All's Well, Ends Well 2009
Vincent Kok
For a period in the 1980s and 1990s, all- star Hong Kong comedies were a staple during the Chinese New Year holidays.
The Eighth Happiness (1988) with Chow Yun Fat and Carol Cheng and All’s Well, Ends Well (1992) with Leslie Cheung and Stephen Chow were madcap affairs which proved to be crowd-pleasers.
The 2009 version of All’s Well is the third entry in the franchise and the producers are probably banking on the fact that the familiar title will pull in the crowds. Plot-wise, the three films feature different characters though they share a certain silliness.
Sandra Ng, who has often played ugly, loud and uncouth characters, gets to be the modern career woman this time, but one whose abrasive manner has left her on the shelf.
This is a problem for her younger brother Ronald (Ronald Cheng) because of a family rule that stipulates the eldest child has to get married first. Enter Louis (a charred-looking Louis Koo), a love guru whom Sandra takes a shine to. And Raymond Wong pops up as a detective (Mr Wong) Sandra loves to hate.
The paper-thin plot is really an excuse to string together a series of jokes. There are some funny slapstick moments but the hit-to-miss ratio is not quite high enough while the chemistry-free romance sub-plot between Louis and sweet young thing Man (Miki Shen) is simply grating.
(ST)
Monday, January 19, 2009
George Lam and the symphony orchestra
Max Pavilion @ Singapore Expo
Saturday
Hong Kong singer George Lam may be soft-spoken when it comes to interviews but he had no problems belting it out and delivering a solid show on Saturday night.
The audience demographic at the concert reflected the 61-year-old’s longevity as a singer. The more than 5,000 fans ranged from those in their 30s to silver-haired supporters in their 60s.
The dapper and lithe Lam appeared in a velvet suit over a white shirt and dark tie and opened with the Barry Manilow classic I Write The Songs.
This segued cleverly into songs Lam had written for other singers, including Happy Birthday To Me for his wife Sally Yeh, as well as Shadow Of The Starlight for Paula Tsui and Still Remember That Time for Teresa Carpio.
The repertoire leaned heavily on Cantonese tracks, including Number Life, Mirage and Lonely Won’t Leave Me Alone, but he also showed his versatility with the bluesy rock of When A Man Loves A Woman.
He proved to be a canny showman, milking the drama of Guys Be Strong, the theme song from the gongfu flick Once Upon A Time In China, which he sang in both Cantonese and Mandarin.
Backed by a 30-piece symphony orchestra, he gunned for the high notes and also executed with a flourish the demanding fast tracks such as the cheesily entertaining Ali Baba.
During a medley of quick numbers, he lobbed tennis balls into the audience, pumping up the crowd which had been largely content to show its appreciation with scattered applause.
The first encore featured crowd-pleasing Cantonese cover versions of hits such as Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl, Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now as well as Sarah Brightman and Jose Carreras’ Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life).
In between songs, Lam chatted with the crowd in English and Cantonese. He said that it was nice to be in Singapore as it was one of the few places where he could speak English and be understood.
The self-deprecating Lam also took a few digs at his age. He recalled that when he first came to Singapore to perform, “you had to cut your hair to come in”, referring to the 1970s when the authorities frowned upon men with long hair.
When an enthusiastic audience brought him back for a second encore, he joked: “You want some more? Old folks like me need to sleep early.”
While he may not be the flashiest of performers, he had an easy affability which endeared him to the crowd.
For the hit duet Xuan Ze (Choice), he picked a partner, Rose, from the audience. She turned out to be a big fan who had kept one of the tennis balls Lam had thrown at a concert at the Harbour Pavilion 10 years ago.
A beaming Lam gave her a kiss on the cheek and made her day with a small memento after their duet together.
“I hope I don’t have to keep this for another 10 years. Please come more often,” she said, a sentiment his fans would agree with wholeheartedly.
