The X-Files: I Want to Believe

The X-Files has been one of my favorite TV Shows in the 199x. Back in my hometown, it was used to show almost in the midnight hour, and I try to stay late to watch the series, although most of the time I fell asleep in the middle :(. However, I don't really follow the series till the end, I found the story become kind of non-sense. I don't really remember the first movie of the X-Files, but I thought it's not bad.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe is the second big screen movie and the first one since the series ended in 2002. Although the overall performance of the main casts, Duchovny and Anderson, are still strong, the overall mystery sense of x-files is still there, but the plot is weak to X-Files standard. I think the movie is more to tell the story about Mulder and Scully, rather than the mystery itself. I actually kind of decided to watch this movie in DVD because X-Files usually involves some complicated mystery, controversy, and supernatural, but since the one, I go out with, mentions that X-Files is his favorite TV Series, so why not go to watch this movie together. Overall, I have a mix feeling walking out from the cinema. It's somewhat a good opening season in TV Series, but not too good as a one whole movie. And, David Duchovny is still as hot as he was, although his first appearance with the beard is a bit off, but don't worry, he'll shave :).

Without any attention to offend any people that works in the sales insurance sales people, but recently, I am kind of irritated by some of the insurance sales from big insurance company here in MRT station. Most of the times, I am usually approached politely to be involved in some "survey", and if the people is nice and I am not in hurry, I will answer them properly, and if the people is nice enough, I even give them one of my phone numbers (bad consequences though). But, recently, I have several incidents, when I was in hurry, and this sales lady just jumped in front of me (it's literally "jump"), and ask if I could answer some "survey", as I was already late to meet client, I answered politely that I am in hurry, but she keeps insisting that it's only several minutes, blabla, and left some remarks that if I don't do it, I am a bad person. And, when I try to go ahead, she jumps again, waaa.. start to get mad already. So, I strengthen my voice, and at last she "released" me. And, after that, I felt bad to behave like that. Well, I believe there are good sales insurance out there, but I believe some need to behave more professionally to offer people such a long term commitment, which in my opinion, place like MRT is not really a good place to start with.

The Dark Knight

Batman series has made a fortunate make over since Batman Begins. The movie just turned into much darker, serious and of course with quality. With such a good re-introduction to Batman series, of course, there will be high expectation to the sequel "The Dark Knight".

The Dark Knight has been heavily marketed as highly anticipated summer blockbuster. Well, it certainly surpasses the previous Batman movies, and live up to the expectation. All the story, action, acting, music is great.

The story just grows darker than previous one. The Gotham city is hammered again with deathly crime by psychotic bank robber, Joker, force Batman, James Gordon and new attorney, Harvey Dent, to take serious action. Christian Bale is still the best Batman so far and Aaron Eckhart has a very good transition from Harvey Dent to Two-Face, although his later character felt too short and rush, and the one that truly shines throughout the movie is Joker, played by the late, Heath Ledger. Not sure if it is caused by his misfortune death, every scene that involves his appearance felt very strong. One of the best villain that is just simply wicked, evil with disturbed mind. According to wikipedia, Ledger really prepare well the character until he was eventually able to generate another voice for Joker. Well, how serious actor in hollywood to prepare one movie. It's very very sad that this will be his last completed movie. Well done, Mr. Heath Ledger. There's also one good-looking Asian man, that turns out to be Chin Han, a Singaporean actor.

Highly recommended. 4.5 of 5.

Keane: Bedshaped

I happen to listen to this song from Class 95 before lunch time. Well, it's Friday, and work usually gets a bit slower, so I decide to plug my walkman and enjoy whatever the music that is played. I like the strong sentimental feeling of the song, but somewhat failed to catch the song title/artist, so by using the lyrics I try to google whose song this is. So it's actually a song by Keane, with title Bedshaped. It's actually an old song that is already posted in Youtube since 2006. First time listen their song in Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock movie "The Lake House", this band has already become my favorite. Under the Iron Sea is simply a great album. One of my favorite song from that album is "A Bad Dream", there's period of time I keep listening to this song again and again.

Horray, it's Friday (well now it's already Saturday morning), plan to join several step class in Orchard tomorrow, James at 11AM and Daniel at 230PM. Harry's class is canceled tomorrow :(.

