Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Test post
Ey guys, am just testing my firefox browser. For some reason, whenever I use it to visit our blog, the page that opens only shows up to the entry on Madfadyen. I wonder why.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Final take on the South Park-Chef/Scientology controversy
Well, its not actually my take, but someone else's. Anyway, you are probably tired of my South Park fixation over the last few entries, but the whole thing has been a good food for thought for me. Anyway, the show said goodbye to Chef (who was voiced by Isaac Hayes, who started all this controversy when he left), and while I haven't seen the whole show, this post-mortem was a good read, as well as the take on the Trapped in the Closet episode and the one on Isaac Hayes's departure (there are links in the article, I think). I'm looking for the entire episode still.
TV Review: South Park "The Return of Chef"
TV Review: South Park "The Return of Chef"
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Reason # 5261 why the Internet is a distraction--and why it's my day's only saving grace
This blog made today bearable. Didn't get much done, but what the hell! It's funny! Then again, this blog always is. :)
Come out of the closet, Tom
In the light of the current South Park-Scientology/Tom Cruise controversy, here's the famous come-out-of-the-closet-tom-cruise episode courtesy of YouTube.
Trapped in the Closet
It's a great episode. I'm now a true South Park fan.
Trapped in the Closet
It's a great episode. I'm now a true South Park fan.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Go South Park
Hey, I'm not a big fan of South Park, but with all the Scientology/Tom Cruise controversy, I think I'm going to pay more attention.
South Park declares war on Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise is really creeping me out. Ok, so there's no proof that he really was behind the pull-out of the episode, but with the way that guy has been acting of late, it seems probable that he just might to something like this. And Paramount does have a lot to lose if were to refuse marketing MI:3. I think I'm going to pass on MI:3. Maybe he should've taken that dictator role in V for Vendetta.
Go Trey and Matt!
South Park declares war on Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise is really creeping me out. Ok, so there's no proof that he really was behind the pull-out of the episode, but with the way that guy has been acting of late, it seems probable that he just might to something like this. And Paramount does have a lot to lose if were to refuse marketing MI:3. I think I'm going to pass on MI:3. Maybe he should've taken that dictator role in V for Vendetta.
Go Trey and Matt!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Whoa! Keanu's deep!
"We look for some magic solution to fix ourselves but none of us really know what we're doing. And why is that so bad? That's all we humans can do. Guess, try, hope...Just pray you don't find yourself thinking you've got the answer. Because that's bullshit. The trick is living without an answer...I think."--Dr. Perry Lyman (Keanu Reeves), Thumbsucker
I watched the DVD last night. Released in the US last year, Thumbsucker probably won't be shown here because it's not a blockbuster or event movie. It's one of those quiet funny movies that packs a wallop. I loved Keanu's character, even though he's not the lead. He plays a hippie orthodontist in the movie, complete with weird hair, sitjar music whafting into his clinic, and the requisite psychobabble. The Buddha, Neo, Constantine, Ted...for some reason, Keanu fits these mystical otherworldly characters (OK, maybe Ted as an otherworldly character is stretching it a bit). Up to now, I still can't decide if he's a fantastic actor disguised as a doofus or the other way around. He's hard to figure out. One thing's for sure though--he's cute! ;)
I watched the DVD last night. Released in the US last year, Thumbsucker probably won't be shown here because it's not a blockbuster or event movie. It's one of those quiet funny movies that packs a wallop. I loved Keanu's character, even though he's not the lead. He plays a hippie orthodontist in the movie, complete with weird hair, sitjar music whafting into his clinic, and the requisite psychobabble. The Buddha, Neo, Constantine, Ted...for some reason, Keanu fits these mystical otherworldly characters (OK, maybe Ted as an otherworldly character is stretching it a bit). Up to now, I still can't decide if he's a fantastic actor disguised as a doofus or the other way around. He's hard to figure out. One thing's for sure though--he's cute! ;)
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
A little cyber-appreciation
Brownie high
Talk about a delicious high.
I came across an interesting article in PDI today titled "Hashish oil used in cakes" Here's an excerpt:
IF that piece of brownie you’re eating is giving you an unusual high, one of its ingredients might just be hashish oil, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Operatives of the NBI National Capital Region (NCR) have received information that marijuana farmers in Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province have been mixing the plant extract, also called hashish oil, with baked goods like cakes and cookies.
