DVD for the summer. Doubt and Frost/Nixon for hot summer

Right on the road to the summer, I dig back into the DVD collection to look at some of the most unlikely movie to watch in the summer. Oscar winning Character movies. My friend often call me crazy, why would I watch those boring movies? But why not? Does humanity are less interesting that all of the bombing and crazy fighting sequence or special effects? So some of the mellow, character pieces that truly talk about human are most interesting when you are alone in the library.
The first piece I watch is Doubt. The story is about the alleged claim by a nun or charity sister that a priest has a hand on one of the altar boy.
Meryl Streep is the nun who is the principal that confront the priest about the situation. There’s 4 main character in the movie. One is the principal, the priest is Philip Seymour Hoffman, the innocent young nun that find out about the peculiar behavior of the priest, portrays by Amy Adams and the mother of the Altar Boy Viola Davis.
If the story you discover the living truth of the Boston public in the 60’s. the character that is involve. The performance of the actors and actresses down to the little kids that played the altar boys are tune to perfection. This is the reason why no matter how good other movies are, this pieces reveal what best actor and best actresses material really are.
I won’t talk much about the story because it is those story that needed to see it to really love it. Or hate it. Some people are receptive to the ending of these kinda story some are totally rejecting this kinda movies. But it is a stage play that is adapted to movies. So the dangling feelings of the unanswered questions are mostly acceptable.

Another master piece movie of the last Oscar is Frost/Nixon. Ever since I knew the existence of the movie I wanted to bad to watch it. It is a piece of the history of mankind. The Vietnam war, human right and the abusive of power and what the position of POTUS truly meant after Eisenhower and the scandal that brought his achiever into resignation. The only resignation of a president in the history of the United State. It also discusses the humanity of the person who is David Frost and Richard Nixon. Is he truly the Devil that is portray at the time or is he still the president that is voted onto the stage and to have the movie comes out last year it totally reflects a lot of the Bush administration on the matter of war and the character of the president have on world history and their promises and action on dealing with such situation, in the term of politics and their role. His relationship forge with China and Soviet Union at the time is impeccable.
Anyway, of course a Frost/Nixon movie is about the many people that involve in that one event. The interview soon after the resignation of the president, the two teams that is there. One trying to solicit the apologies from the publicly opinionated president that have failed. The other to reinforce if not revive the fallen reputation of a good man. Both team thinks they are right in the matter. Of course for the movie the expression and the acting of the actor is dramatized compare to the original real interview. But that is what makes a movie stand out. Great actors that is playing the character into the right feel, invoking unknown feelings that the audiences have about the situation and allow the viewers to judge it for themselves. Nothing is forced.
You finished the movie with the respect for both sides. And the gravity of the movie really have on the history is gratifying.

What's on DVD: a not so very December, December Boys

Just finish watching December Boys. Like Little Ashes, to tell the truth if it’s not for Daniel Radcliffe, I suppose no one would have notice the film. But that’s just what I like about these type of movies. It tells more of a story than any Spiderman, Batman or whatever Big Budget movie there are out there. These 4 boys, or 3 boys and a star really carried the story through with all of the other great actors in the movie who’s virtually unknown Except for Daniel.

Regardless he is the richest guy on earth I’ll say it out straight. He’s grown a lot and the performance is stunning. Well at least the facial expression part. It’d be sad to see that this guy who have virtually no acting career before Harry Potter have really matured. Whenever the camera take to a tight shot of his performance he is captivating and totally on point with every shot. But the way that he moves, up the hill, running, even walking he look to stiff. His body movement is like someone with a back bone too straight. Many actors move really well but no control on their facial expression and if like a really useful blank sheet of paper. Daniel is the other way around. His expression is great but the body movement is like a 15^th century gentleman who wore his pants too high and stiff at the back with the limp swinging just sideways, very unnatural. Restricted and controlled… too controlled. This time it may just work. Because it’s a small movie and he is the front liner there’s not many would complain about his acting when the story is that solid. But if as at when it comes to a time that he need to be in the 21^st century and moves naturally and embody the character, he still need more work on walking, running, climbing or even dancing and looking at the camera to correct his moves. Which is why some actors go for ballet, yoga or just plain old break dancing class to get a grip on their body. To know how to move their body better.

Japan today: Lead - Feel The Vibe 2008

We steer towards the east to Japan a bit today.

Just came off the Lead 2008 Feel The Vibe concert. Finally the group has graduated to the adulthood of the music world.

The beat is faster, they have grown to their full heights that allow their moves to have the most momentum that they should have but still smooth as ever.

Lead is the band to watch. This is what persistence is all about in Japan. They pay off with all the 5 years of hard work, touring experience and at that young age! Their singing has matured so much till there’s no out of breath with singing, the whole performance is fine tuned and timed to the ultimate precision.

And with the trend of todays world raging over young talent. These seemingly young veteran ought to have a place in this business to have a resume or tour and major concert gigs and awards and skills to wow everyone for being below 20 right now.

Of course the concert format of rallying the crowds in the Japan ways need to be toned down a little bit if they ever have a show in US or Europe. Because those crowd they don’t like to be handled like the Japanese does. But their dance moves and their singing couldn’t have been better than they are now ever. And it’s high time that they should show the world what kids can do, especially in Japan.

