Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happiness

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My Rating: 4Stars

This afternoon I saw the movie “The Pursuit of Happiness” at UA Time Square, Causeway Bay.

This is the first serious movie that I see Will Smith in. I had always enjoyed Will Smith movies like:

There are a few bombs like:

I am very impress with Smith’s performance. He had a very believable performance of the life of Chris Gardner. Again proofing Smith is a Hollywood super star with a diverse acting talents.

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it if you can
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

When Will They Learn?

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This afternoon I was on a local bus; First Bus #115 license plate JV7020, going East bound from Central to Kowloon City.

The outside temperature was a cool 18C, but the driver still had the air conditioner basting. The temperature in the cabin must be at least 16C.

We continue to talk about saving the environment by reducing energy consumptions and the CFC (Chlorofluorocarbons) emissions from air conditioners, but the joe-public just don’t seem to care.

In Hong Kong they even made an official recommendation for all public transportations to maintain an in cabin temperature of 23.5C. At first when the government made this recommendation, all the public transport companies were advertising the fact that they were complying with the recommendations. Now after only a few months they have reverted back to their old habits.

It this a problem of education? Its this an issue of selfishness? Or is it a social awareness issue? May be it is all of the above. I do not have a solution but for the sake of our future; on this planet, I hope people will be more aware.

Movie Review: 300

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My Rating: 4Stars

This evening I saw the movie “300” at Golden Harvest Gateway, Tsim Sa Tsui.

Many in the United States claim that this movie has a lot of American propaganda. Having heard that comment before I saw the movie, made me appreciate why they would say that. Although, if I did not I would not have drawn that same conclusion.

This movie was littered with CGI, and after watching the behind the scene special on Discovery Channel I was amaze how seamless they were. CGI is advancing so fast that it will get harder and harder to distinguish on the big screen what is real and what is animated.

This movie brought me to realize that a new warlord would appear every few decades. So are these critics in the US correct to call the US; in particular George Bush, Jr. “the warlord” of our time? I will not dare to comment any further on the subject. May be next time when I have more time.

Anyway, without being too concern with the political inference of the movie, this is a fairly enjoyable movie and deserves my 4 penguins rating. If I had a HD TV I might even consider buying a Blu-ray or HD DVD of this movie.

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it if you can
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

Movie Review: Hannibal Rising

Poster
My Rating: 3Stars

This evening I saw the movie Hannibal Rising at JP Theater, Causeway Bay.

The only other movie about the character “Hannibal Lecter” that I watched, was the first, “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), of the series. Therefore, I cannot comment on the other movies “Red Dragon” (2002) or “Hannibal” (2001), but I do like Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal much better. Hopkins plays a much later stage of the Hannibal Lecter character compared to the one in this movie. As a result, the psychosis of the character is much more developed, and Hopkins was able to make the character believable.

In contrast, this movie is the prequel to the whole Hannibal Lecter story, starting at the age of a child and tries to set the background for why Hannibal is the way he is. The actor they chose to play the adult Hannibal was, the French actor, Gaspard Ulliel, since it was a French production. But the biggest disappointment was the actress they chose to play Hannibal’s Japanese aunt, the award winning Li Gong. Not only, for the fact that she is from mainland China, she also does not look anything like a Japanese.

Gaspard Ulliel does have some good acting in the movie, and played a somewhat convincing psycho serial killer out for revenge. If you’re expecting another blockbuster based on the previous movies about Hannibal, you will be disappointed.

Rating Legend:
5Stars Not to be missed
4Stars Wait for the DVD
3Stars Buy from iTunes Store
2Stars Rent it if you can
1Stars Waste your time elsewhere

Ultimate Wedding Checklist

7 – 12 Months Before

  1. Select you wedding date
  2. Decide on the kind of wedding you want
  3. Book the venue
  4. Make a guest list
  5. Set yourself a budget
  6. Book a photographer
  7. Confirm tailor

4 – 6 Months Before

  1. Design and order invitation cards
  2. Interview and book florist
  3. Order wedding favors
  4. Notify friends and relatives about the wedding
  5. Reserve accommodation for overseas guests
  6. Plan and book honeymoon
  7. Schedule a premarital health check
  8. Choose the wedding party

2 – 3 Months Before

  1. Obtain marriage license
  2. Order wedding cake
  3. Order wine
  4. Confirm with florists venue and car decoration, bridal bouquet, bridesmaid’s bouquets and corsages
  5. First dress fitting if you’re having it tailor made
  6. Schedule meal tasting
  7. Book bridal car and other transport if needed
  8. Plan bridal shower and bachelor party

1 – 2 Months Before

  1. Confirm bridal party
  2. Prepare detailed schedule
  3. Send out formal invitations
  4. Write toasts or speeches
  5. Open safety deposit box and joint account
  6. Apply for annual leave for honeymoon
  7. Confirm honeymoon details
  8. Pick up wedding rings

2 Weeks Before

  1. Seating plan and rundown
  2. Contact guests that haven’t responded
  3. Hold bridal and bachelor parties
  4. Confirm all service providers
  5. Final fitting for your wedding dress

1 Week Before

  1. Pick up gown and accessories
  2. Confirm number of guests and details with caterer
  3. Rundown with attendants and other people with duties
  4. Prepare wedding favors
  5. Reserve table for lunch with bridal party if necessary
  6. Pack for honeymoon
  7. Confirm travel arrangements
  8. Arrange payment and tips

2 Days Before

  1. Waxing, manicure and pedicure
  2. Finalize seating chart

Sony’s LittleBigPlanet

Today (March 7th EST) Sony™ unveiled their new game, LittleBigPlanet.

You really have to see for yourself to understand why this is an incredible break through in digital game design.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI5JmcQv3n4]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOpc9Z6pKSg]

Why Does Women Wear High Heels?

In recent years I have noticed the high heels that women wear are getting higher and higher. From the typical 2 inches to the whooping 4+ inches. This trend is happening on the streets of Hong Kong and in the retail stores. With the heights in the stores going even higher.

I do not have any problems with women wearing high heels. I personally feel that majority of women looks good in high heels. Of course there are exceptions.

I the the shoes designers should remember why high heels were invented. In the 1500s it was designed for ridding shoes so that the wearer’s feet will not slip forward when riding. During the 18th century it was used to lift women off the muddy grounds of the streets London, and to accentuate the legs of women to make them look more slim and elegant. It is not for the purposes of adding height to the wearer.

Keeping in mind of the original intention of the invention. There is a very specific range of heights where the average wearer’s legs will look good. Any higher it will not only make the wearer uncomfortable but also cause the leg to deform to compensate for the angle in which the wearer is placed by the angle of the shoes.

Not to mention all the physical harm one will suffer from wearing very high heels for extended amount of time.

So I call on shoe designers and retail buyers, to lower the heights of the shoes back down to the 2 and 2.5 inches range.

I also call on women to put pressure on the shoe designers and retail buyers by stop buying high heels above 2.5 inches for your own sake.