"These farmers reportedly bake the brownies and cakes at the plantations and sell them in Subic, Olongapo, and other areas in the lowlands," Special Investigator Federico Criste said during a press conference at the NBI yesterday.
Before the farmers learned to extract hashish oil, they used dried marijuana leaves as one of the ingredients in baking the "special cakes and brownies," Criste explained.
NBI forensic chemist Aida Magsipoc said consumers of baked goods with hashish oil could experience "more potent effects because of the products’ more concentrated drug content."
Magsipoc said they tried to extract oil from the marijuana plant several years ago. "We discovered that it took a lot of plants to extract 100 ml of hashish oil," the forensic chemist said.
[She] explained that 5-10 kilos of marijuana were needed to extract 100 ml of the oil.
Geez, what will they think of next.
I came across an interesting article in PDI today titled "Hashish oil used in cakes" Here's an excerpt:
IF that piece of brownie you’re eating is giving you an unusual high, one of its ingredients might just be hashish oil, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Operatives of the NBI National Capital Region (NCR) have received information that marijuana farmers in Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province have been mixing the plant extract, also called hashish oil, with baked goods like cakes and cookies.
"These farmers reportedly bake the brownies and cakes at the plantations and sell them in Subic, Olongapo, and other areas in the lowlands," Special Investigator Federico Criste said during a press conference at the NBI yesterday.
Before the farmers learned to extract hashish oil, they used dried marijuana leaves as one of the ingredients in baking the "special cakes and brownies," Criste explained.
NBI forensic chemist Aida Magsipoc said consumers of baked goods with hashish oil could experience "more potent effects because of the products’ more concentrated drug content."
Magsipoc said they tried to extract oil from the marijuana plant several years ago. "We discovered that it took a lot of plants to extract 100 ml of hashish oil," the forensic chemist said.
[She] explained that 5-10 kilos of marijuana were needed to extract 100 ml of the oil.
Geez, what will they think of next.
Monday, March 13, 2006
More Chinese takeout
I'm taking a break from editing articles that all have to do--in one way our the other--with guilty pleasures, MANUAL's theme for April. Which is, of course, a good segue for the second half of my list of Chinese movies. (Hmmm...didn't even realize that it would provoke comment. As usual, when writing here, I'm just really being self-indulgent. Anyway...) Before I get on with it, I'm not saying that the Chinese movie industry doesn't produce duds. It does--and really, when they do? They're really cringe-worthy affairs. I mean, I'm the type who can't leave a movie unfinished, no matter how stupid, corny, or banal it is. But really bad Chinese movies have more than tested my mettle. But still, I keep coming back for more. What can I say, I love movies, in general. (BTW, when I say "Chinese movies" I mean HK movies.)
Another thing I like about Chinese movies are the titles. They're really cooky. I'm sure it has something to do with imperfect translation, but wouldn't you be intrigued by movies with titles such as these: The Beauty and the Breast; Over the Rainbow, Under the Skirt; Yesterme, Yeteryou, Yesterday--which I think are all rom-coms, by the way? I know I would.
Anyway, some more Chinese movies that rock:
A World Without Thieves (starring Andy Lau and Rene Liu). This is not a HK film. It's produced by mainland Chinese and with the exception of Lau is mostly a mainland production. It's included here because it's a damn good movie. One thing Chinese movies (HK and mainland) have as an advantage: China makes a great backdrop. In this film about two thieves who initiate a clever train robbery on a trip into the heart of Mainland China, the passing scenery are...well, scene-stealers and are as much a part of the story--indeed, it's like another character--as the actors themselves. Based on a novel, the film is about Wang Bo (Lau) and Wang Li (Liu), a pair of grifters whose success is nearly legendary in the underworld. Wang Li's specialty is swindling horny old men (Wang Li is a girl. Yes, I know the names make it hard to tell) while Wang Bo is a very gifted pickpocket. After extorting a BMW from a married man in HK who has the hots for Wang Li, the two head for China. There they meet Dumbo, an itinerant worker on his way home to his village to get married and is carrying 60,000 RMB in life earnings. Dumbo is so dumb (OK, naive) that he loudly challenges any thief to steal his money. His assumption is that people are ultimately good and won't steal from him. The three end up riding the same train and of course undue complication ensue as Dumbo's declaration alerts all the swindlers and grifters that there's money on board. Wang Li takes a liking to Dumbo and is determined to protect him. Wang Bo, on the other hand, wants to fleece him for all he's worth, to teach him a lesson--that there are thieves. To make things more interesting, there's also a legendary thief on the train, Uncle Li and his gang. The money is slim pickings to him, but he can't resist the challenge of beating Wang Bo at his own game. Part romance, part action-adventure, this film effectively suspends your disbelief and makes for an engrossing two-hour spectacle of convoluted cat-and-mouse action, thrilling knife sequences, and interesting characters. A must-see, if only for the scenery.
