Sunday, January 15, 2012

Pumped Up Kicks!

This my first 2012 concert, and my oh my, Foster the People is totally amazing. Great music, cool beats, amazing vocal, these kids really know how to pump up the crowd! It's just that I was a bit disappointed with the venue choice. When I thought it would be held in Fort Canning Park, I assumed they would choose the big park in the middle, but turned out the organizer picked up the smaller one. Another thing, some irresponsible assholes decided to smoke in the middle of the crowd! Some of us decided to back out to find some fresh air, huff....

Nevertheless, it was a great concert, and looking forward for their next record!






Wednesday, January 4, 2012

AT-AT and AT-ST

This is gonna be my first blog written from Blogger apps on iPhone, let's see how convenient it will be.

Okay, geek mode...During my trip to HK, I spared some time to wander around Mongkok area, which is claimed to be one of the best spot to find toys. After some extensive browsing, I managed to find out that there's a shopping area named In's Point (just near Yao Ma Tei MTR exit along Nathan Road), where it has 2 floors full with toy seller, including LEGO shops.

To my excitement, the place was awesome, with lots of variety among toys. But as my wifey pointed out, jst focus on LEGO. Adding to my amusement, the pricing wise was crazily cheaper, some are like 40% off from Singapore's pricing, almost made it even with US pricing. So, after wandering around some shops, my wifey bought me not just one, but TWO sets for my Xmas presents!

AT-AT Walker
Luke hanging out

I finally picked out AT-AT walker (from episode V, Battle of Hoth), and AT-ST (episode VI, Battle of Endor). I grabbed them for total less than SGD 300, considered as a steal! Initially I was looking for the walking AT-AT, but it was too expensive...so I pass them out. Especially for the AT-ST, it was the UCS version (standa for Ultimate Collector's Series), which does not usually come with mini figs, but more detail, bigger scale, and comes with info plate. This adds my previous UCS sets of Millennium Falcon and Vader's TIE ship.

Back in Singapore, the AT-ST was mostly built by my buddy, Ebhe, another LEGO Star Wars enthusiast, who might steal it if I'm careless. For the AT-AT, I built it up in slowly for the enjoyment purpose, and finished it in a week.

To my bewilderment, they are good sets indeed, good deal as well. Wifey also spare some spaces in the living room for display, damn she's awesome!



AT-ST UCS version

Sunday, January 1, 2012

2012


If Rolland Emmerich (also the Mayans) predicted correctly, this should be my last New Year celebration...so let's make it worthwhile :)

Looking back, 2011 is a great year after all, between all those trips (Thailand, Europe, and China), also hanging out with crazy friends...thanks for Facebook's Timeline for helping checking out those things backward. 

2012 is gonna be a more challenging I guess, with my QE exam is coming rite up, and 9 months of counting down for the little one in my wife tummy. Darn, I can't believe I can write down, I'm gonna be a f**king DAD! Probably my most memorable Xmas and New Year's gift, topping the chart. 

So, new day, new calendar, and new resolutions: be more serious in my research, less gaming, save money for the kid, and be a better person/husband/dad/son/friend. Tough, nail biting, eating my heart out, but possible.


Toast!

Blue is glue!


 from aquarium, to Bedrock, then Jinmao Tower, and this...What's next?

My gosh, it’s been so long that I haven’t updated this blog…darn! Between Europe and Hong Kong trip, and other lazy reasons, I just couldn’t keep up to update the new things that I’ve watched…Well, I supposed I gotta catch up then…Thus, I’m trying to write lesser, and compose a shorter but concise reviews.

It’s been 15 years since the first Mission: Impossible brought into the big screen by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner. The first one was too convoluted and twistingly complicated for one time viewing, but the hanging wire and red-light green-light thing was classic. Second one was a disaster full with nonsense action scenes. While J.J Abrams managed to create the best of the series with the third one back in 2006. Emotionally gripping, supported with great cast, complete with eye-popping stunts, a truly proper popcorn summer flick.

Best hottie catfight for 2011. 

And here comes the number 4, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and per say, the best of the series. So many reasons not to hate this one, it’s the most light-hearted and fun MI flick, it has wonderous and eye-catching gadgets, not to mention over the top stunts, and last but not least, Tom Cruise acts as if he is still 30 something. And what I like more is the active involvement of the cast as a team, so we are not just seeing Cruise in solo mission, where each of the member has its own unique treats. Ethan Hunt (Cruise) as the team leader, Jane Carter (Paula Patton) as the only female member, providing eye candy and male attraction (she got brain and amazingly hot!), Benji (Simon Pegg) as the I.T guy and ice-breaker a.k.a funny guy. Lastly, which most probably will gonna continue Hunt’s legacy, Brandt (Jeremy Renner) as the CIA analyst.

It’s nice to see the less-dominated screen time by Cruise and letting other guys have their own moments. Like everytime Pegg always made chuckling everytime he jokes or even says a word, while Patton managed to steal some scenes with some of her daring or tight outfit, and Renner, of course, showing his tough side later halfway through after being left out in the early part of the movie.

Renner: Listen, I'm gonna be your future boss! with bigger payment! 

Ghost Protocol is what I’ve been longing to watch on last summer period, especially with all the popcorn action flicks complete with some cheesy lines and beyond your imagination thrilling scenes (remember Fast Five?). Many memorable and over the top moments, and Tom Cruise was totally nailed it, which could be his last Ethan Hunt journey (he’s almost 50, dude!).  Nevertheless, If you manage to catch it on IMAX, shouldn’t be too dissapointed, you got Cruise jumping around Burj Kalifa and Patton showing her nice eye popping cleavage. What a total enjoyment of full 2-hour nonsense espionage movie, gotta love it!.

My Review: 9/10