Bedshaped:


A Bad Dream:


Many's the time I ran with you down
The rainy roads of our old town
Many the lives we lived in each day
And buried all together
Don't laugh at me
Don't look away

You'll follow me back (YOU ARE FOLLOWING ME BACK)
With the sun in your eyes
And on your own
Bedshaped and legs of stone
You'll knock on my door
And up we'll go
In white light
I don't think so
But what do I know?
What do I know?
I know

I know you think I'm holding you down
And I've fallen by the wayside now
And I don't understand the same things as you
But I do

Don't laugh at me
Don't look away

You'll follow me back
With the sun in your eyes
And on your own
Bedshaped, two legs of stone
You'll knock on my door
And up we'll go
In white light
I don't think so
But what do I know?
What do I know?
I know

ahahaa ahahaa ahahaa ahahaa(Choir)

ooooohhhhhhhh
And up we'll go
In white light
I don't think so
But what do I know?
What do I know?
I know

Helboy II: The Golden Army

I am not really impressed of Hellboy I, just find it as regular superhero movie with good special effect. But after watching the superb "Pan's Labyrinth", I look forward to another movie by Guillermo Del Toro. I just realized that I like the movie so much, that if people ask me recommended fantasy movie, I will say LOTR and Pan's Labyrinth. It shows the Pale Man (the one that put his eyes in his hand) as one of the most scary monster without much action. I am not really sure what his role in Orphanage, but it's actually a good movie too. So the next movie to look forward is Hellboy II.

So, I have a great expectation of Hellboy II. The tagline of the movie even put "From the visionary director of Pan's Labyrinth". But, after watching the movie, I have quite the same flat feeling as Hellboy I. The story line is good, the effect is superb, the monsters/villains look good (bit of similarity to Pan's Labyrinth's), but I just cannot find something essential with the movie. It's just another forgetable summer movie. The whole romance thing about Hellboy and Liz just feels flat and not that convincing. It's another OK movie only for me.

During the train trip several days ago, there's a big title at the front of New Paper "Beware .. SexTexting" thing. I read Today at that time, so not really sure what it's all about, but I felt a bit amused, because I somewhat exchange some flirting messages at the same time. Do you feel a bit insecure to type some flirting sms in the crowded train? Haha, there might be some kaypo that try to read the message and what you type over your back. LOL.

Red Cliff

It's been a while since "Curse of Golden Flower" and "Lust, Caution" that I really like Chinese-based movie, this will be my next favorite one. Red Cliff is the most expensive movie made in chinese so far, so, of course people will expect a lot of spectacular scenes. With the complexity and depth of the story, this movie is split into two parts. The first part is mainly to introduce the background story and characters of the story and might set for more great things to come in the second part. As overall, the cinematography is simply great, a lot of breath-taking scenes, and the acting from the actors/actresses is good, although Zhu Ge Liang by Takeshi Kaneshiro felt a bit wierd, but actually quite refreshing character, wise with a bit of naughty tone. Although I don't read the novel or watch previous shows or TV Series, I know a bit of the characters through playing the games ROTK (which was still DOS version one). The only thing is the battle scene is dragged too long, until I felt a bit bored of it, and some unnecessary scene like horse giving birth thing, etc.

Although it's too much to put this to LOTR, but I can't help to compare these two movies. Both are based on well-written complex story, epic battle, and with breath-taking scene. So is this asia's answer to LOTR? Well, it's still too soon to tell. I really look forward to the second part of the movie.

Update: Reading through discussion forum, it seems that many are disappointed of the movie because its not that accurate to the history. However, I think if the movie follows too closed to the history, it might become too boring. So, if you somehow follow the story like Romance of Three Kingdoms, my suggestion is to ignore the inaccuracy of the story and just enjoy the movie. I just remember there's one more favorite chinese movie recently, which is "Lust, Caution"

Unnecessary Guilt?

I have been in several quite stress projects for quite some times, so I am quite get used to the working for long hour with the stress demand from customer, management, etc. Then, suddenly after completing my last project, and boom, there's no future project on hand, rather than supporting existing projects. So, here I am in office without so many things to do, and somehow, I feel guilty of not contributing anything to the company. Although it's true that I need time to improve myself with the latest skill, given the industry I work with need consistent knowledge refresh, which I was used to do after office hour. I am thinking to check with my manager, with the "risk" of assigning unnecessary task. Do I need to?

And, several days ago, after completing short meeting with customer, it's still about 2-3 hours before official hours finish, and I was given choice to go back home, but I just felt guilt again, although at the end, I went home because it's quite far to go back office. During the project, when I need to consistently went back home only after 9-10PM, I told myself when I would have chance to relax a bit, and now I can take the time, but I just can't. Hmm.. As Galen said in his blog, I am completely a RAT.