One Nite in Mongkok (starring Daniel Wu and Cecilia Cheung). A gritty crime drama, ONIM is about a group of cops attempting to stop a gangland hit about to go down in 36 hours in Mongkok, probably one of the most crowded places in HK. It's also about an assassin with issues and a hooker with a heart of gold. Carl and Tim, two rival gang leaders, are at each others' throats after Carl's henchman kills Tim's son. Tim puts out a hit on Carl who goes into hiding. Enter Lai Fu (Daniel Wu), a newbie assassin from the mainland who's hired by Tim's broker to do the job. The police, through the broker, discover the existence of the Lai but not where he is. In a series of plausible plot twists, luck, and coincidence, the assassin eludes the police and runs to ground, meeting up with Dan-Dan, Cecilia Cheung's character, the hooker with the heart of gold. A viajera of sorts, who sells her body in HK in exchange for money she takes home to the mainland, Dan-Dan becomes Fu's guide through the bowels of Mongkok, not knowing that the unwitting tourist is a hired killer, only that he's carrying a gun and a bagful of cash. At its simplest it's a "hitman and hooker on the run" storyline, but it's more than that. The film never degenerates into stock characters, with the actors delivering nuanced performances with believable motivations and backstories. Subplots and plot twists (including the coincidences) don't feel contrived. Also has one of the most vicious beatings I've seen on film--maybe second only to Vincent Cassel beating a guy to pulp in Irreversible.
Love on a Diet (starring Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng). Mini-mo (Sammi Cheng), an expat living in Japan, gains a lot of weight (as in!) pining for her ex-boyfriend Kurokawa who leaves her and become an internationally famous pianist. She then meets Fatso (Andy Lau), an itinerant utensil salesman who takes pity on her and helps her lose weight by putting her on a grueling exercise program. She loses the weight and reunites with her boyfriend, but finds out he's not the one she wants pala. Though the fat jokes (I mean, hello? Check out names of the lead characters!) will make the PC police cringe, this is a very entertaining romantic comedy, not the least because Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng have good chemistry--even if they had to wear fat suits for most of the movie. It's sentimental and sweet and hilarious. Fun!
Sound of Colors (starring Tony Leung and Miriam Yeung) Based on the illustrated novel by Jimmy Liao and produced by Wong Kar-Wai, the best thing about SOC is the seamless blend of animated storybook elements with live action. Tony Leung, fantastic here as always, plays Keung, who has a dating service that's going nowhere fast, and Hoi-Yuek, a blind girl who enlists his services to find her a date. Of course, you know these two will end up together. But how? With the help of guardian angels, of course! (Suspend your disbelief. This movie is so well-made, you'll forgive any leapfrog into fantasy territory). One day, Keung finds himself blind and has to ask Yuek to cope. Needless to say, they fall in love. This is actually two stories in one, so a second completely unrelated story of two young couple who meet and fall in love in Shanghai (great scenery, btw) after one of the angels messes with their correspondence. Fun, too. Should be watched with Love on a Diet.
Happy Together (starring Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung) Before there was Brokeback Mountain, there was this movie. It's written and directed by Wong Kar-Wai, set in Argentina, and starring two of master Wong's actor-muses, what more can you ask? Tony and Leslie are troubled lovers who attempt to salvage theit teetering relationship by moving to Argentina, of all places. Of course, their already troubled relationship fizzles out in a new land, as the two cope with changes, conflicting attitudes, and reactions the new place engenders. As with most, if not all, Wong Kar-Wai movies, this one has a wide streak of sadness running down the center, with Tony and Leslie delivering sterling performances. BTW, after watching this, and Brokeback, I wonder, do gay couples really make out/love like they're going to kill each other first? Is it all the raging testosterone? Just wondering.
