Entries Tagged 'Entertainment' ↓

Its September 2008 and if there’s one movie I recommend that EVERYONE watch in 2008, its Mamma Mia! Thanks to Nuffnang, I was at GSC 1 Utama last night to catch this movie for free! What’s better than an excellent feelgood fun movie? A FREE feelgood fun movie

I won’t have any spoilers, so my advice is just to go and watch:

• Meryl Streep sing - that woman is multi talented I tell you! I’m amazed
• Pierce Brosnan sing - *muffled giggles and horrified groans of disbelief*
• The beautiful turquoise sea of Greece
• The gorgeous scenery of a Greek island (and wonder how anyone gets anywhere climbing those rocks)
• The kitzchy performance of Super Trouper - guarantee to make you cringe, laugh and sing along all at once
• The Greek gods take off their shirts at every opportunity
• Wonder why everyone on a Greek island is either speaking with an English or American accent
• the enjoyable songs of ABBA being performed in a most unusual way
• the seamless way the music fits into the movie… but then the movie was written for the songs so I guess it only made sense that it fit!

It was fun, it was funny, it was enjoyable, it was singalong karaoke… I want to do it all over again! Like Kimberlycun, I wanna see it again! But how come I didn’t see you yesterday Kim?!

Now Mamma Mia the Musical! That’s going down on my calendar!

Happy 08-08-08 everyone!

This date comes around but once a century so isn’t it pretty awesome that we are seeing it in our lifetime? Little things to be happy about…

… because I was pissed off this morning at the fact that I might have to miss the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics tonight!

Life’s simple when you have Astro. But for someone like me who does not believe in paying for satellite tv when I barely watch terrestrial tv, I am at the mercy of the terrestrial tv stations as to the shows they want to show, and the coverage of the Olympic Games.

I had been looking forward to tonight, to see the Opening Ceremony of the first Olympic Games ever to be held in Asia. (Edit: I’m stupid. I forgot about the Seoul Games) If I know China, we can expect a lot of pomp and ceremony and lots and lots of color - red and gold I bet.

So, imagine my horror when I checked the online TV stations (I always start with NTV7, 8TV then TV3) and found that NONE OF THEM ARE SHOWING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES!! Panicking, I ran and checked RTM and *gasp* nothing!!!

Calming down a little, I pulled myself together and decided to check the newspapers (online of course) and finally, I had a leeetle bit of good news on The Star:-

Whew! Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games at 8.30pm on RTM1! It is my personal policy never to watch RTM1 - see the programme line up and you’ll know why. But I will make an exception for something as momentous as this… unless by some fluke it appears on the private tv stations later tonight.

I just hope that there will be no unnecessary chatter over the international commentators tonight. I remember one year when our local commentators introduced all the wrong countries during the march past, having to hastily correct himself when he finally saw the sign boards carried. Our local commentators are embarrassing, and ill-informed and they think that incessent chattering makes up for lack of information and inaccurate reporting. But I guess its too much to hope for them to leave the international commentators alone.

Unfortunately, as I’m kiamsiap I will have to live with it. Maybe I’ll just turn down the volume and enjoy the pagentry of the Opening Ceremony. I’m sure it will be exciting!

Have a happy 08-08-08 and enjoy the Opening Ceremony tonight!

Indiana Jones = Harrison Ford.

There are no two ways about it. Old or not, haggard or not, Indy Jones = Harrison Ford.

When The Last Crusade was released, I thought that would be the end of the Indiana Jones series. After all, Harrison Ford is good for doing trilogies - see Star Wars (Han Solo *drools* ok ok I like older men - sue me ) and of course the Indiana Jones trilogy.

So, when there was talk about the new Indiana Jones, I had the impression (don’t know from where) that Indy was no longer played by Harrison Ford so I was quite adamant I wouldn’t watch it. And then, my dad (of all people!) told me that it was indeed Harrison Ford reprising the role of Indiana Jones, which led me to google up the information which led me to watch Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull last night!

Did I enjoy it? Of course I did! Its Indiana Jones isn’t it? Delightfully camp and tongue in cheek and all. But what else did I think about it? Please watch out for spoilers after the jump!

Continue reading →

I don’t watch much TV these days but I’ve been intrigued by a teaser ad that’s been showing on NTV7 (I think). What it shows me is the famous Beverly Hills 90210 post code and say that something’s “Coming Soon”.

