PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Thinking Too Much
You know, sometimes I really do think too much... I would think and think... and spend pretty much the rest of my day worrying and worrying... and it would pretty much affect what I do, my mood, my work, and pretty much everything. And worrying too much seems to affect people close to me. I guess it's just not natural to them... and at the same time I also worry that I'd make them feel uncomfortable, even if all I do is be concerned about them. Scometimes I wonder if my worrying is justified. Should I just let things be and go with the flow and see how things turn out... or should I worry what to do next? Then I see some happy people I know... they seem to just continue to have fun... live their lives and let things be... I don't see them worrying about anything... and perhaps that's something I should try. Enjoy life, worry not and hope all good things come to me. Sure it has been a messy and confusing end of the year for me, but instead of being a constant worrier, I just hope to be a simple, happy person... like how I used to be.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
YES, Watch This!
Yes Man
There is a certain appeal towards Jim Carrey comedies. They have the tendency of being totally slapstick or truly entertaining. Either way, we still flock to watch his shows (I know I do!). When trailers of his latest movie Yes Man played, many felt it was as if he’s doing ‘Liar Liar II’. Upon catching his latest flick, I’m glad those worries were unjustified.
The movie revolves around Carl Allen, a sad and lonely bank loan officer who leads a rather routine life, watching DVDs at home, working the same job and having little confidence in himself. One day he is convinced by a friend to attend a seminar in which he is taught to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes in life. He is also told that the mere mention of the word ‘no’ will only lead to bad things. With the aid of a hilarious ‘dying-alone’ nightmare, he decides to give ‘yes’ a chance. Things turn out rough at first, but soon with this new philosophy, Carl experiences life in a completely new way. He becomes more adventurous and everything in life goes his way.
Upon offering a ride to a weird homeless man and allowing him to finish up his cellphone batteries and car’s petrol supply, he is unexpectedly introduced to Allison (played brilliantly by the gorgeous and awesomely cute Zooey Deschanel), who later becomes his love interest and further influences his life. It is interesting to note that both actors have great chemistry and were wonderful onscreen. Carl tries many things he wouldn’t have normally attempted, amongst other things, learning to fly, taking guitar lessons, learning to speak Korean, and even finding a Persian wife, most of which prove unexpectedly handy later on. But Carl also learns that access to unlimited possibilities can also have its drawbacks.
The bright cast of characters also adds to the fun, like loony boss Norman (Rhys Darby) and Terrence Bundley (Terence Stamp), the guy who teaches him the power of ‘yes’. The movie might have been rather formulaic and predictable in some parts, but the message here is very positive and there are laughs aplenty. A must watch for Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel fans.
4 out of 5 Stars
There is a certain appeal towards Jim Carrey comedies. They have the tendency of being totally slapstick or truly entertaining. Either way, we still flock to watch his shows (I know I do!). When trailers of his latest movie Yes Man played, many felt it was as if he’s doing ‘Liar Liar II’. Upon catching his latest flick, I’m glad those worries were unjustified.
The movie revolves around Carl Allen, a sad and lonely bank loan officer who leads a rather routine life, watching DVDs at home, working the same job and having little confidence in himself. One day he is convinced by a friend to attend a seminar in which he is taught to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that comes in life. He is also told that the mere mention of the word ‘no’ will only lead to bad things. With the aid of a hilarious ‘dying-alone’ nightmare, he decides to give ‘yes’ a chance. Things turn out rough at first, but soon with this new philosophy, Carl experiences life in a completely new way. He becomes more adventurous and everything in life goes his way.
Upon offering a ride to a weird homeless man and allowing him to finish up his cellphone batteries and car’s petrol supply, he is unexpectedly introduced to Allison (played brilliantly by the gorgeous and awesomely cute Zooey Deschanel), who later becomes his love interest and further influences his life. It is interesting to note that both actors have great chemistry and were wonderful onscreen. Carl tries many things he wouldn’t have normally attempted, amongst other things, learning to fly, taking guitar lessons, learning to speak Korean, and even finding a Persian wife, most of which prove unexpectedly handy later on. But Carl also learns that access to unlimited possibilities can also have its drawbacks.
The bright cast of characters also adds to the fun, like loony boss Norman (Rhys Darby) and Terrence Bundley (Terence Stamp), the guy who teaches him the power of ‘yes’. The movie might have been rather formulaic and predictable in some parts, but the message here is very positive and there are laughs aplenty. A must watch for Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel fans.
4 out of 5 Stars
Change or be Eradicated
The Day the Earth Stood Still
There is something about classic science fiction movies that is just so appealing. Hollywood has a knack for revisiting these classics, and more often than not, they receive rather mixed reviews, with many comparing them to the originals. Not too long ago we had the remake of War of the Worlds, and there is even news of a When Worlds Collide remake in the works. The latest to obtain this treatment is The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Based on the 1951 film of the same name, the plot is largely unchanged, but updated to suit the modern day. The theme of aliens visiting our world has been a popular one, and it still continues to fascinate. The first 30 minutes of the movie are the most gripping, where central character and astrobiologist Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) is taken into custody and escorted by federal agents, along with many other scientists and government officials to a top-secret meeting. The reason - an unidentified flying object is headed straight for Central Park, Manhattan and since there is not much time left, they are just preparing for the aftermath. The scene that follows is rather captivating.
A spaceship in the shape of an orb appears and lands, and from it emerges an intergalactic being named Klaatu, together with his companion, dubbed ‘Gort’. Before the poor alien could even shake hands with Benson, a trigger-happy soldier fires a shot and wounds him. This scene is faithfully done like the original, with Klaatu taking the shot and Gort coming to his rescue, disabling tanks and military equipment. He is then taken to military custody and sheds his outer placenta suit to reveal a physique resembling Keanu Reeves. He sends the message that he is a friend of the Earth, and he means that literally. He represents a group of advanced aliens from other worlds who believe that Earth’s unique life-supporting properties are too unique to be destroyed by a single species (yes, he means us!). We are to change our ways or be annihilated. Despite his pleas to meet our planet’s ‘leader’, Klaatu instead becomes property of the US government.
It didn’t take long before he escapes though. It immediately becomes clear to Klaatu that we humans are stubborn and refuse to change. What follows is a wild goose chase with Benson trying to convince him that humanity can change and is worth saving. But stepson Jacob (Will Smith’s son Jaden) doesn’t help when he said that we should ‘kill him’ (perhaps influenced by his addiction to PS3 games). The plot takes a messy turn from here, and perhaps it would have been done much better if there was a stronger backbone to the story. Gort on the other hand, is strikingly similar in design to the 1951 original, except he is now about 50-feet tall and also a biological weapon. He arguably exists simply as an excuse to cause major destruction and to make use of the huge special-effects budget. Another interesting scene to catch is when various orbs appear to serve as ‘arks’ for life on Earth.
What’s most interesting is that a slightly-tweaked 50-year-old story is astonishingly relevant for this day and age. The Day the Earth Stood Still might not be a real groundbreaking movie, but it has a rather meaningful message that transcends time.