I'll stop with these. For those who haven't watched any Chinese movies, this list is a good starting point. Of course, this is by no means complete. I'll probably add more to this when the mood strikes me. I just don't want to overwhelm you guys, hehe. So if you're at your dibidi suki, check out his stash of Chinese movies. You just might find these. (I know for a fact that Infernal Affairs I, II, and III, A World Without Thieves, and Shanghai Grand is available as a bootleg omnibus CD entitled The Andy Lau Collection. I think One Nite in Mongkok is also available). And for those who have neighborhood Tower Records with a good selection of Asian movies (Hey, Mark!), you migh want to check these out. check out also: Divergence; Running Out of Time; Running on Karma; and Turn Left, Turn Right.
A note on Memoirs of a Geisha: By rights, it shouldn't be in this list, but because it stars some of the best Asian actors, I think it's worth a shout out. I watched it and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, from the way critics were harping about the movie. Granted, I don't like Ziyi Ziang so she wouldn't be my first choice for the lead role, and yes, there are problems with getting Chinese actors to play Japanese characters. I'm sure there are Japanese actors who are just as good if not better, but I think it was more of a business decision. These were, after all, some of the most bankable Asian actresses in the world. From a business perspective, it made sense to use them. But overall, I liked the movie. Hats off to Gong Li! For someone who had to learn English to play the role, she was perfect as Hatsumomo, the bitchy geisha. And that little girl who played the young Sayuri--perfect! She more than made up for Ziyi Ziang being in the movie (is it obvious that I don't like her?) :)
So, anyone care for some Chinese? ;p
Another thing I like about Chinese movies are the titles. They're really cooky. I'm sure it has something to do with imperfect translation, but wouldn't you be intrigued by movies with titles such as these: The Beauty and the Breast; Over the Rainbow, Under the Skirt; Yesterme, Yeteryou, Yesterday--which I think are all rom-coms, by the way? I know I would.
Anyway, some more Chinese movies that rock:
A World Without Thieves (starring Andy Lau and Rene Liu). This is not a HK film. It's produced by mainland Chinese and with the exception of Lau is mostly a mainland production. It's included here because it's a damn good movie. One thing Chinese movies (HK and mainland) have as an advantage: China makes a great backdrop. In this film about two thieves who initiate a clever train robbery on a trip into the heart of Mainland China, the passing scenery are...well, scene-stealers and are as much a part of the story--indeed, it's like another character--as the actors themselves. Based on a novel, the film is about Wang Bo (Lau) and Wang Li (Liu), a pair of grifters whose success is nearly legendary in the underworld. Wang Li's specialty is swindling horny old men (Wang Li is a girl. Yes, I know the names make it hard to tell) while Wang Bo is a very gifted pickpocket. After extorting a BMW from a married man in HK who has the hots for Wang Li, the two head for China. There they meet Dumbo, an itinerant worker on his way home to his village to get married and is carrying 60,000 RMB in life earnings. Dumbo is so dumb (OK, naive) that he loudly challenges any thief to steal his money. His assumption is that people are ultimately good and won't steal from him. The three end up riding the same train and of course undue complication ensue as Dumbo's declaration alerts all the swindlers and grifters that there's money on board. Wang Li takes a liking to Dumbo and is determined to protect him. Wang Bo, on the other hand, wants to fleece him for all he's worth, to teach him a lesson--that there are thieves. To make things more interesting, there's also a legendary thief on the train, Uncle Li and his gang. The money is slim pickings to him, but he can't resist the challenge of beating Wang Bo at his own game. Part romance, part action-adventure, this film effectively suspends your disbelief and makes for an engrossing two-hour spectacle of convoluted cat-and-mouse action, thrilling knife sequences, and interesting characters. A must-see, if only for the scenery.
