Finding Neverland - Where Everything is Possible when You Believe

Finding Neverland is a show of how the play Peter Pan came to be. Well, it was 'inspired by true events' so I presumed that the script writer had a little leeway on how he wanted to present it.

The show begins with the opening night of a play by Mr Barrie, but it was not exactly a success and the critics did not take too kindly to it. Searching for inspiration, he strolls to the Kensington Park with his St. Bernard where he meets a widow, Ms Llewelyn Davis and her 4 boys and befriends them.

Together, Barrie and the 4 boys created fantasy worlds of Pirates, Indians and Kings out of their daily activites. He kept notes of the activities they had and soon a play began to take shape. As the play on the paper translated into rehearsals, the actors and his sponsor were skeptical and wondered what he was up to. Then came the ultimate request: 25 seats around the theatre are to kept empty. The Sponsor was baffled. But of course, there was a plan, and those empty seats were integral to the play's resounding opening night.

I won't re-tell the whole story in this blog. What I must say is that Johnny Depp did a very good job of protraying the playwright. The acting was top notch, especially the 4 boys' and the storyline was engaging.

Anytime better than Elektra (duh!). A must show to catch. But a word of warning, if you need hot chicks and action to keep you engaged, this may not be your cup of tea. If you can enjoy Aviator and The Pianist, then you might want to swing by this show.

Elektra - A Movie You Recommend to Your Enemies

I've decided to make my blogging activities more meaningful.

As some of you know, I watch a lot of movies. If you didn't know, I'm telling for a fact that I do. A fortnight without a movie puts me into withdrawal symptoms. A month without a movie... hmm, let's just say I can't remember that happening for a long long time

So, maybe I shall start off a mini series of reviews of movies that I watch. Firstly, it should help crystalise my thoughts on the shows for future records (like anyone would want to know) and also, to warn others of shows that they should avoid like the plague. This should be more useful than the first reason *lol*

Elektra.

As you can guess from the title of the blog, it's not exactly a show that impressed me much.

Though Jennifer Garner did live up to her reputation of good looks, but sometimes when the script is bad, it'll take more than good looks to salvage the situation.

The soundtrack of the movie is quite good also. Somewhat reminds me of 'Hero' from the Spiderman Movie.

The tattoo-ed guy was awesome, especially the scenes where the animals manifest from his body to act as his spies or killing mahcines.

The CGI effects were passable, at least they didn't look imposed on the screen and if you weren't thinking, they could pass for real.

The fight choreography was just downright dumb. The bad guy was basically kicking Elektra's butt and then succumbs to a simple move by Elektra. Not exactly real. And the sequences were just... normal.

Plot... what plot? 'nuff said.

So that's Elektra for you. Pardon my pitiful attempt at a movie review. Perhaps after more practice, I'll get better at this ;)

P.S. if you had watched Elektra already, my deepest condolences to you

Musings

Tonight's Service was pretty interesting.

There was an announcement that after CNY, the SP was going to commence a series of messages entitled 'Our Lord of the Rings'. They generally revolve around the issue of marriage like how to start, how to maintain, what to avoid and how-to-live-happily-ever-after. I thought to myself, that's good timing. Probably all the singles would have been bugged to death over their status when visiting relatives that at least some would come to church to find the answers. Excellent idea. Then I thought, do I really want to listen to this? I am somewhat adverse to this topic. Product of bad experience resulting in a healthy (unhealthy rather) degree of cynicism. Plus the landscape seems rather empty of girls that I can click with (perhaps none of them want to click with me to start with resulting in this perception *lol*), therefore leading more skepticism on this issue.

