le grand plan

and today, I tried the grand plan hatched out by my evil sibling and I.

Running across the road to take the feeder service which will lead me to Braddell MRT, instead of my normal direction that would drop me off at Toa Payoh...

Mission kinda failed cuz I saw the bus on my side of the road drawing up at my bus stop. bah!

Solution? I will expand more effort to monitor situation on both sides of the road.

Whoever said going to work was an easy thing?

Performance Review: Shut Up! Play

Date: 13 June 2009

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Esplanade Recital Studio

Kaki: YD

Rating: 3.5 stars

Language: Music (with some English "subtitles")

Synopsis:
A delightfully offbeat comedic musical-play that uses strong audio-visual elements and zany musicians/actors that make music from teacups, water, boxes, grunts and squeals, looping sounds and mixing them with audience input. All this is tied in with a simple Alice In Wonderland influenced tale.Musical numbers including a beautifully atmospheric indie tune and a guaranteed club hit complete with glow-in-the-dark drumsticks will get you bopping away and… did you know that blowing bubbles are woefully underused as a sound effect.. check it out for yourself!

Review:

1) Was it mind-blowing?
Not really, but definitely an above-average performance.
2) Was I expecting something more like Stomp?
I was.
4) Was I disappointed?
A little, and that was more my fault than anything, since I went in with pre-conceived notions of what the program should be.
5) Did I come out feeling displeased?
Not really, as I could see the effort of the performers for the show.
6) Was it engaging?
Ok lah, it was a nice break from another movie, and it's always nice to try and feel 'atas', and go to a performance as opposed to a movie.
7) Any other thoughts?
Well, I think there was a little bit of a cultural barrier, meaning, some of the jokes were very japanese. I got most of them, but some, while I understand how it would be funny in japan, sorta went "whoosh" over my head. It was funny at times, a little long-winded (and that's of course due to the fact that I am a very impatient person).

All in all, can lah, watchable. :)

Konica Minolta

If ever you need a office copier machine / a change... you can contact my buddy, Joan: joan.liu@konicaminolta.sg

=) Grouch

Movie Review: Terminator Salvation

Date: 05 June 2009

Time: 10:00 pm

Location: Golden Village Plaza Singapura
Kaki: MLSA

Rating: 3.5 stars

Language: English (with Chinese subtitles)

Synopsis:

The highly anticipated new installment of The Terminator film franchise is set in post-apocalyptic 2018. John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future that Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet's operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

Review:

Well, it was okay really, great effects. Christian Bale was a little too angsty for my liking, even though I really really like him, I wouldn't think this was his best performance. Sam Worthington did a pretty decent job though... his emotion and lack of emotion was a little better played out.

But Bale's cheekbones win Worthington's hands down. Especially at this screen where they had a face-off. The thought that flashed through my mind then, wah.. the cheekbones can possibly slice through paper...

It was somewhat predictable, but the graphics were great. There were corny moments, which added some "haha" moments to an otherwise okay movie. Maybe it was because the movie was a very dark one (literally), so at times, I was wishing for some better lighting.. but I guess they did that on purpose. Nothing bright about the days after Judgement Day I guess... Can watch ah, but it won't really blow you away.

Performance Review: Olé! The Latin Music Comedy Explosion

Date: 30 May 2009
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: Esplanade Recital Studio
Kaki: YD
Rating: 4 stars
Language: English (with a little Spanish/Chinese)

Synopsis:

Three amigos duel with flaming flamenco guitars, sing with ping-pong balls in their mouths and keep audiences impressed with their extensive repertoire of slapstick comedy and music, ranging from salsa and swing to blues and jazz.

Review:

It was funny and entertaining. Slapstick definitely, but frankly, if you wanted something really intelligent, this is not the correct music program for you.

On hindsight, it was one of those moments where reality was suspended, they had stunts where you just waited for things to go wrong. And when they did go wrong, it was either planned, or they recovered with another joke, which is really great showmanship.

Were they hot looking boys? Not really, were they very funny people and great entertainers? They were. Would I watch this again, definitely (if there was a change to the repertoire, hehe). They were really good guitarists at the end of it. Great comedy.

Movie Review: Angels and Demons

Date: 29 May 2009

Time: 9:30 pm

Location: Golden Village Plaza Singapura

Kaki: Skycloud

Rating: 4 stars

Language: English

Synopsis:

The team behind the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code returns for the highly anticipated Angels & Demons, based upon the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon, who once again finds that forces with ancient roots are willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to advance their goals. Ron Howard again directs the film, which is produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and John Calley. The screenplay is by Akiva Goldsman and David Koepp.

When Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati - the most powerful underground organization in history - he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organizations most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist.

Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vaticans only hope for survival.

Review:

So I enjoyed the movie. Action was fast paced, it was intelligent, and I had absolutely no issues with the subject matter or it's religious connnotation. Frankly, saying that it was anti-religion would be no different from a movie like Terminator, the computer nerds could sue the producer for making computers into something evil. But I digress..

From a purely entertainment point of view, it was a good movie. Tom Hanks seems to have aged somewhat, but at least he is accepting his age with just that bit more grace, unlike some other movie stars (think Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis, etc). It is also good that there's not much romance in this show.. some shows are best left as action packed movie. This movie did a good job. Compelling movie, left me feeling very entertained, the stars rose up to the occassion, great job. Great Movie. Go Watch.

Movie Review: Night At The Museum 2

Date: 23 May 2009
Time: 9:20 pm
Location: Golden Village Bishan
Kaki: Synco
Rating: 2.5 stars
Language: English

Synopsis:

When the Museum of Natural History is closed for upgrades and renovations, the museum pieces are moved into federal storage at the famous Washington Museums. The centerpiece of the film will be bringing to life the Smithsonian Institution, which houses the world's largest museum complex with more than 136 million items in its collections, ranging from the plane Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) flew on her non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic and Al Capone's (Jon Bernthal) rap sheet and mug shot to Dorothy's ruby slippers, Fonzie's jacket from Happy Days, the still from M*A*S*H and Archie Bunker's lounge chair from All in the Family. With a forwarded resume, Larry (Ben Stiller) becomes another caretaker at the Smithsonian, where Kahmunrah, an evil Pharaoh will come to life with the reestablishing of a tablet as a magical force in the museum bringing the old exhibits (Such as Theodore Roosevelt and Dexter) and new exhibits (like General Custer and Al Capone) back to life, and in conflict with each other. Larry enlists the help of Amelia Earheart, who he develops a romantic interest in, and together they try to put everything back in order.

Review:

Crap movie, becuz it's one of those movies where all the funny parts were shown in adverts. It's one of those movies that is potentially lame, to the point where the only way they can get people to watch the movie, is to use up all the best gags.. and you leave the movie with this sharp disappointment cuz there wasn't anything better than the trailer.

Anyhow, it's not that bad a movie, it's watchable. Nothing great. Hence the 2.5 star rating. I wouldn't mind watching it on tv if it came on, but I sure regret spending $10 on it..