Go watch Ted

Source - collider.com

And don't bring your kids along, unless you want them to drop f bombs at you when you least expect it. Sure, he looks cuddly to you at first, but once you realize Seth McFarlane (from Family Guy fame) is directing it, he's not so cute after all.

Picture the most immature womanizer foul mouthed pot smoking douchebag you have come across. And you get Ted. The one sweet thing about Ted is his treasured friendship with Mark Wahlberg's character, John, and his constant look-out for John to chill and live like there's no tomorrow rubs John's girlfriend, Lori, the wrong way.

The plot is a familiar one - guy has to choose between his girl and his best bud, and when the best bud gets into trouble, the girl wishes everything will be back to normal and the bud grows up (albeit just a little) and it's a happy ending. But you can't help getting drawn to Ted and laugh along with his crude humour and hilarious one liners. After all, his exterior is a lovable teddy bear and you can't help feeling for the furry creature who was once a national celebrity and has now descended into a life of prostitution and slacking. Just like stories you've heard about real life Hollywood celebrities.

He also drives a car, he eventually gets a job at a grocery store and gets promoted a number of times due to his sexual escapades with a co-worker he eventually dates, and he genuinely loves John and Lori.

This movie is Rated-R, so unless you'd want your kids to listen to profanities for a good an hour and 40 minutes, this is a no-no for them. But if you're looking for a good ol' comedy and a fan of Seth McFarlane's Family Guy and American Dad, this is good one.

Food Network is now 24/7

I literally began spreading the news to (almost) everyone at work when the company's website informed us that Food Network and Life Inspired (channel 706) will split and have their very own channel! If you don't know already, these 2 have been sharing a channel since October 2010, and although I love switching to the other channel at 9am and 9pm (P/S - I work in Astro, if you don't know already), watching Food Network 24 hours a day makes it into my Top 10 best things of 2012.

I'm not much a foodie, but something about cooking and the host's kitchen makes my day.

Shows to watch out for on Astro Channel 727,

Source - foodnetwork.com

Giada At Home also whips up classic everyday dishes, but her expertise is Italian cuisine - being Italian herself. Her trademark is over enunciating Italian words, like ree-sott-to (risotto) and the house where her show is staged overlooks the ocean (I'm guessing the Pacific) and her kitchen is all white. Like Barefoot Contessa, she cooks for family and friends and sometimes for a local charity or organizations she supports. Plus, her daughter is oh-so-adorable!.

Source - housebeautiful.com

Barefoot Contessa stars Ina Garten in her East Hampton, New York home, and the camera accompanies her trips to town for ingredients, harvesting fruits and herbs in her backyard and whipping up food for friends and family. Her dishes ranges from French cuisine (whenever you hear any French words that is) to classic everyday meals you have probably heard of, like BLT sandwiches. It also helps that her kitchen is white with a black counter which gives off the modern but still countryish feeling.

Source - arizonafoothillsmagazine.com

Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller shows that prepping food ahead will save you lots of time, even if it means cooking for the family after work. She prepares a whole bunch of food and store it for future usage, or using the same ingredients for lunch and dinner. Can't be too choosy if you leave work at 5pm and reach home 2 hours later (stuck in traffic and all sorts).

Haunted what?

The marketing skills of Haunted Changi producers worked well, at least with me. There has been a lack of good horror films these days, and the last one I watched made me cry because I forked out 10 bucks for a lousy show with a striking promotional poster. Stupid advertising. Oh, the show? It's called Haunted University. There's 10 bucks I'll never get back.

Haunted Changi is an indie (independent) film made by 4 bravado Singaporeans who venture into the most-haunted-place-in-the-world Old Changi Hospital. The team consists of director Andrew, producer Sheena, camera guy Audi and audio dude Farid. The film is entirely shot by using handheld camera to give the film a documentary feeling and that everything captured is 100% real. Think Cloverfield and REC, but good thing it wasn't that nauseating.

The team conduct interviews with local Singaporeans as well as a seemingly WW2 veteran. They discuss about which photos to use, the process of editing and the extensive research they go through.

First day at the hospital, we see shots of the hospital - graffiti, old wards, torture chambers, an old elevator shaft and a rumored underground tunnel. At times you might be able to catch a shadow running in the background, some weird reflection against the puddle of water and the infamous headless person.

At night, the team start experiencing eerie feelings and get spooked out. Sheena vows to never go back and Farid never appears on film again - apparently ill. Andrew becomes obsessed with a girl named Xiao Juan who lives inside the haunted hospital. The team also meet with a group of Singaporean ghostbusters who go by nicknames but a real name is "accidentally" revealed and they also use a young boy to "sense" paranormal activity (super pissed with the adults. who the hell uses a young kid to sniff out ghosts?!)

