Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wanted: A Review
As aliendoc would say: AWESOME!!! :)
I don't think I can do justice to how much I truly enjoyed this film, but I'm going to ramble for the next few paragraphs in an effort to flesh it out for those of you who're actually interested.
As always, MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!
SPOILERS AHEAD
SPOILERS AHEAD
SPOILERS AHEAD
As aliendoc would say: AWESOME!!! :)
I don't think I can do justice to how much I truly enjoyed this film, but I'm going to ramble for the next few paragraphs in an effort to flesh it out for those of you who're actually interested.
As always, MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!
SPOILERS AHEAD
SPOILERS AHEAD
SPOILERS AHEAD
Do you like this photo I posted? It's the first time I've seen it, and thought it looked a lot cooler than most of the conventional publicity campaign pics. Who would've expected a tiny, scrawny Scot who looks 5 years younger than his true age to make a convincing ( and very sexy ) action hero?
If you haven't done any homework on the movie, let me just mention a few tidbits:
1) it's loosely based on a comic mini-series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones
2) I say "loosely based" because while the film depicts lead character Wesley Gibson as a good guy, the real Wesley on paper is pretty much an evil a**hole. The Fraternity is a villanous organization, and Wesley unleashes his inner demons in full force upon initiation into this diabolical society.
For example, he uses stray pedestrians for shooting practice; he has racist and misogynistic tendencies; he kills everyone he's ever had a grudge against; he looks like Eminem.
3) James McAvoy was cast as Wesley before the commercial release of The Last King Of Scotland. He did 3 auditions, didn't get a call for 6 months, then finally received the news that he'd snagged the role. Co-star Angelina Jolie admits in an Entertainment Weekly interview that her interest was indeed piqued upon learning about McAvoy's connection to the project, but I can't be sure whether she agreed to come on board because of him.
4) An interview with Wanted creators Millar and Jones on YouTube mentions how faithful the movie is - cinematography-wise at least. Apparently, the motion picture's more exciting scenes are almost exact replicas of the comic version, and many parts of the dialogue are reproduced verbatim.
Yes, that's how obsessed I've been these past few weeks. :)
As for the film itself, all hail Timur Bekmambetov, the brash director of this crazy flick. He easily transfers his skills at flipping large moving objects from the Night / Day Watch franchise, this time experimenting with hot little sports cars and giant locomotives.
He's got quite the eye for inventive camera angles and eye-popping action sequences. Just a few bits worth mentioning include:
1) The utterly insane early scene, which begins with Fox ( Jolie ) making first contact with Wesley in a supermarket, then escalates into a full-blown shootout / car chase, culminating in a spectacular somersault of the chilli-red sports car Jolie has commandeered, hurling it over several police patrol cars before crashing sideways into a commuter bus.
2) The exhilarating training sessions on top of Chicago's L trains, as Fox gracefully slides into the tight space between the trains' roofs and the tunnel ceilings overhead. Later, Wesley's new-found skills enable him to leap off the trains onto bridges, before sprinting across the latter to land back on the trains again. Yow.
3) The derailing scene, which features a giant locomotive careening off a viaduct into a gorge which looks more like an abyss. Never mind the thousands of innocent lives lost - the assassins have a more important agenda at hand, dammit!
I admit the overall premise contains its share of hokey-ness, but it fails to irritate the way The Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions did. At most, you have to contend with a textiles factory, The Loom Of Fate and some binary code messages, and a rather weird / dumb idea about strapping little bombs to rats.
That aside, we move on to the actors' performances - in particular, those of Jolie and McAvoy.
Special mention goes to Morgan Freeman, who is always a welcome addition to any cast, but who's sorely underutilized here.
Jolie has never looked more beautiful, and the role of Fox fits her like a glove. I can imagine all the pools of drool that must've been left by male moviegoers after each screening. She slithers like a cat, wields her guns like a veteran hitman, is the epitome of feminine wiles, able to convey volumes with the slightest twitch of her mouth and the smallest arch of her perfect eyebrows.
All these effusive compliments coming from me - a straight woman. I can only hazard a guess as to what's going through the minds of millions of men all over the world as they watch her strut her stuff.
McAvoy, on the other hand, blows me away yet again. For the record, he has toppled Shia LaBeouf from the #3 position on my all-time favourite actors list ( the 3rd spot is usually up for grabs, while #1's Kevin Spacey and #2's John Cusack are tough to beat ). This is a guy who has done children's fantasy fare ( The Chronicles Of Narnia ), English romances ( Becoming Jane, Atonement ) and gritty drama ( The Last King Of Scotland ). It's beginning to look like he can do just about anything, now that he's conquered the last frontier in the movie business: the summer action blockbuster.
He's a tiny, boyishly handsome chap, but carries the role of Wesley very competently thanks to his superior acting skills. Like Tobey Maguire's turn as Spider-man, McAvoy's gradual transformation from downtrodden geek to confident killer is convincing and compelling. There're touches of comedy - Wesley's penchant for apologizing evolves hilariously from mousey intonations to mocking farewells; his attempt at getting Fox to move aside by pointing a gun at her deteriorates into groveling as she stands her ground and looks amused; and.. one of my favourite scenes has Wesley shooting the wings off the flies, but not before desperately pleading his case before Sloan ( Freeman ).
While the supporting cast and director are strong, it is ultimately McAvoy's charm which carries the film and makes an otherwise cheesy storyline that much easier to swallow. His American accent is flawless, his chemistry with fellow actors electric, his agility a wonderful sight to behold.
My only complaint is that he looks very scrappy here. If you want to know just how gorgeous he can be, Atonement and Becoming Jane are must-sees.
I just hope Wanted will be available as an in-flight movie come September when I go on holiday ( I may just put it on repeat spins for 10 hours, heh ).
In any case, I WANT THE DVD.
I ordered this from Amazon together with Becoming Jane ( which, by the way, doesn't seem to be available for sale locally, but why bother when Amazon offers a better version with much more bonus material? ), and absolutely love it!
This British gem of a comedy has Sam Mendes and Tom Hanks among the list of producers, and though it doesn't exactly beat American coming-of-age classics like Say Anything ( John Cusack's most memorable role to date ), Ferris Bueller's Day Off ( an adorable Matthew Broderick ) or The Breakfast Club ( Brat Packers rule! ), it is a decent, heartwarming effort, with a few little twists to keep things interesting.
As always, McAvoy is endearing as hapless and naive Brian Jackson, a Bristol University newbie whose affections are lavished on the wrong girl, leading to the usual complications. While the script and supporting cast are run-of-the-mill stuff, McAvoy shines like a lighthouse beacon on a foggy night, infusing an otherwise straightforward character with layers of emotional complexity, the same way John Cusack made Lloyd Dobler one of the most beloved slackers in movie history.
Memorable scenes from Starter For 10:
1) his first attempt at smoking pot, followed by a foiled attempt to seduce Alice
2) his late-night encounter with Alice's parents in the kitchen while he's indulging an attack of the "munchies"
3) a little jig he does in a courtyard while Rebecca observes from a window
I can't wait for his next project, The Last Station. He stars alongside a very accomplished cast of veterans ( Plummer, Mirren, Giamatti ), not to mention his wife, Anne-Marie Duff ( who is, interestingly, 8 years his senior ). I'm sure he'll do extremely well in this.
Angels And Demons
Some of you may remember my trip to Italy in 2005, during which I joined the official A&D tour run by the Dark Rome company. The tour has been getting a lot of press recently, in large part because of the film shoot which has experienced some glitches ( the Vatican is NOT happy with Dan Brown ). The fact that the Catholic Church has imposed bans on the cast and crew shooting in at least 2 key locations has made me treasure my trip even more, since my mom and I went to all the churches mentioned in the novel, and even met the tour company's director, Simone Gozzi, who's mentioned in many of the articles. I wasn't 100% certain at first, but a quick check with my journal showed that we had indeed met him - a very lucky coincidence as he happened to be waiting for another group that same morning to bring them on a premium tour ( in a cushy Mercedes limo ). I remember him as a tall, lanky young man with brown hair and a very warm, friendly disposition. He walked right up to us and shook our hands even though we told him we were with a different group ( we took a mini-van, but it was loads of fun 'cos the 7-8 of us got along so well ). It's a little surreal to read about him in connection with such a huge movie. :)
Right then, that's enough from me for now. Have a good week ahead.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
More Wanted Clips!
I'm just going to continue this until I see the movie this weekend. :)
Movies.com just became partners with Fandango, so there's a slight change in format. If you can't view the videos, go to Tools at the top of your browser window, click on Internet Options, choose Privacy and set it to Low or Medium Low, Apply then Ok.
If that doesn't work, go to Internet Options again, click General and Delete all cookies.
Close the browser window and open a new one.
If THAT doesn't help, try downloading the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.
The reason I'm telling you all this is so you can enjoy fistfuls of additional videos which are now available on this site.
The link for Wanted is here.
There're elements of The Matrix, I notice. And James McAvoy shows off his flair for comedy, action and drama to great effect. The action sequences are bloody cool. What else can you expect from the maestro who directed Night Watch ( though I didn't really like that film, I do admit it boasts some innovative artistry )?
And -- an interview with McAvoy on his role available on YouTube.
Only 3 more days to go...
Ooh, awesome trailer of Hellboy 2. Let's hope it opens the same day as the USA ( July 11th ). I'm a huge Guillermo del Toro fan!
And Heath Ledger's almost unrecognizable in his demanding role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. A premature death indeed.
Also, I'd like to recommend Dexter, a gory but irreverent TV series which will never see the light of day on local television ( Season 2 is currently being shown on Digital cable's Foxcrime channel ) because it's so violent and borderline sick even I am occasionally disturbed by it, heh.
But the plotlines are challenging, the script consistently exceptional, the acting and cast rapport superb, the twists thrilling beyond description.
Last but not least, a most interesting meeting with the medical team covering the F1 race took place yesterday. While I've been sitting on the fence excitement-wise these past few months, I admit to looking forward to the event come September -- partly because of the role I've been assigned.
