Should I go? Should I not go?

I should go
I should not go
I should go
I should not go
I should go
I should not go
I should go
I should not go
I should go
I should not go
I should go
I should not go
I should go
I ...

-- mr blog

Is this just the begining?

Right now, it seems to be that it's just the begining of applicatino torture. May I remained quite cool to this matter. Should I get excited? Should I feel tortured?

We eyes are failing on me. So much so that I can't concentrate on moniter.

-- mr blog

Guess Who

The premise of this remake is something you probably have seen before in other mis-matched racial pairing flicks, like the Lethal Weapon series, or Rush Hour series. You'd sort of expect the usual barrage of racial jokes coming hard and fast, but somehow this film falls flat in that aspect. Not that it isn't funny, just that at times, it sounds too contrived and tries just too hard at getting the audience to buy into the idea. While the jokes are somehow weak, it does make up some ground in the relationship aspect - it tries to explore inter-racial relationships, racial bigotry, and near the end gives some tips to the guys in how to maintain a 25 year relationship... but that's that. Since it isn't a serious relationship drama like Sideways or Closer (hey, it's supposed to be a comedy, remember?) the film tends to gloss over details and punctuate these moments with humour. Not that this film doesn't have its moments - the dining table scene and the end credits (yes, do stay and watch, and pay close attention to the dialogue too) were redeeming bits, if I can consider so. We can't blame pretty boy Ashton Kutcher playing yet another pretty boy role similar to My Boss's Daughter, or Just Married. Guess he's a bit stereotyped given the minor success of his better films like The Butterfly Effect, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Watch this show and it feels like you've just been punk'd!

(back to) anxiously waiting for the remaining 2 rejections...

Weather in HK has dropped once again, my situation has turned bad once again. Just had another `technical' reject from UTA, maybe because of the same reason as the earlier (lost my count)...4 or 5? Now I'm back to "anxiously waiting for the othe remaining 2." It seemed to me that UTD can lead me to nowhere. No point wasting my time and money, and youth. Unless some genius can save me.

-- mr blog

NUS Best in East Asia??

According to this ranking, NUS seems to be the best university in East Asia, excluding Japan. Any comment?

My short update (End of 2005 Spring) ...

Weather is turning hot. I no longer wear jacket/sweaters. It's always good this time of the year other than the Xmas period. I still can't say that where I go at this point in time, maybe TX, potentially can be PA or CA, or even SG.

-- mr blog

Be Cool

A new opportunity to watch John Travolta and Uma Thurman boogie on the dance floor together, is worth the price of the admission ticket. Who could've forgotten the classic scene from Pulp Fiction where the two made trademark moves to the song "You Never Can Tell" - now both of them sizzle to the performance of the Black Eyed Peas. Perfect on-screen chemistry, and one that can rival their previous dance performance. Be Cool is the sequel to Get Shorty, while the latter parodies the film industry, this one brings along the same formula for the music industry, and it shows again that perhaps there is more than meets the eye in getting a record produced. The narrative is simple at first - as Chili Palmer (loved that Heneiken ad by the way) tries to inch his way, totally greenhorn, into the industry, he gets involved with the Russian mob, the hip-hop gun wielding gangsta rappers and their producer, his starlet's ex manager and his partner, and to a little extent, the cops too. And that's when the plot might get confusing to some. You have to pay close attention, otherwise you'll miss the plot filled with double, sometimes triple crossings as Palmer outwits, outplays and outlasts them all. But to those who lost the plot midway, no worries, as there are parodies galore that you can enjoy in this film, poking fun at movie sequels, at dim witted gangsters, and the script is pretty witty with its one-liners and quirky cast of many. Or you can enjoy the musical performances like Black Eyed Peas, Aerosmith and of course, Christina Milian. While John Travolta plays it cool (seems like he always breezes through his films these days with a "devil may care" air), and Uma Thurman looking beautiful as always, it is Vince Vaughn and The Rock who steal the movie from right under all the other casts noses. Vince Vaughn's take on his cowardly character who acts like he's "Black" (with ghetto speak and all) is top notch, and The Rock as a wussy faggot bodyguard always get you in stitches when he's on screen - he even parodies his own "People's Eyebrow"! Be warned that this film may not be enjoyable for everyone (especially for those who are impatient and can't wait to get to the chase), but be cool, and enjoy the ride.