After the night exploration, you can't help but to wonder if this is a "documentary" inside a "film", and if the 4 Singaporeans are truly aiming to unleash secrets hidden within the hospital or they're merely actors acting with a script. The final moments of Haunted Changi makes you ponder: Does Xiao Juan really exist? Did Audi's camera captured something real, or was it edited?

Acting wise, I'm not too sure if they're professional actors because they sure don't look like it. Andrew looks disturbingly like one of my housemates which isn't a good thing, really. But them getting spooked isn't convincing me. I can't help feeling the reason they're screaming and running away is because .. they have to scream and run away in horror films. The team is also unethical when conducting interviews - they continue recording despite the WW2 veteran's plea to stop. Also he is promised that his face won't be shown, but I can certainly see enough! But I get a feeling the WW2 guy is just a hired actor.

They also seem to be "hurrying" to give the film more spice in the end - but doesn't seem to make up for the slow beginning. Andrew finds the rumored underground tunnel, and what he discovers fuels more "dude, what the hell?" questions. But I'd give kudos to Andrew, whose determination seem real, but at some point, too much until it becomes annoying. He seems to have forgotten about his hospital documentary to focus more on "interview with Xiao Juan".

Overall, you won't jump off your seat like typical horror films. I think it's a good thing you only see "paranormal" stuff occasionally and not at every corridors and scenes. Makes the "documentary" look more real - because in typical ghost hunter shows you don't really see ghosts. Just the people claiming they see and feel stuff, right?

By the way, the shadows of headless men could well be men bending their heads down. Just a thought. And I think Xiao Juan merely exists in Andrew's head - the spirits must have messed with his head, as well as Audi's.

Although after rewinding the film in your brain several times you feel cheated - depending on what is your initial expectation of the film.

Do I want my money back?
Urm .. 6 bucks maybe. I paid 11.

Farewell Ethan and Khairie

Last Thursday's Amazing Race Asia 4 saw Malaysian boys Ethan and Khairie in last place, and were, wait for it ..

Eliminated.

Yes, the uber funny and personable Ethan ("What? We're in good shape! Round is a shape!") who occasionally converses in typical Malaysian English and the extra cool and slightly quieter Khairie are no longer appearing on TV on Thursday nights. This marks the first time that there won't be a Malaysian team in the Final 3. Bummer.

Teams travelled to Bali, Indonesia where Ethan messed up a little and left one of the Richards fuming. All 3 teams (Ethan and Khairie, the Richards and Claire and Michelle) seem to have an alliance and Ethan wanted all 3 to stick together and ride in the same boat (Boat 2) to the next destination. Unfortunately, he didn't know Boat 1 left 30 mins earlier which resulted in Richard Hardin pissed.

Then Ethan did something which is rare in the Race - he offered to switch places with the Richards. Dude this makes the Race even nicer because let's face it, we support the nice teams right? I keep imagining Chad and Stephanie (Amazing Race 17 US version) doing that - not a friggin chance.

Anyways, in the middle of Bali, Ethan and Khairie went into the detour challenge in 1st place. The Richards screwed up when they violated a law and were 1 1/2 hours behind the Malaysians. But the former chose a longer and confusing detour challenge and were forced to switch, and the Richards caught up to them. >.<"

The rest of Race saw Ethan and Khairie playing catch up with the Richards but were ultimately defeated. I was kinda hoping it was a non-elimination leg but it wasn't. So with the last Malaysian team gone, I'm rooting for the Richards now =)

I see a Puget! I see a Puget!

2 reasons to stay away from movies and lepaking - The Amazing Races! Both the Asian and US version are currently underway and I oh so love AXN. (Thank you God for including this channel in the compulsory Family Package).

5 reasons why you should watch:

Funny people. The most memorable vocabulary mistake was by the Indian cousins, Sahil & Manas who became over excited upon seeing other teams' Peugeot cars parked alongside the Penang Peranakan Mansion, and screams "I see a Puget! I see a Puget!". Hilarious. Expect Malaysians Ethan & Khairie to lighten up the Race too.

Pretty chicks & Girl power. Could another all-female team win?, cuz not many of us expected Zabrina & Joe Jer from Season 1 to take it all home. Expect more from party girls Jess & Lani (Jess seems more toned), Claire & Michelle (they claim they're street smart), Yani and her bud, Nadine, Miss Indonesia Earth 2009 (I have a special spot for beauty queens) and Indian actresses Dimple & Sunaina (athletic looking).