One Nite in Mongkok (starring Daniel Wu and Cecilia Cheung). A gritty crime drama, ONIM is about a group of cops attempting to stop a gangland hit about to go down in 36 hours in Mongkok, probably one of the most crowded places in HK. It's also about an assassin with issues and a hooker with a heart of gold. Carl and Tim, two rival gang leaders, are at each others' throats after Carl's henchman kills Tim's son. Tim puts out a hit on Carl who goes into hiding. Enter Lai Fu (Daniel Wu), a newbie assassin from the mainland who's hired by Tim's broker to do the job. The police, through the broker, discover the existence of the Lai but not where he is. In a series of plausible plot twists, luck, and coincidence, the assassin eludes the police and runs to ground, meeting up with Dan-Dan, Cecilia Cheung's character, the hooker with the heart of gold. A viajera of sorts, who sells her body in HK in exchange for money she takes home to the mainland, Dan-Dan becomes Fu's guide through the bowels of Mongkok, not knowing that the unwitting tourist is a hired killer, only that he's carrying a gun and a bagful of cash. At its simplest it's a "hitman and hooker on the run" storyline, but it's more than that. The film never degenerates into stock characters, with the actors delivering nuanced performances with believable motivations and backstories. Subplots and plot twists (including the coincidences) don't feel contrived. Also has one of the most vicious beatings I've seen on film--maybe second only to Vincent Cassel beating a guy to pulp in Irreversible.
Love on a Diet (starring Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng). Mini-mo (Sammi Cheng), an expat living in Japan, gains a lot of weight (as in!) pining for her ex-boyfriend Kurokawa who leaves her and become an internationally famous pianist. She then meets Fatso (Andy Lau), an itinerant utensil salesman who takes pity on her and helps her lose weight by putting her on a grueling exercise program. She loses the weight and reunites with her boyfriend, but finds out he's not the one she wants pala. Though the fat jokes (I mean, hello? Check out names of the lead characters!) will make the PC police cringe, this is a very entertaining romantic comedy, not the least because Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng have good chemistry--even if they had to wear fat suits for most of the movie. It's sentimental and sweet and hilarious. Fun!
Sound of Colors (starring Tony Leung and Miriam Yeung) Based on the illustrated novel by Jimmy Liao and produced by Wong Kar-Wai, the best thing about SOC is the seamless blend of animated storybook elements with live action. Tony Leung, fantastic here as always, plays Keung, who has a dating service that's going nowhere fast, and Hoi-Yuek, a blind girl who enlists his services to find her a date. Of course, you know these two will end up together. But how? With the help of guardian angels, of course! (Suspend your disbelief. This movie is so well-made, you'll forgive any leapfrog into fantasy territory). One day, Keung finds himself blind and has to ask Yuek to cope. Needless to say, they fall in love. This is actually two stories in one, so a second completely unrelated story of two young couple who meet and fall in love in Shanghai (great scenery, btw) after one of the angels messes with their correspondence. Fun, too. Should be watched with Love on a Diet.
*A note on Chinese actresses: I don't know what it is about HK audiences now, but they seem to like actresses who are spoiled petulant bratty princesses--at least, this is my observation of the current crop of young female artistas--Ziyi Ziang, included. In fact, Ziang almost always plays the same bratty princess role in most of her movies--from Crouching Tiger... to 2046, with the possible exception of Memoirs of a Geisha. Would-be Ziyis like Miriam Yeung, Sammi Cheng, and even Shu Qi all have the same shtick. The possible exception is Cecilia Cheung, although I've only seen two of her movies so far. I guess they don't make actresses in the same mold as Maggie Cheung, Carina Lau, Faye Wong, and Gong Li no more.
Happy Together (starring Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung) Before there was Brokeback Mountain, there was this movie. It's written and directed by Wong Kar-Wai, set in Argentina, and starring two of master Wong's actor-muses, what more can you ask? Tony and Leslie are troubled lovers who attempt to salvage theit teetering relationship by moving to Argentina, of all places. Of course, their already troubled relationship fizzles out in a new land, as the two cope with changes, conflicting attitudes, and reactions the new place engenders. As with most, if not all, Wong Kar-Wai movies, this one has a wide streak of sadness running down the center, with Tony and Leslie delivering sterling performances. BTW, after watching this, and Brokeback, I wonder, do gay couples really make out/love like they're going to kill each other first? Is it all the raging testosterone? Just wondering.
