence of the Disney Kingdom is magical in neon blue and creates the mood for us to literally dive into the digital world.

Wait a minute…before we enter The Grid, the back-story of 20 years ago sees Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) idealising with his son Sam (Garett Hedlund) about creating and entering a digital dimension that boasts perfection. After that night, he disappears. Fast forward twenty years later and we are ready to enter The Grid with a resentful teenage Sam, following a page from the Flynn Arcade. He eventually reunites with his father after being rescued by Quorra (Olivia Wilde) from a Light Disc battle. The mastermind behind such battles is Clu (digitalised Jeff Bridges), Kevin’s creation that turns against him. Now, the Flynns’ mission is to exit The Grid alive.

This adventure into the digital world is heavily laden on visuals, but the plot is a letdown. Basically, Sam is tricked to enter The Grid in hope of reuniting with his father, after which he needs to get out of it. In between that is a series of Light Cycles, Light Discs and Light Jets that promises to thrill the senses and mask the weak storyline. Indeed, this movie scores high on the visuals. One of the memorable effects is when the Light Disc shatters a ‘programme’ to bits. In addition, scenes at The Grid are shot in 3D while the real-world scenes are in 2D. This contrast distinguishes the settings effectively. The electronic soundtrack produced by Daft Punk, who has a short cameo, complements the neon environment of The Grid.

While the visuals are groundbreaking, the cast is largely forgettable. Their performance is a tad stiff and cold. Could that be how it is like in a digital dimension? Apart from Olivia Wilde, the styling of the cast does not seem to emit a futuristic look. Even the digitalised version of Jeff Bridges fails to enhance it.

Overlook the storyline and immerse yourselves in technology bathed in neon. And your mission is “to survive”.

FUNaMANIA Channel U Party 2010

2010-12-15T10:20:00.001+08:00

This blogpost has remained in my draft for very long... No time to post! So here are the photos and videos. Just enjoy. More photos can be found HERE.

REEL BYTES 2010-49

2010-12-09T22:30:00.000+08:00

BOX!
[japanese, drama]

SAMMY'S ADVENTURES: THE SECRET PASSAGE
[cg animation, family]

LET ME IN
[horror, thriller]

DORAEMON MOVIE: NOBITA'S MERMAID LEGEND
[adventure, animation, fantasy]

THE FOURTH PORTRAIT
[drama]

THE FOURTH PORTRAIT ~ 3/5

2010-12-08T12:30:00.000+08:00

The title of the film should lead you to wonder what the first three portraits are. This will be duly revealed, with clear labelling, during the course of the film.

The first portrait revolves around a sombre mood when 10-year-old Xiang (Bi Xiao Hai) experiences the passing away of his father in a hospital room. Having no other family members, he manages to survive by stealing the lunchboxes of teachers. The school’s janitor (King Shih Chieh) confronts him and by means of tough love, feeds him and advises him about life. Eventually, a social service organisation reunites Xiang with his mother (Hao Lei) but his life is not about to change for the better. She is married to an abusive man (Leon Dai) and works as a prostitute. An awkward situation lands Xiang with a new companion (Na Dow) but he leads him astray. It culminates in the hilarious second portrait. A dream by Xiang results in the gloomy third portrait, which drives the film in another direction. It changes the focus to his abusive stepfather and prostitute mother. The fourth and final portrait ends the film and I shall leave it for you to discover.

Apparently, director Mong Hong Chung intends the film to be an allegory of modern-day Taiwan where a tumultuous society is in search for its identity. However, only observers who are in tune with Taiwan’s society will be able to suss that out. The themes of alienation, domestic violence and prostitution are more evident, which will leave you sympathising with Xiang.

The colour palette of greenish-blue hues creates a gloomy tone throughout the film. Fortunately, the introduction of Xiang’s wayward companion, who nicknamed himself “Big Gun”, results in a considerable amount of humour. He appears as the spark in Xiang’s life and also in the ominous narrative.

The most powerful moment in this film lies in the simplest shot, that of Xiang’s stepfather talking to a figment of his imagination as he reveals a dark secret and confesses to a tragedy. The intonation of Leon’s voice and his facial expressions convey the message that he regrets the misdeed but is unable to reverse it. Another standout performer is the protagonist played by Bi Xiao Hai. His quiet demeanour successfully communicates with the audience the emotions that he is experiencing.

This multi-award winning film taps on your sympathy towards children. You will probably enjoy it more if you have a higher level of it.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER ~ 3/5

2010-12-07T18:20:00.000+08:00

After journeying through the snowy plains and forested areas of Narnia in the first two instalments, this third chronicle takes viewers on board the Dawn Treader for a sea-faring adventure.

It begins in the guest bedroom of Eustace’s (Will Poulter) house. He is the prudish and annoying cousin of Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley). A painting of the high seas catches the attention of Lucy and triggers a flood that transports the trio on board the ship of King Caspian (Ben Barnes). With Narnia seemingly at peace, their mission is to help Caspian find the seven lost Lords of Narnia. As they island-hop in search of the Lords and the swords bestowed unto them by Aslan, an evil green mist crosses their path while temptations lay abound.

The introduction of Eustace adds a new dimension in the storyline as he contributes much comic relief. His initial animosity with the talking mouse Reepicheep blossoms into a crucial partnership and ends in a touching scene. Notably absent from this film are the two older Pevensie children Peter and Susan who have outgrown Narnia. They are certainly missed as the sibling dynamics are conspicuously lacking. The presence of Aslan remains iconic to the series. The booming voice of Liam Neeson, coupled with thunderous roars, gives Aslan much character and identity despite managing only brief appearances.

Directed by Michael Apted, this film satisfies most criteria on a fantasy adventure checklist. There are sword fighting scenes, a magic tunnel, goblins, a dragon and a sea serpent. While it delivers on the adventure aspect, the action scenes are much less fulfilled. They are pretty restrained to render the film children-friendly. There is also not much focus given to the Christian references made in C. S. Lewis’ books except when Aslan tells the kids that he goes by another name back in the real world and to look for him there as a source of strength. Nevertheless, that statement strikes a chord with me.

In the final scene, the film teases the audience when Aslan informs Eustace that he might be summoned back to Narnia should the need arises. Is another chronicle in the works? We can only wait with anticipation.

BOX! ~ 4.5/5

2010-12-05T13:30:00.000+08:00

When the bell sounds, the fight begins. Two competitors square off in the ring, using their fists as weapons to bring each other down.

Kabu (Hayato Ichihara) possesses natural talent in boxing but he is brash and egoistical. One day, he happens to bump into a group of hooligans bullying a teacher and her student in the subway train. He stands up for them and gets rid of the hooligans. The student is actually Yuki (Kengo Kora), his long lost childhood friend. Yuki is a mild-mannered and timid teenager who is often bullied when young.

Kabu invites him to join the school’s boxing club. Coached by Sawaki (Toshio Kakei), Yuki maintains a high level of discipline during training and very soon, he rises the ranks to box in the featherweight class. Meanwhile, Kabu’s impulsive behaviour causes him to suffer a heavy defeat under the hands of rival Inamura (Suwa Masashi) in an inter-school competition. The following year, the friendship of Kabu and Yuki is put on the line when they are drawn to face each other in the ring. Can the friendship of Kabu and Yuki withstand the rigours of this boxing bout?

The plot is typical of sports-themed films where the protagonist encounters obstacles before triumphing them at the climax. The storyline is unsurprising but there is nary a bored moment in this film. This can be attributed to the clever development of the plot. The infusion of the friendship element gives this film more depth and it succeeds in connecting with non-fans of boxing.

Admittedly, the boxing scenes are not top-rated. They feature simple moves that will leave amateurs unfazed. Fortunately, the cinematography and editing more than compensate for it. The effective use of split-screens and extreme close-ups apparently raise the stakes and excitement of the boxing bouts.

Hayato Ichihara aces the role of Kabu. His varied expressions to convey the rollercoaster of emotions, from the height of cockiness and steely determination to the depths of despair and hopelessness, are excellent. The coach of the boxing club, played by Toshio Kakei, catches my attention too. He does not have a dominating role in the film, but his gloomy demeanour hides a dark secret that will be eventually revealed.

Ultimately, the theme of friendship strikes a more powerful chord with me than the boxing itself. Kabu and Yuki are the kind of friends that everybody will like to have.

LET ME IN ~ 3/5

2010-12-05T02:30:00.000+08:00

Everything is similar to the Swedish original, even the backdrop. There are some gruesome scenes but it brings nothing fresh to the genre. If you have watched the original, it is best to skip this as comparisons will point to this film as a poorer cousin. Nevertheless, it is still a decent film on its own and will keep you engaged throughout, especially if you have no clue of what is going to happen.

REEL BYTES 2010-48

2010-12-02T22:30:00.000+08:00

HELLO STRANGER
[comedy, romance]

THE HAUNTED HOUSE PROJECT
[horror, thriller]

SKYLINE
[sci-fi, thriller]

MY SOUL TO TAKE
[horror, thriller]

THE HAUNTED HOUSE PROJECT ~ 4/5

2010-11-30T00:10:00.002+08:00

It begins with an end in mind as the introductory commentary tells us to expect all characters to be wiped out by the time the credits roll. The film continues by informing us that subsequent footages we are going to witness are all that is left after the horrific incident.

The haunted house in a Korean province is rumoured to have taken many lives. While doing location scouting, the production team, consisting of producer Lee Yeong-ju (Lee Hwa-jeong), cameraman Choi Gyu-seok (Hyeon Tae-ho) and sound recordist Jeong Ji-yeong (Shin So-yul), are warned by the villagers to stay away. But in a bid to produce a breakthrough film, the trio decides to proceed with their plans. Filming begins with three members of a ghost-hunting club. Im Wan-su (Shin Gyeong-seon), Weon Mi-jin (Yun Yi-na) and Choi Woo-ram (Jeon In-geol) give their last interviews before all of them left for the infamous haunted house.

