rey's ramblings

I crossed the bridge at 11:14 PM

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Blossoms of a different kind

Music: We... From Dissimilar Worlds - Modest Mouse

And so ends five days of abject misery spent in the library
whittling away time better spent on other things instead of
trying to perfect the art of studying in areas populated with
noisy kids.

Well, it was actually four, considering the intentional absence
on tuesday to have a minimal 1-day break and also as an excuse
to catch the Golden Globes.

This year's awards turned out to be pretty much on par with a
few surprises thrown in for good measure. Among these were
Sandra Oh's win for Best Supporting Actress in Grey's Anatomy,
the landslide win in the Comedy/Musical movie category for
Walk The Line and Felicity Huffman's Best Actress in a Drama
prize for Transamerica.

Surprisingly enough, the no-win in the Best Actress (TV Comedy)
for any of the Desperate Housewives didn't come as much of a
shock considering that the only other nominee in the category was
the rather talented Mary Louise-Parker from Weeds and anyway
the Hollywood Foreign Press Association always loves a dark horse
don't they?

Film-wise, Brokeback Mountain did much of the award-sweeping in
the dramatic category, despite Heath Ledger not winning the Best
Actor award. I suppose the HFPA felt that he wasn't convincing
enough as a gay cowboy? o.O

A major theme in this year's ceremony was the ever-controversial
topic on issues regarding sexuality. Besides Brokeback Mountain
and Felicity Huffman's transgender role in Transamerica, another
award-winner, stealing the trophy from Ledger was Philip Seymour
Hoffman playing the eponymous role in Capote, a biopic about the
famous gay writer Truman Capote.

Speaking of biopics, they were also rather prominent this year with
Walk The Line leading the pack; clinching the trophies for Best Film
in the Comedy/Musical category, Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix and
Best Actress for Reese Witherspoon for their respective roles as Johnny
and June Carter Cash, the legendary country singers.

A particular favourite moment besides Steve Carell's hilarious acceptance
speech regarding his wife, was Geena Davis acceptance speech for her
role in Commander-in-Chief. "This is really wonderful for a fledgling little
show like ours," said Davis, who added that a little girl coming into the
Globes stopped her to say, "Because of you I want to be president some day."

"Well, that didn't actually happen," Davis joked with a perfectly straight face.
"But it could have."

Went to watch Memoirs of a Geisha with javier and sean at GV Grand on
friday after school. The adaptation of the novel didn't really live up to the
standards of the latter but it was still an entertaining rollercoaster ride.
That having been said, Memoirs is a lot like an amusement park... The
geisha district which the main storyline is set in, is indeed chaotic, perilous
yet at the same time also a colourful, intriguing and mesmerizing place to
explore. A main flaw was the decision for the film to be shot almost entirely
in English although being a Hollywood blockbuster there really wouldn't be
any other choice and I'm sure the majority of us English-speaking people
wouldn't gripe about that! As a result, the film lost quite a bit of its shine
in convincing the audience that they were genuinely being given a peek at
the life of a geisha.

Still, Memoirs has lots of beautiful and enchanting moments and perhaps
one too many an anecdote embedded throughout the entire course of its
146-minute running time length. Ironically, although Zhang Ziyi was given
a nod for Best Actress at the Globes and possibly at the upcoming Oscars, the
truly outstanding performances were mastered by both Gong Li and Michelle
Yeoh as Hatsumomo and Mameha respectively, two geishas at loggerheads.
Gong Li especially makes a fine turn as the ultra-bitchy, take-no-prisoners
dominatrix who makes Sayuri's (Ziyi) life a miserable hell.

Sadly, at the end of it all, Memoirs remains the stuff of fluff. Sure enough
it scintillates and excites, but nevertheless it fails to push through to deeper
themes and issues. Still, you have to give Memoirs the thumbs up for being a
thoroughly entertaining piece of work. Although that's all there is about it.

not supposed to follow your own destiny?

I crossed the bridge at 1:05 PM

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Rethinking the mantra

Music: Not In This Life - Natalie Merchant

In the pursuit of what we want, do we ever stop
and pause to think of what and whom we affect
around us? It may not seem much, but there is
definitely a ripple effect that comes about from
every of our actions.

