Lost In Translation

The dark side beckons, I tell you. There has been no peaceful nights of rest until last night...
When I FINALLY WATCHED STAR WARS EP 3!!!!

I can't believe I actually allowed myself to wait this long before catching the epic, but boy was it worth the wait anyhow. Every good thing I've heard about it before and after the movie was released was true! From the galactic battles, saber-deuling scenes to the dramatic entrance of Darth Vader himself... *sigh.
You could call me a geek now and I just wouldn't care.

It was nothing short of an epic!! An epic I tell you!

I mean think about it. How good could it be when everyone (in context of the franchise followers) already knows how the story would end; how it came to such a state in episode 4, who did what and why, and still sends critics calling it the best of the six?? And it's so clever to even consider its blending in into the following yet older episodes. Okay, I'm sure most of you who've had watch any of the old movies and the later ones would notice the drastic change in the movie settings and props. The older movies which were made in the 70's had a very old, classic feel to its deco and props, whereas in Episode 1-2, you'll see how cgi has taken over in most cases and given it a more cutting edge feel to things. Towards the end in Ep 3, at the rise of Vader himself, you could notice that they had actually altered the settings a little to match and blend in with the older movies; as though to show how times had change chronologically, although it didn't...

Whoa.

All in all, as obviously as it looks, I loved that movie. It's true as what Mr. Lucas himself said, that this movie is not one suitable for kids. It solely stood as the darkest, most evil episode of all and was delivered cold without mercy. But I just loved it. Dark, funny, dramatic, romantic(?) and action packed - it delivered it all. I'm salivating as I type this.

Oh, and one more thing.
YODA ROCKS!!

Ah... So here I am, at almost half past twelve in the morning, sipping oj from my awesome Star Wars Anakin-Vader-split-personality tumbler, rustling through my notes for Quantitative Methods 1 with mellow the tunes of Frou Frou playing in my headphones. An obvious sign, as opposed to PS2 and DVDs scattered in and throughout the living room, that the exam season is finally here.

my awesome water tumbler

The worrying thing however, is that I'm not actually worried. A far cry from the frantic, stressed people around me, slamming their faces into their text book pages and lecture notes. Even the ones without exams are panicking. Esther's constantly driving me to study and quit playing Sims or chatting on MSN. She's more worried about my exam than I am.

Now, it's even worse when I know that I'm not very confident with my exams. But it's just that I constantly get this feeling that there's still just time to study. Between tomorrow and my exams on Tuesday? Oh wait... it is tomorrow already.
My exam begins on Tuesday the 7th with Quantitative Methods 1 - the only one subject I've been reading up on if I have been at all. That to follow would be Accounting on the 10th. I don't know what to feel about this one. It's easy in a way because I've done most of it in Yr 12, but it's hard in another cause I don't remember all of them. Darn...
On the 15th, I have my Introductory Microeconomics paper. This one I have a bad feeling about, which is why I know I have to spend my 4 days in between exams very wisely to geek up on it. Whether I will or not is a different matter. And immediately after, on the 16th, my Business Law exam, which I need to spend at least a FULL day on because it's mostly just reading and memorizing and spitting back the facts out.

It's faster than I think. Which isn't a good thing.
I still have this impression that I have heaps of time in between to study, which I know that I don't. Follow me? Nevermind.
Basically, the mood hasn't settled in. I'm still relaxed when I shouldn't be. Then again, shouldn't this be good? To be calm during the storms? Oh well. It's not that I'm not studying.
Let me make it clear that I am.
Just not enough, maybe. The knowing that I'm not stressed at all causes me to doubt myself.
I'm confident, but I'm not.

Somebody get me a shrink.

Okay. Let me just say first of all, that I didn't really agree with Jac's victory last season in Malaysian Idol. She oversings and kills her songs. But nevertheless, she has some talents. But honestly, guys, c'mon... What on earth is wrong with the judges?!?! I mean... have you seen the jokers they've let through this 2nd season??

I mean, look at this guy.

