Thursday, December 28, 2006
Movie Title: Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia (2006) AKA Curse Of The Golden Flower
Directed by: Yimou Zhang
Credited cast:
Jay Chou
Yun-Fat Chow
Li Gong
Qin Junjie
Man Li
Ye Liu
Dahong Ni
MPAA: Rated R for violence.
The MPAA rated R for violence and Singapore being such a conservative and safe country rated it as PG. So I was wondering if some scenes were cut out.
Comments: Actually, I wasn't very interested into watching this film as there was my most hated singer and actor in the film, Jay Chou. Ok I shan't criticise him as I think he did make an improvement in this film, I believe Mr Zhang has taught him well. I watched this film mostly because I admire Mr Zhang's film pieces, my such example is his movie, Hero. That was an excellent film and I couldn't stand the fact that my mum actually fell asleep watching it. Anyway back to the subject, this film made a straight forward title appearance unlike other films where they let you enjoy some weird scenery or they show the credited companies before showing the title of the film. Eventhough this movie started off with a rather slow paced story with very little action, it gave the audience a magnificient sight seeing to the palace, the kitchen, the balconys and the audiences will never forget the amazing dresses of the maids and concubines that squeezed their breasts so very tightly to purposely allow the deep river to be seen. I have no idea why Mr Zhang did that but I am sure he has his needs. But serioously speaking, in the Tang dynasty, no girl wears such open clothes. Another part of the movie that was really good were the huge amount of army which looked so real. We all know that the huge armies that you see in movies are all computer effects but this movie gives a rise in the realism of the army, very well done indeed.
Oh yes, the story. It isn't any typical story of sons trying to gain power over the king's throne. No no, nothing of such sort. It does not just focus on love or hatred or lust, it focuses on all. It shows the problems of what a royal family face, not trusting each other. A very complex story with touching, sad and unusually funny moments. A film definitely worth to watch.
Verdict: Superb Film
Rating: 8.2 / 10
artificious ' 6:46 pm
Dates: Between Dec 23 to Dec 27
Have you ever had experiences such as not knowing relatives that even existed throughout your entire life of lets say 16 years? Honestly speaking if you think that I am talking rubbish, then you might as well just click on the cross.
For about 2 weeks, I was busy as I was invited by my grandfather to join some relatives from all over the world to have some very exquisite food. There were relatives from Australia, China, America and Switzerland. Seriously speaking, I actually forgotten how to address most of them. Its not as easy as saying 'Hi Uncle! or Hi Aunty!', you have to greet them in Chinese terms which I often get really confused with. Well, most of them are familiar to me eventhough I only meet them once or twice a year.
As I said, most of them. The other 10% was a rather awkward moment. You see, I must really blame my grandfather. He did not tell me that the Switzerland relatives were joining us for lunch and so I was thinking, ' Ah oh well, another lunch with no blond hairs on the table. ' So somehow my brain turns of the 'blond colour vision'. Yes I am writing in a very stupid way but I really can't help it.
"Hello Malcolm! Do you remember me?" a very frenchy voice spoke to me. I turned my head around and I was speechless. My mind was blank. "er...er... yea sure I don't! I am so sorry I have forgotten who you are!" and I was thinking at the back of my head, why in the world would I say that? Then I realised that she thinks that I was joking so oh well, I shall do it with all the swiss girls...
Then... suddenly, a guy popped up. Oook, I really really never meet him before. "Hello, have we met?" "Hmm...che...no no we have not."
Oh boy what a relieve...
Well, at first I thought he was a very shy guy but as days go by I realised he was kinda cool and extremely funny. For girls, I am sure they will find him cute.
Oh and the swiss girls, I have met them before, I have no idea why and how at that very moment my mind went blank... I guess beauty can also fry people's brains.
artificious ' 6:20 pm
Monday, December 11, 2006
BUSTED
---December 10---
Flight no. TR155
Reached Singapore at 7.45pm
I walked through the gate with my passport looking confident. I glanced at the situation in that quiet budget terminal, I realised I was being watched by 15 cameras. I took a deep breath and took my back pack to the DFS store to wait for my parents. They bought some wine and as they were doing so, I was busy looking at the scanning machine, busy recapping what I had to do when I reach it. 'Passengers of flight TR155 please proceed to the rollers to collect your bags, thank you.' a beautiful voice spoked through the speakers of the airport. 'Well, this is it.' I told myself. My heart beat started racing, I tried cooling myself down as crazy thoughts ran through my mind. 'Will there be devices that the police has to check on every individuals heart rate and heat signatures?' that was one major question in my head at that point in time.
