MOVIE REVIEW: IRONMAN

MOVIE REVIEW: IRONMAN

May 2, 2008

STARRING
Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub, Leslie Bibb, and Gwyneth Paltrow
DIRECTED BY
Jon Favreau

Based on the Story of IRONMAN Comics by Stan Lee of MARVEL.

REVIEW:

I just got back from the 9.40pm showing and I was surprised to see the theatre (Sunway Pyramid) full, I had to sit in 3rd row. There were 7 of us watching, 5 in 3rd row, 2 in 2nd row.

Iron Man was one of the better super hero movies that have been filmed. It was very entertaining from start to finish. The action was very entertaining to watch. Though I felt it’s not enough, but when the action scenes did happen they were very intense. It was a little bit slow moving in the beginning as well. I think this movie will do well in box office.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone. It was fun for older people, teens, and even the young kids. The movie was not very bloody and didn’t have any sex at all. So for the parents who want to take their kids it was fine. The beginning started off right away with a bang. It had a lot of intense action and was very exciting. It was even pretty funny throughout. It was Robert Downey Jr. making most of the jokes. He was very fun to watch and did a great job. I think he was the best person for the role of the iron man. It was fun and interesting watching him putting together the iron man. I liked how he kept on improving the IRONMAN making one version after another.

The acting was very good. Especially from Gwyneth Paltrow who played "Pepper Potts" and Robert Downey Jr. who played the iron man. I think that everyone else nailed their job as well. The story was very good as well. I liked how their was a lot of flying and battles between the iron man. The visuals were so amazing. I think they should win for best special effects. Overall this was a very fun to watch movie, THE BEST MOVIE of 2008 so far in my opinion. I think this was a perfect Comics (MARVEL) inspired super hero movie and will be for a long time. Yes, it kicked THE TRANSFORMERS a$$ which I thought it to be Best Film of 2007 (ironically).

It was exciting, entertaining, and fun to watch IN THE BIG SCREEN. You have to be in Cinema to enjoy the CGI, Super effects, life size Gwyneth Paltrow and the "presence" of the IRONMAN. Don’t miss it…

Overall grade: A

MOVIE REVIEW: Ah Long Pte Ltd

MOVIE REVIEW: Ah Long PTE Ltd

April 8, 2008

MOVIE REVIEW: Ah Long PTE Ltd

Genre: Comedy/Action
Director: Jack Neo
Cast: Fann Wong, Mark Lee, Richard Low, Jack Lim, KK Wong, Daniel Tan, Lai
Ming, Koh Yet
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Released By: GV/Mediacorp Raintree Pictures/Double Vision/Scorpio East Pictures
Rating: 18PL in Malaysia
Official Website: http://www.ahlongpteltd.com

Synopsis:

Ah Long Pte Ltd is a light-hearted black comedy about the triad world and the
money-lending business. Instead of treating the subject of Ah Longs
(money-lenders) seriously, the movie takes on a humorous and sarcastic treatment.
It depicts how a young lady tries to restructure her money-lending triad into a
professional and ‘loving’ triad that stands against the use of violence after
she takes over from her triad leader who has retired. Her various restructuring
plans (which are no doubt very creative) bring about hilarious results.

Chen Jun (played by Richard Low) is the leader of Shao He Triad. The story
opens with him deciding to “retire” from the triad business. Prior to his
retirement, he elects Wang Li Hua (played by Fann Wong), a young but tough
girl, as his successor.

Li Hua believes that changes need to be made to the current money lending
system. Although Li Hua prioritizes the triad’s success, she is very much
against the idea of using violent means to collect debts. Therefore, with the
help of some professional consultants, Li Hua and several of her subordinates
(played by KK and Daniel Tan) start adopting a series of creative tactics to
attract money lenders and practice hilarious methods to pressure the money-lenders
to repay in a non-violent way. However, Li Hua’s plan of “restructuring” her
triad meets with obstacles and opposition from the majority of the conservative
elders in both her own triad and rival triad.

At the brighter end of the world, Mr. Fang (played by Mark Lee) is a
kind-hearted dance instructor who is slightly sissy in character. Fate has it
that Mr. Fang runs into Li Hua on numerous occasions by chance. Since Li Hua’s mother
has been pressuring her to get married, Li Hua decides to force Mr. Fang to
marry her. Surprisingly, Mr. Fang agrees to it, wanting to prove his
masculinity. Though finding it hard to accept the fact that Li Hua is a triad
head, Mr. Fang approves of her effort to minimize the use of violence.
Subsequently, he offers to help Li Hua out by introducing creative ways to
reduce violent methods of debt collection.