Now onto the sermon. Interestingly, it's on Lamentations 3:22-23 and there was this point about God's neverending steadfast love and mercy which are new every morning. The speaker went on to elaborate that we should let old baggages go and start on a clean slate and realise the full benefit and potential of His gift. It stuck me. Maybe it's pretty obvious on hindsight but I thought it was a revelation. I really ought to let it all go, the bad experience, the trauma, the fear, the missteps and the regrets. Retain the lessons but let everything else go. Somehow, somewhere, I'd suppose that I never did let everything go. I've been running away from this issue and its peripherals , never really facing it upfront and dealing with them all. Oh well, guess the buck stops here and I'll just have to get rid of the excess weight. Maybe sell them to the karang guni man, may as well make a profit of this affair. Riiiggghhhttt... that's a pretty cold joke.

Now about the series of messages? Let's just say I'll see how many relatives bug me with singlehood and I'll decide whether to go or not ;)

Business as Usual

Soton 2 Pool 0

Yup that was the scoreline at halftime and the scoreline at fulltime. After the mid-week defeat to Burnsley in the FA Cup, Pool have conspired to crash to another defeat in the EPL. Granted they lost both games away but WHEN YOU ARE CLUB WITH AN ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY LIKE POOL, THERE IS NO EXCUSE!!!!! YOU DO NOT LOSE TO SUCH TEAMS UNDER SUCH HORRIGIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES!!!!!

Ahh... feeling much better already *wide smile*

Home is Where the Heart is

Home Again.
Yes, the real home where I spent 17 years of my life before I left to stay in Singapore. Had half a mind to spend Friday and Saturday back home. So when some friends wanted to visit JB on the same period, I thought why not? I'll just tag along, show them around and go back home after that.
So... morning found 4 of us making our way to contribute to the economy of JB and take advantage of the favourable exchange rate. Well, we had a good time. Hung around, talked a little, ate a lot and basically had a good time. Tampoi Fish was as good as ever. Roads were as pot-holed (spelling?) and driving was a challenge ;)
Tomorrow, going back in to Singapore to test drive some cars. Mom's getting a new one, pity it's for her and not for me *lol* But still, should be some fun.
Cheerios and Happy Holidays to all!

Liverpool 0 Man Utd 1

Man Utd deserved to win and Liverpool deserved to lose

Now for the record, I'm a Liverpool fan and I've been supporting them since 1989. That's a long time back actually. But last Saturday's performance was really testing my loyalty big time.

So back to the match... Man Utd were just the better team! Their passes were better, their movement was better and they were just more inventive! Pool? They huffed and they puffed and they peng san-ed from angina (cheem word for heart attack). They couldn't string 3 passes together, their final ball was lacking and worst of all, their most threatening shot came from a defender! Jamie Carragher! *pengz* Of all the people in the world, Jamie Carragher had the best shot! Not Baros, not Morientes or even Gerrard. That's the state of the team that ruled the 70s and 80s. I told Singapore played better during the Tiger Cup Finals the following day.

Haiz, right. Got this load of exasperation off my chest. They jolly well take a good look at themselves, their tactics, their commitment and start living up to the name.

Something I Wish I Knew Earlier

Something that I should have taken seriously.
Something that I should have known.
Though old fashioned it might sound.

Wonder if it's going to be a mistake posting it here... well here goes

>>>
Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing
Ever made by the Hand above?
A woman's heart, and a woman's life -
And a woman's wonderful love

Doyou know you have asked for this priceless thing
As a child might ask for a toy?
Demanding what others have died to win,
With a reckless dash of a boy.

You have written my lesson of duty out,
Manlike, you have questioned me.
Now stand at the bars of my woman's soul
Until I shall question thee.

You require your mutton shall always be hot,
Your socks and your shirt be whole;
I require your heart be true as God's stars
And as pure as His heaven your soul.

You require a cook for your mutton and beef,
I require a far greater thingl
A seamstress you're wanting for socks and shirts -
I look for a man and a king.

A king for the beautiful realm called Home,
And a man that his Maker, God,
Shall look upon as He did on the first
And say: "It is very good."

I am fair and young, but the rose may fade
From this soft young cheek one day;
Will you love me then 'mid the falling leaves,
As you did 'mong the blossoms of May?

