The Real Thing tells A tale about marriages and infidelity.
the reason I've been eager to watch the show is because Cynthia Nixon is in it.
Yeah, Ewan McGregor and Maggie Gyllenhaal too, with all the stars power, the show have been sold out since the start of previews. I barely got mine bout 1 hour before they sold out again for the day.
Everyone knows Cynthia Nixon as Miranda of Sex and the City.
but long before that she is a Broadway baby. and she is the only person that have play in 2 different role in 2 different running show at the same time. one of the show was The Real Thing. and this year, she return to Broadway to be in the same familiar show but in the role that's once portray by Glenn Close (Another fave live stage actress)
The Real thing is a comedy love story.
the humor is in the songs and dialog. to bring light into the reason to infidelity and broken or rekindled marriage.
Movies have always been a medium that tell stories. no matter it's boring or rich or funny or serious.
the internet undoubtedly have become apart of our daily lives. and with everyone having a cellphones on them that are capable to access the internet at all time......
10 years ago, it is an experiment. now it is a fact.
While a 2 hours movie can only depicts a small spectrum of things that people do on the net.
Men, Women, Children is the most honest representation of what people are doing or rather I should say live with the condition of having a life that the environment have expanded to the vast space of internet.
how so many try to regain control. and some react with trying to harness it's power, how people abuse it and how sometimes when paths crosses.... severe consequences may ensue.
For every Men, Women Children. if you need a meter to measure how far are you in the madness of it all. this movie is the exact looking glass that you can mirror on and fine it yourself.
some might think it's a little bit extreme and I think the portion is just right.
The only award worthy war movie before we head into the cold winter is Fury. there will be more to come. Nothing special, there can't be something bigger than Schindler list n saving private Ryan in war movie anymore. Therefore this is about the heroic n the coward n the sacrifice of people in this tiny, disadvantaged tank called Fury. They fought bravely n valiantly. Yet behind those heroism are the grit n gruesome truth as any war. Bloody, ugly, muddy, psychotic, mind bending n everlasting trauma that comes with it. There is no celebration. The only reward is survival, n u should b glad that u have. It's all in the end by luck that anyone
have the chance to live tru the war n bear the burden of upholding the legacy of such tragic human being that in the end... Save your life. N the future of our generation.
Mexican art have never been presented in a more bright n vibrant color than those in Book of Life
Nor have the day of the death been more celebratory. Who said that death must b some crazy, sad mess. As many in the world celebrate their deaths n ancestor in the most spectacular festivity ever together with visit to the grave, huge parade n some of the largest giant bonfire. Together the booming of fire crackers. That's it. On the day of the death we the world celebrate the life that have been n the world that we are going to end up with n the beautiful possibility of meeting all our loved ones in their full on chaos n glory in the after life. So, what are there to be afraid of? Not death.
The quintessential love story of fall of course have to come from Nicholas Sparks. Well, this time the lead have gone to James Marsden. N today still handsome n dapper, a little bit mature, a little gray at the top. Luke Bracey from Australia play the younger lead.
But still love knows no age. They r as universal as ever. The old country American type of love story, prodigal son, return to the rustic America, meeting his old love n still rebel over his drug trafficking father n brothers. Trying to protect the good n the old n makes amends to old mistake, making new discovery in love n risk losing it all.
Love letters is never set to be the big Broadway show that'd attract the largest crowd. Let's face it. 2 of the biggest stars sitting on stage basically table reading the story without dance nor music?
But it is just that that makes the whole thing worth watching. There's often too many distraction on big shows. This small intimate indulgence is just the right stuff to calm all those down n let u really enjoy that little thing call reading a play.
N u can't come any better than Carol Burnett signature humor n Brian Dennehy calm discontents. ( well mayb some Martin Sheen and Anjelica Huston after the new year could rival them) Talk about being moved, or pull on ur laughing stroke with just one line. U know Carol n u know u r in for some jaw stretching. N if u think for one moment that they'd b the only stars there, u'd b wrong. They would draw the most famous crowd to Broadway ever, Larry David, old Hollywood n Broadway all came out in doves on this chilly afternoon only weekend show. Yeah just to hear 2 folks do a table read.
