francisdass

This goes out to Dora/Lin! Thanks for your support!

2011-12-08T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hello Dora/Lin, thanks so much for your support. Aaaah, you have revived my waning blogging spirit, I must say. I shall start blogging again soon. Thanks again Dora/Lin! Do keep in touch. :-)

MOVIE REVIEW: PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF

2010-03-06T22:41:00.000-08:00

MOVIE REVIEW

By FRANCIS DASS

PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF

Directed by Chris Columbus (also director of Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets)

Starring Logan Lerman, Brando T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson, Melina Kanakaredes, Catherine Keener, Kevin McKidd, Joe Pantoliano, Uma Thurman, Julian Richings

This lightweight teeny-bopperish film is suitably, well, lightweight. The first of a few films to come our way under the Percy Jackson and The Olympians tag, this one sees magic, mayhem and modernity all sitting pretty next to one another.

The Greek gods are seen presiding over humanity and, sometimes, coupling with humans and creating demigods in the process (yup, like in the good old mythical days!), and on the other you have the humans living oblivious to the existence of these supernatural entities and their powerful offsprings amongst them.

Like all films targeted at teens today, the film is spot on in the crucial looks department -- both that of its cast as well as the realistic rendition of special effects.

Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is the son of Poseidon and his best friend Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) is actually a myhthical beast assigned to guard him.

When Zeus' (Sean Bean) thunder is stolen -- ok, ok, it will sound a lot better (and not make Zeus seem like a petty loser) if we say that Zeus' favourite mother-of-all-lightning-bolt is stolen, the Greecian chief god confronts Poseidon (Kevin McKidd) and accuses his son Percy of having stolen the bolt of lightning. Harsh words are exchanged and deadlines delivered for the return of this weapon of destruction.

This forces Percy's teacher Mr Brunner (Pierce Brosnan), mother Sally Jackson (Catherine Keener) and Grover to rush him over to a special school for demi-gods so that the young lad would be safe and prove his innocence.

At this school for demigods, he befriends the attractive Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), who is the daughter of Athena (Melina Kanakaredes) and Luke (Jake Abel).

Hades (the funny Steve Coogan) also wants the lightning bolt so that he can dethrone Zeus and take over. This results in Hades capturing Sally and taking her to the underworld.

As Percy springs into action to save his mother and prove his innocence. a whole lot of magical creatures are unleashed. If you like your sword and sandal movies with heaps of magic and cute young actors and actresses in the lead, then this is the perfect movie for you.

In this film, the adults gamely play second fiddle to the cast of young ones. It's obvious everyone working on this film is seriously hoping the Percy Jackson films will be a gigantic franchise!

Also on the plus side, it is hilarious to see the ultra flirty Persephone (Rosario Dawson) who is Hades' companion and the super-campy Medusa (Uma Thurman) hamming it up on the big screen.

This harmless movie, where everything ends happily-ever-after, is a nice antidote to a stressful day at school or work!

MOVIE REVIEWS: LITTLE BIG SOLDIER AND THE BOOK OF ELI

2010-03-05T23:27:00.000-08:00

Movie reviews

By FRANCIS DASS

LITTLE BIG SOLDIER

Directed by Sheng Ding

Starring Jackie Chan, Wang Lee Hom, Steven Yoo Seung-jun, Lin Peng

As far as I can see, Little Big Soldier is a movie that marks a dramatic shift in Hong Kong filmmaking. Having watched quite a number of Hong Kong flicks, this is probably the first time that the former British colony has produced a legitimate buddy-movie, and set in a period piece too!

The film, like all Chinese films do, glorifies ancient Chinese history and transports the audience to a period when a battle is waged by the Qin and Liang factions centuries ago.

Jackie Chan plays a lowly soldier from the Liang side and in the opposite camp there is Wang Lee Hom who is the general from the Qin faction. The movie begins with the duo being the only two survivors of a bloody battle where everyone on both sides are practically mutually massacred. Jackie's character survives by feigning death with a trick arrow while Lee Hom's General barely survives, being badly wounded in battle. As Jackie's character (he is nameless in the film and is not interested in war) takes the general hostage for the purpose of collecting a reward and owning his own plot of farm land, an-initially-antagonistic-and-then-respectful friendship develops between the two. In the process, the General is treated with Jackie's secret family potion to speed up his healing.

The director Sheng Ding has done a remarkable job of sustaining the audience's interest in the unlikely friendship that develops between these two protagonists. To have only two actors carry the bulk of the movie is quite a feat indeed. Sheng Ding displays a firm grasp of the techniques and art of filmmaking which indicates that future projects from this director are worth looking out for.

As the buddy-film brews at the centre, on the side is the traitorous Prince Wen (Steven Yoo) who is pursuing the General in the hopes of silencing him -- as Wen had a hand in betraying his own soldiers, resulting in the bloodbath that we see at the start of the movie, The Prince had hoped that the General would have died in battle. The General, aware that only a betrayal could have caused him to lose the battle, is determined to get revenge.

There is also a horde of barbarians who cross paths with the film's two central character as well as Prince Wen and his men. Such instances provide some worthwhile action sequences in the film.

Oh, there is the gratuitous addition of the ornamental actress Lin Peng who serves no purpose at all.

If anything, the film is watchable for the novelty of seeing pretty boy Wang Lee Hom actually delivering a very decent performance throughout. However, Chan disappoints as he is obsessed with playing the doofus with acrobatic skills. Someone should tell him that many people find this very tiresome. Worse crime of all, the script is written to glorify Chan's character and makes him a martyr of sorts at the film's end, referencing Ridley Scott's Gladiator. For film aficionados, the ending makes a film that is initially somewhat watchable a bit of a letdown and lose its artistic integrity.

THE BOOK OF ELI

Directed by Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes

Starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Jennifer Beals, Evan Jones, Joe Pingue, Frances de la Tour, Michael Gambon, Tom Waits, Chris Browning

If there is one man in Hollywood who takes his craft very, very seriously, then that man is surely Denzel Washington. He does not fail to deliver in this latest outing of his.

It bears saying that this mystery-thriller-drama-action-&-sci-fi mashup is brilliantly directed, acted and scripted.

Eli (Denzel Washington) is a man walking his own chosen path in a post-apocalyptic world. But unlike the other survivors who have no purpose in their lives, Eli is a man on a mission. He is carrying a book and feels compelled to take it to an unnamed destination on the west of the United States.

Along the way, this lone man is under threat from all sorts of post-Holocaust thieves and hooligans.

(The look of Mel Gibson's Mad Max films is present, although the look and colour of The Book of Eli is all its own.)

Eli, when faced with danger, is quite deft indeed with a knife and guns. The violence brought on by such face-offs is staggering -- probably a first for Washington -- but there's nothing gratuitous about it. In a brutal dog-eat-dog and mouse-eat-cat (seriously!) post-holocaust world, the shocking violence is necessary for self-preservation.

Unfortunately for Eli, there is Carnegie (Gary Oldman), a man determined to rebuild his broken-down town. He uses his thugs to rule a nondescript godless town where he aspires for respect, which he hopes will be brought on by scriptural words.

In an encounter, when Eli single-handedly wipes out Carnegie's minions, the latter's interest in Eli is piqued. Carnegie tells Eli that he could do with a man like Eli in his team.

The book that Eli is carrying -- as you would have guessed by now -- is supposedly the last known copy of the Bible. Once Carnegie finds out of Eli's prized possession, he is hell-bent on wresting it from the hands of the lone man.

Carnegie believes that in a ruthless and crude world, the elegant wording of the Bible would win people over to his post-apocalyptic religious institution and help him reconstruct civilisation. But don't think for a moment that Carnegie is saintly or noble in any way. He feels the Bible is an excellent tool to control the stupid masses. In this, the script takes a delightful, if veiled, dig at the mafia-like construct of organised religions throughout human civilisation, i.e. serving the purpose of the delusional and self-righteous few who want to exert control over the masses.

As Eli makes his getaway, he gets an unlikely travel companion in the form of Solara (Mila Kunis), who is impressed by this mysterious man, and decides to follow him.

Mila Kunis, she of That 70s Show fame, has here blossomed into an impressive big screen actress indeed. Perhaps it is her own talent -- or maybe it is the opportunity to bounce off her performance against an excellent actor like Denzel Washington OR even thanks to the masterful direction of the Hughes brothers -- whichever one or a combination of all three factors as the reality might be, Kunis comes across as a formidable presence in this film.

As Eli and Solara make their getaway from Carnegie and his "leftover" henchmen (whoever is left from the earlier massacre) they encounter some very interesting characters, the most outstanding being the strange couple Martha (Frances de la Tour) and her devoted husband George (Michael Gambon). It is amazing how in such a serious movie, the couple bring out the laughs so effortlessly. There's also the "Engineer" (Tom Waits) who is wickedly-blackly funny in his dealings with Eli.

That's the thing about this movie -- the casting is truly inspired and almost every single performer on screen delivers an ace of a performance, no matter how small their part. The good script makes this serious movie enjoyable and something worth talking about after a viewing.

What is clever and completely unanticipated about The Book of Eli is the stunning twist at the end. You have to see it to believe it. What was driving Eli indeed!?

VALENTINE'S DAY

2010-03-02T22:09:00.000-08:00

MOVIE REVIEW

By FRANCIS DASS

VALENTINE'S DAY

Directed by Garry Marshall

Starring Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Carter Jenkins, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, Bryce Robinson, Taylor Swift, Matthew Walker, Larry Miller, Joe Mantegna, Garry Marshall

It'd be no surprise if, the first time you see this disposable romance and the sheer number of stars who continuously keep creeping out of the woodwork, you end up wondering if the film had a gazillion dollars for its budgets.

As the film's title indicates, the movie is centred on Valentine's Day. It starts with various couples preluding and then celebrating Feb 14th, driven by their own visions of love.

The unrealistic Reed Bennett (Ashton Kutcher) wakes up and proposes to Morley Clarkson (Jessica Alba). She, who has seen an awful marriage at work -- her own parents' -- is wisely not as keen on the idea as he is.

Reed, is oblivious to her true feelings and goes through the day fantasising about a happily married life with Morley. (Yes, there will be those of us who retch at the idea of Punk'd's Kutcher being given so much screen time but take consolation in the fact that although Demi Moore's cub is a lousy actor -- mercifully! -- the other stars are infinitely more watchable and make the lightweight film enjoyable.)

Most fortunate for us, there is also Jason (Topher Grace) and Liz (Anne Hathaway). Grace, from the That 70s Show fame has grown to be a very lean and muscled man and his on-screen likeability is remarkable. Yes, this young man has leading man potential written all over him. Hathaway, of course is the most talented actress of her generation and is practically a screen magnet. Everything she does and says on the silver screen is riveting. She is the Julia Roberts of her generation.

But talent alone is nothing if one has no one of equal or some measure to spar with. So, the best thing director Garry Marshall has done is pair Hathaway with Grace. Their onscreen chemistry is heartwarming, cute and endearing.

Also on the high end of the Hollywood performance scale, there are two solid actors Susan (Kathy Bates), a television producer, and her journalist Kelvin Moore (Jamie Foxx). Bates' Susan gets Kelvin to do a coverage of Valentine's Day, veering him off his true calling as a sports journalist.

In case you wondered if the film is a showcase of love amongst random couples, note that there is a six-degrees-of-separation thread at work and the characters are all linked in one way or another -- as friends, colleagues, lovers and/or florists etc.

The kinds of love projected in this film is not that varied from the many forms of love that we have come to see on the silverscreen. So, not to flog this love horse any further, the other characters in the film are: the delectable Kara Monahan (Jessica Biel) who is a public relations practitioner; Sean Jackson (Eric Dane) whom Kara represents; the delightful Paula Thomas (Queen Latifah) who is part of Sean's talent management package; the dashing Holden (Bradley Cooper) who befriends Captain Kate Hazeltine (Julia Roberts) while on a flight; the philandering Dr Harrison Copeland (Patrick Dempsey) who is having an affair with the all-jaw-and-funny-enunciation Julia Fitzpatrick (Jennifer Garner); and Edgar (Hector Elizondo) who is married to the flamboyant and diva-esque Estelle (Shirley MacLaine) who once had an affair with Edgar's business partner.

Oh, and there are also Willy (Taylor Lautner) and Felicia (Taylore Swift) who play a young, dizzy and silly couple in high school. Swift is a ditsy delight and showcases her talent for comedy rather well.

As you can imagine, Garry Marshall who is now 76 years old knows that love is overrated and comes in all colours and flavours. Although he does the right thing with the Hollywood studio that funded his film (i.e. there are plenty of happy endings all around!), audiences also get to see that loving someone is all about accepting one's partner's weaknesses and foibles. The point that Valentine's Day valiantly makes is that it is the ups an downs of life that make a relationship so much fun and being with a partner is better than being alone in life!

And it must be said that although Julia Roberts has a small role, and Marshall has captured some really, really unflattering angles of this actress' feature in this film, she has a magical way of working her lines and and it is astonishing to see the raw power of her talent when she is emoting even the slightest of feelings.

The script, although can be saccharine at times, is also funny often times. Valentine's Days is a harmless and worthwhile distraction if you are up to it. The funny references to other movies also work towards making this film enjoyable.

Gaga-fying the world -- one raised eyebrow at a time.

2010-01-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

By FRANCIS DASS

(REVISED VERSION)

Just how hot is Lady Gaga? Her Bad Romance music video on youtube.com has garnered more than 92 MILLION views -- AND STILL COUNTING!

Imagine if you would, Donatella Versace having a love-child with a man who is the result of splicing together filmmakers David Lynch and Tim Burton, then you would most definitely get the very real and fashionably out-of-this-world Lady Gaga.

Coming like an intermittent downpour on the pop music scene in the beginning with Just Dance, she managed to make an impact on listeners young and old early last year. The song was lightweight synth-pop reminiscent of disco pop tunes of the 80s and 90s. In terms of looks, the video was cheap and cheerful. Was she yet-another-Britney-clone type of artiste, many wondered.