Shot in a style similar to The Blair Witch Project, the exploration of the haunted house also resembles that of the recent local film Haunted Changi. If you found it enjoyable, it is highly likely that this will be your cup of tea. The cinematography is extreme. The camera angles are experimental and terribly shaky, to the extent that seasoned viewers might even feel a sense of motion sickness thereafter.

The use of sounds to illicit shocks is common in horror films and it is applied to great effect here. In addition, the employment of extended periods of non-dialogue creates an unnerving silence that also gives me the creeps.

The methods to kill off characters may not be new but the editing gives it an edge. The fear factor is thus elevated and may prove to be disturbing. A scene that remains anchored in me is during a killing that defies gravity. It happens in a blink of an eye so watch out for it!

HELLO STRANGER ~ 4/5

2010-11-29T15:15:00.001+08:00

I am a stranger to the majority of you who are reading this since I do not know you personally. But picture this hypothetical situation. We happened to bump into each other in a foreign land by chance when my tour group left without me. Awkward at first, we decided to explore the place together. Sparks began to fly as both of us unloaded our love baggage upon each other.

That is exactly what happens when two people leave Thailand for Seoul on a holiday trip. Thai guy (Chantavit Dhanasevi) meets Thai girl (Neungthida Sophon) when he gets drunk the night before. His tour group departs for their itinerary the next morning, leaving him alone. She is there for a friend’s wedding but plans to explore Seoul prior to that. She is alone too. After much cajoling, the pair decides to tour the city together.

It so happens that both of them are carrying their love baggage abroad. His girlfriend just breaks up with him after he replies that he is not ready for marriage. Her boyfriend is suspicious of her and they eventually breaks up through a long-distance phone call. With two broken hearts lying around in Seoul, it creates a perfect opportunity for them to fit into each other. Will their sparks turn into a bonfire and end in a ‘happily forever after’?

Two good lookers in a beautiful city make this movie a feast for the eyes. Banjong Pisanthanakun, famed for directing horror films like Shutter and Alone, tries his hand at a romantic comedy for the first time. And his maiden effort is quite a success. The first half of the film throws up tons of laugh-out-loud moments as Thai guy comes into touch with the Korean language and culture. As the film transits into romantic mode and love begins to develop between them, it shifts to a more somber mood.

Those who have been to Seoul will identify with the many iconic and familiar settings. As they explore the city, pleasant memories readily diffuse back into my mind. For those who have yet to travel there, this film will entice you to pay this attractive city a visit in the near future.

What are their names again? Despite knowing so much about the two protagonists for more than two hours, they remain anonymous strangers to us by the end of the show. Nevertheless, greet them with a “Hello!”

REEL BYTES 2010-47

2010-11-25T12:00:00.005+08:00

CONFESSIONS
[drama, thriller]

THE NEXT THREE DAYS
[thriller, action]

RAPUNZEL A TANGLED TALE
[animation]

BRUCE LEE MY BROTHER
[biography]

Easy A
[comedy

BRUCE LEE MY BROTHER ~ 3/5

2010-11-24T13:00:00.000+08:00

You would expect Bruce Lee films to be action-packed. But this biopic is about his life prior to his worldwide popularity. So keep your expectations in check as we delve into his early life.

Recounted by his younger brother Robert Lee, the story begins with his father Lee Hoi Chuen (Tony Leung) on the opera stage. Upon receiving news that his wife is giving birth, he rushes to the hospital. In San Francisco, a future martial arts legend is born. The story then chronicles the trio’s journey back to Hong Kong where they are reunited with the entire Lee household, surviving through the Japanese occupation and under British colonial rule.

The film paints several significant incidents that give the audience a brief impression of the young Bruce Lee. He appears as an infant in his first film and later proceeds on to become a child actor. He shoots to fame as Lee Xiao Long (“Little Dragon”) at the age of 9 after starring in The Kid. During his adolescent years, Bruce Lee (Aarif Lee) is somewhat a rebel, often getting himself into scuffles. It culminates in a boxing duel that he wins convincingly. His achievements are not confined in the ring, as he snatches top prize with his younger brother in a ballroom dance competition. However, his love life is strewn with obstacles. And to worsen matters, his best buddy Kong gets involved in drugs and eventually that causes his forced departure back to the United States.

The chronological snapshots of the early years in Bruce Lee’s life are strung together by voiceovers, resulting in the film having a segmented feel. However, the detailed film sets illustrating the changing times is useful in transporting the viewers through it. There also seems to be too much material to cover and as such, each episode leads on to the next with little exploration in depth. This is especially true with regard to his love life.

This could be Aarif Lee’s breakout role. His good looks and strong facial features will definitely appeal to the audience. More importantly, he is able to portray the charismatic Bruce Lee with his attitude and stance. He certainly manages to stamp his mark on this film.

Why is Lee Xiao Long named Bruce? The scene that reveals the answer leaves the deepest impression.

CONFESSIONS ~ 5/5

2010-11-22T12:00:00.001+08:00

Allow me to confess: This is one of the best movies I have watched this year. After the credits rolled and the lights came on, about a third of the theatre remained rooted in their seats. Some were still reeling from the climatic revelation while others were discussing plot issues. I belonged to the former.

It begins with a confession by high school teacher Moriguchi (Takako Matsu) to her class, “Manami didn’t die in an accident. She was killed by students in this class.” Manami is Moriguchi’s four-year-old daughter who drowns to death in the school pool a few months ago. Following that, she drops obvious hints as to who the killers are. It turns out to be science genius Shuya and his quiet classmate Naoki. After re-enactment of the murder scenes, Moriguchi proceeds to declare that she has tainted both the killers’ milk with the HIV virus!

The episode before Moriguchi resigns appears to be her revenge but that is merely the spark to an explosive end. Naoki’s life is turned upside down while Shuya deals with the bullying in school. Confessions of the various key characters soon follow, with cleverly inserted flashbacks that unravel the plot to superb effect, culminating in an explosive and disturbing conclusion that will leave you reeling.

Adapted from Kanae Minato’s bestseller novel, this psychological thriller is indeed a masterpiece that warrants your attention. Brilliantly directed by acclaimed director Tetsuya Nakashima, the non-linear screenplay features extensive voiceovers but surprisingly, that is not a turn-off. The flashing out of the characters’ thoughts provides much depth that allows viewers to relate to. Nakashima also takes this opportunity to discuss various themes like youth violence and the meaning of life.

The climatic revelation is psychologically disturbing. The consequential effect of it is a visual cinematic spectacle in itself that enhances the climax and is the most gripping sequence in the entire film.

This is a riveting masterpiece not to be missed. It will leave you reeling and the discussions will follow even after the credits roll.

My mood these days...

2010-11-21T23:50:00.000+08:00

If you have noticed, I haven't been posting much about my life. It's just movie reviews after reviews. Well, that's because of the sensitivity of what's running through my heads. And it's regarding work. You get the drift...

Bogged down by mostly meaningless assignments, I feel I'm losing it on some days. I'm just trying to psycho myself that it will be over soon, that I will be able to continue doing what I like. Looking back, the 10-week school experience has been so much better. Handling students are much easier than handling those meaningless assignments! At least, they reciprocate. Every time I bumped into them on the streets, we still acknowledge one another. And that alone, is enough to put a smile on my face. I know that I have made a difference in their lives.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART ONE ~ 3/5

2010-11-21T23:40:00.000+08:00

The kids have grown up and they are not as cute as before anymore. I miss Hogwarts! Above all these, this film is like a build-up to the finale, so it is not as exciting. In fact, it's boring as they try to squeeze the last ounce of profits from the franchise. Nevertheless, fans will flock to catch it, in preparation for an epic finale, hopefully. I'm keeping my expectations low.

REEL BYTES 2010-46

2010-11-21T23:00:00.000+08:00

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART ONE
[fantasy, adventure]

KUNG FU WING CHUN
[action, martial arts]

SPRING FEVER
[drama, romance]

SPRING FEVER ~ 2.5/5

2010-11-14T15:30:00.001+08:00

A homosexual, a pair of bisexuals and two straight women are caught in a messy erotic affair that leaves everyone, including the audience, with a sense of lethargy and emptiness.

The film takes off with Wang Ping (Wu Wei) and Jiang Cheng (Qin Hao) travelling along a deserted road. They stop to relieve their bladder and the first hint of eroticism occurs when both men start to explore each other. Little did they realise that Wang Ping’s wife Lin Xue (Jiang Jiaqi) has employed Luo Haito (Chen Sicheng) to spy on them. The first love triangle is shattered after the confrontations but soon, another begins to establish itself. Luo Haito begin to court Jiang Cheng. Concurrently, he is seeing his girlfriend Li Jing (Tan Zhuo). Melancholy ensues and sex becomes the order of the day, leaving a blanket of hollowness hanging in the stale air.

Controversial director Lou Ye portrays the homosexual and bisexual men as the root cause of failed relationships and broken families. He seems to put forward the idea that they are only interested in seeking for fleeting sexual encounters. The triangular relationship suffers from the wrath of jealousy and ends in despair. Another person will then fill the void created and the whole cycle repeats itself.

The storyline plods along at a snail’s pace. The tight framing throughout the film gives it a very claustrophobic feel and evokes a sense of emptiness. The lovemaking scenes are plentiful but all of them are loveless and meaningless. As a result of the realistic portrayal with little dramatisation, this film is unlikely to appeal beyond film festivals and the art-house crowd.

The few scenes that feature Jiang Jiaqi as Lin Xue surprisingly triumphs all other sex scenes, in terms of their emotional content. The concoction of anguish, frustration and aimlessness is expressed to perfection when Lin Xue discovers and confronts her husband and his gay partner.

Spring Fever won the Best Screenplay Award at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in 2009.