Watching one of the best revival of the season is uplifting n mesmerizing. On The Town is about as 21st century Broadway Musical theater As it gets. While the songs, costume, backdrop are still very 50's, even there's little changes to the book. But it's very modern how the story is presented. First the show begin with the huge rendition of Star Spangled Banner by the whole audiences as the orchestra because the open curtain is the flag. Magically enhancement with a talented baritone seated behind me.
Then the show start with the old ship yard backdrop, turning to some abstract subway ride. Then came the cab ride with the most elaborate animated background on Giant LED. Afterwards ballet choreographed specially for the revival. Not for forget the big New York New York number in its full Broadway glory. Every piece n puzzle of the show is moving well, fitting well, n complete representation of the old n the new. On The Town is always the quintessential New York Broadway show. N now it's brush with a modern rainbow of sophistication.
quite surprisingly there's no a cough or sneezes in the crowd this time.
and to try to bring the audience into the scene, there's a lot of situation that the ensemble would come into the audience n i mean really come into them including the rear mezzanine.
Gone Girl is reveal something I hate about the Media. both in the story and the Media Promoting about the movie today.
All people are talking about is Ben's Frontal Nude. and Neil Patrick Harris too.
I mean it's a movie about murder and mystery and all ppl know is that there's a penis shot.
In the movie, The wife have got murdered or missing. so the crime solving begin.
in the book, Ben's Character, the husband is much more despicable than how Ben portrayal of it. Probably no matter how Ban Affleck acts he can't be viewed in a bad light for too much.
So the missing mystery is reveal bout half way through the story and the rest of it is just set up against set up. and the media just eat it up and blame the presume prime suspect the husband is the killer. where Neil Patrick Harris psychotic character comes in? U'll have to watch the movie for the plot.
but because the after-revealed part is like 2 hours long of a drag. people tends to dun like the movie because of that.
so if u like a good movie made dark on purpose... this is it
Actually the only really most anticipated movie of the Fall for me is the last Summer Blockbuster before the cold air blown into land. that's The Maze Runner.
A very futuristic, puzzling movies just like a maze. that capture ur attention from the first moment u lay eyes one it.
like the title says, it's a Sci-fi with a little twist.
at the age of the Armageddon, Kids are wiped of memories and placed into a maze to test them out.
just like mice. to learn to get out of the maze. the theory behind is I guess whether they can survive the real world.
It's in the premises of King Kong, Blade Runner and Tron. a mystery that's futuristic yet relatable.
And it will be another movie that brings about some of the most brilliant new actor into the light.
As it is Halloween soon, of course I've watched Annabelle. just to get into the mood.
I've never really had any Expectation for the movie. not like Insidious or The Conjuring.
1 while it's pretty real, the weak spot is that there's no surprise factor. It's lost it when it's told in the Conjuring. and the story remains in beginning where it effects the young 2 person family.
so the scope of it is not that wide either.
that's been said. it's far more interesting when u watch the movie full house with skirmish people.
Just like the time when people first watch Jurrassic Park with a full house of Scared kids.
that's much more fun that just watching a not-so-scary movie alone.
I've decided to watch 2 movies at the same time yesterday.
Both New Premieres, Dracula Untold and The Judge.
Both very Different yet both hugely Entertaining.
Dracula is a Summer Blockbuster that's always been schedule for an early Halloween Release. While it's more Effects and Action than Scary. But with most summer Blockbuster closing, there's very little competition for Dracula Untold. because the "Holiday" Season and Awards Lobbying Season are coming.... Dracula Appears to be a pretty welcome to this Fall first Full-on Blockbuster Action Movie. Luke Evans are always a gem to look at in Theater.
The Judge on the other hand is completely non-action-filled. totally Drama.
and what's much better to watch 2 Brilliant Actors Sparring on screen?
