Sinking of Japan

Wow!

A natural disaster that I had wanted to watch with the Machas. My second Asian movie in cinema after "The Host". Wish I could see "Tin Mine" but I guess I'll wait for the DVD to come out or its already out (heard it was release in Thailand 1 1/2 years ago).

It was quite an interesting movie to begin with. Imagine the island of Japan sinking. How would you respond? How would the world respond?

The explanation behind the sinking did bring back memories of my Geography classes back in school days where we learn the different layers on earth. The collision of two crates would cause a progressive pull by the earth gravity below, causing the land whereby Japan stands to be pulled down and the sea water to swallow the low lying lands. The changes in the earth movement would cause earthquakes to happen, lava from beneath the earth crust to spill out and the creation of the tsunami that would envelope everything it passes through. Buildings will collapse, people will be running for their life. A total chaos. How to survive? Planes, boats and trucks will be shifting people to neighbouring countries or high places. Immigrant issues will soon surface, brought about people seeking shelter in neighbouring countries thus overpopulating the countries. The need for clean water and food becomes the most essential item. I really can't imagine if it were to happen. What would I do? I really don't know.



Enjoyed every minute of the movie. The reality of how it was projected on film was outstanding. It really felt like a catastrophe movie, similar to "Days After Tomorrow". Besides, I was quite smitten by the Kou Shibasaki, the leading actress in the movie. Tough, supportive and full of energy.

If you are interested in soundtrack, the song from this movie is quite nice actually. Kinda reminds you of a Korean movie. The emo-ness it exubes that causes you to feel so into it. The "kamtong" feeling, if you know what I mean. Well, don't believe me, hear it out and feel it.



Rating : 4/5

Love Conquers All

I finally saw it. Thought I would missed it. But yes, my very first art movie in the cinema. Not my first art movie I've seen. I could still recollect the first art movie I saw back in MMU when James Lee came over to screen his short movie (can't recollect the title).

What is art movie? Very arty if you ask me. Not your usual blockbuster movie that contain character, a storyline, soundtrack and great cinematography. Art movies at times do not contained may only contain a few of this movie elements. Shorts are taken at a longer period of time, camera are static whereby people move around the same short, shaky camera and little character development. It is up to an individual to interpret what the movie is all about. The openess of the movies explains why only a handful can sit through an art movie. There was only five people in the cinema whereby Terry, Kelvin and myself were part of the cosy crowd.

Movie began. Instead of the curtain drawing away from the screen, the screen apparently became smaller after the advertisement and trailers. A first I've seen thus far. The initial scene started out with a view view of the bus seats where both Ah Ping (the girl in the movie) and an Indian man set. The sound of the bus could be heard loudly from the back. Long shots indicated that it would be a long scene although the shot was static, probably being place at the seat diagonally across. Well, what a start.

Overall, the movie was alright. Thanks to the fact that there was a story to begin with. Its about a girl who came into the suburbs of the city to help her relative sell "chap fan". Back home, she have a boyfriend which she would go to the telephone booth near her house to call him every night. In came a guy who apparently wanted to use the phone but ended up having interest in her. He follows her everywhere trying to get her attention. Her response seem irresponsive yet he persevere through, each time getting to know her better. She soon give in to his persistance yet still remain in touch with her boyfriend back home. We see her calling her boyfriend while the guy stands around her. A retrospective view of having a relationship and yet not having one.

She soon begin to have affection over him and then one day, he goes away for business. He absence makes her ponder if he would come back. Her desperation causes her to get in touch with one of his friend who apparently was a pimp. It seems the guy needed money to pay up some people and could not return because of that. She soon goes to her family to get the money and handed it to the pimp. It's not enough and she soon find herself selling herself in hopes of obtaining the remaining balance. She is it and soon find herself being discarded like a piece of rubbish. The guy never return and the pimp gets the money.

"The prettier a girl is, the more easily she is trick." This was the warning given by the guy who had told her of what his pimp friend does in the beginning. As the movie describe, love conquers all. When you love someone, you do anything for that person even to the point of selling oneself. That is when guys like the pimp and the guy take advantage of a girl naive nature. A story of innocent being taken advantage of.

A parallel story follows through as her cousin gets involve with a guy as well through pen pal letters. She appears hopeful on wanting to know this guy and gets her mom to bring her to the house which she usually writes. She hides behind the car while her mum goes to the front door to acknowledge. No idea who the guy is but it soon went to the ending scene showing the mom and daughter riding through the backlane of KL. I was like, "Huh!". Thats what you call an art movie. It never have a conclusion.

Rate : 3.5/5

Interested to know more, check out Love Conquers All blog

Starting the New Year with A BLAST

2007. The seventh year of the new milennium. How time flies. In a blink of an eye. The year had ended, the new year has arrived.

New Year eve was celebrated back home in church. Yes, church. A place where I had spent most of my new years at as together we anticipate and welcome the new year. I had just returned from a night at Kuantan with mom and sis. Dad and another sis was still there with grandparents. I was playing which is why I had to be back earlier. Darn, miss visiting the beautiful beaches in the east coast.

I could imagine revellers gathering at the many location around KL to usher in the new year. Indeed it be happening affair yet I can't imagine myself jostling through the sweat soaked crowd with loud music blasting away as celebrities occupy the stages with their performances. I rather be in quieter and relax place. Church seem like an ideal place where we hear testimonies being read out on God's blessings throughout the year. Besides, I knew I would be starting the new year with a full stomach as I made my way yearly to Auntie Annie's place for her famous coney dog and porridge. Starting the year on a full load.

Speaking of full, the machas and myself headed down to Jogoya for buffet. We had planned this a few months before, thanks to Kelvin. It is said to be the best buffet in town. Ain't that cheap too. But it was worth the experience considering we had something to celebrate, the new year to say the least. Lunch aside, we went in with a stomach ready to gog down everything we could see. The spread was impressive which I believe constituted to the way it was arrange as well as how the place was set up. It seems like there was a lot of things to eat as we venture through the nook and cranny to find a stall selling something. Oyster, Cod Fish, Salmon, Soft Shell Crabs, Crabs, Prawns and even Escargot were some of the items on display. Drinks was also applenty as they had fresh fruit juices, smoothies, tea as well as coconut which were rather small but cute. Not forgetting the Movenpick ice cream which I head cost about RM8 per scoop. It was quite experience as we stay there for almost five hours. Boy, was I stuff!

My first plate

Hong Siew Fish Head

Sashimi Bar

The Fried Bar

Tempura Bar

The Machas

I had intended to take a pic of every plate I took but my effort was in vain as my stomach was quicker than my mind to snap a picture. While the food settled, I could manage an artsy shot just for fun.

And another as we left, considering I always wanted to have a shot of LV