The Blind Side

Watched @ The Cathay

This is one of my favourite movies of recent times. The movie is based on the true story of NFL star Mike Oher. Although I know very little about NFL, I know that sports is one of the channels in USA that black people there can excel in and have more often than not be the catalyst to bring them out of poverty.

The story starts off with a clip of a play in NFL, depicting the importance of the blindside, the quarterback's blindside. That was a real footage and even though we do not see the extend of the damage in the tackle, the player's reaction says it all! And this is the story of NFL's recent greatest protector of the blindside, Mike Oher.

But this is not just about the player becoming a star. It's about the family that he met and learned to love. Sandra bullock, plays the mother, Leigh Anne, of this family, the Touhys. It was a Thanksgiving eve that started the threadings of Mike and the Touhys.

The story of Mike and the Touhys was told in a very touching fashion. Even though I believe much of the facts have be dramatise and idealised, it's still an amazing story to believe in. Watch it to experience it.

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 9 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 7 out of 10
Overall: 8 out of 10


Favourite Lines:
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In Mike's new room,
Michael Oher: This is mine?
Leigh Anne Touhy: Yes sir.
Michael Oher: I never had one before.
Leigh Anne Touhy: What, a room to yourself?
Michael Oher: ...A bed.
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Leigh Anne Touhy: If you so much as set foot downtown you will be sorry. I'm in a prayer group with the D.A., I'm a member of the NRA and I'm always packing.
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Michael Oher: [after pushing an opponent all the way off the field] Sorry coach, I stopped when I heard the whistle.
Coach Cotton: Where were you taking him?
Michael Oher: The bus, it was time for him to go home.
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Leigh Anne Touhy: Michael, I want you to have a good time but if you get a girl pregnant out of wedlock, I will crawl into the car, drive up to Oxford and cut off your penis.
S.J. Tuohy: She's not kidding.
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Sean Tuohy: Who would've thought we'd have a black son before we met a Democrat?
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Sean Tuohy: We were wondering if you would like to become a part of this family.
Michael Oher: I kinda thought I already was.
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Leigh Anne Touhy: You're right.
Sean Tuohy: Wow. How'd those words taste coming out of your mouth?
Leigh Anne Touhy: Like vinegar.

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Official Website


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Legion

Watched @ Cineleisure lvl 9

I was actually looking forward to watch this movie, most of the movies which have involved paul bettany so far have been not bad. sadly, this time it's not encouraging, his acting was not the issue, is the loose plot. Angels fighting angels, god losing faith in men, doesnt sound all that bad. But the way everything was put together was quite disappointing. There's too much reference that can be seen from history. worst of all was...

It's a waitress who is the target of saving cos she bears the child who would be the saviour. Think terminator. Oh the gun fights remind me of terminator too. The ending also reminds me of terminator, I wonder if they are going to have legion 2.

Notice there's no devils or demons in this movie, why? cos the minions in this movie are angels. So where did all the demons go? on holiday, since now angels are doing their job of possessing and killing. :P

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 5 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 7 out of 10
Overall: 6 out of 10

Favourite Lines:
Gabriel: I would not have shown you such mercy.
Micheal: Which is why you have failed him.

Official Website

Pictures

First Aid @ SJAB

for the past 3 days I've been attending a day course at the St John's ambulance HQ at beach road. Why? cos i'm trying to get my first aid certification so that I could register myself as a coach at SSC. It took me quite a few years since my coaching cetification to come for this course, inertia I guess. But now since i'm quite free, it's time.

total cost was around S$115 inclusive of 3 days parking at the HQ. the course runs thru 3 days from 8.30am to 4.30pm. I think we were lucky to have a pretty experienced teacher. He's a volunteer at SJAB, long time volunteer. He's 83 on wednesday and he was involved in the hotel new world collapse rescue operation. That was like ancient already. But yah, along with experience also comes lots of war stories which he likes to narrate every now and then, that's when I start falling asleep.