Atonement

I was just recently able to watch this wonderful movie "Atonement", with James McAvoy and Keira Knightley. As usual, Keira looks pretty, and I just realize that James McAvoy is the same actor in Wanted. He looks so different in this movie. This movie tells the story about 13-year-old Briony that made a false accusation that caused terrible consequences and drastically changed to live of several people. Hunted by her terrible mistake, decades later when the world was already torn by war, Briony tried to redeem herself (well, it seems a bit quite similar to Kite Runner, doesn't it?). The movie itself is very well directed, briliant storyline, and beautiful. I totally agree that this movie should win the Academy Award's Best Picture. I am not sure some of my friends find this movie boring, rubbish, and the ending is nothing good. I think the movie (include movie poster, etc) seems to put weight too much on James and Keira character, so people tends to fail to pay attention to Briony's character, and what she tries to do to redeem for her mistake. Anyway, that's why the movie is called "Atonement", not Beautiful Love Story, or any romantic theme, although the letters, that were sent during the war, very touching.

I actually plan to catch this movie in cinema, but being quite difficult to understand english in british accent and unable to read subtitle in mandarin, I decide to skip this movie until the DVD is out. With a poor listening to English, all I can watch in cinema is action movie, less talk, or mandarin movie (with English subtitle). Haha..

Talking about Atonement, it's actually very good if we're able to redeem mistake that we have done that hurt someone in the past. But, most of the times, it's either we don't realize it or it's too late to ask for forgiveness or at least do something about it or simple stupid pride, which actually cause a lot of pain in our own heart too.

Last night, I tried to join Collin's step up class again in Bugis (after failed for two times), and I somehow managed to finish the class this time. His step class is very energetic and the movement is quite tricky compare to other level 2 class. There are a lot of regulars in his class, so if u feel that u need to learn his movement, it's better to stand in front. I also try James W step class, which is actually very fun, it's just that his upper body movement (especially hand) is difficult to follow.

George Michael: Praying for Time

I heard this song first time performed by George Michael during American Idol Season 7 finale. What a beautiful and touching song with a powerful lyric, which caused Paula Abdul with teary eyes (as always). But, not sure, he appears like very sick during the performance. The very first time I heard this song was sung by Carrie Underwood. It's a good performance as well, but it's different class.

This morning, I got deep sleep again in train. I don't like to really sleep in the train, as I am afraid I might get myself irritate other people sit next to me, and being confused after wake up (Have I got molested?). I have a very long journey from the super east to the extreme west for work every day. Sigh, I still wonder why I want this kind of hassle. If I sleep like this in other countries, I might lose all my laptop and other stuffs already.



These are the days of the open hand
They will not be the last
Look around now
These are the days of the beggars
And the choosers

This is the year of the hungry man
Whose place is in the past
Hand in hand with ignorance
And legitimate excuses

The rich declare themselves poor
And most of us are not sure
If we have too much
But well take our chances
Because God stopped keeping score
I guess somewhere along the way
He must have let us all out to play
Turned his back and all gods children
Crept out the back door

Chorus
And its hard to love,
Theres so much to hate
Hanging on to hope
When there is no hope to speak of
And the wounded skies above
Say its much too late
Well maybe we should all be
Praying for time

These are the days of the empty hand
Oh you hold on to what you can
And charity is a coat you wear
Twice a year

This is the year of the guilty man
Your television takes a stand
And you find that what was over there
Is over here

So you scream from behind your door
Say whats mine is mine and not yours
I may have too much
But Ill take my chances
Because God stopped keeping score
And you cling to the things
They sold you
Did you cover your eyes when
They told you
That he cant come back
Because he has no children
To come back for

Duffy vs Amy Winehouse

I almost hear these two songs played at any gym club: Rehab and Mercy. I thought both songs were sung by same singer, which is Amy Winehouse, because of the low, yet strong voice. Well, it turns out Mercy is sung by Duffy, which I even never heard the name before. Amy Winehouse is now so popular because of drug problem. But, after listening both songs at youtube, I realize their voices are quite different. Do I get confused because of "yeah yeah yeah" vs "no no no"?


After doing step for 1+ months, I grow to get addicted with the class. Everytime I go to gym, I will try to suit with the step schedule. Last night, I try to go to Daniel's class at Raffles although it's quite early, and I need to rush from office early, with the "you-are-not-busy" look from colleagues. There're a lot of regulars, that can modify the movement until unrecognizable movement. As beginner to level 2 class, I get a bit confused of this expert's variation and some memory issue, but I enjoy :).