3 out of 5 Stars
There is something about classic science fiction movies that is just so appealing. Hollywood has a knack for revisiting these classics, and more often than not, they receive rather mixed reviews, with many comparing them to the originals. Not too long ago we had the remake of War of the Worlds, and there is even news of a When Worlds Collide remake in the works. The latest to obtain this treatment is The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Based on the 1951 film of the same name, the plot is largely unchanged, but updated to suit the modern day. The theme of aliens visiting our world has been a popular one, and it still continues to fascinate. The first 30 minutes of the movie are the most gripping, where central character and astrobiologist Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) is taken into custody and escorted by federal agents, along with many other scientists and government officials to a top-secret meeting. The reason - an unidentified flying object is headed straight for Central Park, Manhattan and since there is not much time left, they are just preparing for the aftermath. The scene that follows is rather captivating.
A spaceship in the shape of an orb appears and lands, and from it emerges an intergalactic being named Klaatu, together with his companion, dubbed ‘Gort’. Before the poor alien could even shake hands with Benson, a trigger-happy soldier fires a shot and wounds him. This scene is faithfully done like the original, with Klaatu taking the shot and Gort coming to his rescue, disabling tanks and military equipment. He is then taken to military custody and sheds his outer placenta suit to reveal a physique resembling Keanu Reeves. He sends the message that he is a friend of the Earth, and he means that literally. He represents a group of advanced aliens from other worlds who believe that Earth’s unique life-supporting properties are too unique to be destroyed by a single species (yes, he means us!). We are to change our ways or be annihilated. Despite his pleas to meet our planet’s ‘leader’, Klaatu instead becomes property of the US government.
It didn’t take long before he escapes though. It immediately becomes clear to Klaatu that we humans are stubborn and refuse to change. What follows is a wild goose chase with Benson trying to convince him that humanity can change and is worth saving. But stepson Jacob (Will Smith’s son Jaden) doesn’t help when he said that we should ‘kill him’ (perhaps influenced by his addiction to PS3 games). The plot takes a messy turn from here, and perhaps it would have been done much better if there was a stronger backbone to the story. Gort on the other hand, is strikingly similar in design to the 1951 original, except he is now about 50-feet tall and also a biological weapon. He arguably exists simply as an excuse to cause major destruction and to make use of the huge special-effects budget. Another interesting scene to catch is when various orbs appear to serve as ‘arks’ for life on Earth.
What’s most interesting is that a slightly-tweaked 50-year-old story is astonishingly relevant for this day and age. The Day the Earth Stood Still might not be a real groundbreaking movie, but it has a rather meaningful message that transcends time.
3 out of 5 Stars
Chimps in Space
Space Chimps
What do you get when you send three chimpanzees to space? You get Space Chimps of course. I know, lame pun but boy was there lots of chimp puns in this animated flick! As the story goes, in 1961, before man took that first step, it was a chimp that was sent off to space. His name was Ham (this is an actual fact!), and the story centres around his grandson Ham III (Andy Samberg), a circus performer who is shot out of a cannon on a daily basis. Clearly he doesn't aspire to follow his grandfather's footsteps.
When a billion-dollar space probe gets sucked into a wormhole, NASA plans to send chimps through it to see if they can survive the journey to the other side. This is to pave the way for future human travel. As a publicity stunt, Ham III is recruited to join two trained chimps, commander Titan (Patrick Warburton) and co-pilot Luna (Cheryl Hines) for this space mission. Ham surprisingly withstands high G-levels with ease where his two partners would pass out, but he kind of screws up everything he does and threatens to place the mission in jeopardy.
The story actually moves at breakneck speed. Before you know it, three chimps are actually off to space. While this all seems rather promising, it all goes haywire the moment they unveil a planet with retarded-looking good gooey green aliens and an ugly evil alien named Zartog (Jeff Daniels), who uses the missing space probe as a method of enslaving the inhabitants of the planet. It is almost as if they were from two different movies and put together, with animation not really fitting together. Do watch out for Kilowatt (her full name is ridiculously long!), a peculiar big-headed creature who generates lots of laughs.
While there are a number of genuine laughs in this movie, there seems to be too many chimp puns and a number of cliché jokes. Overall it should be colorful fun for the young, but older audiences might find the jokes a little thin. The chimps may be cute, but they are far from giving Bolt a run for our favourite dog's money.
2.5 out of 5 Stars
What do you get when you send three chimpanzees to space? You get Space Chimps of course. I know, lame pun but boy was there lots of chimp puns in this animated flick! As the story goes, in 1961, before man took that first step, it was a chimp that was sent off to space. His name was Ham (this is an actual fact!), and the story centres around his grandson Ham III (Andy Samberg), a circus performer who is shot out of a cannon on a daily basis. Clearly he doesn't aspire to follow his grandfather's footsteps.
When a billion-dollar space probe gets sucked into a wormhole, NASA plans to send chimps through it to see if they can survive the journey to the other side. This is to pave the way for future human travel. As a publicity stunt, Ham III is recruited to join two trained chimps, commander Titan (Patrick Warburton) and co-pilot Luna (Cheryl Hines) for this space mission. Ham surprisingly withstands high G-levels with ease where his two partners would pass out, but he kind of screws up everything he does and threatens to place the mission in jeopardy.
The story actually moves at breakneck speed. Before you know it, three chimps are actually off to space. While this all seems rather promising, it all goes haywire the moment they unveil a planet with retarded-looking good gooey green aliens and an ugly evil alien named Zartog (Jeff Daniels), who uses the missing space probe as a method of enslaving the inhabitants of the planet. It is almost as if they were from two different movies and put together, with animation not really fitting together. Do watch out for Kilowatt (her full name is ridiculously long!), a peculiar big-headed creature who generates lots of laughs.
While there are a number of genuine laughs in this movie, there seems to be too many chimp puns and a number of cliché jokes. Overall it should be colorful fun for the young, but older audiences might find the jokes a little thin. The chimps may be cute, but they are far from giving Bolt a run for our favourite dog's money.
2.5 out of 5 Stars
Frank Martin's Back
Transporter 3
There seems to be a curse of the third installment. While occasionally there are gems, many great franchises seemed to have been marred by their third chapter, either by losing the good elements of the original, or cramming too much into one movie. This brings us to Transporter 3, in which Jason Statham reprises his role as ultra-cool tough driver Frank Martin.
The Transporter series have always been about all-out action, with little real plot and lots of popcorn value. This time around, our hero has to take on the job of transporting a young woman named Valentina (Natalya Rudakova) from France to Ukraine, a job from his new ‘employer’, just known as Johnson (Robert Knepper). The catch? Both he and the girl have a high-tech device attached to their wrists which will blow them into oblivion if they stray 75 feet from the vehicle. And what a vehicle it is. Martin continues to drive a sleek black Audi S8 W12, which is a star in its own right, stealing every scene it is in.
The plot may be rather thin, but what really matters here are the action scenes, and this is where Statham shines. Stripping topless at least three times throughout the entire movie (and showing off his excellent build) to use his clothes as weapons, he just oozes coolness. Taking out baddie after baddie with relative ease using slick martial arts moves, it was a joy watching the fight sequences, which by the way were performed by Statham himself. The chase scenes also do not disappoint, with a slick battle of manoeuver between the S8 and an E-Class Benz. Wait till you catch the part in which Martin uses a BMX to chase his S8, which was arguably the most intense scene.