I thank you for your vote of confidence! :)
I'm just going to continue this until I see the movie this weekend. :)
Movies.com just became partners with Fandango, so there's a slight change in format. If you can't view the videos, go to Tools at the top of your browser window, click on Internet Options, choose Privacy and set it to Low or Medium Low, Apply then Ok.
If that doesn't work, go to Internet Options again, click General and Delete all cookies.
Close the browser window and open a new one.
If THAT doesn't help, try downloading the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.
The reason I'm telling you all this is so you can enjoy fistfuls of additional videos which are now available on this site.
The link for Wanted is here.
There're elements of The Matrix, I notice. And James McAvoy shows off his flair for comedy, action and drama to great effect. The action sequences are bloody cool. What else can you expect from the maestro who directed Night Watch ( though I didn't really like that film, I do admit it boasts some innovative artistry )?
And -- an interview with McAvoy on his role available on YouTube.
Only 3 more days to go...
Ooh, awesome trailer of Hellboy 2. Let's hope it opens the same day as the USA ( July 11th ). I'm a huge Guillermo del Toro fan!
And Heath Ledger's almost unrecognizable in his demanding role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. A premature death indeed.
Also, I'd like to recommend Dexter, a gory but irreverent TV series which will never see the light of day on local television ( Season 2 is currently being shown on Digital cable's Foxcrime channel ) because it's so violent and borderline sick even I am occasionally disturbed by it, heh.
But the plotlines are challenging, the script consistently exceptional, the acting and cast rapport superb, the twists thrilling beyond description.
Last but not least, a most interesting meeting with the medical team covering the F1 race took place yesterday. While I've been sitting on the fence excitement-wise these past few months, I admit to looking forward to the event come September -- partly because of the role I've been assigned.
I thank you for your vote of confidence! :)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Counting Down...
I haven't been so excited about a movie since probably the LOTR trilogy.
Yes, more rambling about Wanted. Feel free to skip this if you're not interested.
I haven't been so excited about a movie since probably the LOTR trilogy.
The trailers look solid ( official website at this link, featuring a subtly different trailer ), and the stars are totally hot. ( James McAvoy developed pectorals all of a sudden, but I like him better scrawny. :))
Just rewatched The Last King Of Scotland the other night ( till 2am, as per my new habit heh ). It was excellent the first time I caught it 1-2 years ago, but this time, with my newfound appreciation of James McAvoy, it was unbelievable.
You can view some short clips from the film here. If you want to see McAvoy in emoting mode, go to the one titled I Have To Go Home Now. ( If the order gets mixed up - it's happening to me right now - look for the opening line from Forest Whitaker, which is "What is all this about your going home?". )
Granted, Whitaker is fantastic here, and completely deserving of his Oscar, but the story is told from Dr. Nicholas Garrigan's perspective, and McAvoy is present in every single scene. His transformation from a carefree young med school graduate to disillusioned personal physician / advisor is riveting. He matches Whitaker at every step, which is no mean feat considering the differences in height, physical appearance and personalities.
A Few More Reviews
A delayed one about The Darjeeling Limited, which I really REALLY love. Despite what the critics and box office say.
If you enjoy films like The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou ( those of you who've even heard of the latter deserve a pat on the back ), you will definitely want to catch Darjeeling.
I'll leave you to read the plot for yourself. It's a pretty short film ( 90 minutes or so ), but offers a hearty mix of comedy, tragedy, sex, love, death, drug-highs, Indian rituals, a funeral, and other assorted little goodies.
The main reason the whole formula works lies, of course, with its 3 stars - Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman. This marks the first time they're collaborating on the big screen, and the chemistry is explosive. They make you honestly believe they're blood relatives - it's amazing!
The clip titled The Whitman Brothers ( go to Multimedia ) gives a nice overview of the siblings' dynamics. My favourite is, hands down, Adrien Brody, who plays freaked-out father-to-be middle brother Peter to perfection. There're many clues to pick up on throughout the film - e.g. Owen's character, Francis, has a habit of ordering for his brothers and asking them to raise their hands if they want something; you'll find out why in the last 15 minutes, when they meet the person they've been desperately searching for.
The clip He Escaped is especially hilarious. You can't tell from the bit offered on this site, 'cos the buildup isn't included in its entirety, but in the movie itself, I laughed my guts out. :)
Digital cable recently screened a version of Pride & Prejudice which I've been longing to see for many years now - i.e. the one starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson. The result was rather... interesting.
Perhaps it stems from the fact that I last watched this when I was in junior college. I still remember many of the scenes word for word, but it intrigued me that I now prefer the updated Keira Knightley-Matthew MacFadyen remake much more. I can give the following reasons for this: (1) Knightley is feisty compared to the tremulous Garson ( who started to grate on my nerves after a while ), (2) the actors in the original are a little too old for their roles ( the characters are described as in their early to mid-20s in the novel ), (3) the remake is in vivid colour while the other is in black and white, (4) the women's costumes in the early version are quite hideous if you think about it, and (5) the script for the remake is a lot more faithful to the book ( though some scenes have been altered liberally ).
Last but not least, there's Pushing Daisies, a TV show I've been dying ( pardon the pun ) to see since reading rave reviews about it on the Internet. The pilot episode was so insanely bizarre I was utterly bewitched. The leads, Lee Pace and Anna Friel, are adorable together, and Chi McBride expertly provides the realism such a whimsical tale needs.
I find Lee Pace very cute, by the way. Tall, lanky, awkwardly handsome, and wonderfully lovable in this complex role.
SingFest 2008
I'm going for one reason only - Jason Mraz on Day 2.
Thank you, aliendoc, for the tip! Would've missed this tidbit for sure if you hadn't told me.
Some Privacy Desired
Have been ignoring my other blog for a while now, but there's no better time to jumpstart it again, to pen some of my frustrations away from the prying eyes of my usual readers.
Sorry, I need this one just for myself.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Lessons Learnt
Never be surprised when someone you think you know well blindsides you.
Trust no-one. ( except maybe your parents )
Hard work is easily overlooked.
It is with a heavy heart that I make this decision, yet it must be made. I am profoundly disappointed, and deeply hurt. And yet, I probably saw this coming sometime ago, just that I chose to ignore it.
Oh well, it leaves me more time to devote to other pursuits. Am most grateful for this blog, where I will always be able to express myself freely through writing.
Never be surprised when someone you think you know well blindsides you.
Trust no-one. ( except maybe your parents )
Hard work is easily overlooked.
It is with a heavy heart that I make this decision, yet it must be made. I am profoundly disappointed, and deeply hurt. And yet, I probably saw this coming sometime ago, just that I chose to ignore it.
Oh well, it leaves me more time to devote to other pursuits. Am most grateful for this blog, where I will always be able to express myself freely through writing.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sleepless In Singapore
Right.
I've recently developed a bad habit - that of sitting on my bed in the dark, past midnight till who knows when, watching DVDs and YouTube clips on my laptop.
I put the blame completely on James McAvoy, whose performance in Becoming Jane is the main reason I'm doing this.
In my last entry, I failed to share information about what I consider the best scene in the film. You can watch it on YouTube via this link.
To provide a bit of background for those who haven't already seen the movie, this little interlude occurs around the 35th minute, soon after Jane and Tom have established their mutual dislike for, but also reluctant attraction to, each other.
Jane stumbles upon Tom in his aunt's library, and the rest -- you can see for yourself.
May I just point out a few things worth appreciating in this most delighful sequence: McAvoy looks rakishly handsome, he has a wonderful voice and accent for reading aloud, he displays an easy cheekiness and oozes sex appeal, and his chemistry with Anne Hathaway is absolutely mesmerizing.
Watch closely: how he almost caresses each word of the passage he's reading, then stops and teases Jane with a cliffhanger, only to fluster her with the climactic ending, fixing her with an intense stare and an amused half-smile. Then, as she strides off, he reverses in the other direction, matching her step for step, before meeting her on the other side of the bookshelf, admonishing her then teasing her yet again.
The whole exchange is perfectly timed, the body language superb, and McAvoy's facial expressions varying beautifully between unfathomable and playful.
The whole thing lasts only 3 minutes, but crams so much into that short period, and never fails to bring a huge grin to my face.
However, the DVD offers a much higher resolution compared to YouTube -- in the former, the colour is vibrant, and McAvoy's blue eyes practically light up the screen.
Just make sure to wear earphones so you can hear everything - and I mean everything, including the ticking grandfather clock and McAvoy's sniffles - as clearly as possible.
Don't think I've seen anything like this since Laurence Olivier's performance in Pride And Prejudice, where Mr. Darcy first makes his affections known to Miss Bennet, only to be rebuffed. I watched that one countless times on my VHS many years ago, but the tape conked out after too many replays, so I think I'm going to order the DVD from Amazon sometime in the near future.
Check out the trailers for Wanted. Looks like a must-see!
And... this priceless interview with fellow Scotsman, Craig Ferguson. The 5:40 mark promises a side-splitting joke! :D
Ok then, enough rambling from me. :)
Right.
I've recently developed a bad habit - that of sitting on my bed in the dark, past midnight till who knows when, watching DVDs and YouTube clips on my laptop.
I put the blame completely on James McAvoy, whose performance in Becoming Jane is the main reason I'm doing this.
In my last entry, I failed to share information about what I consider the best scene in the film. You can watch it on YouTube via this link.
To provide a bit of background for those who haven't already seen the movie, this little interlude occurs around the 35th minute, soon after Jane and Tom have established their mutual dislike for, but also reluctant attraction to, each other.
Jane stumbles upon Tom in his aunt's library, and the rest -- you can see for yourself.
May I just point out a few things worth appreciating in this most delighful sequence: McAvoy looks rakishly handsome, he has a wonderful voice and accent for reading aloud, he displays an easy cheekiness and oozes sex appeal, and his chemistry with Anne Hathaway is absolutely mesmerizing.
Watch closely: how he almost caresses each word of the passage he's reading, then stops and teases Jane with a cliffhanger, only to fluster her with the climactic ending, fixing her with an intense stare and an amused half-smile. Then, as she strides off, he reverses in the other direction, matching her step for step, before meeting her on the other side of the bookshelf, admonishing her then teasing her yet again.
The whole exchange is perfectly timed, the body language superb, and McAvoy's facial expressions varying beautifully between unfathomable and playful.