Good ol' families. Natasha and her doting dad Hussein comes to mind first, they were already running behind all teams and still managed to keep their heads together to check in (second last). Maybe this is the season we won't see parents yelling at their kids because well, they're the parent. And then there's Hungarian university lecturer Ivan and his Malaysian researcher wife Hilda - which 100% reminded me and my mom of Terri, the screeching and fit throwing machine from Season 2. Terri sulked, yelled and threw her tantrum all over Asia and half of Europe. Hilda cried all the way up to Batu Caves (not sure how many times she had to climb up and down 272 stairs) then cut to her guessing every number for the Indian priest, cried more, sprained her ankle and that was the end of Terri it. But she's still cute, I'll give her that.

Tagline "Ride of a Lifetime". The Race has never disappointed me (except for one season in US) so expect more brutal and hard hitting challenges in the upcoming legs.

Brains, brawn or luck. Season 1 had Sandy & Francesca and Andrew & Syeon, Season 2 had Marc & Rovilson (It's still hard to forgive them for losing!), Season 3 had a few consistent teams but Season 4 will keep us guessing. The only team that stands out are Richard & Richard.

Wheee!!

Tuesday I balik KL – to return a library book. And to blow off some steam after a week of article reading and forum contributing. After returning the book I proceeded to borrow yet another one. Yes, I know, frickin smart.

Destination after library was Sunway, cuz I wanted to check out the new wing and Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant. Y’know, named after Bubba from the Forrest Gump film?

Another reason for me was to watch Talentime. T’was only cuz it was directed by Yasmin Ahmad. I frickin love her films, and because she frickin loves shooting in Ipoh, and best of all, she shot scenes in my church! Not lying leh. Go watch Gubra’s final scene. I can remember my church from anywhere =)

Omigod I screamed in ecstasy lah when they showed downtown Ipoh. Annoying I know, but I haven’t come across a lot of films that are being filmed in my hometown ok? That shows my pride in my very own Ipoh. =) And I think they shot the school scenes at SMK Anderson. Please pick my school for your next film, can?

I don’t usually do movie reviews cuz I very bias wan. If the movie stank but the cast very nice to look at I bagi 5 stars terus. But I didn’t think the movie was as geng as Ahmad’s previous films. Sure it had a nice hidden meaning but it wasn’t enough to make me go wow like I did with Sepet and Mukhsin. Some scenes just didn’t tally with the movie, like the one where an unknown Indian girl began dancing on stage, and I think it wasn’t even the talentime show yet. If there’s a hidden meaning please do tell me. Actors were fine, there’s cute guys (think Hafiz, Kahoe and Melkie) and cute girls (think Melur and Melati). Some were kinda bland though, prolly cuz they’re newbies to the acting industry. Am surprised they didn’t censor some words though ;) Besides the tears and frustrations there’s humor in Melkie who imitates his peers’ talents and an Indian teacher who thinks his two colleagues are gay. And duh, there’s singing, and I mean, the good kind of singing.

Totally forgot about Bubba Gump til I saw the sign while driving home.

Because K says Shopaholic is very appealing, next day I ikut him since my train wouldn’t leave in another 5 hours. If you saw me when the film was about to be released you would know I was dying to watch it cuz I have 4 outta the 5 books. Waiting for the last one to turun harga.

The film didn’t follow the books much, but it did portray Becky in a more positive, intelligent way than the childish self she was in the book. Even if she was to be immature, Isla still gives a little more adult-immature vibe on screen. Believe me, the trailer (also depends on which one you saw) does not do justice to what the show is about. It is cute and the characters are charming and if you’re a shopaholic you’ll get the point of the show. It’s not so much as a girl overspends, girl meets guy, happy ending story it’s more of a daily life story, your bad job, going to the end of the world for a better one, temptations (in this case, mannequins persuading you), overspending, trying to out run your bank manager and meeting (perhaps?) a guy along the way.

If you like watching adorable, lively, sporting girls, you’ll like Isla. She’s bubbly and preppy and chances are if you hate the storyline, Isla will make up for it.

Pics courtesy of
http://www.moviesum.com/

http://www.digitalmalaya.com/

Idol 8 rant 3

- Picked all 3/3 again. Something I'm finally good at =)

- Kendall Beard is cute =) But I can't afford plastic surgery

- Pretty bummed Tatiana didn't make it. Judging from her antics it seems she's the ONLY one who really wants to make it

- Von Smith reminds me of Frankie Muniz .. ha!

- Not sure about Jorge Nunez, I just don't get his accent

- Now that Scott McIntyre is chosen I can balik KL dengan senang hati

- To all my 2 readers, no Idol update for the next 2 weeks, no TV in KL

Idol 8 rant 2

- Omigod I'm so good at picking the best. 3/3 again woo hoo!

