Transform and roll out!

And yes, that’s exactly what’s happening; they’re rolling out on 7.4.7 (next summer). No, not a new fleet of Boeing planes. Transformers – the movie ! Life action ones (not animated) supported by the special effects of Dreamworks and directed by Michael Bay (of Bad Boys fame). It’s like being 12 all over again, watching your favourite childhood cartoon characters enact some earth-rescuing plot on the silver screen.

But I wonder who’ll be watching the movie? Young adults between ages of 25 to 35, who grew up with the cartoons? Certainly not kids of today who are fed on cartoon network and Japanese animes. But who knows ‘more than meets the eye’ might be a popular catch phrase once again.

Characters :

“Included in the cast of characters will be...
For the Autobots: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Ironhide.
For the Decepticons: Megatron, Starscream, Brawl, Bonecrusher, Barricade, Scorpinok, Frenzy, and Blackout.” .... from www.thegate.ca

The Official Site :

http://www.transformersmovie.com/

A Song for September

If there’s a song that just lulls you into fits of nostalgia, and makes you sit back and dream of the old days in sepia-toned frames, this would be it. You would expect no less from a song with words like “try to remember” repeated every other line. Nevertheless it’s a good song to accompany old home videos.

Made famous by Tom Jones and scores of other old singers, the song also made an appearance in movies like ‘The Fantasticks’ and ‘City of Glass’. Well here’s to a time when life was slow and mellow.

Try to remember

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow, follow

Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow, follow

Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
Then follow, follow

Clementi also got hero

The hero of Clementi blogs ! And here's his account of the story. (Caution, expletives aplenty!)
http://jeffreypang.blogspot.com/2006/09/incident-of-day.html

If you do not know what I'm referring to, this was the guy who was brave enough to confront and stop the escaping boyfriend who had just pushed his girlfriend onto the train tracks at Clementi MRT station. Kudos friend !

Just thinking... are we at the dawn of an age of masked avengers and caped vigilantes ? Or are we turning into a society who will conveniently turn away even when others are in harms way ? It only takes one to make a difference this time, but when my turn comes, will I just shrug and look away ? Sometimes I myself do not know the answer.

P.S : BTW, my site was down for long periods yesterday, so I took the chance to upgrade to beta blogger. More features, better layout.

Update : Jeffrey has removed the post on the incident as investigations are still pending on the case.

TalkingCock gets Singapore Dreaming

How often do you get to see the directors popping out at the end of the movie to say hi to the audience?

Well, it was the first time for me too last Sunday. While the credits rolled at the end of ‘Singapore Dreaming’, Colin Goh (of TalkingCock.com fame) and his co-director/wife, Woo Yen Yen, appeared out of nowhere to thank everyone who watched and asked us all to help publicise the movie to our friends (guess I’m doing that now).

The movie? Brutally honest, clever script, believable acting, no over-dramatisation, and a memorable Hokkien track that has stayed in my head for days. It is certainly not the usual Jack Neo fare or the cinematic Roystan Tan movie, and definitely not for kids. (Although I saw a few kids in the theatre that day; they must have expected some comedy). Supposed to be one of the better local movies in years. Go watch it!

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Here’s what the Toa Payoh resident Ang Moh, Neil Humphreys’ , got to say in TODAY:

"...the best movie this little red dot has produced in a decade. It is the most accurate depiction of heartland living since 12 Storeys, but is thankfully spared that movie's indulgent sexual undertones. Singapore Dreaming is a welcome, timely reminder that local stories can be told authentically without resorting to voyeuristic nonsense about lesbian lust on an HDB void deck. The husband and wife writing/directing team of Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen have crafted a beautiful tale about Singaporean family life that is almost flawless in its verisimilitude. ... Singapore Dreaming dares to hold up a mirror to the audience itself. That makes for difficult viewing at times, but you have to look. ++++"

Ai yah, no other old classmates to call

The Measure of a Life

How do you measure a life? Are we judged solely by our achievements?

And what would you do to achieve your dreams? How far would you go to pursue a passion?

In the pursuit of success, some are willing to do whatever it takes. Until secrets are uncovered; and they fall from grace.

Landis

It is a long way down. Is it worth the price?

Gaitlin

Between success and failure is a thin line. All it takes is a moment of weakness.

Clinton

Or a moment of madness; when the subconscious unravels the dark truths.

Mel

A few do bow out in glorious acclaim and celebration; to be worshipped by men for posterity.

Agassi

And some bow out in heroic tragedy; to be fondly remembered and honoured

Irwin

And we ask ourselves, is an ordinary life worth living? Are we only remembered when we do great things? Are we all called to be successful?

Or to be faithful?

"I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness." - Mother Theresa

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Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...

Anon

Of Muppets and Nuptials

It was a quiet weekend back in Muar. Hmmm… well quiet seems to be an understatement when you have a 1½ year old nephew in da’ house. He walks now, so he covers all corners of the house within seconds. And he’s up by 7 in the morning and never stops till afternoon nap. Everyone then takes a short two hour breather before all activity starts again when he awakes. He might be a handful but he’s such a lovable kid that when he goes home (to Melaka), he leaves a void in the house. He has also picked up quite an impressive vocab since I last saw him. Among the words he knows are two of his favourite Sesame Street characters, Elmo and Ernie.

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Part of the reason I was back home was to attend my childhood friend’s wedding. Last time I saw Terence was about 4 to 5 years ago when he came back from New York to celebrate CNY. The wedding was at Star Restaurant Muar and the majority of the attendees were family friends(mainly retired teachers) and relatives. The rest of my friends had attended the dinner in KL so I had to sit with a table of strangers. These strangers turned out to be his close relatives like his sis, cousins, uncle and aunty, and the bride’s sis and bro. So there I was the odd one out sitting among ‘family’. I was like an outsider witnessing two sides building bridges and fostering ‘silaturahim’ between themselves. Fortunately his sis who was almost 6 years my junior was quick to break the ice. So for the rest of the dinner, I managed to join in the banter around the table.

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“Hard work may pay off in the long run, but laziness always pays off right now!”
Elan the Bard, Order of the Stick Chapter #126