As I waited for my bag which contained something so illegal that I could be sentenced to jail, I watched the scanning machine with 2 security guards standing there watching every passenger. I realised that not every passenger was called to do a check on their bags, hope filled my head. When my bag came, I knew that I wouldn't be busted if I put my bag in that specific position where the camera can't see the shape of that illegal object that I brought.(A Metal Alloy BB Gun {0.5kg}). I placed my bag on the trolley and hurriedly walked towards the doors but I made a grave mistake, which was to stare at that bloody old police officer. He looked at me with suspicion and then he did the thing, he bloody called me over. I changed my plan to plan B, I gave him a smile and brought my bag to the scanner and placed it in that exact position but he was old, which meant he was experienced. That indeed got me really busted. HE TITLED THE BAG FOR ME! I was like, NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Well as expected, the rollers stopped, the lady at the monitor had her jaws wide open, I bet she thought it was a real one. Oh well, the old man came over and questioned me. 'Boy, is that your bag?'
'Yea it is, is there a problem?'
'Oh you bet, you got a toy gun in there?'
'Yea I do. Why?'
'Son, you gotta take it out to show me.'
'Alright... fuck...'
'excuse me?'
'huh? oh nothing sir, nothing...'
I took the gun out, and there we go... my lovely metal alloy gun is taken away.
Amazingly, this drama rama doesn't bloody end! He brings me together with my parents into this really white room and starts questioning us.
Ok so I thought thats it, but instead, he called the cops in! I was like what the fuck is wrong with a metal toy gun??? I can't kill! But at that moment I don't know why I felt a sudden calm in me, positive thoughts just kept flowing throught my mind. Then I took a picture of the scene, my dad just looked at me in disgust. 'Hahaha oh well, its another once in a lifetime experience ya know, why not take it as a memory?' I thought.
A few minutes later, the cops came in, 5 in total! Well, the youngest took me for questioning and the older ones took my dad. They were extremely friendly though. In fact, I was joking with them all the way eventhough I know that I might be sent to court. Oh yes one more thing, one of the senior police officer tried on my superb gun, he was dumb enough to aim it on his palm, point blank! Well, I too was evil enough not to tell him the amount of force... hee hee. "ARGggh! Ooooooooh ouch!" oh man I should have taken a video of it. It was hilarious! Anyway, after the questioning and stuff, the young policemen were in fact busy playing with my gun in the bloody office! I really think they are going to keep and play with it. Its so damn unfair! Oh well at least I had fun with the gun for 2 days. Its like buying SUPERMAN for 2 days and giving him to Lex Luthor.
So the police gave me a warning and they said that they would monitor and investigate me for 2 months which means that my actions such as my calls and my messages might be monitored. Such a lovely experience for a 16 year old boy. And after 2 months, I need to wait to see if I get to go to court or not.
Well, its all worth it for something that you can never play with in your entire life in Singapore, the safest country in the entire freaking world. Where freedom seems to be disappearing.
artificious ' 11:39 pm
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Ah... my third day in Phuket.
Hotel: Marriott's Phuket Beach Club
Room: Villa
Distance: 45 minutes away from the city
Outlook: Exquisitely superb
This hotel can be said as a number one place for relaxing and enjoying what nature has to give. It offers a huge room, extremely beautiful tropical gardens and an amazing beach. Oh yes, the dining here is extremely classy and the food is delicious.
Day 1
Arrived at the hotel at around 8am and the awaiting of our room keys was rather nice. Haha thats because they offer great service. As we waited for the room keys, they allowed us to have a sit and offered us free drinks. Whats more, the drinks are not ordinary drinks, they taste heavenly but I have no idea how they call it. Oh talking about the service, it is extremely good, you are served like a king in here. I love the kneeling down gesture when they talk to you, its as if the respect that I get has just shot up sky high. So yea, after we entered our room, we were just speechless... By the way, this hotel is so huge, it takes a buggy to send us from the lobby to our rooms.
Night time... the most beautiful time of the day... but wait, no... actually the most beautiful time of they day is at 6pm. Guess why? THE SUNSET. You get to view a beautiful sunset and a superb performace by some performers. ( view pics for more details )
Day 2
Well, all I can say is that we got a taxi to send us to town to shop and the shopping isn't as great as Bangkok. So yea, we shopped the whole day and most of all... I bought something illegal. A GUN! No of course not a real one. A metal alloy BB gun which Singapore rarely sells!
artificious ' 8:33 am