ADELE: RISE OF THE MUMMY ~ 2.5/5

2010-11-14T12:19:00.002+08:00

REEL BYTES 2010-45

2010-11-14T12:18:00.000+08:00

RED
[action, thriller]

THE HOUSEMAID
[drama, thriller]

UNSTOPPABLE
[action, thriller]

THE INCITE MILL - 7 DAY DEATH GAME ~ 3/5

2010-11-14T12:00:00.000+08:00

Super Junior Super Show 3 - Poker Face, Single Ladies, Telephone

2010-11-12T23:15:00.000+08:00

UNSTOPPABLE ~ 3.5/5

2010-11-07T18:00:00.000+08:00

Stated explicitly at the beginning of the film, this “unstoppable” incident is inspired by a true event. Nine years ago, an unmanned train was left running down a track in Ohio after the air brakes were not set in place.

As expected, this thriller is dramatised to a certain extent. Due to a human blunder, the train is left unmanned and speeding towards populated areas. A sharp bend at Stanton Town is where all hell will break loose when the highly combustible materials, diesel and molten phenol, on board will result in a massive catastrophe. Two men, each carrying a family burden, are thrust into stopping the seemingly unstoppable train. A newbie conductor Will Colson (Chris Pine) and a veteran engineer Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington) have to garner their wits and risk their lives to save the situation. In the mean time, rail yard commander Connie Hooper (Rosario Dawson) has to make crucial decisions that can tip the scales either way in this salvage operation.

The concept of the main plot is pretty straightforward. However, the family issues that both men are facing and the ethical problem grappled by Connie provide different dimensions to the film. The only problem is that they are merely fillers to dramatise the storyline. As such, the ethical problem is glossed over hastily and the family issues are resolved abruptly.

Staying true to the genre, director Tony Scott delivers a high-octane salvage operation with deft visuals and sound. The extreme close-ups of specific parts of the train, the shaky camera action in some of the shots and the rumbling sounds transform a normal cargo train into an intimidating “creature”. The fear of a devastating outcome is further pre-empted with computer-generated images of what might happen if the train derails along the Stanton bend. It drew some gasps from the audience!

This action thriller is engaging enough to keep your heart pounding, but rest assured that it would not keep you away from our own Mass Rapid Transit (MRT).

THE HOUSEMAID ~ 5/5

2010-11-04T16:15:00.000+08:00

This is a stylistic and polished remake of the 1960 film Hanyo that will thrill your senses and leave you gasping for breath.

Scenes of busy streets in Korea start the film off that culminates in a suicide. The mood is set and we are ready to introduce the housemaid. Eun-yi (Jeon Do-yeon) is employed as a junior housemaid into the Hoon household. She works alongside the much older Byung-sik (Yoon Yeo-jeong). The lavish mansion of Hoon (Lee Jung-jae) supports his wife Hae-ra (Seo-woo), who is pregnant with twins and their daughter Nami (Ahn Seo-Hyeon). The peace of the family is shattered when Byung-sik discovers that Eun-yi is having a sexual affair with Hoon and reports it to Hae-ra’s mother (Park Ji-young). Revenge and counter-revenge is on the cards as each party attempts to outplay the other.

The opening scene of the film appears to have no connection whatsoever with the main storyline but the social commentary of it gradually creeps in. By the time the credits roll, it is pretty much clear as to what director Im Sang-soo is driving at.

Cinematography is deftly crafted and, dare I say, close to perfection. It is able to transmit the very essence of what is happening on screen to the audience at an emotional level. The spatial aspect of the lavish mansion initially creates a feeling of envy and hope. But as the events unfold, that feeling vaporises to become a space of emptiness and one of avoidance. The photography is beautiful, especially the intimate scenes that are edgy but highly impressive.

All the characters leave a deep impression and this can be attributed to the proficient performance of the cast. They fit into their roles seamlessly such that it is difficult to pinpoint any standouts. Park Ji-young who plays Hae-ra’s mother leaves a strong imprint even though she does not feature in many scenes. Seo-woo’s cute pixie face will leave guys smitten while Jung-jae’s hot bod will melt the hearts of girls.

Despite featuring a few good lookers, this is definitely not an idol drama. It is a powerful cinematic masterpiece that is edgy, yet intense.

RED ~ 4/5

2010-11-04T16:00:00.016+08:00

Former CIA agents regrouped and they are still as potent as ever. The oldies are RED... Retired and Extremely Dangerous. Based on a graphic novel, this action comedy is thrilling yet funny. Expect the outrageous and be ready for an explosive conclusion! The oldies played by Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren clearly still have got what it takes to deliver a fantastic performance in this film.

REEL BYTES 2010-44

2010-11-04T12:00:00.002+08:00

SON OF BABYLON

[drama]

ADELE: RISE OF THE MUMMY
[adventure, fantasy]

FLOWERS

[drama]

MEGAMIND (3D)
[cg animation]

DUE DATE
[comedy]

FLOWERS ~ 2.5/5

2010-11-03T12:00:00.000+08:00

Spanning three generations and featuring six women, this Japanese drama is a gorgeous mess.

The six beauties are from the famous Tsubaki ads by Shiseido. Tsubaki is actually Japanese for the flower Camellia, and being a common name for Japanese women, it is not surprising that the title is as such.

The black-and-white scenes of the 1930s tell the story of Rin (Yu Aoi), who resists her parents’ attempt for an arranged marriage. A quick cut and the audience is transported to the next generation where three women are featured. They are Rin’s daughters Kaoru (Yuko Takeuchi), Midori (Rena Tanaka) and Sata (Yukie Nakama). Kaoru has to overcome the tragic lost of her husband to a car accident. Midori is a career woman who is disturbed by a marriage proposal. Sato has two daughters Kanna (Kyoka Suzuki) and Yoshi (Ryoko Hirosue). Kanna is worried about being a single mother.

Essentially, the director seems to be portraying the idea that Japanese women are filled with beauty and grace. The six top models and actresses are indeed a sight to behold, captivating viewers with their polished looks. They are gorgeous. The photography is also breathtaking, showcasing the change in Japan from the 1930s to present, against poster-perfect backdrops.

Here comes the messy part. Apart from the distinct black-and-white scenes that suffer from only one cut, I think the rest of the stories of the five women are chopped up into different segments, intertwining with each other. As the viewer is being transported back and forth through the generations, it becomes quite messy for me, to the point where I was trying to make sense of certain scenes.

If you are into Japanese culture studies or simply gorgeous Japanese women, this film is for you. But you will have to be able to untangle that mess to fully comprehend the story.

I GIVE MY FIRST LOVE TO YOU ~ 3/5

2010-11-03T11:50:00.000+08:00

This Japanese melodrama fails to shine despite boasting a charming guy and a lovely girl. The storyline is ridiculous at times. Moreover, it plods along in the middle portion where little progression is made. The film is well-acted by Masaki Okada and Mao Inoue, but maybe because I'm biased towards the Japanese. If not for them, I would have fallen asleep! These two eye candies carried the story well. There will be at least one tear-jerking moment in such films and that is delivered. It has the potential to be much better.

MEGAMIND (3D) ~ 1.5/5

2010-11-02T16:15:00.001+08:00

Oh no! Not another villain-turns-saviour animation. This film seems all too similar to Despicable Me. And that will definitely draw comparisons.

After defeating his archrival Metro Man (voiced by Brad Pitt), super villain Megamind (Will Ferrell) feels empty. Without his nemesis, he finds no meaning in life. His solution? Megamind creates another superhero in Titan (Jonah Hill). But his creation turns out to be devastating on Metro City. Inspired by reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Frey), Megamind decides to be the hero and saves the city. And maybe, finds his way into Roxanne’s heart.

This animation feature is targeted at kids who have a bad memory. The concept is almost the same as Despicable Me. The plot is awful and uninspiring. I did not sympathise with the plight of Megamind and the whole idea of villain-turns-saviour is a flop. Most of the humour is dry. It tries to be funny but the jokes lack depth. Some of the references drawn are interesting (e.g. US President Obama’s campaign slogan of “Yes we can!”) but the film fails to build on them. Finally, the characters are not lovable enough for me to gush at.

The 3D enhancement fails to increase the palatability of this sub-par film. While some of the shots are visually spectacular (e.g. the over-the-head shot of the crowd gives the impression that the viewer is part of it), it does not really add any value to the development of the plot.

This film is a total disappointment after it is being widely publicised. It failed to live up to expectations.

Hagen Troy Tan - Paparazzi

2010-11-02T09:09:00.000+08:00

Harajuku Halloween Girls!

2010-10-31T19:47:00.000+08:00

Oh how I'm missing Tokyo!!!

Hagen Troy Tan - How Deep Is Your Love

2010-10-31T19:40:00.000+08:00

KOREAN POP NIGHT CONCERT 2010

2010-10-29T12:20:00.000+08:00

It has been one week since the concert, but the K-fever in me still have not died down.

7 bands shared a stage at the Singapore Expo Hall 2, where the VIP is Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. George Yeo. That's how important Korean pop is! The bands are F.T. Island, The Boss (D-NA), Infinite, ZE:A, SHINee, Girls' Generation and Big Bang. Here are the videos I took from two of the hottest groups that evening. Enjoy!

Even though my beloved Kim Jonghyun is absent due to an injury, the mood was still high enough. Something was missing, but the group managed to cope well. By the way, Key was awesome! And I love Taemin's permed hairstyle. Oh, I can't understand why fans are angry that Jonghyun is dating. Did they think he would date them? I'm happy for the couple.

After SHINee got the crowd on their feet, Girls' Generation kept us on our feet. Their sexy outfits surely got the hearts of guys going into overdrive.

The evening ended on a reflective but still damn high mood with the finale. All the performing groups reappeared to the song We Are The World.

