Went to watch "My Sister's Keeper" today and the long lost sense of satisfaction of watching a really good movie was finally back. This is one movie that really touches your heart.
I will briefly touch on its plot. This story is about a family with one of its members, the older sister in the family, Kate, having Leukemia since young, to save her, her parents decided to give birth to a test tube baby which will have genes that matches her sister as both the parents's doesn't match with her genetically. So from young, this younger sister of Kate, Anna has been donating blood, bone marrow and stuff in order to save her older sister who eventually recovered. Unfortunately, Kate had a relapse of Leukemia when she was 15 and her kidney eventually shut down completely, so in order to save Kate, Anna would have to donate her kidney to save her sister, but she "was not willing" and decided to sue her parents for using her body against her will. The story developes from here about the burden of a Leukemia patient in the family and with a twist in the end that breaks your heart.
Kate, the main character in the movie was really human. This movie is different from the other "terminal illness" movies out there. Instead of the usual strong willed character, Kate was weak, she was vulnerable emotionally, that was why we can relate more to Kate. Kate has been suffering since young, when her cancer relapsed, she was really tired of it and wanted to let go as she knows she will not make it this time and she does not want to continue to become a burden of the family, however in order not to upset her mother Sara, she keeps mum about her will. Her mother on the other hand was obssessed to fight her way through to make sure that she gets treatment which in the end made her fail to notice her daughter's plea of letting go (which other family members knows or feels it). Actress, Sofia Vassilieva (Kate) delivers splendid acting and together with the convincing make up of a dying cancer patient, you will definitely feel for her.
Another character in the movie you will feel for is Sara, the mother (Cameron Diaz), if you know what is D.I.S.C personalilty test, this mother is definitely a D. She has been working so hard to make sure her daughter Kate stays alive all these years that she became unwilling to listen to other's opinions and insist doing things her own way. This made her became ignorant or unaware of the emotionally changes or problems that her family members including Kate is experiencing. Her world was so constricted and narrow on saving Kate's life that she became cut off from anybody and everything else. She was a stubborn fighter in life and she makes sure she does not lose and that makes her character seems so pitiful because she was unwilling to move on. Cameron Diaz here was amazing, I am now convinced that other than playing Charlie's Angel and other comedic roles, she can handle a serious role like this.
The understanding between Anna (Abigail Breslin from "Little Miss Sunshine") and Kate was also very heart warming and touching. Anna was so much matured than kids at her age and this was due to what her family has been going through all these years. Their relationship will definitely make your tears drop.
The breaking point of this movie is when Sara finally understood how Kate feels. The scene where she broke down (she did not cry almost throughout the whole movie given her strong personality) and it was Kate who was consoling her was just heart breaking. Before that I was just tearing, at this scene, I was sobbing, Haha... I tried so hard to control but no, it just went all out and it was embarrassing because I watched with two male friends... But luckily I was not the only one crying, bascially the whole cinema was filled with sobs. Haha...
The morale of the story is sometimes letting go of your burden might not be a bad thing, even though its sorrowful to let go, moving on is also just as important.
So if you are intending to watch this movie, please prepare lots of tissue before entering the cinema especially for the females, I highly recommend this movie and I think you will too find it worth the money.
The 6th movie Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince didn't fail like the previous movie, Order of the Phoenix (which was really a messy one), infact it is the best Harry Potter film yet! I heard a lot of people saying that movie 6 is boring, I have two guesses, 1, either they didn't read the books and all the wanted to see an action packed movie or 2, they expect every little gritty details to be included in the film.
Book 6 is one of my favourite books in the series, not because its filled with action but its very tasteful story telling leaving you with a lot of question marks that will be revealed in Book 7. And I think the movie did actually successfully captured the main plots of the book and actually TOOK TIME to tell the story, the slow story telling was long gone after the Chamber of Secrets movie. The film was filmed tastefully with the superb CGI, I like the tone set here in movie 6, long gone were the days that Hogwarts has this warm glow filled with magic, this time, Hogwarts is filled with this gloomy atmosphere that tells that doom is coming (Doom did came at the end of the movie, won't be a spoiler in case you haven't read the books or watched the movie). The characters have more soul in this film, (e.g. Hermione, Snape, Dumbledore and Draco Malfoy's emotional turmoil). All these made the film to be the most matured one out of all the movies. Credits must be given to director David Yates that he did not spoil the story like the one he previously did, but made it into one the best Harry Potter film yet.
So if you are just only following the movies and not the books and expect the "WOW" factor from all the actions, that forget it, don't watch (I mean, Harry Potter's phenomenon was always because of its story, not its actions, there are so many fantasy gig out there nowadays, go on and watch those if you like action packed movies), go read the books if you must, I bet you will be hooked. But do come back when movie 7, part 1 and 2 is out, because action is guarrantined as it is the final showdown of the world of good and evil. Anyway, I might watch movie 6 again in the cinemas, who knows?
Anyway 溏心风暴 airing in Channel U soon! One of my favourite TVB classics. Haha...
