Hi.

One of my campaigns in life is (was) to get shuyi to be polite to me (or anyone for that matter). I use to have this ambition of instilling in her the good habit of saying 'hi' when she speaks to me online. But she never does, of course. And there was this once, she said something very smart when I asked her to say hi after she just ranted off about something that's probably of no interest to me. She said something like, "if we treat this like a conversation that never ends, then we'd never have to say hi" or something like that, and I thought that was very good.

It's a very good way of explaining what I want to explain now. I'm not a very New Year-ish kind of person. Maybe I'm a Christmasy boy, and perhaps a little Easter-ish, and I particularly like being unmarried during Chinese New Year... but I'm not very New Year-ish.

I generally dislike making lists of all sorts of resolutions or anything of that sort. I don't sit down and meditate on the year that has passed and ponder upon the year ahead of me. Mostly it's because I don't believe it's a line that I want to draw. If at any point in my life I need a clean break, I don't wait till December 31st. And I dont' start on January 1st. I like symbols and representations and all that, but this is one I choose not to put too much heart in.

And mostly because life is an ongoing thing whether we partition it off at 365 days a year or 6000 a year. I didn't get to go to my church camp this year, and I don't know what my friends learnt in that camp, but the theme was 'Only One Life'.

And that's the number I think I want to care about. One.

So I don't need to say hi to 2007.

*

Happy New Year

I'm keeping off posting pictures and all that for a couple of days until the lag stops irritating me. I have some lovely photos from my niece's 2nd birthday, Mr.Potatoheads, and a bit of Christmas.

Nothing Can Go Wrong - A Preview to Cinema 2007

Short post. Little details.

For those of you who are not as nerdy as me to pick out statistical nonsense and business trends in the world of Hollywood (or rather the US box office in general), here's what's been happening.

From forever till 2004 (with some odd years in between here and there), the movie industry generally has been making alot and alot alot alot alot and alot of money, and most of the time the total box office for the year goes up and up every year (esp with ticket prices inflating and all that stuff)...

So anyway, year 2005 turned out to be a massive recession (almost a depression) for cinema people. Now, when we talk about big money, let's forget the indie films okay, it's the blockbusters that make or break the industry financially. So for every week leading up to the summer months, 2005 loses out to 2004 with week by week comparisons. Many big movies fumbled... Many big movies lost money (ie. Kingdom of Heaven, King Arthur, The Island... bla bla. I can count with my fingers how many big budget films made money that summer...)

So Star Wars came out. It made big money. But it couldn't save the box office because the other 9 films in the top ten didn't make any money.

Then Batman Begins came out. It made less money than Star Wars, but a lot of money anyway. But it couldn't save the box office because Star Wars was fizzling by then and the rest of the top 10 didn't make any money.

Then War of the Worlds came out and raked in so much money you would think "Spielberg saved the day" but oh my, no, the combined efforts of Star Wars, Batman and War of the Worlds couldn't quite save the film economy... Talk about heavyweight failure.

The surprise hero that year turned out to be Fantastic Four. It was a pretty dumb show that didn't make quite a lot of money, but it made enough money to finally record a higher earning than the comparative weekend in 2004.

So 2005, bad year.

2006. There were less blockbuster failures, and things generally were better than 2004. But it still sucks. The superhero efforts of V for Vendetta, Superman Returns and X3 did their thing, but most analysts agree that had Pirates of the Carribean not make 450 million bucks, it would've in fact, be just as bad as 2004. So, oh no again, cinema is still in recession.

I'm not gonna talk about why box office receipts are going down, but here's a look at how 2007 is going to be the year that Cinema starts making money again - Big Time.

We have

Transformers - All the men in the world will rally together to make this film the no.1 for 2 to 3 weeks. Cult classic-comic coming alive. What could possibly go wrong? 300 million bucks in the bag.

