Definitely No “Swee”t Deal

The devil may have possessed me to walk into a theatre playing “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”. It was unfortunate to be catching a movie on a Monday evening at 9.30pm with nothing of significance on the screen list save for a morbid musical. I had intended to watch “Kite Runner” but I would need a Porsche to get me to Cathy @ Handy Road within 20 minutes.

No spoilers here. But halfway into the movie, when Helena Bonham Carter was making human meat pies out of unfortunate victims, I was fidgeting in my seat thinking of getting French fries and a latte after it ends.
Yes, gore and macabre have no effect on me. It was shocking the first time blood spurted out from mangled throat arteries but as the gruesome scenes repeated themselves, I was rolling my eyes in disbelief.
How this crap nabbed 2 Golden Globe awards is totally beyond me.
Perhaps I am missing something here? Costume design, superb acting and commendable art direction? They didn’t appear that great to me anyhow.
I walked out hastily when it ended, wondering whether it would inspire any impressionable teenager to go on a throat slitting spree soon.

Barry Berry Good

I adore Drew Barrymore for being so effortlessly beautiful.

Natural, chic and divinely delicious all rolled into one without trying too hard.

What a sweetheart! She looks smashing especially with minimal makeup on.

"Music and Lyrics" is her latest movie which I hope to catch someday. It’s just another light hearted chick flick but watching her in action is always such a pleasure.

Couldn’t say that for Hugh Grant. He is a little too stiff for my liking. Is it a common British affliction? ;-P

Rising Temperatures in Antarctica

Tap Dancing Penguins!!!!??? Nothing could be further from the truth. Penguins waddle gracelessly on land and only transform into torpedo-like, lean mean swimming machines underwater.

Oh, never mind reality!

“Happy Feet” is the best movie of the 2006! Never ever miss it, alright? Best to catch it in the cinemas and not hold out for its DVD release. I am sure everyone walked out from the theatres—happy.

So, nope, no spoilers for this movie. YOU GO WATCH IT YOURSELF. And shame on you if you want to illegally download this one.

In all, it’s a hilarious movie that will have you up in stitches; meaningful enough for you to appreciate the tenacious nature of penguins, and so infectious that you actually tap your feet and jiggle your shoulders to the rhythm.

Tone deaf Mumble
I exclaimed about his blue eyes when he tumbled out of his shell.
But you know what? He’s an albino Emperor penguin!!! But there wasn’t any mention in the entire film because living things with albinism are generally as healthy as the rest of their species.
Still, it adds on to poor Mumble’s outwardly difference from his flock.

Cool Egoistic Ramon

(voiced by Robin Williams—the voiceover master!)

Watch it for the CG effects; watch it for its feel-good eco-friendly storyline. Have a few good laughs, groove to the beat and shake your booty while walking out from the theatres.

Substance beneath the fun: (my interpretation)

1. Man is the main destroyer of the ecosystem.
2. Blind faith will lead you onto the road to self annihilation.
3. Your ______ leaders are not right all the time (insert whatever term that applies).
4. Appealing to others’ better nature is tough. Get them to like you first.
5. Having exotic things makes you special. (a tagged Boss Skua and Lovelace with a plastic six packed neck ring)
6. Capitalize on your wisdom to get wealthy.
7. Give vague answers to questions you don’t know. (don't some lecturers do that all the time?!)
8. It’s alright to be different. Seek out an audience who appreciates your talent.

9. If you can’t sing live, try Lip Synching.
10. It’s good to have company but sometimes, you need to journey alone to seek out your answers.

Funniest Movie Moment:

Leopard Seal: Come here you sausage. I take you with ketchup.

Latin Penguins: But first you must catch up! [hahaha]

Leopard Seal: I know where you live.

Ramon: Yeah, it's called LAND, lardface!
(more taunting laughter)

A madcap quintet of Adelie Penguins

Lovelace the Rockhopper Penguin

Movie Trivia:
The late Steve Irwin provides the voice of an elephant seal who helps point Mumble in the right direction.

My up close and personal encounter with a fairy penguin (@ Bicheno Tasmania):

Boy, it sure looked rather pissed with a bunch of tourists peering at it.

Thieves and Sisters in Crime

Rob-B-Hood

Watched this movie with Aileen yesterday. It’s a laugh-a-minute type of movie. The kind that veers dangerously on the brink of slapstick humour but it nevertheless had both of us up in stitches. In fact, we were squealing in peals of laughter for the most part of the show that my jaw felt awfully sore from those uncontrollable facial contractions. Ouch! I left the theatre feeling that my abdominal muscles had a good work-out and am 1 step closer to fab abs (yea, dream on)…

Anyway, the antics and storyline are obviously too over-the-top to be realistic. Moreover, it was yet another mapcap mission driven action flick. Yet, the ingenuity of it lies in the ability to turn the banal into amusement for the audience. Needless to say, the ending was just as predictable, with the trio of robbers turning over a new leaf, reconciling with their families and yes, the baby survives to lead a cushy life of a ‘prince’.

I was impressed with Jackie Chan’s stunts. The fight scenes are well choreographed, appropriate for each setting and damn daredevil. That guy truly deserves to be filthy rich, for every one of all the life-endangering moves he executes. No wonder he feels his biological son (Jaycee Chan) can never measure up.

This adorable little tyke, baby Matthew, stole the show just for looking so CUTE! I can heard periodic gushes of “aww…so cute” coming from some corner in the theatre. His eyes can simply melt hearts and render many his willing slaves. Jackie Chan held an audition to find a baby for this movie and no babe (out of the 1000 who turned up) caught his fancy. This kid was approached at a train station. Talk about being at the right place at the right time. He is of Chinese, Russian (on his father's side) and Columbian (on his mother's side) descent. I am sure more commercials deals will come knocking on his door.

It’s interesting to note that dogs, and animals, in general fetch a significantly better price when they are PUREBRED.
Humans, on the other hand, have more value when they are of mixed descent. 杂种人万岁! Oops! Sorry, 混血儿-Nice!

It was a nice day out with Aileen though. I wanted to go and see some Salvador Dali sculptures that were supposed to be on display till 14 October. But they have already taken them back… Sigh…

Profile of Time

Alice in Wonderland


Space Venus

After that, we went for dinner and had affordable ‘Japanese’ fare at the basement of Cineleisure. I told her that since I brought the camera out (originally for the Dali’s sculptures), we might as well take some shots.

Ivy: Oui, let’s take some photos, or else, I would have lugged this around in vain. The Straits Times wrote that the Salvador Dali exhibition is till tomorrow. ARGH!!!
Aileen: Ok.

Snapped a few shots.

Coy Aileen

Ivy with her rice cake

Ivy: You on drugs har? Hand so shaky. Look at my pictures. Like that cannot be surgeon. =( I more steady.
Aileen: Yea, I think so too. That's why I never apply for Medical School.

Ivy: Eww… I looked a bit weird. How come liddat?
Aileen: Seriously, your camera is a pretty good one. If there’s something wrong with the face, I cannot do anything about that.
Ivy: …

Ivy: Ok, let’s take 1 goofy shot. More fun.

And so…

We Eat Our Greens!!!

Yep, we are a crazy pair of sistas. Picture perfect shots? No way! Photoshop? No thanks.