Everyone in the group can ding, and everyone in the group can dance and rap perfectly. That’s a complete cycle from every one of the four members of the group and they harmonize well too.

Manufacture is not such a back thing after all because with the right management it gives the young the opportunity to grow incredibly and nurture them to great talent.

The show is at the Amphitheatre. It is a small space compare to Arena tour but to the weary Japan crowd, it’s a close area where the performer can be very close to the audience and heat them up properly with the moves and songs. It’s the right size for the Japanese audience.

It all ritual the show start with a beat and the sudden dimming of the light and the group appear behind a screen or the front of a spot light and only cast shadows and then all hell break lose when they start singing and dancing to the hot beat.

Everyone in the crowd is waving their things and light in sync with the beat and dance moves and scream when ever the group did cool moves.

The young energy that vibrated from the stage to the whole hall can be felt throughout the show.

DVD Summer Blockbuster: The Dark Knight, Eagle Eye, Mamma Mia, Mummy 3

While we are on the trail of DVD. I’ve also dig out some of last summer’s Blockbuster out and have arun through on my DVD player, which literally over heated after the 8 disk run HAHA!

First up is the memorable and totally Dark, The Dark Knight, the 3 hours show is a great memory of how a great action movies doesn’t necessary have to be second rated or auctioned centered only. There’s no hero character that is more human and breakable than Batman and who’s dark past and identity nearly take the character to a journey of moral struggle and multiple identity confusion, with the most realistic and incomparable Joker ever. (We believe that Heath will again take home the OSCAR coming Sunday for his portrayal of the Psychotic criminal.) and without a doubt the less stable hearted Harvey Dent is trick into the Dark side with the killing of his fiancé who is also Bruce Wayne love interest.

One action after another I switch for the comic fiction to a most original fiction movie of the summer, Eagle Eye. The mega computer that have the all seeing eye after loading in to virtually every network on earth. Have decided that the United State is in danger with it’s current government and decided to execute the virtual test of the assassination of the cabinet member in real time. Shia LeBeouf portray both identical twin brother, the one who stop the machine from executing the mission and the brother that ditched Stanford and tracked down by the machine and set on a run to the machine to reactivate the mission. Throughout the movies, he is trapped in a fake terrorist attack set up by the computer and frame into becoming a fugitive of the law. He is then joined by a mother that is threatened into the conspiracy with possible kidnapping and killing of her son, who’d be the instrument in a charity show in Washington for the cabinet that would ignite a bomb that would kill them all. Of course as all fictional stories, the character in the end won over the computer and save the world. The movie also stars Billy Bob Thornton, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis and Ethan Embry.

After much dramatic action, now let us relax with some fantastic musical before we move on. One of the most loved Broadway classic is brought on to the big screen by the original team of the musical show, Mamma Mia, starred Meryl Streep as the mother Donna and Amanda Seyfried as the daughter Sophie. Who will be married to the very handsome Dominic Cooper, and the fathers are portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, and Colin Firth. And the side kick of Donna is taken by Rachel McDowall and Julie Walters. The movie is mostly shot on location in the beautiful Greece, which brought a new life to the stage savvy musical.

Last of the DVD I watch during last week is Mummy 3. I must say with the discontinuation of the storyline from the previous 2 installment is a bit of an disappointment at first, but the backdrop of China and the introduction of some new character in the movie have make it a great more fun to watch. the Chinese mummy like the Egypt are able to perform many supernatural power over the Earth’s 5 element and transform himself into a dragon and other mystical beast throughout the movie. And to watch Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh fighting in the same movie is a great plus.

David Foster and Friends - All Stars Concert

About a week ago I was at home, nothing to do and decided to flip in my David Foster and friends Concert DVD. Throughout the show, there’s surprises, there’s discovery, and there are pure pleasure of great music and talent and the admiration of the talent and the amazement on how a great master like David Foster can take the advantages of every artists.

The show consists of the best protégé of David Foster, Michael Bublé and Josh Groban. The show opening with one of the most frequent collaborated musician of David Foster, Saxophonist Kenny G, which Kenny G describe David as a producer that can make an artist do his thing without any doubt, an artist can trust David Foster wholeheartedly with his decision in the music.

Other guest artist that have rarely appear together with David is Kenneth “Babyface” Edmond who brings along his Brother Kevon for a rendition of the classic I Swear, who David mention as his most fierce competitor in as a producer and won over him in every major awards. Another great producer that makes the show is Brian McKnight.

Celine Dion videotaped their performance at one of Celine’s Vages show where Celine Stop the show and gave the audience a surprise performance with David on the piano.

American Idol alumni and the New protégé of Foster, Katherine McPhee gave a rendition of classic by Barbara Streisand after Barbara gave a dedication and greeted David with her wishes, Somewhere. Katherine later appear again with Andrea Brocelli to perform one of the most famous duet of all time, The Prayer. Brian Mcknight also reappear with Josh Groban to perform another great classic Bridge Over Troubled Water.

One of David best partner Peter Cetera came and give a fantastic reminiscing performance of Peter greatest hits, Hard To Say I’m Sorry, You’re The Inspiration and Glory of Love.