(ST)
Max Pavilion @ Singapore Expo
Saturday
Hong Kong singer George Lam may be soft-spoken when it comes to interviews but he had no problems belting it out and delivering a solid show on Saturday night.
The audience demographic at the concert reflected the 61-year-old’s longevity as a singer. The more than 5,000 fans ranged from those in their 30s to silver-haired supporters in their 60s.
The dapper and lithe Lam appeared in a velvet suit over a white shirt and dark tie and opened with the Barry Manilow classic I Write The Songs.
This segued cleverly into songs Lam had written for other singers, including Happy Birthday To Me for his wife Sally Yeh, as well as Shadow Of The Starlight for Paula Tsui and Still Remember That Time for Teresa Carpio.
The repertoire leaned heavily on Cantonese tracks, including Number Life, Mirage and Lonely Won’t Leave Me Alone, but he also showed his versatility with the bluesy rock of When A Man Loves A Woman.
He proved to be a canny showman, milking the drama of Guys Be Strong, the theme song from the gongfu flick Once Upon A Time In China, which he sang in both Cantonese and Mandarin.
Backed by a 30-piece symphony orchestra, he gunned for the high notes and also executed with a flourish the demanding fast tracks such as the cheesily entertaining Ali Baba.
During a medley of quick numbers, he lobbed tennis balls into the audience, pumping up the crowd which had been largely content to show its appreciation with scattered applause.
The first encore featured crowd-pleasing Cantonese cover versions of hits such as Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl, Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now as well as Sarah Brightman and Jose Carreras’ Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life).
In between songs, Lam chatted with the crowd in English and Cantonese. He said that it was nice to be in Singapore as it was one of the few places where he could speak English and be understood.
The self-deprecating Lam also took a few digs at his age. He recalled that when he first came to Singapore to perform, “you had to cut your hair to come in”, referring to the 1970s when the authorities frowned upon men with long hair.
When an enthusiastic audience brought him back for a second encore, he joked: “You want some more? Old folks like me need to sleep early.”
While he may not be the flashiest of performers, he had an easy affability which endeared him to the crowd.
For the hit duet Xuan Ze (Choice), he picked a partner, Rose, from the audience. She turned out to be a big fan who had kept one of the tennis balls Lam had thrown at a concert at the Harbour Pavilion 10 years ago.
A beaming Lam gave her a kiss on the cheek and made her day with a small memento after their duet together.
“I hope I don’t have to keep this for another 10 years. Please come more often,” she said, a sentiment his fans would agree with wholeheartedly.
(ST)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
It should really be called the Blue Dissected Plateau. “But that does not quite have the same ring as the Blue Mountains, does it?” asks Mr Tim Tranter, owner-operator of Tread Lightly Eco Tours (http://www.treadlightly.com.au/).
Located 90 minutes from Sydney by car, the Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park is a sprawling 2,500 sq km of forested valleys, sheer cliffs and plunging waterfalls.For those who have been to Sydney and think of it as an urban, coastal cityscape, the proximity of the mountains is a lovely surprise.
And the best way to learn about it is to sign up for a fully guided bush walk conducted by someone such as Mr Tranter, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years, served as a fire and rescue team member, and saves trapped snakes in his spare time.
The name of his company, Tread Lightly, reflects the philosophy of its tours:to leave a minimal imprint on nature through the use of eco-friendly resources. His four-wheel drive runs on liquefied petroleum gas and he wants to convert it to operate on natural gas, which pollutes even less.
Given his background and his love of the place, he is a fount of information.
The area is called Blue Mountains because the light refracted through the oil released by the eucalyptus or gum trees, makes the haze look blue from a distance.
That, however, is possibly the least fascinating aspect of the area’s ecology. It seems things are done differently Down Under, even when it concerns nature.
Fires are often seen as a destructive force but the frequency of their occurrence here has contributed to some unusual flora. The banksia plant, for instance, actually needs fire for its seedpods to burst open and scatter the seeds inside.