The main drawback to the movie is perhaps the romance that develops between Martin and Valentina, which was quite awkward to say the least. This slowed the movie’s pace tremendously. Valentina was annoying for most parts and Statham just isn’t cut for romance. The plot was also somewhat weak, despite using current issues like politics, toxic dumping and environmental damage. But forget all that and throw logic out the window. If fun action is what you’re looking for, Statham delivers and the stunts are as outrageous as they get for the Transporter series.
4 out of 5 Stars
There seems to be a curse of the third installment. While occasionally there are gems, many great franchises seemed to have been marred by their third chapter, either by losing the good elements of the original, or cramming too much into one movie. This brings us to Transporter 3, in which Jason Statham reprises his role as ultra-cool tough driver Frank Martin.
The Transporter series have always been about all-out action, with little real plot and lots of popcorn value. This time around, our hero has to take on the job of transporting a young woman named Valentina (Natalya Rudakova) from France to Ukraine, a job from his new ‘employer’, just known as Johnson (Robert Knepper). The catch? Both he and the girl have a high-tech device attached to their wrists which will blow them into oblivion if they stray 75 feet from the vehicle. And what a vehicle it is. Martin continues to drive a sleek black Audi S8 W12, which is a star in its own right, stealing every scene it is in.
The plot may be rather thin, but what really matters here are the action scenes, and this is where Statham shines. Stripping topless at least three times throughout the entire movie (and showing off his excellent build) to use his clothes as weapons, he just oozes coolness. Taking out baddie after baddie with relative ease using slick martial arts moves, it was a joy watching the fight sequences, which by the way were performed by Statham himself. The chase scenes also do not disappoint, with a slick battle of manoeuver between the S8 and an E-Class Benz. Wait till you catch the part in which Martin uses a BMX to chase his S8, which was arguably the most intense scene.
The main drawback to the movie is perhaps the romance that develops between Martin and Valentina, which was quite awkward to say the least. This slowed the movie’s pace tremendously. Valentina was annoying for most parts and Statham just isn’t cut for romance. The plot was also somewhat weak, despite using current issues like politics, toxic dumping and environmental damage. But forget all that and throw logic out the window. If fun action is what you’re looking for, Statham delivers and the stunts are as outrageous as they get for the Transporter series.
4 out of 5 Stars
Monday, December 08, 2008
Oh My God!
Well... what can I say, I haven't been blogging of late. There has just been too much to write, I wonder if I'll ever recap it all. Too much to say, too much in my mind, too much thinking. Well maybe later. Today I did the unthinkable. I told her how I felt. Yeah, it was awkward but I feel a lot of relief once I did. Spent a wonderful half-day with her... it was nice, she's a wonderful person, and a nice friend. I hope she understood what I expressed to her. We both knew what was coming, but she's very sweet and said that things will be the same and that she wishes to continue the friendship for now, but I hope somehow at least a small part of her feels the same way I do. While there are lots of complications to this matter that I do not wish to express (sigh, blogs aren't personal anymore... bring back them good ol' diaries!), what I can say is that perhaps what I feel is still not yet whole and I hope we can continue to learn more bout each other, perhaps once we understand more bout one-another, can we decide what's best for us. For now I'm just going to stay positive bout the future and hope something good will happen... May God watch over me and decide what's best for me~
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Lies and Deceit
Body of Lies
Ever since the events of September 11, stories involving Middle Eastern terrorists have become hot subjects for movies. Body of Lies, the latest film by Ridley Scott is one of them. Based on the best-selling book by David Ignatius, the story focuses on young U.S. Intelligence agent Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is sent to hunt down notorious jihad terrorist Al-Saleem. Lots of lies and deceit are involved in the race to capture him. Watching over Ferris (using various spy equipment) and giving him instructions is middle-aged CIA veteran Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) who also works from the comfort of his home, doing household chores and managing his children.
Ferris speaks Arabic and is well accustomed to the cultures of the Middle Eastern folk. He knows that here your life is only worth the information you hold. The man he is after, Al-Saleem is an obvious reference to Osama bin Laden. Ferris figures that Al-Saleem’s ego would not tolerate a new player in the field, so by utilising technology he fabricates a rival terrorist out of an innocent architect, hoping to lure him out into the open. He also seeks the help of Jordanian security head Hani Salaam (Mark Strong), a brilliant man who takes loyalty very seriously.
Something that might bother many is how capable Ferris is. It’s quite difficult to imagine how a lone person would be able to perform the tasks he does, creating a fictitious terrorist organisation, surviving gunfights, bombings, rabid dogs and even torture in three different countries. But then again, this is Hollywood after all. Ridley Scott doesn’t disappoint when it comes to action. Explosions, gunfights and chases should keep action buffs interested while a short romance between Ferris and Aisha (Golshifteh Farahani), a Middle Eastern nurse prove interesting but lack depth. A nice touch is the awkwardness involved when they are together, perhaps because a relationship between a local and a Westerner is considered a no-no.
Body of Lies may serve as an entertaining spy-thriller flick, but it lacks a certain something to make it a really good movie. This could be because the movie tries to cram too much into what is essentially a political spy-thriller, plus a hero performing superhuman feats.
PS: There is so much swearing in this movie that the censorship board just gave up and let it be. LOL! And wait till you see that cringe-worthy torture scene towards the end...
2.5 out of 5 Stars
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Promises We Made
10 Promises to My Dog
A heartwarming tale of bonds and family with so much innocence In a season where films of action, violence and horror dominate the box-office, it’s quite refreshing to see a movie go right back to basics. ’10 Promises to My Dog’ (Inu to Watashi no Jyu no Yakusoku) focuses on something so simple, and perhaps taken for granted, which is the relationship we have with our pets. Despite covering something featured all-too-often, this film isn’t a run-of-the-mill ‘man and his dog’ movie.
The tale begins with 14-year-old Saito Akari (Fukuda Mayuko) longing for a dog for companionship, partially because her doctor father is not able to spend enough time with her. One day she finds a cute little puppy in the family lawn (later revealed to have been planned by her mum). She names her ‘Socks’ after the white markings on her paws, and they both develop a strong bond together. Akari is later taught of the ’10 Promises of Dog Ownership’ by her dying mother. These are actually more like promises between her and Socks. These can easily be related to, as they serve as a reminder that keeping a pet comes with certain responsibilities. The story then revolves around the 10 years Akari spends with Socks.
As Akari grows up, her social life changes around her, and she slowly forgets the promises she made. The older Akari (Tanaka Rena) is preoccupied with work, she gets interested in men and spends more time with friends. Things can get really sad at various moments of the movie, and many pet owners can relate to events that unfold. Even if you aren’t a pet owner and just love animals, you can’t help but relate with all the hardship and things that threaten to break the family apart. The star of the show, Socks is herself a beautiful animal. Starting off as a ridiculously cute puppy, she grows up into a gorgeous golden retriever that is loved by everyone who knows her. She’s also a surprisingly good actress, giving expressions and body language that will touch your heart.
