Shoot Em Up

Another movie review. Recently too bored, nothing to do, can only watch movies.

Yesterday I went to PS with Lock and Sumi. So long never see Sumi I thought he has disappeared. A few days ago, he found me on Friendster so I asked him out. Sumi didn't change, he still talk like before and is also as crappy as Lock. Like what Lock said, it is good to know that some things never change.

Lock asked me what kind of movie I want to watch. I told him anything but romance. I hate romance movies cuz it's all bullshit.

So Lock told me that 'Shoot Em Up' is a comedy and we decided to watch that.

In the end, the movie turned out to be an action film with quite alot of sick gory scenes and shootings and explosions. It was not exactly a comedy but it was an OK movie. Entertaining while it lasted.

After the show, Lock and Sumi insisted that it was a comedy and they thought some of the scenes were funny.

Yah right, I think it was funny only to them cuz they are both sickos.

Battle Royale

Miko Movie Recommendation

I remembered seeing this movie when I was in Poly but I don't remember where I have seen it or who I have seen it with. This movie, however, left a very deep impression in me.

It is a Japanese movie and I think the Japs have got really sick ideas sometimes. The plot of the movie is very original.

A class of 42 students was selected by the BR (Battle Royale) organisation to go through a survival game on a deserted island. They were each given a necklace, some food and a random weapon for the next 3 days on this island. They must then start killing each other and there will only be 1 survivor. At the end of 3 days, if there are more than 1 person alive, the necklace will explode and everyone will die.

Sick right? The students then started killing each other. They didn't know who is a friend or who is a foe anymore. Some friends decided to stick together but because of some misunderstanding they ended up killing each other. Some students cannot take the stress and killed themselves.

You will need some creativity here to kill 42 students to prevent the audience from falling asleep when watching the movie.

The movie is quite sadistic and gory. It is the kind of movie that May likes so I recommended her to watch. Unfortunately, I found out that this movie is actually banned in Singapore because of the violence. Too bad, either you get the pirated VCD or you watch online.

Bored once again

Super boring, super nothing to do. Actually got things to do lah, just that I don't feel like doing.

I have bought books lining up for me to read but I haven't touched them. I have bought opera VCDs lining up for me to watch them but I don't feel like watching. I have got work piling up for me to do but I don't feel like doing. Very jia lat right?

Yah, so sian. So unmotivated to do anything, no energy to do anything.

Think I got hypersomnia. I keep thinking of sleeping only.

Recently I have had lousy dreams too. Lousy dreams made me tired in the morning like I haven't slept at all. So I am still tired, so I still feel like sleeping.

Haiz.. boring days.

YH also as bored as me. Everyday she will sms me that she is sian and bored and pek cek. Well.. me too but there is nothing we can do about it.

Seven Swords

I can't believe it that I slept until 5pm yesterday. Maybe I am going to die from all that sleeping. On saturday, the performance ended at 10+ and as usual, the whole troupe went to Hougang for supper and for a short post-performance discussion. And as usual, Ang will scold those who make ridiculous mistakes in the show.

However, I think Ang is in a not so bad mood as she still can scold and laugh at the same time. I remained quiet during the supper. Too tired and sian to contribute to the discussion. Ang did state clearly that this will be the last time YL do dan. Think she wasn't too statisfied with YL's performance.

Then that night I slept at 2am.. and woke up the next day at 5pm! That was a record for me. My father said that I was very scary. Can sleep till 5pm like no day no night. Heck.. Then I woke up at eat my 'supposed-to-be-lunch' as dinner.

While eating my breakfast cum lunch cum dinner, I was watching Seven Swords online. The show is quite nice lor, unlike what my friends told me. They told me it's not good and I shouldn't see it when it was screening in the cinemas.

It couldn't be that bad if it's directed by Tsui Hark right.

I still think that the plot is quite interesting. The seven swordsmen were cool and their swords were pretty too. However, I think the colour scheme is too dull. All greyish and yellowish. I prefer to see a more colourful production like 'Hero'.

