星期五, 3月 31, 2006

Fogyish Foggy Fog - 《THE FOG》电影影评


跟哥借了这戏的DVD(可以不花钱就不花),DVD封面写着“A BIT FOGGY, A BIT SCARY, A BIT INTERESTING”。

这是一齣典型的好莱坞式惊悚片,运用着简单的方程式:杀+逃+死+視觉效果=惊悚片。

杀,人或鬼或怪物太普通,所以杀人者是以雾的形态出现的一群冤死鬼。

逃,还是逃。总之就主角一定逃得了,那些咖哩菲就是死定。

死,就是不同的死法,被刀插面而死;烧死;无端端被鬼手动过后就变成干尸而死;被一堆漂浮在空中的玻璃片杀死(这幕的SVE可说还蛮粗糙的);等等。

SVE(SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECT),主要是那些雾出现的部分而已,微不足道。

故事是说百多年前,四个人违背卖土地给一群有麻疯病的人的约定,抢劫并烧死了他们。之后,四人用那笔钱发展了他们的村庄成今天的小镇。就在年度小镇记念他们的日子,那群冤死的人回来了,以雾的形态。。。

本来雾的形态的鬼是蛮特别的创意,但这戏里并没有好好利用这雾的特性来设计一些较特出的桥段。

就反派是以雾形态出现的,最出色的应该是漫画《JOJO与奇妙的冒险》第3部中的女皇替身。《JOJO》里替身就是特别的能力,有这能力的人就是替身使者,作者荒木飞吕彦就将这能力形象化,女皇替身就是以雾形态现身。女皇替身因是雾,它可以制造出整个小镇,它可以控制整镇的死尸,但它不能轻易杀一个人,只能靠控制的死人来追杀主角。要控制一个人也不容易,那人身上必须有伤口才会被控制。而最后之所以它能被打败,也是因为它是雾,雾是空气,主角JOJO用他的白金之星将女皇吸入肚里面,致使女皇的替身使者窒息晕倒。

这就是能够用雾的特性来设计杀人者的特点,及其弱点。

但《FOG》并不能做到这点。白费了。

《FOG》也有着典型惊悚片的弱点,就是薄弱的剧本。本来嘛,女主角找到那本先人写下当年的杀人烧船经过的日记(很明显是为了让看电影的你我知道事情真相)的过程就已蛮牵强,在加上男女主角在知道那日记有着真相的情况下竟然还慢吞吞吃饭时读几页、在车上逃亡时看几页,却没一口气看完整本日记以了解真相,当然这也是为了让看官们能“不那么快”知悉真相而设,真是“用心良苦”!还有的是,戏的一大段就一直是那雾在作鬼作怪,显现一些当时船烧后遗下的物件、显现那天秤的符号几次等等,毫没来由的。再来,那群鬼是枉死而来报仇的吧?但鬼雾却就只追着几个主角或他们的身边的人,而主角一定不会死,就算她连车跌落海中也可安全逃生。惊悚片光靠吓,却又可悲的一点都不吓人,是非常糟糕的。

最后戏拖没好拖,就说女主角是鬼头目的情人投胎(应该是,她一直梦见那女的,及她有着一样的样貌,多么方便!),她就舍己为人跟那鬼雾一起消失。WHOA,大结局。

但那些鬼不是要“BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD”的吗?怎么没杀完那四个家族的后人酱就离开了?摸不着头脑。

“A BIT FOGGY, A BIT SCARY, A BIT INTERESTING”?还真对,JUST A BIT。

星期四, 3月 30, 2006

First birthday celebration at BatWings

It's my birthday today.

After a tiring 2 hours plus meeting for the project, being told that colleagues are going to celebrate my birthday with me in BatWings cafe.

They bought a very pretty cake from Berry's, I can't help it and took the picture of it immediately.
Such a beautiful cake

Even prettier after lit up the candles

Disappointed though, I found out they actually put 2 big and 10 small candles on it, which means I turned 30! But hey, I still have one year to go into 30 ok! Or they don't know how to count huh? *shake head

Besides the cake and celebration thingy, I also got a free Nando's meal from my boss during lunch and also a birthday card from my team members.
Wonder what is written in the middle? That's "Happy Birthday to you" in Tamil. Like I know Tamil? *roll eyes

Here is my lovely colleagues Christine, CJ, SN, Zi, CS, CL, IP and Gan. Thanks for the cake and birthday song and everything else to them. :)


And dear BatWings, you still owe me ONE TGV ticket voucher and ONE hotdog voucher. But can't you just be a little more generous and give like TWO TGV ticket vouchers instead of that pitifully ONE damn ticket voucher? So are you encouraging those who is single to remain single, those who is not, like myself, just go out and enjoy my sweet time, alone? Hmm....