Tanaka Rena and Fukuda Mayuko deserve special mention for their roles of Akari’s different stages in life. Other than the fact that they manage to look very sweet and similar to one another, they also portray great acting and match Socks so well through their character. It’s not hard to imagine yourself in Akari’s shoes. The character of Saito (Toyokawa Etsushi), Akari’s dad is also a lovable character that sees interesting development. He starts out as a workaholic father that has no time for the family and fears dogs, and later quits his job after his wife passes away. Trading his surgical knives for kitchen ones, he works hard from home, keeping the family together through tough times and also develops a bond with the very dog he feared before.
10 Promises to My Dog is a moving tale and is a pleasant surprise for those seeking something different that doesn’t involve bloodshed. There’s no Hollywood storyline involving a dog saving the world, and it’s not even really an adventure. Instead, there is emphasis on events in life that bond companions and sacrifices made in the name of family. It might not be a groundbreaking tale, but it is definitely a touching one that transcends ages, and it shows that one can still make a movie with so much innocence.
5 Stars (Out of 5)
A heartwarming tale of bonds and family with so much innocence In a season where films of action, violence and horror dominate the box-office, it’s quite refreshing to see a movie go right back to basics. ’10 Promises to My Dog’ (Inu to Watashi no Jyu no Yakusoku) focuses on something so simple, and perhaps taken for granted, which is the relationship we have with our pets. Despite covering something featured all-too-often, this film isn’t a run-of-the-mill ‘man and his dog’ movie.
The tale begins with 14-year-old Saito Akari (Fukuda Mayuko) longing for a dog for companionship, partially because her doctor father is not able to spend enough time with her. One day she finds a cute little puppy in the family lawn (later revealed to have been planned by her mum). She names her ‘Socks’ after the white markings on her paws, and they both develop a strong bond together. Akari is later taught of the ’10 Promises of Dog Ownership’ by her dying mother. These are actually more like promises between her and Socks. These can easily be related to, as they serve as a reminder that keeping a pet comes with certain responsibilities. The story then revolves around the 10 years Akari spends with Socks.
As Akari grows up, her social life changes around her, and she slowly forgets the promises she made. The older Akari (Tanaka Rena) is preoccupied with work, she gets interested in men and spends more time with friends. Things can get really sad at various moments of the movie, and many pet owners can relate to events that unfold. Even if you aren’t a pet owner and just love animals, you can’t help but relate with all the hardship and things that threaten to break the family apart. The star of the show, Socks is herself a beautiful animal. Starting off as a ridiculously cute puppy, she grows up into a gorgeous golden retriever that is loved by everyone who knows her. She’s also a surprisingly good actress, giving expressions and body language that will touch your heart.
Tanaka Rena and Fukuda Mayuko deserve special mention for their roles of Akari’s different stages in life. Other than the fact that they manage to look very sweet and similar to one another, they also portray great acting and match Socks so well through their character. It’s not hard to imagine yourself in Akari’s shoes. The character of Saito (Toyokawa Etsushi), Akari’s dad is also a lovable character that sees interesting development. He starts out as a workaholic father that has no time for the family and fears dogs, and later quits his job after his wife passes away. Trading his surgical knives for kitchen ones, he works hard from home, keeping the family together through tough times and also develops a bond with the very dog he feared before.
10 Promises to My Dog is a moving tale and is a pleasant surprise for those seeking something different that doesn’t involve bloodshed. There’s no Hollywood storyline involving a dog saving the world, and it’s not even really an adventure. Instead, there is emphasis on events in life that bond companions and sacrifices made in the name of family. It might not be a groundbreaking tale, but it is definitely a touching one that transcends ages, and it shows that one can still make a movie with so much innocence.
5 Stars (Out of 5)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
New and New
New Intern ColleaguesWe received 2 new intern students recently, they're real nice people. One of them, Jason, knows my mum's friend and it's such a small world to be working together. The other, Jessie (hehe now there are 2 Jessies) is all cute and sweet and she can get really hyper (like yours truly) so it's really fun having her around. The thing about interns is that they only work for 2 months and before you know it you'll be sad that they're leaving. Oh well, I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts...
New Rubber
Finally got the 155's tyres changed~ A belated birthday present from my mum, the new rubbers finally replace the ones which were purchased with my 1st pay! Although after being a long-time Falken loyalist, I switched to the Yokohama A-Drive due to the high price of the current Falken Azenis ST115 replacement, the FK-452. Well, since Yokohamas are competitors with Yokohama, I guess it shouldn't be too bad. Although it isn't as pretty as the Azenis, the A-Drive supposedly gives better comfort and ride. And true enough, upon driving on the new rubber, the 1st thing noticeable was the smoother ride. It was so cool... all this time the car shuddered under rough roads, but now it feels a lil better. Perhaps it's because the Azenis was a sports tyre, but could also be caused by them being old.
A Falken Azenis ST115 when it was new in 2005:
A worn-out Falken Azenis ST115 in 2008:
A new Yokohama A-Drive:
Also got the 155 its 1st polish since getting its new coat of paint. Persuaded the car wash dude to extend the Raya promotional price of RM60 (compared to the usual RM80). The results were really good, with it looking ridiculously shiny at noon. Even Joseph said the police would saman, saying it "menghalang penglihatan".
Some pics of the polished ride, with new A-Drives...
That's all for now,
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
New Rubber
Finally got the 155's tyres changed~ A belated birthday present from my mum, the new rubbers finally replace the ones which were purchased with my 1st pay! Although after being a long-time Falken loyalist, I switched to the Yokohama A-Drive due to the high price of the current Falken Azenis ST115 replacement, the FK-452. Well, since Yokohamas are competitors with Yokohama, I guess it shouldn't be too bad. Although it isn't as pretty as the Azenis, the A-Drive supposedly gives better comfort and ride. And true enough, upon driving on the new rubber, the 1st thing noticeable was the smoother ride. It was so cool... all this time the car shuddered under rough roads, but now it feels a lil better. Perhaps it's because the Azenis was a sports tyre, but could also be caused by them being old.
A Falken Azenis ST115 when it was new in 2005:
A worn-out Falken Azenis ST115 in 2008:
A new Yokohama A-Drive:
Also got the 155 its 1st polish since getting its new coat of paint. Persuaded the car wash dude to extend the Raya promotional price of RM60 (compared to the usual RM80). The results were really good, with it looking ridiculously shiny at noon. Even Joseph said the police would saman, saying it "menghalang penglihatan".
Some pics of the polished ride, with new A-Drives...
That's all for now,
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Being Positive
Been looking at things positively of late. Well, numerous things haven't been goin well during the last couple of months, there were a few setbacks but I'm not about to let them bring me down. I'm gonna be upbeat bout everything now, I'm gonna work even harder for my goals and I'm hoping for the best. Things seem to appear better, you get joy from the simplest of things and, the bad don't affect you as much as they used to and even people feel happier. Let's just hope I can keep this up~
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Raging Bond
007’s back, and this time he wants revenge…
How far would you go to avenge the death of the one you love? That is possibly the question hovering James Bond’s mind as he seeks retribution in Quantum of Solace, the 22nd instalment of the highly successful franchise. Broken and betrayed by lover Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, Bond will stop at nothing to seek answers.