After watching 'Seven Swords', I went to Punggol Park to meet May and YH to la kopi. As usual, we talked about esplanade's service and the professionalism. Then we talked about how the people fared in the show.. and gossip abit here and there..

Tired.. super tired still. I think I can sleep on and on if no one wakes me up.

Metropolitan Opera

I went to see this Metropolitan opera at Vivo city cinema yesterday named 'The First Emperor'.

I tried to jio some friends to go watch with me, YH and Lock. Didn't jio May because I think she is not interested.

In the end, both friends not interested so I jio CS. CS is interested in EVERYTHING so he agreed and we met up for dinner prior the show.

It was my first time watching western opera and I was curious. CS on the other hand has watched plenty of different opera types so English opera is not new to him. I anticipated that this show will be good cuz it incoprorated some Pekin opera elements in it and is directed by Zhang Yi Mou.

The show started with Tan Dun, the composer, conducting the orchestra. He is cute~ The way he conducted the orchestra is cute.

Qin Shi Huang was acted by Placido Domingo. I don't know him but he seems to be a very famous english opera singer.

Wu Hsing Kuo, the famous and leading Taiwanese dancer cum pekin opera actor, took part in the show as the yin-yang master. He is good I think. Scene 1 opened with Wu Hsing Kuo doing some traditional opera movements. He has got good foundation for Pekin opera and his movements were swift and steady. He is the only person in the whole show that spoke but he spoke in pekin opera style. If there's a chance, I would like to see some of his productions.

As I am a lazy bum, I will copy the story of 'The First Emperor' off the net.

ACT I: SCENE 1. The Yin-Yang Master (Wu hsing kuo) performs sacrificial rites and traditional chants in the presence of the imperial court. The Emperor is displeased: he dislikes intensely the ancient music of his country and seeks an anthem that would aptly glorify his mighty and powerful empire. He wants his childhood friend, composer Gao Jianli, known as the Shadow and the Sage of Music, to compose this anthem.

Knowing that Jianli resides in Yan, one of the states that remains to be conquered, he changes his war plans and sends his General to defeat Yan so that Jianli may be brought quickly to him. The Emperor also promises the General he can marry his crippled daughter, Princess Yueyang, if he returns victorious. As the people clamor for battle, the Shaman warns of the destruction of war.

SCENE 2. Although China is unified, chaos remains. The Emperor discusses his severe plans for strengthening his rule with the Chief Minister. The General announces that Jianli has been captured, and the Emperor orders him brought in. The Emperor greets him as a brother, and his affection for such a broken slave surprises Princess Yueyang.

Jianli responds with hatred, blaming the Emperor for the destruction of his village and the violent death of his mother — he would rather cut off his own tongue than call the ruler “brother.” The Emperor explains that sacrifices must be made to unify the country and achieve a lasting peace, and reminds Jianli of his promise to compose an anthem for the empire. Jianli declares he would sooner die than compose the anthem. Princess Yueyang’s admiration for Jianli grows.

SCENE 3. Princess Yueyang strikes a deal with her father: if she succeeds in convincing Jianli to live and compose the music, she will own him. Emperor Qin agrees. Princess Yueyang tries various methods to persuade Jianli to eat, without success. Finally, she feeds him from her own mouth, and Jianli finds his heart stirred.

The couple makes love passionately, and Princess Yueyang miraculously regains the use of her legs. Emperor Qin is overjoyed to see her walk, but soon becomes enraged when he understands the source of her cure. The Emperor wants to kill Jianli for violating Yueyang, but holds back because he wants him to write the anthem.

ACT II: SCENE 1. Deeply in love, Jianli gives Princess Yueyang a music lesson. He pauses to listen to the slaves’ chorus as they build the Great Wall and is deeply moved. The singers are interrupted by Emperor Qin, who insists that his daughter honor her marriage to the General. She threatens suicide.