Sometimes we do affect others with a positive
vibe, by having fun or making others smile. But
then again, there are the times when we exude a
less than pleasant mood - which we find hard to
admit most of the time.

Regardless of the varying problems and trials that
we face everyday, a common priority would be to
end the situation with one's self emancipated from
any blame, guilt-bearing or responsibility.

It's human nature.

Anyway, friday was relatively interesting.. although
school was a drag, very few lessons and nothing much
to do. Got a lift to Tanglin Mall by kai an's dad, whom I
had a really amusing conversation with. Surprising, as
most parents usually wouldn't normally come up with
something quite original for a conversation topic.

Had lunch at delifrance with joel and vanessa there
before we headed down to yamaha at ps to pick up
music scores...

Inter-crossing paths.. if we dont meet in this life,
we will in the next.

I crossed the bridge at 1:41 PM

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

The Arctic closes in

Music: Frozen - Madonna

Being a public holiday today, I woke up late naturally
enough. Even though it was past 11 am, the cold from
the last night was still lingering in the air. The rain has
also been pretty torrential, flooding many areas in and
out of Singapore. Uncannily enough, the kluang area in
which the LDP campsite is located in, is heavily flooded.

Really thankful that I've been excused from the trip, but
at the same time, I do feel sorry for those who are going
too... If the place isn't flooded, its conditions are probably
extremely muddy and mosquito-infested...

the overshroud faded with a scent of revenge trailing
in its wake and the underbelly of misunderstanding.

Just received a few belated Christmas gifts recently...
All books to be exact, what a coincidence!
Thanks john for the Memoirs of a Geisha novel, looking
forward to a good read! Also thanks to sean for The OC
TV series book adaptation, I am a OC fan so it's definitely
a more than welcome addition to my book collection!
Lastly, thanks to esther for John Grisham's The Partner,
hopefully it's as compelling as Runaway Jury!

you only see what your eyes want to see,
how can life be what you want it to be?

I crossed the bridge at 6:13 PM

Sunday, January 08, 2006

The rain in Singapore, keeps coming back for more!

Music: Drops of Jupiter - Train

The first week of school has ended and I've more or less
managed to successfully sweep through it.

There was a bit of difficulty trying to retune and readjust
myself to my sleeping cycle of 6-hours again but I've finally
managed to get pass that.

The first day of school was really quite boring.. completely
nothing to do and no teachers around at all. The new building
although with its benefits of being new and unused-before,
just doesn't seem complete.. Many things to gripe about... the
air-con that didn't work the first day, our class facing the sun,
the horrendously long walk through construction sites to reach
our classes and many other oddities.

As for the teachers, I don't really have any comments or opinions
on them but safe to say, I have not really got any favourites
amongst them yet. Some of them are quite indifferent to the class
so its not really easy getting to know them.

Really glad to be excused from going to the kluang LDP camp (due to
a certain allergy to malaria drugs) which I feel is just unproductive,
especially for the O Level students, since considering that previous
batches were not ensigned to participate.

Rounded off the week with lunch at pasta fresca's along sixth avenue
with javier, sean & john chatting about new school arrangements.

The weather over the weekend has been quite sombre & downcast
especially today's endless downpour.

For now, it's back to school again.

when its raining cats & dogs, i'll catch you when you fall.

I crossed the bridge at 10:03 PM

Sunday, January 01, 2006

A new dawn emerges

Music: Jump - Madonna

Its the first day of the year ahead. Looking back at 2005 with
much reflection, it was truly quite a memorable year. Just
really amusing on hindsight, but I've already devoted the
latter post to reflections so that's enough.

Spent the last couple of hours of 2005 at Harbourfront with my
family. Wasn't really planning to go initially but later decided
to change my mind. Basically it was just a countdown party with
lots of people milling around the area. The only highlight of the
whole thing was the 15 minute long fireworks display, something
you don't get to see often. Other than that, the performances &
entertainment etc. were all of less than mediocre standards...

The fireworks were just a mesmerizing sight to behold, a great
bang to the start of 2006. After the fireworks ended, we had
a late-night supper at the Seah Im Food Centre.

One more day of reprieve before the start of school on tuesday.

Hope I can readjust my sleeping habits in time.

Happy New 2006 everyone!

reset the clocks for a new beginning,
pray that the next is better than the last~

I crossed the bridge at 6:15 PM

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