The whole thing lasts only 3 minutes, but crams so much into that short period, and never fails to bring a huge grin to my face.
However, the DVD offers a much higher resolution compared to YouTube -- in the former, the colour is vibrant, and McAvoy's blue eyes practically light up the screen.
Just make sure to wear earphones so you can hear everything - and I mean everything, including the ticking grandfather clock and McAvoy's sniffles - as clearly as possible.
Don't think I've seen anything like this since Laurence Olivier's performance in Pride And Prejudice, where Mr. Darcy first makes his affections known to Miss Bennet, only to be rebuffed. I watched that one countless times on my VHS many years ago, but the tape conked out after too many replays, so I think I'm going to order the DVD from Amazon sometime in the near future.
Check out the trailers for Wanted. Looks like a must-see!
And... this priceless interview with fellow Scotsman, Craig Ferguson. The 5:40 mark promises a side-splitting joke! :D
Ok then, enough rambling from me. :)
Sunday, June 08, 2008
R.I.P.
I don't want this entry to be a depressing one.
The fight scene in the sauna will have you biting your nails and gaping in awe at Viggo's unbelievably buff physique ( he turns 50 this year ).
I don't want this entry to be a depressing one.He was 10 years and 9 months old when he passed, but brought us endless joy and was the sweetest soul throughout his entire life.
His last few days were difficult, but it was a choice we had to make, despite our immense reluctance to part with him.
I miss him terribly, but alas, life must go on, and I can only console myself with fond memories -- and numerous photographs -- of him growing up ( then growing old ).
The first 3 days following his departure were the toughest, but I shall not dwell on them, because it forms only a tiny part of an otherwise happy existence.
Farewell, beloved friend and faithful companion. I'm certain we will meet again someday.
And Now, Back To Our Usual Transmission
It's the last stretch of a short leave period -- an annual ritual which coincides with my birthday ( previous attempts to work through this important week resulted in severe depression, hence my decision to take this course of action ).
This year's short holiday, so to speak, has been more memorable than most. Perhaps partly due to my cat's recent passing. Or perhaps those DVDs I rented also had some effect.
Here's a list of what I've watched in the last 5 days alone:
Stardust - recommended highly by a fellow A&E colleague. Started a little shakily, but picked up momentum at the halfway mark, and kept me enthralled till the end. Robert de Niro does an outstanding job as a ferocious captain with a secret -- watch for a scene of him "dressed up" in his private quarters, doing a "dance number". Had me in stitches! :D
Charlie Cox, who plays the male lead, blossoms beautifully from a naive young boy to a full-fledged hero. Doesn't hurt that he's also quite gorgeous, especially with those long locks. :)
The rest of the cast doesn't really make an impression, but I'm sure any viewer will be able to find something enjoyable to latch onto.
Michael Clayton - a tad overrated, based on all the rave reviews I've been reading ( not to mention those Oscar noms and a win for Tilda Swinton ). It's intelligent enough, I suppose, and I do like George Clooney very very much. But it lacks the punch of, say, Erin Brockovich. And it definitely doesn't even come close to another whistleblowing-themed film, i.e. The Insider.
No harm watching this if you've got some time to burn. Otherwise, just wait for cable to air it.
I Am Legend - again, I don't fully comprehend its box-office success on the opening weekend. But hey, it stars Will Smith, so maybe it isn't so crazy after all.
The premise is interesting enough -- apocalyptic incidents usually are -- but the execution fails at the mid-point, and starts deteriorating in the 3rd quarter.
However, I found the scene where Smith's character has to euthanize his pet German Shepherd, Samantha, absolutely heart-wrenching.
I much prefer his other sci-fi work -- I, Robot -- which was much more exciting and thought-provoking. Plus, Shia LaBeouf played his sidekick in that film. Two for one, people. :)
Eastern Promises - I LOVE this film! Reuniting one of my favourite actors, the extremely talented yet underrated Viggo Mortensen, with director David Cronenberg ( who, before his partnership with Mortensen, churned out quite a few disturbing projects ), this quiet yet riveting thriller boasts exceptional performances from Viggo and his leading lady, the lovely and tremulous Naomi Watts.
I thoroughly enjoyed A History Of Violence ( the preceding Cronenberg-Mortensen masterpiece ), and Eastern Promises shares quite a few similarities with the former ( will let you find those out for yourself ). The main difference: the Russian accents, done to perfection by our leading man.
The fight scene in the sauna will have you biting your nails and gaping in awe at Viggo's unbelievably buff physique ( he turns 50 this year ). I, for one, have always been captivated by his soft-spoken demeanour, whether he's playing a warrior king ( Aragorn in LOTR ), a fortune-hunting con man ( A Perfect Murder ), a sex addict in rehab ( 28 Days ), a horse whisperer ( sort of, in Hidalgo ) or a supposedly ordinary small-town figure with a dark past ( A History Of Violence ). He's an artist where exuding sexuality and menace while standing completely still is concerned. But he flexed some serious romantic chops in LOTR -- wish he'd do more of such roles! :)
In short, watch this movie. You won't regret it.
Silk - I rented this only because of Keira Knightley, who's become one of my favourite actresses in recent months, thanks to my growing appreciation for her spirited portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.
This period piece boasts lush cinematography and the requisite epic tragic love story elements. Knightley and leading man Michael Pitt also do competent jobs emoting ( Pitt, by the way, looks surprisingly tasty in costume, as opposed to his juvenile aura in Murder By Numbers -- didn't help that he was completely overshadowed by the much more good-looking and cheeky Ryan Gosling ).
Everything starts to unravel in the last half hour, but on the whole, I found the experience rather enlightening.
Becoming Jane - I watched this twice in 2 days. Why? Because of James McAvoy, who's the latest addition to my list of Top 10 fave actors ( who include Kevin Spacey, John Cusack and Shia LaBeouf in the #1, #2 and #3 spots respectively, followed by - in no particular order - George Clooney, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, Hugh Grant, Edward Norton and Viggo Mortensen ). Notice how none of them is blonde? :)
Recounting a true romance between Jane Austen and Irish hothead Tom LeFroy, it is a more subdued version of Pride & Prejudice ( nothing can beat that! ), but is just as affecting, thanks in large part to a nuanced performance from female lead Anne Hathaway ( though a bit too pretty for the role ) and a heartbreaking delivery from McAvoy.
While Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy in P&P was tall and intimidating, McAvoy's LeFroy is much more tortured, which more than makes up for his short stature. I first spotted him in The Last King Of Scotland ( which I feel remains his best work to date ), and have also caught him in The Chronicles Of Narnia ( he's the faun ) and Atonement ( forgot to review that months ago, sorry ). His star is definitely rising rapidly, and for good reason.
His performance as LeFroy surpasses everything else I've seen thus far, except for King Of Scotland ( he's really excellent in that one - catch it on cable June 22nd ). Here, he manages to switch effortlessly between callous scoundrel, arrogant snob, lovestruck suitor and tormented lover. An astounding feat for one so young ( he's 28 ).
Watch for: (1) the 2-3 seconds where he exuberantly slides down the staircase railing as
he races to receive Jane at the door of his uncle's home,
he races to receive Jane at the door of his uncle's home, (2) a BEAUTIFUL blink-or-you'll-miss-it sequence where he catches Jane by surprise at a ball, flashing her a warm yet mischievous smile as they twirl around each other, (3) a scene at the lake at night, where Jane kisses him for the first time and he professes his love for her, (4) an encounter in the woods, where he passionately denounces his uncle's plans for his future, enfolding Jane in an embrace and convincing her to elope with him, and (5) a truly remarkable moment in a tavern, where Jane changes her mind and LeFroy looks as if he will go mad.
Having seen Atonement ( which received high praise despite being a lot more subtle in its pathos ), I personally think Becoming Jane deserves more attention from critics and McAvoy fans.
I CAN'T WAIT to see him shooting guns with Angelina Jolie in the upcoming Wanted! ( I've got my free movie tickets ready and waiting. :))
Check out this wonderful website for more info and photos.
Take That: Beautiful World Live - for the record, I initially hated their studio recording, which was released in late 2006. However, I saw bits of the concert DVD being played at Takashimaya's Gramophone outlet a few months ago, and decided to purchase it a couple of weeks ago on a whim.
I'm happy to report that the Take That guys ( minus original 5th member, Robbie Williams ) have still got it -- the vocal chops, the slick dance moves, the firm bods, the rapport with the crowd, and tonnes of charisma.
Of course, the eye-popping stage sets, visual effects and gorgeous backup dancers help a lot with the aesthetic aspects of the show. Some bits were marvelously well done -- e.g. Could It Be Magic, which featured a rotating central stage and some cool acrobatics; and Never Forget, which superimposed 'live' action with some nifty animation -- while others excelled on musical interpretation alone: Everything Changes, redone in an acoustic adult-contemporary riff; Back For Good, which got the entire stadium roaring karaoke style; Rule The World, the love theme from Stardust, done perfectly.
Their new songs from the Beautiful World album feature prominently as well, from Reach Out, Patience and Beautiful World, to Shine ( my personal fave ), Wooden Boat and I'd Wait For Life. Everything just sounds phenomenal 'live', something I found quite interesting since I thought their comeback CD was bland and weak.
Just goes to show how wrong I was. Highly recommended for TT fans - or anyone who'd like a taste of great British pop at its best.
Josh Groban: Awake 'Live' - this one's not too bad either, mostly because Josh's exquisite voice is back after faltering badly on his sophomore Live At The Greek recording. While he sounded tired and strained on the latter, he's made a complete turnaround on the former, belting out demanding melodies with aplomb, never losing a breath or missing a note. He also does some nifty drum- and piano-playing.
So it's back to the grind tomorrow. While I would've preferred extending my leave a little, I have to save it for September, when I'll be overseas for a couple of weeks ( destination to be revealed after I return ), then using the rest of the month for the F1 race's medical field team training.
No, I am NOT an F1 fan. But I did read a fascinating article in Time magazine recently, which described some cool scientific concepts about how a race car beats it competition. $300 million to build a winner? Such extravagance doesn't sit well with me.