Spiderman 3 - The first two films were industry records. Both exceeded 400million bucks. And it'll probably battle it out with Pirates 3 for the highest grosser of the year!

Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End - The previous movie was at some point favored to topple Titanic (it didn't, but at least it gave a decent try), so this film is a 400 million dollar lock.

And we've got Stardust and Beowulf and Shrek 3 (another big money kick butt show)

and most importantly, if all else fails... we have...

Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer ( I can imagine the headlines... 'FF4 saves the box office AGAIN"

*

Next year is going to be a good year.

Christmas

As always, not a lot of pics. So one of my family. Of sorts.

Why I am Sleep Deprived

I close my eyes and I see you instead of the darkness
I open my eyes and I see my room dimly lit by the moonlight

tell me
how can I fall asleep?

Our World Will Be Transformed

Watched the Transformers trailer. Thanks Fikri for the link. Click here to see it.


Autobots, transform and roll out... Actually the only Autobot I recognize from this clip is Wheeljack. I think.


This is a Decepticon. Not sure which one.


And Bumblebee. I think. Again.

*

And I edited a 1 min version of my original Psycho for something else. It's online in case you're interested. Click here.

And a Mewwy Chwismas
Happy New Year
And I have a secret to tell you.
It's mostly about Chwismas.

But you already do know what that secret is.

So farewell
And Mewwy Chwismas.

Fabio!!! Fabio!!! (part 2)

Last month I rambled about how Fabio Cannavaro won the European Player of the Year award.

Today, I read that Fabio won the FIFA World Player of the Year award!!!



Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho, and Zinebutt Zidane

FABIO!!! FABIO!!! FABIO!!!

Still No

Still no time to blog at all since last friday's Independence day.

Briefly, here's what I've been doing

1) Going to church for different stuffs.
2) Watching The West Wing seasons 4 and 5 (with 6 soon to come, and 7 after that)
3) Reading through Starjobs (save me)
4) Reading a stack of comics my brother left on my table (which I have to say, he has the tendency of leaving climatic issues out of the stack. It happened with Sandman, and it happened with The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and it happened with Daredevil: Father, and Superman: For Tomorrow... hahahaha.)
5) DoTa (well not really)
6) Oh, surprised shu with shoelaces shoebox and socks along with my other CF friends
7) Forgot lynette's birthday till yesterday
8) Forgot my two cousins birthdays till today too.
9) Sleeping
10) Taunting May Yee about life
11) Thinking of feeding rabbits to the wolves and the lions for er... stuff.

Haven't had time in the last 2- 3 days to blog.

So here goes my summary:

Let's Get Retarded!

That's the current theme song for today's thesis writing day!

Let's Get Retarded In Here!!!

Delirium

de·lir·i·um /dɪˈlɪəriəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[di-leer-ee-uhm] Pronunciation Key
–noun, plural -lir·i·ums, -lir·i·a /-ˈlɪəriə/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-leer-ee-uh]

1.	Pathology. a more or less temporary disorder of the mental faculties, as in fevers, disturbances of consciousness, or intoxication, characterized by restlessness, excitement, delusions, hallucinations, etc.

2.	a state of violent excitement or emotion.

*

Sounds like it.

Presenting Szen:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer

300 trailer

Picked this tag off Grace's Blog to DESTRESS

Layer ONE : On the Outside
Name : Tan Meng Yoe
Birthdate : dec06
Current Status : Alive
Eye Color : Dark Brown
Hair Color : Black
Righty or Lefty : A definite right handed person
Zodiac Sign : Sagi

Layer TWO : On the Inside
Your heritage : I am Chinese. And I am Christian. Maybe a bit Kryptonian.
Your fears : (not being racist here) If pigs went extinct.
Your weakness : Coffee. Without it I go mad. Insane.
Your perfect pizza : er... I really donno wor.

Layer THREE : Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Your first thoughts when waking up in the morning : Where is...
Your bedtime : I might not go to bed due to the state of my back. Might lie on the floor.
Your most missed memory : I generally don't miss memories. If I do I just make it happen again. Haha.

