Looking For Work.

Howdy y'all. One more day till TGIF yah. It's that time of the week when work and school are wrapping up for the weekend. Err..unless some of you guys have extra load to deal with. But you gotta admit, come Friday, you just feel a little relaxed, like you can breathe easy for a while. I've been basically bumming for the last 3 1/2 months. I feel awful about not using this time to get part time work. Then at least I could apply myself and earn some cash at the same time which could come in handy. I'd like to work but it's in conflict with my current schedule which includes driving lessons twice a week, my mum insists that I learn even when I protested. And I gotta try finishing it by dec or at the most feb next year before my transfer. I'm kinda keeping an eye out for administrative work right now, it's monotonous I know but it's a no-brainer and at least the pay is steady. But the prob is, most of them want to start immediately and that clashes with my driving lessons. Of course my ideal job right now is to join in a film/media production either as a writer or a production assistant. I sent in an application for that already but haven't received any replies yet. Oh well. Just gotta wait and see.

Anyway, on a less sombre note, I hung out with Ady yest and we had coffee at the Starbucks near my place. After that we had lunch and caught Guns and Talks which turned out to be entertaining. The actors had pretty good comedic timing. Won Bin's quite the babe. Then later in the evening, I watched xXx with my dad. He had fun as did I. Vin Diesel strutted his stuff and the stunts were quite impressive though I got a little incredulous when X out-snow-boarded the avalanche. But hey...it's Hollywood right? I prefered Diesel in Pitch Black though, he had more intensity there. Guess I just gotta wait for the sequel Riddick then. Diesel actually has theatre background and I have caught glimpses of the credible actor in him with his roles in Saving Private Ryan and Boiler Room. I hope he doesn't get typecasted as a smart-ass beefcake and work on films which can showcase his talent in the near future.

Anyway, speaking of cool movies I'm anticipating...here are two I've picked to gush and plug shamelessly for today.

Road to Perdition

Ok, ok...I know I've said this like gazillion of times before but I cannot stress enough how psyched I am about this Tom Hanks-Paul Newman-Jude Law vehicle. I wasn't very impressed by director Sam Mendes's previous take on mid-life crisis, American Beauty but by my observation and reading up on production snippets and judging by the general responses of the american audiences, this is set to knock stinky socks off. Figured I might as well include a short summary: Michael Sullivan(Hanks) is a hitman known as the angel of death who works and basically lives for boss and father figure, John Rooney(Newman). Loyalty and the strength of family ties are tested when Mike Junior, Sullivan's son, chances upon a hit and witnesses what his father really does for a living. Set in the '20s/30s thereabouts when mobs rule supreme. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Stanley Tucci also stars. I think this opens here on Sept 5th. The Road to Perdition begins here.

Monsoon Wedding.

I read up on this charming, vibrant film earlier this year from Premiere magazine's January issue which spotlighted it among its list of notable films for the month. I'm a fan of Pakistani and Indian films like East is East and Bend It Like Beckham because they create a stunning concoction of tradition and modern life influences. An East meets West thing going on. Monsoon Wedding is about the hustle and bustle that goes on during the traditional Hindu wedding of a couple involved in an arranged marriage and it also revolves around a modern day Punjabi family. Interesting turn of events take place as the preparations unravel together with the arrival of relatives who hail from all parts of the world. Even the languages used are a fascinating mix of english, punjabi and hindu. The film garnered critical acclaim having won the top prize, the Golden Lion, at the Venice Film Fest last year. Monsoon Wedding will prob hit town sometime this month...if the dates on the local posters can be trusted. =p

I've absolutely put my faith in these upcoming movies so much so that should they suck, I have sworn to cleanse myself by fasting. I shall keep off my movie diet...for one week...no wait...*strengthens resove*...yeah! Most def, i promise no movies for a week. But if the rest of you think that any one of these films suck...too bad! This punishment applies only to myself. =p I shall not seek redemption for others! buahahahaha! *maniacal laughter*
Peace and out! ;)

Back With Uber Kewl Trailers.

Hey there ya movie goers. Yeap, it's been a while since I've updated. These days been pretty busy with some preparations for next year, driving lessons(I managed not to drive into a tree! =)) and just basically doing my own thang. From what I've heard and been observing, many of y'all are quite occupied as well what with school and work and stuff. Lilo and Stitch and Spy Kids 2 opening next week in time for the school hols. Looking forward to the former...wonder if I should bring my Stitch plush along when I watch that. Heh. And the latter's predecessor I thoroughly enjoyed enough to watch 3 times in the theatre 2 years ago. Anywayz, been watching and looking out for the interesting upcoming movies and these are just some of the more intruiging films making its way here real soon(I hope!) with trailers that just rock.

The Rules of Attraction- Roger Avary's satirical take on the loss of innocence and youth sexuality. Already touted to be controversial and very provocative. Shannyn Sossamon and James Van Der Beek innit. I personally think that's a clever move on their part. The film has already churned out 3 trailers but my favourite is this one which I think looks like a possible spoof/homage to the teaser of Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.