I've always been a fan of Robert Duvall. who can beat that?
and Robert Downey Jr. can hold his own. with his usual Charm.
But the most amazing of it all is when I see RDJ Acting as the Prodigal Son, it's hard not to feel the real life turmoil that RDJ have gone through... Drug...Sex.... Jail.... All that. and now successful and return to the Big League acting with a First Grade Actor. It felt really authentic when U feel that Robert Duvall will have known RDJ for years since RDJ youth days and now one Grown to be a Good Man to act in the same movie. it's marvelous.
And looking at the relationship in the movie. I can't stop myself from reflecting on my own life. and my relationship with my dad.
It's a long time coming. all the Demons, the forgiveness, the expectation, the argument, and the unsaid and unspoken. In the end we all have to learn to resolve them and make a closure in our own way.
I wonder why all of the movies are the same lately....
First there's the Expendable, the Walking among Tombstone and then there's the Equalizer
All Actors into their 50's beating the shit out of poor useless crooks.
I wasn't really into the Expendable because U know all the star power. brings the same thing.
However, A walk Among the Tombstone is a bit interesting.
just a bit more, An Ex Police, helping crooks to get his daughter back.
that's the simple plot.
Then the most interesting part is Equalizer, Seeing Denzel fighting like a pro-killer is quite a gem.
while the plot are pretty simple. Pro-Killer hiding in plain sight, got angry and kill all the crooks that beat his friend. the action keep reminding me of Safe House. only the fight Choreography is better in this one.
I am familiar with Pippin.
roughly, I know it's a show that involve a lot of circus act.
but not Quite Cirque du Soliel.
it is after all a Broadway Musical first, so the book more important.
Yet if you think about it. after Spider-man, there isn't many show that really do stunt.
Mind you it is a live show so every single stunt is done over and over again for 8 times a week.
It is a coming of age story of a prince named Pippin. Told in a circus Act.
The set is great, the choreography and the synchronization of all the sets and scene are amazing and tech is difficult.
and I have the privilege to watch the last show of most of the player before they goes on the national tour and of course the first show that Priscilla Lopez as Berthe.
What interesting about such show is that when you watch the show and people react to it.
Pippin is a peculiar and strange show to watch. because the Narration and the Choreography are far away from any conventional Broadway musical. some are surprise, some are expecting it to be some Cirque Du Soleil show. and in the show I watched I got this couple of Chinese who have no idea what they are in for. They dun really understand the world and all the flying and cage simply through them off completely. but they'll survive. just will still be scratching their head for days after that.
If u want something with a little bit of flair and excitement. this is a good surprise for anyone that watches musical.
To me, Kinky Boots is always a movie first.
I fell in love with the movie well before I saw it as Musical or on Broadway.
And it is now the first show I watched on Broadway.
And Chiwetel Ejiofor is my Lola.
But seriously with Cyndi Lauper creating the score. who could be better.
of course it's a Broadway show that goes on to winning both score and best musical and to be fair I am bias when I saw Harvey Fierstein when I was buying my ticket.
well, needless to say, it is a great show.
whatever u want in a musical u got it. Music, Drama, Comedy, great sets and some fiery Drag Queens.
It's a story of a young man inheriting the shoe factory that's dying from his dead father and on the chance meeting a drag queen and decided to change it into a factory that makes boots for Drag Queen, hence Kinky Boots.
The Good Lie, is a great movie. Made with real Sudanese
refugee as the main character. The emotion is real with the story is partially
fictionalized.
Talking about a clan of young Sudanese, how they escape the
Sudanese conflict and got to refugee camp, the truthful depiction of the
reality of such camp, the system and how people will stuck in the system for
years before they can get a break. And even when they got a break, the toughest
challenges are still ahead when they reach the US. And the story ended with the
reality of Who and how to safe a person and the trauma and effects of the whole
situation on the refugee and those who’d “survive” the gauntlet which is the
camp and transition to a new world.
Whenever I watch movies like The Good Lie, which compares
the differences between a third world country and a developed one, I can’t help
but reminded of myself coming from a developing country.