First and foremost, this beng here can't dance for peanuts. He sings 'My Girl' with a dangdut-slash-pushing-trolley dance move. Andrew got through to be amongst the finalists being a tree on stage, so why can't Mr. Beng here follow?! But nevermind. Let's say the judges were blind. What about his pronunciation?
"Wat can make me few this weh?"
How I know?! Was he reduced in any manner while auditioning? I would say his dignity but he doesn't think so. But still, nevermind. Let's say the judges were musically inept (which they probably are) as well. Let's check out the feedback.

Paul said not bad. He turned the song into his own, adding his own style to it.
Roslan was surprised he sounded decent, judging by his beng-ish looks, and said yes.

Kak Jee, oh wise and beautiful Kak Jee, liked his voice but thought it was a little weak.
Beng: I can improve.
Jee: Improve is one, but you gotta impress. That's important... i mean... your style..
Beng: I have style. And I'm pretty good looking..

WHAT?!

And then he blushed!
Surprised, Kak Jee asked him to repeat himself.
"I'm a gorgeous boy!"

WHAT THE HECK?!?!

Okay. So not only are the judges blind and musically inept, but they're sooooo generous with their auditionings they're actually letting the blind and musically inept in?!
Then again, when you come to think about that, it does make sense. The blind will lead the blind when they're placed in such positions where they're called to lead.

Oh well. All I can say is that as much as I love my country back there, I feel embarrassed by their quality and taste in music. Okay, okay. Let me take that back for a moment there. I really shouldn't generalise. It's unfair and it's untrue. Only SOME people in Malaysia can't judge music for peanuts and hence, shouldn't be in their seats on that show in the first place! Shame on them! Shameful, I tell you!
If only Malaysia could produce music as good as they do with food.
Sigh...

After much meditation upon the word of God and a coupla cups of Milo, I've somehow decided sometime between last week and today that I should try delving into the photoblogging scene. Seeing that I do have a lot of pictures that I've taken and enjoy mucking around with them, why not 'publish' them?
Only contrast in comparison to the other real photobloggers is that theirs are genuinely good and mine are photoshoppedly good.

Oh well.
I haven't found a proper domain for it yet, so till then, please visit my first photoblog here! Will try to build somemore on it soon, and please do comment if possible. Feedback is very much appreciated.
:)

I just got home not too long ago after watching Batman Begins in Knox City with Joseph, Keryn and Esther. Boy was the cinema impressive!
(I'll get to the movie later)
I read somewhere in a newspaper only a few months ago about the Village in Knox City being probably the best cinema Melbourne has to offer. Now, believe it or not, the cinemas in KL are generally better than the ones in Melbourne, especially in terms of its sound quality. But DAMN! Knox City is that ONE cinema that stands out from the crowd of B-rated cinemas in town! Sure, it's in the middle of nowhere. But the V-max theatre we got to watch the movie in tonight was spectacular! It's probably the biggest movie theatre I've ever been into and the quality was nothing short of being breathtaking!

So anyway, on to the movie. If you haven't watched any of the previous Batman flicks before, it's okay. You're not missing much because they practically sucked with a capital 'S'. Okay, okay. So maybe the Tim Burton ones were not that bad. In fact, the first of Burton's was pretty good. But as for the rest for Joel Schumacher's versions, they are just plain crap!

It all comes down to their depiction of the Dark Knight, I guess. Burton (being himself) successfully painted a dark and eccentric picture of Batman. But I think what really hit it off to be such a success was its seriousness after having the audience recognize Batman for so long to be a silly character from the 60's version played by Adam West. Remember that theme song that would drive you nuts, with all those "ker-pow's" and "bams!"? That Batman would even run about in daytime! Batman doesn't fight crime at high noon. He only appears at night! Big mistake!
Oh well. I guess the 60's will always just be... the 60's?