[Updated 4/4/06] Some photo from IP's E1070

love the dazzling candles in this photo

快。慢

近来觉得自己像是架被升级成MULTI CORE PROCESSOR的PC,突然同时间可以做着几样事情。如,在原来PROJECT的混沌之外,又参于了一堆为准备下个 PROJECT而有的没的的MEETING,及一堆有的没的的DOCUMENT。又如,在读着《新编汉书》的同时,又翻阅着阿加莎。克里斯蒂的《孤岛奇 案》(AND THEN THERE WERE NONE)的网络下载版本,又看Conan Doyle的《The Original SHERLOCK HOLMES》的超厚版。

而,恰恰相反的是,我在公司所用的DELL LAPTOP却像是懒鬼上身,越走越慢,LOAD机慢,打开FILE慢,跑APPLICATION慢,慢慢慢,做什么都慢,十足它主人我一般,毋想捞了!*摇头

大日子啦!

好,就祝我:
生日快乐!
以我这每天都发梦钱从天上掉下来的性格,当然希望
不用做也发!
通常一不离二,愿自己
无痛无痒健健康康吧!
有二必有三,所以还希望
万事顺顺利利

酱就够了!哈!

星期三, 3月 29, 2006

为兄弟还是为黄金?-《黑社会》电影影评

精彩片段:
阿乐不耐烦粗暴地拔掉钩在上钓的鱼鱼唇上的钩,但大D没有发现阿乐的举止的变化。阿乐突拿起大石敲击了大D头一下,然后一下又一下的把 大D打死。

终于看了杜琪峰编导的电影《黑社会》又名《龙城岁月》,英文名叫《Election》,就是选举。

据在戏院看过的讲,这里戏院放的并不是原来的版本,就如其他古惑仔、无间道电影,最后都要有一段“邪不胜正”的戏,警察抓了坏人,坏人没好下场,或坏人是 卧底。真他妈的,甚年代了?还要来这套思想过滤吗??

因此,我看的是OEM DVD版本,香港原来的版本(是不是original不得而知,据说有个长达3小时的director cut版本),谢谢老天爷赐我们翻版。

于是,在看了这戏后,才发现它中文戏名并没英文戏名来得传神--选举,因为整齣戏所环绕着的,正是一场地下社团新“老大”的选举。

戏 一开始,就是一场社团“话事人”的民主选举。但也不十分的民主,所谓选举,只不过是几个社团长老级人马和现任“话事人”投票而已,最后下面的“鱼毛虾 膏”也只有跟的份。两个候选人,沉静的阿乐(任达华)及嚣张暴躁的大D(梁家辉)互相角力,用钱、用情义,争夺各元老的支持。

但选举结果 是阿乐当选,大D不服,于是展开了一场代表社团最高权力象征的龙头杖的争夺战,这也是戏里面一班亮眼的绿叶们如林家栋、古天乐、张兆辉、林雪和张家辉等人 戏份较多的部分。戏里林雪仍是给人感觉很真蛮会演的;张家辉演的蛮牛型黑帮打手角色并不新鲜,也就让人有演戏的感觉;古天乐则最没表现,有点木纳;林家栋 就还是那种让人感觉他还是没从他在TVB《酒是故乡醇》等里角色抽身出来一样;只觉得绿叶中,张兆辉演得很出色,他演的师爷角色虽戏份不多,但却锋芒毕露。

争夺结果是阿乐夺得龙头杖。大D在形势不比人强之下,只好接受阿乐的提仪,承认阿乐为新的“话事人”,钱一起赚。两人似乎就毫无疙瘩的合作无间齐齐赚钱,直到阿乐和大D在河边钓鱼的戏,才真正扭转整齣戏的结局。

戏 里,杜琪峰安排了一段约10分钟的新老大上任,与几个环头大哥的结拜仪式,以及旁白道出黑社会的由来,对这齣戏有点睛的效果;一方面说了华人社会的成群结党的由来,另一方面,最重要的是为戏的结局带来对现在黑社会的现况作出的讽刺,所谓烧黄纸结义兄弟已沦为一种意识形态,在权与钱面前,义不值一晒,人命更不用说了。

狡兔死,良狗烹。

悲哀的是,嘿,这不只发生在戏里面。你说呢?

星期五, 3月 24, 2006

突然。零G

生活像是失去重心。突然觉得所有的事情像是飘浮在空气中,毫无办法捉住其着力之处。

自己也好像失去重力,并不踏实,双手非常努力的向前划出去,却又徒劳。

拒绝覆行对自己去gym的约定,因为我知道,失去重心的并不是肉体,而是心理,举再多的重,也无法让它触地;跑再长的时间,也无法消除其顽固的浮力。

没来由的,原本应该是娱快的星期五,就这样让这不娱快的心情缠着我。

“FUCK!”

或许粗话是可以减压的。

“我XX你”

或许粗话是可以减压的。

“这世界是美好的。”

或许对周围有多一点的赞赏心情就会好一点。

“明天地球还是照旧在转。”

或许多一些正面的想法,就可以有少一些负面的情绪。

“这世界是FUCKING美好的明天我XX你地球还是照旧在转!”

在一口气讲完了后,心境似乎平静了一些。

星期四, 3月 09, 2006

Liverpool defeated

After the happiness I had yesterday...

I don't fucking want to say anything, anymore...

Fucking disappointed...