REEL BYTES 2010-43

2010-10-29T12:00:00.000+08:00

I've caught The Social Network, which is a simple story made impressive. Don't expect massive scares in The Last Exorcism but the tension built-up is good. The two movies I'm intending to catch are Japanese thriller The Incite Mill and the outrageous Jackass 3D.

JACKASS 3D
[documentary, comedy]

THE SOCIAL NETWORK
[drama]

THE INCITE MILL
[thriller, suspense]

IT'S A WONDERFUL AFTERLIFE
[comedy]

THE LAST EXORCISM
[horror, thriller]

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS
[cg animation, family]

THE TOWN ~ 3/5

2010-10-29T11:58:00.000+08:00

Ben Affleck is back as the director and protagonist in this heist thriller. Unfortunately, he brings nothing new to the genre. It does not mean the movie is bad, but just that it was was predictable. The middle portion is a tad slow and if you are expecting a blast-off during the climax, you will be disappointed.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK ~ 4/5

2010-10-27T14:40:00.000+08:00

Like. Comment. Poke. Wall. Welcome to the world of Facebook! This film basically follows how Mark Zuckerberg develops Facebook.com into a billion-dollar entity. On the way, he steps on the toes of some, including his best friend Eduardo who is recognised as the co-founder. In fact, he is the chief financing officer in its early days. The premise of the film sounds boring. On the contrary, it is anything but boring. Throw in Justin Timberlake as the Napster founder Sean Parker and the film is spiced up! Thankfully though, he did not overshadow our main character played by Jesse Eisenberg who held his own with a charismatic performance. Overall, this is a piece of work that hopefully will get people talking about, online, on Facebook!

THE LAST EXORCISM ~ 3.5/5

2010-10-27T12:00:00.000+08:00

The title suggests that an exorcism will be performed during the course of this film. A freaky subject, usually a long-haired girl, will be possessed and a religious personnel will battle the demon. If that is what you have in mind, keep your expectations low.

However, that does not mean this horror film is poor. It takes the format of a documentary, with Reverend Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) deciding to come clean after years of cheating on folks who request for exorcisms to be performed. He is a charismatic preacher, seemingly full of verve and passion for God. On the contrary, he reveals during an interview that he neither believes in God nor the devil.

Reverend Marcus is finally determined to put an end to his fraudulent ways. He decides to film a documentary to expose the methods behind his fake exorcisms. And that is where the humour of this show resides. The objects and methods used to trick his clients are indeed outrageous!

Unfortunately, the last exorcism that Reverend Marcus performs is filled with a multitude of obstacles that will eventually uncover a dark secret that threatens his existence. And that is where the build-up to the climax is awesome. The tension-filled sequences maintain the heartbeat at a constant accelerated rate. The only flipside to this thriller is that the climatic scene is hurriedly skimmed through. It simply did not match up to the excellent build-up. Did the director run out of film?

Nevertheless, this is a decent film that will still provide the thrills. Remember to keep your expectations low.

2AM_You Wouldn't Answer My Calls

2010-10-26T11:33:00.001+08:00

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 ~ 5/5

2010-10-22T17:00:00.001+08:00

The publicity poster on news papers states "Don't watch it alone!" But I saw it only after watching the movie alone! And I freaked out. It made my heart jumped at least five times. This is way scarier that the first installment. Set in a bungalow-type of house, the sense of safety evaporates right at the beginning after a supposed break-in. The family installed video cameras around the house and they capture the footages of what is to happen. The innocent baby, a dog and a father who doesn't believe in "such things" propels the story till tragedy occurs. Obey the advice; this is one of the scariest films I've watched and for that, it's 5-stars!

PIRANHA (3D) ~ 4/5

2010-10-21T18:20:00.000+08:00

Bloody awesome stuff! That sums up this film based on a simple premise. A shifting of tectonic plates releases the ancient species of piranha which goes on to terrorise the tourists who were visiting Lake Victoria for the summer party. Throw in a porn director, a couple of naked chicks, lots of gore and you get a R21 movie. The main character in the story is Jake. But who cares? The spectacular gore fest and bloodbath, all in 3D, is worth your money. Coupled with two piercing screams from a girl in the audience, it all adds up to a wholesome sadistic affair in the cinema. Did I mention that I enjoyed it very much? I've been de-sensitised, not sadistic.

71 INTO THE FIRE ~ 5/5

2010-10-21T13:45:00.000+08:00

“I can’t wait to catch Big Bang’s T.O.P at the Korean Pop Concert 2010!”

“I can’t get enough of Big Bang’s T.O.P during the Korean Pop Concert 2010!”

Depending on when you read this review, the above are reasons not to miss this war drama that commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. Based on a true event that happened in August 1950, this film explores the explosive battle between 71 student soldiers and the North Korean army at Pohang Girls’ Middle School.

The opening scene transports viewers straight onto the battlefield where Oh Jang-boem (T.O.P) is tasked with delivering ammunition to a unit in battle. The realism of it is a sight to behold. He escapes unscathed but is badly shaken after witnessing an officer bayoneted in front of him. While one battle subsides, another is brewing at the Nakdong River, a strategic location for the South Korean army. Upon being ordered to lead the troops there, Captain Kang Seok-dae (Kim Seung-woo) leaves Jang-boem and 70 other student soldiers to hold the fort at Pohang. The stage is set for the 71 student soldiers to enter the line of fire when the North Korean army launch their attacks.

Conventional elements of war movies are evident throughout the show. And the battle scenes are well executed. A sprinkle of humour and melodrama adds to the spice of the storyline. The humour stems from the group of student soldiers, where stereotypes are often magnified. The sentimental moments where Jang-boem writes to his mother adds another dimension to the character, even though it could be developed further.

Being the main protagonist in this film, T.O.P clearly steals the limelight with his good looks and credible performance. The other stars are equally competent in their respective roles. The 34-year-old Kwon Sang-woo is ever versatile, playing the rebellious student soldier Gap-jo to great aplomb while Park Mu-rang is thoroughly menacing as the North Korean army commander.

Fans of the war genre will lap it up. Fans of Kwon Sang-woo will swoon. Fans of T.O.P will go crazy!

REEL BYTES 2010-42

2010-10-21T13:40:00.020+08:00

Eight new movies hit our big screens this week! With a range of genres available, we are definitely spoilt for choice. I have watched 71 Into The Fire and this is a must-watch for fans of Big Bang's T.O.P and Kwon Sang-woo. I also enjoy melodramatic Japanese romantic dramas and I Give My First Love To You falls into that category. Other films I will catch are Paranormal Activity 2 and The Town.

71 INTO THE FIRE
[war, drama]

I GIVE MY FIRST LOVE TO YOU
[drama, romance]

THE TOWN
[crime, drama]

PERFECT WEDDING
[comedy, romance]

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST
[crime, mystery, thriller]

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2
[horror]

MANTRA
[horror]

YOU AGAIN
[comedy]

BESTSELLER ~ 3/5

2010-10-18T15:23:00.003+08:00

Billed as a horror movie, this Korean film seems to lack the horror element. There are few scares and those that are present belong to the category of 'been there, done that'. It will be better regarded as a crime thriller where the details of the crime are unveiled as the show proceeds. It is a little draggy before the show explodes with scenes of blood and core. Expect less horror and more thrill, and it will be a more enjoyable experience.

TAKERS ~ 4/5

2010-10-17T19:20:00.000+08:00

A heist film that is action-packed with lots of firepower. Despite poor reviews, apparently due to a predictable and straightforward plot, I totally enjoyed this adrenalin-pumping film. The build-up is rather slow, but once the main action swings in, it is thrills and spills all the way to the end. Hayden Christensen and Chris Brown look really suave in their respective roles and outfits. Paul Walker though seems a little overshadowed by his co-stars. Catch this for your adrenalin fix!

REEL BYTES 2010-41

2010-10-14T13:40:00.000+08:00

PIRANHA (3D)
[horror, thriller]

BESTSELLER
[horror, thriller]

THE AMERICAN
[thriller, drama]

KAMUI
[action]

TAKERS
[action, thriller]

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT
[romance, comedy]

THE CHILD'S EYE (3D)
[horror. thriller]

THE AMERICAN ~ 3.5/5

2010-10-13T14:20:00.000+08:00

George Clooney is the American in Castel del Monte, Italy. He is an assassin that wants to retire from the job and lead a normal life. But that is easier said that done. That basically sums up the story. What can be told in 30 minutes is stretched to close to 2 hours. And that is due to the brilliant cinematography that immerses the audience into the setting as well as into Jack's emotional self. This film will not appeal to all; some might even find it boring, evident in a couple of people leaving the theatre midway through the preview screening. But for those who appreciate the suspense and tension buildup, this will be a thrilling experience.

THE CHILD'S EYE (3D) ~ 2.5/5

2010-10-13T14:15:00.001+08:00

There are eye candies in this chinese horror film by the Pang Brothers. But the child's eye fails to maximise the use of 3D technology. There were a couple of scares but nothing really engaging. The plot is rather weak and the expected twist duly came towards the last part of the film. This is the sort of horror film that can do without 3D.

BURIED ~ 4/5

2010-10-11T14:50:00.000+08:00

Expect to see only one actor throughout the course of the film. Ryan Ryenolds steals maximum screen time as he is trapped in a coffin, buried in Iraq. A few survival items are all he has as he is being manipulated. All he can do is hope to be found before oxygen runs out and sand enters his coffin. A few of my friends disliked this film as they found it boring. Of course, I disagree. But I suppose this film is not for the masses. Arthouse? Not really. Ultimately, this film provides a different cinematic experience. Stretch your imagination and think out of the box, literally.

[Advert] Bank Anywhere with Citi Mobile Photo Contest

2010-10-08T11:50:00.000+08:00

What are you waiting for? Draw out that camera of yours, work your creative juices and snap away. You could win yourself a trip to anywhere in the world and a Sony VAIO of your choice!