The country singer from Warner music, Blake Shelton make an appearance in the show with a performance of David only singing classic with a country twist Wildflower and later resurface with a performance of the country remake of Michael Bublé’s hit Home with Michael Bublé which makes the best fun of all performance switching from jazz classic and country style back to back with Michael.

The most surprising moment of the show and the show stopper of the whole concert is the performance by the newly discovers Philippines teenager and the most hype singer last year, CharicePempengco who also appear in Oprah. David says he is urge by Oprah to let her appear on the show, who sang the most amazing rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing/ I Will Always Love You. And believe me, if you just start with listening to the CD before you watch the DVD you’d not believe that the girl who sang the song is not Whitney let alone a 16 year old.

Other performer of the show including recently past AI season finalist Michael Johns who gave the best vocal performance of his life under the caring tutor of David (another showing of how David’s ultimate golden touch on the artist that work with him.) Boz Scaggs who sang some of the most memorable movie soundtrack that he did with David on Urban Cowboy, another young star, Renee Olstead, and also the amazing young pianist William Joseph have one of the heart-stopping and heart racing performance I’ve ever seen or heard. If you race with his hand you’d have thought that he had 10 fingers in each of his hand. Cheryl Lynn was also among the artist that performed her classic Got To Be Real with her dynamite vocal.

Movies of the Week, Inkheart, Bride Wars and Underworld 3

The fantasy Inkheart is a movie that I think many of us should watch. It is not as lavishly glamorous as Lord of the Rings nor as Angst as Twilight. Yet it is the God mother of all past fantasy. To imagine that some people could read just from the books and all the being in the book will appear for real.
Anyway the first installment of the trilogy have been created for the screen, yet from the way the story end. It’s most likely be the only installment that will come out of the trilogy, such a shame really to be able to watch Brendan Fraser and Dame Helen Mirren in the same movie for the first time and it’s just ended. And to be able to add in Paul Bettany, Andy Serkis in the mix with some of the most talented young actor, Eliza Bennett and Rafi Gavron. The short appearance of Jennifer Connelly is a bit of a regrets though. Anyway the movie ended so abruptly it felt a bit out of place. It si still one of the best movies for my whole family to enjoy this Chinese New Year though.
The other day I was on my cable and I watch again a 2006 movie by Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Boyd, which is a natural and intriguing story about one of the best cyclist of our time. Graeme Obree. The Flying Scotsman tell the tale of the Champion Cyclist from the time he broke the one-hour record on his revolutionary self-design cycle with a sitting position that’s so important in Cycling history. And believe it or not it’s done from scrap metal and washing machine parts. But the most amazing back story of the movie is Obree struggles with depression, which is close to my hear t and I think that all people that is facing any kind of depression or mental obsession should grab a look. There is a place in the world for us. We just have to hold it together and there’s definitely a way through life without the condition. We can overcome it as long as we don’t give in to the emotion.
After I came back from my holiday, it’s back to the usual timing. Another 2 more movies for me. Underworld 3 Rise of the Lycan, there’s no Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman to the previous story, the one remain are the villain. The heroin change to the first Lycan that can control his transformation Lucian. It is the prequel to the underworld story, the love story between the first merge of the Vampire and Lycan (Warewolf). Billy Nighty is back so is Steven Macintosh of course these are the 2 most unpopular character in the series. Yet the story of Lucian and Sonja are good enough to replace them as the main storyline and Michael Sheen (Lucian) and Rhona Mitra (Sonja) of Skinwalker turn from a warewolves wife to a Vampire who is a warewolf’s lover….. logical HAHA! Anyway the performance is good, the setting is perfect and the fighting is totally savage. (who’d have thought that Michael can look so good in this movie!? Coming from Frost/Nixon, the David Frost baring it all…..HAHA! Just kidding. He does look really fit in the movie.)
And what would a holiday be without the usual comedy. I skip 4 Christmases cos it’s already over, and straight to the wedding bliss of Bride Wars. It is true how every woman figure they are going to be great when they have a beautiful wedding. Even fighting with your best friend?! Well, if you are going to lose yourself and your friend in the process then I think you should think again about why are you having the wedding? I love the comedy, the cat fight, the scamming and Anne and Kate are both best actresses of our time and to have both in comedy is a totally double jeopardy. Anyhow, it is a life lesson for the girls that are really getting married. If your husband to be can’t stand the 2 months before you get married how well you think they are gonna be when you are both together? But on the other hand there are also the forgiveness and the lovely compromises. There’s just no telling how well people will be when they are together, regardless how life turns or how other view us, the one person that’s with us will have to be the one that makes it all doesn’t matter. Of course it is always great to see Brian Greenberg and Chris Pratt on the Big Screen.

Well, this is a first!!! Friday night no movies. cos we still recommand Twilight!!!!

Finally after close to 2 long months, I've finish the last and the thickest volume of the Twilight Saga. Breaking Dawn is what I've expected. Bella becoming the inevitable, and the face off with the Romanian Coven will happen and end.

It's as exciting, just that these couple of months been pretty crazy and I can only do one chapter at a time the most.