Are they rerunning the BH 90210 series that epitomized the 90’s? The series by Aaron Spelling that catapulted Jason Priestly, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling et el into fame and fortune (and seriously, where are they now?!)? The series that made every secondary or college school kid at the time long for the not- so- wonderful- on- hindsight- in- fact- they- were- pretty- screwed- up lives of the rich and famous in Beverly Hills?

In short, this:-

Eeks! I can just hear the theme song starting in my head! Make it stop! Hot on the comback heels of the other 90s wonder - NKOTB, comes the NEW Beverly Hills 90210!

No, seriously. They are or have re-made the series! I read most of it on the NZ Herald and I am gobsmacked. There are actually some of the original cast making their comeback to the series and reprising their roles! Jennie Garth is confirmed. Gosh she really epitomized the super bitch from high school, didn’t she? OMG I really don’t believe I’m reading all this!

But wait, reading more online, it seems that they are only in the process of remaking it. So, is NTV7 re-running the old series so once they make the new Beverly Hills 90210, they can just seamlessly join up? Well with 10 seasons to go through, there’s going to be loads of time for newbies to catch up with the exploits of Brandon and Brenda and their pals!

Yes, BH 90210 was a popular series indeed. I can imagine it was what spawned all the other high school/college series - One Tree Hill, The OC etc (and my mind starts drawing a blank at about now because I left my teeny bopper days too long ago) but does it merit a re-make?

Let’s hear your say!

On a whim, I decided to cough up RM18 and test out the GSC Signature cinemas at The Gardens. I’ll talk a lot here about the cinema first before I get to the movie so those who haven’t seen Forbidden Kingdom and who don’t like spoilers, can then leave before reading further. Aren’t I considerate?

Yes, no kidding. RM18 for a movie. It’d better be good

The GSC Signature cinema at The Gardens is GSC’s premier line of cinemas for those who don’t want to mingle with the masses and who want more comfort and are willing to pay for it. Each cinema is very small with only about 10 rows of seats. Each row only has 6 seats in pairs of 2 so you have 3 rows of seats. What this means is larger more comfortable seats. There is even a little table attached to the side of the chairs for your popcorn or snacks. However, because its so small, I felt that the screen was too small to do justice to a truly epic movie. It might be good for some light fun but not if you want to enjoy and truly appreciate the full effects of the movies.

I could curl up in the chair so yes, its a large comfy chair. The back can recline if you are heavy enough to cause it to. I can only make it recline if I physically push against it which makes for an uncomfortable time. But I’m ok with it even sitting upright.

The exterior of the cinema is kept dim. Perhaps, its to keep with the “premier” theme. After all, expensive and privileged places are always kept dim with low lighting. The ticket queue is practically non-existent which of course is great if you don’t want to stand in queue for hours to buy the usual RM11 ticket. Downstairs is a bar/cafe for drinks and snacks and the cinema halls are upstairs. There are only 5 premier halls and 1 Gold Class. Gold class tickets are RM60 each. I’d pay those prices if they run the Lord of The Rings trilogy back to back! Otherwise, forget it!

When you go upstairs, you’ll see your cinema hall number and the words “Now Seating” which will light up when its time to seat you. If its dim, its not ready. I’m not sure how that helps anything, but everyone there quietly waited until the light came on before approaching the ushers.

Even the popcorn is different. It comes in a black cup instead of the usual yellow box. Unfortunately, the popcorn was either not caramel coated, or not fresh. It tasted bland and musty. You know how cardboard tastes? No? Go pop some corn, don’t mix it with anything and chew on it. Now, you know how cardboard tastes. Awful! I don’t recommend the popcorn at GSC Signature.

For all the extra cost and air of exclusivity, I noticed that the place was subtly crowded. Yes even the crowds are classy No, its because the cinema halls are so small, that the crowds won’t overwhelm, no matter how crowded it gets. It makes going to the movies fun but a pricey affair.

GSC Signature premier cinemas at The Gardens are at the end near Robinsons. Take the escalators all the way up right to the top of the building, and you’ll see it… or maybe not. Its so “classy” and dim, its easy to miss, but for the subtle touches of some movie posters on the walls.

Now, read on for my take on Forbidden Kingdom the movie. Please leave now if you don’t like spoilers. Continue reading →