Is your heart an ocean so strong and true,
I may launch my all on its tide?
A loving woman finds heaven or hell
On the day she is made a bride.

I require all things that are grand and true,
All things that a man should be;
If you give this all, I would stake my life
To be all you demand of me.

If you cannot be this, a laundress and cook
You can hire and little to pay;
But a woman's heart and a woman's life
Are not to be won that way

A Woman's Question by Lena Lathrop
>>>

Indonesia 1 Singapore 3

Yup. That's the final score. Singapore beat Indonesia 3 goals to 1. Believe it, it happened...

Watched the match live with a group of friends at Marine Parade, the sentiment on the ground was that Indonesia's going to win. Even when Singapore took the lead in the 2nd min (deflected shot), we thought that it would be temporary. And we thought we were going to be right. Indonesia were just *fast*. Pass and move, pass and move, one-two plays. It surely was going to be a matter of time before they carved up Singapore's defence. They had 2 good chances, one hitting the woodwork before spinning out, the other denied by a brave block at the edge of the box by the Singapore keeper. 'That's it, at the rate the Indonesians are going, it might be 1,000,000 - 1 at full time'

But no... Singapore scored again in the 36th min. The Indonesian keeper made a good save from a shot, but the rebound went to a Singaporean player who tucked the shot into the net. I was flabbergasted. Wait, the whole group of us were like 'what? 0-2? What the?' Nice to know that we thought 'highly' of the national team.

In the 2nd half, an Indonesian player got sent off. The funny thing was that before he got the marching orders, a Singapore player was all over him. Pulling his jersey, his shorts and got a piece of his socks too, then there was a punch. *bish* Early shower, tataz.

So... 11 vs 10. Looking for Singapore. We were beginning to believe that perhaps, just maybe Singapore could get something out of this match. Then it became 0-3. 0-3??? Never in our mind we thought we could see this scoreline for this match. Finally in the last min, Indonesia pulled one back via a deflected shot. 1-3. And all of us went 'that's it. Singapore is going to have a tough fight in the 2nd leg a week later'.

Funny, in any other context, a 1-3 advantage to take back home would be a good result. But somehow we acted as though it's the end. Defeat, kaput, finished. Bye bye Singapore. Is that how we viewed the team? Inconsistent in performance? Prone to overconfidence? Or is it a symptom of a deeper malice that's in the Singaporean mentality if not Chinese culture?

Sigh, so much for a relaxing weekend

Irrelevant Topic

HAPPY 2005!!! Thought this would be the first fitting words that I'll say on my first blog of 2005

Now, on to the irrelevant topic =)

About a week ago, was watching Ocean 12 with my colleagues, some movie event organised by the staff welfare committee. $1.50 at Suntec. I thought why not? $1.50, even if the movie sucks (it didn't suck but I thought Ocean 11 was better), it shouldn't be a big waste. So Tuesday found my friend and I at Suntec waiting for the show to start.

My friend wasn't feeling exactly sociable at that time so I left on my own interacting with the colleagues and their guest. It so turns out that everyone brought a member of the opposite sex as their guest, be it their spouse or *significant* other. And me? I brought a fellow guy friend! So that got me wondering...

1. Don't bring a member of the opposite sex during this kind of event, unless you don't mind the countless questions on whether she's your girlfriend.

2. If as a guy, you bring another guy friend along, make sure the whole world knows that you're a typical male with carnal desires of the normal kind. After all, you won't want to find invitations to certain events that you simply do not want to go... you get my drift.

3. Pls, don't watch a movie with your significant other! The time out for both of you is the time where you interact and get to know each other better. That means communicating, talking, bonding, etc. Movie-watching is anti-social and besides, it's rude to talk in the cinema when everyone else is concentrating on the show. Making-out in the back row doesn't count too.

Sigh, movie watching with colleagues can be just so enlightening