Anyway though we have no recommendation for the cinema besides this crazily popular now..... Vampire story.

we do have some review of the DVD on the rack now. and most of the Summer Blockbuster is now on my shelf. the only one missing is the run away hit Into the Wild and Little Miss Sunshine (I know they are not from this year, just that I can't find these 2 DVD for months now, only CD is available. shit!!!) and Narnia's Prince Caspian, it is strange to have not seen this great fantasy on DVD yet until now, when we already got Ironman, The Hulk, Kung Fu Panda, even Indiana Jones' Crystal Skull is on the rack. I guess the studio is very eager to sell out all the DVD before the holiday season passes. Good of the audience and bad for the Cinema who wish to do some replay, and us who wish to watch some of the movies on the big screen though.

Today I'll talk about the Indy Saga..... before you got the 4th installment and you have the trilogy on hand like me. you should have a look at the first 3 movies. it's a great connection and fun game to connect all 4 movies into one and it's even greater joy to see the character come together in the first movie and end the happy ending in the 4th. though in my heart I hope young indiana can continue with Shia's Mutt character. but I doubt that there will be any without Harrison Ford. it just won't be the same. the subtle humor that Harrison brought to the table is classic in both Indy and Star Wars movies.

DVD that matters: Sicko and Recount

Since It's the Election Week we go for something that matter to the event.

This week on DVD I’m going for something older. Sicko. Not really the oldest out there. But I do think that every American should check it out.
Reason is simple, do not hide your head when you are looking at your very own health issue and the policy that really have collapse.
Everyone in America knows that their health care sucks. But how bad is it?
You just have to go over their border to know.
Politics aside we are in the end talking about how other country is about?
German and France have free health care and education. France offer pregnant woman half year maternity leave and government child care and home help for new mother. You don’t have to pay a dime. Even if you are foreigner in the country, you are consider a guest, there’s no payment required when you go to the hospital.
Ok fine that maybe these maybe the only exceptional case there is out there. Have you check Canada and Mexico? The same medicine you can at 10% of the price you pay in Mexico and Canadian have free medicare and prescription, totally….
Still not convince? No matter how bad we all think the Cuban are, their medical is free, and if the same medicine sold for more than 100 bucks in US cost only 5 cents that’d be ridiculous and it does. And it’s not about American hero being treated badly, the veteran or the volunteer from 9/11. But to treat all people the same, if that’s the case and the people in the movie actually got the same treatment as everyone got in Cuba. A medical personnel’s dream to not tell any people to go away because of race, nationality or anything else, and just treat them as normal human being.
Even Britain did better on that part, you don’t have to pay for anything to go to hospital, emergency room or not, then there’s the doctor coming to your house, for free. Yes, free. and the prescription? It’s 6.65 pound per prescription, that is the same price for any amount, you can ask for a year’s amount it’s the same price.
I, myself have the same experience when I’m in Greece. I was bitten by a dog and the emergency visit is free and the pharmacy is around 10 Euro.
And as I know experience it myself, that the civil war torn Sri Lanka, have free medical and education as well. I mean totally free until you graduate from College. Even though their salary in professional area is little compare to anyone in the world, but they are totally set for life in healthcare and complete education. There’s no worry, there’ no other action to be taken to prevent or get something out of what ever it is.
So I ask is socialized medical care or government controlled health care really that bad?
I’m in South East Asia still the government hospital is free. yes they may be packed, but they are free. And the clinic is always open. Emergency room, definitely no charges.
Right the under lying question, the tax raise. Yes the tax will be raise. There’s no doubt about it. Probably higher to 50%. But if you pay 50% now but totally no worry after that til you die. Why not? It means you can afford health care even if you are broke. Why not? Better than any insurance premium that doesn’t pay for anything or scare that it won’t pay for anything.
One more reminder, go to the voting station right now and vote. Remember to vote, must vote. Regardless what you choose, makes every vote count. Go to vote now. Don’t wait til the last day. Vote.

Another movie that got my attention this week is Kevin Spacey's "Recount", which is a movie about the recounting of vote of the 2000 presidential election that got everyone going on and on about because of the whole Florida hiastus and the recount and recounts. and in the end no one really know what's the real vote are. it's about the struggle and the fighting story behind.

both movies are the best to sum up what's happen in the past 8 years and what really matter and at stake in this year's election. so i hope all of you enjoy the DVDs and remember to vote.