As we drive down a track through the bush, Mr Tranter grabs a leaf off a branch, crushes it and passes it to me. “Here, smell this,” he says. The oil in the eucalyptus leaves fuels the fire so that it burns faster, thus sparing the trunks from combusting.
He also points out edible shoots, leaves and fruits from what, to the undiscerning eye, looks like a big patch of green. “These shoots taste like carrots,” he says encouragingly.
Maybe my taste buds are not meant to sample nature raw and unprocessed. Another berry I try is mostly just chewy in texture.
He says the cockroaches can be eaten as well because they feed on nectar instead of faeces. Good thing we do not see any running around.
Most people who come to the Blue Mountains make a beeline for the Three Sisters at Echo Point, a spectacular sandstone formation. According to an Aboriginal legend, a witch doctor turned three sisters into stone to protect them from harm but he died before he could reverse the spell.
But there are other vistas with curiously little human traffic. At Anvil Point,we are greeted by a lush and verdant view of the valley with the bonus that it is completely deserted.
If you prefer your nature in a more familiar theme park-like setting, Scenic World (www.scenicworld.com.au) is a good bet. The picturesque railway is on the world’s steepest rail incline while the cable-car ride over Jamison Valley affords a bird’s-eye view of the plunging Katoomba Falls.
There are reportedly discussions underway to build a roller-coaster ride which will hug the escarpment. It seems hard to square this with eco-protection but it does sound like a heck of a ride.
For a change of pace, mosey over to Leura Mall for some shopping for everything from beaded lamps to scented candles to all kinds of sugar rush at an old-fashioned candy store.
My favourite shop here is Cafe Josophan for its delicious homemade chocolates. Even wild cockatoos know to head here for the muffin crumbs.
After a fruitful day spent exploring and hiking, unwind at a private guesthouse such as the Silvermere (www.silvermere.com.au), originally built in 1923 and handsomely restored.
There are also various spa resorts catering to different tastes, from the five-star Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa (www.lilianfels.com.au) to the exotic Japanese bath house Blue Mountains Sparadise(http://www.japanesebathhouse.com.au/).
If you need to balance your fix of nature with the bright lights of a big city, it is comforting to know that Sydney is nearby. Even for those who have visited, this cosmopolitan metropolis still offers fresh things to discover with new restaurants and nightspots constantly sprouting up.
See the city from a different perspective, on a motorbike(www.bluethunderdownunder.com.au) with Steve White, your friendly leather-wearing, Harley- revving guide.Granted it is a little difficult to keep up with the guide’s running commentary when you are riding pillion but you do get personally chauffeured to little-known viewing spots which offer uncluttered views of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The monikers of these iconic structures might seem a little prosaic but then, what’s in a name right?
Getting there
Singapore Airlines, Qantas and British Airways fly direct to Sydney daily. The flight is about seven hours long.
The Blue Mountains are about an hour to 90 minutes away from Sydney by car. Another option is to travel by train from Sydney’s Central Railway Station. The journey can take from one to two hours, depending on your exact destination.
5 things to do
1 Do pack warm clothes, even when travelling in summer, as it can get chilly in the mountains.
2 Do bond with the locals. Stop by Glenbrook, the gateway to the Blue Mountains, to view wild kangaroos, kingfishers and cockatoos.
3 Do walk on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It can be quite “educational”. Once, a guided group – the first of the day – found an abandoned shopping cart filled with beer cans at the bridge’s highest point. They never found out who hauled it up there.
4 Do tour the Sydney Opera House and learn about the challenges in realising the audacious vision for the dramatic structure. It was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who died in November last year. Forced to resign as chief architect before the project was completed, he never saw the finished building.
5 Do hop on a boat for a sail and see Sydney from the water. There is plenty to explore given that this is the world’s largest natural harbour with over 240km of shoreline.