Layer FOUR : Your Pick
Pepsi or Coke : don't care.
Mcdonalds or Burger King : McDs.
Single or group dates : dates come in months and years and weeks la. not in singles and groups.
Adidas or Nike : Nike.
Lipton Tea or Nestea : Lipton.
Chocolate or Vanilla : Chocolate.
Cappucino or Coffee : ANYTHING with caffeine.

Layer FIVE
Do you smoke : Smoke what?
Curse : Lots. When I play Dota some of the skills are called curses.
Take a shower : yes.
Have a crush : Currenly, I must say I'm absolutely smitten by Paula Patton from Deja Vu
Think you've been in love : Yea
Go to school : Not for long.
Want to get married : yar.
Believe in yourself : To do certain things. Like waste time
Think you're a health freak : No. i believe in excessive bak kut tehs.

Layer SIX : In the past month
Drank alcohol : Yes. With my drunkard commie friends. Particularly Girl TMY
Gone to the mall : Yar
Been on stage : Don't think so.
Eaten sushi : Next week. I book Shu for this already. My celebration of independence.
Dyed your hair : I want to. The rogue thingy.

Layer SEVEN : Have you ever?
Played a stripping game : not yet.
Changed who you were to fit in : Whoever says no is lying. We fit into different things all the time whether we realize it or not.

Layer EIGHT :
Age you're hoping to get married : I don't want to give any women any ideas. haha.

Layer NINE : In a girl
Best eye colour : Shouldn't matter.
Best hair colour : Shouldn't matter.
Long or short hair : Shouldn't matter.

Layer TEN : What were you doing....
1 minute ago : i started typing this thing.
1 hour ago : typing my introduction for my now 15000 word thesis
4.5 hours ago : pulling my hair out in front of my supervisor
1 month ago : probably wasting time.
1 year ago : wasting time too.

Layer ELEVEN : Finish the sentence
I love : certain pets.
I feel : anxious
I hate : racists
I hide : my good looks :)
I miss : sushi
I need : hm.

*

I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing

Overplayed, way overplayed, and very very much overplayed.
But till today, this still is among my favorite love songs.
And I find myself singing/listening to this more and more often as my thesis draws nearer to the end.
For some reason it makes me forget the pain.
My supervisor said, "most endings are painful."

And yes that is true.

Maybe that's why a love song works.
And trust me. I won't miss a thing about my thesis.

*

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While youre far away dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

Dont want to close my eyes
I dont want to fall asleep
Cause Id miss you babe
And I dont want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe
And I dont want to miss a thing

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating
And Im wondering what youre dreaming
Wondering if it's me youre seeing
Then I kiss your eyes
And thank God were together
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever
Forever and ever

Dont want to close my eyes
I dont want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you babe
And I dont want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe
And I dont want to miss a thing

I dont want to miss one smile
I dont want to miss one kiss
I just want to be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just want to hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you babe
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe
And I dont want to miss a thing

Dont want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
I don't want to miss a thing

*

it's the rabbit i tell you.
that irritatingly furry creature.

What Star Wars Did to the World

So I've been working on thesis...
The original plan was to write about a handful of fully digital films and... about stuff.

So, at first, I decided to write about Immortel Ad Vitam, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Sin City. Then I added MirrorMask to the mix. (by then I've thrown out Immortel already because it's just too stupid a film to write on...) (I wanted a copy of Casshern, but I could not find it. It's an obscure Japanese digital movie...) Two days, I completed the chapter on MirrorMask, and a sub-chapter on Sin City... I looked at my timetable and I made probably the most dramatic academic decision in my entire life.

I decided to cut Revenge of the Sith out of my thesis.

I'm being dramatic, but I tell you, it rained that evening. But I just didn't have the time to think through Star Wars because ironically, I know the film too well. And I have a deadline.