Taiwanese Drama is Crazily infectious

Everyone can see that I’m not really writing much of late, that’s because my heart was focusing on something else. I’ve gone back a bit to my old self and watched some Taiwanese Drama.
Now I know that this is not the usual type of things I write about here but it is part of my heritage.
It’s said to be the Drama that racked the most viewers in the past summer, since nowadays the drama is delayed broadcast in other country, it’s racking up new tornado around the Chinese world.
Now let me explain how this work, the Chinese entertainment business is a worldwide business, consists of 4 big studio power house country, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea (Korea being the new boss that sprung out about 5 years ago). The distribution of the media is worldwide, because Chinese population can be counted in millions in country like US, Canada, Australia, Europe, China, South East Asia, thanks to slavery trading in the 19th century Chinese are spread throughout in all Major Continentals.
Taiwan island alone consists of more than a 100 TV and radio stations, over 50 traditional magazine and thousands of online Magazine follows and Blogging and faxing and connectivity to the internet is far far exceeding the American’s population. And because they are very near to Japan, though not everything can come new as fast as Japan but they are really really near when it comes to technology advancement. They may not be as organize, but Chinese have a spongy attitude than any ethnics in the world because they are so widespread and connected. All IPod type, All Blogging type, All Techno Stereotype, all Gossipy attitude, all P2P Sharing network are widespread in the Asian world. While some still choose to be ignorant to think that Chinese is the only market with large Chinese population, if you look at the china and Taiwan entertainment system, you’ll find that they are far more advanced than any people could have thought, because they include the business from all 4 major powerhouse, all going through the Chinese Distribution Chanel. Which is why some artist in the English and European circuit can easily survive without the country ever knowing about them, like how N’Sync, Backstreet Boys started. That’s how now Hanson and seemingly unknown US band like The Click Five actually is big hit in the oversea market. And the Moffatts brother that doesn’t seem big in the US market can rack up sales in Asian country.
One form of under-culture is form in this kinda social structure, (I’m sure somewhere around the world it’s a total Thesis phenomena study in some social study degree.) Chinese community can feel the separation and forcefully trying hard to get connected with these media which makes them really addictive and even feverishly crazy on idolizing certain iconic figure, be it models, singers, actors or other political public figures. This also rack up the opportunity for these people to become famous overnight when you get your face spread on all the front page of gossip mags and distributed around the world. Of course, bad news fly as fast as well, and the online community news buff get their news by the hour if not minutes. So that’s how fast it’ll spread when video (especially viral one, which makes it even more volatile once they got into the Chinese network) spread into the network.

Back to the business here, the drama I just finished has introduced a new actor, Ethan Ruan Jing Tian. It’s an understatement when you say he is new. Five years in the business as model, he have been in literally every magazine cover and as supporting in quite a few of the famous drama in the past. I have been interested on this subject ever since he first came into the scene 5 years ago. There’s quite a stir, just that his inexperience haven’t gave him any advantages yet on the circuit. So now after 5 years finally he got his big break with this drama. I must say there are still a lot of spaces for improvement. But as the songs sings, “you gotta have a trick”, his biggest asset, I guess, is his height and his ability to cry on demand. HAHA! I know, I know the American thinks that Man should be Macho and all. But trust me, Asian have a romantic notion to men who cries. So if you cry enough at the right timing, it crack the heart and women would swarm in like bees to honey. And Taiwanese director have just the right set of skills to create that timing. He got the looks. But his comedic timing still a bit off, but the most off beat acting skill he have to improve on is his acting on getting angry, everytime there’s a scene to promote anger, he fails at it, right then and there everyone can see that he is acting. Space to improve I guess. But as I say, he got the looks and that tricks, just enough to get him rise up. Yes, I will say that their demands are small. As long as it’s fresh then it’s ok. Fresh meat that’s what they called. HAHA! Anyway, this freshness will last for about another 3 years and it’ll depends on how he promote himself in the future. Gambate masu as what the Japanese says.
It’s a shame though, very often the male lead and more likely to get the heat up in such dramas than the girls. The female lead are more likely to sustain longer period of working experience in the business though. Because they have not 5 minutes fame in their belt, so their fame will have less probability to burn out fast. Which gives them the chance to developed into more experience and versatile actresses. Yet it’s really easy to be stereotype into certain character too in this business. Which is why they often reluctant to grab the same act for the 30th time after a few years, and disappear from the view later, still IF they wish to continue in the business, Chinese often promotes quadruple thread experience in entertainment, becoming an Actor, moving to modeling, and then singing and then hosting big event and shows or vice versa are often the path of many artists in Asia. There’s plenty to do.

