Monday, November 26, 2007
Bah!!!
Time to reformat my computer as it got infected by some stupid trojans!!! I have to spend some time doing back-ups...Argh! Headache...!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
My Tutor Friend 2
My Tutor Friend 2 Synopsis (from http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr)
Junko, a Japanese of Korean ancestry, comes to Korea to find her sweetheart. She finds lodging at a guest house that provides room and board. Unfortunately, the room that she is supposed to stay in belongs to the owner’s son, Jong-man. On her first night in Seoul, Junko is forced to share the room with Jong-man. Junko wants to find another place, but the owner desires to keep Junko as a guest and offers Junko free Korean lessons from Jong-man. It is going to be some adventure for Junko in Seoul!
My comments:
It’s called My Tutor Friend 2 but it has no connection to the first one starring Kwon Sang Woo. I had a good time watching the first although deep down I found it lame and stupid and I enjoyed watching Gong Yoo more than Kwon Sang Woo…Anyway, back to My Tutor Friend 2, I still found it lame and stupid but I like it more than the first one overall. I thought that the love relationship between the leads was pretty sweet at the end and it was believable. The side characters were mostly annoying but not to the point of killing the movie. It’s just weird that the movie is called My Tutor Friend 2 but it didn’t have that many tutoring scenes. Finally, the movie poster doesn’t do this movie justice! Lee Chung Ah is a cute girl but why make her look like this in the poster is a big mystery to me. She’s absolutely not like this in the movie…
Junko, a Japanese of Korean ancestry, comes to Korea to find her sweetheart. She finds lodging at a guest house that provides room and board. Unfortunately, the room that she is supposed to stay in belongs to the owner’s son, Jong-man. On her first night in Seoul, Junko is forced to share the room with Jong-man. Junko wants to find another place, but the owner desires to keep Junko as a guest and offers Junko free Korean lessons from Jong-man. It is going to be some adventure for Junko in Seoul!
My comments:
It’s called My Tutor Friend 2 but it has no connection to the first one starring Kwon Sang Woo. I had a good time watching the first although deep down I found it lame and stupid and I enjoyed watching Gong Yoo more than Kwon Sang Woo…Anyway, back to My Tutor Friend 2, I still found it lame and stupid but I like it more than the first one overall. I thought that the love relationship between the leads was pretty sweet at the end and it was believable. The side characters were mostly annoying but not to the point of killing the movie. It’s just weird that the movie is called My Tutor Friend 2 but it didn’t have that many tutoring scenes. Finally, the movie poster doesn’t do this movie justice! Lee Chung Ah is a cute girl but why make her look like this in the poster is a big mystery to me. She’s absolutely not like this in the movie…
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Hwang Jin Yi
Hwang Jin Yi Synopsis (from Yesasia)
Based on the novel by North Korean writer Hong Suk Joong, Hwang Jin Yi tells the story of a 16th-century geisha with the mindset of a modern 21st-century woman. Raised as an aristocrat in an era when class status dictated one's destiny, Jin Yi (Song Hye Kyo) discovers a shocking secret about her birth: she was born in the lower class. After much thought, she gives up her aristocratic status and becomes a geisha. She spends her first night with a man named Nom Yi (Yoo Ji Tae, Old Boy), and gradually falls for him. Though she is constantly surrounded by an entourage of aristocratic men showering her with gifts and admiration, Jin Yi lives a solitary life of tragic isolation. She finds herself traveling a bumpy road, faced with a dilemma that will alter her destiny forever.
My comments:
Either that I was not really in my best shape when I watched this or I generally don’t like watching period movies but I was bored by it. I didn’t watch the drama version of Hwang Jin Yi starring Ha Ji Won last year so I’m not making any comparison and I don’t have any bias. The movie had nice cinematography and lavish setting and costumes but the romance part really failed to move me. It would be more interesting it focuses more on the process of how Hwang Jin-Yi became the successful gisaeng instead. I really think that Yoo Ji Tae is wasted here as he didn’t have much to do. Song Hye Kyo is a beautiful actress but she’s not suited for period drama. There were times that I felt that she was awkward and this movie certainly didn’t bring the best out of her...