The lyrics of Just Dance was suitably silly, talking about not knowing which club Gaga was in, lost phones and the song also mentions her having had a bit too much to drink, amongst an assortment of the singer's other seemingly harmless and ditzy observations/experiences. The song was completely unserious.

Interestingly, the first ones who were humming the song and miming the words in Kuala Lumpur were teenagers. Not ordinary teenagers, but terribly hip ones. They took to Gaga's dance song like duck to water.

As Just Dance went into heavy rotation on the video music channels, it became an almost overnight hit with pop music fans everyhwere.

Then, as the pop pundits sat back and wondered what this strange woman will deliver next, out came Poker Face.

On Poker Face Gaga sang like some kind of a stern instruction-voiceover to a Dummies Guide to Singing audio book! Her voice delightfully matched the formulaic pop-beat of the song.

Like the earlier video, Poker Face's music video was nothing much to scream about. Just Dance had Akon and pop lightweight Colby O'Donis gracing it. Poker Face was all Gaga and cohorts. Her unique style was expertly harnessed: the wigs, the weird costumes and metal plates stuck on the face (these would become her trademarks in subsequent music videos) were plain for all to see.

From these videos It was obvious that, like a typical New Yorker that she was, Gaga held an amoral view of the human body (nudity) and of relationships.

However, what WAS worth screaming about was her appearance in the Adam Lambert season of American Idol last year. Her stunning live performance of Poker Face on the show had global music fans scrambling to find out more about her. She was superbly theatrical and mesmerising during that Idol performance. The intermittent rain that was Gaga had changed to a full-blown Category 4 hurricane.

It was as if Gaga had pushed aside the imaginary bouncers guarding the global music stage and scampered single-mindedly towards the limelight at the centre with the hit song Poker Face. The song is not revolutionary -- it sounds like a standard-issue synth-pop concoction. It's just that the timing and delivery were pitch perfect.

With lines like, "Russian roulette is not the same without a gun" and "And baby when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun..." -- listeners were hooked to this naughty young lady.

As a result, those who knew of her music loved Poker Face even more and those who didn't, clamoured for news of Gaga: just who was this Gaga?

Gaga is New York-born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, the daughter of an Italian-American multimillionaire Internet entrepreneur. She was born on March 28, 1986. In case you wondered, both her parents are extremely proud of their daughter.

Her New York origins largely explains her rather avant garde and over-the top sensibilities. The bisexual Gaga's I-don't-give-a-damn-what-people-are-gonna-say outlook on life has lent her mystique -- that which took silverscreen stars years to attain, she has gained almost overnight, within a span of a year!

Her pop-star name, as everyone knows by now, is a reference to Queen's hit song, Radio Gaga. Apparently one of the many songs she wrote reminded someone of the great Queen's song and they referenced her as Gaga and she took to it.

Her stars started shining brighter with the next hit song Paparazzi. It was a love song and an ode to fame at the same time.

The video was visually stunning and was simultaneously Lynchian and Burtonesque in the way it told the Gaga story of being wronged by a man, then how her deep love brought her back to form -- and the adoration of the masses!

You see, in Gaga's universe, grave bodily injuries and a wheelchair are not enough to stop a natural-born showgirl like Gaga. For her, with the help of her trusty dancers, THE SHOW MUST GO ON! Burlesque and the grotesque are happily married in Paparazzi. The video was a beautifully conceptualised and artistically realised.

In the Paparazzi music video, audiences had a hilarious glimpse of how Gaga liked her men: dead!

In real life, Gaga, you see, suffered from a really bad break up with an ex called Luke. So, if you listen to any Gaga song that deals with relationship, trust Luke to figure somewhere in there.

Late last year, though, Gaga became a full-fledged Category 5 hurricane in the pop realm with the song Bad Romance.

The thumping Bad Romance is an anthemic dance floor scorcher that is stunningly epic. The music video can only be described as being simultaneously theatrical and visceral! Bad Romance is ten times better and even more over-the-top than the celebrated Paparazzi. It's like James Cameron Avatar to his Titanic, if you like.

Just last week, Rick Dees announced that Gaga's Bad Romance has topped his popular Top 40 radio show.

Thanks to her uncompromising style, Gaga has now become extremely hot property in the music industry, topping charts all over the world. She has also started collaborating with big names, like the sizzling hot Beyonce.

After reading all this, if you are still asking, "Just how hot is Gaga, exactly?", the answer to that is that her video for Bad Romance alone on www.youtube.com has had 92, 483, 282 views. That's more than 92 MILLION views folks! And still rising. It's a staggering number by any measure.

(Gaga's Just Dance has garnered almost 95 million views on youtube.)

All we can say is Go Go Gaga, as her spectacular career unfolds right before our very eyes!

http://www.ladygaga.com/photos/detail.aspx?fid=15765&phid=15774

Golden Globes kicks off movie awards season!

2010-01-18T00:34:00.000-08:00

2010 Golden Globes Awards

By FRANCIS DASS

I saw Ricky Gervais just now. No, not in person, but on television, where he was was hosting The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's 2010 Golden Globes Awards.

The Golden Globes, in case you didn't know, is the awards show that kicks off the movie awards season -- not only in America but also the rest of the world. It -- USUALLY! -- foretells of what will transpires during Oscar night on March 7th. (Sometimes, the Oscars' Academy Awards gang like to cause an upset or two!)

Anyway, back to the 49-year old Englishman Gervais. I usually do not like the man at all. His humour never did translate over well with me. So, I have always avoided his shows (he is the man behind the original The Office in UK -- the show which was then transposed to American television audiences with the extremely likeable Steve Carell at the helm.)

Anyway, as host of the Golden Globes this year, Gervais has indeed chalked a new chapter for all other hosts in future at any awards programme: he has perfected the role of a host as a facilitator to the proceedings rather than the traditional one of the host aggrandizing him/herself to no end. (Sorry Whoopi -- although you ARE indeed very funny -- you are into that self-edification mode that comedians often fall into. Ditto to Jon Stewart of The Today Show.)

Gervais, on the other hand, was very much interested in pushing the programme along, oiling it remarkably with irreverent jokes.

Anyway, back to the Hollywood galaxy (which is not very, very far away) and its constellation of luminous stars.

As expected, Avatar won Best Motion Picture (Drama) and its director James Cameron won the best director golden globe.

Cameron said what the whole world knows by now: he and all the people gathered in the auditorium had the best jobs in the world. It is fitting indeed that Avatar ended on such a top note, as it is still number one at the box offices in the US and around the world. The film has collected a staggering US$1.6 billion around the world (stateside alone, it has bagged almost US$500 million!)

The golden Globes not only celebrates movies on the silverscreen but also television programming, and thus, it was a great, big, fat delight for everyone indeed that TV series Glee won Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy).

In accepting the award, one of Glee's producer/creators said the funniest thing that night when he described the actors in the musical comedy as "fake sexy-teen cast". On a more serious note, he posited that the show is about the importance of arts education and that Glee is -- laugher still had the last laugh! -- made for "anybody and everybody who got a wedgie in school!"

That high of an acceptance speech was easily matched by Robert Downey Jr who won the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) nod. In a hilarious speech, that demonstrated this Hollywood royal's wit and intelligence, he demonstrated mock-hubris in the face of all the other overdone acceptance speeches where the stars feigned to be full of humility and gratitude. But a few seconds past not wanting to thank the talented cast and crew that make movies happen, he did thanks those involved in the intoxicatingly clever Sherlock Holmes where his performance was nothing short of magical.

Another funny notable moment was offered by Todd Phillips, director an producer of extremely funny movie, The Hangover, which won Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy). Phillips had said he was afraid at winning this award in case he got into a fist fight with Harvey Weinstein, whose musical Nine was up in the same category.

"But I have My Tyson on my side," Phillips cleverly said, too close his joke, which was appreciated by everyone.

Paul McCartney was a presenter for the Best Animated Feature Film and he CRACK-ed a gem of a joke too. He said animated movies are enjoyed by kids and drug-taking adults, vaguely quipping about the good old drug-fuelled days of long ago.

Talking of speeches, although it was a dignified speech, I was rather put off by Mo'Nique, the actress who bagged the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture award for her turn in Precious. She took herself too seriously (as did all the other Precious people seated at her table -- making it look like the Grim Reaper's table!) -- with the exception being the sunny spirited Gabourey Sidibe who played the lead role in Precious.

Other memorable moments at the Golden Globes this year was seeing James Cameron's oldest and dearest friend California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger introducing Avatar, the sight of Mike Tyson coyly stepping into the world of filmed entertainment and, of course, the sight of George Lucas seated right at the front table, a few feet away from the presenters -- the most important seat in the house, we reckon, since he is like Zeus, compared to the rest of them!

Gervais, to his great credit, delivered the funniest lines and ribbed his guest to the max. Paul McCartney, who handed out the animated movies prize got ribbed as did Mel Gibson, just before Gibson gave out the award to director James Cameron.

Gervais had said: "I like a drink as much as the next man, unless the next man is Mel Gibson!" This truly was funny -- Gibson has been arrested slandering Jews a while back while driving under the influence -- and this clearly threw off even the good-humoured Gibson who laughed and flubbed momentarily.

Gervais started the evening with some fabulous jokes: how performers have all put on the show of the best work -- the best work of plastic surgeons, that is! -- and an interplay with Steve Carell who is more famous than Gervais thanks to the stunning global success of the American version of The Office and when Carell mockingly gestured that he would break Gervais in two when Gervais was getting "personal" and "rude".

Here is the complete list of the winners at the 2010 Golden Globes:

Best Motion Picture - Drama: Avatar

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Robert Downey Jr (Sherlock Holmes)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: The Hangover

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy: Glee

Best Director - Motion Picture: James Cameron (Avatar)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Serirs or Motion Picture Made for Television: Chloe Sevigny (Big Love)

Best Television Series - Drama: Mad Men

Best Foreign Language Film: Das weisse Band (Germany)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: Up In The Air

Best Performance by an Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture for Television: Grey Gardens

Best Original Score - Motion Picture: Up

Best Originl Song - Motion Picture: Crazy Heart

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: Michael C. Hall (Dexter)

Best Animated Film: Up

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: John Lithgow (Dexter)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: Toni Collette (United States of Tara)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: MoNique (Precious)

And you might just be CASE 40 if you are easily scared!

2010-01-05T20:17:00.001-08:00

MOVIE REVIEW

By FRANCIS DASS

CASE 39

Directed by Christian Alvart

Starring Renee Zellweger, Jodelle Ferland, Ian McShane, Kerry O'Malley, Callum Keith Rennie, Bradley Cooper, Adrian Lester, Georgia Craig, Cynthia Stevenson, Mary Black

(SPOILER ALERT: The first paragraph pretty much reveals what the film is all about. Read on at your own peril.)

Remember that fabulous modern Japanese horror classic The Ring (Ringu) from 1998? If you are a horror aficionado, you probably do. Well, if dear departed and supremely demented pre-teen Sadako had an American kin, she would probably be very much like Lily in Case 39.

This movie starts off innocuosly enough. Lily (Jodelle Ferland) is just an ordinary child who is so very sweet. Sadly, she is having a troubled young life. Her grades, you see, are down. And she is unable to sleep. You'd be distressed too if your parents are trying to kill you all the time. And mind you, these are not her foster parents. These are her own BIOLOGICAL parents -- and they are very biologically intent on killing this sweet child.

(I know, I know -- that comparison with Sadako gave pretty much a lot away. But the real fun is in watching this film -- it is rather well constructed.)

Anyway, it should come as no surprise at all that a child welfare woman Emily Jenkins (Renee Zellweger) is terribly concerned when she reads the case file numbered 39. She wonders if poor Lily is being abused in anyway at home. If that is the case, could Emily perchance do something to help the poor child?

Following departmental procedure, she pays Lily a visit and finds her parents' behaviour odd. To be frank, they are freaks. The opening scenes that extend to include Emily's visit, are excellent with really, REALLY tight shots (so tight, you feel like saying out aloud, apologetically, "Oh, so sorry Miss Zellweger -- I didn't mean to be so in your face! Oops, you two too -- Mr and Mrs Lily's parents!"). The tension during these moments are so, well, taut, in fact, if you were a musician, you could pluck the spooky Psycho violin tune during these times! Provided you could un-tense yourself, in the first place, to pluck the strings. The acting, of course, has to work for such directorial devices to work and the cast is rather up to the task.

Anyway, not following departmental procedure, Emily pokes her nose into the Lily family's affair and ends up rescuing the little girl from being roasted alive. Yes, literally, as her parents go completely Middle Eastern on Lily and try to "kebab" her.

Lily, is a little maestro at mind games and before you can say, "Emily you stupid fool...", Lily's parents are jailed and Emily has already taken the girl into her very own home. Oh, and a few people around Emily either die or are murdered under suspicious conditions soon after.

What transpires as a result and what Lily is capable of make for an intriguing watch indeed. Case 39 sees, Zellweger (who, incidentally, looks like she has those chipmunk cheeks that are full of nuts, or whatever!) giving a good leading lady performance. We can only hope she attends therapy regularly after being so frazzled playing the role. The child actress Ferland is suitably creepy and understated at times and menacingly over-the-top at the right moments. Mercifully, she is nothing like the horrid child actress that Dakota Fanning was -- Fanning always over-acted or constantly over-emoted and ruined many movies in the process! (However, luckily for movie addicts, Fanning has grown up finally understanding what tolerable acting is all about in "Push" and "New Moon").

Case 39 ends as it should and you won't leave the hall saying, "Why do all horror movies have such stupid endings, as if anyone wants to see a sequel!" Oops, did we just give away the ending?

This is not a major movie by any measure, so the spoliers sprinkled here should not spoil your appetite if you are an avid movie fan and enjoy a good scare!

SHERLOCK HOLMES IS THE REAL ROCK-AND-ROLLER DEAL!