1) Become a Fan of Citibank Singapore in Facebook.
2) Snap a photo of an iconic place or a unique situation, and include a mobile phone with the Citi Mobile homapage. (Note: any phone model is fine as long as the Citi Mobile homapage is visible.)
3) Upload it to Citibank Singapore in Facebook, under the Bank Anywhere tab.

I have captured three shots to give you an idea...

Colours are definitely a plus point to attract attention. Be sure that the colours of the Citi Mobile homepage are also included.

This is an example of an interesting and unplanned situation. The opportunity presented itself and I simply just activated my Citi Mobile homepage before taking a shot.

This is one way of using the mirror screen of my mobile phone to increase the artistic quotient of the photo.

Methods of getting that ace photo are non-exhaustive. Experiment with your camera, appreciate the surroundings and get inspired to capture a photo that deserves the highest accolades. All the best!

REEL BYTES 2010-40

2010-10-07T08:00:00.000+08:00

BURIED
[thriller, suspense]

EAT PRAY LOVE
[drama]

REIGN OF ASSASSINS
[martial arts, drama]

I AM LOVE
[drama]

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS
[comedy]

OUTRAGE ~ 4.5/5

2010-10-05T20:40:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the world of the Yakuza! This is one hell of a bloody and violent movie by Takeshi Kitano. And his deadbeat expression in the show as Otomo is terrifying too! The violence is Yakuza-style, subtle but deadly, bloody and horrifyingly gory. The plot is not overly complex once you get the hang of it. Betrayal for power is clearly the main theme of the movie. And the drive for power somehow makes one blind to the events surrounding him. One mastermind plays the game but is eventually being played by the game. Who is the eventual winner? Find out for yourself if blood and gore suits your palate. It suits mine; totally enjoyed it!

THE OTHER GUYS ~ 3.5/5

2010-10-05T20:20:00.000+08:00

The main leads for this action comedy are Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. But they only come into prominence a quarter into the show, after Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) are wiped out...in a spectacular shot nonetheless. Even so, those two other guys have a challenging time to match Eva Mendes' assets. The movie borders on craziness with the top cops Danson and Highsmith but becomes subdued when Gamble and Hoitz are in-charged. They still ring in the laughs but that is mainly due to their stupidity. Corporate fraud is the main crime that they have to crack and when the credits roll, the illustrated statistics are somewhat shocking. This is one laugh-out-loud show!

SHINee - Hello

2010-10-05T12:10:00.000+08:00

EAT PRAY LOVE ~ 4.5/5

2010-10-01T06:00:00.000+08:00

Which of the three verbs entices this reviewer most? The answer: eat. This happens to be Liz Gilbert’s (Julia Roberts) first destination of her self-discovery tour. Welcome to Italy!

Being a successful modern woman with all her basic needs apparently fulfilled, Liz is still finding purpose in her life. As fate deals its cards, Liz finds herself divorced and entrenched in a crisis. That provides a springboard for her to set off on a trip to eat in Italy, pray in India and eventually find love in Bali.

The gastronomic delight in Italy provides drooling opportunities. It is not only the pastas and pizzas that are served but the entire experience of dining that captivates the attention. Set against the backdrop of the ruins of Rome, the five senses are truly well pampered. An abrupt cut transports us to the busy streets of India where Liz begins to discover her inner self through meditation. And through that process, she is on her way to being revitalised. That paves the way for her escapade in Bali where an accident sparks off a clash of love.

Julia Roberts impresses in her role as Liz as she transforms from an aimless soul to one that is filled with purpose. Stunning cinematography and sound add on to the emotions of Liz and the atmosphere at the various stages of her self-discovery. Complementing her are three love interests played by Billy Crudup, James Franco and Javier Bardem. Each of the three actors contributes something unique to the film and truly completes the jigsaw.

Essentially, this film takes the viewer on a journey of exploration. Eating, praying and loving nourish the body, mind and soul. Summing up the film in two words, it is all about “appreciating life”.

REEL BYTES 2010-39

2010-09-30T08:00:00.000+08:00

THE OTHER GUYS
[comedy, action]

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS
[romance, comedy]

DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME
[martial arts, suspense, detective]

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD
[drama, romance]

THE SWITCH
[romance, comedy]

THE SWITCH ~ 3.5/5

2010-09-28T19:50:00.000+08:00

Jennifer Aniston appears to be the star of this film. But as you could have guessed from the title, the focus switches to her co-stars Jason Bateman and the young Thomas Robinson.

The switch actually refers to the exchange in identity of the sperm donor. Kassie (Jennifer Aniston) is forty and single, but wants a baby. Her solution? Search for a sperm donor! Her best friend Wally (Jason Bateman) strongly disapproves of her actions but eventually caves in and even attends her insemination party. That is where he meets with “the Viking” Roland (Patrick Wilson), Kassie’s preferred sperm donor. However in his drunken stupor, Wally makes the switch.

The infusion of comical moments into a drama about a serious subject matter makes this film a light-hearted one. The idea of finding the “seed guy” and throwing an insemination party to celebrate the potential pregnancy is rather odd but hilarious. Jennifer Aniston clearly still possesses the charisma to charm audiences.

As the story transits to seven years later, Jason Bateman takes over the reigns of the movie as he attempts to make connections with Kassie’s son (Thomas Robinson). Simultaneously, he has to ward off the approaches of Roland towards Kassie. Thomas Robinson clearly steals the show with his witty conversations with the adults. His portrayal of Sebastian, a slightly neurotic character, clearly exhibits maturity beyond his age. That said, the chemistry between Jennifer Anistion and Jason Bateman is difficult to ignore too. It makes you silently root for them to be together.

While the plot is pretty straightforward and predictable, the performance of and chemistry between the actors distinguish it from being merely an average film.

I LOVE YOU PHILIP MORRIS ~ 3.5/5

2010-09-24T08:00:00.002+08:00

This is a gay movie. It draws laughs and is about the awkward romance between two men, Steven Russell and Philip Morris. Steven has a perfect family and a good job, but decides that this is not him living it. He wants to be himself but "being gay is expensive". That leads the former police officer to become a fraudster. When the law catches up with him and he lands in prison, the perfect guy for him appears. But love aside, their relationship is built on the multitude of lies conjured up by Steven. This light-hearted take on the genre is refreshing. Jim Carrey still manages to put a smile on my face but what overshadows that is the powerful acting chops of Ewan McGregor. Even without the madcap antics of his character, he manages to generate laughter and emotions in the respective scenes without being over-the-top. No wonder he is being loved!

Plaid Nincompoop Shirt & Christopher Nemeth Pants

2010-09-23T14:19:00.000+08:00

This is Shogo, a student and DJ. His trendy look includes a red plaid sleeveless shirt from the Nincompoop resale shop. Under his shirt is a black and gray hoodie from Mikio Sakabe that be bought at Candy, a select shop in Shibuya. Shogo’s layered pants are by Christopher Nemeth, who is his favorite designer. His furry backpack is also by Christopher Nemeth. Shogo’s accessories include trendy red sunglasses. His black boots with tan straps and buckles are by Vivienne Westwood. ~TokyoFashion.com

I like his hairstyle and colour. It really suits Shogo very well. The inner hoodie is really nice, something I would wear if Singapore is not so humid. Notice the different textures at the hoodie area. The red plaid sleeveless shirt brightens the entire getup and matches his sunglasses well.

REEL BYTES 2010-38

2010-09-23T12:15:00.000+08:00

OUTRAGE
[drama, crime]

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS
[drama, crime]

LEGEND OF THE FIST: THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN
[action, martial arts]

NOWHERE BOY
[drama, biography]

GOING THE DISTANCE ~ 3.5/5

2010-09-22T23:00:00.000+08:00

Another backdated movie that has opened for a couple of weeks about a couple who happens to meet in New York but are eventually separated due to their respective commitments. Therefore, a long-distance relationship. There were a few laughs peppered throughout the film but what stands out is the acting chops of Justin Long and Drew Barrymore. They carry the story well and were convincing in their roles, including those comic moments. A great date movie!

Jay Park - Nothin' On You

2010-09-22T10:30:00.001+08:00

THE INFIDEL ~ 3.5/5

2010-09-22T02:30:00.000+08:00

A comedy of ethnic proportions... But the ethnic group in question does not really relate to me and so it's a challenge to appreciate the context that this movie is set in. Nevertheless, the humour is sufficient to draw a few hearty laughs. The light-hearted approach is a refreshing take on the issues between the Jews and Muslims.

DEVIL ~ 4/5

2010-09-19T13:20:00.001+08:00

From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan, this first of three installments of The Night Chronicles is not directed by him. Critics are hanging him up to dry due to recent flops in the theatre. But his mind is still working perfectly fine, I say. There is nothing much going on here, except that five people are trapped in the lift and one of them is the devil. Natural human instincts will be to investigate who is the one. And that is exactly what the audience is made to do. The suspense and tension created throughout the film is engaging. I love the opening shot where the overhead scenes are 180 degrees upside down. The point-of-view of the devil is really unsettling as the camera pans over the San Francisco Bridge and beyond. Looking forward to the next two... Ghost and Vampire? Or Hantu and Pontianak?

HAUNTED CHANGI ~ 4/5

2010-09-19T12:50:00.000+08:00

This review comes really late as this local "documentary" is already at the end of its third week in cinemas. And that explains why when I watched it, there were only seven of us in this huge theatre! Six of them were friends. I chose the seat beside them at the last row. Haha! So the atmosphere created by emptiness of the theatre added to the happenings on screen, which is really nothing much. Four bored people decide to explore the supposedly haunted Old Changi Hospital and create their own hauntings. That's about it. What is impressing though is the cinematography and editing. As the crew explores the place, the awkward camera angles add a degree of uneasiness in the audience. The editing gives the uneasiness a different dimension. A decent effort at promoting Old Changi Hospital.