- Didn't watch much besides the results cuz was busy changing between 8TV and NTV7 (Oscars wei!) Loved the clip they put together from past seasons

- How does Adam Lambert sound like a guy and a chick is making my head spin

- Next week all I want is to have Scott McIntyre amongst the top 12. Period

Idol 8 rant

- My girl Tatiana didn't make it! Argh!! Is Danny THAT great?? Okay .. maybe

- Michael made it! All hail the oil rigger dude :)

- Didn't like Alexis's song but I see powerful vocals there ...

- Does Simon prefer Tatiana? He seemed pretty miffed when Danny was performing as oppose to Paula but then again, doesn't she dance to every song the contestants sing?

- Love the new AI intro and how Ryan pronounces "THIS (pause) is aMErican Idol!"

Dude, where's my bucket?

Chances are you haven't heard of this Spanish horror film before, but you may have heard or watched Quarantine before. Yea, it's the remake of [REC] with slight changes and dude, the management should've provided us with Fear Factor buckets or something going into the theatre.

Gory and bloody scenes are a totally yes-yes for me, it's just the freakin shaky camera technique which almost made me puke my guts out halfway through the film. And they use it for a horror film - which involves panic, running, chaos and gets your mind spinning.

No, I'm not gonna do a film review about this, cuz I was shielding my eyes and only got to watch the relatively calm scenes when they weren't being attacked and chased by cannibals and running around up and down the building. (No I don't think they're cannibals, but they're hungry for humans so they should be cannibals ...).

Back to the shaky camera technique, think Cloverfield - that should give you the idea. Blair Witch Project was calmer than this but so not interesting. I bought the CD thinking it was cool but never touched it again since 2004. OK maybe I don't appreciate experimental documentary (whatever you call them) films but dude, that was so boring. How did my classmates conduct a thesis on Blair Witch is a unexplainable. =)

But yeah, I'll watch [REC] again with a bucket next to me. It's like 28 Weeks Later and a little of Resident Evil where virus mutates, people get infected, people attack other people, and all the infected gang up to attack other people and the cycle goes on until Earth is inhabited by zombies.

If it happens in reality I won't be typing this.

Boom de ya dahh!

Heh, I'm back sooner than I expected. Yes, yes, I've submitted Chaps 1-3 today. I'm hoping I've shed a few pounds today after all the walking and running under the heat. I left the LJMU application form in the room and had to run back to get it. Next I power walked to TBR to print the three chapters out and met an old buddy which I can never remember his name! Some friend I am ..

Not to mention I almost missed my 3.50pm bus. I stepped on a lil girl on the way but she didn't seem to realize it. Heh. And there were lots of people blocking my way, because, apparently this happens everytime I'm late for something. And someone had to sit in my seat. Are you people blind or simply ignorant? Your seat no is printed on the ticket in case you didn't notice.

I really sangat suka this song lah. Now that AXN stinks without all 3 CSIs, TAR and House, I pig on Discovery, NGC and History Channel. Unfortunately the general knowledge I obtain is not helping me very much in school.

Yada yada

I got my hand on the Sims complete collection yesterday after getting back my PC. But it's inappropriate lah cuz it's not exactly "complete" but I don't care lah just grab it. Deep down I knew it was gonna take weeks until I can finally play cuz I tak berapa pandai in installing games.

Ya, you say easy lah, juz tekan and follow what they say. In the end

WRONG CD INSERTED. PLZ INSERT THE ORIGINAL CD

*scratch head*. But that's the ONLY CD I got wei. Mana kena cari lagi liao? Semalam 6 jam saya garu kepala, trying to figure out what's there left to do. Don't care, today wanna cari the store and hentam habis habis. I'll drag him to the hostel to install for me if I have to :P

Or maybe it's just my stupidity?? Hmm ...

Tomorrow parents wanna drag me to Tanah Tinggi Cameron. Not excited cuz I have this rare disease of throwing my guts up whenever I'm there. It happened twice the last time. I blame it on the very winding road. If Genting was any nearer I'd ask them to drop me there and go lepak alone :)

Pasal thesis pulak ... eh, still ok lah. Got minor glitch here and there but still in the race lah. Which reminds me of Amazing Race Asia 3. My fav team is still alive!! I thought about doing a race report hehehe

Some of you who actually reads this thing may caught a sight of my Twitter post (under "What I'm Doing") about Barack Obama. Not that I know anything about politics but just to tell people I actually keep up with world events lah. I did watch CNN now and then but eh .. politics memang not my type.

The other thing I know is that Sarah Palin (McCain's running mate) is a popular figure in the porno industry. I read somewhere they're making a movie about her.

Giler ...