2010-01-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

MOVIE REVIEWS

By FRANCIS DASS

SHERLOCK HOLMES
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Robert Maillet, Geraldine James, Kelly Reilly, WIlliam Houston, Hans Matheson, James Fox, William Hope, Clive Russell

When watching Sherlock Holmes, remember that you are probably watching a film that will most probably win the Best Picture Oscar in 2010. That's because Sherlock Holmes has to be 2009's best movie so far. Heck, I would even say that it is the best movie to have come out in the last five years.

It is the kind of film that starts off as a curiosity as you wonder how differently can Holmes be portrayed other than wearing a deer stalker hat, wearing a tartany cloak and, possibly, smoking a pipe. The truth is, initially, anyway, Basil Rathbone's traditional portrayal of Holmes from ages ago still seems definitive and sticks in most people's mind. But then you quickly become enthralled by THIS reimagining of the Victorian Holmes as delivered by -- of all people (I was surprised to find out, anyway) -- Guy Ritchie!

The acting is smart, the script is sharp, the direction is aces and the soundtrack that chases each scene in the film is SO very funky that your sense of delight will be switched on throughout this most excellent film!

The film tells the tale of Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) -- a character created by Scottish doctor-writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) -- solving the case of magic and mystery involving the sinister Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), who is part of a delusional secret society which practices the black arts. Lord Blackwood, like all his fellow megalomaniac cinematic villains, has a keen eye on world domination and he uses trickery to manipulate the weak minded masses (you know, supposed sacrifical offerings, rising from the dead and the like) and comes very close to achieving his dastardly dreams.

Luckily for us, Holmes is on our side. The combination of our heroic detective's keen sense of observation and deduction AND the able assistance of his good friend Dr John Watson (Jude Law), overcome and foil Blackwood's plans, causing the latter to be apprehended and hanged.

But HANG on a minute indeed! As news of Blackwood's rising from the dead spreads and people fear his great powers, Holmes dives headlong into the secret world of research that Blackwood had commissioned and undoes (or rather, explains to the audience) the so-called magic as nothing more than science. If our beloved Gil Grissom from television's CSI had an English forefather, then you can bet that it would have been this particular Holmes!

A movie is nothing without good actors and what really makes Sherlock Holmes fly as a movie is Downey's performance. There's absolutely nothing down-ny about this superb actor's portrayal of the supersleuth. He carries this movie on his strong able shoulders with equal measures of a rascally disdain for propriety, manly callousness and machismo.

Downey's Holmes is very alert to the world he lives in and at the same time very bored with it. He thrives on challenges and lives for it. There's a recklessness to his character that could only come from Downey's real life drug-and-drink excesses. The actor is anything but a bore and he most definitely has character!

The witty lines are superbly delivered. Downey's expressions are also rich and priceless. Despite the films masterly use of stunts and special effects, if anyone deserves a Best Actor Oscar this year, it has to be Downey!

Jude Law, who is absolutely not leading man material at all as all his previous films have made obvious, is surprisingly effective as Holmes' good friend and confidante, Dr Watson. They share a believable bond of friendship and a fondness for one another. Their banter, willingness to protect one another and "addiction" to danger is infectious. Theirs is a friendship that promises to endure through many more sequels.

Into this manly mix of things, we find two rather interesting women. There's the spunky Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) who is as wily, rascally and off-the-straight-and-narrow-path as Holmes, her lover, is. Their attraction towards one another is beguiling and the way they foil one another is delightful. At Dr Watson's side is Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly), who is a trustworthy and strong woman. The women match their men equally, in Ritchie's imagining of the Victorian universe. The characters appeal to our modern sensibilities of justice, right, wrong and equality are spot on.

Scattered throughout the film are also highly watchable characters like Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan). Everyone, it appears, is working with a certain level of intelligence.

As for Guy Ritchie. One can only say that it is good that he is rid of that trampy Madonna as a wife. It looks like this man-solo is revitalised as a director, as you can clearly see here. His direction in Sherlock Holmes is tight, the look sexy and the pacing riveting! His eye for details is nothing short of impeccable. Magic moments that everyone will remember surely must be Ritchie's cinematic reconstruction of how Holmes' mind works: the way in which Holmes works out his sequence of actions when confronted by a foe.

If Ritchie's earlier "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998) and 2000's "Snatch" both seemed gimmicky and came across as trying-a-bit-too-hard to win him respect as a filmmaker, then, you can safely say that the man has indeed arrived as an ace director with Sherlock Holmes.

If there is one movie that you just simply have to see in this brand new year, then make it Sherlock Holmes. It will take your breath away in the most satisfying manner!

AVATAR -- movie review

2009-12-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

MOVIE REVIEW

By FRANCIS DASS

AVATAR
Directed by James Cameron
Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao, Joel Moore

When James Cameron accepted his Best Director Oscar for Titanic, he'd declared, "I am the king of the world!" That was eleven years ago!

Many writers and critics everywhere were shocked by his hubris. I had absolutely no problem with what he said. I loved his Terminator films, Aliens and, of course, Titanic. Never mind that his The Abyss was abysmal! He was a consummate filmmaker whose mastery of the technical aspects of making a film and storytelling expertise were second to none as far as I was concerned.

And, now, more than a decade after disappearing from the silver screen, he is back with Avatar.

All I can say is that, he has crafted a spellbinding film that works at so many levels that this is THE definitive event movie in a long, long time.

As all gamer boys and girls would already know by now, avatar in computer gamers' parlance roughly means a human player inhabiting the virtual shell of fantastical characters in computer games, role-palying anything from soldiers to warriors and sorcerers.

Of course, this being a James Cameron film, the director takes the whole virtual reincarnation game play to a whole new level.

The film is about Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a soldier who has lost the use of his legs and, as fate would have it, ends up stepping into a world where he is recruited to explore another world in this futuristic sci-fi that blends live action and cutting-edge computer animation like you have never seen before.

The world Jake explores is an alien world called Pandora, inhabited by 10-foot tall blue aliens called the Na'vi. Funding the human exploration initiative is a bunch of heartless capitalists (a common theme in Cameron's films, as reflected in Aliens) who are determined to exploit Pandora for a priceless mineral that it possesses.

As the trailer for Avatar already made clear, a large mineral deposit is directly beneath the Hometree, an area that a group of these primitive but tough Na'vis call home. The "corporation" has already failed in its earlier negotiations (ploys which included offering colonialistic English lessons and the supply of medicines etc) with the blue natives to have them relocate so that the minerals can be mined for profit.

These diplomatic dialogues, intriguingly, were initiated with the help of scientific experiments where Na'vi clones were merged with human DNA and these lab-created Na'vi "vessels" are "piloted" by humans via some super sophisticated neuron networking devices. The three Na'vi bodies used by the humans are the avatars and the humans feel, see and experience everything that their avatars go through. Besides Jake, Dr Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) and Norm Spellman (Joel Moore) are two scientists who have Na'vi avatars.

As is usual with corporations, time is money and time is exactly what they insists they do not have. These capitalists (represented by Giovanni Ribisi's Parker Selfridge) have guns for hire (led by Colonel Miles, played by Stephen Lang), and decide to take a hardline stance against the Na'vis reluctance to relocate.

This being a James Cameron film, things are not as they seem. Through the Na'vi avatars, the human pilots see life from the Na'vi people's benign and nature-loving perspective. And Jake especially connects with them.

But, before Jake reaches such a compassionate stage, as filmdom's dramatic device dictates, he is just a grunt for hire and in doing his soldierly duties, he feeds back intelligence to the corporation about whatever he learns about the Na'vi. Such information in the hands of the corporation, of course, spells doom for the alien species. Only thanks to the Na'vi-friendly Dr Grace's expert manoeuvering, Jake slowly begins to see and understand the fantastic relationship the Na'vis share with their land.

Into this bowl, writer-director Cameron throws the ingredients that include an interspecies romance, the already mentioned ruthless colonel, the heartless capitalist, a compassionate scientist and a courageous hero, and he sets the Hollywood Kitchen Aid mixer on an "are-you-insane" spin, resulting in a volatile mix of action an adventure. Simply unforgettable stuff!

As is his style, Cameron does not stinge when it comes to effects or details. Audiences are given a thorough sampling of the Na'vis' life philosophy, better than a National Geographic or Discovery channel programme ever could. Their oneness with the world they inhabit is mind-expanding and the way they are built to connect with everything around them is mind-blowing. Their love for nature is very Indian -- Red Indian as well as Asian Indian! (Indians on the subcontinent and in the global diaspora, as you would already know, revere animals and trees.)

The way the planet is organically linked is also impressive -- with roots of trees not only holding everything on and in the ground together but also stringing airborne chunks of Pandora's landmass in a state of connectedness.

The special effects in Avatar, needless to say are out of this world. Things that you or I could never have imagined are depicted in realistic three dimensionality on the screen. The plants, the animals, the terrain -- everything is exceptionally done, rendered and delivered. And these are not offered as quick glimpses but fully orchestrated and visually satiating scenes and sequences.

The way the story folds out is classic Cameron stuff: the premise is clearly laid out, the details are lucidly spelt out, the logic extremely sound and top quality performances are expertly harnessed from the actors.

The multilayered-relevance of this film (it could be a parable for the American invasion of Iraq for oil and Colonel Miles could double up for the Blackwater guards, or to cast your minds back a few centuries earlier in human history, it even reflects the European invasion and annihilation of the South American civilisations hundreds of years ago) makes Avatar perfect and resonant for the time we live in now.

Cameron poignantly delves into the many modes that the human mind works on: the desire for profit, the pursuit of materialsim, the need to defend the weak, the desire to be compassionate and maintain our humanity, the powerful intuitions to obey rules and to break rules.

Worthington is stellar as a soulful man and Weaver is a delight to watch. My favourite actress Michelle Rodriguez gives a memorable performance, as usual.

A visual wizard if there ever was one, the way Canada-born Cameron expertly alternates between reality and computer wizardry will come as no surprise to his ardent fans. His direction is flawless here.

At the end of this amazing work of silverscreen magic and art, you wonder whether you were actually James Cameron's avatar? Or, was the movie your avatar?"

MOST POPULAR WEBSITES

2009-10-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

HERE'S WHAT'S HOT ON THE INTERNET

My observations tell me that the most popular websites in the world now are: Facebook (for social networking -- everyone in the office has a window open to Facebook while working; and school kids are also on it, updating their friends on the latest news and views of their young lives); Yahoo (to check e-mails or to check what's new on the news front -- and judging from the Internet Messaging volume -- both kids and adults are on it in equal proportions!) AND YouTube (everyone is increasingly opening numerous YouTube windows to play songs that they like -- and they can either take a break from the work and watch the music videos or, as if often the case, have the tune playing in the background while they work).

And there you have the most popular websites and their uses.

HAPPY DEEPAVALI EVERYONE!

2009-10-15T23:50:00.000-07:00

Deepavali -- a sparkling Festival of Lights!

Deepavali is upon us again. It is a time when big bright eyes combined with bright smiles and generous hearts from our Hindu Malaysians beckon us into their homes and hearts to share in the festivities.

Traditionally, Deepavali is rooted in holy legends – there are a few, two of which are popular – but all of which deal with the lighting up of the beautiful clay oil lamps.

One tells of Rama, King of Ayodhya, defeating the evil Ravana. The other speaks of Lord Krishna defeating the demon Narakasura. In both, versions, the people of the land lit oil lamps to light the path of the victors during darkness so that the forces of good could find their way home easily.

In Malaysia, Hindus start the day by doing what generations of their forefathers have been doing for centuries, by taking oil baths at dawn, offering prayers (pooja) and then, as the day progresses, entertaining relatives and friends who have been invited to partake of delicacies and food in a celebratory spirit.

One little known fact amongst non-Hindus is that our friends who celebrate Deepavali also offer prayers to the goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of fortune and wealth – both material and spiritual. The wikipedia website beautifully describes her as “the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage, (as well as) the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.”

And sure enough, these are the enchanting qualities that come to the fore as Deepavali is celebrated in Malaysia. Happy Deepavali everyone!

President Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

I just can't understand the negative fuss about Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize... the man is staggeringly inspiring and deserves it (although I think he should cool it with the waltz he constantly does with the media... the media ain't as great as the media makes itself out to be... it is full of flawed, petty, socially dysfunctional people!)

DON'T GET RIPPED OFF AT THIS RESTAURANT!

2009-10-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason, you happen to be at Jaya One's restaurant called Kissaten -- get the hell out of there as soon as you can. It is a rip off! Four people's food comes up to more than RM200!!! What do they think are they serving? Gold? Food of the gods? Don't bother wasting your money on really REALLY lousy food there!

BEST ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR: I WANNA

2009-09-23T01:11:00.000-07:00

I must say that the hottest rock song that I've heard so far this year has to be the All American Rejects song called "I Wanna".

What a lovely catchy tune! I WANNA indeed!

Photo credit: picture from http://www.whynotcoconut.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/1542.jpg

Taylor Swift soars!

2009-09-23T00:56:00.000-07:00

Wow! I finally managed to catch the infamous MTV Video Music Awards show where Kanye West, in not so many words, told Taylor Swift that she did not deserve the Best Female Video.

After the revulsion and disgust at Kanye West's moronic behaviour (CNN actually showed clips of Kanye and his entourage swigging off a Hennessy bottle outside, before they made their way into the hall for the show) -- what absolutely surprised me was seeing Taylor Swift's song -- from the subway right up to the street.

It was a superb comeback-of-Taylor's-teen-spirit-kinda performance. She sang her heart out, danced and climbed up and down the seats in the subway train, clung on to the hand railings, ran up the steps and hopped onto the roof of a cab in superb style! She sang fantastically well -- despite all the running etc, her voice control was stunning. And she looked absoluetly beautiful in the read dress.

Seeing how Taylor kept her head up high -- it just makes you want to cheer her on, AND piss on Kanye!

Picture credit: photo from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NzrkVTeU6oA/SSbTnia3IQI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/XORMf6ABwBo/s400/TAYLOR_SWIFT-FEARLESS.PNG

KANYE WEST IS A WANKER!

2009-09-14T01:03:00.000-07:00

I have often said that Kanye West is a superbly talented singer-songwriter. AND HE IS indeed very talented.