The Emperor then appeals to Jianli to give her up — temporarily. He is confident that the General will perish soon in battle, at which point Princess Yueyang could return to Jianli. The composer agrees to wait and to finish the anthem. The Emperor asks to hear the melody but Jianli refuses.
SCENE 2. The court attends the imperial inauguration. Approaching his throne, the Emperor meets the Shaman, who gives him misleading and confusing information. Next he encounters the ghost of Yueyang, who tells him that she committed suicide because she was unable to sacrifice her love for the sake of the country. Wracked with grief, the Emperor continues climbing.

He is again interrupted, this time by the ghost of the General, who asserts that Jianli poisoned him; the ghost warns the Emperor of Jianli’s plans for vengeance. The Emperor continues toward the throne.

Suddenly, Jianli bursts down from the summit. He doesn’t want to live without Yueyang. Grief-stricken and crazed, he bites off his own tongue and spits it at the Emperor. The Emperor lunges at Jianli with his sword, sparing him a slow and painful death. He finally reaches the throne and for the first time hears the anthem — it is the slaves’ song. The Emperor is shocked and realizes that this is Jianli’s ultimate revenge.

That's the story. Is it touching? Ok la.

I realised that there are no dialogues in English opera. It's very weird to sing all the way from beginning to the end. There was no break and hence it made me very tired, made my ears tired.

Balls of Fury

Yesterday Lock jio me to watch Balls of Fury. He warned me beforehand that it's a stupid show but I went anyway because I didn't feel like going to COI.

Indeed, it was a very stupid show and stupid shows can make me stupid. There is no plot and some of the jokes are pretty lame. The unbelievable part is, there were actually quite a lot of audiences and it was shown in the biggest theatre in Cathay.

I told Lock that he can make a much movie than this if he combine powers with Henry.

In the end, Lock admitted that he wanted to see the show because Maggie Q was starring in it.

I knew it. There must be some reason. I think Chuck and Larry will be a better show than Balls of Fury.

After the show we were chit chatting and I told Lock about Henry's original idea for a new opera script.

Henry was bored one day and we were chatting on MSN. He told me that maybe I can act a new version of Liang Zhu. I was sure that he was going to tell me something very crappy.

Why not do.. Zhu Ying Tai VS Sun Wu Kong?

Erm.. like how?

Like Zhu Ying Tai fight with Sun Wu Kong and she threw butterflies at him?

Erm.. That is stupid. Why did Zhu Ying Tai want to fight Sun Wu Kong?

Cuz Zhu Ying Tai was a butterfly spirit.



Lock told me that it is good to know that somethings remain unchanged cuz Henry is still as crappy as ever. Ya, it's good to know that Henry is still alive somewhere else and he is still the same old Henry. I kind of miss hin. I miss those days in Poly. So carefree and fun.

Life sucks now.

The 7 wonders of the world

This topic came from our kopitiam talk yday. We, the 3 musketeers were at the kopitiam talking nonsense until like 11:30pm yday. I was supposed to go Yishun to get a costume from May so that I can wear tomorrow. Then after that we went to this ulu yishun kopitiam to la kopi.

This was the second time that YH ask me what are the 7 wonders.

So I told her there are 2 sets of 7 wonders, the old one and the new one.

The old 7 Wonders

This earliest version of the 7 wonders was compiled in the 2nd century BC by Antipater of Sidon.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

One of the ancient 7 wonders is the Great Pyramid of Giza. There are 3 very prominent pyramids at Giza and they are the only survivors among the old 7 wonders. They were thought to have been built between 2589 - 2566 BC

Compare the pyramid to the man at the bottom! Can you see the man?

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was believed to be built around 600BC by Nebuchadnezzar II . Babylon is the present day Iraq.

The Hanging Gardens are extensively documented by Greek historians such as Strabo and Diodorus Siculus, but otherwise there is little evidence for their existence. In fact, there are no Babylonian records of any such gardens having existed.

According to accounts, the gardens were built to cheer up Nebuchadnezzar's homesick wife, Amyitis. Amyitis, daughter of the king of the Medes, was married to Nebuchadnezzar to create an alliance between the nations. The land she came from, though, was green, rugged and mountainous, and she found the flat, sun-baked terrain of the Mesopotamia (a region of southwest Asia) depressing. The king decided to recreate her homeland by building an artificial mountain with rooftop gardens.