I'll stop with these. For those who haven't watched any Chinese movies, this list is a good starting point. Of course, this is by no means complete. I'll probably add more to this when the mood strikes me. I just don't want to overwhelm you guys, hehe. So if you're at your dibidi suki, check out his stash of Chinese movies. You just might find these. (I know for a fact that Infernal Affairs I, II, and III, A World Without Thieves, and Shanghai Grand is available as a bootleg omnibus CD entitled The Andy Lau Collection. I think One Nite in Mongkok is also available). And for those who have neighborhood Tower Records with a good selection of Asian movies (Hey, Mark!), you migh want to check these out. check out also: Divergence; Running Out of Time; Running on Karma; and Turn Left, Turn Right.
A note on Memoirs of a Geisha: By rights, it shouldn't be in this list, but because it stars some of the best Asian actors, I think it's worth a shout out. I watched it and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, from the way critics were harping about the movie. Granted, I don't like Ziyi Ziang so she wouldn't be my first choice for the lead role, and yes, there are problems with getting Chinese actors to play Japanese characters. I'm sure there are Japanese actors who are just as good if not better, but I think it was more of a business decision. These were, after all, some of the most bankable Asian actresses in the world. From a business perspective, it made sense to use them. But overall, I liked the movie. Hats off to Gong Li! For someone who had to learn English to play the role, she was perfect as Hatsumomo, the bitchy geisha. And that little girl who played the young Sayuri--perfect! She more than made up for Ziyi Ziang being in the movie (is it obvious that I don't like her?) :)
So, anyone care for some Chinese? ;p
Librarything
Hi girls, care to check out my online bookshelf? Followed a link to LibraryThing from Mark's blog and got hooked right away! It's so fun but--beware--very addicting! I've only added oh I think less than 20 books so far, but I'll be putting in more. It's my new instant stress-reliever ;P
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Classic Cory
What a treat, Cory Doctorow's latest novel Someone Comes To Town, Someone Leaves Town is indeed available online--free! Naturally I still intend to get the 'dead-tree' version for my collection, but it's terrific to be able to download a free electronic copy. Thank God for Creative Commons, and thank you Mr D! You are one classy dude.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Clooney rocks!
"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear of one another, we will not be driven by fear to an age of ureason if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine. And remember, we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to associate, and to defend the causes that for the moment are unpopular..."--Edward Murrow (David Straithairn), Good Night and Good Luck
I thought it's a good quote given what's going on in the country right now. We should give GMA a pirated copy of the movie. Baka matauhan, hahaha! Just saw Good Night and Good Luck on dvd last night. It's great! I've liked George Clooney ever since he played pediatrician Doug Ross on ER. And even then, one can see he was more than just a pretty face. Syriana and Good Night and Good Luck should do more than give him credibility as far as acting and directing are concerned. Galing!
I thought it's a good quote given what's going on in the country right now. We should give GMA a pirated copy of the movie. Baka matauhan, hahaha! Just saw Good Night and Good Luck on dvd last night. It's great! I've liked George Clooney ever since he played pediatrician Doug Ross on ER. And even then, one can see he was more than just a pretty face. Syriana and Good Night and Good Luck should do more than give him credibility as far as acting and directing are concerned. Galing!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
That brooding Mr Darcy...
...has gotten on my nerves. Here's an article I read online Macfadyen on Darcy.
I agree with the writer that "Macfadyen's Darcy is wounded, boyish, broken. Stiff with inhibition, his face misshapen, his eyes eerie distant chips of light blue, he is magnificent. His sexuality is far more understated than Firth’s, but no less powerful." So now I want to see the Colin Firth version (after all, I like Mr Firth too). I also want to read the book (which I confess I've never read).
By the way, the photo of Mr Macfadyen in the article is really nice.
I agree with the writer that "Macfadyen's Darcy is wounded, boyish, broken. Stiff with inhibition, his face misshapen, his eyes eerie distant chips of light blue, he is magnificent. His sexuality is far more understated than Firth’s, but no less powerful." So now I want to see the Colin Firth version (after all, I like Mr Firth too). I also want to read the book (which I confess I've never read).
By the way, the photo of Mr Macfadyen in the article is really nice.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Playing @ Google
Check this out!
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2006/inside_google/
Wish I could get a job at Google -- or at least marry Sergei or Larry. :-)
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2006/inside_google/
Wish I could get a job at Google -- or at least marry Sergei or Larry. :-)
Walking in Beijing
Speaking of things Chinese...
The government of China has published A General Textbook on Civility and Propriety, which is intended to teach proper decorum to the citizens in preparation for the 2008 Olympics.