Once again played by Daniel Craig and taking place roughly an hour after the previous adventure, the movie opens up on a high note, with a breathtaking, fast-paced car chase down the Alps between Bond’s Aston Martin DBS and two Alfa Romeo 159s. This was however followed by an opening theme song that was rather forgettable by Bond standards, lacking that certain catchiness that made them iconic.
This time Agent 007 is out to get corrupt businessman and rogue environmentalist Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) who attempts to control the entire water supply of Bolivia for his own gain. Looking all goggle-eyed, Greene does seem rather funny at times.
Teaming up with Bond is the beautiful Camille (Olga Kurylenko), who’s out to get a corrupt Bolivian dictator who raped and burned her family. Bond doesn’t go to bed with her, instead it’s the similarity between the two that connects them together and differentiates Camille from the typical Bond girl.
Making her little mark in the movie as well is Agent Fields (Gemma Arterton), an MI6 consulate in Bolivia. Do keep an eye as there is a scene which mimics the one in Goldfinger. Judi Dench returns with a wonderful performance as M, who seems to be watching over 007 almost maternally, and Bond even confirms it in a line during the movie.
Like most Bond flicks, the adventure takes us to more exotic locations, and a nice touch was the way each location were spelled out with fancy typefaces that match the features of the country. The movie is action-packed from start to end, with Bond chasing baddies on rooftops, through sea, air, and pretty much every angle you could think of. It is almost as if the movie makers had a serious case of envy over the Bourne trilogy and tried to make Bond a furious killing machine.
Gone is the suaveness of 007, replaced by a man with inconsolable rage which sees him kill almost every lead to the case, leaving most clues at a dead end, something a good detective should never do (and makes M furious of course!).
He is also after the notorious Mr.White, who is responsible for Vesper’s death. The mess of emotions running in his mind is perhaps the reason why Bond is so vicious this time around and not a man of many words. It’s almost as if the essence of Bond is lacking, along with his humour.
Craig is excellent as Bond, but the amount of action leaves him lesser room to showcase his acting skills. Agent 007 didn’t even get to introduce himself as “Bond, James Bond” this time around.
Quantum of Solace is by no means a disappointment. It only appears so because Casino Royale was perhaps one of the best-made Bond movies of late. Action dominates over storyline this time around, and with a shorter running time of below two hours, it’s more like a sequel that seeks answers rather than a whole new Bond adventure. The number of thrills in this movie is something not to be missed by action-lovers. Just make sure you catch Casino Royale first in order to enjoy it fully.
3 out of 5 Stars
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Don’t Mess with Payne
Don’t Mess with Payne
Max Payne is a man with nothing to lose. Based on the highly-popular computer game of the same name, Max Payne is a dark action thriller that shows what happens when a man is pushed to the limit. Having lost his wife, his baby girl, and even his work partner, Payne has lost everything. Mark Wahlberg stars as titular maverick cop who journeys into the dark underworld to avenge the brutal murder of his family. And just like the game, he is assisted by Mona Sax (Mila Kunis), who is also out to avenge the killing of her sister Natasha.
Instantly noticeable is the movie’s noir feel, reminiscent of graphic novels and keeping in line with the feel of the computer game. Scenes are rendered beautifully, with snowflakes and rain appearing almost fantasy-like. The gloomy feel of the movie connects us to Payne’s world, which is filled with regret, sadness and pain. Even the opening is dramatic, with Payne sinking into a dark, icy lake, narrating, “There's an army of bodies under this river, people who ran out of time, out of friends. I could feel the dead down there, reaching up to welcome me as one of their own. It was an easy mistake to make.” He is filled with revenge, and throughout the movie he is obsessed with hunting down those responsible.
A large portion of the movie revolves around the drug Valkyr, widely used in the underworld, which is said to increase one’s strength and also eliminate fear. An unfortunate side effect of the drug is hallucinations, with most users seeing ghastly things flying above them. The movie has a semi-detective-style approach to it, and slowly the connection between Valkyr and the killing of Payne’s family is revealed.
The film features a wide cast of talents like Chris O’Donnell, and Amaury Nolasco, the latter shines especially as the terrifying Jack Lupino, a former soldier obsessed with the power of Valkyr. Others include Donal Logue as Payne’s partner Alex Balder and the beautiful Olga Kurylenko as Natasha. Interesting additions are the talents of Ludacris and Nelly Furtado, who usually have more to do with singing than acting. They blend well with their roles and add a bit of flavour to the movie. There are many suspicious characters, and you might not guess who the actual culprit behind the conspiracy is.
There is a lot of tribute to the game. ‘Bullet-time’, made popular by The Matrix and highly used in the game, is done wonderfully in Max Payne. From firing a shotgun in super slow-mo to gunning down an entire squad of baddies, it is used to good effect in action scenes. Even certain key scenes are faithfully reproduced, like the revolving scene in which Payne returns home and discovers his wife and baby daughter killed. And just like the game, he gets an exciting array of awesome weapons with seemingly never-ending ammo.
A blend of spectacular visuals, suspense and thrilling action, Max Payne should appeal to action fans looking for something a little out of the ordinary, and for fans of the game, this is definitely not a movie to miss. Mark Wahlberg may not look a lot like Max Payne, but in this movie he certainly fills that role well.
3.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Max Payne is a man with nothing to lose. Based on the highly-popular computer game of the same name, Max Payne is a dark action thriller that shows what happens when a man is pushed to the limit. Having lost his wife, his baby girl, and even his work partner, Payne has lost everything. Mark Wahlberg stars as titular maverick cop who journeys into the dark underworld to avenge the brutal murder of his family. And just like the game, he is assisted by Mona Sax (Mila Kunis), who is also out to avenge the killing of her sister Natasha.
Instantly noticeable is the movie’s noir feel, reminiscent of graphic novels and keeping in line with the feel of the computer game. Scenes are rendered beautifully, with snowflakes and rain appearing almost fantasy-like. The gloomy feel of the movie connects us to Payne’s world, which is filled with regret, sadness and pain. Even the opening is dramatic, with Payne sinking into a dark, icy lake, narrating, “There's an army of bodies under this river, people who ran out of time, out of friends. I could feel the dead down there, reaching up to welcome me as one of their own. It was an easy mistake to make.” He is filled with revenge, and throughout the movie he is obsessed with hunting down those responsible.
A large portion of the movie revolves around the drug Valkyr, widely used in the underworld, which is said to increase one’s strength and also eliminate fear. An unfortunate side effect of the drug is hallucinations, with most users seeing ghastly things flying above them. The movie has a semi-detective-style approach to it, and slowly the connection between Valkyr and the killing of Payne’s family is revealed.