3-Iron

The movie gets its name from golf. Really. It's referring to the 3-iron golf club, which is featured prominently in the show, either as a hobby/sports equipment, or as a weapon. But the movie isn't about golf. It's difficult to classify its exact genre as the film is extremely unconventional. It's about an unconventional protagonist living an unconventional lifestyle, developing an unconventional relationship, with an unconventional ending. Watching the show certainly gave me unconventional ideas - the protagonist, who doesn't speak a word throughout the show (and also unnamed), lives his life by giving out flyers at residential homes, pinning them at the house's keyhole. When he returns few hours later, those homes with the flyer still attached, will therefore indicate that no one's at home. So he'll break into the home, and becomes Goldilocks, living in their premises, eating their food, sleeping on their beds, and in return, does their laundry and fixes spoilt household items. He does not steal valuables, but has a weird habit of taking pictures as mementos of having been there. Until he breaks into a home of an abused wife, gets acquainted and elopes with her, and she follows his lead and lifestyle - two's a company, until halfway through the show when things start to change as the law finally catches up with them. I will not elaborate much on the last third of the narrative, as things really take such a creative turn that some in the audience just felt was ridiculous at times. Also, the ending is open ended, and some might feel uncomfortable with it, as it leaves some questions unanswered. (For those interested in a short discussion, you can refer to the spoilers at the end of the review). The acting of the two leads are commendable, because dialogue is kept to a minimum (for the male lead, none at all), therefore it takes tremendous effort to convey feelings and emotions across totaly by body language. Watch this with an open mind, but if you're one who thrives on action and dialogue, then this might not be for you. ** SPOILER SPACE ** The skill which the protagonist picks up during jailtime is plausible, but take a little stretching of the imagination. While the trick is real - the eye can only see 180 degrees, so by staying outside this range, you can render yourself "invisible", somehow to keep up the charade is quite impossible, in my opinion. I'd like to romanticize the ending as this - He hadn't really gone back to his lover's home, and that she was going insane from the waiting and the longing and starts to imagine things, as the last line of the movie puts it, it's sometimes difficult to draw the line between fantasy and reality. ** END SPOILER SPACE **

Spanglish

I admire filmmakers who manage to explore powerful relationships and character development in a tight two hours, and Spanglish falls into this category perfectly. As the name goes, "Spanglish" is a combination of two words - Spanish and English, and is one of the major themes covered in this film, which is the clash of cultures, and the fear of dilution of cultural values. Paz Vega plays mexican (illegal) immigrant housekeeper Flor, to an All American family, Mr and Mrs Clasky, played by Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni. They have 2 children Bernice and Georgie, and live with Tea's mother in a rich suburb. All seems well at first, but cracks start to appear as the story develops, as Paz discovers during the course of her work. The father is self deprecating as he is easy going, the mother is neurotic most times and imposes her wishes on the children (especially the chubby daughter, whom she thinks must lose weight), the daughter upset with her mum for that expectation of her, a son who sings his grandmother's jazz oldies, and an alcoholic grandmother. A large part of the narrative takes place during the summer home, with major character development and relationships take over as the centerstage in this film. It is natural that the interactions between the characters develop from what it was in the beginning, to what it is at the end. Some turn for the better, while others just couldn't be. The importance of family and family values are explored. I will attempt to dissect the major relationships: John and Deborah Clasky: As husband and wife, it seems that their relationship isn't that good to begin with. With his easy going nature, John tends to give in to Deborah on a lot of things. Deborah expects her husband to not be the "good guy" to the kids, but to be in agreement with her on issues she deems as important and in her opinion, correct for the kids. Their relationship gets put to the test when one of the commits adultery, while the other is unwittingly being tempted into his own. John and Flor: As employer employee, they develop mutual respect for one another when they realize that they share similar values. To communicate with John, she takes up self-study English lessons, and their friendship progressed to mutual liking. They share the same parental anxiety and have frequent honest conversation expressing their thoughts. However, they develop feelings for each other, and find difficulty on where to draw the line between their ever increasing desire to be close. When the line is crossed, do you call it quits because it's the correct thing to do? The last 30 minutes of the film is tinged with sweetness from this blossoming romance which couldn't develop further by virtue of principles. You are left wondering, what if? Deborah and Cristina, Flor's daughter: When Deborah entices and unwittingly seduces Cristina into the all american lifestyle, so much so as even lying to her mum. Deborah is taken to Cristina because she is what her daughter could probably never be - smart, thin and beautiful. Cristina, on the other hand, enjoys Deboarh's company and attention because, hey, it's the American Dream, no? Flor and Cristina: The movie is narrated by Cristina, from the time when she was little and her father walks out of the home, the hardships that mother and daughter endured through their journey to the USA, and her understanding of her mother's hardship with work to bring her up singlehandedly. Flor is understandably protective of her daughter's wellbeing, and especially in teacher her correct values and her heritage. She becomes jealous when Deborah, in her eyes, start to become more important to her daughter, and sometimes envious of the material wealth that Deborah showers on Cristina that Flor can never ever provide for. Flor fears that her child will be "hijacked" by Deborah. Deborah and her daughter Bernice: Her daughter at times resents the attention that her mum is giving Cristina, as she knows that she could never be thin as expected by mum. She has fears comparisons. Bernice and Flor: Flor starts off as work being strictly work, and no intervention into the family affairs. But she felt compelled to help when Bernice feels upset when Deborah subconsciously puts her down, most of the time subtle digs at her weight. Flor becomes Bernice's confidante in that sense, and John points out to her the hypocritical ways in which she disallows Deborah to treat her own daughter Cristina in similar ways. That scene between John, Flor and Cristina is comedic at times, but powerful nonetheless. Other relationships too long for this review to cover, and also they are quite minor, but at the end of the show, most relationships stay intact because blood runs thicker than water. The main casts excelled in their performance, but I like to single out Adam Sandler. He has demonstrated that he is capable and comfortable doing drama, instead of the madcap comedic characters we associate him with. I hope he does films of different genres to highlight his capability as a serious actor. Also catching my attention in a cameo is Sideways' Thomas Haden Church. This is a touching drama with an ending that some might deem as heartwrenching, but I highly recommend this film.