今天看了一部戏，一部拍得很美的戏，是自《Forrest Gump》多年以来，另一部好戏。这是一部诉说人生的戏，戏名叫《The Curious Case of Benjamin Button》。看了如果没有感动的人，对不起，我只能说很大可能是你对人世间的一些事还不够了解，可能你生活太过顺利。电影要带出的东西很多，难道你们看不到吗？男主角Benjamin因一生下来就是老人样，从小就被遗弃在老人院里，因为看着身边的老人一个个离世，从小已对死亡有一定的了解，（所以我了解为什么当他养母离世时，他没哭，只有无奈的表情），从小就做着大人所做的事情，看尽大人世界。当女主角Daisy年轻狂妄，意气风发的时候，差不多同年龄的他已经十分得稳重，大家的思想也是因女主角发生车祸后才比较接近，人是必须经历过苦难才能成长。一个越来越年轻，一个越来越老的两个人的恋爱注定是会有遗憾的，但这也是这部戏的主要内容。人生一定会有遗憾，有很多是必须坦然接受，但能够活着去做好自己的本分，是一种祝福，我记得戏里Benjamin当海员时期的船长，在临死前对Benjamin说了这段话(我把大意写出来），“You can curse and swear whatever you want, but when you face it, you have to accept it” 人生就是这样，无论是困难或死亡，到头来还是要面对，所以别太执著。电影里有个痴痴呆呆的老人说 “I have been strike by lightning 7 times, even though I might not think properly anymore or some of my body parts shake without control, but God reminded me that I should be grateful that I am still alive” 我们要学会感恩啊。在Benjamin生活里出现过的人都为着自己的梦想和喜好努力着，生活里的遭遇，阻扰，遗憾会染我们感到挫败，但这些人物没有放弃自己的梦想，喜欢艺术的船长，在自己身上找到发挥的平台（纹身），喜欢游泳的贵妇在六十岁终于创世界纪录，喜欢孩子的养母努力扮演好妈妈角色，等等等。。。电影拍得最成功的部分是它带出了这段恋爱的遗憾美，Daisy临死前说的最后一句， “Good night, Benjamin”，听了心里不禁的酸了起来，人对很多事都放得开，都可以像船长那样说，“You have to accept it”，但对爱往往执著，Daisy 到最后还是挂念着在她手中去世的 Benjamin。这部戏的成功除了故事好，演员的功力也非常出色，Cate Blanchett把年少狂妄到后来经历沧桑的Daisy 演得丝丝入扣，尤其是车祸后复原初次站在Benjamin面前的她，眼神里没了之前的傲气，多了一份沉淀的感觉，演员没有一定的功力是不可能演出那种感觉的。Brad Pitt 淡淡然的表情是符合剧情的，毕竟Benjamin是个比其他人早看透人世间的事的一个人物。特技也非常的好，老装都化得相当逼真。拍摄手法也一流，有些人说故事发展得很慢，我不这么认为，因为要成功的建立出男女主角的性格和生平，比较慢的故事情节是必需的。《The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 》可能会是我今年看过最好看的电影。
I was looking at my photos taken in Hong Kong and I found that I haven't upload a last batch of photos. So here they are.
Everytime I go back to Hong Kong, I will definitely find a chance to explore the green side of Hong Kong, which means I will go hiking or what we say in Cantonese "行山”. This time I was invited by Auntie Anney (my Mum's old classmate) and her family and friends to walk a trail that I have not hiked before, its called "梧桐塞”, this trail is famous for its awesome view of waterfalls. I asked my good friend in Hong Kong, Clarence to join me in the walk. We walked for almost 4 hours and went for BBQ for dinner.
Stick insect, can you spot it???
The crystal clear stream
Aren't these water lilies beautiful? They are taken in a pond of a temple in the middle of the mountain
大帽山 is the highest mountain in Hong Kong, we are hiking near that area
The whole waterfall is categorised into 3 portions, main fall, middle fall and bottom fall, with the main fall having the most magnificent view
Bottom fall
Middle fall
The main fall
Youngsters playing at the main fall
View of the main fall from far
BBQ in Hong Kong is very different from the BBQ we have here, in Hong Kong, people sit around the circular BBQ bit and chit chat while they barbaque their food. I would prefer this way of BBQ, because people tend to talk more and are more involved in the whole conversation, if there are new friends around, it is also a better way to build rapport. The problem with our way of BBQ is that only a few people are barbaqueing while others are in their own small groups doing nothing but chat, those at the BBQ pit might feel lonely, new friends might felt left out when they have nothing to do and listen to conversations that does not concerns them. Therefore, Hong Kong style of BBQ is more heart warming.
First time trying the Hong Kong style of BBQ
Uncle Benny and family
My 堂表姐 brought me to 尖沙嘴. 尖沙嘴
We walked past a Charlie Brown Cafe, those who like Snoopy can come visit this cafe located in 尖沙嘴. I heard from my 堂表姐, the cafe's food is quite good. We did not ate over there coz we were supposed to eat somewhere else.
