FiRST Oscars Movie Marathon 2009

SPH magazine FiRST was kind enough to organise a show case of the best of the best Hollywood filmmaking Oscars Movie Marathon last night at Cathy Cineleisure Orchard from 11pm to 6 am. I admit this is the first time winning tickets to go to a movie marathon in Singapore and it was very well organised. Kudos to the FiRST team. Besides the movies, we got goodie bags from the team which I was so “stoked” about (happy) because I got a superman 3 poster (so going to frame it and put it in my room), a Harry Potter t-shirt, a booklet, shampoo and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon and salitos beer.

My friend and I watched 3 movies that was being shown, “The Wrestler”, “Frost Nixon” and “The Dark Knight”. I preferred the 1st movie even though there was a lot of blood in it and some parts was so disturbing that I was cringing and hiding behind my jacket. I didn’t quite like the 2nd movie since it revolved around how a team of interviewers were trying to get the ex president (Nixon) to admit his wrong doings. The last show with Heath Ledger in it, I couldn’t help being amazed how good he played the character “Joker”. It was like he was fully into it. The lips licking. The way he was prancing around. He left too early before his time.

FiRST has really organised a great viewing experience for me for show casing the 3 shows. I admit though in the 2nd and 3rd movie I was in and out of my sleeping zone but despite that I had a great time. Thank you for the tickets FiRST and Cathay for giving me a good Saturday night out.

St Trinians

I watched this UK film called St Trinians last night and it was a good light hearted comedy show.  Besides having the theme song being very catchy! (Hear and watch it on the youtube clip below that I have included).

The movie has actors and actresses like Colin Firth and Mischa Barton as well as Rupert Everett who plays a male and female role. I must admit I really liked the actress Gemma Arterton acting as the head girl of St Trinians (Kelly). Very sassy and confident (she’s the girl on the top left hand corner in the picture – picture taken from the official website). 

The whole story is based on St Trinian’s girls school facing financial difficulties and are being threatened to close down. The girls school is unorthodox and the head mistress believes in self discipline rather than school imposed. Being said that, every other school is scared of them because they can be very violent. A lot of sexy “belles” and lots of stereotypical characters. Basically the plot is about the girls all thinking of a plan to save the school while they are also being kept a close eye on by the Education Ministry who wants to change them to set an example to other non disciplined schools who don’t follow the same rules and regulations.

Definitely a movie if you want to waste your time or you would like a good laugh. A very ditzy movie and I guess if short school skirts and lots of make up and uncontrolled girls with lots of stereotypes exaggerated is your cup of tea, this movie is a sure one for you.

La Vie En Rose

It has become one of my favourite French movies. Directly translating the title of the movie: The Life of a Rose, the plot speaks of the life of singer Edith Piaf starting when she was a poor little girl during World War 2 till she reached her peak of her career and ending with her death.

The actress who played Edith Piaf is definitely a very talented woman. She impressed me with how she played the character so well. A shy girl who struggled through her whole life and how she lived for singing. There were a few flash back scenes of her life that I got lost in.

The scene when her career started to take flight when she was discovered by a nightclub owner, was she still involved at that time with a pimp as well? And her long time friend that started singing with her in the streets, she went missing and came back much later?

All in all though, this movie is extraordinary. Joy, love, hate, tragedy all combined into one. Struggles and chaos with alcohol and drugs and ending the show with “No, I regret nothing”. What kept her going was love, the alcohol, her drugs and the people she sang for when she was on stage.

Rat A Too Eeee?

Picture taken from http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/ratatouille/.

I told myself “Nope I refuse to watch this show” and at the end of the day BIG SURPRISE I lost. Hey anything for a movie than doing my assignment right? One of my last three units… NO PROBLEM~~… (sarcasm intended). But yes I gave in and I went to watch the show. Is it good show?

It was so-so for me.

Ratatouille is a Disney/Pixar production. It’s about a rat called Remy who has a love for appreciating food and cooking it. Obviously a rat being a cook sounds like a ridiculous thing since rats are considered to be rodent pests in that kind of environment. So the whole film you get to see how Remy’s get a chance to achieve his big dreams and make it a reality. Common topics discussed in the film are about how family cannot be chosen but they are the ones that will be there for you and the unlikely friendships made.

Secret Directed by Jay Chou

Picture taken from http://www.moviexclusive.com/review/secret/secret.htm

Secret is a mandarin chinese show that I caught a while back. It’s classified as a drama / romance movie and it is Jay Chou’s first debut in directing a movie. If you don’t know who Jay Chou is then you don’t know that he is one of the most talented song writers, music singers in the chinese music industry.

The story plot is intriguing and to top it off the music was amazing if you know how to appreciate classical piano pieces.

Although the plot reminded me of some past movies I have watched (will not reveal what happens since it will spoil the show), the movie as a whole was tied together at the end.

What really got me interested was the piano pieces in the show. Instead of fighting scenes of some action packed movie, the audience will have to expect a show down of flying hands on the piano playing music that would inspire you.

I didn’t recognise any of the actors and actresses in the show besides Jay Chou. I did however find the supporting actress to be more beautiful than the main female actress. I found myself drifting off in certain parts of the movie forgetting what was going on since certain areas was quite repetitive. I wasn’t sure if they were intentional or I just didn’t comprehend what was going on. However, at the end it was quite clear what had happened.

If you haven’t watched this show and you understand Chinese or you don’t mind reading subtitles or you just like Jay Chou, I will tell you to go for the show. I give it 3 stars out of 5 even though I felt I knew the ending before it ended…

No Reservations at GV Vivo

I went to Vivocity today at GV to watch “No Reservations” with P and Y today.