The Hanging Gardens probably did not really "hang" in the sense of being suspended from cables or ropes. The name comes from an inexact translation of the Greek word kremastos or the Latin word pensilis, which means not just "hanging² but "overhanging," as in the case of a terrace or balcony.

Temple of Artemis

This was a Greek temple dedicated to Artemis completed around 550 BC at Ephesus (in present-day Turkey) under the Achaemenid dynasty of the Persian Empire.

The Temple was designed and constructed around 550 BC by the Cretan architect Chersiphron and his son Metagenes. This early construction was built at the expense of Croesus, the wealthy king of Lydia. Marshy ground was selected for the building site as a precaution against future earthquakes, according to Pliny the Elder.

The temple of Artemis at Ephesus was destroyed on July 21, 356 BC in an act of arson committed by Herostratus.

The site of the temple was rediscovered in 1869 by an expedition sponsored by the British Museum, and while several artifacts and sculptures from the reconstructed temple can be seen there today, as for the original site, only a single column remains from the temple itself.

The graphical image of the temple of Artemis.

The only column left from the Temple of Artemis. The rest was destroyed.

Statue of Zeus
The very classic wonder. It was carved by the famed Classical sculptor Phidias (5th century BC) circa 435 BC in Olympia, Greece.

Zeus was carved from ivory (technically the ivory was soaked in a liquid that made it softer, so it was probably both carved and shaped as necessary) then covered with gold plating (thus chryselephantine) and was seated on a magnificent throne of cedarwood, inlaid with ivory, gold, ebony, and precious stones.

The circumstances of its eventual destruction are a source of debate: some scholars argue that it perished with the temple in the 5th century AD, others argue that it was carried off to Constantinople, where it was destroyed in the great fire of the Lauseion.


Mausoleum of Maussollos

The Mausoleum of Maussollos was a tomb built between 353-350 BC at Halicarnassus (present Bodrum, Turkey), for Mausolus a provincial king in the Persian Empire, and Artemisia, his wife and sister.

Mausolus Artemisia spent their huge amount of tax money on beautifying the city. They bought statues, temples, and buildings of gleaming marble. In the center of the city Mausolus planned to place a resting place for his body after he was dead. It would be a tomb that would forever show how rich he and his queen were.

In 353 BC Mausolus died, leaving Artemisia broken-hearted. (It was the custom in Caria for rulers to marry their own sisters. One reason for these marriages might have been that it kept the power and wealth in the family.) As a tribute to him, she decided to build him the most splendid tomb in the known world. It became a structure so famous that Mausolus' name is now associated with all stately tombs through our modern word mausoleum.

Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes was a giant statue of the god Helios, erected on the Greek island of Rhodes by Chares of Lindos between 292 BC and 280 BC. It was roughly the same size as the Statue of Liberty in New York, although it stood on a lower platform. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The statue stood for only 56 years until Rhodes was hit by an earthquake in 224 BC. The statue snapped at the knees and fell over onto the land. Ptolemy III offered to pay for the reconstruction of the statue, but an oracle made the Rhodians afraid that they offended Helios, and they declined to rebuild it. The remains lay on the ground for over 800 years, and even broken, they were so impressive that many travelled to see them.


Pharos of Alexandria

The Pharos of Alexandria was a lighthouse built in the 3rd century BC on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt to serve as that port's landmark, and later, a lighthouse.

With a height variously estimated at between 115 and 135 metres (383 - 440 ft) it was among the tallest man-made structures on Earth for many centuries, and was identified as one of the Seven Wonders of the World by Antipater of Sidon.

It ceased operating and was largely destroyed as a result of two earthquakes in the 14th century AD; some of its remains were found on the floor of Alexandria's Eastern Harbour by divers in 1994.

A funny clip

I came across this stupid clip about PC VS MAC. So funny and stupid! Hahaha... I didn't luff for a long time and the clip made me laugh. Share it with your guys.



