
Captain America: The First Avenger
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Captain America: The First Avenger is a 2011 American superhero film starring Chris Evans as the protagonist Captain America. Set during World War II, the film tells the story of Steve Rogers, a courageous but scrawny guy with a body like a plucked and undernourished chicken. Steve is desperate to enlist and fight The Nazis. Unfortunately, he is ill-stricken and his physique fails to impress the army officers. However, things took a turn for the better when Dr Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), a mysterious German scientist at a military recruiting station, spots Steve and notices something different in him. Steve's the very guy for an experimental super-growth serum Erskine's got up his white-coated sleeve, and that eventually brought Captain America into the world.
Director Joe Johnston explained that a tedious process involving two major techniques was used to achieve the effects of the skinny, pre-super-serum Steve Rogers. Indeed, the cheerfully strident flick was carefully produced to achieve a solidly old-fashioned blockbuster entertainment filled with plenty of pulpy action, a pleasantly retro vibe, and a handful of fine performances. The movie even garnered box office success by outgrossing other 2011 superhero movies like Thor, Green Lantern and X-Men: First Class.
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Cars 2
Monday, October 03, 2011

After the widely successful original
Cars five years ago, the new sequel delves into unfamiliar new territory by bringing its popular characters to a "Bourne Identity"-type espionage thriller complete with secret weapons, sinister villains and clandestine agents calling frantically for backup.
Pixar cleverly included a short film
Hawaiian Vacation starring the characters from the Toy Story franchise before Cars 2. Four-time Piston Cup champion race car Lightning McQueen returning to Radiator Springs and reunites with best friend Mater and girlfriend Sally Carrera. Miles Axlerod, a former oil tycoon who became a green power advocate, announces the "World Grand Prix", to promote Allinol biofuel. Although McQueen initially refuses to participate, Italian formula race car Francesco Bernoulli's challenge and Mater's intervention eventually leads McQueen to enter the Grand Prix. At Sally's instigation, McQueen finally agrees to take Mater with him, only to have the tow truck embarrass him repeatedly in Japan with his jovially ignorant antics. During the first race in Tokyo, McMissile and Holley help a still-oblivious Mater evade Zündapp's henchmen; in the process, Mater inadvertently gives McQueen bad advice which causes him to lose the race.
With a spectacular cast of colourful characters that that is sure to enthral the entire family, tire-burning burst of action and suspense, and such a wealth of auto references (it even features a song originally performed by the Cars —
You Might Think, a rendition here by one of my favourite bands Weezer),
Cars 2 effortlessly brings a smile.
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Green Lantern
Monday, June 27, 2011

Green Lantern has been touted to be IT film of this summer but it unfortunately misses out some important elements and does not do much justice to its high-budget production film. The movie begins with an unappropriately lengthy introduction of the protagonist's superheroic powers in a long and tiring "mythic" prelude on a planet far, far away which almost turned the blockbuster into a rather insipid 3D extravaganza.
Ryan Reynolds is Hal Jordan, a test pilot for Ferris Aircraft, who subsequently becomes a Green Lantern and the first earthman ever inducted into the Green Lantern Corps.
Peter Sarsgaard is refreshingly brilliant as Hector Hammond, a scientist who has always been subjected to ignominy by his senator father (Tim Robbins).
One of the most memorable scene would be when he morphs into a cackling, swollen-headed, yellow-eyed beast out to slay the Green Lantern after being infected by outer-galactic forces. Sarsgaard excels at injecting wit and genuine pathos into a character who could have been just a passive-aggressive sadsack. Green Lantern may lack the sparks that are evident in other superhero flicks like
Iron Man but it is still worth a watch if you enjoy a sound-and-light show that is filled with relentless sensational special effects.
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Priest
Thursday, June 23, 2011

Based on a Korean comic of the same title, Priest is a supernatural action film that features lots of intense action and horror elements.
The movie is set in an alternate world where man and vampires have warred for centuries. After the last Vampire War, veteran Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) lives in obscurity with other humans inside one of the Church's walled cities under the Church's totalitarian control. When the Priest's daugther (Lily Collins) is kidnapped by vampires, the Priest goes against the Church and decides to hunt the vampires down. He is accompanied by the niece's boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), who is a wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q).
If you have never seen any Vampire movie before then Priest would certainly be a good movie to keep the ball rolling since it has integrated almost all the elements of Vampire movies and finely blend them into one. Unfortunately, the majority of the cast, with the exception of Paul Bettany, had little to shine. Most were mediocre and appeared to be a little unnatural at times.
Although some scenes in the movie was cliche and bear some uncanny resemblance to some old school vampire movies, the action hit is overall an inspiring effort. Besides the impeccable design of the set, the background score under the direction of Christopher Young is another thing that stood out and made the scenes in the movie flow seamlessly and effortlessly.
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公主嫁到
Wednesday, October 06, 2010