Reviews of The Darjeeling Limited and Pushing Daisies will be posted in my next entry -- in short, they're both fabulous!
Friday, May 23, 2008
In A Nutshell
Indiana Jones 4
I love it!
Of course, I'm speaking as a diehard fan of the franchise. Indy is a large part of my life, since Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my earliest movie memories ( believe I watched it at Jade cinema when I was 6 or 7 years old ), and I faithfully caught episodes 2 and 3 thereafter ( The Last Crusade is the best of the trilogy, IMHO ).
Without posting spoilers, I'll just say that the cinematography's gorgeous ( look for the mushroom cloud scene ), the cast really great ( Shia LaBeouf looking very very dapper in his leather bomber jacket, with a cool motorcycle to boot ), the camaraderie natural and boisterous, and the action sequences thrilling.
Never mind the rather iffy plotline ( you'll find out in the last 20 minutes ), which erroneously detracts from a tried and tested formula ( Indy has gone hunting for Christianity-related relics twice, with terrific box office results ). I overlooked the boo-boo easily, thanks to all the other positive factors in play.
Special mention goes to Ray Winstone ( who played Beowulf recently ). He's pudgy in real life, but quite a character, with a now unmistakeable voice and accent. I like him a lot.
Cate Blanchett is superbly cold, though not as creepy as early reviews made her out to be. Still, she's drop-dead beautiful, and one of my favourite actresses, so I enjoyed watching her strut her stuff.
Shia is, as always, a pleasure to watch. His eyes alone are worth half the price of my movie ticket! :)
Harrison Ford has aged significantly, but soldiers on admirably. Critics may complain, but no-one can replace this film icon, and I got goosebumps when he first appeared on-screen ( the segment's a bit over-dramatic, but very effective ).
And that famous John Williams theme - pure magic!
The passage of time brings lots of nice touches, from an anti-communist protest on college grounds, to a raucous rock 'n roll opening sequence. Old flame Marion Ravenwood - my favourite Indy Jones heroine by far - is still as feisty as ever. Her return to the franchise ( perhaps only transient ) heralds a far more important development in the storyline ( you'll discover this for yourself somewhere in the middle of the movie, and this is further reinforced in the final scene ).
15 years ago, I mailed a fan letter to Mr. Ford's home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There was no street name or house number, but the amazing American postal service got it to him anyway, and I later received an autographed photo from his agent in Los Angeles.
I just thought it was a really kind gesture on his part. I lost the picture when I moved house, but will remember this forever.
The New American Idol
David Cook won, and although I admit to feeling disappointed when Ryan Seacrest shouted his name, I got over it the second Cook broke down and tried valiantly to hold back his tears.
He's even more talented than Chris Daughtry. He'll definitely do a lot better -- that is, if he makes a good record and connects with the fans.
David Archuleta outsang his competition, but somehow failed to garner the majority vote. AI fans in my department decried the results, and one colleague even suggested the numbers were rigged. I hear refrains from Season 2 ( Ruben vs Clay ) again...
I just hope young David's father doesn't give him too hard a time about this ( rumour has it that he's been terribly tough on the poor boy ).
Tune in to Larry King Live at 9am Saturday morning ( tomororw, Singapore time ) for an interview with both finalists!
Will a local concert organizer bring the AI tour to our shores? Fantasia's batch dropped by a few years ago, but I passed on the show. However, if the Season 7 finalists come here, I'm getting front-row seats!
Chris Botti's Concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall, 20th May 2008
This wasn't reviewed in Life!, for some strange reason.
Having caught him at the Victoria Theatre in 2006, this performance was a lot more enjoyable for 2 reasons -- the beautiful venue, and my 2nd-row-centre seats. :)
Playing songs from past albums and his latest, Italia, Botti gave us chills as his trumpet's rich, velvety tones filled the hall. He opened with Ave Maria, then went on to When I Fall In Love, Caruso, A Thousand Kisses Deep, My Funny Valentine, and Flamingo Sketches ( a tribute to Miles Davis ).
Highlights include a duet with female vocalist LaShanda Rena ( I hope I got the name right, 'cos this is what's written in the programme yet sounds different from what Botti said ) -- they did a sizzling interpretation of The Look Of Love, then topped the evening off with the very lovely What'll I Do ( the latter featured Paula Cole on the album ).
Rena's smoky, pitch-perfect vocals were nicely complemented by the hall's excellent acoustics. I didn't expect any singing at this show, so it was a wonderful surprise indeed. :)
The best parts: the closing encore piece, Cinema Paradiso, which Botti dedicated to a pregnant concertgoer's unborn baby girl ( he jumped off-stage to serenade her, but sadly, stood a few metres away from my seat, darn! ); the other was a spell-binding cover of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah, which was preceded by a little anecdote about Botti meeting the former once at a recording studio, and hearing firsthand what would become a massive hit album.
I've always heard versions that sound angsty, but Botti elected to do a quiet serenade with minimal backup instead -- and it took my breath away.
Magical moment right there, people.
Being in the centre of the 2nd row has many benefits -- I got a great view of Botti and his band, heard his trumpet up close ( especially when he'd direct the bell my way on and off ), and even made direct eye contact with him quite a few times ( he likes to scan the front rows when playing, though he favours closing his eyes most of the time ). He looked happy and smiled frequently, even laughing helplessly at one point when his drummer, Billy Kilson, disappeared off-stage after a song and failed to return in time for the next piece. Poor Botti had to make small talk, admitting that he was "stalling" and hoped Kilson would come back soon! Haha :D
I got the tickets at great prices - the first 2 rows come at lower rates, and there's a senior citizen discount to boot ( for my mom, who also loves Botti's music ). Considering the small fortune I forked out for his Victoria Theatre gig ( that place needs a major sprucing up, btw ), this show came at a real bargain.
Right then, that's all for now. It's near the end of yet another hectic week, I'm exhausted, but pretty happy, especially about a recent significant pay rise ( in a word, WHOA! ) and a promise from a high-ranking official that something will DEFINITELY be done about the A&E's lodger problems.
Enjoy your weekend.
Indiana Jones 4
I love it!
Of course, I'm speaking as a diehard fan of the franchise. Indy is a large part of my life, since Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my earliest movie memories ( believe I watched it at Jade cinema when I was 6 or 7 years old ), and I faithfully caught episodes 2 and 3 thereafter ( The Last Crusade is the best of the trilogy, IMHO ).
Without posting spoilers, I'll just say that the cinematography's gorgeous ( look for the mushroom cloud scene ), the cast really great ( Shia LaBeouf looking very very dapper in his leather bomber jacket, with a cool motorcycle to boot ), the camaraderie natural and boisterous, and the action sequences thrilling.
Never mind the rather iffy plotline ( you'll find out in the last 20 minutes ), which erroneously detracts from a tried and tested formula ( Indy has gone hunting for Christianity-related relics twice, with terrific box office results ). I overlooked the boo-boo easily, thanks to all the other positive factors in play.
Special mention goes to Ray Winstone ( who played Beowulf recently ). He's pudgy in real life, but quite a character, with a now unmistakeable voice and accent. I like him a lot.
Cate Blanchett is superbly cold, though not as creepy as early reviews made her out to be. Still, she's drop-dead beautiful, and one of my favourite actresses, so I enjoyed watching her strut her stuff.
Shia is, as always, a pleasure to watch. His eyes alone are worth half the price of my movie ticket! :)
Harrison Ford has aged significantly, but soldiers on admirably. Critics may complain, but no-one can replace this film icon, and I got goosebumps when he first appeared on-screen ( the segment's a bit over-dramatic, but very effective ).
And that famous John Williams theme - pure magic!
The passage of time brings lots of nice touches, from an anti-communist protest on college grounds, to a raucous rock 'n roll opening sequence. Old flame Marion Ravenwood - my favourite Indy Jones heroine by far - is still as feisty as ever. Her return to the franchise ( perhaps only transient ) heralds a far more important development in the storyline ( you'll discover this for yourself somewhere in the middle of the movie, and this is further reinforced in the final scene ).
15 years ago, I mailed a fan letter to Mr. Ford's home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There was no street name or house number, but the amazing American postal service got it to him anyway, and I later received an autographed photo from his agent in Los Angeles.
I just thought it was a really kind gesture on his part. I lost the picture when I moved house, but will remember this forever.
The New American Idol
David Cook won, and although I admit to feeling disappointed when Ryan Seacrest shouted his name, I got over it the second Cook broke down and tried valiantly to hold back his tears.
He's even more talented than Chris Daughtry. He'll definitely do a lot better -- that is, if he makes a good record and connects with the fans.
David Archuleta outsang his competition, but somehow failed to garner the majority vote. AI fans in my department decried the results, and one colleague even suggested the numbers were rigged. I hear refrains from Season 2 ( Ruben vs Clay ) again...
I just hope young David's father doesn't give him too hard a time about this ( rumour has it that he's been terribly tough on the poor boy ).
Tune in to Larry King Live at 9am Saturday morning ( tomororw, Singapore time ) for an interview with both finalists!
Will a local concert organizer bring the AI tour to our shores? Fantasia's batch dropped by a few years ago, but I passed on the show. However, if the Season 7 finalists come here, I'm getting front-row seats!
Chris Botti's Concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall, 20th May 2008
This wasn't reviewed in Life!, for some strange reason.
Having caught him at the Victoria Theatre in 2006, this performance was a lot more enjoyable for 2 reasons -- the beautiful venue, and my 2nd-row-centre seats. :)
Playing songs from past albums and his latest, Italia, Botti gave us chills as his trumpet's rich, velvety tones filled the hall. He opened with Ave Maria, then went on to When I Fall In Love, Caruso, A Thousand Kisses Deep, My Funny Valentine, and Flamingo Sketches ( a tribute to Miles Davis ).
Highlights include a duet with female vocalist LaShanda Rena ( I hope I got the name right, 'cos this is what's written in the programme yet sounds different from what Botti said ) -- they did a sizzling interpretation of The Look Of Love, then topped the evening off with the very lovely What'll I Do ( the latter featured Paula Cole on the album ).