But, he is also a bit of a wanker -- especially the unkind way he dissed Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards. He should not have taken the mike from her and made an absolutely motherfucking ass of himself! Now, audiences around the world hate him and the hatred is justifiable.

I happen to like Taylor Swift -- although I think a couple of her songs are lousy (especially the ones where the music videos show her playing the guitar -- her voice and lyrics are horrendous in two particular music videos, the names of the songs which escape me now!). I REALLY like her "You Belong with Me" song -- it is a very cute teeny song. It is the kind of song I would dedicate to a horrible little monster called 'H' who I happen to be very fond of!

Photo credit: picture from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/13/kanye-west-steals-taylor_n_285198.html

MARIAH CAREY -- TRULY RULES WITH "OBSESSED"

2009-09-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

All hail Mariah Carey! Mariah Carey is a diva above all other divas indeed.

Her new song, Obsessed is an amazing track that (again!) showcases her ability to laugh at herself and her fame (although we know she takes her fame very seriously!) while at the same time showcasing her sensational singing prowess! SHe truly sings like an angel.

Her music video oozes with class, and in the "Obsessed" music video she plays the diva and the stalker. The stalker, unfortunately, meets a very unfortunate "Final Destination" ending... but the sheer class of the music video production and the insanely infectious tune surely help the viewers reciver quickly from the stalker's untimely bussing, err, I meant to say, passing!

Photo credit: picture from http://ewmusicmix.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/6a00d8341bf6c153ef0115702637a1970c-800wi.jpg

USAIN BOLT -- MY HERO!

2009-08-23T19:53:00.000-07:00

I am an ardent fan of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. All indications point towards the fact that he is a one-of-a-kind human being and I am fascinated by the fact that he is humble in light of his superhuman feats on the track. This man certainly has his feet firmly on the ground!

Usain Bolt has, at present, broken his own 100m world record -- the time now stands at 9.58 seconds, thanks to his Berlin sprint.

Something tells me that this Jamaican hero of mine will bring the record down to its knees to below 9.5 seconds.

Here are some pictures of this athlete who has practically no body fat! An amazing human specimen who is grace in motion, if you ask me!

Oh, and this amazing human being just celebrated his 23rd birthday on August 21st! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY USAIN!

Photo credits: Pictures are from:
1. Full length of Usain Bolt from http://observers.france24.com/en/jo2008/content/20080817-usain-bolt-world-record-race
2. Close up shot from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Usain_Bolt_Olympics_cropped.jpg

JON & KATE PLUS 8... BAH HUMBUG!!!!

2009-07-30T23:40:00.000-07:00

I still remember very clearly the first time I saw the promotional trailers for Jon & Kate Plus 8, the 2007 reality television show: "GAWD SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE STERILISED THEM!"

The duo are highly unattractive people in every sense of the word and their parenting skills were so dubious that their families and friends should have had the good sense to have put the kids up for adoption the minute they were born.

Apparently, the new season of the show is all ready for broadcast -- and obviously the television stations are going to milk the fact that Jon & Kate have gone their separate ways. But obviusly not separate enough that the television cameras could miss the duo.

In the OMG website (http://omg.yahoo.com/news/tlc-viewers-will-see-jon-kate-date-others-when-show-returns/25864?nc), TLC president Eileen O'Neill, is reported to have read a statement about the reality show at Television Critics Associated Panel in Pasadena, California, saying, "Over the last four years and through 100 episodes, we've captured this remarkable family's entertaining chaos. Viewers fell in love and the show developed a passionate, loyal following. But this past spring, life intervened and the family's status changed. It was certainly something we never expected, nor planned to have happen. But this has resulted in unprecedented television."

At least everyone will be making pots of money, and the kids should be able to afford therapy when they grow up!

Photo credit: picture from http://image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/u1_GosselinJonKate(1).gif

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS

2009-07-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

I finally managed to catch Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and it turned out to be good fun. My favourite character, Scrat, was there with his insane obsession for the Acorn. Then into the picture comes a dastardly she-devil of a flying squirrel who also has her sights set on the Acorn. The scenes with Scrat and his paramour were delightful and the laughter excellent.

Oh ya... Sid the Sloth was there for good effect. The woolly mammoths were there also, having a baby. A couple of dinosaurs were also thrown in for good measure and the insane Buck also kept the laughter coming.

I saw this film in 3D -- and I can totally understand what the fuss was all about!

Next stop for me: G.I. Joe -- Rise of the Cobra

Picture credit: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs image from http://blogs.theage.com.au/schembri/archives/2009/07/bruno_lays_wast.html

AN EXCITING NEW TALENT -- EUGENE MCGUINNESS

2009-07-23T19:52:00.000-07:00

24-year old British singer Eugene McGuinness is simply excellent as a singer. He has style and personality and sing songs with wonderful lyrics. The music videos for his songs are also rather excellent on the quirky side! His new song, "Wendy Wonders is simply superb!

Photo credit: this picture is from http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/huwstephens/galleries/1305/5/

THIS IS THE PICTURE OF A MAN'S FANTASY

2009-07-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

If you could take a picture of a car enthusiast's fantasy, this is what it would look like!

Naturally, in case you didn't already know it, this is a picture of the Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic.

Photo credit: Picture is from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/automobiles/autoreviews/19maserati.html?_r=1&ref=automobiles

HARRY POTTER'S NEW MOVIE: RATHER GOOD IS THE VERDICT!

2009-07-20T01:43:00.000-07:00

I never thought much of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books and even less of the horrible movies that were made of the teen sorcerer books.

But I must say that the latest chapter of the Harry Potter big screen adaptation is rather good! Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ain;t half bad!

The direction of the film is rather good. The script is well thought out -- although Hermione gets the crappiest lines and scenes in the film!

Harry is growing to be a stronger lad, Ron takes centre stage with his highly comedic outing this time around and headmaster Dumbledore is aces. The special effects are good and best of all, director David Yates helms the film with a very sure and assured hand! It is a rather good film. Better than "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" any day, if you ask me!

MICHAEL JACKSON MEMORIAL

2009-07-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

MICHAEL JACKSON: AUGUST 29, 1958 TO JUNE 25, 2009

The larger-than-life Michael Jackson had a memorial service unlike anything done before and the like of which will never be repeated again. He was a beautiful soul and a magical personality and it was a very classy memorial service indeed at Los Angeles' famed Staples Center!

The words of his friends were profound and meaningful (and all of around the world got a glimpse of what he was like in life) and the performances by artistes who paid tribute to him were powerful.

Photo credit: Michael Jackson picture from http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/07/76053/index.html
(Getty Images)

SAME MUSIC VIDEO EFFECTS IN LINKIN PARK'S "NEW DIVIDE" AND KANYE WEST'S "WELCOME TO HEARTBREAK"

2009-07-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

Say, did any of you notice that music video to Linkin Park's latest single, "New Divide" features almost the same special effects we saw in Kanye West's "Welcome to Heartbreak" video a few months back?

Both are cool songs -- and the videos are visually spectacular and imaginative!

Photo credit: Linkin Park picture from http://hotandnerdy.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/hn-linkin-park-ema-nominati.jpg

ICE AGE: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

2009-07-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that the real reason for seeing the Ice Age films (the filmmakers are into the third chapter now) has been that twitchy and nervous wreck Scrat!

Every other character in the Ice Age films (with the possible exception of Sid, voiced by the supremely talented John Leguizamo) were disposable.

Will the directors and producers have come to their senses and give us more of Scrat in this third instalment of this animated film? If they have come to such a realisation, will practice self-restraint and not ruin the Scrat character by going overboard in developing Scrat? That's the tough thing about discovering the real seceret of the Ice Age films' secret isn't it -- trying to maintain Scrat's small role and at the same time maintaining its integrity as an imbecilic AND single-mindedly acorn-obsessed animated character.

Photo credit: Image of Scrat from http://www.cartoonary.com/page/3/

THE TONIGHT SHOW: IS CONAN ANY GOOD?

2009-07-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, Conan O'Brien has taken over Jay Leno's position on The Tonight Show. But is Conan any good?

All I can say is that Conan takes a bit of getting used to? He does try hard -- but it looks like sometimes he is trying too hard. Hosting The Tonight Show and interviewing celebrities does not come easily to him. It only shows that the writers he has on his show have not really tapped into the "feel" of the The Tonight Show.

Conan's New York "thang" is just not translating very well.

I do miss Jay Leno. I wonder how he is doing?

Photo credits:
1. Conan O'Brien picture from http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20281580,00.html
2. Jay Leno picture from http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20211733,00.html

MERCEDES C CLASS - EL SUPREMO

2009-07-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you guys, but the more often I look at the Mercedes C Class cars on the road, the more I am beginning to fall in love with them. Design-wise, the C Class reeks of sophistication and class indeed.

The German carmaker Mercedes has got the design of the front end of the car close to perfection -- I only have a bit of a problem with the J-Lo proportioned behind of the car. The car is too wide at the back and this affects its visual power a wee bit somewhat, unfavourably! (Yes kiddies, in case you wondered: J-Lo has a massive, oversized backside! Very unappealing and very unattractive indeed!) In respect of behinds, cars' behinds I mean, BMW seems to have it right, as you can see from the 3201 series. (But the appeal of the BMW car has diminished in my eyes because of the type of people who drive it in Malaysia nowadays -- will talk more about that in another entry!)

A dream C Class would be a two-door coupe with a slimmed down behind. Now, that would be a car worth every penny indeed!

Photo credit: this photo of the Mercedes C300 Sport is from http://www.benzblogger.com/labels/C-Class.html

BLACK EYED PEAS - I GOTTA FEELING

2009-07-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

Sigh! I love the Black Eyed Peas. That Will.I.Am has to be one of the most talented singer-songwriters working in the world today.

I am absolutely hooked on the Black Eyed Peas' latest song, the very breezy and easy "I Gotta Feeling". It is a fabulous song, it has a fabulous beat, it comes with a fabulous video, it spouts fabulous lyrics - what more could a fan ask for! Sigh again indeed! This is now officially my theme song at the moment!

Photo credits: Will.I.Am picture from http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/12/william-renaiss.html
Black Eyed Peas group photo from http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20279639_20279643_20280652_1,00.html

ALL AMERICAN REJECTS

2009-07-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, the All American Rejects are anything but rejects. Their latest song, "THE WIND BLOWS" is beautiful and it has a perfect video. Both song and the music video are classy and show a maturity to the band that is admirable!
PHOTO CREDIT: the picture is from http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20245370,00.html

MICHAEL JACKSON: AUGUST 29, 1958 TO JUNE 25, 2009

2009-07-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson died at age 50 recently. His death shows something interesting about human nature -- not his, but the rest of the people's: that people find it easier to be nasty and mean spirited than to be good. This is especially true of the vicious types in the media.

People were vicious and nasty to Michael Jackson during his times of weakness and when he was vulnerable. But a friend of mine pointed out, rightly, I think, that Michael also did put on a freakshow that continued to feed the nasty streak in vicious people.

That is sad indeed.

For me, he was a musical megastar. Over the years, those who grew up in sync with Michael Jackson's career could see that the release of all his music videos were veritable world events. His appearances on television were also world events. He always put on a sweet side for his fans and audiences.

Now, as the music channels amp up his music and music videos in honor of all his great achievements, a new generation of younger listeners are exposed to his music. When Michael Jackson's music is good, it is timeless. Looking at things -- looks like the royalties that the Jackson family will receive from the gazillion airplays that Michael Jackson's songs are getting now is going to be astounding.

Over the coming weeks we will be reading more about his cause of death -- which is going to fascinate people even more about the phenomenon that was Michael Jackson. Suffice to say, he was no ordinary man!

Photo credit: this picture is from http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/06/26/fashion/20090628-TREBAY_8.html

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN -- CRAPPIEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!

2009-07-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

Good Grief! I had so much hope for "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". The trailer for the sequel had me sold! I was excited when I walked into the cinema. But what a load of crap it turned out to be. There were moments when I felt like this awful film was going to drag me to hell!

The script was rotten -- the filmmakers wanted to introduce a new character (the Fallen) and they do this is the most clumsiest and dumbest way possible, to the point that no one gives a toss about the fallen.

Then, the film is strewn with crappy characters -- from the annoying room mate that Shia LaBeouf is forced to put up with to the torturous John Turturro with his equally idiotic spoutings. Worst of all has to be the "twin" autobots who are as irritating as (if not more than!) Jar Jar Binks from the hopeless Star Wars prequels.

The special effects were unremarkable.

A repeat viewing will show off all the flaws of the film even more!

I would recommend Sam Raimi's "Drag Me To Hell" over "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" any day!

Thanks goodness "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" looks promising.

Photo credit: The picture of the Transformer robot is from: http://mos.totalfilm.com/images/n/new-transformers-2-bot-pics-online-05-440-75.jpg

SAM WORTHINGTON -- AUSTRALIAN SUPERNOVA

2009-06-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Terminator Salvation has now introduced a supernova screen talent, Sam Worthington, onto the public psyche. I could go on and on -- but in keeping with 32-year old Worthington's elegant and refined performance in Terminator Salvation, it suffices to say that this Aussie is one of the biggest talent working in Hollywood today. He blew away all his co-stars in terms of cinematic stature, even Terminator Salvation's lead actor Christian Bale.

AND Sam Worthington is going to go places as you have never seen him in his two upcoming movies, James Cameron's Avatar and the remake of The Clash of the Titans!

Photos of Sam Worthington:
1. Sam Worthington and James Cameron picture from http://fumingpew.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/james-cameron-avatar-sam.jpg
2. Sam Worthington in Clash of the Titans picture from http://www.daemonsmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/clash_ofthe_titans_sam_worthington1-500x333.jpg
3. Sam Worthington photo from http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-01-08-cameron-avatar_x.htm
4. Sam Worthington photo in Terminator Salvation from http://mos.totalfilm.com/images/i/its-sam-worthingtons-film-630-75.jpg
5. Sam Worthington photo at Terminator Salvation premiere from http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2009/05/17/2009-05-17_terminator_salvations_sam_worthington_hell_be_back__he_hopes.html

OBSOLETE ARTISTES: EMINEM AND U2

2009-06-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

GAWD! It is such a chore to listen to Eminem. He is always bitching about the world of celebrity and all its weird and wonderful inhabitants. Does Eminem realize that he is the biggest friggin freak in that celeb-world? Who does he think always dissing others to no end. (Although I do admit that some of them REALLY do deserve a good diss or two!)

Eminem, you silly white boy -- your songs are tired, your lyrics are contrived and your music videos are just plain stupid. Give it a rest white kid!

The only thing worth watching that involves Eminem was when comedian Sacha Baron Cohen flashed his big fat white butt at Eminem's face at the recent MTV Movie Awars. Eminem was furious and he walked out of the MTV Movie Awards as a result. Just go to Youtube.com and see the hilarious scene for yourself!

Ahem! And now as for U2 -- to Bono, I say: "Gramps! Give it a rest already!"
U2's music videos from the latest album are horrendous and the songs are, to put it plainly, unimpressive. YAWN!!!!

Eminem photo from: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,386337,00.html

U2 photo -- featuring The Edge and Bono from: http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/02/u2-album-myspac.html

PITBULL -- A TALENTED SEXY S.O.B. RAPPER INDEED (DON'T MIND THE CANINE PLAY OF WORDS, PLEASE! I LIKE PITBULL, OK)

2009-06-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Rapper Pitbull's latest song "I know you want me (Calle Ocho)" is the hottest song I have heard this year so far. The fantastic beat -- thumping and jumping -- and simple refrains/lyrics are superbly divine! Every time the song comes on while I am driving, my hands will start tapping the steering wheel and my body sways and the world's troubles seem to melt away! The world seems like a nice enough place when the song plays. The song, to put it mildly, gives me a rush of feel-good vibes that's exhilarating.

Pitbull, quite a handsome devil himself, is Armando Christian Rafael Pérez. He was born on January 14, 1981 in Miami.

Thanks to the genuine feelgood vibe of this song, Pitbull's "I know you want me" goes straight to my Best-songs-of-the-decade list! I personally think it is on par with James Brown's insanely good "I feel good".

(However, I can't resist saying that as a personality, Pitbull does remind me of Daddy Yankee. Daddy Yankee is, of course, famous the world over for that superb song of his, Impacto. Hmmm, both Impacto and "I know you want me" share a very nice hard-edged attitude towards life, I must say.)

As for "I know you want me" -- I say, "Good one Pitbull -- WOOF!"

Photo credit: picture of Pitbull is from http://www.miamisunpost.com/archives/2006/12-28-06/images/d4_411%20pitbull.JPG

TAIWAN POPS... AND OUT COMES TIZZY BAC

2009-05-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

Yummy! I must say that I simply love Taiwanese band Tizzy Bac. They are the coolest Taiwanese singers/music makers I have seen in ages. And their talent is for real. They have a cool new video called "Wedding Singer".

If you are really curious about Tizzy Bac, you MUST go to http://www.youtube.com/user/tizzybacvideo

... and check out their material. They are like a Chinese version of My Chemical Romance -- only more quirky and infinitely more good humored and delightful! Oh, with a female lead singer -- a very able one, I might add.

HOTTER THAN HOT... KARDINAL OFFISHALL'S NUMBA 1 (Tide is High)

2009-05-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

Woohoo... at present no other tune has as compelling come-hither-and-dance command as Kardinal Offishall's song Numba 1 (Tide is High), featuring Keri Hilson.The video is nice -- albeit a bit similar to Flo Rida's Right Round in terms of the wall-of-light effect/look.

But, that is neglible compared to the exhilarating effect the song's beat and the frenetic dancers have on those watching the video. Kardinal belts out the song nicely too!

Photo credit: Picture from http://www.mixmatters.com/hot/2008/images/Kardinal_Offishall_dangerous.jpg

KANYE WEST... A GIANT AMONGST HIS PEERS...

2009-05-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

I must say that although his live performances are sometimes panned by critics (I've only seen one -- Kanye and Jamie Foxx singing Gold Digger -- which I though was rather good) -- Kanye West does have a knack for making cutting edge music videos which complement his superior musical tunesmanship.

He is truly the king of the music world with hardly anyone else coming a second place. Check out his "Welcome to Heartbreak" music video and I dare you to tell me that you are not impressed! Kanye has a fluid mind that embraces vastly different cultures -- be it from Africa or Japan and he melds them all beautifully into is music videos.

Photo credit: Picture from http://image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/kanye_west.gif

STAR TREK -- MINI REVIEW...

2009-05-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

Star Trek has gone totally new generation this time. The depiction, methinks, is a of a totally alternate reality to the Shatner-Kirk universe. Plus points for the young lead actors who are totally funky, but the minus points are for the script which is sometimes a bit of a -- pardon le Francaise -- wank-job (as most self-congratulatory J.J. Abrams cinematic projects are). Verdict: The film is watchable -- but didn't excite me terribly.

Picture credit: 1. photo from http://alexlarman.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/star_trek.jpg
2. Chris Pine: photo from http://screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/chris-pine-james-kirk_l.jpg
3. Chris Pine: photo from http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/ap_Chris_Pine_081226_mn.jpg

TRAILER PARK: OH-MY-GOD! YUMMY TRAILERS FROM TRANSFORMERS-TERMINATOR-N-G.I.JOE

2009-05-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

What a brilliant triptych of movie trailers I managed to lay my eyes on.

First, there was Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen. Not since the first The Matrix movie did my jaw drop so many times. The latest trailer shows us more -- and leaves us wanting more. All the transforming heroes return and the bad one is revived from under the ocean -- and drool-worthy new machines are introduced.

The story line appears suitably skewed towards action and what spectacular action it all looks set to be.

Then, I checked out the four-minute clip from Terminator Salvation. It is directed by McG who brought us the superb Charlie's Angels as a big screen adaptation (and brilliant re-interpretation) of the famous TV series. In his able hands, Terminator Salvation looks like it is going to be a riveting blast. The effects look spot on -- but more than that, the storyline (as sampled in the trailer) looks absolutely riveting. Man and machine and their gritty battles are going to grab everyone's imagination when this film opens.

Finally, I took a look at the G.I. Joe trailers and it looks like a solid-hit-in-the-making. The storyline and villain seem like predictable hash -- but the effects and stunts will leave fanboys delirious with excitement. The camera angles and choreography look amazing during action scenes

All together now: Hooray for Hollywood!

WOLVERINE.. X-MEN ORIGINS...

2009-05-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen it yet, go see Wolverine now. The director is an excellent director indeed. He helms the movie on his shoulder, according to his own strength and his story telling skills are top notch. The special effects are tastefully done.

My only complaint is that the movie studio has been too obsessed in ensuring that Wolverine ties in super neatly with the other X-Men films. That is a great let down -- the ending is a bit of a whimper. And why? Just so that the stupid studio can release the boxed set of the Xmen films? Gimme a break!

Anyway, the director is too much of a great talent for people not to see his film and recognize his genius in storytelling. GO SEE THIS NOW!!!!!!

THE COOLEST MUSIC VIDEO...

2009-05-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

Wow, I must say that I was completely blown away when I saw Mims' music video, "Move (If you wanna)" for the first time.

Watch the video at youtube and see for yourself. It is one of those videos where the director and the music artiste are completely in sync and the simple, tasteful and supremely creative music video does justice to everyone.

The slo-mo effect and the use of simple devices (like using super bright light in the daytime to show the sunlight/limelight) makes the video a satisfying watch!

JOLIN TSAI... A POP PRINCESS

2009-05-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

Boy, little did that T. S. Eliot know how true his line "April is the cruellest month..." is so true. Some work place shenanigans by a vicious chinaman had upset me tremendously... then as I was wondering why some people can be so unkind, thoughtless and just downright cruel, I saw Jolin Tsai's two brillaint music videos: "Real Man" and "Arrogant". Jolin, God bless her little soul, took my mind off my troubles!

Jolin is a Taiwan lass and a hardcore pop princess. You know that she is in it (i.e. the music industry) -- she is in it for the love of it. She loves the pop confectionery and she deliriously delivers her manufactured pop songs with relish!

The music videos are solid eye candy -- she is more interested in keeping with the physically trying leg splits than trying to lip sync to the song. And that is perfectly fine with me.

As for Jolin herself, she is unremarkable looking -- but her passion for pop is undeniable! She is the real deal. If she was not in the pop music business, she would simply not exist, I think.
(Britney Spears, on the other hand, is in pop because there is nothing else she is good at. As for Lady Gaga, she is in the business because it seems like fun... there are no long term prospects for Gaga, except as a songwriter of hit songs.)

CSI - CLASSY TO THE LAST DROP...

2009-04-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

The episode of CSI that dealt with Grissom leaving the team was done in a super classy way -- that it will never be beaten on tv, ever, I reckon.

Grissom has always been a good boss and colleague to his team mates. He always stands by them and speaks his mind when he feels any one of his team members are out of line.

The two episodes recently shown on TV that dealt with his exit were so superb in the scripting, directing and performance, that I am completely bowled over. These two episodes have to be the highest high notes that television has ever hit.

FORD MUSTANG 2010 REVIEW FROM NEW YORK TIMES... READ ON...

2009-04-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

Here is the much anticipated review of the superb muscle car of all -- the Ford Mustang 2010... from the New York Times.

April 19, 2009
BEHIND THE WHEEL | 2010 FORD MUSTANG
Original Pony, Now Playing Catch-Up

By JERRY GARRETT
IT’S a lot like 1969 again. The Dodge Challenger, with styling that draws heavily on a sport coupe Chrysler introduced in late 1969, made its return last year. The Chevrolet Camaro, whose shape evokes the popular 1969 model, recently went back into production. Each is a clean and lean interpretation of its ancestor from the muscle-car era.

Meanwhile, Ford’s retro-futuristic Mustang, based on a late 1960s fastback model, has been around since the 2005 model year — and is beginning to look as droopy as a Fu Manchu mustache. So for the 2010 model year, a sartorial segue to a more ripped look, to stay current with the competition, was in order.

None of the period-perfect charm of its predecessor has been lost in the newest edition of Ford’s seminal pony car. But you’d probably need to park a 2009 next to a 2010 to see how truly different they are. The redesign seems to have carved away about half the body fat; what’s left is, appropriately enough, all muscle.

“Muscle goes modern,” Mark Fields, president of Ford’s Americas division, said when he introduced the car in November at the Los Angeles auto show. “This car is a modern legend — with more than nine million of them sold in the last 45 years. We needed to make sure the legend continues to live up to expectations.”

It met — and in some areas exceeded — mine when I opened the door on my Torch Red GT test car. “How can you not love a car with a red-and-white leather interior?” my smitten 16-year-old daughter said with a sigh. Indeed.

A deep love of cars was evident in the designer’s work, I told her, something that hasn’t been apparent in all Fords. But my opinion, since driving recent releases like the Flex, F-150 and Fusion, is beginning to shift. Add Mustang to the list of recent Fords executed with panache, passion and polish.

Here’s an example: The last Mustang had a hip-looking, retro-theme instrument panel. The problem was, you could hardly read the gauges. They were set too deeply into their recesses; reflections obscured the driver’s view. But in the 2010 model, the gauges are bright, well laid-out and easily readable.

Another difference is the sound. Noises intruding from outside, like tire-on-pavement hiss, wind howl and traffic thrum, have been engineered down to a satisfying level.

The sticker price of the GT I drove was $28,845, an increase of about $800 over last year. Yet it has much of the extra-cost high-performance package from the 2008-9 Bullitt Mustang built in. That is good value, I think.

Base V-6 coupes start at $21,845; convertible versions, available as V-6s or V-8-equipped GTs, add $5,000 to the price tag.

The GT’s engine is essentially the 315-horsepower Bullitt version of the 4.6-liter V-8, which has made the list of Ward’s Best 10 Engines in recent years. And it runs on regular unleaded fuel.

Fuel economy ratings for the V-8 are 16 miles a gallon in the city and 24 on the highway with the 5-speed manual gearbox and 17/23 for the 5-speed automatic. The base Mustang engine, a 210-horsepower 4-liter V-6, is only slightly more economical, with ratings of 18/26 for the manual transmission or 16/24 with a 5-speed automatic.

Ford’s upcoming twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6, capable of 340-horsepower (and potentially delivering further improvements in fuel economy), could be an option in later model years.

The new Mustang rides on the same platform as the departing model, with most exterior and interior dimensions very close. The shape of every body panel but the roof has changed, if only slightly, to make the new Mustang look more taut and tight. Even the emblem of the galloping Mustang, a signature element that had been unchanged for 45 years, was put on a diet.

Relax, traditionalists: attention to Mustang-centric details was not lost or trivialized. The double-brow dashboard has been retained, though it now is covered in materials that look and feel richer. There are even new three-section taillights, and they illuminate sequentially, from the center outwards, just as they did on Mercury Cougars in the 1960s.

Nothing evokes disco days like the lighted Mustang emblem in the door sills or the instrument panel lighting that can be customized in 125 colors. The interior ambient lighting offers 7 choices.

The design team’s goal was to eliminate compromises.

“We never stopped at, ‘Good enough.’” said Gary Morales, manager of interior design for the Mustang. “We only stopped at ‘right.’”

There is, however, one area where compromises continue. The Mustang still uses a solid rear axle — a cost consideration — while its modern-day competitors have independent rear suspensions. That setup, with coil springs, three trailing links and a Panhard bar, carries over to the 2010 redesign, but with welcome upgrades to ride and handling similar to the Bullitt package for Mustang GTs.

These include recalibrated shock absorbers, stiffer springs and tire choices that improve grip. Options include a $1,095 19-inch wheel and tire package; a $495 3.73:1 performance axle ratio (instead of 3.31); and treats like a rear-view camera, GPS navigation system and 10-speaker audio system.

The handling — even on the V-6 model, which is calibrated much like last year’s GT — is crisp, rock-steady and unflappable.

Traction control, antilock brakes and electronic stability control are standard. On base models the stability control can be turned off; on GTs with the Premium Package, the system also includes a sport setting that allows a bit more aggressive driving.

In a straight line, the Mustang GT is a force, with 0-to-60 acceleration in five seconds flat.

In just about every other area, the Mustang has its rivals fairly well benchmarked. Mustang has a wider range of optional features available. Its V-8 is an aftermarket darling; Ford says it is the industry’s most accessorized engine. And unlike the Challenger and the Camaro, it already comes as a convertible. There’s even a new glass-roof version.

Top that, 1969.

COMING ATTRACTIONS... JOLIN TSAI AND THE VERONICAS

2009-04-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

LOOK OUT FOR MY ENTRIES ON JOLIN TSAI AND THE VERONICAS.... COMING SOON.... ALSO A REVIEW OF WOLVERINE... YUP, THE BOOTLEG COPY THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY UPLOADED ONTO THE NET BY THE SPECIAL EFFECTS COMPANY (NEEDLESS TO SAY... THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE NOT DONE YET!)...... KEEP READING THIS SPACE KIDDIES!

Photo credit:
The Veronicas photo from: http://music.ninemsn.com.au/img/promo/special/arias2007/outfits/veronicas.jpg
Jolin Tsai's photo from: http://lh5.ggpht.com/_H87mdwIoc9E/RYDiP_eJtGI/AAAAAAAAAG4/iJ2BMBIeUQk/s800/304780889.jpg

AVENGED SEVENFOLD...

2009-04-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hmm, I know it sounds strange... like regression into my youth again... but I am now fascinated by the band Avenged Sevenfold. Their songs speak to me! Saw their live performance on TV and I am now hooked.

Photo credit: picture from http://www.peakradar.com/images/event/34561/AvengedSevenfold.jpg

RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN... A RATHER GOOD MOVIE

2009-04-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a good entertaining movie, go see Race to Witch Mountain. It has a good script, the direction is aces and it has my favorite action star Dwayne Johnson in it.

I won't bore you with details, except, it is a film about friendly aliens, a government agency, one really bad alien and a bunch of actors who have fun playing their roles. Oh, and there is a message about the world and the environment as well.

LADY GAGA... CONQUERS AMERICAN IDOL

2009-04-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone who saw Lady Gaga perform on American Idol agree: they were all blown away by this young girl!

Wikipedia lists Lady Gaga as being New Yorker Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, who was born on March 28, 1986. She is a talented singer-songwriter and musician.

The thing is that Lady Gaga immediately appeared on my radar when she released the song Just Dance. Having seen her performances on television and the Internet, all I can say is that her American Idol blowout performance was inspired and borders on the genius in terms of packaging.

You see, Lady Gaga releases good dance songs -- and even better, uses glammed up music videos of herself as a diva in these videos. The thing is that, her live-performances are very dicey -- her voice does not hold up well for long.

Starting out the American Idol gambit with a bit of piano plinketing with the violinist and the delivering a highly explosive but suitably shortened version of her rather fabulous song Poker Face was a stroke of genius. Her voice held up well throughout and her impressive choreography and stage costume delivered the desired effect: she got the whole world to watch her wonderfully theatrical performance in awe.

Now, that is a really REALLY clever girl, if you ask me!

Picture credit: photo from http://www.topnews.in/files/lady-gaga.jpg

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR THE OLD AND THOSE OF US WITH ELDERLY PARENTS...

2009-03-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

If you have parents who are aging, then it is important that you read this New York Times article.

THE NEW YORK TIMES
March 31, 2009
VITAL SIGNS
Vitamin D Pills May Prevent Fractures in Older Adults

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Vitamin D supplements may help prevent fractures in people over 65, provided they take enough of the right kind. A new review of clinical trials appears to show a strong dose-dependent effect for vitamin D in lowering the risk for nonvertebral fractures in the elderly.

The lead author of the analysis, Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari, a professor of medicine at the University of Zurich, said that “vitamin D in a high enough dose is not only beneficial in the frail older population, but it also works in those still living at home and able to take care of themselves.”

The researchers, writing in the March 23 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, reviewed 12 randomized trials that together included more than 65,000 subjects. Doses under 400 international units a day had no discernible effect, but for doses larger than that, the pooled data showed a 20 percent reduction in the risk for all nonvertebral fractures, and an 18 percent reduction for broken hips.

The type of vitamin D made a difference. The effect of vitamin D3 was significant, with a 23 percent risk reduction, but there was no significant reduction with vitamin D2. The authors suggest that D3 is more effective in maintaining blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the active form that the supplement takes in the body.

PREMA LUCAS... IN FUSION

2009-03-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, please do check out Prema Lucas' new album called In Fusion. She is a very dear friend -- and a very talented one at that! Her album is available on iTunes.... CHECK IT OUT PLEASE!

MY PREDICTION WAS CORRECT... GONNA GLOAT A BIT NOW!

2009-03-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

Aha... I said it and it came true... Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is going places. He is now the number two man in Malaysia. The first thing he and his numero uno need to do is consolidate their hold on the media... by removing those promoted by the previous regime and those who have weakened the influence of the media to a big extent amongst the Malaysian population. ESPECIALLY EDs who are vicious, petty and vengeful towards subordinates and who like to play God with other people's careers and livelihood -- these type of nasty characters must be neutered and displaced immediately. And when putting a new layer of top guns in place in the media... the choice of candidates must be top notch in calibre and charismatic and... please do not appoint the weak minded types who are easily influenced by substandard tongue waggers/brownnosers. It will be interesting to see how the next chapter of Malaysia's progress unfolds....

Photo credit: picture from http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20081110/yassin-bb.jpg

AMERICAN IDOL... MOTOWN WEEK HAS BEEN A STUNNING REVELATION

2009-03-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

Usually, I make it a point to avoid American Idol till things really heat up towards the end. The reason is simple -- I want the talents who exploit their underdog status to be eliminated and only the really talents to emerge as the show closes in on its climax.

But I must confess that the Motown Week has been nothing short of a revelation. That chameleonic Adam Lambert is simply incomparable. His delivery of Tracks of My Tears simply blew viewers aways. He is such a supernova of a talent that I am putting all my bets on him.

Of course, the caveat is that the American Idol underdogs will milk it for all it is worth and the teenie audience that votes will fall for this gag as they did with the gray haired dude and other American Idol winners who no one can remember now... sigh!

The only winners who have have impressed me so far are Jordin Sparks and Kelly Clarkson. ANd hopefully, this year, Adam Lambert!

Photo credits: pictures are from http://image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/motown-adamlambert(1).jpg and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090326/tv-american-idol/images/a2d0b72e-4fef-46ca-bd3e-f3ae437e2fdc.jpg

MILEY CYRUS... STAR POWERED TO THE MAX!

2009-03-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

It is very heartening indeed to see Miley Cyrus set herself lightyears ahead of other 17 year olds with her new single, The Climb.

The song, a country-pop blend, gets star treatment from Miley in the way she beautifully emotes the words. Papa Billy Ray must be proud of his highly pedigreed teenaged daughter -- she is an actress and singer and even writer who is doing tremendously well.

The video to the song is also very tastefully and artistically directed and Miley is now legitimately a superstar in the making.

Photo credit: picture is from: http://popwatch.ew.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/10/miley_l.jpg

EARTH HOUR... I'D RATHER EVERY ONE PLANT TREES....

2009-03-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, personally I'd rather tell people to plant trees, respect mother nature and be vigilant about emissions (emission of chemicals/effluent/garbage into our waterways or noxious substance into the air etc)... but people are mostly into token gestures. And so we have Earth Hour. The concept is good and the silver lining is that young people are made aware of the Earth's plight.

For that reason, I endorse Earth Hour. This goes out to my beloved sister Mabel Dass who works for Intel in Penang! She is the best sister one could ask for! :-)

MALAYSIAN POLITICS... MY BET IS WITH TAN SRI MUHYIDDIN YASSIN!

2009-03-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

I've been observing Malaysian politics very closely and I must say that I am impressed with the charisma and potential of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. I see big prospects for this man and those associated with him!

Photo credit: http://web7.bernama.com/bernama/newspic/ge/MUHYIDDIN%20%20YASSIN_2.jpg

TWO OF MY FAVORITE GUYS MAKE FOR GREAT TV!

2009-03-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

I must say that it felt good to hear that the ratings for Jay Leno shot through the roof when President Barack Obama made an appearance on Leno's show last Thursday night. (CNBC aired the episode over via Astro during the weekend).

Here's a short report on the ratings of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as found on www.imdb.com......

President Obama's appearance on NBC's Tonight show with Jay Leno Thursday produced the show's highest ratings in years. NBC and Nielsen Research said that the 11.2 rating and 26 share was the best score that the NBC late show has generated in five years -- when an identical figure was produced for a special about Johnny Carson. One has to go back to the night of the Seinfeld finale in 1998, when Leno talked to the cast, to find an episode that drew more viewers. In an interview with Daily Variety, NBC Co-chairman Ben Silverman said that the network is hoping to come up with similar big "gets" when Leno moves to primetime later this year. "There's an opportunity to really eventize the show," Silverman said. "(We're looking) to make it distinct and it should play perfectly in primetime, where there is a massive audience. It will still be a comedy show, but with more segments and formats." (Source: http://www.imdb.com/news/ns0000003/#ni0719150).

Picture credit: http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/music/idol/blog/obamaleno.jpg

THESE ARE MY DREAM CARS... SIGH!

2009-03-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

I'd personally call these two-door beauties orgasmos if I had it my way... but they do have proper brandnames and they are called the...

BMW Z4 Roadster

AUDI TT RS coupe

MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

FORD MUSTANG 2010

MOTHER'S DAY IS IN MAY... BUT HERE'S THE WINNER

2009-03-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

I know that Mother's Day is in May, but I must say that my candidate for Mother of the Year goes to Liana Cartman! This sweet, sweet mother of that most adorably vile and evil child called Eric Cartman of South Park fame is a living saint!

TREND SPOTTING... HERE ARE THE 2009 HIT MAKERS WORTH LOOKING AT

2009-03-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Here are my candidates for songs so hot that they sizzle the minute they come on air... and leading the way is:

1. Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil Wayne in "Let It Rock -- as far as beats and rhythm go, nothing has come close to this song -- yet!

2. Mika Nakashima's "Game" -- this Japanese lass is so effortlessly cool, it should be illegal.

3. Flo Rida's Right Round -- I'll share my observation as soon as I stop dancing to this tune!

4. Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" -- she should be a joke but her strong voice and her "I don't give a shit about your worthless opinion of me" attitude is solid as a rock!

5. Lily Allen's "The Fear" -- another case of efforless cool

6. Pink's "Sober" -- this gal is a winner, this is a serious song that makes you shake your hips and nod your head! Pink is way cooler than cool.

Photo credits:
1. Lily Allen picture from http://www.clashmusic.com/files/images/lily-allen.jpg
2. Pink picture from http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/pink.jpg
3. Mika Nakashima picture from http://image.yesasia.com/assets/23/445/l_p1014044523.jpg
4. Flo Rida picture from http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/20969937/Flo+Rida+09867584255.jpg
5. Lady Gaga picture from http://jnelj.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/lady-gaga12_h.jpg
6. Lil Wayne picture from http://staging.pluggedin.com/artist/images/LilWayne_115606_08062008.jpg
7. Kevin Rudolf from http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/18346889/Kevin+Rudolf+KevinRudolf.jpg

SLIPKNOT....

2009-03-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, I was watching MTV the other day and they were showing World Stage... featuring Slipknot live at Hammersmith Apollo in London. What an exciting show it was. Initially, I didn't know whether to fall onto my knees and pray like crazy for salvation or quickly wave the white flag and surrender and then prick a finger and immediately sign a deal with the devil.

But seeing them in action -- they are quite watchable indeed! It was a riveting concert performance! No wonder Slipknot is so big with the teenage set. They sure can channel all the restless, pent-up energy in youngsters!

Here are some photos I sourced from the internet:

Photo sans masks (well, that's what the website says!) from: http://www.poster.net/slipknot/slipknot-photo-xxl-slipknot-6224527.jpg

The masked avengers, or rather revengers! -- from: http://o.aolcdn.com/feedgallery/music/i/s/slipknot/05-slipknot-082707.jpg

ANYONE KNOW WHAT'S THE LATEST WITH AVATAR?

2009-03-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of everything that James Cameron directs. I'm curious about what he has in store for us in his latest film AVATAR. I bet it will again rewrite the rules of making films and take special effects and the art of story telling to ever greater heights. Everything he has touched has made for superlative cinematic experiences.

Anyone know what this aging genius has in store for all of us?

Photo caption: An incarnation of Midas, anyone? (Just so long as he does not touch humans! hahahaha!)
Photo credit: Getty Images

THE BEST WEB COUNTER SITE EVER!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

I've been searching high and low for a simple and effective web counter for my blog for more than a year... and I finally found a good one. Simple and solid! If you are looking to put a web counter on your site, please do go to http://free-counter-plus.com

It is so easy to install onto the blogsite, which makes it a winner in my book. And it is truly free!

So, starting today, with the start from ZERO, my web counter is in action to see how many people actually visit this blog.

CHINA SHOULD GET THE HELL OUT OF TIBET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a report from New York Times about the situation in Tibet and the Dalai Lama's powerful speech. I am utterly disgusted with the cretinous Chinese government! China MUST get the hell out of Tibet!

March 11, 2009
Dalai Lama Harshly Condemns China Over Tibet

By EDWARD WONG
BEIJING — The Dalai Lama delivered on Tuesday one of his harshest attacks on the Chinese government in recent times, saying that the Chinese Communist Party had transformed Tibet into a “hell on earth” and that the Chinese authorities regard Tibetans as “criminals deserving to be put to death.”

“Today, the religion, culture, language and identity, which successive generations of Tibetans have considered more precious than their lives, are nearing extinction,” said the Dalai Lama, 73, the spiritual leader of the Tibetans.

Those words came during a blistering speech made Tuesday morning in Dharamsala, India, the Himalayan hill town that is the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Tibetans outside of China and their supporters held rallies around the world on Tuesday to mark the 50th anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. The Chinese military crushed the rebellion, forcing the Dalai Lama to flee across the Himalayas to India.

The furious tone of the Dalai Lama’s speech may have been in reaction to a new clampdown by China on the Tibetan regions. The Dalai Lama might also have adopted an angry approach to placate younger Tibetans who have accused the Dalai Lama of being too conciliatory toward China. The Dalai Lama advocates genuine autonomy for Tibet and not secession, while more radical Tibetans are urging the Dalai Lama to support outright independence.

In the rugged Tibetan regions of China, where there is widespread resentment at Chinese rule, no reports emerged on Tuesday of any large-scale protests. The Chinese government, fearing civil unrest among six million Tibetans, has locked down the vast area, which measures up to a quarter of China, by sending in thousands of troops in the last few weeks and cutting off cell phone and Internet services in some locations. An unofficial state of martial law now exists, with soldiers and police officers operating checkpoints, marching through streets and checking people for identification cards.

Chinese President Hu Jintao called this week for the building of a “Great Wall” of stability in Tibet.

“We must reinforce the solid Great Wall for combating separatism and safeguarding national unity, so that Tibet, now basically stable, will enjoy lasting peace and stability,” Mr. Hu said while meeting with Tibetan officials in Beijing on Monday, according to Xinhua, the state news agency.

Across Tibet, monks at large monasteries have been ordered to stay indoors. In the town of Tongren in Qinghai Province, monks at the sprawling Rongwo Monastery, where protests erupted last year, have been told they cannot leave the compound from March 6 to March 16, according to two monks reached by telephone. No classes or prayer gatherings were held on Tuesday. One monk said he and his peers were reading Buddhist scriptures in their bedrooms.

“This morning, I cried,” he said.

The monk declined to give his name for fear of government retribution. A year ago this month, he was studying in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and taking part in protests to mark the 49th anniversary of the failed uprising. When security forces suppressed those protests, Tibetans began rioting in the streets, attacking ethnic Han Chinese civilians and burning shops and vehicles.

The uprising quickly spread to Tibetan areas in other provinces, becoming the largest rebellion against Chinese rule in decades. At least 19 people were killed in Lhasa, most of them Han Chinese civilians, according to the Chinese government. In the violent repression that followed, 220 Tibetans were killed, nearly 1,300 were injured and nearly 7,000 were detained or imprisoned, according to the Tibetan government-in-exile. More than 1,000 Tibetans are still missing.

“There has been a brutal crackdown on the Tibetan protests that have shaken the whole of Tibet since last March,” the Dalai Lama said in his speech.

In a report released Tuesday, Human Rights Watch said that a careful study of official Chinese accounts of last year’s uprising and its aftermath showed that “there have been thousands of arbitrary arrests, and more than 100 trials pushed through the judicial system.” The government’s official figures on arrests and prosecutions suggest that several hundred suspected protestors remain in custody, Human Rights Watch said.

Officials from Lhasa said last week that 953 people were detained after the riots and that 76 of them were sentenced on charges of robbery, arson and attacking government institutions. The others have been all been released, the officials said.

The Chinese government has accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting separatist violence, even though the Dalai Lama says he is pushing only for autonomous powers that are outlined in the Chinese constitution.

In his speech on Tuesday, the Dalai Lama reiterated that such autonomy had been promised to Tibet by Mao and other senior Chinese leaders whom he met in Beijing in 1954 and 1955. The Dalai Lama began negotiations over the future of Tibet after Chinese troops invaded the Tibetan plateau and seized full control of Tibet in 1951.

Despite the promises from Mao, he said, the Chinese government carried out “a series of repressive and violent campaigns” through the decades, including what the Chinese called “patriotic re-education” and “strike hard” campaigns following the protests last year.

“These thrust Tibetans into such depths of suffering and hardship that they literally experienced hell on earth,” the Dalai Lama said. “The immediate result of these campaigns was the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans.”

The Chinese government has defended its policies in Tibet by saying that it abolished a feudal slave-holding system overseen by the Dalai Lama and poured vast sums of money into building roads, railways and other infrastructure.

The Dalai Lama lashed out at those projects on Tuesday, saying they were done to move Han Chinese migrants into Tibet “at the huge cost of devastating the Tibetan environment and way of life.”

Despite his harsh words, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed his commitment to trying to maintain a dialogue with China, which he calls the “middle way” approach. Talks between Beijing and the Dalai Lama’s envoys fell apart last year, and no new ones have been rescheduled.

After the Dalai Lama’s speech, thousands of Tibetans marched through Dharamsala holding up banners with slogans like “Stop Genocide in Tibet!” and “We Want Freedom!” Some waved small Tibetan flags with two snow lions and a blazing sun, and others had the flag painted on their faces.

“Now the world knows what is the Tibetan movement,” one protestor, Tenzin Tsundue, 34, said by telephone. “In fact, last year’s uprising is motivating other oppressed groups in China to rise up. That may open up China, and the Chinese leadership feels threatened by that.”

Jonathan Ansfield contributed reporting from Beijing, and Hari Kumar from New Delhi.

Photo caption: Man on a mission -- the beloved Dalai Lama is very upset and we can all understand perfectly well why.
Photo credit: Ashwini Bhatia for the Associated Press (in NYT)

AAH, FOUND MY THEME SONG FOR 2009 -- COURTESY OF KELLY CLARKSON!

2009-03-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

I have always liked Kelly Clarkson. She has never bored me with her material despite a few misfires here and there.

Her latest song -- both in terms of lyrics and the music video -- have inspired me. The lively song and playful video put the element of F-U-N back in relationships! So, I now officially declare that Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You" is my theme song for 2009. Thanks Kelly Clarkson!

Photo credit:http://www.thecelebrityblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kelly-clarkson-cover.jpg

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON WATCHMEN! LOUSY MOVIE!!!!!

2009-03-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

Whatever you do, do not waste your money watching Watchmen! What a load of utter crap and rubbish it is. The movie is like a comic-adaptation that, despite a lousy script and even worse direction, also doubles up as comic porn and comic-depiction of abbatoir violence. This is even worse than that lame Inkheart!

Photo credit: http://www.evo.cl/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/20080307-watchmen-06.jpg

BEYONCE'S "IF I WERE A BOY" JUST KEEPS GROWING AND GROWING ON ME!

2009-03-08T00:53:00.000-08:00

I must say that I am no great fan of Beyonce -- her women's lib songs are a big turn off. Usually. But I must say that her song "If I were a Boy" -- in terms of the lyrics, melody and the brilliant music video -- is a masterpiece. This is one of those stunning songs that really grow on listeners! I foresee many awards for this song.

Katy Perry's song "Thinking of You" is also superb (lyrics and music are ok -- but the video is, although stylish, very iffy because the visual narrative is a teensy-weensy screwed up.

Photo credit: Katy Perry from http://fashionator.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/katy_perry02.jpg
Photo credit: Beyonce Knowles from http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00391/Beyonce_Knowles_200_391180a.jpg

TRAILER PARK: TRANSFORMERS 2: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

2009-03-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

WOW! The third and latest trailer for Transformers 2, direcetd by Michael Bay, has blockbuster written all over it! Can't wait for the film to open!

TRAILER PARK: STAR TREK HAS A VERY COMPELLING NEW TRAILER

2009-03-07T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hmmm, I am no big fan of J.J. Abrams but I must say that the third and latest trailer for the Star Trek film that he is directing looks pretty compelling. Have a look and see if you like what the trailer promises.

Photo: Uhura is one very hot mama!

COOLEST PERSON IN THE WORLD: M.I.A.

2009-03-07T06:36:00.000-08:00

I have quite the knack for recognizing talents and doing spot on trendspotting, even if I do say so myself. And I can safely say that M.I.A. is the coolest gal in the world today. (Well, until my lady love La Amy Winehouse comes out with new material anyway -- now Amy, SIGH! she is my kinda gal!) M.I.A. does not give a toss about anything, has fun doing what she does and sings songs with lyrics so cool, it just elevates you to a very happy place!

The first time I heard M.I.A.'s song Paper Planes, I was totally blown away. And the song still blows me away every time I hear it. And the video is one of my favorites too -- so simple and effective. It is so cool, it hurts. Ouch!

And her performance at the recent Grammy's was stunning -- nine months pregnant and living it up gloriously on stage! Now there's a girl who knows how to have fun! Cyndi Lauper would be so proud. I mean, if it was just the four guys singing at the Grammy's, it would have descended to a performance that would have amounted to nothing more than a pathetic wank-job. But with M.I.A.'s presence amongst the four men (T.I. + Kanye West + Jay Z + Lil Wayne singing "Swagger Like Us")
-- the whole thing was elevated to an era defining moment. No wonder everyone was on the feet during this particular performance at the Grammy's!

Photo: Cool cat: M.I.A. a.k.a. Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam is a Brit lass unlike any you will ever come across!
Photo credit: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/statusainthood/mia.jpg

Photo: Top hat: top talent with a beehive-ior problem, La Amy WInehouse looking fab in a fetching yellow dress
Photo credit: Amy WInehouse photo from http://popularbiographies.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/amy-winehouse-biography/

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE... BEST MOVIE OF 2009!

2009-02-15T04:42:00.000-08:00

I saw Slumdog Millionaire the other day -- and what an impressive film it was. It is brilliantly directed, wonderfully written and sees delightful actors bring what was written on the pages to life beautifully well.

Slumdog Millionaire is so superior to all the other contenders selected for the Oscars this year in every imaginable way -- so much so that I foresee it will win all the Oscars in all the categories it has been nominated in: Best Cinematography; Directing; Film Editing; Music Score; Music Song; Best Picture; Sound Editing; Sound Mixing; Writing (Adapted Screenplay)!

Through the ages, it is not for no reason that people who have visited India have a renewed outlook on life after visiting that vast land where the cycles of life and death, sadness and laughter do a hypnotic jive -- and the film manages to transfer a bit of that Indian je ne sais quoi onto the silverscreen quite impressively.

Go see this Danny Boyle film if you have not seen it yet. Slumdog Millionaire is going to change the face of the world of cinema!

MOVIE TRAILER REVIEW: CRANK 2

2009-02-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

HAHAHAHAHAHA! One of my favorite movies, Crank -- has now got a sequel, Crank 2. The first Crank was the best in the genre of preposterous actioners (yes, a sense of humour on the part of the filmmakers, the actors and the audience is crucial for the film to work!) with the brilliantly demented and funny Jason Statham and now Crank 2 looks set to up the ante in the amount of mayhem that Statham's action hero can cause! Talk about an adrenaline rush! Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and the film has the funkiest soundtrack -- just go to Facebook or the Crank 2 website proper at http://www.crank2.com/

MOVIE TRAILER REVIEW: THE SOLOIST

2009-02-11T08:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! It is quite an experince indeed to be able to just watch bit and parts of a movie and be totally blown away! I just saw the trailer to the upcoming film, The Soloist, which stars two of my favourite (and very talented!) actors: Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx. It is a profound tale of friendship and life that is rich and, as a drama, it is going to be the best film to be released this year.
Photo is from New York Times.

TRAILER REVIEWS -- A VERITABLE TRAILER PARK, FOLKS!

2009-02-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

YUM... What can I say except YUM! indeed after watching a collection of movie trailers for upcoming movies. These trailers have appeared thanks to the American Super Bowl -- that annual mother of all American games -- when the best commercials and movie trailers are shown. We in this neck of the third world woods (which is being fast burnt down by illegal logging!) get to see this trailers thanks to the wonders of the Internet, of course.

Here's a quick verdict of the new movies....

STAR TREK.... This J.J. Abrams vehicle looks promising. The trailer is speed edited to look sumptuous -- the effects looks good, all the actors and actresses are hotties and the cinematography looks inspired. Can't wait for this to open!

G.I. JOE... Inspired by toys, this super-slick actioner looks like it has enough jaw-dropping moments to keep action lovers drooling in delight in the cinemas. Yes, we want our action fast 'n' furious -- and PUHLEASEEEEE spare us all the melodramas and just give us the goddam firepower and stunts to keep us happy! Oh, the scriptwriters and director obviously heard us, by the looks of things! Yay!!!!!

FAST AND FURIOUS... The new chapter with Vin Diesel back in the driver's seat is looking sizzling hot. Again, it is all about stunts, stunts and stunts (forget about that LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION drivel!). The trailer simply says, just sit back, fasten the seat belts and rev the engines boys! (and girls)

LAND OF THE LOST... That Will Ferrell is possibly the funniest man in movies (after Adam Sandler, of course!). Will Ferrell plays the most delicious overgrown immature types so well -- and he is no different here. He looks like he is a mentally stunted and slightly imbecilic scientist in this new sci-fi special effects movie and his over-the-top antics look set to bring out the laughter! The trailers has aliens, giant crabs and dinosaurs aplenty and excellent cinematography. The comedic timing also looks spot on. Bring it on Will Ferrell!

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN... Good grief -- the trailer is so awesome that all you can do is sit and watch and hit the replay button over and over again. The trailer is so good you can eat it! More of the evil Transformers crash land (onto the mighty ocean faring carriers, no less!) on planet Earth to save their leader and the good robots look like they really do have their hands full this time around! That Shia LaBeouf looks all primed to carry this film -- and him being such a likable lad, this movie would do well on his very own drawing power alone! And if you add those majestic robots -- there's no way this Michael Bay film can do any wrong!

TRAILER REVIEW: TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

2009-02-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

Good Lord! The first Transformers film already totally had me hook, line and sinkers.

Now, having seen the trailer for the second Transformers film, I must say that the first thing I did was see the trailer over and over again more than 30 times straight! It gives such a satisfying fix. I am completely sold on the trailer for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the sequel to the most excellent Transformers film -- both films star the likable Shia Labeouf.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen looks impressive, the action looks bigger and the direction looks superb. The sequel's trailer is simply Excellent!!!!!
And c'mon, admit it -- the tagline for the sequel, "Revenge of the Fallen", is so very very VERY cool and classy!