The film features a wide cast of talents like Chris O’Donnell, and Amaury Nolasco, the latter shines especially as the terrifying Jack Lupino, a former soldier obsessed with the power of Valkyr. Others include Donal Logue as Payne’s partner Alex Balder and the beautiful Olga Kurylenko as Natasha. Interesting additions are the talents of Ludacris and Nelly Furtado, who usually have more to do with singing than acting. They blend well with their roles and add a bit of flavour to the movie. There are many suspicious characters, and you might not guess who the actual culprit behind the conspiracy is.
There is a lot of tribute to the game. ‘Bullet-time’, made popular by The Matrix and highly used in the game, is done wonderfully in Max Payne. From firing a shotgun in super slow-mo to gunning down an entire squad of baddies, it is used to good effect in action scenes. Even certain key scenes are faithfully reproduced, like the revolving scene in which Payne returns home and discovers his wife and baby daughter killed. And just like the game, he gets an exciting array of awesome weapons with seemingly never-ending ammo.
A blend of spectacular visuals, suspense and thrilling action, Max Payne should appeal to action fans looking for something a little out of the ordinary, and for fans of the game, this is definitely not a movie to miss. Mark Wahlberg may not look a lot like Max Payne, but in this movie he certainly fills that role well.
3.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Friday, October 10, 2008
10-10-10
10-10-10
What is it with the number 10 today? Well it's the 10th of October, which happens to be the 10th month. That makes 10-10. Then when I went for the press screening of Max Payne, the hall number is 10. Now it's 10-10-10. Must be a lucky number for today. Somehow things that happened today are all so nice. The people I meet, the stuff I purchased, stuff I replaced (Well, my 2GB memory stick broke. Bummer...), the tako balls I had for lunch, the kimchi noodles after that and nice movie btw, review coming up soon. And well, some other stuff happened today making it a feel-good day for me. Just hope this stays through the whole weekend. Now if only this cold would go away...
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
What is it with the number 10 today? Well it's the 10th of October, which happens to be the 10th month. That makes 10-10. Then when I went for the press screening of Max Payne, the hall number is 10. Now it's 10-10-10. Must be a lucky number for today. Somehow things that happened today are all so nice. The people I meet, the stuff I purchased, stuff I replaced (Well, my 2GB memory stick broke. Bummer...), the tako balls I had for lunch, the kimchi noodles after that and nice movie btw, review coming up soon. And well, some other stuff happened today making it a feel-good day for me. Just hope this stays through the whole weekend. Now if only this cold would go away...
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Sigh...
Sigh...
"If this is not the end of oblivion, then I shall live everyday as if my life were to end on this very day."
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Eat and Work till Midnite
Eat and Work till Midnite
Anyways, just before dinner, me, Irene & Zali headed off to find some food to eat. We went to this Pasar Ramadhan at Section 14, dun ask me where, I'm so unfamiliar with roads there. There were tons and tons of different types of food! But the thing was most of them were finishing... we were late. So grabbed a bit of this and that... A fat murtabak, which looked awesome, roti Lee John, sugar cane, coconut, kuih... Zali bought some nasi for himself and Husin. Me and Irene even managed to grab some McD... Oh, and Kenny asked for some ayam percik which we couldn't find, lol. Got him 8 chicken wings, not sure what else was there. When we got back to the office, we were just stunned by the sheer mass of food on the table. There were just too many types, and no way we could finish it all... Oh, and we didn't know Jen was in the office too, if not we could've got her something as well. The poor gurl had to settle with Kenny's chicken wings, and some roti Lee John. But I guess we shouldn't have bought BOTH coconut and sugar cane. It was overkill... and the murtabak had to be brought home.
Kenny setting up some food on table...
This weird concoction is actually delicious~
It's called the McFlurry Mudpie~
Jen and I taking pic of the huge mass of food~
Roti Lee John~!
After dinner it was back to work. We did what we could for the day to minimize the damage on Wednesday. Somehow no one really took note of the time and before you know it, it was midnight! OmG... so we all decided to pack our bags and told each other "See ya in a few hours~". What a week it was indeed... but the food part was fun, lol~
On other things, managed to land myself a Deluxe Animated Soundwave a couple of days ago. Was lucky enuff to get it when it was taken out of the shop's shipping boxes. The glow-like blue looks real cool, and Lazerbeak becomes a guitar which attaches to the roof. Overall the vehicle looks really "boom-box"-ey~
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
DSLR Dream
DSLR Dream
Dreaming of the Nikon D90:
But most probably will only be able to afford the Sony Alpha300:
Let's see how hard I can work. Will try my best~!
Btw, wondering when our lil mini-Olympics with Brainchild will actually start, should be a great chance to take some fun pics~
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Thursday, September 11, 2008
What a Week...
What a Week...
What a week of tiredness... day after day of absolute work and lack of sleep... but I'll get to that later, first of all...
BoA will Eat You Up~!
The time we've all been waiting for is here, the Korean princess of pop, Kwon BoA has just announced her plans to enter the US market. At a conference titled "Best of Asia, Bring on America", BoA also unveiled details of her 1st single from her upcoming US album. The single, titled "Eat You Up" features 2 separate MVs, one from a American director and one a Korean. Eat You Up is produced by Bloodshy & Avant while the music videos were choreographed by Flii Styiz and Misha Gabriel. Flii Styiz has worked with many artists like Chris Brown, Usher, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé. Max Gousse will be her manger in America and has worked with Beyoncé, Usher and Justin Timberlake.
BoA will Eat You Up~!
The time we've all been waiting for is here, the Korean princess of pop, Kwon BoA has just announced her plans to enter the US market. At a conference titled "Best of Asia, Bring on America", BoA also unveiled details of her 1st single from her upcoming US album. The single, titled "Eat You Up" features 2 separate MVs, one from a American director and one a Korean. Eat You Up is produced by Bloodshy & Avant while the music videos were choreographed by Flii Styiz and Misha Gabriel. Flii Styiz has worked with many artists like Chris Brown, Usher, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé. Max Gousse will be her manger in America and has worked with Beyoncé, Usher and Justin Timberlake.
What caught the attention of fans was that BoA had one of her arms in a plaster cast. It was then revealed that she fell down the stairs the previous day while rehearsing (poor thing). She'll be up and running (hopefully) in 6 weeks. The full MV will be revealed on October 7th and on November 11th her management will release the single in public stores and online through Amazon, Myspace, iTunes, and even ringtone downloads. Her album will be out early 2009 and she will be promoting the album with appearances on TV shows, radio programs, and at clubs. After her promotion period, she is planning to do a nationwide concert tour. (Source: BoAjjang)
BoA in front of the image she'll portray in the West
SM Entertainment's Lee Soo Man himself helping her sit~
Here's a look at the teaser for her American MV, directed by Diane Martel. In my opinion it's hip-hoppy but a lil odd, with the CGi background and the mismatching lipstick. But it does reveal part of the song, which does get catchy after a few plays. The dance moves are typical BoA, full of energy and looking hot. There were also a few sexy scenes of BoA, and I have to admit I hope she doesn't get too sexy, as in America it's all about sex. I mean sex sells, but BoA, she can pull it off without it...