Rena's smoky, pitch-perfect vocals were nicely complemented by the hall's excellent acoustics. I didn't expect any singing at this show, so it was a wonderful surprise indeed. :)
The best parts: the closing encore piece, Cinema Paradiso, which Botti dedicated to a pregnant concertgoer's unborn baby girl ( he jumped off-stage to serenade her, but sadly, stood a few metres away from my seat, darn! ); the other was a spell-binding cover of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah, which was preceded by a little anecdote about Botti meeting the former once at a recording studio, and hearing firsthand what would become a massive hit album.
I've always heard versions that sound angsty, but Botti elected to do a quiet serenade with minimal backup instead -- and it took my breath away.
Magical moment right there, people.
Being in the centre of the 2nd row has many benefits -- I got a great view of Botti and his band, heard his trumpet up close ( especially when he'd direct the bell my way on and off ), and even made direct eye contact with him quite a few times ( he likes to scan the front rows when playing, though he favours closing his eyes most of the time ). He looked happy and smiled frequently, even laughing helplessly at one point when his drummer, Billy Kilson, disappeared off-stage after a song and failed to return in time for the next piece. Poor Botti had to make small talk, admitting that he was "stalling" and hoped Kilson would come back soon! Haha :D
I got the tickets at great prices - the first 2 rows come at lower rates, and there's a senior citizen discount to boot ( for my mom, who also loves Botti's music ). Considering the small fortune I forked out for his Victoria Theatre gig ( that place needs a major sprucing up, btw ), this show came at a real bargain.
Right then, that's all for now. It's near the end of yet another hectic week, I'm exhausted, but pretty happy, especially about a recent significant pay rise ( in a word, WHOA! ) and a promise from a high-ranking official that something will DEFINITELY be done about the A&E's lodger problems.
Enjoy your weekend.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Major Album Alerts!
Most Anticipated ( not to mention the BEST )
His 3rd studio release is AWESOME!
Following the high standards of Mr. A-Z, We Sing... still manages to beat it hands down.
12 tracks, all amazing, spanning reggae, soul, pop, rock and maybe even some Jamiroquai-esque dance riffs.
From the dreamy opening number, Make It Mine, it eases smoothly into a folksy reggae lullaby ( I'm Yours - guaranteed heavy radioplay if the DJs have any brain cells ), before hitting the jackpot with a beautiful duet with Colbie Caillat ( Lucky ).
The adrenaline rush continues with one of my personal faves, the super-hot Butterfly ( no, not a cover of Mariah Carey's original ). This is reminiscent of O. Lover from Mr. A-Z in terms of cheeky yet sexually explicit lyrics which are far from obscene yet conjure pretty interesting images in a listener's head. A good example: Climb into my mouth, child.
You figure that one out. :)
That said, it's got an infectious beat, makes unexpected turns as it alternates between different styles, and is just plain excellent! ( ran out of adjectives haha )
Following the breezy Live High, we come to my absolute fave on the album, the poignant and haunting Love For A Child. It describes the effects of divorce on hapless offspring, but soars on one of the greatest melodies I've ever heard, nicely topped off by Jason's powerful and heartfelt vocal delivery.
How I LOVE this song.Details In The Fabric, a cool duet with UK upstart James Morrison, has me feeling tempted to buy a Morrison CD the next time I'm at the store. Coyotes and The Dynamo Of Volition isn't for everyone ( some rapping and slightly tuneless runs, but I can tahan anything this guy throws at me ), though the latter has a chorus that strongly resembles what Jamiroquai usually churns out.
Only Human is a nice bluesy-rock piece, while If It Kills Me brings Jason back to his funky pop roots.
The crowning glory is A Beautiful Mess - another exquisite love song complemented by an equally fabulous vocal performance. Almost as perfect as Absolutely Zero ( from Waiting For My Rocket To Come ), but hasn't quite surpassed it just yet. :)
The album cover art is cute, though I much prefer him in person. He's sporting a tan these days, which is miles away from his usual pasty-skinned self.
You can sample full-length versions of Make It Mine, Butterfly and I'm Yours on his MySpace page. Try sending him a message if you're a fan.
Buy this album today! Now!
Pretty Average, But He Still Sounds Good
I'm a big fan of Clay's voice, but the material on this CD leaves something to be desired. I mean, you can have powerful pipes, but they don't really matter if the songs don't showcase the vocals to full effect.
Still, it makes for easy listening in the car or on an iPod when you need some background music to ease your nerves or keep you awake. Can't really identify any standout tracks, but Grace Of God is the most palatable so far, though it probably won't garner much airplay considering its subject matter.
Buy it if you're a diehard fan, but stick to online samplings if you're undecided.
I Want This One - ASAP!
Will buy this the next time I get to That CD Shop, but you can see a wonderful video clip on his MySpace page.
He's absolutely terrific in a 'live' setting. Can't understand why he keeps bypassing Singapore during his numerous world tours. He could've dropped by en route to Australia, but chose not to. What's up with our local concert organizers and recording company?
If this continues, I may have to fly to Australia to catch him in action one of these days.
TV Updates
The Practice Reruns - Season 1 just started last week, and it brings back great memories from creator David E. Kelley's glory days ( remember Chicago Hope and Ally McBeal? ). Started off a bit shakily, but picked up speed quickly thanks to a battle with a tobacco giant and a high-profile murder case reeling into total chaos. The script is top-notch, the acting impeccable, and the cases riveting. I believe the show peaked in its 2nd and 3rd seasons, when it won Emmys for Best Drama and Best Actor, before slowly deteriorating in the ratings game.
Catch it while you can. ( Foxcrime Channel 86, 11pm from Mondays - Fridays )
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? - Kind of a slow burner, this one. After watching it on and off for a few weeks, it's grown on me and now provides endless entertainment twice a week. Yet another ingenious offering from reality show guru Mark Burnett ( Survivor, The Apprentice ), it features 5 cherubic 11-year-olds, numerous enthusiastic contestants, and a terrific host. I admit to not knowing the answers to some of the questions posed, heh heh!
( airs every Monday and Thursday at 10pm on StarWorld Channel 18 )
Monk ( A New Season ) - will be returning soon to StarWorld soon ( I think June ). One of the best comedies around, IMHO.
American Idol 7 Finals - airs this Wednesday ( earliest telecast is a delayed satellite recording at 6pm on StarWorld ). I'm working afternoon, argh! But at least I'll be off on Thursday, when the results show will be beamed 'live' from Los Angeles at 8am.
My mom's rooting for young David. :)
More next time...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
I'm Right!
Congratulations to the 2 Davids, who've made it to the finals, woohoo!
I saw this coming some time back, but hey, you can never be sure with this show and its fickle-minded voters.
Really well-deserved, guys. Syesha put up a courageous fight, but lacked sufficient fan support to beat the competition.
The showdown is going to be a tough call. David Cook's talent is massive, but David Archuleta has tonnes of young female groupies behind him. Either way, I'd be happy no matter who wins. First time ever for me, haha. :)
Right then, time to start my shift...
Congratulations to the 2 Davids, who've made it to the finals, woohoo!
I saw this coming some time back, but hey, you can never be sure with this show and its fickle-minded voters.
Really well-deserved, guys. Syesha put up a courageous fight, but lacked sufficient fan support to beat the competition.
The showdown is going to be a tough call. David Cook's talent is massive, but David Archuleta has tonnes of young female groupies behind him. Either way, I'd be happy no matter who wins. First time ever for me, haha. :)
Right then, time to start my shift...
Saturday, May 10, 2008
A Quick Update
It's been almost a month since my last entry, and I can't believe how crazy the past few weeks have been. Never mind the crazy shifts - I didn't have time to blog even when I took 4 days of leave! Just seems every moment of my life is spent running around. Either that, or I'm sitting / lying down somewhere, exhausted.
Anyhow, let's get started. I've got about 30 minutes before I need to get up and leave again.
Bravo, David Archuleta!
He gave such a spectacular performance this week, covering Ben E. King's Stand By Me and Elvis Presley's Love Me Tender. He took a big risk but won rave reviews from the judges, and is now in the Big Top 3, woohoo!
Jason Castro crumbled under the pressure, though I still feel he could've done better if he'd only put his heart and soul into it. He started out well initially ( remember his terrific earlier performances? ), but appeared to lose steam along the way, which began to annoy me after a while, since everyone else was fighting tooth and nail to stay in the competition and he just got by with his goofy smile and mediocre vocals.
I've developed a soft spot for Syesha, the lone female survivor within the boys' club. She's come a long way from being in the bottom 3 every single week. I know she probably won't win, but she's earned my respect for hanging on as long as she did ( like Elliot Yamin did 2 seasons ago during Elvis Presley week - you bet I still remember that! :)).
David Cook wasn't too bad, but he was obviously distracted, though he didn't say why exactly.
Here's a nice photo of David A during Love Me Tender, a rendition so beautiful it took my mom's breath away ( and I quote: "OMG, look at his EYES!" ).
Tom Cruise's Unauthorized Biography - completed
I'd write more about this if I could ( maybe next time ), but in a nutshell, I'm genuinely creeped out by what I read, and have decided not to watch any of Cruise's films in the cinema ever again. DVD rental - maybe. If it's on cable and free of charge - no problem. But I'm not going to fork out money or use my movie vouchers for the theatre.
If you're itching to know what the heck Andrew Morton wrote, get a friend to send you the book from the U.S.
Or you can wait another month for my next blog entry, haha.
Numb3rs
The Epps brothers are back! Season 4 just began 2 weeks ago, and now airs every Thursday at 10pm on AXN Channel 19.
Plotlines are getting a bit sloppy, and the witty rapport between the main characters is rather lacking. Reviews in the U.S. complained that the show now opts for flashy action instead of substance, and I certainly agree.
Still, I love David Krumholtz - sporting longer hair and some stubble this time round, but still spewing mathematical jargon and making it sound sexy - so I'm hooked. Someone please get rid of Amita, who serves no purpose as his hapless girlfriend.
The New Batch
A fresh group of MOs has just joined us, resulting in the usual mayhem. Whose great idea was it to have the MOPEX changeover on a bloody Monday?! It's bad enough having to contend with the crowds, but the situation becomes intolerable when you add blur MOs, a horrible lodger problem AND endless ambulance diversions from you-know-where to the mix.