X2- Woohoo! This new footage was released at the recent Comic-Con in San Diego. Looks promising. Hope this one is more faithful to the original comic books.

Punch-Drunk Love- Paul Thomas Anderson is a genius. 'Nuff said.

Read My Lips- French film revolving around the chemistry between an ex-con and a straight-laced hearing impared, who lip-reads. The good meets the bad with interesting consequences.

The Man Who Wasn't There- This isn't new and it should've hit theatres last year. The latest offering from the Coen brothers after the excellent O Brother Where Art Thou, it garnered Best Director for Joel Coen who tied with David Lynch for Mulholland Drive at the 2001 Cannes Film Fest. I've lost hope in expecting it to make its way here till I saw the poster up at Lido. So here's re-hoping.

The Four Feathers- Shekhar Kapur's period epic after Elizabeth. Very much anticipated by movie geeks from all over. Heath Ledger, Kate Hudson and Wes Bentley all over this one.

Chicago- Adaptation of the famed musical with an awesome cast of Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu and Mya.

In Re(tro)spect.
Here are the great trailers that were released a couple months back and worth the viewing revival.
The Lord of The Rings 2: The Two Towers
The Matrix:Reloaded

Gotta run now. Something quite interesting happening @ me humble abode today. Anita Serawak's shooting a malay programme here. So something for me too kaypoh ard for a bit. Later dudes, have a good one!

M. Night Shyamalan's Signs knows how to please with style.

"I think God did it."-Morgan Hess

Probably the open secret to M. Night Shyamalan's success is that his movies are influenced by probably two of the greatest film makers there have ever been, Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock. If that statement is not very convincing, one doesn't have to do more than just observe his previous films and his latest foray into the unknown with Signs. Even the score from the opening credits is Hitchcockesque, screechy violins and all which is reminiscent of Psycho. And like the late film meister, M. Night casts himself in his own movies normally in the bit parts though this time, his character plays a considerable role in the dynamics of the plot. Mel Gibson is Graham Hess, a former priest who who's lost his faith in the wake of his wife's death. Joaquin Phoenix oozes quiet strength as the underacheived but capable younger brother, Merrill Hess. Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin play Morgan Hess and Bo Hess respectively. The children are arguably the most interesting characters in the film. And this brings to mind one of Spielberg's recurrent plot factors whereby children characters or child figures often occupy key roles(think Cole in The Sixth Sense and in Unbreakable). With the Hess household being the main setting of the film, I can't help but make connections to Hitchcock's The Birds. Even Merrill Hess at one moment in the film exclaimed, "It's just like War of the Worlds" referring to cult B-grade sci-fi movies of the 50s and 60s which had evident influences on the movie as well.

Although it is obvious that Shyamalan indulged in many influences for Signs, he moulded plot, theme and setting together and accordingly so well that it emerges an original piece of pastiche work instead of a total rip-off. I admit I'm a sucker for movies with awe inspiring values and philosophies. And the story about a man who is left broken in the face of disillusionment and regains his sense of faith and strength turns out to be no exception. The plot is a fatalistic one and reaffirms the notion that things are as they are for a reason eventhough we do not understand why in the beginning. It is up to us if we can decipher the signs that are abound in our daily environment. Thus, there is again that classic sense of mystery shrouding the film just like its predecessors. Many believe that Shyamalan's signature is to be predictably unpredictable and tend to compare his latest offerings to the pull-the-rug-from-beneathe-your-feet ending of The Sixth Sense. And many have concluded that his newer "twists" are mellowed almost to nothing as compared to that. Personally, I think that the climatic moments of Unbreakable and Signs are revelations whereas in The Sixth Sense, it was a revelation coupled together with a twist so perhaps that's why the impact of the latter seems greater. But despite the lack of a twist in Signs, the revelation toward the end of the film is nonetheless very powerful because by then, I empathized with the characters who are both vulnerable and strong all at once. There's no denying that there is a certain formula applied to Shyamalan's movies and Signs is no exception. But his ability to take what works and discard what doesn't from former popular methods and injecting his own vision and values into his works, makes Signs a unique hybrid that pleases and yet, sets itself apart with its own sense of style.

In Denial?

The first week of August is almost over. Now's the time when my classmates and I dread looking into our post boxes. Or maybe some of us are looking forward to get it all over and done with. The mere mention of its name can bring thousands of students to cower in trepidation. What am I talking about? Results... I know for a fact that I didn't do well this year. It has been a very trying second year of undergrad studies due to several circumstances that had driven my friends and I to the very edge of our abilities under those tedious conditions. I'll never forget 2002. I've seen and done only what I had thought to be almost impossible before. Best of luck to all my pals.