BoA in front of the image she'll portray in the West
SM Entertainment's Lee Soo Man himself helping her sit~
Here's a look at the teaser for her American MV, directed by Diane Martel. In my opinion it's hip-hoppy but a lil odd, with the CGi background and the mismatching lipstick. But it does reveal part of the song, which does get catchy after a few plays. The dance moves are typical BoA, full of energy and looking hot. There were also a few sexy scenes of BoA, and I have to admit I hope she doesn't get too sexy, as in America it's all about sex. I mean sex sells, but BoA, she can pull it off without it...
The second teaser is her Korean MV, directed by Cha Eun Taek, which I feel is much cooler than the American one, but just as over-the-top. Here she shows a much more "BoA" appearance, and I like that a lot. Not much of the song other than the chorus, but you'd have to admit it's getting catchier and catchier. There's also has a lil of Michael Jackson feel to the MV, with the whole "well-done-ness" slapped all over it. It's probably the type of MV I'd prefer BoA to go to the US with...
Oh, and later on Flo-Rida will feature in the remixed version of the single. Shud be cool stuff~ I really hope this single will do well, and spearhead her entry into the US market. The album in 2009 is going to be hot stuff, and I really, really pray the Americans will know how to appreciate the Best of Asia. Wish her lots of luck guys~!
Someone Dig Me out of this Hole
"I've like dug this deep, deep hole and I have no idea why I have done this. Somebody help me!!!" That's exactly what I felt last weekend when I had to cover 2 events on the same day. But don't get me wrong, I accepted the tasks, but I guess I didn't know what to expect. It was so tiring, and um, they weren't exactly the most interesting of events. But I accepted them on good faith that I'll gain some precious experience.
Went to Sunway College to cover their Undergraduate Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Gosh it felt so awkward being there with almost 400+ students attending. Apparently they had some problems regarding a press conference as other than me, there's only1 chap from The Star. We two were the loners there. So they arranged chairs in a room and we had a small discussion. It was tough juggling taking down notes and taking photos, you can't do them both! Worse still, I didn't have a single clue on accounting. Anyways, soon after that, I headed to KL for another event.
It was at Hotel Maya, and it was the 1st convocation of Cyberlink International College (CIC). I was the only media there, I had to admit its rather scary for me. But seeing all the smiling faces of soon-to-be graduates lessens my awkward-ness. Took some photos, did some interviews and then headed home. There was also a weird fashion show too.
Sacrificed my Sunday to write the stories. Sigh... I really wanted to go to Sungei Wang that weekend to grab a Tomica Speed Racer Mach 5. But I heard it's now available in Jusco so I guess I'll have to look around now. I even dug a bigger hole by saying I'd submit the music reviews on Monday. I looked at Irene and uttered "What have I done???". After all was done, I'm so glad to see it out in print. This week's issue is the most input I have ever put in, with 2 articles, 2 music reviews, short article on Animax and a page of compiled picks of the week. And gosh I'm so tired...
On other things, I have this crush on a girl at my workplace. Well, to be honest I have no idea if she knows I have the hots for her. She's funny, cute and outgoing, and I'd like to know more bout her first, she does seem like an interesting person. But why oh why this always so daunting for me... T_T
Spaghetti Delight
Yeah man, nothing beats spagetti that's home-made. Spaghetti, wonderful gravy with lots of tomatoes, butterfly prawns, caesar salad, french bread... Nyum-nyum...
Oh well, that's all for now,
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Into the New World
Into the New World
Gosh, I've really been behind with my postings... to put it simply, I just didn't have the time. I've been too busy with work, in in the morning and back late at night on rush days, having hardly much time for myself. It's tiring, but work is work, we need the money to survive, no? Despite earning hardly enough to get through the month, I still keep going. Times are hard and rising prices are tough too... The fact that September is a month of car insurances and road tax for me doesn't help one bit at all.
Pardon the homage to SNSD's famous song as the title of this blog entry, but it was pretty much what happened to me last week. Thursday, 28th August 2008, something interesting came passing by. After the weekly company meeting, the boss called me to her room. Now, I had to admit I was a little nervous. After all, why all of a sudden? Sifu said I was gonna be fired. Joking, of course... After a short chat with the boss, it turns out that I'll be covering an event... as a trial. To see how I perform, as a possible branch-off to my usual work schedule. Well, of course I was excited... but I was helluva worried and feeling nervous chills up my spine.
This could very well be a blessing... or a curse.
I've always wanted to try journalism, so I accepted the offer, which is to cover a *gulp* fashion event at The Curve. I was to take photos and write a short article. The event was a launch of a new collection titled "Dangerously Glamorous". It was really daunting, to be there with so many experienced journalists and photographers there... and worst, I didn't recognize who the 2 designers were! I asked the girl who sat next to me, I forgot her name, but she works with Klue. She said she had no idea either, but she was there to do a photo assignment, herself being new to this too. Met her rather cute colleague too, my guess was that she does the writing. Anyways, it wasn't too long before we found ourselves running to the middle to find a good spot to shoot. It was tough cos the pro photographers already got the best angles. The lighting was a lil low, and there was a mix of fluorescent and incandescent lights. Anyways, here's some pics from the event:
The event took place at Binwani's Boutique
Yup, that's Amber Chia! I was so excited to see her up close~
Miss Astro Chinese International 2007, Joanne Yew. She was so gorgeous!
Occasionally, my cam would steal flash from other cameras, resulting in shots like this~
Oh, Dayang Nurfaizah was there too, although she walked past the photographers during her 1st round. Well, it's ok I guess, since she's a singer and she doesn't do this as often as Amber. We all asked her to stop for a while the following round she made. Hehe...
Amber looking gorgeous. This was one of the nicest outfits to me~
Oh, and here Joanne is showing off this nice green asymmetrical evening gown, which I found totally stunning and it's my favourite of the event~
Another photo of Dayang~
This nice dress had lil bits sewn to it~
The finale... look at those gorgeous girls with matching gorgeous gowns~
Mr. Vijay Binwani himself~!
Oh, and I bumped into Amber 2 times on my way back. I should have asked for a photo! Real wasted opportunity... sigh. Well, the event went on fine, I was able to go back home right after that as it was already after working hours. Lots of thoughts crossed my mind over how to do the article and whether the photos turned out okay...
The next day itself, Farah came over and asked if I could do a favor and cover an event at Sunway Pyramid. I was quite surprised. Another assignment, so fast? Wow... Well, I took the job, went there after lunchtime. It was at the Blue Entrance, an event called "KICK! 2008", in which a team of amateur girls aged 19-29 attempt to break the record for "Most Number of Martial Arts Kicks by a Team in 24 Hours" in the Malaysia Book of Records. They're also doing it for charity as the public could donate for each kick. This was to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. The target to beat was 52,800 kicks and each girl has to do an average of 40 kicks a minute to meet that figure. A daunting task if you ask me. I helped to shoot some photos, as the official photographer for that day, Thean Howe, had another assignment at 4pm, so he had to miss the actual kicking. Spoke to a photographer from the NST there, her name was Nurul if I'm not mistaken. It was quite cool to see a female photographer among the guys. The poor gurl just came back from 3 days staying with Orang Asli for a story. Anyways, some photos from the event:
The stage in which the girls were gonna kick for 24 hours~
Captain Quack sent in a special request to try for himself some kicks!