*

So today, due to a blocked-brain with Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, I decided to start writing my introduction to the thesis.

And it suddenly occured to me that I can write about Star Wars and digital effects here! Star Wars , after all, is the catalyst and great-grandmother of all visual effects driven movie. (if you think otherwise too bad lah. it's my thesis :P)

So, without hesitation, I started writing about Star Wars (even if it's only going to be a page in length), and titled the introduction "What Star Wars Did to the World".

*

And so far this is the only thing I really like about my thesis. The title of my introduction.

I'm such a nerd. Such a nerd. Haha.

*

Ding.

lynette at undang class

Lynette is back in Johor, and is at this very moment sitting in the undang-undang class, a compulsory class for whoever intends to get a motor license.

I received this sms like 1 minute ago from her.

Wad s meaning of memotong

Tpish

Niece number two - Reine.

Niece number one - Jeanne.

Reine again.

Recent baptism service in church. My youth pastor looks like he's dunking someone into the water.

the saints are coming!!!
the saints are coming!!!
isaynomatterhowitryirealizethere'snoreply
the saints are coming!!!
the saints are coming!!!
isaynomatterhowitryirealizethere'snoreply
isaynomatterhowitryirealizethere'snoreply
isaynomatterhowitryirealizethere'snoreplY!!!

2006 Cinema in review - so far.

here are my 5 favorite films for the year 2006 (so far. The Christmas season haven't quite started yet. By Jan 2007 I'll give a 'real' top 5)

1. Deja vu

This show is probably my current favorite because firstly, it's a Tony Scott movie, and when I watch a Tony Scott movie, I don't expect him to be versatile. I go to the cinema wanting to watch Tony Scott and nothing else. And Deja vu is Tony Scott at his vintage best. Better than Crimson Tide, better than Top Gun, better than Man on Fire, better than Domino.

Usually thrillers thrill me. Deja vu thrills, and presses a needle into your heart. Denzel Washington and Paula Patton's performances make time travelling and the movie overall a mysteriously nostalgic thriller.

And it's a Tony Scott film.

2. V for Vendetta

This movie is one of the rare times when when the credits roll, I stay silent for some moments, then go "wow..." very quietly.

Because it's just so darn good. Comic book adaptations work. If you dont' believe me. Watch this.

And it's got Natalie Portman.
With a bald head.

3. The Departed

Don't kill me, but I haven't seen the Hong Kong version called 'Infernal Affairs' which I hear is really really good.

But since I haven't seen that one. I think Jack Nicholson is the most awesomest villain I've seen in a long long time. And Leonardo proves that he can act under the direction of Scorsese.

And it's the best Scorsese film I've seen. Not like The Aviator, where I nearly fell asleep.

4. The Prestige

Ah, Chris Nolan is fast becoming one of my favorite directors.

Watch this film closely. It's a lesson about being observant through and through.

And how films can be intelligent from start to finish.

5. Lady in the Water

Yes. Call me an idiot.
I loved this film.

*

On the bubble:

Superman Returns
- I agree with most reviewers that if there's one major problem with this film, it's the casting choices and the lack of dialogue. But apart from that, Superman Returns is a visual splendour, and has the best soundtrack so far.

Casino Royale
- This is the first time I actually (well, second time, after Tomorrow Never Dies) enjoyed a Bond movie.

Boycotts:

X-Men 3
- Brett Ratner can go die. As well as John Powell.

Fumbles
Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest
- Hmm.

My current top 5 most awaited movies for the rest of 2006

1. Children of Men

by Alfonso Cuaron. About a world where women can't give birth anymore. It looks gritty, and I find myself interested in sci-fi set in the present time/near the present time. Stars Clive Owen and Julianne Moore

2. The Painted Veil

Check this out. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts in a LOVE STORY. Sorta. Best picture nominee here, maybe?

