Performance Review: 天门决 Legends of the Southern Arch

Date: 11 April 2015
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: Drama Centre Theatre
Kaki: Ms Loon
Rating: 2.5 stars
Language: Chinese

Sypnosis: 
A legendary Wuxia tale of honour, passion and vengeance.

Legends of the Southern Arch is sparked off by events from 60 years ago, when a secret manual was hidden by a cult under the Southern Arch. Legend says that the Arch, which opens every six decades, is due to open again - and he who retrieves the secret manual shall command the Wulin World and reign over the realm of martial arts. 

There has been peace in the Wulin World since the fall of the cult. But the obsession with invincibility continues to draw warriors into battle. The spiral of blood and death threatens to bury their secrets forever. 

Our story begins here. It is a tale of injustice and vengeance, crossing three generations of bloodshed and violence. Now, the Arch is about to re-open and the secret manual will be returned to the world. Will this mark the final battle? 

Review: 
The set was awesome, costuming was up to standard for a wuxia show. Even the fight scenes was within my expectations, and the parts where they had to be strung up was cool, I gave it extra cookie points for it. Real effort!

However, I was disappointed by the convoluted storyline. They kept jumping around the timeline, 10 years ago, Nowm 15 years ago, now, 60 years, now. After some time, I was like whatever. There was too much narrative, too heavy on dialogue and explanations of why things happen. it's a play, we get 2-2.5 hours, keeping it simple is important. It's not game of thrones where you get multiple episodes to introduce the various characters. And the script was just too long winded. Sometimes, I am already bored before they even finish their sentence.

Speaking of characters, the names were all too long. It was funny at the start. But I couldn't remember the names after some time. Sometimes, for the smaller or not so important characters, you have to call darn silly names like 小明， 小兰, along that line. there is no need to give background to every single individual characters. It's an unfortunate fact, but some characters appear, merely to propel the story forward, or as the "绿叶" to the main character. Let it go. For instance, there was a "helper" couple in the inn. They are non-essential, and we don't need to know what strokes or martial arts they are learning, or their role in the past 20 years ago. that would go towards allowing the audience to focus on the main storyline.   

Redeeming qualities include the comic moments, such as 点穴，the weird romance that somehow developed without much warning, but was funny still for certain moments. The beautiful sets, the action sequence...

All in all, simplify the plot, reduce the cast (or reduce airtime for the non-lead cast), up the comic moments, limit the time jumps to max twice, and I think this will go up to a 3.5-4 star performance. 

"An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention" - Steve Maraboli

Perhaps it's time to start sharing on about what it feels like to start your own company. To be without the support of giant organizations that will churn in the profit, without you having to actively contribute to the profit margin. It used to be that you would just need to focus on doing your job (and sometimes, those around you) and to do it darn well. You will already reap the rewards.

But when you are striving to break the ceiling, to push forward and be a success, you start being very focused on the goals. Financial goals, milestones, plans to get you to where you expect your company to be, what is the end game? 

It is exciting and tiring at the same time. Sometimes I feel that, the volume of things I have to learn and quickly become experienced in will overwhelm me. And here I always thought I was a pretty decent student and that I pick up stuff fast. 

I have never been a very goal driven person, I have been blessed that I can achieve most things just digging in my feet and pushing at it. But I have never been tested to stretching point and failure is not an option. 

I am not one to regret the decisions I have made in life, but what it does mean that now, I am stretching muscles that previously have not been used. It is tiring to always put the pressure of monitoring progress, to always review plans and ensure that I am still moving towards my goal. I have to monitor if the progress is up to speed, if it can be faster, or is the plan still appropriate. You do not start a company to have it fail because you did not do everything possible to make it a success. 

Dig Deep. Focus. There is no retreat. Keep moving forward.

And a truly inspirational video, also about inches, is the famous Al Pacino Speech in the movie Any Given Sunday. I feel charged up every time I hear this speech.

My Work Desk

New work desk!  And with it... I must come up with an insane top ten list.