Over the course of 3 days, I'm confident i've equipped myself with sufficient knowledge to administer at least some first aid which situation happens. But the real question here is, given the the knowledge of giving first aid, would you do so? That's a question that the teacher has subtlely ask many times (oh yah, he has a knack of give "subtle" hints.) When a situation happens, would you react immediately to help or would you rather be a "stamford raffles" to just stand there and watch instead of lending a helping hand. seriously I think in singapore, people love stamford raffles ALOT!!!

The Spy Next Door

Watched @ Cineleisure lvl 9

Just catched the show late last night, and surprisingly the cinema is a full house on a monday midnite session. Even though the cinema has nothing more than 10-12 rows, a full cinemas once again prove that there are LOADs of Jackie Chan fans in singapore. WOAH!!

The plot of the story is quite solid, cause it's simple and logical. Although I'm not sure about CIA ever loaning agents from China, especially in this currently political climate. Well, let's says it's plausible. hahaa.

The introduction into the movie was a short clip of Jackie Chan's poast movies, that was pretty cool. He has really done many movies with similar themes. Comedy is always present in his movies. In this one, the action is still quite amazing given his age.

Therefore, simple watch and enjoy.

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 7 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 7 out of 10
Overall: 7 out of 10

Favourite Lines:
Bob Ho: Family is not about blood relations, but about the people you love and the people who loves you.
Official Website

Pictures

Treasure Hunter (刺陵）

Watched @ GV Marina

Treasure hunter is a movie you really shouldnt watch if you are looking for a plot in the story. The plot is really weak, when you compare with the western movies like mummy and indiana jones, treasure hunter is really weak, pointless and broken.

As for the acting, jay chou and lin chiling are not exactly the best actors around. looks and style are their main selling point, the movie is bordering on comedy. the desert scenes offer not much value to the whole story, it's just dusty & more dust flying around.. WEAK!!

There's much hype on the visual effects, but seriously, good effects need  to be there for a purpose that supports the plot. With the weak plot, the effects are just there trying to bulk up the movie on it's substance. simply saying, the effects are not bad but falls flatly in the movie plot.. conclusion... WEAK!!!

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 4 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 5 out of 10
Overall: 4.5 out of 10

Favourite Lines:
蓝婷：我们是两个世界的人。
乔飞：虽然我们属于不同的世界，但是现在你在我的世界，我会保护你。


Official Website

Pictures

Life after NUS

Life after NUS have been good so far. Small events happen every now and then. So it's time to recollect and lay them out.

• RT have been manageable so far,
• I learnt how to arrange for Make-up training
• I have MIO Tv at home, but there's nothing interesting to watch. It's for the soccer which will start next season anyway.
• I've arranged for my first aid course and it will be start next tues to thurs, 3 full days of course. After which I'll make myself available on GeBiz as a volleyball coach.
• I went to Body Worlds to look at plastinated human bodies!! I missed it the last time it was here. They really looked cool. Some how the more I look that those bodies, the more i'm reminded of "bak gua"!! BUT I personally find the exhibit not as "WOAH" as it was promoted to be. Interesting, yes. Cool, yes. Woah?? NOPE...
• Haven been to any movies in more than a week!! Kindda sad abt that, cos my dear is so busy last week. Hopefully it will be better from now on.
• Went to Xiaowen's place for gathering, Potluck. I made Cheese Baked Rice. It was well received. I think I can replicated what I did if needed, but the flavours might change though. Anyway, her house was HUGE, it was the old type of mansionette. They got it for a very very good deal! Good for them.
• Tenghui & Fuliang are getting married too, looks like my cchs gang is getting tied down pretty fast. It all started with jimmy. hahaa..
• Planning to make a short trip to BKK before CNY to buy clothes for work and CNY.  
• Spent a night at Down Town East chalet after dear's event there. I was totally reminded why we have not gone to a chalet for so so so long!! It's small, dark, dirty & noisy....

RT aka Remedial Training

Remedial Training is sort of like a punishment implemented to make NSmen like myself, who failed ippt, to get some physical training. Going for RT made me feel like returning to BMT once again. The anxiety, the fear, the pain and the aches all returning to me at once.