Bank Anywhere with Citi Bloggers' Race

2010-09-17T08:00:00.000+08:00

It was an early morning, on the day of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony. I met Gaston at Changi International Airport Terminal 2, McDonalds.

After which, we were transported together with a few others to a secret location. It turned out to be some sort of a lounge where arrival passengers can chill and relax while their baggage was being retrieved. We duly registered, like the rest.

There was a buffet spread of delicacies and drinks awaiting for our consumption. I love the ice-cream eclair! After filling our tummies, we gathered for a briefing by the organisers of this bloggers' race.

Instructions cleared, we were all set to go! But a group photo before we depart.

We boarded the van back to Terminal 2 to start the race. So what was this 'race' all about? Well, actually it was about going to five designated locations and taking snapshots with the Citi Mobile logo that was already downloaded on our mobile phones. The photos had to be creative and translate the functionalities of Citi Mobile to the viewer.

The five locations were Changi Airport, Chinatown, Clarke Quay Bugis and Orchard Road. This was at the famous Bugis Street where we were attempting to compose a shot in front of the crowd thronging through. Did Gaston had a stomachache? Haha!

This looked like a stairway to heaven! It's actually the steps leading up to Sinema Old School, behind Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Gaston became my model as he posed with the phone.

And finally, this was the ace photo we submitted at the end of the race.

Unfortunately, our ace photo did not clinch the top prize. But awaiting us at Watami, Clarke Quay was a sumptuous spread of Japanese delights! We were also allowed to order any food on the menu, courtesy of Citibank. We ate till our hearts were smiling, our stomachs were full and our mouths got cramped. Lol!

The above two videos summarised the entire journey of the race. It was an enjoyable event but a tiring one too. Think you can do better than our ace photo? Submit yours to the Citi Mobile photo contest on Facebook and you might win a trip to anywhere in the world! Details HERE!

REEL BYTES 2010-37

2010-09-16T16:30:00.001+08:00

DEVIL
[horror, thriller]

THE INFIDEL
[comedy]

THE SHOCK LABYRINTH: HOUSE OF HORRORS (3D)
[horror]

THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
[crime, mystery thriller]

MY DARLING IS A FOREIGNER
[drama, comedy]

I LOVE YOU TOO
[romance, comedy]

ALPHA AND OMEGA
[cg animation]

MY DARLING IS A FOREIGNER ~ 3/5

2010-09-15T13:30:00.000+08:00

The Japanese term gaijin literally means ‘outside person’ and refers to foreigners in Japan. Some people feel that this term is derogatory in connotation, thus offensive.

Tony (Jonathan Sherr), an American, is a gaijin who has been residing in Japan. He takes interest in the study of languages. A chance meeting with manga writer Saori (Mao Inoue) sets off sparks between the pair. As east meets west, the intercultural differences between them are played out. The movie addresses typical perceptions that the Japanese and gaijins have with each other. Prejudices on both sides are exposed rather well.

However, the attempt to inject humour when these perceptions and behaviours clash is feeble. The initial parts of the film experiment with cute animations, adapted from the original manga. There are also documentary-styled scenes of staged street interviews that focus on the intercultural marriages between Japanese and non-natives. The abrupt halt of these sequences prove to be a disservice to the movie.

The antagonist to their seemingly lovely relationship is Saori’s father. He disapproves of their relationship and foresees that it will not work out. That becomes the impetus to change the film into melodramatic mode, which surprisingly works better. In accompaniment with the soundtrack, the director holds the shots of those crucial scenes long enough to cause a sudden boost of emotions. There are also a few abstract cinematographic moments that accurately reflect the overall mood.

Gaijin or not, this movie essentially is all about love, trust and communication.

RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE (3D) ~ 4/5

2010-09-15T12:00:00.001+08:00

The zombies have upgraded their mouthparts, and they look horrendous! And in 3D, the effects really allow me to "experience a new dimension of evil" as boasted by the poster. Milla Jovovich returns with a short crop hairstyle that's so trendy and her aura undeniable. The plot is rather straightforward as the group goes about finding their way to Arcadia, the promise land? The action comes fast and thick against the backdrop of different settings. And eventually at Arcadia, the final showdown begins but as we all know, it sets up for the next episode. Definitely recommended to watch in 3D!

[Advertorial] WIN a trip to ANYWHERE with Citi Mobile!

2010-09-14T00:00:00.000+08:00

What? Anywhere in the world? Yes! That is exactly what Citi Mobile will do to award the winner of the Bank Anywhere with Citi Mobile Photo Contest! On top of that, the winner will also take home any Sony VAIO laptop of his choice. How awesome is that?!

Even the consolation prizes are fantastic. Any destination in Asia includes my favourite Japan and Korea!

What are you waiting for? Select an eye-catching location or create an attention-grabbing situation and start snapping away. Remember to include a mobile phone with the Citi Mobile homepage as part of your photo.

Next, become a fan of Citibank Singapore in Facebook. Click on the Bank Anywhere tab and provide a caption and description for your photo.

It's time to upload that ace photo of yours!

Be sure to do so before the submission deadline of 25 October 2010.

Finally, fill up your personal particulars and keep your fingers and toes crossed.

If photography is not your game, you can still win with Citi Mobile. Simply become a fan of Citibank Singapore in Facebook and stand to win a trip to Hong Kong in the weekly lucky draws, starting from 24 September 2010.

Wow! I'm getting all excited...start snapping away!!

SHINee & TRAX - Lucifer

2010-09-11T11:29:00.000+08:00

No queues, no $$$... Turn up the vol & SHINee!!!

2010-09-10T23:14:00.001+08:00

REEL BYTES 2010-36

2010-09-09T11:31:00.002+08:00

RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE
[horror, action, sci-fi]

BABIES
[documentary]

Another phase begins.

2010-09-06T11:36:00.000+08:00

My school experience had been eventful. The past 9 weeks were not totally smooth-sailing. The first few days were grueling, with classes suddenly thrown at me. I had lessons to prepare and deliver. I had to invigilate exams. I had to find out procedures. Things soon got better fortunately. But there were still occasional happenings (most of the time, bad) that littered the 9 weeks. Being thrown straight into such an environment, it wasn't really a shock to me, even though I must admit that I didn't handle some of the cases as well as I would like to. But still, it's a learning experience for an untrained teacher. The students were great, most of them at least. Haha! Even though the model is to be able to engage everyone, realistically there will be some who will be slower than others to adapt to new teachers. Nevertheless, I felt I did a decent job to get to know them, built a good rapport with them and hopefully, made a small impact in their Secondary education. It's heartening to know that some of them were asking where did I go or when am I coming back to teach again. Honestly, a greeting from any student (doesn't matter if i teach them or not) would make my day. It puts a smile on my face, leaves an imprint on my heart. It's also awesome that they would even say hi when I bump into them around the area, even after I left the school. What's amazing is that the students whom I have confiscated things from will still acknowledge me, in a good way. I suppose I'm doing something right here...

But all experiences will end up in a bank of memories. As I take my first step into NIE today, I'm looking forward to improving myself as an educator.

In other aspects of my life, I hope things take a turn for the better with the start of a new phase. It had been a rather chaotic past one week where many relationships were put on the line. Some recovered, others not (yet). Mood had been poor and feeling pretty emotional too. Tears were the norm until they dried up. The heart ached but I tried to patch it up. There were fun times of course, and I hope something magical will arise soon. Cheers!

REEL BYTES 2010-35

2010-09-02T10:30:00.006+08:00

GIRL$ (囡囡)
[drama]

HAUNTED CHANGI
[horror, thriller]

THE HOLE (3D)
[horror, thriller]

GOING THE DISTANCE
[comedy, romance]

VAMPIRES SUCK
[comedy]

CATS & DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE (3D)
[comedy, family]

THE HOLE (3D) ~ 3/5

2010-09-02T01:45:00.000+08:00

Paranoia and fear of the unknown drive suspense. And that is the operative in the first half of the film. Brothers Dane (Chris Massoglia) and Lucas (Nathan Gamble) have recently moved into a new apartment. They stumble upon a bottomless pit at the basement of their house. Curiosity overcomes them. As they attempt to establish the depth of the hole, little did they realise that their innermost fears are soon to be unleashed. Their neighbour Julie (Haley Bennett) decides to get into the mix which resulted in the past coming back to haunt her.

Once the beans are spilled and the significance of the hole revealed, the film spirals into a fantasy fest. Billed as kid-friendly horror thriller, there was hardly a trace of blood or gore. But the facial features of the clown doll are pretty much disturbing. The young cast fails to infuse the emotional aspects of their respective characters so they become rather one-dimensional.

Fortunately, the three-dimensional effects aid to immerse the viewer into what the characters are experiencing. Though there are a couple of “in-your-face” scenes like a baseball thrown towards the viewer, the 3D effect mainly serves to transport the audience into the story. Maybe, an adult version will serve to tantalise the senses further and put the 3D effect to better utilisation.

Kids, this one’s for you!

Celebration @ Marina Bay: ALARICE

2010-09-01T02:22:00.000+08:00

The last headliner act of the Celebration @ Marina Bay is Australia-based singer/songwriter Alarice. Prior to this performance, she have had gigs in schools and churches.

But fret not, this was not all gonna be preachy. I actually heard her once in church before and remembered that she had powerful vocals. And indeed, though not really a household name, she What she described as "UH-MAH-ZING!" Alarice put up a set that was pop enough to be in a celebratory mood and cool enough to wind down the Sunday evening. She performed songs like "Sunday Afternoon" and "City On A Hill". And that's not all... She was accompanied by a violinist, a cool drum machine and a pastor that raps! The evening drew to a close and in four days time, the Youth Olympic flame will be go out.

Once again, a humongous thanks to Samsung for bringing these acts to Singapore. They have been a blast!

SUPER in SINGAPORE!