No Reservations is a romantic comedy / drama movie. The story had me in tears at certain parts of the show. The little girl played by Abigail Breslin was quite good. Her facial expressions and her body language got me laughing at certain parts. I also like Catherine Zeta Jones and her obsessive behaviour of having everything under control.

The story line is predictable. The head chef played by Catherine Zeta Jones, Kate finds herself left with the resonsibility of looking after her sister’s daughter when an unforeseen accident occurs. Meanwhile Kate’s career has a few unexpected plans whereby she feels threatened by a new chef that is hired to help in the kitchen who has all the others liking him because his character is the complete opposite to her.

I personally like these kind of movies yet some would have thought that the opera music was a bit too much. I would agree and I didn’t like the opera music though I have to admit but overall it wasn’t such a bad show. Catherine Zeta Jones looked like she aged a lot and the male actor (Aaron Eckhart) reminded me of Jon Bon Jovi some times with the same kind of charming personalities.

At the Movies: Hairspray

Went to the movies at BB, Eng Wah Cinemas with my sister V, god sister P and their friend J. Joined them for the recent comedy, musical show Hairspray. It’s a musical remade from the 1988 movie. I am a sucker for musical and romance… Remember Grease? Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge, High School Musical, etc etc? All my favourites and how can we forget The Sound of Music!

Hairspray was enjoyable although I did prefer Chicago but the music has its own speciality. They even have a official Hairspray blog!! The show started with the main character Nikki Blonsky playing Tracy Turnblad singing “Good Morning Baltimore”. It’s a catchy song and I couldn’t resist swaying my head and my feet just kept moving by themselves. Luckily I am a shorty so the people behind me didn’t get too irritated.

Warning: Spoilers of the movie may be revealed. I will not be responsible if you keep reading…

The cast of the show is all top notch people. There is John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efon and much more people that I haven’t seen before like the main actress Nikki Blonsky.

The show is mainly about a girl who is called Tracy Turnblan who loves to dance and she wants to get into a local TV dance party show called “The Corny Collins Show”. But because of her figure she doesn’t seem to fit in and her own mother played by John Travolta as Edna who is also larger than the norm reminds Tracy of society’s cruelty. Other topics touched on in this show is racial issues at the time of the show was set where they were fighting for integration. However, Tracy is always very positive so is never giving up and keeps on dreaming and keeps on striving. Very easily to fall in love with this character… but I probably would go crazy if I was in the same class with her.

I love the soundtrack. All in all the cast and producers did a very good job with this show. Was quite disappointed when my sisters and her friend couldn’t tell who was John Travolta but I can’t blame them because they watch all the Chinese shows. The sound track has 19 tracks. I am going to buy it!! They are sang all by the actors and actress playing the characters in the movie so you get to hear John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer sing!! I left the cinema with a wide smile. Here is a clip from youTube with 3 of the songs of the movie. My favourite will be the one sang by Queen Latifah: I Know Where I’ve Been.

Shanghai Kiss

I recently caught this show called Shanghai Kiss done by the Konwiser Brothers.

Have you seen the series “Heroes”? Do you remember the character

the cheerleader played by the actress Hayden Panettiere? Well she’s in this show as well.

Below is Hayden’s picture:

Photo courtesy of Raven Underwood taken from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hayden_Panettiere_2007.jpg

She takes on the role as a high school student that an Asian American 28 year old actor (Liam Liu played by Ken Leung) falls in love with on his journey in finding himself. The movie shows how there is the stereotypical view of asians and how their lives as an American Born Chinese could be like. He discovers and gains an appreciation of his roots of his Chinese culture by going back to Shanghai after inheriting what his grandmother has left him. The show falls under the category of a drama / comedy / romance. Other actors, actresses in the show are Kelly Hu, Joel Moore, Byron Mann.

Definitely was not a “must see” show for me although others may beg to differ.

Sakuran

Is it just me who thinks more and more manga / anime are adapted to become movies? Wasn’t there Death Note? Wasn’t there Nana? Mind you those two of my favourites. Recently though I watched a Japanese film called Sakuran. It was originally a Japanese manga. The story involves the life of a oiran (prostitute) so I would not suggest it as one of those family movie night shows.

Directed by Mika Ninagawa (Top photographer in Japan)
Manga by Moyoco Anno
Actress/Singer Anna Tsuchiya

The story stages around the rebellious one. The color of every scene is very colorful and vibrant. I admit I watched this show not knowing what it was about but wanting to see the work of Mika Ninagawa. There is a lot of red and gold and the symbolism of goldfishes in a bowl is represented in the movie.

There is nudity involved and a lot of vulgarities being thrown around and a lot of jealousy, rivalry between different characters. Through the characters, viewers can see the dreams, hatred, their ways of survival that kept them going, ideas of love and desires of an oiran’s fight for freedom from their lifestyles is shown so clearly. A dramatic show with today’s rock music fusioned into it.

Tornado Drift Trailer – Ku Hao Productions

Caught up with S today and I remembered he was working on Tornado Drift. Don’t think I ever blogged about it, so I asked for updates on how that was going and he let me see the trailer they uploaded. Thought I wanted to share it to those that are just cyberslacking and would just want to surf a bit.

The trailer is a bit like S’s version of Initial D. hahaha Shot in Perth, Western Australia. It’s definitely a working progress so here is the youTube for you to check it out.