So since I fear the oncoming results, I've been doing what I do best...immersing myself in denial by having a ball during what I have left of my holiday. On Tuesday, I met up with Ady, Jo and Lou for Ady's birthday lunch @ Marche. After getting Ady's b'dae prezzie, she generously treated us to deserts @ NYDC. Thank you so much grrl. I owe you huge ok? Today, I went to watch Apocalypse Now Redux and Powerpuff Girls with a pal. And I got asked for my IC twice for Apocalypse...first by the auntie selling the tix and next by the usher before I entered the theatre. *sighs and shrugs* There were weird pple in the cinema during the Apocalypse screening. Two bored guys behind couldn't stop chatting during the movie...about the movie!!! Talk after the show, can?? Grrr. Then one fella from across the aisle had a really LOUD phonecall during the film...so loud, I could hear the shrill voice of the person on the phone. Yakking during a movie is one of the biggest pet peevs I have concerning the whole process of cinema-going. How 'bout you guys? What are some of your biggest pet peevs in the theatre?

Tom, besties Eileen and Jia and Jia's bf coming over to my place to watch the Alien series. Jia was inspired to catch these films after reading the book she got me about them. Heh. Probably lunching @ my place too. My mum made pizza to bake for tom's lunch. So I've been pretty much occupied these days with unconfirmed plans for this coming Friday too. To keep my mind off the horror that's coming my way.

Right now, I'd like to shamelessly plug a new blog that a buddy ol' pal has just set up. She's cute, she's talented and like Ady, she can write a mean poem when the inspiration hits. She's Jo(anne)!!! Go check her place out!
Have a good one guys! Peace and out.

Birthdays and Concerts.

Today I'd like to say kudos to 2 extraordinary pals. Firstly, to Ady who's celebrating her 21st birthday today. Happy 21st, Ady! You can officially go watch r(a) movies now, rem our plan to dress up as kiddies ok. *wink* Best wishes and have a great year ahead. Secondly, thanks loads Jo for inviting me and Eileen to your show/concert, Menage a Trois, last night @ Victoria Theatre. Jo's school, La Salle-SIA(of the drama, dance and music disciplines) set up an electric performance that was a combination of music, dance and visually dramatic segments. But one day, Jo, you seriously haveta help me understand some of the avant garde acts. Maybe you can enlighten me this Tues during Ady's b'dae dinner meet-up? =p heh. Great job, grrl! Now, you've got 2 weeks "break".

Will be going for another friend's b'dae bbq later on in the evening and hoping to meet some ol' JC buddies. Do a lil' catching up and stuff over some bbq-ed foods, yum! Have a great weekend guys.

Driving and Wedding.

I went to the comfort driving centre @ Ubi yesterday to sign up for practical lessons having passed my basic and advanced theory 2 years ago. Yes, I procrastinated that long. I don't know why but the thought of driving and handling a car makes me a lil' nervous. I mean what if I skid and hit into another car? What if I can't even stop my car? Then it'll turn into this rogue vehicle that'll terrorise the circuit destroying everything in its path!!! Argh!! The only experience I've got is with daytona and bumper cars. And I don't I should depend on them. =p My first lesson is this coming Monday in the morn. Wish me luck. *prays hard*

I watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding this morn. It's cute but too full of cliches for my taste. There were a couple of priceless moments that made me laugh outright and there were some touching ones that made me tear a little(I'm a sucker for feel-good comedies about family). But lots and lots of corny dialogue to go with those moments too. The protagonist, Toula Portokalos(Nia Vardalos) a not-very-good-looking 30 year old Greek woman with a beautiful heart manages to keep my attention(quite a feat) on her relatable struggles as a filial daughter who dreams of doing something more with her life. But that comes with a price of venturing outside the conventions of her more traditional Greek family. The interaction between the actors, expecially of the family members, is quite impressive. I'm almost convinced they may be related in real life. Toula charms her way into the heart of a school teacher, Ian Miller(John Corbett). Here's where I'm not convinced. Ian Miller is like the personification of the perfect man/partner. He's sensitive, smart, funny and very extremely tolerant. Tolerant enough to not even bat an eyelid at some of the craziest antics pulled off by Toula's family. He agrees to do anything to make the family accept him including being baptized at the Greek orthodox church. So basically, he accepted everything, including the huge baggage that came with Toula. Not just customs and culture but religion and beliefs as well. I understand that's very noble of man who's truly in love but I find that highly idealistic as well especially when it occurs without any struggles or doubt or even any angst. And from the title, I'm sure you all know how the movie ends. Call me jaded, but it's all too fairytale-like for me. As much as I was charmed, I left the theatre utterly incredulous. It was all done too sweetly and loose ends were tied too nicely into lil' pink bows.

Shanghai Knights Trailer Out.

Yeap, it's the latest Jackie Chan flick with Fann Wong in it and the sequel to Shanghai Noon. I think Jacky's kungfu buddy flicks are quite entertaining as long as he holds the cheese. Anywayz, visit the official website and download the trailer and see if you can spot Fann Wong. Bat an eyelid and you might even miss her.