星期三, 3月 08, 2006

Chelsea was beaten by Barcelona

Disclaimer:
I am a Liverpool fan. Repeat. I am a Liverpool fan.


Whoa !! Chelsea is out of UEFA champion league !! Oh yeah !! Barcelona finally got the sweet taste of the revenge.

Chelsea was beaten aggregate 3-2. This has proven that UNLIMITED budget doesn't mean you are going to have a best team, just take a look at Read Madrid's sinking Star Ship. Unlimited budget just means you gonna spend extra money compared with other team in purchasing a player, in malay means kena potong, in hokkien means ho lang zamp. This is stupid way of burning the money!

Yeah, baby, down you'll go Chelsea !!

So, England when are you going to remove that stupid wax model of Jose Mourinho from the Madame Tussauds? I guess can make that wax model into a candle and see him burn himself off. That would be a fascinating scene.

By the way, who are you going to blame this time, Mourinho?

星期一, 3月 06, 2006

An eye

Got this from email. Is somebody really watching us?

Tightening my belt now

Last friday, the first time I went to feed my car since the petrol price hike. And one full tank of petrol now costing me RM67.01! Yeah Najib, you are fucking right, I better fucking change my lifestyle now! But, it's not like I have any other choices, haven't I Najib?

At the same time, my fucking loan shark OCBC bank decided to rob more money from me by sending me a letter saying they are increasing the annual housing loan rate to 5.5%, due to BLR which is increased to 6.5%, which in turn due to OPR being raised to 3.25% by our considerate garbemen. Thanks to you, Abdullah Badawi, now I have fucking less money and yet I still need to work fucking harder for my loan shark!

78th Oscar

So, Oscar winners list has finally been revealed. Here's the winners of some of the most important awards:

  • Achievement in Directing
  • Ang Lee
    BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

  • Best Motion Picture of the Year
  • CRASH
    Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman

  • Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman
    CAPOTE

  • Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
  • Reese Witherspoon
    WALK THE LINE

  • Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
  • George Clooney
    SYRIANA

  • Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
  • Rachel Weisz
    THE CONSTANT GARDENER

    I was not surprised by the best movie award going to Crash. Why? Because Oscar didn't have much choice you see:
    Brokeback Mountain - a gay movie, which against Christianity and also hurts the feelings of all the cowboy lover
    Capote - main character is gay, not good.
    Good night, and good luck - the movie is about confrontation between media and political power. Bad, should not encourage media to do so.
    Munich - criticising Jews. Very Bad!!

    And, Crash is about the already existing racial and cultural tension in USA, the Americans have seen it all during Katrina hit Orlando anyway. So, it's safe. -_-

    Other than that, other awards' winners are quite expected to won in that category like Ang Lee won best director, Philip Seymour Hoffman won best actor and Reese Witherspoon won best actress.

    Right now, I just can't wait for my next SungaiWang DVD shopping this weekend.

    星期日, 3月 05, 2006

    《断背山》与78屆OSCAR

    看了抢在OSCAR之前颁发的《2006年英国电影学院奖》,大赢家又是《断背山》,难怪George Clooney要开玩笑说“Fuck Ang Lee”了。《断》去年至今好像是不停的拿奖,李安你手酸吗?《断》真的这么好看么?说的不过是西部牛仔的GAY的故事。我并不是贬低李安,李安一向来拍的戏都很合我口味,《推手》、《喜宴》、《饮食男女》甚至《HULK》这部西方科幻Superhero的故事都有给我惊喜。只是,GAY这会儿事,让我有点不知怎么去看《断》这齣戏。

    记得当年借了王家卫的《春光乍洩》VCD看,一开场的床上戏就使我顶不顺,有种眼睛被强暴的感觉。张国荣和梁朝伟在《春》的演技如何好,我到现在都还不知道,只看到那幕床戏,也只记得那幕床戏。

    我反GAY吗?一点点啦。我想我支持GAY的立场是在于恋爱是人的自由的基础,但并不包括接受男与男在床上的性交画面,总觉得很、非常的geli,平时看到街上那些外劳手牵手亲密状就已经鸡皮疙瘩!

    Anyway,在过去两年,美国的同性恋结婚合法性事件闹得不可开交,甚至BUSH也呛声要禁止其合法化。因此,《断》片的大红,某方面来讲是试图利用此片让美国民间大众明白、接受GAY,用最激烈的方法:美国西部GAY牛仔!!西部牛仔是GAY的严重性,就像说金庸《神鵰侠侣》杨过与黄药师是GAY,一样的荒唐。

    但我还没看《断》,好不好能不能接受还不知道。但看了《2006年英国电影学院奖》后,却觉得这次参加的电影如《CAPOTE》、《CRASH》、《GOOD NIGHT,AND GOOD LUCK》、及《MUNICH》都是很好的影片,偏偏遇上《断》,我想这几部戏的导演也只能叹声“时不予我”罢?

    P/S:刚刚才发现这次OSCAR也有遗珠:《THE CONSTANT GARDENER》、《THE HISTORY OF VIOLENCE》、《SYRIANA》。时不予我耶?