Life and movies

I know that I have been stagnant for the past week. Part of the reason for that is for me to really slow down and soak in all that have been happening for the past few months. There’s another negative part of the life I lead that hit a low cliff last week, which I don’t think is necessary to discuss and spread more negative energy out there. Let’s just say it’s my other job and it hit a low point last week.
Yet, thanks to one of my new friend from MySpace point out, why I am here for and all those lesson that I’ve learn from some far worst situation I’ve been in the past years.
EVOL, was never meant to be a Human Evolution Magazine ever as the plain text title suggest. I just thought it would be fun to reverse the spelling bit. It is actually about LOVE, LOVE for Life at first, then I expand to my passion, My Love for language, Music, Story, Literature, Movie. The Love of my friends, the love of my parents, the love from a child and to a child, my love for the world and all the love in this world. That’s all I can think of then when I started.
There’s no doubt someday we go into this hiatus and then trap in some habitual cycle now and then. That is fine. We ought to get some high time and low time once in a while. Instead of troubling myself with the problem, I find myself facing the problem head on and strong on my point and know my own life and mission. That is one thing I have. Even there’s no one out there that may understand all that my mind think off, it doesn’t have to. Time will come when they get to their own senses and understand themselves. The other day when I hit a low point, I switch on the TV and there Oprah is talking again about Law of Attraction and how there is a shallow surface in our being and the middle circle of Fire and only then we reach the core of peace in our inner self.
MY friend pointed out the theory of Don’t Fuzz the Small Stuff as too deep. Or rather I’d say you don’t really have to understand that deeper part that I actually illustrated by me. It’s just a really simple sentence “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff... And all stuff is small stuff”. Just that the word as it is and start revolving your life on that principle and you’ll get to your own understanding of it yourself. That’s the best part, it is the same word, but you don’t have to have exactly the same life as I have so explore it, experience it yourself and mould the principle to your own life and your own understanding. That’s the best part of those simple principle, like “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” and “A New Earth” and “Law of Attraction”.
I myself have some ready value in me that’s sometimes that is helping me and sometimes ruining everything. My pride, my energy, my hyperactive mind, my fast pace life, my anger and my peace and my passion, all are mine and mine to manage, as everyone to themselves have their own positive value that helps them and some over obsession that ruin the situation that they need them tone down to manage their life. I use those principles to help me get my mind in tune with my feelings and taking care of my business. Which is why it’s hard to explain to people what I’ve gone through. It is personal, and if people have an previous impression that you are self-conscious and self-centred beforehand it’s hard to make them be objective and turn them around and think that you have change. Instead my solution is.... in order to reach my core of peace. I chosen to forgive whatever it is that’s in the way, him/her/ or me. It doesn’t mean that I condone such action on me or any of their behaviour towards me or others. But I just chosen to silently in my mind say living in the present there’s no ground for such small stuff that is ruining my time then and there and so I forgive it and forget it and move on with my present moment and start enjoying it, which by law of attraction if I could actually be peaceful within, sooner or later it will bring something good and better.
I’d like to suggest 2 movies for your viewing pleasure. There are times when a good film comes out you just know that you have to go and watch it. it doesn’t matter what the critics says, or if it is a blockbuster or not. It’s just right to watch.

One of those film is Freedom Writer. I haven’t really watched it. but I know exactly that I am going to go out and buy this one. Reason is that, it is true and it is exactly what I inspire to be, brave and embrace the world as we are. Yes I may not know what everyone goes through but I know that no matter what’s the deal, hatred, revenge, and hurting just for the sake of pride and rage is not the life I want to lead nor I wish to see in this world. And this film say exactly what I am doing here. Writing my own story, not for the sake of telling it, but to let myself know what I think under all the chaos too. All that those kids gone through are tough, and to overcome their adversity, they will grow to be a stronger being and beyond everyone’s successes. Yet those triumphs are their own as I got mine to conquer. And in no way it signifies the inferiority of myself or their. If any of it have any effect on me of the person in the story is my gratitude for what I have and learn in my life and magnify the greatness of their achievements.


The other movie is “Something New”, besides the obvious reason that it stars the sexy Simon Baker, it is a story about 2 person from different races coming together in Love. I love the story because of simply that, 2 persons that came from different world realises in life and love there’s no such thing called Different Love. They are all the same. Ironically, you have to have an idea and an inkling of racism in your mind to understand the important of the story. That’s just how it is. As my own experience, If I have actually walk away and study in a all Chinese school when I fail my primary for the local native language, I would not have discover English as part of my present and choose to pursue it to come to an understanding that it is the universal language to justify my pride in my own hereditary dialag (Chinese) and the national local language which in hate and come to love later. And now it seems it is just logical to expand my language range to Japanese, French, sign Language and eventually German for the hidden wisdom and knowledge behind such culture and technology advancement in those country.
At a very young age I have done a sum on all the things I wanted to do and the time I have and I conclude that I’d have not enough time to do them all and all those coming new stuff. Yet here we are sometimes saying that we are bored or something have to be on hold for some silly reason like, not enough money, family and pride worst of all is when we are acting something that we don’t plan to even take part in simply because someone said they want to do it and urges us to go along with and we do and wasted time of them. So what is it that you know in your heart you want to do? Now! Learn to paint? Go ahead, learn to dance? Go ahead! Why wait. Not that they will kill you if you actually take that 30 minutes each day to enjoy yourself. Find your true self and see thy self truthfully again and start enjoying this life truly for once. As Drew Barrymore says, not because it is short, not because we don’t have enough time, but because it is life and it is a beautiful one, if only you allow it to be. Just forgive, forget, relax and do it.

Great movies comes with great hearts

One of the best quote I’ve ever heard is “When you ask God for greatness, you think that God would hand you greatness or a chance to be Great? When you ask for bravery, you think God will filled you up with bravery or a chance to be brave. And if you ask God for love, you think God would give you warm and fuzzy feeling or a chance to love? And when you ask God to bring your family together, you think What would God show you?”
Ironically they quote come from the comedy “Evan Almighty”. Ironically, I’ve watched 2 best movies I’ve ever watched last weekend, And it’s not in the cinema, it’s the new DVD I just bought. It’s “August Rush” and “Juno”.