In my mind I hear the American and European saying this is
2014 how can this be happening. Then I hear my mind saying, well, Malaysian
life is hard enough we could care less about what a third world country is
like.
Ignorant can be anywhere, like when people ignore the fact
that more than half of the people in the world are earning below 1000 USD a
month.
That the over population of country like India and Africa is
not a problem when the country itself ignore them.
That the reason Y corporation is dumping money into
Developing country like China and South East Asia is that developed country
have reach the plateau of growth that simply the growth of such country alone
is growing the fortune of their investment. And when most of the money in the
world is hold by people with no idea how to control it.
The list will go on and on and on. The age-old 30 years
issues of poverty, war, famine, AIDS still exists today. It might have moved to
another place or remain a smaller area. But none-the-less the problem is still
there. Human Being have not learn a single bit of whatever happen in the past.
If you have forgiven someone before then you know, war
creates desperation and anger. And revenge itself will only bring about the
vicious cycle of more revenge.
People can be open mind or close minded no matter in which
type of country they are from. It’s a choice to be ignorant.
In this world where you can have any information you want at
the palm of your hand, it is up to us to judge what is right and wrong for us
and to take the knowledge that we can get at our finger tips to build a better
world.
The Good Lie, is an equalizer. It bridges the gap a little
bit and shows us the truth of our culture and how people really are, rather than
stereotype.
It is great to have
seen the movie with one of the star in the audience, Kuoth Wiel, one of the
young Sudanese refugee, and a true honor.
ILuminate
trust me if you think you've seen it all.
You Ain't Seen nothing yet.
The whole show is done in pure darkness and it's pure genius.
Yup I've seen all the AGT shows.
and trust me, the off Broadway show is still a most impressive show.
Personally I've seen the gang dance without the costume on off days. this is actually my first time seeing them do their thing on stage.
the light effects is just electrifying.
of course there's a whole new choreography.
the storyline have change a bit over the years.
you can't always gives people the same show from 2011 could you?
So here is a show that could light up your day and your night.
and to those who love to dance.... this is a dream comes true.
Seriously you can't be with a better bunch of people.
so if you haven't seen in go watch it. if u have go watch it again.
It's like having coffee every morning. Every year, everyone who loves Broadway would go to this one show. Where it'd star one of the best Actor in the business, Nathan Lane. It's a Habit.
So this year, it's a Play called "It's Only a Play"
I can't really tell you what the show is all about but that it is exactly what the title have suggested and you'll get the usually and always loving-it Nathan Lane + Matthew Broderick humor.
the set is in the apartment of a producer, the after party for a play's premiere. Trust me, it's funnier that The Producers and they dun even sing and dance.
It is not a new play, as it has been done several times before, just that this time the Broadway Revival have given it a try with some of the biggest name.
Besides them, this will be Rupert Grint (from Harry Potter) Broadway Debut, along side the ever so funny Megan Mullally, the Brilliant Mess of Stockard Channing and F. Murray Abraham. (I always find myself trying to say "Sir F. Murray Abraham" every time I write his name. He just got that Shakespearean Vibe. Probably from all the Shakespeare he's done.)
Need me say more? this's bout as many awards winning actors/actressesyou can cramp in one room.
and the show is introducing one of the brightest Newcomer Micah Stock. Micah is virtually unknown but he held his own in the Play and did fantasticly (nope this is not a typo, I'm just creating words cos "fantastically" just doesn't make sense to me. yeah, I'm one of those people. Hey it's bout Broadway, I can create what I want. Ever heard Abso-Blomming-lutely in Spring?). Anyway, returning to Micah, you'll find him, both humorous in his comedic timing as well as startle-ly method.
The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Nighttime, is the first Broadway Poster I saw when I reach New York.
I was curious, about a show that's still in tech rehearsal at the time at the then closed-for-rehearsal Ethel Barrymore Theater.
so for 2 months I'd walk pass this giant blue poster of the show every time I go to other shows in the area and wonder what it'd be.