I find that I am now much less fit than the time I was first enlisted. Physical training is straining my every muscle group. After the warm-ups, i'm already drained!!

RT is a good thing for me, I'm using this chance to lose some weigh and get some momentum going for exercise. I'm taking it slow though, physically my body cant take extreme, i've enrolled myself with the obese gang and go for a less strenuous training regime. But i'll up the ante as soon as I can, cycling to Bedok camp for future trainings and extra day of self training is in the pipeline.

Bye 2009 & Hello 2010!!

2009 has bee a pretty good school year for me. At times I really struggled, but somehow I survived. I did not do exceptionally well, but enough for me to scrape trhu with a passable degree. That's simply my biggest and ultimate goal for 2009, I guess have achieved it to some extent.

physically, it's still a pretty bad year for me. injuries and physical inertia are frequently popping up on my schedule to do anything. maybe it's just in my mind, mind of matter people say, easier said than done I say.

With this new year, I simply do not know if i'll love it or hate it. Love it cos it's a new beginning and options are wide open for me to do almost anything. yet anything doesnt really seem possible. while living in singapore gives me a planned out and lazy life if I chose it, which I have been choosing all my life. It now ends, and I have to choose a path.

look for work? a somewhat permanent one to get my income steady.

or spent the years I have left in this "energetic" body for some adventure?

volleyball is something i've been shunning in the past year. not committed to it at all in the past year. perhaps it's also time to pick it back up again.

so many choices, so many possibilities, so little in my head moving to make a decision.

So i'm going to do things the way I always do. Take things in my stride, when they fall in front of me, then it's time to do them.

Alvin & The Chipmunks 2

Watched @ GV Marina

The only reason why someone would watch this movie is to enjoy the squeeky songs of the chipmunks. And I happen to be one of those 'someone's, this sequel features the female counterparts of the chipmunks. I seriously never knew they were called the chippettes.

There's only 4 points I would like to share abt this movie and that should sum up everything.

1. Simon and Jeanette, are so BRAINY!!
2. Alvin & Britney, just cool and stylo, but not really my type.
3. Theodore & Elenore are super cute and FAT!
4. I simply love they squeeky songs!! hehee

Oh 1 last thing, Zachery Levi, is still funny like he was in Chuck! It's pretty much Chuck in Chipmunks.

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 6 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 8 out of 10
Overall: 7 out of 10

Official Website

Pictures

Sherlock Holmes

Watched @ GVMax

Sherlock Holmes is already UBER well-known before this movie. SO how it it going to gain the recognition from the masses or even left a mark on their memories? Well, they re-vamp the image of Holmes, that's how. Now holmes is iron man without the armor, much more rugged and watson is just as much a fighter as holmes.

It's a refreshing twist to the usually pipe smoking nerdy holmes we are accustomed to. I liked it, I know some who didnt. Holmes retains his usual sceptism in magic and the paranormal, there's always a reason and method about how things are done.

And I really liked the way how he analyses each match ending move just before he excutes it. COOL! hahaa. Rachel McAdams plays somewhat a nemesis and love interest of holmes. Somehow I just did not like McAdams, it's just me, wanting to slap her no matter what. So what ever comment I have about her is simply... Biased.

Jude Law playing Watson was really a apt, he successfully portrays the cynic in everything holmes does. And yet somehow ends up being the bitch who totally listens to holmes and led on by him. HAH!!

entertaining is what this movie is, however the ending is somewhat... "what!!?? I have to wait for Sherlock Holmes 2!!??"

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 7 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 7 out of 10
Overall: 7 out of 10

Official Website

Pictures

Bodyguards & Assasins

Watched @ Cineleisure lvl 4

All star cast in this movie about 1 significant event in the revolutionary years of China. Bodyguards here are people who protect Sun Yat Sen in his crucial trip to Hong Kong to meet and liase with fellow revolutionaries. Interesting to know is that even though the bodyguards in this movie were almost wiped out, close to none actually knew who they were suppose to protect, nor why. They just did it.

