Category Archives: Screen Talk

Chanced upon this video from a friend’s blog, and I simply LOVED IT. In the semi comatose state that I am in, I was singing and snapping along with the Sister Act choir.

I love it, love it, love it! :D

Back at the beginning of the season, I first saw Archuleta’s performance while I was working out in the gym. I was awestruck and kept hoping that this is the guy to sail through to the finals.

Many spectacular performances later, the indication is clear. Archuleta is all poised to be crowned the next American Idol.

Have you listened to him yet? This talented boy will capture your heart with not only his voice, but his humility as well. His soaring popularity will definitely see him making it at least to the final two.

To be honest, I have only watched his performances on YouTube, and no others. I guess judgement has been mostly right.

I can’t wait for that magical moment.

To Maia, it was a love mystery of three women in her father’s life – April, Emily and Summer. Which one is her mother, and which one does he father love the most?

To me, it was a human tale of missed chances, of aspiration, of what you really want.

William Hayes’ character encompasses who I am, and who I am not, and who I could be. He moves through life a little hesitant, a little courageous, touching and shaping the lives of the women who fall in love him, and them, his life. He fights for what he believes in. He fights for what he wants.

And yet when faced with disappointment and rejection, imagined or otherwise, he pondered with sadness and moved on with grace.

I admire these in a person. I wish I am like that.

Definitely meaningful to me, maybe even more than that.

The episode “Leech” of Smallville Season 1 taught me a great lesson.

Clark Kent’s power was somehow transfered to another kid through an unfortunate combination of lightning and meteor rocks. When the kid discovered he has superhuman power, he became delighted, proud, egoistic, scared and vengeful in turn.

What touches me the most is how, when two person are bestowed with the same gift, it is their values and beliefs that truly define who they are.

Eventhough Clark can put his power to “good use” (like the leech did), he didn’t.

Which brings to mind of this simple analogy – when two person are equally good looking on the outside, it is what’s inside that matter the most, that will differentiate them.

I want to admire a person who is blessed with good looks and a great inner personality.

Alas, I have yet to meet one.

Sometimes, when you pay attention to what you are watching on television, you might just learn something new… and perhaps, something that you take heed from.

I have been a Smallville fan for the longest time now. Bought the entire six seasons on DVD, and recently I am just starting to watch them again. For the whole of season 1, and most of season 2, the story revolves the strangeness that is Smallville – a town of meteor mutants (?)

That is just my long-winded way of saying that, it is kinda boring to watch repeats of those episodes.

But I can’t help but notice some of the lines were pretty meaningful. Here are some that people like me can reflect and ponder on.

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I will be the first to admit – I am no fan of Japanese anime. Not that I hate them, but my interest in them just wasn’t there. I distinctively remember my last anime was Spirited Away, and to be honest, although it was a beautiful movie, it didn’t compel me to add Japanese anime to my “to-try-out” list.

Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone changed that.

In an explosive animation bringing the anime creation Neon Genesis Evangelion to the big screen, Eva 1.0 got me tethered to the edge of my seat. Literally.

You can read all about the movie on Wikipedia, but here’s a take from someone like me – the uninitiated.

The movie revolves around Tokyo, which was under attack by a battalion of monsters named as “Angels”. The fate of Japan, and the human kind, lies on the shoulder of a young boy Shinji Ikari, who struggles to do what is right for his people and what is right for him.

As the “fated child” to pilot Eva One, Shinji was put to the test between his ultimate yearn for his father’s love, and his terror in piloting the gigantic soldier robot in battling the onslaught of Angels.

The ensuing battles outlined the technology superiority of the Japanese – not only in the fight to protect their people, but also in the design of Tokyo 3.0 – their fortress city.

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It shocked me to the core that Lydia Sum, died this morning in Hong Kong. The reason is not widely known, but it was suspected that her long cancer-related illness has finally taken its toll on her.

I remember her vividly – she is the comedian whom I look forward to watch on TV as a child. With a loud, vivacious laughter that you can identify in a room full of people, Lydia, or “fei jie” (fat sister in Cantonese) has a huge personality that renders her a long career in the entertainment industry.

This news, still not yet widely circulated on the Internet, saddened me. There goes another truly talented entertainer of our time.

At least she made it past CNY this year.

Rest in piece, Lydia Sum. You are fondly remembered.

(And this reminded me of the Heath Ledger’s saga last month)

Let me be the first to admit – I have never watched The Amazing Race. I knew many of my friends are fans of the reality show, but as a non-couch potato that I am, I just never caught the fever.

But when news were abound that the team from Singapore won the Asia version of the show, I was intrigued. And when someone posted links to YouTube for the shows, I watched them to see what the hype is about.

At the end of the five clips, I was crying as I watch the duo ran to the finishing line, claiming the grand prize of USD100K.

The show itself was a heart-stopping ride. Racing across 10 countries and 15 cities, the final three teams competed with each other in completing tasks after tasks, counting on a combination of their wits, fitness and composure to beat the others.

And the fact that the race ended in Singapore, where I am living now, only made it all the more real for me.

The duo, Collin and Adrian, was awe-inspiring to watch as well. Collin was the typical Singaporean boy, but it was Adrian whom tugged at the strings of my heart. As the only contestants in Amazing Race that has a disability – he was deaf since born – the gusty fighter kept calming Collin at the tensest moments of the show, and he was the one who kept his cool during the most pressurising stage of the show – the one with the country flags at Sentosa.

It was Adrian’s relentless pursuit to prove that his disability is no hindrance for him to enjoy life to the fullest that got me all inspired.

The second winning team comprises of two Malaysian girls were entertaining enough to watch. I can’t say much about the Filipino duo – they were a bit over confident for my taste – but they should be applauded as they ended the race at third place gracefully.

What can I say? The Amazing Race has now gained another new fan, and I am now inspired to look beyond my own comfort zone in living my life towards the fullest.

Congrats, Collin and Adrian, you guys were awesome. Spend that USD100K wisely!