Of course for most teenager who aren't stuck with Harry Potter for the past decade at some point would have come across this small unassuming book in your bookstore at some point.
And at this point the London Play of the show is pretty well known.
the story is about Christopher, who may or may not have Asperger Syndrome, but he is a genius in Math and at some scale of Autism. One day a Dog die in the neighborhood and he decided to investigate it. and in that he discover a bigger secret and with it brings the drama back to his own home.
the Play is set as such that it's a narration from a story Christopher writes by her teacher and acted out by several player/bystander.
What's amazing about the show is, in order to bring the audience into the mind of Christopher and yet still act out the several complex scene the producer have taken the minimalist Tech Approach to create the scene. you'd see a few of the props all over the stage yet there's no huge set pieces. what you have is 3 gigantic led Screen and projection to the floor that will transform into the world of Christopher Mind. This is how you are pull into this world of how Christopher mind sees the world...
Simple, Focus, often crowded with noise, and ever confuse and changing.
I must say the set design is Brilliant. there's so many moving pieces that it's simple amazing, it's how-many-rabbit-you-can-pull-out-of-the-hat kinda amazing.
This is not your everyday just dialog kinda play, it is like a ballet or dance without all the dancing kinda Play.
So, there is Choreography and you'd be in awe and invigorating to watch the whole act come to live with the moving set.
Here's a link for a snippet of the current Broadway Production, starring Alex Sharp, which in my opinion. one of the most brilliant Actor on Broadway right now.
In my opinion, P!nk is the Renaissance Artist of our era. from the first R&B Rock Chick album to the latest Country-esque soul healing of You+Me. and even to the high hanging acrobat performances in shows. She is the ultimate example that you can break free of stereotype and reinvent yourself every single time.
This said, here is the new video from the new Duo in town, You+Me featuring P!nk and Dallas Green.
Today's mark the real start of the NYC Ballet Company.
Starting with TSCHAIKOVSKY & BALANCHINE
HEAR THE DANCE: RUSSIA
Serenade and Pas De Duex then there's Suite 3
it's the most fun I have ever watched in Ballet.
because when it's executed perfectly, and the male form are strong and graceful, it allows the ballerina to just glide every time there's a life involved.
Tschaikovsky is always majestic, yet brings a little of sadness in the end.
and Ballet is not just a form of dancing. it's an art form in movement that can translate any style of dances into Ballet,
Salsa, Waltz, Samba... u name it. it can be translated into Ballet.
The NYC Ballet Company just open their fall season yesterday
with a fabulous Fall Gala.
The Fall Gala besides opening the season it’s also an Event
where the Company work together with some of the great Fashion Designer to
design the costume and make the dance an art piece.
There’s Red Carpet in front of the Lincoln Center a couple
of hours before the show begin. Then a pre-show cocktail on the 2nd
ring lobby.
Then the show start with a introduction documentary about
the costume, Carolina Herrera design the costume for the first piece Morgen.
But with a big piece of Ballet like Morgen, it tends to
make people compare with all the principle dancers. Because it’s a couple piece
with 3 couples dancing in the same dance.
So there’s a clear significant for the premier principle and
non-premier.
But the set and the dance is still magnificent.
After the first piece, the orchestra rest and the gorgeous Carolina
Herrera take her bow. The costume is exquisite.
After the intermission, there’s a following of 4 short
pieces of Ballet.
The Bitter World, by
Dinah Washington accompanied the piece. With just 2 dancers in gray and skin
colored costume. It is beautifully choreograph, because there’s nothing that
take away from the dance, not even an orchestra or singer. Therefore, every
spin, turn, twist and plié and brisé is view in it’s entirety and in plain sight.
A great start for the 2nd section, then the 2nd dance is
Clearing Dawn, a 6 dancers piece with the most elaborate costume effects ever,
the dancers are dressed in gray navy suits and skirt. The extremely large coat
that covers the shirt at the beginning of the dance is pull up to the ceiling
to reveal the costume underneath. Clearing Dawn is a little bit about childishness
and bullying and fights and love. The giant Ego shadow of the giant costume we
put on the outside and the gray smaller discipline uniform within the
conformity to rules.