由佘诗曼与陈豪主演的无线古装喜剧《公主嫁到》的大结局刚在上个周日播出,创下本年度无线剧集大结局最高收视纪录,也成为本年度(到目前为止)无线平均收视最高剧集。
刁蛮公主谁称霸,昭阳(佘诗曼饰)最强没花假,吐蕃招亲谁愿嫁,急招驸马来招架。金店掌舵丁来喜(关菊英饰),为救家业来说亲,体弱二子金多禄(陈豪饰),骠勇三子金多寿(黄浩然饰),兄友弟恭未娶妻,多禄孝义宁舍身,迎娶昭阳保全家。耿直官媒丁有维 (马国明饰),锄强扶弱大无畏,金家丫环吴四德(钟嘉欣),真假公主实飘忽。金家娶媳为拜金,昭阳跋扈显本色,近身婢女银屏(陈法拉饰)擅技击,主仆联手最无敌,金太夫人(李香琴饰)忧戚戚。百忍岂能炼成金?怒火四绽闹金銮,唐太宗(郭峰饰)好言来相劝。可叹金家尊严失,多禄驸马慌失失,宁抛富贵愿行乞,誓将昭阳来描黑,七出之条妙计施,昭阳机灵保名节,送上法宝三不去!蛮夷来袭起硝烟,金家无端惹横祸,公主驸马真冤家,患难相扶种情根,三离三合情似金,再续前缘心印心。
我觉得这部剧集在场景和服装都下了很大的功夫,备受欢迎是预料中的。况且,《公主嫁到》中的恶搞情诗不免有种看琼瑶剧的感觉,叫人更要笑岔了气。一部连续剧是否成功,重点在于演员们的表现。如果故事精彩但是演员表现平平,观众就无法清楚地看出故事的大致内容。佘诗曼,陈豪等实力派演员参演的确为《公主嫁到》平添不少光彩,因此收视获得最高也是理所应当的。
在剧中心如蛇蝎的奸妃惠英红(韦贵妃)首次演奸角便好评如潮,无线今年台庆颁奖礼的最佳女配角一奖必是她的囊中物。另一位让我很佩服的演员是蒋志光(罗道远)。蒋志光是一位供认的演技派演员,在剧中他扮演一位想推翻唐朝的突厥人。之前看了几部他的作品都似乎是扮演懦夫的角色,这次演大奸角果然有焕然一新的感觉。
我认为《公主嫁到》最难忘的片段是当米仁慈(韩马利饰)发现丁有维不是她亲生儿子时,流露母爱真情,非常感人。而且,我很羡慕阿四和多寿这一对情侣,经过不少挫折后终于能够有情人终成眷属。也许只要有恒心,铁柱都能磨成针,所以我更应该积极面对人生中的各种不如意。
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Fried Rice Paradise: The Musical
Friday, September 17, 2010