2010-08-30T14:35:00.000+08:00

They are coming too! Mark you calendar...29 January 2011. Tickets on sale from November 2010. SUPER excited to see them, especially Ryeowook!

SANDCASTLE ~ 5/5

2010-08-30T14:26:00.000+08:00

I'm so gonna get the DVD when it's out! That's how awesome this film by local filmmaker Boo Junfeng is. After garnering rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival, this is a definite must-watch for all film lovers. Though it is not commercially packaged and a little unconventional, it is a unique film that touches on themes close to our country and our hearts. There are many running themes in the film and I could relate to some of them directly. Our nation's history is one of them but the underlying messages of family, religion and society at large is simply crafted to perfection here. Boo Junfeng is the visual director for this year's National Day Parade, and no wonder the shots are framed to perfection and drives home the emotions at the core of this film. In addition, this is an excellent education film that drives much discussion on societal issues. The only part I didn't like is when the credits rolled...I couldn't bare for it to end. That's how awesome it is. But it also opens an avenue for a sequel maybe?

TOP 10 Fondest Memories of Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010

2010-08-27T00:01:00.000+08:00

Another chapter in Singapore's history drew to a close last night. The inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) was a resounding success. Kudos to all volunteers, athletes, officials, media and all who were involved in one way or other. And a big thank you to the official Olympic partner Samsung for bringing me right into the heart of the action!

I will attempt to list down the top 10 most memorable moments in this two weeks. The first 7 are not in order of merit. The final 3 are my Bronze, Silver and Gold moments. Read on to find out...

A couple of weeks before the athletes arrive on our shores, hype for the YOG was generated by Samsung's amazing feat. Just as the YOG torch was lit in Greece earlier that day, the heart of Clarke Quay became a torch too! Formed by youths from local educational institutions, the Samsung Human Torch launched the start of the YOG festivities in Singapore.

The YOG torch made its first pit stop at Nanyang Polytechnic on a Saturday. Despite feeling under the weather and on medication, I dragged myself out of the house hoping to experience the YOG fever instead. And I did. The students were hyped up and when the torch arrived, the atmosphere was eclectic. My hair was standing on ends. It was the first time I'm seeing our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in person too!

During the Celebration @ Marina Bay, one of the acts Urban Drum Crew caught my eye and ears! This percussion group dazzled with their upbeat rhythms. Their second act was stunning. As dusk falls, they drummed to coloured lights and water, producing an effect so mesmerising! I didn't expect to catch such a performance live, so when it happened, Urban Drum Crew simply swept me off my feet.

We have sung our national anthem Majulah Singapura since our school days. Nothing new right? But when the music was played and the Singapore flag was raised at the YOG opening cremony, I felt an immense sense of pride. And something spectacular occurred during the singing of the anthem. Fireworks! It complemented the anthem to great aplomb. This is my best experience with Majulah Singapura!

One of the acts during the opening ceremony involved manmade doves released towards the Marina Bay Sands. As the audience switched on their dove-shaped torches, the entire atmosphere was so serene and... "Wow!" It was an amazing sight to behold.

This is one of my favourite bands. I have watched them performed on two occasions here in Singapore. And I was third time lucky to rock out during Celebration @ Marina Bay. It was an awesome rocking night as the band belted out new hits and old-time favourites!

Zhang Dong Liang (张栋梁) crooned his love songs to rocking beats and this was my first time watching my favourite singer live! I was excited to have finally gotten the chance to watch him perform live.

BRONZE: The bronze moment goes to the multinational audience during the YOG opening ceremony. It was such a rare, possibly once-in-a-lifetime, that I got to experience the sight and sounds of many nations coming together in an arena to celebrate a cause. It sort of symbolises the unification of the people of the world.

SILVER: I'm a K-pop fanatic and the appearance of one of my favourite K-pop bands BEAST claims silver spot. It was a close call between them and the Gold medallist. Nevertheless, the belted out all of their hits and thrilled my senses with their synchronised dance moves. Their good looks are a definite plus point too! Despite the sweltering heat that day, BEAST completed their set even though they were all drenched in sweat at the end of it. I salute them!

GOLD: This Gold moment simply made my hair stood on ends. It made me think of the large strides our small and young country has made thus far. Being a sovereign nation for only 45 years, the achievements and accolades that Singapore have garnered are simply impressive. As the torch proceeded from sea to land via a majestic phoenix, it kind of signifies the long and hard journey our ancestors had made so that Singapore can be what it is today. The zenith moment was when sailing champion Darren Choy lit the tornado torch to mark the start of the YOG. Simply breathtaking! Simply beautiful! Simply brilliant!

Celebration @ Marina Bay: ZHANG DONG LIANG

2010-08-26T13:40:00.000+08:00

It was a cold and gloomy Friday. Surprisingly, the crowd at The Promontory started building up rather early in the evening. And by the time Zhang Dong Liang (张栋梁) came on, the size was even larger than that during The Click Five's showcase! There were even fans from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Who's cute Pokemon umbrella? While waiting for the headliner event to begin, it was time to scout for good photographic moments.

Despite the drizzle, Leon and I were in good spirits. But the creature on this head looks a little gloomy.

The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games mascots Lyo and Merly braved the rain the greet the audience as the theme song "Everyone" rings through the night sky.

Alas, it was time for the Malaysian crooner to stomp the arena. Known for his melodic and sometimes even emo songs, Zhang Dong Liang decided to bring along the band Crossfire to changed the tempo and mood of the showcase. His slow songs became rock!

It was awesome as he cleverly got the audience high. His interaction level with the crowd was also good.

See the passion and emotion oozing out from his boyish face.

There was even a bubble machine to provide a serenading mood to some of his tunes.

He rocked and crooned to most of his old songs which was definitely a crowd pleaser as the audience were able to sing along. He even did a cover of two songs which I can't remember the titles. One of them was by Beyond and in Cantonese.

See the cheerful sweet smile... That's exactly the mood we were all in when his showcase drew to a close. It was a splendid night.

I have two of his earlier albums and his songs often form the majority of my karaoke playlist. But I have never heard him sang live until that night. It was beautiful. I totally enjoyed my first meeting with him. Despite the slight drizzle, his songs warmed my heart. Thank you Samsung for bringing him and I together at Celebration @ Marina Bay!

More photos of ZHANG DONG LIANG can be found HERE!
More videos of the performances can be found HERE!

"Lucifer" by SHINee...they're coming!

2010-08-26T09:22:00.000+08:00

They are coming... 23 October 2010.

2010-08-26T00:06:00.001+08:00

ATTENTION!!! Urgent broadcast!!! K-pop fever is gonna hit our shores on 23 October 2010!!!

Six Korean bands will be here for Korean Pop Night Concert 2010. Five of those have been revealed. They are SHINEE, Big Bang, F.T. Island, SNSD and Infinite. Who is the mystery last group? Heck...I wanna GO!!!

REEL BYTES 2010-34

2010-08-25T16:43:00.003+08:00

SANDCASTLE
[drama]

THE STOOL PIGEON (铫人)
[action, thriller]

THE JONESES
[drama, comedy]

GROWN UPS
[comedy]

HEARTBREAKER
[romance]

Wall of Flame T-Shirt vs. Chinatsu Wakatsuki Skirt

2010-08-22T18:00:00.001+08:00

This cute auburn-haired couple was spotted in Harajuku. On the right is Sakiyama. She’s wearing a bright teal top under a striped seersucker shirt. It looks cute with her short fuchsia skirt from WC by Chinatsu Wakatsuki. She’s accessorized her outfit with a wide belt decorated with a miniature straw hat with sunflowers. Her cool handbag is from a vintage shop. Sakiyama’s hairstyle is also retro — pigtails with a poof on top. On her feet are lilac socks printed with small cherries and cute platform sandals. Her favorite shop is Farplane and her favorite designer is Vivienne Westwood. ~TokyoFashion.com

The cool guy is Kento. He’s wearing a retro-style graphic t-shirt from Wall of Flame with some dropped crotch shorts (sarueru). His black high-top shoes are from Converse. ~ TokyoFashion.com

I love Sakiyama's belt with a mini-sunflower hat. It looks really unique and brings out the summertime feel. I love everything about Kento! His colourful tee and his colourful bag brightens up the day. Oh and he has a nice smile too.

Celebration @ Marina Bay: THE CLICK FIVE

2010-08-20T08:00:00.029+08:00

The celebration continues at The Promontory last Sunday evening after the opening ceremony of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 on Saturday.

I arrived in the evening just in time for Nathan Hartono's performance. I have wanted to hear him sing live since he won Teenage Idol but had not have the chance till now.

His vocals were filled with passion and emotions. It was a fantastic performance!

Scroll down for his live rendition of Coldplay's "Livin' La Vida", 2009's song of the year. It was awesome!!!

That's Leon who was there with me.

The night breeze was starting to heat up...as The Click Five took to the stage. Despite a less than expected crowd, they entertained us all the same. "Catch Your Wave" opened their showcase. Scroll down for the live recording of that.

But after a rousing couple of songs, they played their new singles that weren't too familiar with the audience. The tempo sort of dipped and I was secretly hoping that their set mimics a V-shaped curved, that it would pick up towards the end.

Thankfully it did! They reverted back to hits from their first album like "Good Day" and "Just The Girl".

This is the third time I've seen The Click Five performed live and it was still the same high feeling. By the end of the set, I was sweating and totally high! The crowd sang along and bobbed to their earlier hits which created a rousing atmosphere to conclude a week of festivities.

More photos of THE CLICK FIVE, and NATHAN HARTONO and friends, are found HERE!
More videos of the performances are found HERE!

Celebration @ Marina Bay runs everyday from now till 26 August 2010 at The Promontory. Performance details HERE! See you there this Friday (20 Aug) and Sunday (22 Aug). Come say hi to me at the VVIP section!!!

Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 Opening Ceremony

2010-08-19T10:00:00.003+08:00

As dusk sets upon the Marina Bay skyline, the atmosphere at The Float @ Marina Bay (Floating Platform) is gaining momentum...