2 don’ts
1 Don’t forget to pack comfortable walking shoes for the hikes.
2 Don’t miss out on the diverse dining options, from the casual cafes in the warren of streets behind Bondi Beach to the hip, big-name restaurants.
(ST)
Located 90 minutes from Sydney by car, the Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park is a sprawling 2,500 sq km of forested valleys, sheer cliffs and plunging waterfalls.For those who have been to Sydney and think of it as an urban, coastal cityscape, the proximity of the mountains is a lovely surprise.
And the best way to learn about it is to sign up for a fully guided bush walk conducted by someone such as Mr Tranter, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years, served as a fire and rescue team member, and saves trapped snakes in his spare time.
The name of his company, Tread Lightly, reflects the philosophy of its tours:to leave a minimal imprint on nature through the use of eco-friendly resources. His four-wheel drive runs on liquefied petroleum gas and he wants to convert it to operate on natural gas, which pollutes even less.
Given his background and his love of the place, he is a fount of information.
The area is called Blue Mountains because the light refracted through the oil released by the eucalyptus or gum trees, makes the haze look blue from a distance.
That, however, is possibly the least fascinating aspect of the area’s ecology. It seems things are done differently Down Under, even when it concerns nature.
Fires are often seen as a destructive force but the frequency of their occurrence here has contributed to some unusual flora. The banksia plant, for instance, actually needs fire for its seedpods to burst open and scatter the seeds inside.
As we drive down a track through the bush, Mr Tranter grabs a leaf off a branch, crushes it and passes it to me. “Here, smell this,” he says. The oil in the eucalyptus leaves fuels the fire so that it burns faster, thus sparing the trunks from combusting.
He also points out edible shoots, leaves and fruits from what, to the undiscerning eye, looks like a big patch of green. “These shoots taste like carrots,” he says encouragingly.
Maybe my taste buds are not meant to sample nature raw and unprocessed. Another berry I try is mostly just chewy in texture.
He says the cockroaches can be eaten as well because they feed on nectar instead of faeces. Good thing we do not see any running around.
Most people who come to the Blue Mountains make a beeline for the Three Sisters at Echo Point, a spectacular sandstone formation. According to an Aboriginal legend, a witch doctor turned three sisters into stone to protect them from harm but he died before he could reverse the spell.
But there are other vistas with curiously little human traffic. At Anvil Point,we are greeted by a lush and verdant view of the valley with the bonus that it is completely deserted.
If you prefer your nature in a more familiar theme park-like setting, Scenic World (www.scenicworld.com.au) is a good bet. The picturesque railway is on the world’s steepest rail incline while the cable-car ride over Jamison Valley affords a bird’s-eye view of the plunging Katoomba Falls.
There are reportedly discussions underway to build a roller-coaster ride which will hug the escarpment. It seems hard to square this with eco-protection but it does sound like a heck of a ride.
For a change of pace, mosey over to Leura Mall for some shopping for everything from beaded lamps to scented candles to all kinds of sugar rush at an old-fashioned candy store.
My favourite shop here is Cafe Josophan for its delicious homemade chocolates. Even wild cockatoos know to head here for the muffin crumbs.
After a fruitful day spent exploring and hiking, unwind at a private guesthouse such as the Silvermere (www.silvermere.com.au), originally built in 1923 and handsomely restored.
There are also various spa resorts catering to different tastes, from the five-star Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa (www.lilianfels.com.au) to the exotic Japanese bath house Blue Mountains Sparadise(http://www.japanesebathhouse.com.au/).
If you need to balance your fix of nature with the bright lights of a big city, it is comforting to know that Sydney is nearby. Even for those who have visited, this cosmopolitan metropolis still offers fresh things to discover with new restaurants and nightspots constantly sprouting up.