Based on the novel by North Korean writer Hong Suk Joong, Hwang Jin Yi tells the story of a 16th-century geisha with the mindset of a modern 21st-century woman. Raised as an aristocrat in an era when class status dictated one's destiny, Jin Yi (Song Hye Kyo) discovers a shocking secret about her birth: she was born in the lower class. After much thought, she gives up her aristocratic status and becomes a geisha. She spends her first night with a man named Nom Yi (Yoo Ji Tae, Old Boy), and gradually falls for him. Though she is constantly surrounded by an entourage of aristocratic men showering her with gifts and admiration, Jin Yi lives a solitary life of tragic isolation. She finds herself traveling a bumpy road, faced with a dilemma that will alter her destiny forever.
My comments:
Either that I was not really in my best shape when I watched this or I generally don’t like watching period movies but I was bored by it. I didn’t watch the drama version of Hwang Jin Yi starring Ha Ji Won last year so I’m not making any comparison and I don’t have any bias. The movie had nice cinematography and lavish setting and costumes but the romance part really failed to move me. It would be more interesting it focuses more on the process of how Hwang Jin-Yi became the successful gisaeng instead. I really think that Yoo Ji Tae is wasted here as he didn’t have much to do. Song Hye Kyo is a beautiful actress but she’s not suited for period drama. There were times that I felt that she was awkward and this movie certainly didn’t bring the best out of her...
Monday, November 19, 2007
Nothing Is Impossible
Nothing Is Impossible Synopsis (from Yesasia)
Cram school teacher Vivian (Cherrie Ying) may have a good job and photogenic looks, but when it comes to fist drinking games and holding down her alcohol, she still has a long way to go. When Vivian loses her boyfriend (Andy On) to speed fists champion Mango (Debbie Koh), she is determined to win back her pride. She teams up with former champion Turtle (Dayo Wong) to learn the tricks of the game, but he has a long list of problems himself, including a money-hungry ex-wife and piling debts. Vivian soon develops a liking for the game and for her tutor, but can she master the game in time to triumph at the speed fist championship?
My comments:
I expected it be pointless and stupid but it wasn’t bad overall. I enjoyed it and found it funny at times although I don’t fully catch the rules of all the “fist games” (I loosely know how to play that 15-20 game…). It was a loud movie and those vomit parts were disgustingly yucky but other than that, I was entertained for 100 minutes. Haha…I think that Dayo wore the same clothes (he only changed the colors of the t-shirts from grey to white) during the whole movie. Andy On always played cool or badass characters but in this movie, he’s uncool so that’s a nice change. I really wonder if those "constipation" and "brokeback" fist games exist for real…hehe!
Cram school teacher Vivian (Cherrie Ying) may have a good job and photogenic looks, but when it comes to fist drinking games and holding down her alcohol, she still has a long way to go. When Vivian loses her boyfriend (Andy On) to speed fists champion Mango (Debbie Koh), she is determined to win back her pride. She teams up with former champion Turtle (Dayo Wong) to learn the tricks of the game, but he has a long list of problems himself, including a money-hungry ex-wife and piling debts. Vivian soon develops a liking for the game and for her tutor, but can she master the game in time to triumph at the speed fist championship?
My comments:
I expected it be pointless and stupid but it wasn’t bad overall. I enjoyed it and found it funny at times although I don’t fully catch the rules of all the “fist games” (I loosely know how to play that 15-20 game…). It was a loud movie and those vomit parts were disgustingly yucky but other than that, I was entertained for 100 minutes. Haha…I think that Dayo wore the same clothes (he only changed the colors of the t-shirts from grey to white) during the whole movie. Andy On always played cool or badass characters but in this movie, he’s uncool so that’s a nice change. I really wonder if those "constipation" and "brokeback" fist games exist for real…hehe!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
TVB 40th Anniversary Awards
Although I don’t watch TVB series that often now, however I will watch the annual award show. I’m not going to talk about the winners or if they deserve or not since I didn’t watch much this year and it’s expected to see Heart of Greed sweep the major awards anyway. I just want to talk about the show itself. Before, TVB anniversary celebration had their artists performing and stuff with the awards in one show and it was actually more entertaining and more “alive”. Now with the award show on its own, it’s really boring and the atmosphere is “dead” as everyone looked bored and unattached. This year as usual, it’s messy, it’s rushed (the presenters didn’t have time to finish what they want to say and the winners were rushed to finish their speeches). Bah...
