A good flick to end/begin the year…

Well, kakita, direcow and his girl, myself and one other long-time friend of ours went to catch Gangs of New York last night at Lido.

Martin Scorsese once again proves his genius with this well thought-out show (apparently conceived in 1978 - long before me!) recounting the New York of the mid-1800s. I thought the beginning scene was a little clichéd, when you have the two “gangs” fighting in 1846 and after all the bloodshed and death, the camera pans out to show that it all happened in New York, USA.

Daniel Day-Lewis puts up a spectacular performance as always as William “Billy the Butcher” Cutter, a racist mob leader who prides himself as being American just because his father fought in the War of Independence. His character is evil, yet Day-Lewis manages to make his character so three-dimensional, it’s hard to condemn him, even at the end.

Cameron Diaz does a Heather Graham and shows an amazing amount of talent as a big-time pilfering woman. Hopefully this role propels her away from the “ditsy blonde bimbo” hole she’s dug herself into (Sweetest Thing, anyone?). In this role, she’s more Princess Fiona (of Shrek fame) rather than Mary (of Something About Mary fame), and it works. My only gripe (which I constantly ranted about during the movie) was the lack of chemistry between Cameron and Leo, but more on that later.

Perhaps in an attempt to inject some pop culture into this film, the lead protaganist role is given to Leonardo DiCaprio. Thanks to him, I was forced to lower my rating somewhat. Leo felt out of place throughout the film, and I personally felt he never quite got into character. In many places throughout the film, I saw more Jack Dawson than Amsterdam Vallon. Leo plays a boy orphaned by Bill Cutting (Day-Lewis), who grows up and finds himself at the right-hand of the very man who killed his father (played by Liam Neeson). His motivations are unclear at first, though the audience knows that he will have to avenge his father’s death sooner or later.

The movie’s strength lies in focusing on the antagonist rather than the protaganist, on capturing the talent of Daniel Day-Lewis and keeping Leo off-camera as far as possible. Casting also played a big role with Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot), Jim Broadbent (Zidler in Moulin Rouge), Brandon Gleeson (A.I.) and John C. Reilly (Perfect Storm) rounding up the cast. All in all, an enjoyable film with lots of drama and intensity, and a good way to end the year.

[rant]I don’t think I’m ever going to Lido again, though. Halfway through the flick (the Uncle Tom’s Cabin scene) the picture started to go fuzzy and stayed that way till the end! And if that wasn’t bad enough, at the film’s turning point (the scene with SO MUCH tension between DiCaprio and Lewis)… the projector was stopped and we missed almost the whole dialouge there! I would have expected someone to apologise at the end of the movie at least… but no one did! ARGH! [/rant]

Merry Christmas!

Have you checked out Three-Thirteen’s Christmas special yet?

Okay, so it’s Boxing Day already…. but who cares, yeah?

I got a certain recipe from a fellow Klingon over in the US… I plan to try it during our traditional New Year’s Eve party, although I probably won’t because of it’s dangerous content. Anyway, here it goes…

WARNING: Make this recipe according to directions or it can result in injury (seriously).

It is very simple to make. There are only three main ingredients. : Acquire two specific bottles of commercial booze. One is a bottle of Chartruese, 150 proof, mint liquer. The second, depends on how brave you are. The milder version, takes a bottle of Stroh’s spiced rum, also 150 proof. The third ingredient is a small tin of common spice, known as powdered nutmeg.

Mix the two bottles of alcoholic beverage, together, in equal amounts…Depending on your tolerance for alcoholic drinks, you can probably handle anywhere from one to maybe four or five of these drinks, in small amounts. No more than 4 ounces at a time…

Pour the blended mixture, into a small drinking vessel, from 2 to 4 ounces in volume, and sprinkle a pinch of powdered nutmeg on the surface of the liquid. Now, set flame to the surface, allow to burn for a slow count of three, then blow out the flame. It’s ready to drink. However, before you throw it back, there is a specific set of rules for drinking this mixture, which MUST be followed, closely. Otherwise, it could actually prove fatal.