For instance, on 5th May, there were 35 patients in the consultation area, and around 10-12 in Critical Care, AT 12 MIDNIGHT. I did the afternoon shift, and voluntarily stayed back till almost 2am to help clear the crowd. By Tuesday morning, there were almost 50 lodgers stuck in the A&E.
Most of us have developed a knack for sizing up new MOs quite quickly, and we've already flagged out a few, which is no fun.
For example, one of them actually expects all blood samples to be drawn by the A&E nurses. So she prints the blood forms, sticks them in the folders, then dumps them in the trays on the counter. Haven't had a chance to ask where she did her housemanship yet, but will hunt her down soon enough.
Another has been highlighted as pretty hopeless. Remember a certain MO I grouched about last posting ( for which I got whacked left, right, centre by various readers )? THAT MO has been flung to -- the irony of it all -- a medical ward ( his 5th choice, having requested medical admin as #1, which of course wasn't granted ), so here we have his replacement. I'm not the one issuing the label this time -- my frustrated registrar brought it up after vetting a few of his cases. Email address indicates an education overseas. Sigh...
3 days into the changeover, I had to send out a naggy email to the MOs, talking about nitty-gritty things like remembering to review xrays / blood results, update relatives, hand over all their cases ( including pesky lodgers who have a habit of dying on us ), clearing sharps, etc.
I didn't have to do this before. Aren't our younger counterparts supposed to be better than their predecessors? Why do I see a consistent decline in the quality of our juniors? Hello, NUS YLLSOM, can you answer my question please?
Right then, time to log off and do more work. More another day.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Random Musings
John Lloyd Young's Blog
Read the early archived posts today, which were quite fascinating. JLY started blogging about 15 months before Jersey Boys premiered on Broadway, and it's interesting to see the contrast between his pre- and post-JB lives.
However, certain things have remained the same: his unwavering love for all things Broadway ( be it musical theatre or plays ), a wide ( and ever-expanding ) circle of friends, a passion for performing, and an unlimited appreciation for his fans.
There's a nice entry from January 3rd 2005, about the passing of Law & Order veteran Jerry Orbach ( better known to the younger generation as the talking candelabra Lumiere from Beauty And The Beast ). JLY's recounting of Orbach's grace and kindness is most inspiring.
Also, a funny post from November 20th 2004, about "survival jobs" like ushering and typing. The struggles of a young actor in the cut-throat American entertainment industry is familiar to many, but I find it quite surreal since I've seen JLY in person, and can't imagine how such amazing talent could've been missed for so many years.
Tom Cruise: Legend or Liar?
Am currently glued to Andrew Morton's unauthorized biography of the star, which is keeping me up at night... when I should be sleeping (!).
But what can you expect when the subject matter is super-juicy, the research impeccable, and the writing excellent?
I've never read any of Morton's previous work ( though my mom has good things to say about his Princess Diana exposé ), but have become quite a fan despite finishing only 2 chapters so far.
I've only covered his childhood and teenage years, but you can already see a pattern emerging -- that of a cocky little boy pampered by his mother and 3 sisters yet ill-treated by his father, who later developed an aggressive streak at school, and shamelessly fooled around with countless girls.
However, Morton highlights certain negative traits even at this early stage, i.e. an almost pathological affinity for lying. Quotes from interviews are debunked repeatedly by school acquaintances, friends and even relatives, with one ex-girlfriend pointedly remarking, "Don't let that smile and those teeth fool you. He can have a really nasty streak."
I have no idea why the book isn't on sale here, or why Amazon doesn't ship to Singapore ( assuming previous reports remain unchanged ). Again, my sincere thanks to L, who gamely carried the heavy tome back for me in her luggage. :)
More updates next time.
John Lloyd Young's Blog
Read the early archived posts today, which were quite fascinating. JLY started blogging about 15 months before Jersey Boys premiered on Broadway, and it's interesting to see the contrast between his pre- and post-JB lives.
However, certain things have remained the same: his unwavering love for all things Broadway ( be it musical theatre or plays ), a wide ( and ever-expanding ) circle of friends, a passion for performing, and an unlimited appreciation for his fans.
There's a nice entry from January 3rd 2005, about the passing of Law & Order veteran Jerry Orbach ( better known to the younger generation as the talking candelabra Lumiere from Beauty And The Beast ). JLY's recounting of Orbach's grace and kindness is most inspiring.
Also, a funny post from November 20th 2004, about "survival jobs" like ushering and typing. The struggles of a young actor in the cut-throat American entertainment industry is familiar to many, but I find it quite surreal since I've seen JLY in person, and can't imagine how such amazing talent could've been missed for so many years.
Tom Cruise: Legend or Liar?
Am currently glued to Andrew Morton's unauthorized biography of the star, which is keeping me up at night... when I should be sleeping (!).
But what can you expect when the subject matter is super-juicy, the research impeccable, and the writing excellent?
I've never read any of Morton's previous work ( though my mom has good things to say about his Princess Diana exposé ), but have become quite a fan despite finishing only 2 chapters so far.
I've only covered his childhood and teenage years, but you can already see a pattern emerging -- that of a cocky little boy pampered by his mother and 3 sisters yet ill-treated by his father, who later developed an aggressive streak at school, and shamelessly fooled around with countless girls.
However, Morton highlights certain negative traits even at this early stage, i.e. an almost pathological affinity for lying. Quotes from interviews are debunked repeatedly by school acquaintances, friends and even relatives, with one ex-girlfriend pointedly remarking, "Don't let that smile and those teeth fool you. He can have a really nasty streak."
I have no idea why the book isn't on sale here, or why Amazon doesn't ship to Singapore ( assuming previous reports remain unchanged ). Again, my sincere thanks to L, who gamely carried the heavy tome back for me in her luggage. :)
More updates next time.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Broadway Junkie
That's what I've turned into, thanks to the musical recordings kindly purchased by L on my behalf, which I've been blasting non-stop everywhere I go these past couple of weeks.
Hairspray
Believe it or not, I watched the original film version eons ago as a child ( it didn't have any singing ) and found it hilarious. Funny how it's been successfully translated into a musical format on the stage and, more recently, on film yet again, featuring Hollywood stars John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Queen Latifah and Zac Efron.
[ My long-haul flight from New York to Singapore flew by very quickly, thanks to repeat viewings of the movie on Krisworld. :) ]
You can check out the track listing here. This is the Broadway cast recording, not the one from the film ( the former is tonnes better ).
All I can say is, it's the perfect antidote for any bad day. Combining a high-spirited mix of '60s rock 'n roll / Motown / gospel genres, infectiously upbeat melodies, ingenious lyrics and fabulous vocals, the album came at a huge steal, thanks to the US$10 special offer at Times Square's Virgin Megastore. The sound quality is top-notch as well.
Standouts include Welcome To The 60's, Run And Tell That!, and of course the big finale You Can't Stop The Beat.
My personal favourites, however, are Without Love and I Know Where I've Been.
The former is a joyful proclamation of young ( i.e. idealistic ) love, beautifully written and sung by the leads. The lyrics deserve special mention. A sampling:
"Without love
Life is like the seasons with no summer
Without love
Life is rock 'n' roll without a drummer
Like a week that's only Mondays
Only ice-cream never sundaes
Like a circle with no center
Like a door marked "Do Not Enter!"
Darlin' I'll be yours forever 'cause I never wanna be
Without love"
The latter, on the other hand, is a poignant piece about racial discrimination.
"There's a dream in the future
There's a struggle we have yet to win
And there's pride in my heart
'Cause I know where I'm going
And I know where I've been
There's a road we must travel
There's a promise we must make
'Cause the riches will be plenty
Worth the risk and chances that we take
There's a dream in the future
There's a struggle we have yet to win
Use that pride in our hearts
To lift us up to tomorrow
'Cause just to sit still would be a sin"
REALLY REALLY EXCELLENT!
Spring Awakening
I passed the theatre for this show multiple times but didn't buy tickets. Now I'm regretting it, argh!
It won a fistful of Tony Awards, including Best Musical for 2007, and I can totally understand why.
But I must admit, I probably listened to the CD at least 5 times before I started to love it.
Track listing here.
I am not kidding when I say I ADORE this album. Never mind the depressing plot / subplots / lyrics. Again, it is a work of genius in every sense of the word.
In stark contrast to the deliriously happy Hairspray, Spring is angry, bitter, even occasionally vulgar.
But it's also so ^&*%$#@ good! :)
A potent melting pot of everything from rock to pop, from head-banging numbers to haunting love ballads -- it's currently taken up residence in my car stereo, with no plans to leave anytime soon, haha.
And every track is terrific. Every single one.
Personal faves? Of course I have a few. :)
Hard rocking ones: The B*tch of Living, Totally F*cked, Don't Do Sadness, And Then There Were None.
Slow ones: Touch Me ( the best! ), The Word Of Your Body ( gorgeous! ), Whispering, The Guilty Ones, Left Behind, and Those You've Known.
Pop pieces: The Mirror-Blue Night, I Believe, and The Song Of Purple Summer.
That just about covers the whole album. Like I said, the entire recording is chock full of gems.
I especially like the way some of the songs are interpreted -- there're wonderful violin solos, Brit-rock inflections ( Blur kept popping into my head ), and the leads are truly fantastic.
A YouTube clip of the cast's Tony Awards performance can be viewed here.
I'm now going through the last CD, i.e. Wicked ( about the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz ). It's a far cry from the other two, done in a more "traditional" manner, with soaring choirs and operatic vocals. But it definitely rocks! Will write a review next time.
Movie Rundown
Picked up a few VCD rentals this week, including Enchanted, Beowulf and Atonement.
Thankfully, I made good choices this round ( took home a few duds in the past ), and just finished Beowulf, which I greatly enjoyed. I know there were critics / fans who complained about the accuracy of the interpretation of whatever medieval legend it's based on ( I don't really care ). Speaking from the perspective of a total ignoramus, it was a really fine piece of work, with solid storytelling and superb visual effects. Highly recommended.