Congratulations to all winners!
The most touching moment of the show...
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Eye In The Sky
Eye in the Sky Synopsis (from Yesasia)
Yam is Mike, head of the SU (Surveillance Unit), a dedicated unit of cops whose job is to follow, listen, and learn - but they must never engage their quarry. They've just taken on a new member, rookie cop Bo (former Miss Hong Kong Kate Tsui), and she receives a trial by fire when charismatic criminal Shan (Tony Leung Ka Fai) stages a daring daylight robbery. The SU immediately begins searching for Shan, using every resource at their disposal, from camera surveillance to smart card tracking to plain, old-fashioned legwork. But Shan is no ordinary criminal, and seems to be as smart as the cops on his trail. When the game escalates to life and death stakes, Bo becomes the only one who can track down Shan and bring him to justice.
My comments:
By looking at the cast, it reminds me of Election. Well, this is an interesting and tense movie and it’s expected to see good performances from the male leads but surprisingly even Kate Tsui managed to do well. The scene stealer is actually Maggie Siu as the swearing chief and I wonder what’s the point with Simon Yam wearing a fake tummy for this role. If I didn’t put the subtitles, I think I’ll be lost while watching because there were a lot of technical and inside terms, which I’m absolutely clueless. I hope for a better ending with how Tony Leung is off…the way that it’s resolved is unconvincing…
Yam is Mike, head of the SU (Surveillance Unit), a dedicated unit of cops whose job is to follow, listen, and learn - but they must never engage their quarry. They've just taken on a new member, rookie cop Bo (former Miss Hong Kong Kate Tsui), and she receives a trial by fire when charismatic criminal Shan (Tony Leung Ka Fai) stages a daring daylight robbery. The SU immediately begins searching for Shan, using every resource at their disposal, from camera surveillance to smart card tracking to plain, old-fashioned legwork. But Shan is no ordinary criminal, and seems to be as smart as the cops on his trail. When the game escalates to life and death stakes, Bo becomes the only one who can track down Shan and bring him to justice.
My comments:
By looking at the cast, it reminds me of Election. Well, this is an interesting and tense movie and it’s expected to see good performances from the male leads but surprisingly even Kate Tsui managed to do well. The scene stealer is actually Maggie Siu as the swearing chief and I wonder what’s the point with Simon Yam wearing a fake tummy for this role. If I didn’t put the subtitles, I think I’ll be lost while watching because there were a lot of technical and inside terms, which I’m absolutely clueless. I hope for a better ending with how Tony Leung is off…the way that it’s resolved is unconvincing…
Friday, November 9, 2007
Jay Chou On The Run
I received my copy of 我很忙 Tuesday but it’s only today that I really took the time to listen to it. I listened on repeat mode at work for 6 hours today (haha…I’m bragging that my job allows me to listen to my ipod…) to come with the following conclusion: I like it overall. The album flows well and it’s less melancholic compared to his previous works.
01 - 牛仔很忙 => Like it. I remember myself fainting when I first heard it but I’m used to the song now and it’s even better once you read the lyrics. It’s the only song in this album that is un-Jay.
02 - 彩虹 => Skip it. I find it forgettable
03 - 青花瓷 => Love it. The only 中國風 of the album and I have to repeat it: I LOVE IT! It’s very elegant and gentle.
04 - 陽光宅男 => Like it. I don’t know how to describe this song, it sounds very popish but I think it’s fresh.
05 - 蒲公英的約定 => Skip it. Another slow ballad, which I don’t have any feeling.
06 - 無雙 => Love it. It’s rockish and I can guarantee that you’ll freak out at 3:19, now that’s無雙
07 - 我不配 => Love it. I saw the MV first and I have a confession: I cried! It’s very touching and heart wrenching at the same time since Jay said that it’s real-life experiences.
08 - 扯 => Love it. Jay raps with some kids and he sounds different in this song.