But just as the crowd were getting impressed by the Joker, Catwoman and the Penguin, Schumacher just had to change a few things. For one, the movies got lighter again. Silly to a certain extent. Gotham City got colourful (instead of the seedy, dark and lurking feel it's supposed to have). And the villians weren't maniacs - they were just bad acting! Oh, and the worst part of them all for both Batman Forever and Batman & Robin?
His nipple suit.
That's right. Schumacher decided that Batman's suit shouldn't only show off his artificial six-pack, but his lovely nippies as well! What the heck?!

The many faces of Batman

The first ever Batman movie in '66. KAPOW!


Michael Keaton as Batman in 'Batman' and 'Batman Returns'


Val Kilmer as Batman with stiff-hard nipples


George Clooney has better nipples than Val Kilmer cuz his is chromed


Christian Bale as the most current Batman

I tell you, if this goes on, we could probably see a new 007-like franchise in the making. (Actually, I think we already are seeing it).

Batman Begins, however, would have to be the best version ever made. Whether it be for all its comicbook fans or as a stand alone movie, Begins was well-made and Christian Bale's portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and the Dark Knight himself was excellent. Loosely based on the Batman: Year One series (which 3 of the 4 issues I proudly but sadly own by the way... so kek xin), Christopher Nolan's (director) depiction of him was brilliant and most convincing of the lot. He successfully presented a witty but sharply intensed action movie and yet maintained the key elements of the Year One series to remain a dark and violent story.

Oh and Batmobile...
:O

Well, as you may have guessed it, I loved the movie tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, but it really wouldn't have been if it weren't for the fellowship with the guys. It was really fun to have Joey, another avid fan of Batman himself, around to watch it with. And of course, the cinema had nothing to do with it.
;)

Today stands a chance that it'd be the last time I'd see Joel.
No offence to any other babies out there right now (or should i say mums?). But this boy has got to be my favourite baby boy in the world. Well... as long as he remains a baby, that is.

Aspiring drummer. Chick-magnet by day. Firefighter by night. Drooler. And knows all his body parts by heart.

Today's the last Sunday I'll spend in Melbourne before I head home to Malaysia for the holidays. By the time I get back here, he'll be in Singapore with his family starting a new phase of life there already.
By God's grace I'll be able to catch them there before I come back here.
Until then, I guess I'll just have to miss him.

*Sigh.

It's been a busy, busy few days lately. I try so hard to fit in as many things as possible on my schedule. FFK-ing so many people and plans in order to do as much as I want as possible, and yet, try to keep up with friends; the latter being the toughest of all ordeals.

Today alone, I've helped carried luggages for three separate people in three separate occasions. Firstly, my dad and cousin, who were flying off to Malaysia today after their recent short visit here in Melbourne. I helped them carry their luggages in and out of the car, sending them off at the airport. Secondly, KG's stuff. He's finally moving in with me and so I helped him move some of his stuff in today. More is to come tomorrow. And finally, Esther's. We both spent a good hour or so at her place, packing and then bringing over her stuff to my place for tonight. We're both flying off to Malaysia tomorrow.

I've also completed my sessions with Soonie today. Hehe. As for those of you who don't know, I've been seeing him for some dental treatments recently. So after sending my dad and cousin off at the airport in the arvo, I rushed home to brush my teeth before heading off to the dentist immediately. Apparently the condition of one of my teeth was so bad, I had to do a root canal. Now don't ask me what that means, but it sounds serious, alright. In fact, it even looks serious.

How sweeeeet was that?! It looks like a freakin' surgery I tell you! And I got to wear that green rubbery thing for about 2 out of the 5 (or) 6 sessions! And tell me that sunnies ain't cool, man. I get to wear that all the time!
:D

So anyway, I'm heading off tomorrow! Back home to where I belong. Home where I remember community as my family - knitted together so tightly that when we're pulled apart, we tear on both ends. A community where I hope to be with again, even for just this short period of time. And of course, the wedding. Wouldn't miss it for the world.
Can't wait. Can't wait...

But before all that? Kg's still in the process of moving in, a bed has to be moved from my apartment to Esther's, our flight seats are yet to be finalised, and some last minute packing has to be done.
A full day awaits.
A full-on 3 weeks await.

I can't wait.