After queueing for security checks outside Marina Square, I proceeded to collect the audience interactive goodie bag and before entering the stands, I finally got my photo moment with Lyo and Merli, mascots of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games.

The stage was set for a grand show.

The lights ignited the surrounding as the world awaits the biggest show Singapore was going to stage in her history thus far.

Olympic flag, Youth Olympic flag and the glorious flag of the host nation Singapore.

Security was the top priority as army patrol boats circled the waters around the Marina Bay area.

Literally scaling to greater heights with a bird's eye view.

And this collage fittingly summaries the multinational crowd at the opening ceremony. Upon reflection, it was amazing as nations come together in celebration of the Olympic spirit of Friendship, Excellence and Respect. Can you spot Jeramy and I?

One of the hosts and my friend Matthew Zachary Liu warming up the audience.

And for the TV audience, you guys got the colourful Nat Ho!

The appearance of the Singapore flag marks the start official start of the opening ceremony as the nation's anthem Majulah Singapura was sung as the flag was raised. And this was the best national anthem ceremony I ever attended as fireworks accompanied the anthem to great aplomb. Scroll down for the live recording.

Formation of the Olympic rings on shallow water.

A multiracial performance exemplified the harmony between all races and religion.

The history of Singapore was revisited. This performance traced Singapore's growth from a fishing village to a bustling port right through to today's spectacular skyline of Marina Bay. In a span of merely 45 years, we are hosting a worldwide event. I'm proud of you, Singapore!

Larger than life caricatures of the different races interacted with the audience.

And that includes a roaring lion too.

The next segment fused the contrasting elements of fire and water.

Argh monster! That boy is a monster M-M-M-Monster...

They even invaded the audience, right in my face! He ate my heart, he a-a-ate my heart...

As every individual united, the monster was duly defeated.

A pole dancing act that was among the audience.

The arrival of the dragon! The majestic creature was even breathing fire. The body of it is composed of many carps.

A flowery showcase that signifies Singapore as a garden city, filled with hopes and where dreams come true.

Once again, the audience got a close-up view of dancers planted around us, swaying against the backdrop of the Central Business District.

Finally, the long-awaited arrival of the Olympic flag carried by sports personnel of the past and handling over to sports personnel of the present.

The Olympic anthem was played and the flag stands majestically alongside the Singapore flag. Notice the backdrop? Flags of all the Olympic nations were paraded and hoisted along the periphery of the stage.

After traveling around Singapore, the Olympic torch relay reached a climax. Led by dragonboats, the majestic phoenix appeared in the waters, ferrying the torch to the The Float @ Marina Bay.

The Olympic torch was lit by National sailor Darren Choy as the flame spiraled up the structure to create a vortex flame. It was awesome! Scroll down for the video of the live torch relay.

I just had to immerse myself in this historical moment for Singapore.

Fireworks and firecrackers were set off during the course of the opening ceremony and the Marina Bay Sands provide a beautiful backdrop for the lights to ignite the night sky.

Fireworks also went off in the middle of Marina Bay. Scroll down for a live recording of one of the fireworks showcase.

I felt so privileged to be part of this moment. For the record, I have never been to any live National Day Parade on 9 August. (Organisers...please hear me!) But I was fortunate enough to be able to secure tickets for this larger scale celebration. I finally got the chance to understand the Singapore's glory and pride with nationalities of the world. It was truly fantastic and I enjoyed every single moment.

More photos of the opening ceremony are found in ALBUM 1 and ALBUM 2!
More videos of the performances are found HERE!

Celebration @ Marina Bay: BEAST / 4MINUTE

2010-08-18T09:30:00.001+08:00

The weather was awfully humid last Friday evening. But that did not deter throng of fans including my friends and myself from heading down to The Promontory along Marina Boulevard. In conjunction with the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010, the Celebration @ Marina Bay must still go on!

Armed with my VVIP pass, which guaranteed me front section seats, I met several friends there to enjoy other local acts prior to the headlining performance. Jeramy was slightly earlier and we met before heading into the arena together.

Alton was way earlier and had reserved awesome seats! We were sitting just behind him and his friends, three rows away from the stage!

Noel came so much later...after Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew lighted the cauldron at the end of the Olympic torch relay that day.

The first performance that I caught was this local strings group VOX. Two violins, one viola and one cello harmonised beautifully to pop songs like "Nobody" by Wonder Girls.

Their performance was cut halfway, unfortunately, as Minister Mentor arrives at the arena, all set to welcome the Olympic torch. And it arrives from the bay!

The cauldron was lighted and the celebrations continue as anticipation grew by the minute.

Next up was a percussion performance by Urban Drum Crew. They did their routines similar to other percussion groups before...

A surprise! I never expected to see this, at least not here. But they pulled no punches and delivered this awesome performance of water, drums and lights. It was an awesome show, coupled with wild antics and formations, as night fell.

Just to delay the main act and increase the anticipation, Electrico took to the stage with a fantastic set that featured old and new favourites. They rocked out with the crowd that had grew exponentially. It was an amazing warm-up to the night's final two K-pop acts.

Japanese rocker who joined the three-man band.

That's my friend Leon who was shooting...

Finally, the first of two K-pop acts began. I've waited about four hours to see 4MINUTE and it was all worthwhile.

Scroll down to see the live performance of "Muzik" by 4MINUTE.

These Korean girl group sang their hits and danced with synchrony.

It was Sohyun's birthday at the end of the month and the audience delivered a birthday song, both in English and Korean, to the birthday girl. It was so surreal.

The final act...and that was the reason why I'm at The Promontory. Frankly, this is the highlight of all the performances for Celebration @ Marina Bay to me. It was Friday the 13th...time for BEAST to be let loose.

The leader of the pack Doo Joon was all smiles, interacting with the fans.

They belted out hits after hits such as "BEAST is the B2ST", "Mystery", "Special" and their latest single "Shock". Scroll down to enjoy the live performance of their two singles.

The humid weather was hard on them. They were sweating buckets but their energy levels for every single was top notch. I truly enjoyed my first live upclose performance from one of my favourite K-pop groups.

While Doo Joon kept his jacket on in the sweltering heat...

Gi Kwang decided to ditch away the jacket to loud screams from his fans. And I thought they were about to go topless...haha!

It was a blast! Singing along to the BEAST's hits to meeting new friends, that night was memorable. All of us (Jeramy, Noel, Alton, Leon and mutual friends) had a great time. I was sweating like crazy too as the weather was especially humid that day, but it was all worth it.

More photos of the local acts and Olympic torch lighting can be found HERE!

More photos of 4MINUTE are HERE!

More photos of BEAST are HERE!

Finally, more videos of the performances are HERE!

Celebration @ Marina Bay runs everyday from now till 26 August 2010 at The Promontory. Performance details HERE! See you there this Friday (20 Aug) and Sunday (22 Aug). Come say hi to me at the VVIP section!!!

STEP UP 3D ~ 4/5

2010-08-18T08:35:00.001+08:00

Ready to groove? All set to step up? For a third time and in 3D, this dance movie elevates routines to a higher level with the use of water, dust and LED lights. Luke is an orphan street dancer who owns The Vault where he provides a haven for dancers like himself. They are known as the House of the Pirates. But their haven is soon to be repossessed due to late payments. They need to combine forces to ace the World Jam for the $100000 price money.

While the acting is not as polished and the narrative a little too simplistic, the focus then turns to the dance moves and the music. Adam G. Sevani as Moose (remember him as the comedic sidekick in the second installment?) puts in yet another assured performance and that sort of saved the mediocre acting. His dance routine with down the streets of New York City with best friend Camille is one of the highlights of the show too. A few new character additions like The Santiago twins upped the humour ante.

Shot specifically for the 3D screen (unlike some films that are converted after normal filming), the dancers come right to your face with their breathtaking moves! The elements that are used to enhance the routines also shower upon the audience. It really brings the audience into the dance. As we become part of them, let's groove to the beat and step up once again!

REEL BYTES 2010-33

2010-08-18T08:00:00.015+08:00

STEP UP 3D

[music, romance]

FROZEN
[thriller]

THE EXPENDABLES

[action, thriller]

CITY UNDER SIEGE (全城戒备)
[action, sci-fi]

FROZEN ~ 4/5

2010-08-17T12:00:00.000+08:00

Stuck in a chairlift and facing an incoming snowstorm, three friends’ Sunday adventure at a ski resort is about to turn nasty.

Dan’s (Kevin Zegers) girlfriend Parker (Emma Bell) joins him and his best buddy Joe (Shawn Ashmore) for a weekend getaway at a ski resort. As night falls, they plead with the operator for a last ski routine. A series of unfortunate events leave the trio stranded in the chairlift as electrical power is shut down and the resort closing its doors till next weekend. They are stranded and frostbite is creeping in. Their survival instincts begin to heighten…

Even though we do not experience winter in our tropical climate, it is easy to visualise ourselves being stranded in such a situation thanks to the scenic shots of the ski resort. The growing desperation of the characters is well complemented by the soundtrack. It allows the audience to brainstorm for a solution, to no avail.

The incessant chatter prior to them boarding the chairlift is a little unnecessary. It lets the audience in on the background of the characters but it plays little part in the narrative. You might even feel that there is nothing much going on throughout this film except waiting for the stranded to be rescued. But that is exactly what the director wanted us to feel, by putting us in a state of helplessness. Being stuck in the cinema seat and waiting for something to happen, kind of parallels the situation the characters are experiencing.

Despite the no frills production, this thriller packs a punch and promises to set your pulse racing.

Celebration @ Marina Bay - "Catch Your Wave" by The Click Five

2010-08-16T09:30:00.000+08:00

Celebration @ Marina Bay - "Summertime" by The Click Five

2010-08-16T09:28:00.000+08:00