3. Curse of the Golden Flower

Zhang Yi Mou. Enuff said.
Chow Yun Fatt. More than enuff said.

4. The Black Dahlia

This came out in the states already, and I think it won't get here. But I want to watch this. It's a Brian De Palma film noir thingy with Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johanssen, Hillary Swank and Aaron Eckhart. Stylo to the max from what I've seen.

5. Hollywoodland

Apparently this film is Ben Affleck's redemption from the realm of superstar-failures. But mostly I want to watch it because it's about Superman.

*

Ok Big Guy
I think we need to clarify that I think it's a 4 year contract.
Well if I got that wrong
then do have a little bit of mercy.

*

I remember in that movie Armageddon, where there was this understanding that the meteorite was heading towards earth to destroy the world was a Biblical thingy, and Bruce Willis and his gang just seem to face obstacle after obstacle after obstacle.

And he, knowing that he couldn't quite outmatch You, said, "God, just a little help."

Now that line was made in good fun. For entertainment purpose.

But hey,

God. Just a little help.

Girl TMY and Original Sarah

My random doodles.
I particularly like Sarah Jane's chubby cheeks.
And May Yee's chicken little-ish sorta look.
Click to enlarge

Promoting Puah

Okay people, Sze Ning wants to get famous with her photos.
All the photos here are taken directly from her Flickr account. So click on any photo and you'll be re-directed to the page where the photo is and POST COMMENTS and check her other pics out.






















It's really very cool stuff. And so far she's done all this using a less than too fancy camera. So click click click click and spur her in her campaign to receive funding for her NEW AND BETTER CAMERA!!!!! CLICK click click click CLICK!!!!

Liquefy

Sometimes random songs that sounds only OK at best catch my attention.

*

Will I always love you ?
I just don't know
I'll give it a go
Will you always love me ?
How could you know ?
Just give it a go


- Liquefy, by The Servant

*

Random Stuffs from Late Morning Chats and Other Happenings

I got up very late today. I got up at 11am. For a Saturday, that's very late. Technically I'm supposed to be up by 6 but I have failed to do that for ages.

*

At around 9-ish Ee Hui called telling me he's not coming to church today. I remember my replies sounded like, "HALO? mmm. grmmmmmmmmmm. hmmmmmm. bai."

*

I had this fantastic dream. I was in a bus. I was lost somewhere in the world. Malaysia I think. I was going through some suburbs. I think in my dream I was worried about where I was going or how I was gonna get off and hop on a train that would lead to home.

Then this very beautiful girl beside me (fictional character) sorta asked me "So hi, where do you study?"

And just as I turned and wanted to say hi back...

my youth pastor called and woke me up!!!!!! If she wasn't my youth pastor I would've summoned hail and fire and all sorts of destructive things and... and that was 11am.

*

Sze Ning was showing me some Flickr photos of hers. It's very cool. Check it out here.

She also wants to point out that she is solely responsible for my cyber-identity.

For the record, she made me start blogging.
She made me not use any other color besides white for my blog.
She introduced YouTube to me.
Now she's trying to sell Flickr to me.

And she demanded that I call her "Master". Since she is female I'll call her Masteress.

*

Was just talking to Susanna on MSN as well. She wants to quench a certain rumor that she has been fainting all over the place.

Let me assure you that her word is true, and she's not the sort who'd lie about these things. She probably wasn't fainting all over the place. Though it's plausible to think that she fainted many times at the same place.

So I'm adding a new nickname to my very long list of nicknames for her. Fainting Sue.

She claims that she'll hate me FOREVER (emphasis is hers) if I blog about something I shouldn't be blogging about (with regards to her lah) so now I'm gonna repent and say that she's a very beautiful girl with straight hair.

vomit vomit puke puke bluergh flush flush eurrrrrrk barf barf spit spit my punishment for telling lies yuck eruk puke summore vomit.

*
And that's my morning so far.

Current status: