Grey's Anatomy Goes to Venice

The rear view of the Bridge of Sigh (Ponte of Sigh)

Typical view of Ponte of Sigh

Watching Grey's Anatomy on ntv7, one of my fave time on TV besides the Monday treat of AXN's Amazing Race, House and Nip/Tuck. Meridith's patient is an old lady who's only have 4-5 months left. The loving husband requested her not to tell his wife the news but out of ethical issue, she did and the patient herself asked her not to ler husband know. She asked "How can a relationship built based on lies?" The patient answered something like, "It's not lie, it's the future". And she said they're gonna go to Venice. According to her, whoever went under the Bridge of Sigh in a gondola will stay together forever.... Another urban myth or tactics to romanticized Venice?

I was in Venice May last year and it was kinda devastatingly romantic but I am all alone! Of course being a budget traveller I dun have that kind of money to ride on a gondola so there's no chance to go under the Bridge of Sigh in a gondola. However I wish one day I will, with someone that matters to me hahaha...... (insert a desperate look and laugh here)

Datuk Z & Selangor Sultan, Pak Lah and Dr. M

Datuk Z : Istana Idaman and Restoran Satay in your Kg Idaman? Bodyguard in your Istana Idaman's construction site? I think he watched HK triad movies a lot and taking the cue from Johnnie To's HK movie.
Selangor Sultan : Cool ruler. Wa respect sama lu!

Pak Lah : 沉默不再是金
Dr. M : 一发不可收拾

Anonymous Wisdom

"Loving someone is giving him power to hurt you, but trusting him not to"
Anonymous

Did you give that power away? Wish you had and your trust is not betrayed.

The Pledge, The Turn................ The Prestige

It's always quite a scary affair to watch a movie which had been tauted with so much anticipation and expectation as most of the time it will turn out flat. However The Prestige is certainly not one of them. Helmed by the ever dependable casts of Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johannson and Michael Caine, and directed by Christopher Nolan and written by him and his brother, The Prestige is indeed a prestige itself.

Tight storyline with nicely layered plot intertwined with lots of flashback, it's gripping with suspense and what's-next's anticipations. Love the fact the characters were all human, e.g. not overly pure black and white with substantial amount of flaws which indeed brings them to life.

Are you watching closely? You better be...

Departed after Take The Lead

Watching Departed to me is like watching The Da Vinci Code. Having read the book, I felt that I am obliged to watch the movie. Same as Departed. Having watched the Infernal Affair, which happened to be one of the best HK movie these few years, I felt that I have to see how Hollywood churn out their version. Of course, one cannot help but comparing the two version. However, I told myself to keep my mind open as scorsese will not copy the HK version.

Just like the HK version, the supporting cast stole the limelight most of the time, as did Jack Nicholson here (HK version's Eric Tsang). However I think Martin Sheen's character was being reduced to minimal unlike HK's version Anthony Wong's. Particularly I miss the tension when these 2 rivals share the screen in HK version whereby in Departed, both only meet each other almost in the final part of the movie with Mark Wahlberg being thrown in as well. Another suporting cast I found brilliantly played is Alec Baldwin. Maybe his Emmy-earning performance in Will and Grace keeps lingering in my mind I think.

Worth mentioning is Scorsese's combination of the 2 female characters into one in Departed. I personally find that it's refreshing. It's also simpler since the focus is more on the male lead, hence saving some screen time for the more core plot, so-to-speak.

Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio as Andy Lau and Tony Leung. Not a fans of Damon, I think he played his part good enough. And so do DiCaprio.

In general I thought it's an entertaining piece of movie, purportedly to be Scorsese's last work on gang triad. Having said that, Infernal Affair still triumps with its rich pretext and portrayal of the traditional HK/Chinese triad. It's rich image and subtext on the Buddhism iconism is really a rare and exquisite in recent HK cinema.

I always find myself subconsciously drawn to some feel-good cum inspirational stories. Based on a true story on Mr. Dulanie, Take The Lead is a simple predictable-in-some-familiar way kinda movie. Helmed by Antonio Banderas, he's basically the only recognisable famous face besides Alfre Woodard of Desperate Housewives fame. The story is decently good enough for an inspirational piece which draw out some memory of other films such as Save the Last Dance for Me and Shall We Dance (though both focused more on the individual conflict) and I will take it as the dance version of Music of the Heart (one played by the ever brilliant Meryl Streep and Gloria Estefan).

Enjoyable though Banderas' Spanish accent and charm can come across as unfathomable sometime.

OH YEAH! SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI AND BELATED DEEPAVALI!!!

It's Moi. Taurean

Below is the description for a Taurean; another piece of self-appreciating post to cheer up the moody-gloomy period of my life. (Yeah....holiday with no travel plan is depressing enough.....)

Suave and compromising. Funny and humorous.

Stubborn. Very talkative. Calm and cool.

Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed.

Loyal.

Does work well with others. Very confident. Sensitive.

Positive Attitude. Thinking generous. Good memory.

Clever and knowledgeable.

Loves to look for information.

Able to cheer everyone up and/or make them laugh.

Able to motivate oneself and others.

Understanding.

Fun to be around. Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality.

Secretive. Boy/girl crazy.

Loves sports, music, leisure and traveling.

Systematic.

Hot but has brains.

My Own 音乐探险家

First of all, I have to extend my apology to 陈颖见 because I decided to do a write some entries based on his excellent radio program 音乐探险家. Well, since I won't be able to have a chance to host my own radio program ever, then this is the next best thing. So, 陈颖见 if you happen to read my blog, and you do not permit me to pursue my this next-best-thing, send me an email and I will respect your decision.

Today, the theme is, what will be the 10 albums that you will bring along with you if you were stranded alone in a deserted island / 流落到荒岛? 陈颖见's selection are Jamie Cullum's , 旺福, 陶吉吉's first album, Josh Rouse, 王菲, Kings of Convenience, Black Eye Peas, Faith 杨乃文's <应该> and ..... I forgot another two.

I revisits my mp3 song list and can't really single out any albums for that purpose so I compiled a list instead for my unfortunate 流落到荒岛 event.

1. Home - Michael Buble (what other perfect way to be melancholic while you are stranded in the deserted island?)
2. 雨天没有你 - Faye Wong (有你的雨天，叫做浪漫；没你的雨天，叫做忧郁) - I once heard the original English version, anyone can tell me?
3. 还是会寂默 - 陈绮贞 (stranded alone, of course will be lonely lah!)
4. If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher (haha... for the mere fact that if I could turn back time, I won't be stranded in the deserted island right?)

...........................................................................................OK, I'm sleepy, I will continue next time.

Sunday Rant

As dreadful as it is, I mean Sunday, I tried to do something useful and meaningful such as dreaming, be a couch potato and go hiking.

Things got pretty exciting lately in Malaysian politics scene. Thanks to our nation's favourite son who blurted out the famous issue of "being sidelined", things were piling up. MCA decided to demand an apology which ended in an anti-climax way, the different way we treated our neighbours; one causing us fake sense of being in the foggy old London town but we treat it with our famous tak-ape attitude, no apology demanded, and another neighbour where an old man's comment on "sidelined" issue was being cooked up to the maximum temperature ever and demanded an apology, our Takaful brother who issued an instruction not to extend wishes to our Indian brothers and sisters Happy Deepavali, the 18.9% vs 45% issue etc...........

Again, God Bless Malaysia. Malaya is 50 years old next year!

I always make sure that I will on my couch with Astro on Channel 102 for a program called 音乐探险家 hosted by 陈颖见, a singer from Malaysia. He studied in Australia and I guess he's back to Malaysia now. His 2-hours show is a feast both to the ears and mind. I found that my musical taste is quite similar to him and I got to know some nice songs and singers from his show. His show has a weekly theme, e.g. listening to music in library, laziness, 70's etc. Though the show has officially ended now (it's currently on re-run on Channel 102), you can still read some of the transcript of his show here. http://www.nanyang.com/index.php?ch=15&pg=66

I wish I can have some radio show like that!

Quote from Alan's Blog

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world.

Tempting Thurs

Stranded in Bintulu. Thank God the hotel comes with free WiFi. Browsed my ex-roomate's blog and found another side of him. He can really write! And funny too. His entries are full of stories, quirky but that's him. Definitely gonna read his blog more. And I would like to wish him; Good Live, Good Pay and Enjoy Your Babe!

Fire

The world think North Korea is playing fire with the nuclear testing.
BUT
We Malaysian are sick of the haze caused by the Indonesian fire.

UN Secretary-General

If there's no last-minute changes, the next Secretary-General for UN will be Ban Ki-Moon from South Korea, the first Asian since 1971 Myanmar's U-Thant. Having no veto vote from anyone of the 5 Security Council members, he is almost certain to grab the post unless the remaining 192 members chose other candidates, who have not been vetoed by the-5.

It's confirmed. His first mounting is his neighbour playing with nuclear I guess. What a way to start of a new job???

still.... You Belong to Me

Hmm.... thanks to the wonder of internet, I found another excellent rendition of "You Belong to Me". It's actually one of the track in the Shrek 2 soundtrack! How can I miss that? Sang by the soulful voice of Jason Wade (Lifehouse), it's a soothing listening tune and it will stay in my Sony Network Walkman for a VERY VERY LONG time.

You Belong to Me

The first time I hear this song is Tori Amos' rendition, which was included in the Monalisa's Smile soundtrack. Amos is always mesmerising with her own style and charm which normally transform the song and own the song (borrowing the comment from American Idol). Go look for Amos' version of Amazing Grace and you will know exactly what am I babbling about here. Then the next version is the one by Michael Buble. That made me wonder who's the original singer here. Do let me know if you have any information on that, or any other version by other singer that you know....

The lyrics are nice, intriguing my interest in the travel in Egypt which at this point of time, way beyond my poor budget. Pyramids, Niles, Sphinx, the Orient Express, Algiers....... romantic I guess...... However, I can always dream haha......

Enjoy.... You Belong To Me

See the pyramids along the Nile

See the sunrise on a tropic isle

Just remember darlin' all the while

You belong to me

See the market place in Old Algiers

Send me photographs and souvenirs

Just remember when a dream appears

You belong to me

I'll be so alone without you

Maybe you'll be lonesome too, and blue

Fly the ocean in a silver plane

See the jungle when it's wet with rain

Just remember 'til you're home again

You belong to me

Fly the ocean in a silver plane

See the jungle when it's wet with rain

Just remember 'til you're home again

You belong to me