09 - 甜甜的 => Like it. The feel of this song is like its title, sweet. It’s so pop, cheery and bright that I wonder if I’m listening to some pop idol instead.
10 - 最長的電影 => Skip it. Another slow ballad.
Calendar as goodies for pre-ordering the album...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Men Don't Cry
Men Don’t Cry (TVB, 21 episodes) is the first and (probably will be the only) TVB drama that I watched in full in 2007…
Men Don’t Cry Synopsis (from Wikipedia)
With the support of the head of the Police Authority, Guangzhou’s top villain Ho Kei-Kin (Dayo Wong) has been riding roughshod over everyone around him. He is so manipulative that he has explored every possible means in his fight for a house with the buck-toothed owner Ling Yuk Tsui (Cecilia Yip). Tsui is happy to have met the upright and honorable Wong Fei Hung (Lam Kar Wah). The pair quickly falls in love and even feels ready for marriage. Interested in stirring up trouble, Kin tries to recruit more students for his kung-fu school by portraying himself as the hero who has defeated one of the Ten Tigers of Guangdong Wong Kei-Ying. For the sake of fairness, Hung is resolved to have a contest with Kin. Unfortunately, Kin manages to make Hung give in with the help of the ancestral tablet of his late father. Thinking that he is a hopeless coward, Tsui decides to break off her engagement to Hung. Kin quickly grabs the chance and begins to woo Tsui. Tsui agrees to transfer her house to Kin after much persuasion from him. Kin shows his true colors as soon as he has secured the property. Tsui is left homeless and has to put up at Po Chi Lam, the martial arts club set up by Hung. Kin has lost his power and soon becomes an object of contempt and hatred. With nowhere else to go, he decides to turn to Hung and asks to be his apprentice. Hung has tried his best to bring out the human side of Kin, for which he has received a lot of criticism from others. Despite Hung’s support, Kin does not repent and behaves even worse than before, leaving Po Chi Lam in a state of total chaos…
Cast:
Dayo Wong as Ho Kei Kin
Lam Ka Wah as Wong Fei Hung
Cecilia Yip as Ling Yuk Tsui
Hui Siu Hung as So Fei
Charmaine Li as Jenny
Vivien Yeo as Ling Yuk Bek
My comments
Right, it’s TVB’s 40th anniversary this year and they chose Men Don’t Cry as one of their anniversary series. It had lots of promotion and buzz before airing but once it aired, it failed in rating and even earned a lot of criticisms/complaints for being bad, offensive and crude (anyways HK viewers complain about everything so it’s no big deal…). Is it really that bad? I have to admit that I watched it for the sake of Dayo Wong since I worship him like God (ha!). Compared to his previous dramas with TVB between Justice Sung II, War of Genders and To Catch The Uncatchable, Men Don’t Cry is indeed the weakest. It’s still funny and entertaining but not as witty as the others maybe because the producer is different this time. To fully enjoy the drama, you have to be very fluent in Cantonese and aware of what they are parodying/referencing/making fun of (Ong Bak, Mission Impossible, Prison Break comes to mind).
Villain Kin is indeed very evil in the beginning. When I have a little sympathy for him when he shows a little human side, he will then do something bad to make me fume. When he turns good, he becomes too sacrificial and too good to be true. Wong Fei Hung is humorous with his straight face telling long stories to bore people...haha! The love relationship between the main characters is really not deep. Kin and Chui did not have any intimate moment at all after Kin scammed Chui and since then carry this love-hate relationship. But I really wonder when Kin started to love Chui. Wong Fei Hung and Chui didn’t have anything at all; it was one-sided from Wong Fei Hung. It is somewhat unexpected at how this triangular love relationship ended. I think the ending is original but it is disappointing if you’re a sucker for happy conclusions. But the fortuneteller said that Kin and Chui are a fated couple for 3 lives so…Also, there are a lot of characters that are left out at the ending that makes you wonder what happen to them…
Performance wise, everyone is doing a fair job. I didn’t find anyone spectacular. Overall, this series is entertaining to watch, just don’t have high expectations…
* Themesong of the drama (haha...Dayo changed the Wong Fei Hung theme with his wacky lyrics!)