Rules for drinking Harbinger neqtai:

1. Swirl the liquid gently, as it burns, so as to heat it evenly…
2. Blow out the flame…
3. Take as deep a breath, as your lungs can possibly hold, and sustain it, as you toss the drink back…
4. once the liquid has sizzled down your throat, exhale through your mouth, forcibly, then close your mouth, TIGHT!
5. Don’t breath in, through your mouth, for at least 10 minutes. Fifteen would be better. If you DO breath in through your mouth, too early, the severe traumatic shock, of the aerated high octane alcohol, to your system, will cause every airflow passage in your body, to close up tight, and you will suffocate. It might be a good idea to have a trained EMT standing by, who has experience in emergency resperation proceedures, and also have a quick ride to the nearest hospital at hand, when you first try this drink.

For those extremely brave and/or foolhardy individuals, who like to live on the edge, the more potent version of the drink, calls for the substitution of Everclear, 190 proof, pure grain alcohol, in the place of the Stroh’s Rum.

The resultant finished drinks, will be from 150 to 175 proof. The real kicker, is actually NOT the strong alcohol mixture. It seems that when powdered nutmeg is exposed to such high octane alcohol, it becomes almost halucenogenic. It’ll DEFINATELY get you there. It makes the best hardcore Romulan Ale, look like Kool-Aid, by comparison. However, as long as the rules are followed, closely, it makes for a really good, really kick-ass drink. The first time, I would strongly advise, that even the best drinkers, not go for more than 3 of these drinks. Besides, it’s like drinking flaming sulfuric acid. It REALLY burns on the way down.

My muse is going to be SO jealous…

This muse thing seems really inconvenient. -astronaut

astronaut will probably know what I’m talking about (if she can still remember her own SMS). Check out Three-Thirteen’s Christmas special now! Heh… you know, it’s been a while since I spoke of Vanessa, my muse cum “imaginary friend” from my early teenage years.

I guess it all began when I was reading the ValueTales series written by Ann Donegan Johnson and illustrated by Steve Pileggi. They were stories about famous people (such as Cochise, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill) who all, for reasons unknown, all had imaginary friends. Naturally, I too began having an imaginary friend who was a constant listening ear (mainly because she couldn’t do much else). Her name was Vanessa.

Anyway, Vanessa soon got replaced by the Big G Himself, since I realised I didn’t need an imaginary friend, but yesterday, while hanging around Orchard Road during Christmas, I was reminded of her again.

But let me start at the beginning…

The Beginning

Christmas officially began at 2320hrs on the 24th when the Midnight Mass was preceded by a short skit produced by the youth of Holy Family. Then came the carols from the youth choir Genesis II (who were surprisingly out of shape this year - must have been their back-to-back performances at Raffles City), followed by Mass proper. After Mass came the youth Christmas party, aka 3 hours of good, clean fun. There’s nothing like spending the start of the holiday with church friends.

Christmas Day itself saw us spending the afternoon with my mother’s extended family (since my father has close to no extended family to speak of). I most enjoyed spending time with my cousin’s two baby sons, perhaps because they apparently remind everyone of myself when I was their age. Not that it’s a good thing, mind you… but they were well-behaved and quiet, and I realised how much I wanted to hold my own children in my arms one day. Of course, if I take the vow of celibacy, that’s not going to happen… but that’s a discussion for another day.

Before the family gathering, I go a call from my da jie who wanted me to meet her. Apparently her on-off boyfriend had done something to piss her off and she wanted me to pass him his Christmas present (since she didn’t want to see him in the near future). Sigh.

Just a quick recap of my LONG weekend.

Thursday: Went out with Hell’s Kitchen to the new, revamped Parkway Parade. Not bad… I couldn’t even recognise it after going up to the fourth storey. I’m just glad Derek Lauchengco moved out, his comic shop would have been so out of place had it stayed there. Bought The Sims: Unleashed for my sis for Christmas. I’m so glad she likes it. It’s a pretty fun expansion, and the pets are a really nice touch.

Friday: Slacked the whole day, playing an older 3D game called Outcast. It’s about how this Negro dude has to save a world inhabited by bipedal horses from the eeeeevil clutches of a white man dictator. Pretty cool concept, and there’s nothing quite like going around being hailed as the world’s Saviour. That night, went to St. James’ Church, an Anglican church off Holland Village thanks to my da jie (who is finally getting a mention after a couple of months) to catch her best friend in action. They were putting up a Christmas musical and while it was a generally amateurish production, most of them were obviously having fun and that’s all that matters. As Hell’s Kitchen would say, “Pete, you’re too critical!” and he’s right. I’ve got to change that attitude.