This is team captain and manager Xaviera, whose kicks are pure awesomeness!
This girl, June, is also very hyper... look at her go!
This girl caught my attention. Her name's Ca-Ryn, she was quite ferocious like the rest, but in between kicks she was so hyper and ready for action...
She's cute, and not to mention darn fit...
Here are some videos of her in action... notice how ferocious her kicks are, and they cute way she keeps herself aggressive during rests in between kicks.
Video Link
Video Link
I left after watching them kick for bout half-an-hour. They kept going at it, it was awesome... The last ones I watched were Fionna and Puteri (I think), and gosh, despite their small frames, they were simply amazing. The next they the results were 53,085 kicks, a whole 285 more than the initial target, earning themselves the record. Well done girls~!
My next task was to write the article, which I admit proved harder than I thought. I was slow in starting it, and I feel this had to be improved. Usually the start is the important part, then keeping the momentum. The boss told me she liked what she saw, and would forward it to the editor. The next thing I knew, one of my articles was going to be put into the coming issue! Woweee... needed some changes though, but basically it's there... the KICK! 2008 story, with a mixture of Thean Howe's photos and mine. A whole full-pager... I was so excited. After laying it out (took me ages, cos like Sifu said, it was my 'baby'), I found out that Zali was laying out... guess what... my Binwani's story! With my photos!!! OmG! 2 full-pages? I couldn't contain my excitement... That would of course increase a lot that evening when the early print of the paper came out:
Here are links to bigger-sized pages so you can read them :)
Well, like I said earlier, this is just a start... I'd like to see how this goes, but I have my worries too, on whether I can keep up and whether it'll affect my work. It's going to use a lot of brainpower to come up with something so quickly. It's not going to be easy but I'm gonna give this a go.
Wish me luck!
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
Pardon the homage to SNSD's famous song as the title of this blog entry, but it was pretty much what happened to me last week. Thursday, 28th August 2008, something interesting came passing by. After the weekly company meeting, the boss called me to her room. Now, I had to admit I was a little nervous. After all, why all of a sudden? Sifu said I was gonna be fired. Joking, of course... After a short chat with the boss, it turns out that I'll be covering an event... as a trial. To see how I perform, as a possible branch-off to my usual work schedule. Well, of course I was excited... but I was helluva worried and feeling nervous chills up my spine.
This could very well be a blessing... or a curse.
I've always wanted to try journalism, so I accepted the offer, which is to cover a *gulp* fashion event at The Curve. I was to take photos and write a short article. The event was a launch of a new collection titled "Dangerously Glamorous". It was really daunting, to be there with so many experienced journalists and photographers there... and worst, I didn't recognize who the 2 designers were! I asked the girl who sat next to me, I forgot her name, but she works with Klue. She said she had no idea either, but she was there to do a photo assignment, herself being new to this too. Met her rather cute colleague too, my guess was that she does the writing. Anyways, it wasn't too long before we found ourselves running to the middle to find a good spot to shoot. It was tough cos the pro photographers already got the best angles. The lighting was a lil low, and there was a mix of fluorescent and incandescent lights. Anyways, here's some pics from the event:
The event took place at Binwani's Boutique
Yup, that's Amber Chia! I was so excited to see her up close~
Miss Astro Chinese International 2007, Joanne Yew. She was so gorgeous!
Occasionally, my cam would steal flash from other cameras, resulting in shots like this~
Oh, Dayang Nurfaizah was there too, although she walked past the photographers during her 1st round. Well, it's ok I guess, since she's a singer and she doesn't do this as often as Amber. We all asked her to stop for a while the following round she made. Hehe...
Amber looking gorgeous. This was one of the nicest outfits to me~
Oh, and here Joanne is showing off this nice green asymmetrical evening gown, which I found totally stunning and it's my favourite of the event~
Another photo of Dayang~
This nice dress had lil bits sewn to it~
The finale... look at those gorgeous girls with matching gorgeous gowns~
Mr. Vijay Binwani himself~!
Oh, and I bumped into Amber 2 times on my way back. I should have asked for a photo! Real wasted opportunity... sigh. Well, the event went on fine, I was able to go back home right after that as it was already after working hours. Lots of thoughts crossed my mind over how to do the article and whether the photos turned out okay...
The next day itself, Farah came over and asked if I could do a favor and cover an event at Sunway Pyramid. I was quite surprised. Another assignment, so fast? Wow... Well, I took the job, went there after lunchtime. It was at the Blue Entrance, an event called "KICK! 2008", in which a team of amateur girls aged 19-29 attempt to break the record for "Most Number of Martial Arts Kicks by a Team in 24 Hours" in the Malaysia Book of Records. They're also doing it for charity as the public could donate for each kick. This was to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. The target to beat was 52,800 kicks and each girl has to do an average of 40 kicks a minute to meet that figure. A daunting task if you ask me. I helped to shoot some photos, as the official photographer for that day, Thean Howe, had another assignment at 4pm, so he had to miss the actual kicking. Spoke to a photographer from the NST there, her name was Nurul if I'm not mistaken. It was quite cool to see a female photographer among the guys. The poor gurl just came back from 3 days staying with Orang Asli for a story. Anyways, some photos from the event:
The stage in which the girls were gonna kick for 24 hours~
Captain Quack sent in a special request to try for himself some kicks!
This is team captain and manager Xaviera, whose kicks are pure awesomeness!
This girl, June, is also very hyper... look at her go!
This girl caught my attention. Her name's Ca-Ryn, she was quite ferocious like the rest, but in between kicks she was so hyper and ready for action...
She's cute, and not to mention darn fit...
Here are some videos of her in action... notice how ferocious her kicks are, and they cute way she keeps herself aggressive during rests in between kicks.
Video Link
Video Link
I left after watching them kick for bout half-an-hour. They kept going at it, it was awesome... The last ones I watched were Fionna and Puteri (I think), and gosh, despite their small frames, they were simply amazing. The next they the results were 53,085 kicks, a whole 285 more than the initial target, earning themselves the record. Well done girls~!
My next task was to write the article, which I admit proved harder than I thought. I was slow in starting it, and I feel this had to be improved. Usually the start is the important part, then keeping the momentum. The boss told me she liked what she saw, and would forward it to the editor. The next thing I knew, one of my articles was going to be put into the coming issue! Woweee... needed some changes though, but basically it's there... the KICK! 2008 story, with a mixture of Thean Howe's photos and mine. A whole full-pager... I was so excited. After laying it out (took me ages, cos like Sifu said, it was my 'baby'), I found out that Zali was laying out... guess what... my Binwani's story! With my photos!!! OmG! 2 full-pages? I couldn't contain my excitement... That would of course increase a lot that evening when the early print of the paper came out:
Here are links to bigger-sized pages so you can read them :)
Well, like I said earlier, this is just a start... I'd like to see how this goes, but I have my worries too, on whether I can keep up and whether it'll affect my work. It's going to use a lot of brainpower to come up with something so quickly. It's not going to be easy but I'm gonna give this a go.
Wish me luck!
PEACE and God Bless,
Aris Tee
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