August Rush, a little bit of Oliver Twist-y, and a little bit of music genius-y. It is a fusion of the both. You get the best inspiring story of a young kid. Born without knowing about his parents, the only connection he has is his ability to hear music in all sound. Father is a Rocker, Mother is a violinist. The movie tells the story of 2 person who came together and separated by faith, and when their child is born, he is given away. Following his heart and the music, August Rush ran out of his orphanage and into the city. Here he befriended a homeless kid and taken to his gang led by a thug. August showed his talent and the Thug try to exploit it to gain money. Fortunately, when police raided the gang’s hide out August came to a church. Inspired by his talent, the priest helped enrolled August into a prestige music school. While in the school. August composes a great orchestra piece and it’s been suggested to the New York Philharmonic orchestra to perform in the Central Park. Following her heart, August mother came to decide to rejoin the same orchestra for the performance the same night. And his father resigned from his job and rejoin his band in New York the same night. In the end all come together perfectly in the concert, where the three is reunited under the music by August. A Beautiful and inspiring story. No matter the story is real or not, it’s great cinema. There’s enough reality so cinema is as it suppose here, cinematic again.

As for Juno, on the contrary, is as good as it is. The best Script movie. Reality, hardship of life. It shows the perfect combination of love, determination, come of age lesson and family values, peers pressure, marriage and divorces, and of course the main line, premarital and teenage pregnancy. It does present one question though. How old is adult enough. some people is not even grown up when they are 30, some simply need to avoid the responsibility simply because they don’t have the money. So if you have the money, does that makes you a teenager not a good parent later? All that is in question. With close to 30% of black teenagers dropping out of schools and getting pregnant at that age. If makes me wonder, where the line really is drawn? Back to the movie, it is the simplest story line, nothing even fancy and cinematic about it. Yet, because of the writing of the script and the performance of the ensemble, the story has great dynamics that attracts people to watch it.
Well, coming back from DVDs to movies, I’ve actually watched Wall-E and Clone Wars back to back during the weekend. Both movies are great to watch and enjoyable.

Both have their own advantages and tradition. Clone Wars are in full force, the old Star Wars writing. Jedi, Temple, light sabre fights, Tattoine the sand filled planets. It just lack the lust of realistic since it’s animation and all. If you like the Star Wars saga and would like to relive the who culture. This is a good way to go. Jaba the huts little sons been kidnapped and once again Anakin Skywalker to the rescue, in his usual rough tactics that is. As I said, there’s nothing much but reminiscent of some memories.


Wall-E on the other hand is another tradition, the Tradition of Pixar. As usual, it’s as beautiful as any of Pixar animations and as realistic as any smooth old Pixar animation. Aside from the set back that the Robots doesn’t speak a single words for the first 30 minutes. The love story between the robots is believable. And this time to teach human a lesson and show them what people will be like in the future. It’s a good animation and good value. And the story line is good enough. Well-E been cleaning the earth for ages and one day he found love in an Alien Robot. Just to find out it’s sent to earth by human living out of space. And when Wall-E follow her to outerspace to save her. He helped, human to come to realisation and come back to Earth in the end. Of course I’m just leaving out the juicy detail of the whole story here. You’ll have to check it out and have a great trip out of this world.

Movies on DVD

Well, what can I talk about today. I was watching some of my favourite video and I thought why not list some of the movie I like the most.
This won’t be the movies that usually prove to be popular blockbuster or OSCAR worthy, But they are some of the categories that’s in my heart the most amazing

Let’s start this with the Best movie of all time. Titanic. I know I know it’s cheesy. There are Scarface, there are Godfather, even Lord of the Rings. But let’s discuss about this. The idea is young, the story is old, it’s a love story, it’s an adventure movie, it’s a inspiring story, it’s beautifully done, it’s just the right size (the length of the movies wise.) healthy dose ticket sales. It’s even advance in visual effects and the cast fits the glove perfectly. Well, if most of you kids out there have no idea what the story is about. It’s about the largest ship ever build in the 1920’s where it sank on it’s maiden voyage from England to America near the north pole. Depicting the story underlying story line is a humane story of all the passenger that either survive the crash or sacrifice during the endeavour. And the main story is not exactly the sinking of the ship. It’s the story of two different people from 2 very different world when human are still divided into classes. So the lame story line and also the most amazing story is that they fall in love and the experience the love forever changes the life of this two person.

Well, the best fantasy movie I’ll give that to The Never Ending story. HAHA! Most of you will never agree with this one because it is the story of my time. and many youngster now have no idea this story ever existed. One indicator that the producer might wanna remake it HAHA! Anyway this is one story that actually teaches me how to read and imagine. The fun of reading a book. A child brought a book back from a book store. The never ending story is the title. Simple enough. and yet it’s a magical story book that literally unfolds when you read it. it is not a book written before you read it. it is a story that is written by the kid’s own imagination. So it’s a story of good and evil while the evil is taking over the world in the book. Disaster also started to appear in the real world. At the end of the story, it’s either the children save the world in the book or we’ll all die with it. Yet what makes it special it the character of the book. The Indian, the flying fluffy dragon, the child-like empress the connection between the kid and them all.

The ultimate adventure movie is The Goonies of course. HAHA! Well, again another really old story. The Coreys will sure remember this one. It’s about a bunch of kids that found a map and when they thought it’s a treasure map it leads them from the suburb to the cave and chase by a bunch of... kind hearted bad ass. They in the end found the real treasure. The 16th century pirate’s ship.