See the city from a different perspective, on a motorbike(www.bluethunderdownunder.com.au) with Steve White, your friendly leather-wearing, Harley- revving guide.Granted it is a little difficult to keep up with the guide’s running commentary when you are riding pillion but you do get personally chauffeured to little-known viewing spots which offer uncluttered views of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The monikers of these iconic structures might seem a little prosaic but then, what’s in a name right?
Getting there
Singapore Airlines, Qantas and British Airways fly direct to Sydney daily. The flight is about seven hours long.
The Blue Mountains are about an hour to 90 minutes away from Sydney by car. Another option is to travel by train from Sydney’s Central Railway Station. The journey can take from one to two hours, depending on your exact destination.
5 things to do
1 Do pack warm clothes, even when travelling in summer, as it can get chilly in the mountains.
2 Do bond with the locals. Stop by Glenbrook, the gateway to the Blue Mountains, to view wild kangaroos, kingfishers and cockatoos.
3 Do walk on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It can be quite “educational”. Once, a guided group – the first of the day – found an abandoned shopping cart filled with beer cans at the bridge’s highest point. They never found out who hauled it up there.
4 Do tour the Sydney Opera House and learn about the challenges in realising the audacious vision for the dramatic structure. It was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, who died in November last year. Forced to resign as chief architect before the project was completed, he never saw the finished building.
5 Do hop on a boat for a sail and see Sydney from the water. There is plenty to explore given that this is the world’s largest natural harbour with over 240km of shoreline.
2 don’ts
1 Don’t forget to pack comfortable walking shoes for the hikes.
2 Don’t miss out on the diverse dining options, from the casual cafes in the warren of streets behind Bondi Beach to the hip, big-name restaurants.
(ST)
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Passengers
Rodrigo Garcia
It would be safe to say that this will not be part of your in-flight entertainment.
After a plane crash, Claire Summers (Anne Hathaway) is assigned to counsel the survivors. When one of them turns out to be the charming Patrick Wilson (above,as the seemingly in denial Eric), you know that professional lines are going to be crossed.
The film cannot decide if it wants to be a conspiracy thriller, a romance or a family reconciliation drama and lurches distractingly from one genre to the next.
Director Rodrigo Garcia drops hints with his sombre colour palette that there is something else going on here but the last act is still preposterous.
(ST)
Rodrigo Garcia
It would be safe to say that this will not be part of your in-flight entertainment.
After a plane crash, Claire Summers (Anne Hathaway) is assigned to counsel the survivors. When one of them turns out to be the charming Patrick Wilson (above,as the seemingly in denial Eric), you know that professional lines are going to be crossed.
The film cannot decide if it wants to be a conspiracy thriller, a romance or a family reconciliation drama and lurches distractingly from one genre to the next.
Director Rodrigo Garcia drops hints with his sombre colour palette that there is something else going on here but the last act is still preposterous.
(ST)
The Women
Diane English
Four women friends go through thick and thin in the city of New York.
With such a familiar premise and a sitcom-ish quality to the script and acting,this feels like a two-hour pilot for a Sex And The City knock-off.
When Mary Haines (Meg Ryan), who seems to have it all, finds out her husband is having an affair, her friends – magazine editor Sylvia (Annette Bening), housewife Edie (Debra Messing) and writer Alex (Jada Pinkett Smith) – rally around her.
Despite the modern-day setting, there is something really dated about The Women. Is it Ryan’s curls? Or the fact that she chooses not to confront her husband about his philandering ways? That is so 1930s.
Oh wait, that was when the original by George Cukor was made – in 1939.
The film even ends with that tired cliche – a birth scene, though Messing gives it her all and even makes it mildly funny.
But given the cast assembled, including Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher, Bette Midler and Eva Mendes, one would have hoped for a little more spark and a little less fizzle.
(ST)
Diane English
Four women friends go through thick and thin in the city of New York.
With such a familiar premise and a sitcom-ish quality to the script and acting,this feels like a two-hour pilot for a Sex And The City knock-off.