These tidbits from the handbook made my day. (I copied them from a local newspaper.)
* "When you walk, raise your head and keep the point of gravity slightly in front."
* "After you wash your hands, don't shake them while walking away from the toilet."
* "While at work, only send out work-related emails."
Let's visit Beijing in '08 for a live demo of walking with "the point of gravity slightly in front"! :)
The government of China has published A General Textbook on Civility and Propriety, which is intended to teach proper decorum to the citizens in preparation for the 2008 Olympics.
These tidbits from the handbook made my day. (I copied them from a local newspaper.)
* "When you walk, raise your head and keep the point of gravity slightly in front."
* "After you wash your hands, don't shake them while walking away from the toilet."
* "While at work, only send out work-related emails."
Let's visit Beijing in '08 for a live demo of walking with "the point of gravity slightly in front"! :)
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Chinese takeout
Yesterday I was talking to my friend Karen in the office about one of our favorite topics, contemporary Chinese movies, when another officemate butts in on the conversation with an exasperated, "Oh, dear God! Are you two yakking about Chinese movies again?! I just don't understand why you like them so much!" Or words to that effect. I think there was even some cussing at some point. Various friends and acquaintances have wondered about my penchant for Chinese movies. One smart-aleck friend even ascribed it to F4 mania, which was how some officemates became hooked on Cantopop. Well, I have never watched a single episode of the cheesy Meteor Garden, although judging from the Chinese movies I've seen, I might as well be guilty of screaming for F4.
So back to the original question: Why do I like Chinese movies so much that I even ask friends who go to HK to buy me DVDs? The short and easy answer is: The movies can be addicting. And even the worst of the movies, and believe me, the worst can make a bad Tito, Vic, and Joey pelikula look like an Oscar contender, there's always a quirk or a twist in the plot that elevates it from the humdrum. And that's why I like Chinese movies.
In my humble opinion, there are only four major film industries in Asia: the Bollywood machinery, Pinoy showbiz, the Japanese entertainment juggernaut, and the Chinese Cantopop conglomerate. Now, with Pinoy showbiz going the way of the dogs, it makes sense to look at what our neighbors have been doing in terms of movies. Right now, Korea also has a very vibrant movie industry. And I think that's a good thing. We shouldn't always be looking toward Hollywood for direction, especially since Hollywood these days is importing its story ideas and its actors from Asia.
In college, I remember being blown away by Wong Kar-Wai's Chungking Express, which is still for me one of the best movies I've seen. I saw it in a film criticism class and until then, I've always thought in my little insular world view that Asian film, with the exception of Pinoy cinema, couldn't compete with Hollywood. I was wrong. My officemate Karen, on the other hand, got a crash course of Chinese film, after watching Infernal Affairs. There was no going back for her after that.
So. Here, some Chinese films, in no particular order, that I think are standouts. Try them out and bask in the quirkiness:
Chungking Express directed by Wong Kar-Wai Three stories are woven seamlessly into one narrative. A good intro to Chinese movies, purely for its kinetic pacing and kaleidoscope portrayal of life in Chungking. There's everything in this movie: an action segment about a drug deal gone wrong; romance--a lovelorn cop pining for his ex-girlfriend while searching for and then eating canned pineapple that expires on May 1 because that was their anniversary, a food attendant who secretely loves another cop who is in turn abandoned by his flight-attendant girlfriend; even an open-ended (sort of) happy ending. Characters move in and out of each others' lives and affect each others' stories, much like how it happens in real life.
Days of Being Wild, In the Mood for Love, and 2046 directed by Wong Kar-Wai. The thing about Wong Kar-Wai is, he gets obsessed about a particular story or mood. I've grouped these three movies together because they seem connected somehow. Aside from the obvious time period (all three movies are set--or partly set, as in the case of 2046--in the 1960s), the characters seem to be the same people. It's as if WKW is obsessed with telling and re-telling the same story again and again. The baffling thing is: it all works! I don't know how he does it.
Infernal Affairs I, II, III The first movie revitalized the Hong Kong film industry in 2002. Starring two of the best actors of HK cinema, IF is a taut thriller that will have you hanging on to the edge of your seat. Unlike Hollywood thrillers, there's virtually no car chases or explosions in this movie. This is one movie that I really feel we could do, if we were inventive enough and not rely of formula. The premise is deceptively simple: A cop goes undercover to infiltrate the Chinese Triad while the Triad plants a mole in the police force. It's a cat and mouse game as both try to find out each others' identities. The success of the first movie, inspired two sequels, which considering that there were no plans for sequels, are seamless continuations of the original movie, and as stylishly made. In fact, IF is so stylishly made that Hollywood has taken notice. Martin Scorsese is currently in post-production right now with a remake of IF entitled The Departed, starring Leonardo di Caprio and Matt Damon as the two leads. Word has it that Scorsese did not deign to watch the original movie before making the remake. From a lesser director, such a move would be considered pure hubris. But this is Scorsese, after all. If there's anyone who can be trusted to make a superior remake, it'll be him.
To be continued...
So back to the original question: Why do I like Chinese movies so much that I even ask friends who go to HK to buy me DVDs? The short and easy answer is: The movies can be addicting. And even the worst of the movies, and believe me, the worst can make a bad Tito, Vic, and Joey pelikula look like an Oscar contender, there's always a quirk or a twist in the plot that elevates it from the humdrum. And that's why I like Chinese movies.
In my humble opinion, there are only four major film industries in Asia: the Bollywood machinery, Pinoy showbiz, the Japanese entertainment juggernaut, and the Chinese Cantopop conglomerate. Now, with Pinoy showbiz going the way of the dogs, it makes sense to look at what our neighbors have been doing in terms of movies. Right now, Korea also has a very vibrant movie industry. And I think that's a good thing. We shouldn't always be looking toward Hollywood for direction, especially since Hollywood these days is importing its story ideas and its actors from Asia.
In college, I remember being blown away by Wong Kar-Wai's Chungking Express, which is still for me one of the best movies I've seen. I saw it in a film criticism class and until then, I've always thought in my little insular world view that Asian film, with the exception of Pinoy cinema, couldn't compete with Hollywood. I was wrong. My officemate Karen, on the other hand, got a crash course of Chinese film, after watching Infernal Affairs. There was no going back for her after that.
So. Here, some Chinese films, in no particular order, that I think are standouts. Try them out and bask in the quirkiness:
Chungking Express directed by Wong Kar-Wai Three stories are woven seamlessly into one narrative. A good intro to Chinese movies, purely for its kinetic pacing and kaleidoscope portrayal of life in Chungking. There's everything in this movie: an action segment about a drug deal gone wrong; romance--a lovelorn cop pining for his ex-girlfriend while searching for and then eating canned pineapple that expires on May 1 because that was their anniversary, a food attendant who secretely loves another cop who is in turn abandoned by his flight-attendant girlfriend; even an open-ended (sort of) happy ending. Characters move in and out of each others' lives and affect each others' stories, much like how it happens in real life.
Days of Being Wild, In the Mood for Love, and 2046 directed by Wong Kar-Wai. The thing about Wong Kar-Wai is, he gets obsessed about a particular story or mood. I've grouped these three movies together because they seem connected somehow. Aside from the obvious time period (all three movies are set--or partly set, as in the case of 2046--in the 1960s), the characters seem to be the same people. It's as if WKW is obsessed with telling and re-telling the same story again and again. The baffling thing is: it all works! I don't know how he does it.
Infernal Affairs I, II, III The first movie revitalized the Hong Kong film industry in 2002. Starring two of the best actors of HK cinema, IF is a taut thriller that will have you hanging on to the edge of your seat. Unlike Hollywood thrillers, there's virtually no car chases or explosions in this movie. This is one movie that I really feel we could do, if we were inventive enough and not rely of formula. The premise is deceptively simple: A cop goes undercover to infiltrate the Chinese Triad while the Triad plants a mole in the police force. It's a cat and mouse game as both try to find out each others' identities. The success of the first movie, inspired two sequels, which considering that there were no plans for sequels, are seamless continuations of the original movie, and as stylishly made. In fact, IF is so stylishly made that Hollywood has taken notice. Martin Scorsese is currently in post-production right now with a remake of IF entitled The Departed, starring Leonardo di Caprio and Matt Damon as the two leads. Word has it that Scorsese did not deign to watch the original movie before making the remake. From a lesser director, such a move would be considered pure hubris. But this is Scorsese, after all. If there's anyone who can be trusted to make a superior remake, it'll be him.
To be continued...