Movie Review:

The last thing I need on an out-of-luck day (bad morning at work, an
unsuccessful attempt to get a lunch date, followed a terrible fast food dinner
– I could continue, but that warrants another write-up altogether) is a
frustrating comedy that tries to make you laugh at some really unfunny antics.
And I thought local auteur Jack Neo’s latest movie could perk up my day, but
no, it got me down in the dumps instead. Shucks.

Primarily shot in Malaysia, the Chinese New Year blockbuster (OPENED IN
MALAYSIA IN MARCH 29 THOUGH) tells the
story of how Fann Wong’s Li Hua (what’s with the uncreative name anyway?) tries
to revamp her loan shark triad into a sensitive new age triad (SNAT – now,
that’s more creative in my own humble opinion) that promotes loving and caring.
You see, this woman has a heart, unlike her ruthless predecessor (Richard Low).
Throw in an effeminate dance instructor with a heavy Malaysian accent (Mark
Lee) as her husband and you’d get a Chinese New Year blockbuster aimed at
milking ang pow money from viewers in

Singapore

and across the Causeway.

Do not get me wrong, because I’m no snob when it comes to watching movies.
While I believe that there is an audience for every particular genre, there was
a time when I truly enjoyed Neo’s movies. I remember laughing, crying and most
importantly, touched, when I watched I Not Stupid (2002). I remember being
pleasantly surprised when Neo took on nostalgia and politics in the
well-produced Homerun (2003). And I remember laughing at the silly but funny
jokes in last year’s offering Just Follow Law – it even brought lead actor
Gurmit Singh to

Taiwan

’s
Golden Horse Awards ceremony with a Best Actor nomination beside Lust,
Caution’s Tony Leung and The Detective’s Aaron Kwok.

With this suspicious carbon copy of Cho Jin-gyu’s My Wife Is A Gangster 3
(2006), Neo may have made his most unimpressive movie yet. The similarities are
uncanny, but I will not go into that. Instead, I was more disturbed to see a
scene suspiciously taken from Stephen Chow’s (an incidental competitor at this
festive season’s movie war) Shaolin Soccer (2001).

Still, credit goes to Low for comfortably translating his character on
screen with a fluent dialect vocabulary filled with vulgarities. He is the one
reason why you would be sitting through the movie. Lee’s sissy character hits
the right comedic spot, but lacks a certain “oomph” to make you feel for his
character. As for Wong, her menacing cold stare sort of left me in the cold
because I just cannot empathize with her character. There are a handful of
other unknown supporting characters which give forgettable performances.

The filmmakers also try to jazz things up with numerous song sequences, some
computer generated effects (some more unnecessary than others) and a typical
slapstick soundtrack that is on the edge of being irritating, if nothing else.

The production value may have increased from the earlier days of less
sophisticated camera shots and audio mixing, but gone is the heart of Neo’s
movies. But Neo need not worry; the cash registers will still be ringing. It’s
just that, at the end of this 118-minute movie, I left the theatre without the
feeling of having heard a good story, and feeling that my day cannot be any
worse.

MY RATING: 3/5 stars

Gadget/s: My New toy review: K810i

Gadget/s review: My NEW TOY: K810i

I GOT A NEW TOY! Sony Ericsson K810i, Just bought on Thursday, fresh from the Phone Shop. Here’s a review of my NEW phone. Why I bought this phone? Well my reason’s stated at the “Conclusion” of this phone review.

NOTE: Got this review from http://secentral.net/forum/ (Sony Ericsson Singapore user group) forum by an Anonymous Forummer. START OF REVIEW (next paragraph onwards). My OWN Opinion’s in “Conclusion”.

When K810 was first announced in Feb 07 by SE the initial response was that it is an cosmetics improvement over the k800 cybershot series and critics was right on it. But the phone I believed are mainly targeted at those using the older K series and 1st time SE user. User of K800 should read no further as this is the same phone with just its outer makeover with no significant changes to its firmware.