I also like Enchanted a lot, and for many reasons. The leads have wonderful chemistry, with Amy Adams cracking me up with her ditzy antics, James Marsden showing off his comedic and vocal skills, and Patrick Dempsey using his doe-eyed Look Of Lurve to great effect. The plot's rather silly, but the music saves it from sinking into cheese hell, thanks to the legendary Alan Menken, who penned classics for The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast and Aladdin.
Am gonna watch Atonement after this. Lots of people tell me how fabulous it is, so I've got high expectations here. If it's anything like The English Patient ( one of my all-time Top 5 favourites ), I may just buy the DVD for my collection.
Other Updates
Clay Aiken's releasing a new album! Titled On My Way Here, it will be out in early May, and there's a video for the title track on Amazon. His voice is still as spectacular as ever. Sounding good, Clay! :)
David Archuleta's now in the Top 6, yes! He's been picking excellent songs this past fortnight, first with Robbie Williams' big hit Angels, then with the inspiring When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt. I appreciate the fact that he relates to pieces with positive messages, instead of singing about love, love and more love. Keep it up!
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 7 is now being shown EVERY NIGHT on cable's Starworld Channel 18, with repeats the next morning at 11am. The L&O series ( the original, plus SVU and Criminal Intent ) is IMHO the cream of the crop where crime dramas are concerned, and Season 7 has already upped its game by featuring stories that are much more controversial and emotionally distressing than its predecessors.
This has been ongoing for at least 3 weeks now. Tune in so you won't miss any more episodes!
Just got HOD's approval for my HMDP attachment next year, and I'm ecstatic to be returning to Manhattan, woohoo! Now to get all the paperwork out of the way... :)
That's what I've turned into, thanks to the musical recordings kindly purchased by L on my behalf, which I've been blasting non-stop everywhere I go these past couple of weeks.
Hairspray
Believe it or not, I watched the original film version eons ago as a child ( it didn't have any singing ) and found it hilarious. Funny how it's been successfully translated into a musical format on the stage and, more recently, on film yet again, featuring Hollywood stars John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Queen Latifah and Zac Efron.
[ My long-haul flight from New York to Singapore flew by very quickly, thanks to repeat viewings of the movie on Krisworld. :) ]
You can check out the track listing here. This is the Broadway cast recording, not the one from the film ( the former is tonnes better ).
All I can say is, it's the perfect antidote for any bad day. Combining a high-spirited mix of '60s rock 'n roll / Motown / gospel genres, infectiously upbeat melodies, ingenious lyrics and fabulous vocals, the album came at a huge steal, thanks to the US$10 special offer at Times Square's Virgin Megastore. The sound quality is top-notch as well.
Standouts include Welcome To The 60's, Run And Tell That!, and of course the big finale You Can't Stop The Beat.
My personal favourites, however, are Without Love and I Know Where I've Been.
The former is a joyful proclamation of young ( i.e. idealistic ) love, beautifully written and sung by the leads. The lyrics deserve special mention. A sampling:
"Without love
Life is like the seasons with no summer
Without love
Life is rock 'n' roll without a drummer
Like a week that's only Mondays
Only ice-cream never sundaes
Like a circle with no center
Like a door marked "Do Not Enter!"
Darlin' I'll be yours forever 'cause I never wanna be
Without love"
The latter, on the other hand, is a poignant piece about racial discrimination.
"There's a dream in the future
There's a struggle we have yet to win
And there's pride in my heart
'Cause I know where I'm going
And I know where I've been
There's a road we must travel
There's a promise we must make
'Cause the riches will be plenty
Worth the risk and chances that we take
There's a dream in the future
There's a struggle we have yet to win
Use that pride in our hearts
To lift us up to tomorrow
'Cause just to sit still would be a sin"
REALLY REALLY EXCELLENT!
Spring Awakening
I passed the theatre for this show multiple times but didn't buy tickets. Now I'm regretting it, argh!
It won a fistful of Tony Awards, including Best Musical for 2007, and I can totally understand why.
But I must admit, I probably listened to the CD at least 5 times before I started to love it.
Track listing here.
I am not kidding when I say I ADORE this album. Never mind the depressing plot / subplots / lyrics. Again, it is a work of genius in every sense of the word.
In stark contrast to the deliriously happy Hairspray, Spring is angry, bitter, even occasionally vulgar.
But it's also so ^&*%$#@ good! :)
A potent melting pot of everything from rock to pop, from head-banging numbers to haunting love ballads -- it's currently taken up residence in my car stereo, with no plans to leave anytime soon, haha.
And every track is terrific. Every single one.
Personal faves? Of course I have a few. :)
Hard rocking ones: The B*tch of Living, Totally F*cked, Don't Do Sadness, And Then There Were None.
Slow ones: Touch Me ( the best! ), The Word Of Your Body ( gorgeous! ), Whispering, The Guilty Ones, Left Behind, and Those You've Known.
Pop pieces: The Mirror-Blue Night, I Believe, and The Song Of Purple Summer.
That just about covers the whole album. Like I said, the entire recording is chock full of gems.
I especially like the way some of the songs are interpreted -- there're wonderful violin solos, Brit-rock inflections ( Blur kept popping into my head ), and the leads are truly fantastic.
A YouTube clip of the cast's Tony Awards performance can be viewed here.
I'm now going through the last CD, i.e. Wicked ( about the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz ). It's a far cry from the other two, done in a more "traditional" manner, with soaring choirs and operatic vocals. But it definitely rocks! Will write a review next time.
Movie Rundown
Picked up a few VCD rentals this week, including Enchanted, Beowulf and Atonement.
Thankfully, I made good choices this round ( took home a few duds in the past ), and just finished Beowulf, which I greatly enjoyed. I know there were critics / fans who complained about the accuracy of the interpretation of whatever medieval legend it's based on ( I don't really care ). Speaking from the perspective of a total ignoramus, it was a really fine piece of work, with solid storytelling and superb visual effects. Highly recommended.
I also like Enchanted a lot, and for many reasons. The leads have wonderful chemistry, with Amy Adams cracking me up with her ditzy antics, James Marsden showing off his comedic and vocal skills, and Patrick Dempsey using his doe-eyed Look Of Lurve to great effect. The plot's rather silly, but the music saves it from sinking into cheese hell, thanks to the legendary Alan Menken, who penned classics for The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast and Aladdin.
Am gonna watch Atonement after this. Lots of people tell me how fabulous it is, so I've got high expectations here. If it's anything like The English Patient ( one of my all-time Top 5 favourites ), I may just buy the DVD for my collection.
Other Updates
Clay Aiken's releasing a new album! Titled On My Way Here, it will be out in early May, and there's a video for the title track on Amazon. His voice is still as spectacular as ever. Sounding good, Clay! :)
David Archuleta's now in the Top 6, yes! He's been picking excellent songs this past fortnight, first with Robbie Williams' big hit Angels, then with the inspiring When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt. I appreciate the fact that he relates to pieces with positive messages, instead of singing about love, love and more love. Keep it up!
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 7 is now being shown EVERY NIGHT on cable's Starworld Channel 18, with repeats the next morning at 11am. The L&O series ( the original, plus SVU and Criminal Intent ) is IMHO the cream of the crop where crime dramas are concerned, and Season 7 has already upped its game by featuring stories that are much more controversial and emotionally distressing than its predecessors.
This has been ongoing for at least 3 weeks now. Tune in so you won't miss any more episodes!
Just got HOD's approval for my HMDP attachment next year, and I'm ecstatic to be returning to Manhattan, woohoo! Now to get all the paperwork out of the way... :)
Monday, April 07, 2008
A Reprieve
Have been writing dark-ish entries lately, and it suddenly occurred to me that I haven't posted pictures in a while. If you're not interested, you can either scroll down or go somewhere else. Exercise your free will, people! ( I still sound pissed don't I, haha... )
Here's a very nice shot of David Archuleta from his memorable performance last week ( Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Memories ). Definitely his best so far!
Rumours are circulating that his father is quite a control freak who puts a lot of pressure on the boy ( considering the big winnings at stake ), and allegedly yelled at David during a rehearsal, reducing him to tears.
Of course, I'm in no position to speculate, but it would be naive to dismiss such reports completely. As the saying goes, there ain't smoke without fire.
More from the U.S.A.
Don't know why I let this fizzle, but here're a few of my favourite pics from California.
Here's a sight that made me pretty ecstatic for the following reasons:
1) I stumbled upon it totally by chance ( passed it en route from my hotel to Rodeo Drive )
2) It is none other than the world famous Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, which caters to Hollywood celebrities of all shapes and sizes.
More recently, it admitted Owen Wilson to the psych ward after he attempted suicide, almost killed Dennis Quaid's newborn twins with a whopping dose of IV heparin ( a really bad medical error for which the hospital is getting sued ), and welcomed Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry's baby girl a week or two ago.
Here's the super-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, where believe it or not, Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre sit right next to each other ( I didn't know this until I visited the place ).
The whole area was positively swarming with people, and I had a great time strolling around the open area outside the Chinese Theatre, 'cos that's where major celebrities' cemented handprints are displayed. These are sometimes switched around ( with newer ones put in and older ones taken out ), but I managed to see those from the cast of Harry Potter and Ocean's 13, among many others.
You can walk all over these things, which was kinda fun. At least they're not put in glass cases for you to gawk at from a distance.
A shot of the Walk Of Fame from a sidewalk angle.
Boy was it hot that day! We were drenched and dehydrated.
There're a lot of shops nearby, selling everything from fast food to souvenirs to CDs / DVDs and such. I believe Jimmy Kimmel's TV studio sits right smack in the middle of all the action, though I didn't have the chance to try for tickets to a recording ( one of the disadvantages of travelling with parents who don't know who Jimmy Kimmel is ).
Last but not least, the beautiful Kodak Theatre, home to the annual Oscars ceremony.
I was really awed by this structure, which is truly magnificent when you stand before the entrance staring up at those shimmering gold letters as they bask in the blinding sunlight.
Our guide took us to the lobby area, where we gazed at the long flight of carpeted steps leading to the theatre's interior proper. The pillars on both sides are pretty special - they feature the titles of all the Best Picture winners from the year the Academy Awards first began.