It's pretty much based on historical events, not sure if the names and background behind each character is accurate, but it fulfills the purpose of bring forward the images of the unsung heroes in the long journey of China's revolution.

Oh, it also shows be it on purpose, how utterly useless and brainless the ailing qing dynasty was at that point in time.

However, I do find some of the protection strategy they were using were seriously DUMB!!!!! I would have totally done it in a different way.

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 7 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 6 out of 10
Overall: 6.5 out of 10

Pictures

Avatar (3D)

Watched @ GV Grand

This movie has generated SO MUCH HYPED, it's impossible to even try to miss it. James Cameron has once again served up a movie blockbuster. Like he said in some many of those interviews on TV, it's really so difficult to come up with something new in movies. Harder still to come up with something new and AWESOME!!

The plot of Avatar is actually quite simple, humans found life on another planet and also some very valuable minerals which they wanna harvest. The only thing stopping them are the natives, the Na'vi and they are tough nuts to crack. So they go to war, and the ultimate weapon for humans are a band of genetically engineered Na'vi bodies (avatars) which can be remotely controlled by humans.

Well as with all things genetically engineered, they go wrong. But in this case, it went wrong for a good cause. The avatar pilots changed sides, as they grew close to the na'vi, and found a greater cause to fight besides for $$$!!

Action and effects wise, there's really nothing better. It's state of the art and the scenaries created in the movie are simply WOAH!! This is a movie that MUSt be watched in 3D, and an advice when watching 3D, the best seats are in front!!

My favourite part of the movie, the plug&play tails of the Na'vi tribe. Also love the way nature interacts with the Na'vi. It kindda reminds me of Final Fantasy 7, energy of life never dies, it gets recycled into the life stream which supports the world and new life.

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 8 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 10 out of 10
Overall: 9 out of 10

Official Website

Pictures

Lesbian Vampire Killers

Watched @ PPStream

Basically this show is so BAD!! so bad, the lesbians are pretty much the only watchable thing the whole movie. I think UK movies have big issues with comedy, they just cant do it. The only comedy they come up with nowadays are C-rate movies like this one. Shitty, the plot is really really lousy, except for a few lame laughs there's not much to it. Oh btw, this movie features one of the WEAKEST vampires ever to hit the screen. Perhaps even the zombies in zombieland were harder to kill.

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 3 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 4 out of 10
Overall: 4 out of 10

Pictures

Post Exams

I'm letting myself rot and relax after my "final" endevours in NUS. There's still 1 more task, but i'm delaying on that, still got time.. I think... there's really quite alot of things available for me to do. first of which i;m already doing is to overload myself with entertainment. catch up on movies, PPS, even storybooks!! heh..

today, i spent most of the day trying to get facebook to work. somehow it died on me, just refuse to load. dunno if it's user issue. lonely day actually, no one at home but me, yanli's gone to bintan for office stuff. family's in aussie holidaying. i'm watching the fort. :P

Time to go read!! hehee.. that's so not ME!! hehee..

Zombieland

Watched @ Cineleisure lvl 4

Pure zombie entertainment. The show is kindda like a narration of a survival of a few people in the US which has been totally zombified. The actors in this film are actually A-listers, not the kind you would find in a usually B-rate film. I guess they made the flim really enjoyable and watchable. But first I have to say, zombies are totally not scary, they are grossed but not scary, just imagine semi-paralysed and senile. HAHAHA!!

It even shows Bill Murray as himself in the movie, what a joke!! This movie had us laughing from start till the end. Especially with the lame "rules" in order to stay alive. Think about "seatbelts" & "sunscreen" lame shit!!

Pure entertainment, nothing else to it, it's not there to make sense. Just for laughs and a few shock moments. Good watch for stress relieve.