The first thing unusual about the phone is its button, which hate it or love it, is it's good feel for the fingers as compare to the normal keypad generally on SE series (except W880) is all close together. Pressing wrong keys/button is a thing of the past as the buttons are very much space apart. The one thing I cant get over is the shiny surface of the keys area which attracts fingerprints and smudges like the Z610 surface, fussy user like me will give the phone a miss over this “feature”.

K810 keypad like all new SE phones have an internet shortcut button next to the call button which my seem to be an gift from heaven for tech savvy but for me it is seem to be a nuisance to user as most of the time it get activated even without most user knowledge. And yes Telcos charge you for this connection time (conspiracy between Maxis and…?!?!……<- don’t sue me).

The back of the phone is rubberize like those from the W880 which generally gives the phone a nice feel and hold as oppose to the cheap feel of the previous series.

The next best thing of the K810 over the K800 is the shutter itself. K800 shutter have the overhang and shaky feeling due to its awkward placement and the K810 have since rectified this by shaping the back profile of the phone to incorporate the shutter itself. The cuts down the accidental activation of the cam by shutter as complain by most K800 user.

Radio and Media player



K810 have an built in tuner and with the supplied headset acting as the antenna, reception of the radio channels are clear and loud.
The media player for MP3 are an improvement over the K750’s but still lose out to the W-series player but since this is marketed as a Cybershot so the comparison stops here. The player can identified song/tracks or artist by the ID3 tag on the MP3 thereby playing it or through user customize playlist.

Cameras and features

Activation of the cam can be by menu based or just simply sliding the shutter down , user will see the 1,4,7,* key symbol lightening in a blue tint as the phone transit from phone to cam mode. Each key correspond to Image size , Focus , Timer and Flash respectively . Movies record are in 3gp format. K810 like the K800 comes with the Xenon flash which adds a true flashlight capability to the mobile phone , user of K750 can forget about using this as a torchlight as the Xenon are powered by 2 large capacitor unlike the k750 2 bright LEDs.

For new user there is a BestShot™ features which let user takes 9 shot at once of the same scene, user can choose which frame is the best to choose from or all 9. Also preview of the photos taken by the cam can be access during standby mode by pressing the 2 buttons located at the top left and right of the LCD.

Firmware and Menu

SE has retained the general looks of the menu itself since the T610 days and is quite easy to use and navigate. The joystick 4 direction can be customize to individual user shortcut needs

The K810 does have the capability to upgrade it firmware over the air but the high GPRS cost may deters user from this. Flight mode is an standard on most SE models and what is does is that for places that restrict cellphone signal ,user can turn on this features.

Battery use are the BSt-33 series with the CST75 charger which have the capability to charge and use the phone concurrently and the K810 does comes with 128mb M2 supplied. BUT Only lasted for 1 ½ (18 hours) on a single charge only.


Conclusion /MY RAMBLINGS!

The SonyEricsson K810i's a good phone with good photo capability (“cybershot” mah). For me, K810 is an good choice as it’s a sizable upgrade from my SonyEricsson K618i. From 2mp manual focus with NO FLASH to 3.2mp Autofocus + Xenon flash, Also, FM Radio with RDS, Track ID. But downside, slightly bigger and heavier than my K618i.


K810i, It’s an obvious choice for me because Motorola and SAMSUNG’S OUT (NOT- user friendly, NOT used them), Nokia E65 my dad already owned one, I ACTUALLY LOVED SOME OF THE NOKIA N-series, BUT N73’s TOO OUTDATED AND TOO COMMON (August 06 model!), Nokia N70’s too bulky, Nokia N81’s Expensive, Nokia N76’s too Auntie or Ah Lian looking (RED COLOUR!!!). Nokia N77, N82 and N95 don’t bother, WAY OUT OF BUDGET. Budget’s below RM1000. Here's hoping for buying a Nokia N82 sometime Next year February (as my Next phone). I'm sure as seen in N73, by then the pricing will drop.

Note that K810i was my 2nd choice. 1st choice was SE P1i. LOVED that PDA Phone very much. But too $$. AP set RM1300!

Below, My Previous Phone, SonyEricsson K618i Black.
Also, I have 512MB M2 memory card from my K618i can transfer to the K810i (which only came with a pathetic 128MB) AND lastly, I’m used to SonyEricsson interface and SMS having owned 4 Ericsson/Sony Ericsson.

Here’s list of phones I’ve owned: NEC DB500 UK-spec (1999 till 2000), Nokia 3210 (2000 till 02 April). Ericsson T39 (2002 Apr -2004 Apr) => SE T610i (2004 Apr to 2005 Nov) => (a Symbian Nokia in between, Nokia 3230 – 2005/11 till 2006 Dec) => SE K618i (2006 Dec till 2008 March 19 and now, SE K810i (March 19 - ???).

NOTE that I owned a phone for AT LEAST 1 YEAR, Unlike Adults and kids nowadays who changed hand phone every 1 to 2 months.

The BONUS is I Bought the Phone for RM770 ONLY, AP set, warranty from “Final Choice” at a Hand phone shop in Old Town, Petaling Jaya. Original Midland phone still selling for RM1099. Wow! What a HUGE difference.

END OF REVIEW. Thanks for Reading this.

Gadgets 101: Gadgets rechargable batteries care

GADGETS 101: Gadget's rechargable battery (batteries) care. Especially Notebook, Handphones and Digital Cameras.

Hi, this is a new twist of this blog. I'll be writing articles, giving reviews and tips on Gadgets. Here's my 1st post:

Q: "Ever wonder why your gadget's Li-Ion or Ni-MH rechargable battery kept on losing charge or lifespan getting shorter and shorter? OR Battery suddenly goes from 50% to 0%?
A:It's because your gadgets' battery (batteries)'s not "CONDITIONED".

Q: What is "battery condition" AND how it is done?
A: Conditioning battery's where you drained your battery (wait until your gadget batteries' EMPTY) before you recharge them. Make sure you charge it full. Make it a habit to condition it often and your batteries will LAST (No joke).

Example, my 2004 DELL INSPIRON 510m laptop. Despite it's age, its Li-Ion battery is still good for 2 hours of heavy usage (Wifi and music at the same time), or 1 1/2 hour playing DVD Non stop. As a comparison, my friend's 2006 Fujitsu Laptop's battery's losing charge day by day, from 4 hrs at new to just 2 hrs MAX. Why is it so? Again, conditioning battery's the secret.

This is NOT just applicable to Laptop's battery. Any Li-Ion and NimH batteries need to be conditioned (or layman's term: EXERCISE). Remember: NO Recharging of battery if you still have 50% Charge, this will affects your battery life in near future. MAKE sure it's EMPTY (5% for Notebook and 0% for other gadgets) before you charge it.

Additional tips FOR NOTEBOOK/LAPTOP: IF YOU want to Use AC Adapter, FIRST use up all the battery, then only you plug to the Wall outlet. Otherwise, make sure your battery fully charged before you plug on the Wall outlet.

Thanks for reading this...

Congratulations to Adrain and Colin for...

Congratulations Colin and Adrian for…

February 25, 2008

Congratulations Colin and Adrian for Winning The Amazing Race Asia season 2 (TARA2). They proved that they can win despite Adrian’s disability (Deafness). Adrian’s Knowledge in Flags prevailed over Pam and Vanessa and Marc and Rovilson. For Marc and Rovilson, they sent the wrong person to do the task, Rovilson is super blur. This enables the Chong sisters to overtook them.

I really enjoyed the reality show. It’s like being part of the race (just by watching) "visiting" those 10 countries and learning the cultures. Almost all countries I haven’t been before (except Singapore). I LOVED TARA2, Can’t wait for TARA3.

Malaysians can’t have intelligent discussions, they’re spammers

Malaysians can’t have intelligent discussions, they’re spammers

January 11, 2008

Here’s the thing, I can talk to a 18 year old American, and she can talk about issues of abortion, homosexuality, religion, stem cell research, the war on Iraq, corruption, capitalism, communism, socialist elements, Gary Kasparov, the selling out of the music industry and, last but not least, her own country’s dumb leadership.

And when I say talk about, I mean we discuss points in a civilized manner. There was no yelling of how Malaysia is an Islamic country.

There was no accusations of anyone being a bloody racist.

There were no "close one eyes".

There was no "bocor every month".

So by this, she basically speaks better, and has more points than at least 3 of our members in Parliament, with more discipline, manners and patience than that of our de facto Law Minister.

Now the thing with this is, have you found a Malaysian who can talk about the same things, other than John Lee at InfernalRamblings.com?

Sure, there are those who talk of these in hushed tones.

Why?

I have no clue whatsoever. Perhaps they think that having an opinion on the matter would cause God to strike them down where they stand.

And yet, if you were to open your mailboxes, these quiet individuals are the loudest spammers on Earth!

"Send this e-mail out to 10 people, or something bad will happen"

"I got this e-mail from an imam in Mecca"

"Friendster is closing accounts if you don’t forward this message"

"Starbucks and Coffee Bean are haram"

"Siti Nurhaliza’s Wedding Pics"

"Ashraf Sinclairs pics by the beach"

"Allah grant me patience."

See, this is where the Malaysian population thrives, at gossiping. Not through blogs, or the papers, or even the mail, but through e-mail.

You won’t hear them talk about it in person, or actually having an intelligent, self written e-mail, no!

Spammers. A curse be upon you.

Movie review: Traansformers...

Movie review: Transformers…

July 7, 2007

Movie review from the bottom of my heart: Transformers…

Directed by Michael Bay, this movie brought back the kid in you. I felt like I was 8 yrs young again. The movie’s based on the 80s action figures and cartoons. The "action figures" were a RAVE back in mid-80s. Back then, Transformers action figures were in toy stores everywhere from 1984 to 1987; before it’s overshadowed by "MASK", another action figures. I don’t get to own a single Transformers toy as it’s expensive back then (a 1:32 toy costs RM30 back in 1987). AND my dad thinks I’m too young to appreciate it (I was 7 yrs young back then).

This movies answered my questions, doubts and mysteries unsolved since I was 8 yrs young. I felt that it’s a touching movie. Imagine your favourite cartoon/action figures being brought back to life again in "Real Life". Few of us, including me cried towards the end of the movie. Even so, when I saw a Mid-30s man watching the movie with his child, sharing or passing on his childhood passion to the next generation.

It’s quite a long movie @ 2 hrs and 20 mins. Action, action AND more action from the beginning till the end. The plot is revealed slowly… Optimus prime and gang appeared late, after slightly 1 hour of the movie.

Loved the "transforming sound" carried over from the cartoon, loved the jaw dropping QUICK transforming sequences made possible by CGI animation. Also, loved the "High tech Nokia handphone" which amazingly transformed to small robot. I have only 1 complaint, the Fighting sequence is too confused, especially between Optimus prime and Decepticons. difficulty seeing the actions. (eyes pain following the sequence - made worse by sitting @ 5th row in TGV One Utama. Equivalent to 1st row, Cineleisure).

This is no doubt the "BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR", does almost everything good. An action film which happened to have a dish of romance and humour thrown in. I rate it A+. GO WATCH it, especially so if you are an 80s babies… Relive your childhood memories. NOW ALLTOGETHER: "AUTOBOTS, transform and Roll out!!!".

Ps. Today 07.07.07 is a special date. Many people in Malaysia tied the knots. Even ALL Major dailies have special supplements. Eg. Today in history, those born on 7.7.77, Why is it auspicious etc…

BANG!!! Car hit by...

BANG!!! Car hit by…

January 9, 2007

BANG!!! My FORD got hit by a TAXI on a Crossroad of 17/29, 17/22, 17/24 near my house on 9 Jan 2007, 8.15pm…

It was a Crossroad I was going straight at 17/22 (Main road), the TAXI was trying to get to the opposite road (From 17/29 to 17/24) . The taxi was out of my sight as it was blocked by 2 cars. Taxi was in outermost lane at the junction… Suddenly, I saw a taxi appear and I can’t brake on time and BANG!!!

Any Damages? Front door "kemek" (see pictures), rear door deep scratched. The taxi damage, front bonnet corner dented, bumper misaligned and signal light broke.

Me and the taxi driver went to Report police. They were very inefficient, took almost 3 hours to complete a police report. I was there on 9.20pm, took 1 hour queueing up despite only 7 cases infront of me (only 1 police officer on duty, only joined by another at 10.30pm!!! Another 30 mins waiting to use the computer to type out the report. Another 15 minutes for them to print out the report and pass to sargeant. 20 minutes waiting to see the sargeant. 15 mins seeing the sargeant. HALF AND HOUR WAITING for the POLICE CAMERAMAN. Lame excuse of going to Sprint highway, taking pictures in a Fatal Accident. IT WAS 12.20pm when the whole POLICE REPORT THINGY ended… EXACTLY 3 HOURS!!!