3rd piece is Funérailles, it’s about the funeral
and the love of our lives would be like. The costume piece is this exquisite
embroidered piece for the dying female character and the love dance around her,
lamenting her.
And the closing piece would be Balles-Lettres. The most
suitable piece to close the event. Of course the costume is all these letters
sewn onto Ballet stretching tights.
Since it’s a skintight costume with no frills, the dance
simply fly at ease.
The choreography is the largest in Scale with 7 dancers,
taking in the whole stage.
Every subtle changes in movement is exaggerated with some
beautifully executed Ballet techniques. And pointed out with formation by the
dancers.
So after the dances closed, we congratulate everyone and
start to stuff our mouth and hungry stomach at the real Gala.
Of course some of the costume that were worn there u’d
wonder how are these people going to sit down. So naturally some actually
just stand and eat a little and then walk out for cigarettes or just simply
chat away and leave half way through like we did to avoid breaking Eric’s Sober
Streak.
Enough said. Tonight will be the real start of the season
with Tchaikovsky and Balanchine opening night, which we got!!!!
Since I'm in New York I can't escape from all the Art Stuff here.
this will be a joint post with the Brother site Junk-Y-Art.
for the months to come there will be plenty of Broadway and happenings and shows. some may have been out dated but I'll still post them just for the fun of it.
so here's the line up.... not exactly in that order. So I hope you'll enjoy.
Pippin
Kinky Boots
King Lear
Les Miserable
Phantom of the Opera
Cabaret
If/Then
This is our youth
The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
It's only a Play
The Curious Case of a Dog in Nighttime
Cirque Du Soleil - Varekai
Tim Realbuto - Wunderkind
Jay Brannan
Von Smith
Broadway Spotted at 54 Below
US Open
Rio World Cup
4th July Fireworks
Alice in Wonderland
Fall Gala
Tschaikovsky
People's Climate March
New York Fashion Week
Get on up Premiere at Harlem Apollo Theater
AMNH
Met Museum
The Cloisters
Guggenheim Museum
MoMa
Coney Island
911 Memorial Museum
Liberty Island
Ellis Island
Grand Central Station
Penn Station
Central Park
Chinatown
Little Italy
Bronx Zoo
Astoria Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
The Highline
Columbia University
Chelsea Market
Hudson River Park
South Port
Bryant Park - New York Library
Time Square - Broadway
Governor's Island AIDS Quilt
Montouk
United Nation
Riverside Park
Wall Street
St Peter’s Church
St Patrick’s Catedral
Church of Notre Dame
Trinity Church
The relaunching of the Blog will start with this joint
statement in all sister/brother site.
I’ve moved to New York since 3 months ago, which is a plan
that Drew and I have spawn since we started the blog.
I love art and music and movies. And I’m a pretty good
organizer.
So Drew is the more charismatic one and I’m the Geek.
Our blog started out good with the idea that we are going to
promote underground and unsigned musician.
Then we try to expand to movies review and art….. not so
popular.
Anyhow, we still maintain the 1 year 30 thousands page view
record then with all our popular interviews.
Now fast forward to 2014, Drew is no more here. Part of the
reason I’m here in New York is for my passion and Drew’s parents, whom live in
New York and me bringing back his stuff to them.
So it took me around 3 years to get myself out of our debts
created by Drew’s medical bills and another 3 years for me to save enough to
reach here.
As for how…. I’ll not get into that. And I’ll never comment
on it again. As I’ve found out a couple of months ago that it could backfire
when you said something heavy like life and death.
This is about Love, Life and Happiness. So I’ll stick to
that.
Relaunching the site won’t be easy. And I have not booked
anyone or anybody yet.
But I’ll share with you guys the life experience that I have
had for the past 3 years before I reach here and 3 months in the big city and
all the great people that I’ve met and hopefully will bring a little light to
your life.
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