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 5 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 6 out of 10
Overall: 6 out of 10

Favourite Lines:
Little Rock: Who's Bill Murray?
Tallahassee: ...I've never hit a kid before... I mean, that's like asking who Gandhi is.
Little Rock: Who's Gandhi?

Official Website

Pictures

Twilight - New Moon

Watched @ The Grand Cathay

This is 2nd episode to the twilight saga. have not read the book but perhaps like harry potter, watch and not read is probably advisable. twilight 1 is really captivating, new way which the vampire story is told, really attracted the curiosity of movie goers. twilight 2, is not that new anymore, it's a continuation of the storyline.

the werewolf part of the story shld really be the core of this movie. from what i hear about the readers of the book, the bulk of the story should be about the love story of bella and jacob. That was not seen in the movie, sadly it's more about bella going freaky about losing edward and going unscrupulous to see him no matter wat.

But it is still not a bad movie, I still like it and i'm looking forward to the next 2 installments of the series.... i'm quite surprised that dakota fanning was in the movie, TOTALLY did not notice her there.. hahaa...

Oh and I really like Alice!! She is attractive beyond bella...

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 7 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 7 out of 10
Overall: 7 out of 10

Favourite Lines:
Alice Cullen: Bella, what is that God awful wet dog smell?
Bella Swan: Um... That's probably me. I've... It's Jacob.
Alice Cullen: Jacob who?
Bella Swan: Jacob's kind of a werewolf.
Alice Cullen: Ugh! Bella! Werewolf's are not good company to keep!
Jacob Black: Speak for yourself...
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Bella Swan: Alice, you are coming back right?
Alice Cullen: Yes, as soon as you let the dog out.

Official Website

Pictures

Finally it's OVER!!

At 11am this morning. I officially completed my last examination in NUS, my FYP presentation. It went quite smoothly, I believe I managed to convince my examiner that I've done loads of work for this project. Well the truth is I only put in moderate work and my report is ultra SHORT!! Somehow people gets the impression I've done alot, not that i'm complaining, maybe moderate to me is alot to others (oh how I hope that's true!!).

The main comments I got for my project is, what's the purpose of my findings, or rather what can it be used for. Due to the ultra focus'd topic which I chose, the purpose is one and simple. Although it does sounds unimpressive in the end, that's the truth of the project, 1 simple purpose drives 1 simple project. what more can I say?? The only thing I said was, given the topic I only have a simple aim, to gain a great profit, i'll have to widen my scope take in much more data and need much much more time. hahaa, I think they bought it. hehe.

Conclusion, I think I made a sales pitch today more than an engine presentation. Wat's left for me is to touch up on my final report and bulk it up more for my final hard cover bounded submission.

BYE BYE NUS (assuming I passed my exams, :P)

Exam Blues

2 papers down, and once again, they feel totally like lost causes. well, u know what? I'm not really complaining. Cos i know how much effort I've been putting into these last hours. I think I see a tendency in myself to start things really well and just lose steam along the way.

1 final paper on monday and FYP presentation on Wed. And that's the END!!!

I tried to pop into Sitex just now. TOO CROWDED!! it's 4pm, dun anyone need to work??? duhzZ...

Final days of Uni ! ?

2 more hrs to NVC final presentation
1 more day to FYP final draft
10 days to 1st exam paper
20 days to FYP final presentation
30 Dec, final action for NUS (thesis hardbound submission)

And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way"

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

2012

Watched @ Cineleisure Lvl 6

Disaster movie, a very long one as well. But it was 2.5hrs of good movie in my eyes. I like the way they planned out the whole plot, it's pretty waterproof for the most parts. Except for the magical ways how the leads somehow get out of ridiculously tight situations.

Pay attention to where the remainder of the world population decides to move to. Notice that continent is somehow not included in the prior plannings of the great excape. WHAT AN IRONY!! hahaa.. but that's life.. I liked that..

Spikefire ratings:
Story & Plot: 8 out of 10
Audio & Visual: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8 out of 10

Favourite Lines:
Jackson Curtis: When they tell you not to panic... that's when you run!

Official Website

Pictures