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of grassroots organisation People's Association, the classic Singaporean musical Fried Rice Paradise: The Musical has been restaged at the Esplanade Theatre with new twists and a star-studded ensemble featuring Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah, radio host Denise Tan, singer Rahimah Rahim and actors Sebastian Tan and Lim Yu Beng.
Fried Rice Paradise is set in the neighbourhood of vivacious Jalan Calamansi which is filled with rows of quaint old shophouses. Its residents include Bee Lean (Denise Tan) and her father (Lim Yu Beng) who owns a coffeeshop selling fishball noodles. When the coffeeshop struggles to halt declining customer traffic and stagnant revenues, Bee Lean's friends Girly Danker (Candice Rozario) and Johan (Taufik Batisah) decide to help Bee Lean in her plan to revamp her shop and attract more customers with her mother's secret fried rice recipe. Unfortunately, they encounter the acrimonious businessman Rickson Goh (Darius Tan) and his son Hennessy Goh "XO" (Sebastian Tan) who intend to buy the all the shophouses and transform Jalan Calamansi into a thriving entertainment hub. Meanwhile, Bee Lean falls in love with XO and is completely oblivious to Johan's feelings for her. As with any other stories with the purpose of integrating the fundamental blocks of nation building, you can expect the musical to be repleted with themes of racial harmony, community, neighbourliness and tolerance.
The impeccable musical watching experience was supplemented by the impressively multi-functional sets, gorgeous costumes and an incredibly talented cast of actors we are able to bring reality and depth to the characters. Denise Tan transformed the insipid Bee Lean into an exuberant young woman with her natural on-stage charisma and solid vocals which also added an endearing depth to the character's naivete. Darius Tan was palpably the crowd favourite, delivering an energetic and over-the-top caricature to his villain role. Sebastian Tan, channelling his Broadway Beng alter-ego, was in excellent voice and comfortably in his element. Local jazz singer Alemay Fernandez was definitely a pleasure to watch and she hasn't lost her ability to wow a crowd in her portrayal as Devi, an administrator at the community centre who is completely infatuated with Bee Lean's father. Unfortunately, Taufik Batisah appeared a little awkward in his theatre debut alongside veterans who are naturally fabulous in their respective roles and know how to work the crowd night after night.
Overall, the enthralling musical is consistently filled with intense drama, and humour and the audience will be assured of a visual and aural spectacle. Benjamin and I were also very privileged to have an up-close-and-personal encounter with four of the cast members Darius Tan, Denise Tan, Rahimah Rahim and Sebastian Tan at the autograph session after the musical ended. Sebastian Tan was exceptionally warm, friendly and articulate. We exchanged banters as he autographed the CD album and programme booklet.
Outside the Theatre before the show started

At the Foyer after the show ended
Steelpans of the Carribean by Juzsteel at Esplanade Concourse was another engaging performance that we watched before the musical started
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老友狗狗
Friday, September 17, 2010

由久违的资深香港艺人郑则士、马浚伟、钟嘉欣和邵美琪领衔主演的温馨喜剧《老友狗狗》是2009年无线节目精选第二季剧集之一。
虽然故事没什么惊喜,但是剧中的演员们都非常棒所以我也看得很投入。很多人说一个成功的电视剧不只需要出色的主角,配角也很重要,我认为这一点也没错。《老友狗狗》的配角都非常杰出,最让我难忘的应该是林漪娸饰演的发嫂。她是一个名副其实的泼妇,嗜好是控制老公的生活,所以他们俩经常相骂。
马浚伟饰演的周用恭是个无论任何场面也只脚穿一双「人字拖」,自得其乐的元朗长胜村居民。虽然外表不怎么讨好,但其实周用恭不但热情好客也十分孝顺,视母亲为生命中最重要的女人。
钟嘉欣饰演的黎羡如是一个富正义感,遇上不公平事时会据理力争的兽医。也许因为她的母亲早逝,从小与父亲相依为命,所以作风硬朗,具男子气慨。虽然羡如与用恭早期有点误会,但是相处日久,她渐发掘到用恭心地善良的一面,用恭同时亦被羡如的爱心吸引 。
马浚伟和钟嘉欣似乎脱离了他们经常主演的文雅班角色,两人都有很大的突破。这次我特别欣赏多才多艺的钟嘉欣因为我能感觉到她演技有大量的进步。至于马浚伟,我想他是一个才华横溢的艺人,总是很真诚地演出角色中的每个表情。
看完这部电视剧后,我感到非常有收获。我从剧情里学了不少人生道理,而且我也更加了解自己应该努力争取幸福的。不过《老友狗狗》的最大信息是呼吁大家多爱护宠物,应该珍惜和它们的感情。
1.爱情不分背景:如果真心爱一个人的话,不应该计较他的身份。剧中的用恭和羡如虽然学历背景有很大的距离,但是他们都不顾外人的指指点点,坚持要和喜爱的人在一起。我觉得这种勇气很难得,因为现实生活中很多人遇上挫折时都会马上投降。
2.钱不是万能:一个人就算拥有了财富,也不一定会得到幸福。剧中的蒋天雄既然为了钱绑架了自己的亲身妹妹天娥(邵美琪饰演),结果终身遗憾。我认为一切都应该量力而为,就算是简简单单过生活也能一样的很开心。
3.父母永远都是为儿女好:黎俊升外号Lulu Sir(郑则士饰演)起初反对女儿和学历低的用恭来往,怕羡如将来会不幸福。其实Lulu Sir非常保护女儿,所以和她有关的事Lulu Sir都会由冷静变得偏执主观、神经紧张、疑心重重。最后,Lulu Sir答应让女儿和用恭在一起,因为他认为身为爸爸应该鼓励孩子,尊重他们的希望。一样的用恭养母萍姐把他当成自己的孩子抚养成人,处处为他着想,真是用心良苦。
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