Saturday: I shall call this the Gallbladders day. Because that’s practically all I did the whole day long. The Gallbladders are basically an all-girl band who have a pretty interesting sound. Their vocals/rhythm guitarist is Joycelyn Yik, whom some of you might recognise as the creator of The New Adventures of Bobbin! (name comes with exclamation mark). What I was impressed with, is that they really were a lot better than I expected. And their songs are really cool too. If they manage to survive another year, I think they should produce a CD.

Sunday: Went out with kakita and astronaut. Typical day out with two of my closer friends. Someone once told me that it was a very important thing to maintain these friendships through regular meetings and outings. I agree. I also probably need a damn good reason to spend my whole Sunday doing nothing. And no, I’m not going to pick up sketching, thank you very much.

And thus ended my very long weekend. I can’t help but feel that the “Shine Jesus Shine!” (a Catholic youth rally) long weekend was a lot more enjoyable though.

Free personality analysis from ColorQuiz.com.
Generated on Fri Dec 20 19:34:52 2002.

Your Existing Situation

Acts calmly, with the minimum of upset, in order to handle existing relationships. Likes to feel relaxed and at ease with his associates and those close to him.

Your Stress Sources

Delights in the tasteful, the gracious, and the sensitive, but maintains his attitude of critical appraisal and refuses to be swept off his feet unless genuineness and integrity can be absolutely vouched for. Therefore keeps a strict and watchful control on his emotional relationships as he must know exactly where he stands. Demands complete sincerity as a protection against his own tendency to be too trusting.

Your Restrained Characteristics

The situation is preventing him from establishing himself, but he feels he must make the best of things as they are.

Able to achieve satisfaction through sexual activity.

Circumstances are such that he feels forced to compromise for the time being if he is to avoid being cut off from affection or from full participation.

Your Desired Objective

Seeks success, stimulation, and a life full of experience. Wants to develop freely and to shake off the shackles of self-doubt, to win, and to live intensely. Likes contacts with others and is enthusiastic by nature. Receptive to anything new, modern, or intriguing; has many interests and wants to expand his fields of activity. Optimistic about the future.

Your Actual Problem

Wants to act freely and uninhibitedly, but is restrained by his need to have things on a rational, consistent, and clearly-defined basis.

Aging

Weird. When I was growing up, my favourite group of people used to be parents and other adults, because I constantly amazed and impressed them thanks to my early mental development. Much like how the boy Jesus engaged theological scholars at the age of 12, I too challenged the beliefs of the adults willing to listen to me. Due to the many differences between myself and the average born-in-1982 person, I ended up more comfortable with others older than myself.

Over the weekend, I’ve discovered (once again) that I’m perfectly comfortable with those younger than myself. I remember clearly my own experience as a 16-year-old, and being around friends with an median age of 17… well, it’s different than being with older people, naturally, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless.

Which maks me wonder why I constantly had trouble dealing with my own batch of people. Perhaps its because unlike the adults and those younger than me, those my age had nothing to be impressed by. I was just another one born in 1982, and it became decidedly harder to feel unique among them. But is this selfish? To desire acceptance through uniqueness? Or just the enjoyment of being praised? Who knows.

P.S. The 15-year-old has stopped being a goddess, and I’ve stopped worshipping the ground she walks on. So stop asking me about her.

Heh… what d’ya know…

It’s Nicole Kwan. Yep… @ Moulmein High’s resident slut-bitch-bimbo is Nicole Kwan, aka ACJC’s worst kept secret, and the object of many young hormonal male’s desire. Not mine apparently, because it took me two years after graduation to finally put name to face.

Oh, and I can’t believe they only needed two episodes to disappoint me. The acting in yesterday’s story was draggy, the plot was hardly original, and Cynthia Koh seems too unconvincing even though this is her third season. Hell, I’d rather see Debra Teng as the main character. Ironically, I’m actually glad I missed auditioning for it. Seriously, it’s quite painful to watch them, let alone be included among them when they get flamed by the critics in the press, who may be right for once.

Maybe it’s sour grapes. Maybe not. Whatever it is, I would still like to be a part of @ Moulmein High. But uh… leave Lawrence Wong (aka “My greatest desire is to join the Music & Drama Company!” guy) out when I arrive, yeah?