Be Cool

A new opportunity to watch John Travolta and Uma Thurman boogie on the dance floor together, is worth the price of the admission ticket. Who could've forgotten the classic scene from Pulp Fiction where the two made trademark moves to the song "You Never Can Tell" - now both of them sizzle to the performance of the Black Eyed Peas. Perfect on-screen chemistry, and one that can rival their previous dance performance. Be Cool is the sequel to Get Shorty, while the latter parodies the film industry, this one brings along the same formula for the music industry, and it shows again that perhaps there is more than meets the eye in getting a record produced. The narrative is simple at first - as Chili Palmer (loved that Heneiken ad by the way) tries to inch his way, totally greenhorn, into the industry, he gets involved with the Russian mob, the hip-hop gun wielding gangsta rappers and their producer, his starlet's ex manager and his partner, and to a little extent, the cops too. And that's when the plot might get confusing to some. You have to pay close attention, otherwise you'll miss the plot filled with double, sometimes triple crossings as Palmer outwits, outplays and outlasts them all. But to those who lost the plot midway, no worries, as there are parodies galore that you can enjoy in this film, poking fun at movie sequels, at dim witted gangsters, and the script is pretty witty with its one-liners and quirky cast of many. Or you can enjoy the musical performances like Black Eyed Peas, Aerosmith and of course, Christina Milian. While John Travolta plays it cool (seems like he always breezes through his films these days with a "devil may care" air), and Uma Thurman looking beautiful as always, it is Vince Vaughn and The Rock who steal the movie from right under all the other casts noses. Vince Vaughn's take on his cowardly character who acts like he's "Black" (with ghetto speak and all) is top notch, and The Rock as a wussy faggot bodyguard always get you in stitches when he's on screen - he even parodies his own "People's Eyebrow"! Be warned that this film may not be enjoyable for everyone (especially for those who are impatient and can't wait to get to the chase), but be cool, and enjoy the ride.

My First Complete Application

This may probably be my first ever complete application, well after 3 month. But is it too late?

-- mr blog

Review on K3b of KDE...

Maybe it's already developed so long ago and I only start use that now. Before that I occasionally use xcdroast to burn. This K3b is a refreshing application for linux, unlike others that are primitive but hard to control. Maybe it's even better than Nero Burn!

-- mr blog

MSN messages

I changed my friendly name in MSN to "Anxiously Waiting for (More) Rejections". Suprisingly, I got at least 4 friends who asked about why the name. I'm surprised that people actually pay attention! My friends asked why I got this nick. I roughly told them what happened. So... thanks for the concern.

-- mr blog