Our tour group had a lot of fun with the so-called treasure hunt, as we walked around searching for our year of birth in order to find its corresponding Best Picture. It was pretty cool. :)
Another thing I recall is a publicity blitz for the TV series Dexter, which was premiering its 2nd season. There were loads of young people dressed in white overalls splattered with fake blood, handing out free DVDs of episodes from the 1st season - and I didn't take any of them! Argh! I shouldn't have walked so fast dammit.
Anyway, I'll try to post more another time. Just taking a break from life for a moment. Have already booked my next holiday ( for September, woohoo! ).
Have been writing dark-ish entries lately, and it suddenly occurred to me that I haven't posted pictures in a while. If you're not interested, you can either scroll down or go somewhere else. Exercise your free will, people! ( I still sound pissed don't I, haha... )
Here's a very nice shot of David Archuleta from his memorable performance last week ( Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Memories ). Definitely his best so far!
Rumours are circulating that his father is quite a control freak who puts a lot of pressure on the boy ( considering the big winnings at stake ), and allegedly yelled at David during a rehearsal, reducing him to tears.
Of course, I'm in no position to speculate, but it would be naive to dismiss such reports completely. As the saying goes, there ain't smoke without fire.
More from the U.S.A.
Don't know why I let this fizzle, but here're a few of my favourite pics from California.
Here's a sight that made me pretty ecstatic for the following reasons:
1) I stumbled upon it totally by chance ( passed it en route from my hotel to Rodeo Drive )
2) It is none other than the world famous Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, which caters to Hollywood celebrities of all shapes and sizes.
More recently, it admitted Owen Wilson to the psych ward after he attempted suicide, almost killed Dennis Quaid's newborn twins with a whopping dose of IV heparin ( a really bad medical error for which the hospital is getting sued ), and welcomed Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry's baby girl a week or two ago.
It's actually quite an ugly building, and I regret not walking into the lobby and seeing how far I could go without being stopped ( heh heh ). Looked pretty quiet the afternoon I strolled past, but still, it's something I was happy to have caught a glimpse of.
Here's the super-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, where believe it or not, Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre sit right next to each other ( I didn't know this until I visited the place ).
The whole area was positively swarming with people, and I had a great time strolling around the open area outside the Chinese Theatre, 'cos that's where major celebrities' cemented handprints are displayed. These are sometimes switched around ( with newer ones put in and older ones taken out ), but I managed to see those from the cast of Harry Potter and Ocean's 13, among many others.
You can walk all over these things, which was kinda fun. At least they're not put in glass cases for you to gawk at from a distance.
A shot of the Walk Of Fame from a sidewalk angle.
Boy was it hot that day! We were drenched and dehydrated.
There're a lot of shops nearby, selling everything from fast food to souvenirs to CDs / DVDs and such. I believe Jimmy Kimmel's TV studio sits right smack in the middle of all the action, though I didn't have the chance to try for tickets to a recording ( one of the disadvantages of travelling with parents who don't know who Jimmy Kimmel is ).
Last but not least, the beautiful Kodak Theatre, home to the annual Oscars ceremony.
I was really awed by this structure, which is truly magnificent when you stand before the entrance staring up at those shimmering gold letters as they bask in the blinding sunlight.
Our guide took us to the lobby area, where we gazed at the long flight of carpeted steps leading to the theatre's interior proper. The pillars on both sides are pretty special - they feature the titles of all the Best Picture winners from the year the Academy Awards first began.
Our tour group had a lot of fun with the so-called treasure hunt, as we walked around searching for our year of birth in order to find its corresponding Best Picture. It was pretty cool. :)
Another thing I recall is a publicity blitz for the TV series Dexter, which was premiering its 2nd season. There were loads of young people dressed in white overalls splattered with fake blood, handing out free DVDs of episodes from the 1st season - and I didn't take any of them! Argh! I shouldn't have walked so fast dammit.
Anyway, I'll try to post more another time. Just taking a break from life for a moment. Have already booked my next holiday ( for September, woohoo! ).
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Bravo, David Archuleta!
A BEAUTIFUL performance this week, of Dolly Parton's moving Smoky Mountain Memories.
It brought tears to my eyes with its poignant lyrics, soaring melody, and of course, David's amazing voice.
He really should record a Christian song album one day ( depending on his American Idol contractual terms, should he sign on with them ).
*spoiler alert*
Ramiele Malubay is out, with Brooke White and Kristy Lee Cook rounding out the bottom 3.
I'm predicting David A and David Cook for the finals.
Carly Smithson and Michael Johns may fight for #3.
Jason Castro will be kicked off soon if he remains complacent.
Let's see if I'm right.
Interesting Read
Thanks to a friend for bringing it to my attention.
No-one knows what we're doing at the A&E level, and it's easy to blame us for problems that appear to be direct results of our alleged "mismanagement".
This couldn't be further from the truth. The lodgers aren't technically the A&E's problem, but the hospital's. As such, the hospital should take steps to find solutions and clear inpatient beds.
Furthermore, A&E departments all over the country have implemented new work processes to minimize admissions ( e.g. observation units, vetting of admissions by seniors ), but we still can't stem the tide where lodgers are concerned, 'cos there's a persistent shortage upstairs.
I obviously can't comment about the internal workings within my institution. But I feel it's important to let the public know that the A&E isn't sitting on this, and that some of the work has to be borne by others as well.
Can a hospital pride itself on being "JCI-accredited" if it flouts guidelines on patient privacy, safety and medical management? When will a brave soul ( or even better, a few brave souls ) say "to hell with popularity and making pots of money" and do what needs to be done?
There's been a major surge in patient attendances this week. I did 2 calls in the past 5 days, and had to work non-stop during both of them ( usually, seniors can rest for a few hours once things settle down ). I've noticed a significant number of people coming in the middle of the night, for complaints that are (1) minor - meaning they can wait till office hours, (2) protracted - i.e. been around for days / weeks even, but the patient decided to come to the A&E at that unearthly hour for a check-up, or (3) MC-related - they're already awake ( doing who knows what ) and came early to beat the peak-hour crowds and get medical leave quickly so they can go home and sleep.
May I remind you all that manpower during night shifts is skeletal. At my department, there're only 5 doctors on call between 12mn and 8am, at least 3 of whom are medical officers. We're expected to handle all the resuscitations, as well as the critical care and consultation cases. When we're preoccupied with resus patients, the other queues understandably pile up. That's when patients and relatives start complaining, since they have no insight into the inner workings of a busy, shortstaffed A&E.
Put more doctors on night shift, you say? Give us more medical officers then. We don't have enough to go around as it is, and a nunber of them aren't even deemed efficient or safe enough for night shifts. The senior doctor pool is also being roped in to do more nights to make up for the MO shortfall -- a wise move since seniors make faster decisions and can attend to ill cases with minimal backup.
Sadly, morale in the department seems to be at an all-time low, with frequent MCs among the MOs and constant exhaustion all around. These just add to the whole problem in a vicious cycle pattern. I'm getting really sick of it.
Anyway, that's just me grumbling. We all know things will probably stay like this unless someone powerful steps in, takes our concerns seriously, and implements some major changes.
A BEAUTIFUL performance this week, of Dolly Parton's moving Smoky Mountain Memories.
It brought tears to my eyes with its poignant lyrics, soaring melody, and of course, David's amazing voice.
He really should record a Christian song album one day ( depending on his American Idol contractual terms, should he sign on with them ).
*spoiler alert*
Ramiele Malubay is out, with Brooke White and Kristy Lee Cook rounding out the bottom 3.
I'm predicting David A and David Cook for the finals.
Carly Smithson and Michael Johns may fight for #3.
Jason Castro will be kicked off soon if he remains complacent.
Let's see if I'm right.
Interesting Read
Thanks to a friend for bringing it to my attention.
No-one knows what we're doing at the A&E level, and it's easy to blame us for problems that appear to be direct results of our alleged "mismanagement".
This couldn't be further from the truth. The lodgers aren't technically the A&E's problem, but the hospital's. As such, the hospital should take steps to find solutions and clear inpatient beds.
Furthermore, A&E departments all over the country have implemented new work processes to minimize admissions ( e.g. observation units, vetting of admissions by seniors ), but we still can't stem the tide where lodgers are concerned, 'cos there's a persistent shortage upstairs.
I obviously can't comment about the internal workings within my institution. But I feel it's important to let the public know that the A&E isn't sitting on this, and that some of the work has to be borne by others as well.
Can a hospital pride itself on being "JCI-accredited" if it flouts guidelines on patient privacy, safety and medical management? When will a brave soul ( or even better, a few brave souls ) say "to hell with popularity and making pots of money" and do what needs to be done?
There's been a major surge in patient attendances this week. I did 2 calls in the past 5 days, and had to work non-stop during both of them ( usually, seniors can rest for a few hours once things settle down ). I've noticed a significant number of people coming in the middle of the night, for complaints that are (1) minor - meaning they can wait till office hours, (2) protracted - i.e. been around for days / weeks even, but the patient decided to come to the A&E at that unearthly hour for a check-up, or (3) MC-related - they're already awake ( doing who knows what ) and came early to beat the peak-hour crowds and get medical leave quickly so they can go home and sleep.
May I remind you all that manpower during night shifts is skeletal. At my department, there're only 5 doctors on call between 12mn and 8am, at least 3 of whom are medical officers. We're expected to handle all the resuscitations, as well as the critical care and consultation cases. When we're preoccupied with resus patients, the other queues understandably pile up. That's when patients and relatives start complaining, since they have no insight into the inner workings of a busy, shortstaffed A&E.
Put more doctors on night shift, you say? Give us more medical officers then. We don't have enough to go around as it is, and a nunber of them aren't even deemed efficient or safe enough for night shifts. The senior doctor pool is also being roped in to do more nights to make up for the MO shortfall -- a wise move since seniors make faster decisions and can attend to ill cases with minimal backup.
Sadly, morale in the department seems to be at an all-time low, with frequent MCs among the MOs and constant exhaustion all around. These just add to the whole problem in a vicious cycle pattern. I'm getting really sick of it.
Anyway, that's just me grumbling. We all know things will probably stay like this unless someone powerful steps in, takes our concerns seriously, and implements some major changes.