Next the Best animal story is Free Willy. I think this one I would have no one to argue with me. You might say lessie or homeward bound. But that’s just it, you got too many dogs and cats and horses. You ever seen an orca? A real live one? And the actor actually got to be in the same frame with one. That’s awesome and the one and only. So Willy is the whale, the orca, being captive in a pool in the amusement park and in the end the own try to kill him with by damaging the pool and claim for insurance and so the Kid, try to save Willy and free him to his family.

Well, kids story aside. The best literature adaptation and longest fantasy movie will be The Lord of the Rings. I love the story, I love the created culture and language of the movie. The ultimate fantasy movie of all fantasy, written and publish as 6 books in the beginning, then made into 3 movies that ‘s meant to be watched in one shot. (watch the complete version please. 12 hours is not such a big deal really. ) Anyway, you got human, dwarves, elves, dragon, horses, orgs, all of that comes into line. Which tell a story of friendship, forge and broken, sacrifices and glory, evils and good. It’s just the most complete story. Male essential though because the love story between men in war are not things that mix and so it’s kept in minimal.

The best sci-fi story of all time. the Abyss is my pick. There’s a lot. But this is mine. Simply because I like the spookiness and the conspiracy. It’s out there but it’s not really said out loud. I love the under sea theme, the inner terrestrial being and their ships. And the almost disaster movie cum aliens story.

The best monster movies to me is Aliens. Definitely. What could be more monster like and more remotely monstrous than that? You go into out of space. Meet hostile aliens and you try to kill them all.






However the Best Alien movie to me is E.T. which I'd say is the Best Kids movie as well. you might say that I'm old minded. But Kids if you don't start them with something bad I figure there's good that will shines out. E.T. a kid who find a friend in an alien. and it suggest the possibility that not all aliens life form are a threats to earthlings or treatens to kill us all all the time. just alike people from different culture which we do not understand, or people with different ideology. there are millions and millions of people and no matter how you want them to conform you can't. there's no reason to force them to either. because they could bring something different or even better to you.


Best action movie will be either Matrix or Speed. Both have great action and one is realistic and heart pounding. The other is..... lets say the sci-fi version of what a special effected action movie should be like. State the obvious and move to the action. The ultimate play ground for an action movie matrix is. Because you simply play with everything. Fresh, new, unchartered territory and totally handsome.

The Best Disaster story. My pick will be Deep Impact. The one Elijah Wood is in. Not the kick boxing or the other kung fu fighting soldier, 2nd rated movie. Why not Armageddon you ask. Well I know that Armageddon made most of the big screen idol today we have. But one thing that it’s lack of is the real story behind all normal people, when disaster strikes. Not just focus on some 2-5 heroes. So the movie may not help the fame or name of the actor work on it. but the story telling of how ordinary people can do great things too. Out of love and humanity.
Well Comedy and Scary movies, 2 of the category that I actual watch the least. Comedy is because I’m pretty uptight. There I said it. HAHA! I was. And I don’t really laugh at any funny movie. Or Maybe it’s because I watch too many I Love Lucy in the old days that I have very little left for the comedy today. I’ll tell you who is the comedian I love the most. Whoopi and Robin William.

The silly comedy I choose Mrs. Doubtfire, for the smart comedy I’ll take The Truman Show. I’d have choose The Mask if the really silly movie is not taken. But The Truman show, the movie that actually started the whole reality show trend and sticked the idea into the producer’s mind. Must be mentioned. It's the first ever movie that talks about millions of camera onto one person's life in a studio. and so it's far more nutshell than anyone would have thought. and the movie end with Truman leaving the studio and start and new life (real life).







Oh! Scary movie, I’d take I Know What You Did Last Summer. I’m the teen then you can’t blame me.

The Best musical, must be the Sound of Music. I doubt anyone that really have watched a musical have not seen this one.

Oh the all time out of space movie for me definitely is Star Wars. You can’t beat an original script like that.


And the Best superhero movie is.... Superman. I’m embarrass to admit it. Now you know my sexuality..... NAH. Just kidding. Man who wears his underwear on the outside is not such a big deal. Silly sometimes. But not really that big a deal. Just that as I mention, when I’m young the cinema at the back of my house is still operating, they bought the showing rights of all superman movies. Back when they are still using film. So when they didn’t book any movie for the week, they have these discounted shows of the superman movies at 20-50 cents a show. So I go watch all the time and in the end it stuck and never came out. LOL! Though I’m not really that into Christopher Reeves. But he is a great person, in real life. Shown how a superman should be like in real life truly. Anyway, that was my first superhero. probably my first movie even. I can't remember.





But one I do remember if Gandhi. This is my pick for the best historic biography movie. not that I've ever really finish watching it. I'd have selected Schindler list for my own generation's pick. but this one is the first that got to me. Back when it's showing. I use to go watch it. then go back home to take my bath and take a nap half way and then go back to catch some more of it. that's how long the movie felt to me. So I've never really watched it one shot through. even until now I still haven't have the courage to actually buy it and watch the whole story on DVD. reason probably it's too much of a memory to me and to me the peaceful mind or my mind's way of peaceful protest is sleeping. HAHA!





Well, if you are looking for some great DVDs and haven't got any of the above you must check these out then.