The americans are so funny when it comes to silly things like this. They can make fun of anything and everything! My god... I will search for more and post up ;D

Birthday wishes

Birthday wishes from all my friends....

1) MD 12.09am - Did you hear what I said? No? I said Happy Birthday! (The first person to msg me)

2) Lock 1.55am - Let me tell you a secret. Ur growing old! Ur face will soon dissolve into a repulsive mass of wrinkles! Happy Birthday, btw. :) (Lock always msg me weird things on my bday!)

3) LJ 2.01am - 生日快樂！祝你天天開心。永遠漂亮。年年又今日，嵗嵗有今朝！笑口常開哦！

3) Zhenyin 8.23am - Yo, Happy birthday to you =! =!

4) James 9.26am - 美麗育英小姐！祝你生日快樂！做工開心！笑口大大！(What is xiao kou da da?? Hahaha.. )

5) Da Li Qing 11.18am - 生日快樂！Happy Birthday! (surprised she remembered!)

6) Father 11.28am - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! u are now 27 years old! OMG! (My father thought I am 27. What the hell?)

7) Gina 12.50am - Happy Birthday!

8) Fongleng 3.58pm - Miko靚女，生日快樂！祝你天天充滿著驚喜，歡樂！

9) Francis 04.07pm - Hello Nicole! 'Happy Birthday to u'! May all your every wishes come true. But dun be so greedy, a few wishes can come true enough liao, ok! Enjoy your day :-) (This person didn't even know how to spell my name?

10) Andy - Happy to you my friend!

Dun be mistaken that May and YH never sms me.. They did but I can't find the msg leh... Dunno if I have deleted them accidentally. Haiz.. recently can't concentrate on anything. I dunno what I am doing sometimes too so.... paiseh la... May and YH. There are some other birthday which I accidentally deleted cuz my hp msg full le....

This year I got a very important birthday wish and I hope my wish will come true. Normally I don't take birthday wish seriously cuz there is nothing I would like to wish for particularly. Haiz.. Sianz..

Grasshoppers

The first time I idolise anyone was the Grasshoppers. You know who are the grasshoppers? You cannot dunno lor cuz they were the best singing group for many years until some dunno what ikan bili group took over and they went into acting.

They are the 3 grasshoppers! I remember that I was in primary school when I idolised them. I love their songs. They have this very famous song, Shi Lian. Everyday I go home after school, I will play the CD and started singing and dancing around like the way they dance in the MTVs. My father like their songs too so he had a CD in his car. Everytime when we go out during sundays, I will listen to their songs in the car. I know nothing about going after idols at that time. I just know that I like to listen to their songs and sing along with them.

I remember that I told my father if grasshoppers ever come to SG for concert, I will want to watch and he has to sponsor me. He said ok. A few months ago they had a concert in SG. I crave to go see them!!! Finally after so long, my wish is fulfiled but unfortunately, that exact same day I was not in SG or I got performance. I dunno which one. So in the end I never go to see the concert. So sad.... They are already quite old and they won't open another concert any time soon. I think the last time they had one was about 10 years ago.

So in the end, I bought the dvd.

This was the DVD I bought a few days ago. Lovely cover isnt it? So I watched the DVD happily at home and recaptured my childhood. Singing along those ever so familiar tunes and dancing away.

Haiz... my childhood was quite happy I think. Everyday happily singing and dancing.. when not doing homework. My idol was the grasshoppers.. my first idol. They sing well.. they can compose their own songs, choreograph their own dance and they dance well! Yay! I hope one day I can get to see their concert... ! :(

Sometimes I do think the grasshoppers are a bit extreme tho.. always doing some weird stuff or challenging some extremes, always do weird zao xing.. even dressing up as women.. abit extreme... but.. I still like their songs. haha. Many ppl criticise them for being old and singing those old fashion old songs... and they too extreme etc...

but..

WHO CARES?

Their concert got a full house lor.. so heck those stupid few ppl who criticise. Hahaha...