1. Start of a new company. With it... an enormous amount of pressure to succeed. But the way ahead is one that is somewhat blurred. Doesn't matter what plans you have made. The only constant thing in life is change.

2. Start of work in an office space where I need to pay rent. Granted, it's a manageable amount. Still, there is a weird sense of accomplishment... can't put my finger on it. But it feels good.

3. I need to bring a coffee machine to work. Checklist that. But maybe after we have finished some of the not so nice instant coffee that was already purchased. I want my kopi o kosong!! Singapore doesn't carry any good instant kopi o kosong!

4. Focus and discipline. Need to up it. It's not getting there if I am still here typing away. But I am starting to stop being so "nua" and coming in late to work.

5. Picked up a quote that really woke me up. "An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention" - Steve Maraboli
If you never start, you will never move. There is no good time for anything.

6. And the list will continued to be built on... 

Determined, Consistent, Persistent

While not exactly another eulogy, the fact is that this is a major milestone in my life and the passing of a great Singaporean has sparked off thoughts on so many levels that I just feel like, I have to add to the literature that is already overwhelming, especially in the online sphere. 

His passing has brought out grief that I had not expected of myself and of my fellow Singaporeans, and better writers than I have spoke up. Their words are mine and we can only thank not just LKY, but also the pioneer generation of leaders and Singaporeans who slaved and who did not fall into the trap of selfishness and built a Singapore that is a beautiful and safe home. 

Instead of focusing on his death and his legacy, I was wondering what it is that we can do. Granted we cannot all be the founding father and the wisdom and intelligence is not one that is easily replicated (even if you put in 200% effort). However, that should not not stop us from doing what we can. If I were to reflect on the great man and what he had hoped for the country, it is more about, what can I do for my country, my family, and I, and whether a compromise can be reached between what 老李 would ask of me and what I can do. 

I had wondered about what I can do to contribute to my country. I am not one who would survive well in the world of politics. I am too impatient, too reckless and lacking in wisdom to be able to say, I can lead my country well. I am also aware of the fact that having "heart" is hardly sufficient when it comes to serving the country. One needs to have both heart and brains. 

So as the average Singaporean female, based on the fun facts that are being passed around, what I should start doing, is to start looking for a boyfriend, get married and start having kids. 

At an advanced age of 37, this would be a tough call. I would never discount the probability that I could still possibly find a special someone, no age limit on that. I could even get married if the right one comes along. However, I would not be able to contribute to nation building at the rate I am going. I have possibly, 3 years before all "productivity" grinds to a halt. I would estimate that most modern females peg the limits at 40, with a lot of care and help from the gynae! 

I understand the fact that there are many other Singaporean singles like me. I would hardly blame the fact that I lead a stressful life, or that life is too demanding as an excuse on why I am not getting married. It has been and remains a weird argument to me. 

Whether one gets attached and married has to do with factors such as fate (ahh... the intangible great one up there!) and other more tangible points like, are you even interested in finding another half, or have you been floating through life's current? 

I admit I am a floater when it comes to relationship, nothing came along, and I have never actually swam (up or downstream) when I met a person I could potentially be with. If you have never truly fought for anything, how then, can you say that it's the pressures of work or society that has stopped you from starting a family? It's a mixture of personal apathy and preference. 

And so for country, I have come to a halt. Matters of the heart, 心有余而力不足。 I can only do what I have always done, be a law abiding, dutiful citizen who pays taxes and gripe about what is reasonable (that is also debatable) and whine less. 

Without assisting with nation building by producing more Singaporeans, I can imagine that the next best way is to be an active contributing citizen. And now that I have started my own business, it would be to work hard, with values and ethics of determination, consistency and persistence. Do well enough to be a contributing company that puts Singapore on the world map. Or at least, another Singaporean on the world's radar. But talk is cheap, and action speaks. 

And truly, if I can drive myself as hard as him, to the same level of determination, consistency and persistence, I would without a doubt be a very different person. To end on another quote, "it's not how you begin the journey, it's how you end it". So how do I want to end my life's journey? How do you want to end your life's journey?"