Photo taken with Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Yay!!!
The staircase to the cafe
This store is quite famous, because the food here is very nice! I ate 叉烧串, and its was super juicy and nicely barbequed. Alot of celebrities come here for their food too. Photos I saw on the walls were 张柏芝，任达华，famous food critic 蔡澜，马俊伟，张伟建 etc. Its located at 尖东, anyone going to Hong Kong should visit this store if they have the chance.
After dinner I went to meet my aunt and took MTR home, but before I leave, this is the my snack after dinner for the day, this is our local snack like our waffles over here, its called 鸡蛋仔, it must be eaten when hot, coz its crispy on the outside, soft in the inside when its hot, if cool down already har, it will be soggy soggy, not nice liao.
My aunt bought me to go eat high class buffet on the third last day of the trip. Guess what kind of restaurant is it? Its R66, a relvoving restaurant which means the restaurant turns 360 degrees. One round one hour. Its located in Hopewell Centre, 湾仔 and you could see the whole of Victoria Harbour's skyscrapers in one complete 360 degrees turn. Its good food with good view. Priced around S$50 plus to S$60 per person, half price if your birthday fall on the month you go. Its quite reasonable already, because buffet in Hong Kong is super expensive nowadays (something which Singapore is cheaper in, we can get good buffet in Singapore around S$30 plus already). Really enjoyed myself, I was really excited, but got a bit giddy initially even though the restaurant is revolving in a very slow pace (coz you can still feel your whole environment turning), but once get used to it, you will be enjoying your food and the beautiful night view.
湾仔
Central Plaza
Hmmm... Delicious...
Bank of China building, Internation Finance Centre (IFC - if you saw "Batman - The Dark Knight", this is where Batman jumped down from) and Central Centre all in one view.
This is that classic scene... Batman should actually jump down when the building is on fireworks during the New Year Countdown, AHAHA... Like that then classic mar.
Candle light dinner
Hopewell Centre, one of the symbolic icon of the famous Hong Kong skycrapers, we ate at the 60th storey of this building.
英皇HQ wor... 容祖儿，阿娇，阿Sa，谢霆峰的 office wor, 杨老板的 main office wor. But too bad, didn't see them at all. Ahaha...
On the second last day, my aunt brought me to the newly built mall, "Elements" at Kowloon station, one of the higher end areas in Hong Kong now. We ate at a superbly nice Japanese sushi restaurant named 千两 (only sushi and sashimi)，the food there is super fresh. After that we went to Mong Kok and bought all the sovenirs for YOU ALL and went back there to watch "Batman - The Dark Knight", the theatre there super class lor, the chair actually vibrates together with the explosion scenes, super cool. After that we went walk walk around that area, above the mall are where Hong Kong's most expensive condominums are. At night we went back into Tung Chung and ate Teppanyaki, I treated my aunt for dinner coz her birthday was nearing. Haha...
Semi barbaqued salmon sushi! Oyishi~~~
Scallop sashimi~~~
Salmon sashimi~~~
This will be the next symbolic icon in Hong Kong after the IFC, this is called ICC (International Commerce Centre), meant to be the a twin to the IFC on the shore opposite.
This condominum is called 凯旋门, this is one of the most expensive condominums in Hong Kong. Reason being the great view it provides, tenants have the whole Victoria Harbour's skyscrapers view smack on their windows. You see the bridge between the two buidings, like Heng Wei's house right, but their whole 会所 is located over there, you can swim up there while enjoying the Victoria Harbour view. Unless super rich, if not dream on on buying a unit over here.
Beautiful sunset!!!
Our teppanyaki dinner!
Beef steak
Cod fish Time to go back~~~
Really enjoyed my time in Hong Kong, a special thanks to Aunt Surinna for making my stay an enjoyable one. Will not forget the times we had together. Hope to come back in near future. I LOVE HONG KONG!!!
Taking photos with the Olympics mascot, Hong Kong is the host city for Equestrian （马术） for the Beijing Olympics 2008.
大舅母，爱华姨妈 and Aunt Surinna at the entrance to the airside. Bye bye~~~ See you all soon!!!
The busy Hong Kong Chep Lap Kok International Airport, Changi is just too quiet for a hub...
Boarding soon...
Flying on an A330 - 300 back to Singapore.
Waiting for disembarkation
Beautiful weather! This is the most stable flight I have ever flown on, with no turbulence for almost 3 hours of flight only slight turbulence towards the end of the flight.
Drinks and snacks service
A330 - 300's cabin
Flight route map showing us we are flying at an attitude of 39 000 feet. This aircraft is not yet installed of the new seats and IFE.
Had chicken chop rice for lunch. Nice~~~
How about ice-cream at 39 000 feet? Shiok~
Old style remote control, hope the refurbish the A330 - 300s with the new seats and IFE soon
Back in Singapore
Hope to fly with you soon in near future, Cathay Pacific!
My air ticket
And yah, thank you CYYAM for fetching me! I won't forget what happened. Haha...