Men Don’t Cry Synopsis (from Wikipedia)
With the support of the head of the Police Authority, Guangzhou’s top villain Ho Kei-Kin (Dayo Wong) has been riding roughshod over everyone around him. He is so manipulative that he has explored every possible means in his fight for a house with the buck-toothed owner Ling Yuk Tsui (Cecilia Yip). Tsui is happy to have met the upright and honorable Wong Fei Hung (Lam Kar Wah). The pair quickly falls in love and even feels ready for marriage. Interested in stirring up trouble, Kin tries to recruit more students for his kung-fu school by portraying himself as the hero who has defeated one of the Ten Tigers of Guangdong Wong Kei-Ying. For the sake of fairness, Hung is resolved to have a contest with Kin. Unfortunately, Kin manages to make Hung give in with the help of the ancestral tablet of his late father. Thinking that he is a hopeless coward, Tsui decides to break off her engagement to Hung. Kin quickly grabs the chance and begins to woo Tsui. Tsui agrees to transfer her house to Kin after much persuasion from him. Kin shows his true colors as soon as he has secured the property. Tsui is left homeless and has to put up at Po Chi Lam, the martial arts club set up by Hung. Kin has lost his power and soon becomes an object of contempt and hatred. With nowhere else to go, he decides to turn to Hung and asks to be his apprentice. Hung has tried his best to bring out the human side of Kin, for which he has received a lot of criticism from others. Despite Hung’s support, Kin does not repent and behaves even worse than before, leaving Po Chi Lam in a state of total chaos…
Cast:
Dayo Wong as Ho Kei Kin
Lam Ka Wah as Wong Fei Hung
Cecilia Yip as Ling Yuk Tsui
Hui Siu Hung as So Fei
Charmaine Li as Jenny
Vivien Yeo as Ling Yuk Bek
My comments
Right, it’s TVB’s 40th anniversary this year and they chose Men Don’t Cry as one of their anniversary series. It had lots of promotion and buzz before airing but once it aired, it failed in rating and even earned a lot of criticisms/complaints for being bad, offensive and crude (anyways HK viewers complain about everything so it’s no big deal…). Is it really that bad? I have to admit that I watched it for the sake of Dayo Wong since I worship him like God (ha!). Compared to his previous dramas with TVB between Justice Sung II, War of Genders and To Catch The Uncatchable, Men Don’t Cry is indeed the weakest. It’s still funny and entertaining but not as witty as the others maybe because the producer is different this time. To fully enjoy the drama, you have to be very fluent in Cantonese and aware of what they are parodying/referencing/making fun of (Ong Bak, Mission Impossible, Prison Break comes to mind).
Villain Kin is indeed very evil in the beginning. When I have a little sympathy for him when he shows a little human side, he will then do something bad to make me fume. When he turns good, he becomes too sacrificial and too good to be true. Wong Fei Hung is humorous with his straight face telling long stories to bore people...haha! The love relationship between the main characters is really not deep. Kin and Chui did not have any intimate moment at all after Kin scammed Chui and since then carry this love-hate relationship. But I really wonder when Kin started to love Chui. Wong Fei Hung and Chui didn’t have anything at all; it was one-sided from Wong Fei Hung. It is somewhat unexpected at how this triangular love relationship ended. I think the ending is original but it is disappointing if you’re a sucker for happy conclusions. But the fortuneteller said that Kin and Chui are a fated couple for 3 lives so…Also, there are a lot of characters that are left out at the ending that makes you wonder what happen to them…
Performance wise, everyone is doing a fair job. I didn’t find anyone spectacular. Overall, this series is entertaining to watch, just don’t have high expectations…
* Themesong of the drama (haha...Dayo changed the Wong Fei Hung theme with his wacky lyrics!)
Friday, November 2, 2007
Still gave up...
I reached episode 74 of Lotus Flower Fairy but I really don’t have the motivation to continue it. I really tried my best to continue but I still have 100 more episodes to go and that’s tiring…Oh well…
I’m embarking on TVB’s Men Don’t Cry next...I have to see if it's that bad...
I’m embarking on TVB’s Men Don’t Cry next...I have to see if it's that bad...
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