Is Vladimir Putin the most despicable man of the modern age?

2009-01-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

The new year rolled on with a chill in more ways than one. While a real battle was being waged by Israel and Hamas against one another in the Middle East, Russia made Europe shiver in its boots in one of the coldest winters in the modern era by shutting off the precious gas supply that reached Europe by pipelines in Ukraine.

Russia had accused Ukraine of stealing gas that passed through the Ukrainian soil. Ukraine, of course denied any kleptomaniac tendencies.

But the interesting thing is this -- when the Russians launched a war on Georgia on the day that the Olympic Games was launched in Beijing, China, in August last year, those of us not on the receiving end of the missiles, tank artillery and other destructive firepower were perversely fascinated by the precision-timing of the war. Here was the world at that time distracted by the Olympic games and the attack on Georgia was akin to a stealth attack on the unsuspecting in the quiet of the night. The whole world sat up momentarily and looked at Russia's action -- but the pull of the Olympics was far too great.

However, that assault on Georgia was also a time when the world saw hints of the real man behind the power structure of the Russian regime: Vladimir Putin. There's something mesmerizingly ruthless about the man. His is a mien of a man who can be utterly unfeeling in felling others. I suppose a solid KGB training would do that to any man.

Putin is the Prime Minister of Russia and Dmitry Medvedev is the President of Russia.

Now, with the recent gas crisis -- it is very clear that the man with God-like power in Russia IS Vladimir Putin, without any doubt whatsoever. Mevedev is merely his puppet, meant to do all of Putin's bidding. But guess what? No one likes Putin at all anymore. Neither do people find him even remotely charismatic or fascinating as a leader. Through his actions, he has simply come across as an evil man who is unscrupulous and deludes himself into thinking that the time to strike is either when the world is distracted or the people are brought down to their knees by something or another (like the cold did the Europeans in December-January).

What has really set me off against Putin is the brutal killing/assasination of journalists and human rights activists in Russia. Putin is downright despicable, as far as the world's intellectuals are concerned.

Photo caption: Vlad the Impaler -- is that you PUTIN on the Ritz?
Photo credit: picture of Vladimir Putin from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-486897/Head-Russian-secret-service-accuses-MI6-plotting-Putin.html

BARACK OBAMA -- I HEREBY CHRISTEN YOU "THE INSPIRATION"

2009-01-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

What can you do but call a highly inspirational man like President Barack Obama THE INSPIRATION!!!!! This tall, elegant, eloquent, compassionate, very able leader is now the leader of the most powerful nation in the world.

Only great things can be expected from President Barack Obama. And we know he will live up admirably to all out aspirations and expectations. Sigh, what a historic day this is -- the day President Barack Obama's swearing in as President. It is a proud day indeed to acknowledge our humanity and what a great world this world can be.

Photo caption: President Barack Obama: truly the face of a new generation -- for the whole world.
Photo credit: Barack Obama portrait by Martin Schoeller

AMERICAN IDOL IS BACK! AND IT'S A TRUE WORLD EVENT.

2009-01-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

The euphoria that has been coming regularly every year is back again -- the 8th Season of American Idol is back.

The judges are at it again -- SImon, Paula, Randy and the new gal Kara RioGuardi -- continue to make American Idol highly watchable.

What American Idol does also -- besides unearthing an incredible array of raw talent -- is show the world the true face of America. And the true face of America today is a multiracial one.

Watching the show, it is obvious that the best that the world has to offer in terms of people have all migrated to the United States.
(Of course, America also has its fair share of weird and strange people and we get to see them on AMerican Idol also. Nothing's perfect -- America is not paradise! But I must add that the U.S. sure comes close to it, in terms of the opportunities given to people to be whatever they wan to be!)

Audiences also get to glimpse the world of families and friends -- there is strong bond between family members as well as friends and this year, there are multi-racial elements to friendships. America is truly akin to the whole world gathered in one place when it comes to the sheer magnitude of its diversity of people! And diversity, we all know leads to mixed marriages and it has been proven that kids from mixed marriages have a higher intelligence quotient than mono-ethnic kids.

Photo caption: Let's hear it for the judges... American Idol is back.
Photo credit: picture by Becker/Fox from http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/14/american-idol-returns-with-new-judge-dioguardi-zen-mantra-cavalcade-of-meh-singers/

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- NEIL PATRICK HARRIS FOR BEST CAMEO IN THE HAROLD AND KUMAR COMEDIES

2008-12-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

Doogie Howser, the awkward teenage bright bulb who became a very young doctor was nattily played by Neil Patrick Harris on the small screen.

As an adult, Neil Patrick Harris has made some of the most memorable cameo appearances on the big screen in the hilarious and irreverent Harold and Kumar comedies.

(Caption: Come laugh with me!
Photo credit: Neil Patrick Harris by Jeff Minton for ew)

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- ELIZABETH BANKS AND KATE WINSLET THE SMARTEST WOMEN IN MOVIES

2008-12-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

An appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is the official barometer to tell if a star is truly a star in every sense of the word.

Two women whom I saw on Jay Leno who easily are the smartest and brightest actresses of their generation are Kate Winslet and Elizabeth Banks. Both women appeared on Jay Leno's show (on different occasions) and they are both eloquent, have unsurpassed sense of humor, don't take themselves too seriously (TRANSLATION: feet firmly planted on the ground!) and -- MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL! -- can tell the studio audience a good story!

(Caption: Come, wanna make a porno with me?
Photo credit (Elizabeth Banks = mugshot): picture by Jeff Vespa for Wireimage.com on http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20186838,00.html)
(Caption: Come sit with me!
Photo credit (Kate Winslet seated): picture by James White on http://images.google.com.my/imgres?imgurl=http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/060928/104125__kate_l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1540471,00.html&usg=__341CXEmiryEKdKN2pn-lomlNN0o=&h=400&w=300&sz=27&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=Yt9W74bSqEwbrM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3DKATE%2BWINSLET%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN)

BEST OF 2008: MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN THE WORLD: ANGELA MERKEL, GERMANY'S CHANCELLOR

2008-12-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

I am a great fanof all things German and I am most happy to report that Angela Merkel is the most powerful woman in the world. As leader of the third biggest economy in the world, she has held the country together very well, keeping it on its moral trajectory (yes, yes, Siemens has paid for its corruption charges), and has poise and confidence in addressing world issues.

Angela Merkel has taken Germany to places that Germany has never gone to in the modern era: to the very top of global public esteem. I salute this wonderful woman!

(Caption: Powerful in the eyes of the beholders.
Photo credit: picture from: http://nazret.com/blog/media/blogs/new/angela_merkel.jpg)

BEST OF 2008: THE BEST NAMED CROOK: BERNARD MADOFF

2008-12-20T19:01:00.001-08:00

Hahaha (instead of the more Christmassy Hohoho!) -- Bernard Madoff (pronounced "made-off", the Wall Steet crook has gloriously lived up to his name indeed -- and has "Made-Off" with billions of his clients' money!

(Caption: Here's looking at your billions, kid!
Photo credit: picture from http://business.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00450/Madoff_450787a.jpg)

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- TRANSPORTER 3: JASON STATHAM IS THE WORLD'S FAVORITE ACTION STAR

2008-12-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

Quantum of Solace has put paid to the notion that Daniel Craig is a one-note actor in playing James Bond. What a disappointing film Quantum of Solace was.

Thankfully, the action quota for the year has now been wonderfully fulfilled by Transporter 3, the Jason Statham vehicle. The script is not a masterpiece, no surprises there. But the it does have many moments and the cast are good and the characters decently written and fleshed out.

What? A powerful man's daughter has been kidnapped? He shows us why he is powerful -- while cleverly buying time in abiding by the demands of the thugs, he dispatches his people to track down the baddies and comes to know who exactly is pushing the baddy buttons. The next time the baddy calls with instructions -- he refers to the baddy by name! And that's just one of the side characters!

Jason Statham, is charismatic as ever and it says a lot indeed that when the audience cares whether our hero lives or not! And in the meantime, with his signature black transporter, the gorgeous Audi, he takes action to its ridiculous heights -- one minute he is a terminator in a suit and the next he is peddling his bicycle like an ace X-gamer! Not to mention, he drives like an F1 driver who'd popped a bucketload of Ecstasy!

The car chase scenes in Transporter 3 are breathtaking and heart stopping.

It is enough to say that Jason Statham's hero is meant to transport a woman who was taken hostage by the baddies and he is hell bent on making the baddies pay the price for their bad hand. The combination of his impeccably sharp suits, beautiful cranium and the devilish Audi will take the audience for a spin they will delight in!

Oh, and the repartee between Jason Statham's Frank Martin and his pal the French Inspector Tarconi (played by the lovable Francois Berleand) about Russians and why they are always depressed is priceless and easily one of cinema's greatest highlights!

Go watch this if you like action films! Transporter 3 does not pretend to be anything it is not. It is pure adrenaline-rush fun.

(Photos: Jason Statham mugshot from http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24077310-5003420,00.html, Jason Statham in Transporter 3 movie still by Magali Bragard for Lionsgate)

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- REAPER: HOTTEST SHOW ON TV

2008-12-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

Irreverence, humor, a good script, a likable cast, good (if intentionally cheesy special effects) -- there are plenty of all these on my favorite television show, Reaper.

This is a show that has classic and cult written all over it and the audience demographic is one of the most influential in TV-land (20s to 40s). The appeal of the show is global.

(This is my favorite Reaper photo of the cast from http://www.tv.com/users/PKtechGirl/profile.php?action=show_blog&entry=m-100-25365766&print=1)

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- BMW Z4 COUPE

2008-12-06T09:22:00.000-08:00

Can anyone honestly say that they are not instantly in love with this chunk of metal hunk? This is the BMW Z4 coupe and it has set many hearts afire! A dream car if ever there was one. Sigh!

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- ACTUALLY, THIS IS A 2009 STAR: THE 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER

2008-12-06T07:37:00.001-08:00

AMERICANS MAKE THE BEST MUSCLE CARS. And that is the truth. Just look at this beauty from Dodge -- the 2009 Challenger and see the jaws drop!

Oh, besides its muscular body, the round headlights are winners. Round headlights are simply beautiful!

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- STEUBEN GLASS MAKES THE MOST COVETABLE HOLIDAY GIFTS

2008-12-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

One look at the sheer class is each Steuben Glass piece is enough to convince you that it is all you need to make this yearend holiday complete!

Here, have a look at some of Steuben Glass' latest creations and judge for yourself!

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- GOOGLE: THE MOTHER OF ALL SEARCH ENGINES!!!

2008-12-06T04:01:00.000-08:00

Google is the best thing since sex. And that's the truth of it! With Google, knowledge is at everyone's fingertip. And the global map is accessible to everyone -- true democratization of knowledge and information has arrived.

Even more important than all that jazz -- you can now Google friends and see if they are on Facebook so that you can drop them a line and hook up with long lost pals.

(Google logo as interpreted by modern pop artist Jeff Koons)

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- FACEBOOK: THE GARGANTUAN SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE

2008-12-06T03:12:00.000-08:00

Oh wow, until I got onto the Facebook bandwagon, I never realized how magnificent it really is! Facebook is a virtual behemoth that has brought long lost friends together and expanded the universe of friends for everyone and is one of the most amazing phenomena to have washed over mankind. The future is here folks!

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- MICHAEL PHELPS: AN INSPIRING OLYMPIAN

2008-12-06T01:20:00.000-08:00

The man who now wears more gold medallions than black hip hop stars is, officially, Michael Phelps. This young American captured the imagination of the world when he won 8 gold medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the swimming events.

In person and in interviews, Michael Phelps has won audiences with his charm and sweetness and gentle nature. Michael Phelps' appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno after his superhuman Olympic feat in Beijing 2008 proved that he's the real deal when it comes to America's Sweetheart.

(Photo of Michael Phelps from people.com)

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- USAIN BOLT: FASTEST MAN ON EARTH

2008-12-06T01:12:00.000-08:00

Our collective imagination was set on fire by the feats of Jamaican Usain Bolt at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Usain Bolt shows that people do not care what the skin color of a person is -- TALENT IS TALENT, and great talent will be celebrated regardless of everything else.

(Photo of Usain Bolt by Anja Niedringhaus for AP, as seen on guardian.co.uk)

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- KATHY GRIFFIN: BEST COMEDIENNE ON TV

2008-12-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite comediennes is Kathy Griffin. She is the funniest comedienne working on TV today.

Kathy Griffin has an Emmy-winning My Life of the D-List -- one of the most hilarious side-splitting shows on tv.

Kathy Griffin has appeared on Larry King and was so good that Larry King had her host an episode of his show (the topic was on paparazzi and Kathy Griffin ripped through it in the funniest manner imaginable. Does CNN have the episode stored anywhere online? I am sure people who love comedy would love to get their hands on it!) Kathy Griffin also has appeared on Jay Leno and always has the audience in stitches -- although sometimes it looks like she is just too sharp for the audience to catch some of the nuance/speed of her jokes!

She is one of the best things working on TV today and brings much needed laughter into the world.

She has her own website: http://www.kathygriffin.net/

(Photo of Kathy Griffin from EW)

BEST OF 2008: GLOBAL STARS -- JAY LENO: TALK SHOW HOST WITH THE MOSTEST!

2008-12-05T22:39:00.000-08:00

Jay Leno is the most popular talk show host on the planet today.

He is a heroic celebrity interviewer to the global audience because he is witty, has a great sense of humor, has a great capacity to empathize with his guests, and displays a level of decency and morality that is in sync with people every where.

His recent kind and gloved handling of the extremely shy and modest Robert Pattinson, the star of Twilight, is a brilliant case in point. (Robert Pattinson appeared on the show along with goddess of gorgeousness Heidi Klum and her super-talented husband Seal.) And when his guests are completely confident and self-assured, like the brilliant interview with Elizabeth Banks a few weeks back (just after Halloween), he takes the interview to fun places!

(An excellent photo of Jay Leno by Peggy Sirota for Corbis Outline on ew.com)