Ergo Proxy

I must be honest. I didn't like Ergo Proxy at first. I found it messy and had not much of an element of suspense that makes me want to watch on. However, things began to change slowly as I progressed into the series, and I soon found an intriguingly deep focus on the psychology and mentality of its protagonists. In the future, humans and androids each assumes a purpose, and this "raison d'etre" consumes them throughout the series, drawing parallels from theories of philosophy. Amidst the chaos and mess of the perceived future, I somehow felt compelled to sit back and think of my very own raison d'etre.

Happy Birthday Mum

There exists a lady, who's the fairest of all
To her children always standing proud and tall
She can play every role
A best friend, a teacher, a motherly soul
Looking and fixing our every loophole
We hear too, she likes red
But there's no denying Korean dramas are her fav'rite
And here's this lady
Whom you just can't catch any day
Deserving of a great Happy Forty-ninth Birthday.

District 9

Warning! This is not your usual alien fare. District 9's unique method of cinematography had me gripped from beginning to end. Shockingly intense and truthful, it explicitly portrays both physical violence (thus the M18 rating) and deep emotional trauma. This is the type of show that makes people stick to their seats for awhile even after the movie had ended. Though the end was clear to all, I left the cinema silently pondering, if there could have been another way things played out.

4 stars.

Eden of the East

Eden of the East is a short 11-episode anime series. Behind the main storyline of twelve chosen individuals tasked to play a 'game', this plot carries an unusually deep undertone. To put simply, it deeply discusses the strange hypocrisies in the human nature. Who will stand up and be the 'bad guy' when the time comes? Why do people choose to see the bad over the good? Why do people only cherish things when they lose it? These are just a few questions being tackled in the series. It is a stark but cruel reflection of our societies. It is said such societies need some form of tragedy to avoid an imminent evolutionary standstill. Are we at such a precipice?

Already back to black?

Insanity has arrived. 2767 new homes were sold in July - compared to the 1825 sold in June which already topped the previous peak in Aug 2007. What is the world (or rather, Singapore) coming to? Has the foam grown into bubbles? With newfound paranoia emerging regarding a "second wave" of economic turmoil, we are once again fraught with the all-too-familiar uncertain trepidation. The rally last night also left me somewhat unconvinced. Are we really back to black?

Up

Pixar and Disney has once again scored with UP. A heart-warming and deep movie punctuated with funny moments, the show was also well-paced from the start to end. For me, the most meaningful takeaway was the scene which Carl "left the heavy baggage so as to fly". It reminds us that it is never too late (or too old in Carl's case) to start your own adventure.

4 stars.

What do you see?

What do you see? For me, everything I envisioned for my NDP experience came to life. Volunteering for it was undoubtedly the best decision I have made thus far in my NS stint. Happy Birthday Singapore!

Different faces of home

The different faces of Singapore. A day before National Day, I thought it would be befitting to gather the best shots of my country and compile them here. Thank you to all the photographers of the above photos who did justice to our home.

G.I. Joe

Action-packed from the beginning to the end. Very predictable storyline but also equally entertaining special effects and slick fight scenes. This is a "Transformers" and more. Standard fare from car chasing to deep sea battles will keep you at the edge of your seat. The ending also made sure a sequel will be produced, which is a good thing. I don't mind buying the DVD in blu-ray to enjoy the high definition gunfire too. And of course, everyone loves a bitchy lady who fights - the baroness in this case.

3.5 stars.

Public Enemies

Public Enemies is based on a true story. It's quite funny how you hear the audience asking each other about this only at the end of the film. True-life stories that capture public attention have usually already reached the overly-dramatic stage, thus allowing them to get that status in the first place. I felt the movie might have exaggerated some parts to the slight point of unreality. Nevertheless, Marion Cotillard, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale did not disappoint.

3 stars.

Leonardo da Vinci

I was struck in awe the moment I stepped into the exhibition grounds. Leonardo da Vinci was a man who wanted to know everything, and he did knew almost everything. He was an unmistakable polymath whose expertise gave birth to many of our modern inventions. Sadly, a genius's life is often filled with drama and scandal, and his real contributions to society was not known till after his death. The above picture shows one of his many notebooks which he kept his research. After being tried for sodomy, he became much more distrusting and paranoid, thus depriving the world of many of his work which he secretly guarded and that was eventually never found. A great pity isn't it? But a great man is never without his flaws.