When Mary Haines (Meg Ryan), who seems to have it all, finds out her husband is having an affair, her friends – magazine editor Sylvia (Annette Bening), housewife Edie (Debra Messing) and writer Alex (Jada Pinkett Smith) – rally around her.
Despite the modern-day setting, there is something really dated about The Women. Is it Ryan’s curls? Or the fact that she chooses not to confront her husband about his philandering ways? That is so 1930s.
Oh wait, that was when the original by George Cukor was made – in 1939.
The film even ends with that tired cliche – a birth scene, though Messing gives it her all and even makes it mildly funny.
But given the cast assembled, including Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher, Bette Midler and Eva Mendes, one would have hoped for a little more spark and a little less fizzle.
(ST)
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Alan's War
By Emmanuel Guibert
You never know what can happen when you ask a stranger for directions.
In the case of illustrator Emmanuel Guibert, then 30, it led to a firm friendship with the 69-year-old Alan Cope, an American who married and settled down in France. And their conversations led to this vividly written and drawn biography.
In 1943, during World War II, an 18-year-old Cope is drafted by the United States army. The most dangerous things, though, happen outside combat. He almost gets killed by a falling tree during training and just misses being crushed under a tank.
When he is eventually sent to France on a mission in February 1945, the war is ending and he does not see much combat action.
As a soldier, he is not perfect as he sometimes breaks rules. As a person, he can be stubborn as well. But he is also open-minded and generous, striking up friendships with some Germans, even though fraternising is forbidden.
The last part of the book takes a rather sharp turn when Cope has an epiphany at 55, realising he has never lived his life fully.
He sees in society “overcrowding by too many dogmas, false values, and wrong thinking; a kind of psychic illness that afflicts the human race and prevents people from knowing what to do with their lives”.
It prompts him to reconnect with the people in his life as a way of seeking closure.
While Guibert’s black-and-white ink washes are beautiful and bring Cope’s story to life by evoking landscapes, personalities and situations, they are never intrusive.
The tale is fully Cope’s, warts and all, and it is his voice we hear. This is an easy, intimate conversation between friends and you feel privileged to be able to sit in.
If you like this, read: The Professor’s Daughter by Joann Sfar and Emmanuel Guibert
See Guibert’s deft touch in a different light with this comic romance between a mummy and an Egyptologist’s daughter set in Victorian London.
(ST)
By Emmanuel Guibert
You never know what can happen when you ask a stranger for directions.
In the case of illustrator Emmanuel Guibert, then 30, it led to a firm friendship with the 69-year-old Alan Cope, an American who married and settled down in France. And their conversations led to this vividly written and drawn biography.
In 1943, during World War II, an 18-year-old Cope is drafted by the United States army. The most dangerous things, though, happen outside combat. He almost gets killed by a falling tree during training and just misses being crushed under a tank.
When he is eventually sent to France on a mission in February 1945, the war is ending and he does not see much combat action.
As a soldier, he is not perfect as he sometimes breaks rules. As a person, he can be stubborn as well. But he is also open-minded and generous, striking up friendships with some Germans, even though fraternising is forbidden.
The last part of the book takes a rather sharp turn when Cope has an epiphany at 55, realising he has never lived his life fully.
He sees in society “overcrowding by too many dogmas, false values, and wrong thinking; a kind of psychic illness that afflicts the human race and prevents people from knowing what to do with their lives”.
It prompts him to reconnect with the people in his life as a way of seeking closure.
While Guibert’s black-and-white ink washes are beautiful and bring Cope’s story to life by evoking landscapes, personalities and situations, they are never intrusive.
The tale is fully Cope’s, warts and all, and it is his voice we hear. This is an easy, intimate conversation between friends and you feel privileged to be able to sit in.
If you like this, read: The Professor’s Daughter by Joann Sfar and Emmanuel Guibert
See Guibert’s deft touch in a different light with this comic romance between a mummy and an Egyptologist’s daughter set in Victorian London.
(ST)
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