Aal Izz Well

'This heart scares easily, you have to trick it. However big the problem is, tell your heart, all is well pal. That will not solve the problem, but you gain courage to face it.'

Rachhoddas Shamalladas Chanchad

3 Idiots, 2009

Definitely the best movie ever that I have watched. Recommended for everyone!!

Entry Rojak + Miracle Happens?

Malaysia got the first gold medal already!!! (or probably by now has added some more..)

I watched Magika last Sunday. Has always been a supporter to KRU bro's work (I wish Yusry is reading this..hahaha..) Not bad for a musical. Though I think some of the character is a bit over the top, but then again for musical is always like that right? But in the spirit of supporting Malaysian product, I am willing to bet my money on KRU's stuffs anytime over some Prof's work. Definitely worth it ;)

Some thing happen at work which I think is a miracle. You see, we have this pit stop planned starting yesterday till Wednesday. One of my scope is to do job A. For this job we need item B,C,D and E. We have all of them but quantity is not enough, and the worst part is item E, the main thing is not up to spec. So in order to get E up to spec we have to many things that will delay the work, and most likely not possible to do still. If we live without item E, we will incur loss come Q1 2011. Somehow miracle work its way, and warehouse people found item F, which is up to spec as item E but only smaller size, we decided to proceed with it anyway. Better than nothing. I am really hoping things work out well. Have to spend another night in control room...

Wish me luck!! Daa...

Movies and More Movies...

During the 9 hrs flight from Cape Town to Dubai, I could not sleep at all. I don't know why, so I tuned into ICE (Information,Communication and Entertainment). Emirates In Flight Entertainment. They offered quite a wide range of movies, musics and games. I watched many movies and these 3 are worth to mention here:

Remember Me

This is the first non Twilight movie played by Robert Pattinson that I watched. Its a sad movie, about how a son struggle to make the father realised that he is needed not just because of money, because of other things as well. Its also about a brother who would do anything just to spare his little sisters feeling the same way that he did. Its a family struggle trying to keep it together after losing one of the member. Its about how a boy meets a girl. Its about some things that are simple in life that we tend to overlook.

This guy (Pattinson) can actually act, (in Twilight, he just act pale..or was it just make up?hehehe..) but the emotional depth potrayed here, not only by him, but the rest of the cast, makes it one of the soppy film I ever watched (same level with My Sisters Keepers). Verdict? I like.

Everybody's Fine
I watched this movie because of Drew Barrymore, little that I realised, I got more than that. Its about a guy, having just lost his wife, tried to get the kids together for a weekend. The kids of course being forever busy, stood the father up. He did not gave up, despite his medical condition, he make plans to pay a suprise visit to his kids in the city. Its kinda heartbreaking seeing him going through his journey, and although all the kids accepted and welcomed him nicely (bukan macam Tanggang halau mak dia la...) but something was not right somewhere..I recommend all people who still has parents to watch this. You will understand and appreciate why we need to see them while we still can. Its a bit funny at times but mostly it was sad and emotional...

Green Zone
So wanted to see this in the cinema but too bad during the show, none of it aired in Seremban. So I watched on air. The story is about a US army officer challenging the intel that led to Iraq invasion. He and his team were tasked to investigate the places that is supposedly holding the Weapons of Mass Destruction but they came back empty. Not once, not twice but 3 times. He began his search of truth on what is really going on. This movie has been accused as anti-America because it gives an idea what kind of conspiracy is going on in Pentagon. It is based on a non fiction book written based on real time experienced of US army personnel.

There it is, my very much delayed 3 in1 movie review. Nothing much but I think worth to share. Now go watch Everybody's Fine!! ;)

My Sister's Keeper

Once in a blue moon, I will have this yearn to cry for no particular reason. I just need to release all this feeling that has been bottled up in some way. I know its weird but I guess that is my medium for venting. So I resorted to one of the things that I like, movies!!!

Last time I had a good cry was watching Sepi. I mean REALLY crying, most of other movies, I'll probably shed some tears comes the touching part. So last nite, out of nowhere, I watched My Sister's Keeper. The film was produced in 2009, and not sure whether it made its way to Malaysian cinema. Its a story about a girl whom the birth was genetically engineered to save her sister's life who has cancer. Her blood, bone marrow and numerous cells were taken since she was born, in the effort to save her sister's life.

When she turns 11, she sued her mother, asking for her to be medically emancipated. Its a family movie, a very heartbreaking one. I was crying, sobbing at some point throughout the whole movie. This morning my eyes hurt. But it sorts of release the emotions that was bottled up inside of me for whatever reason. The film also make me wonder, what if it happens to me or my family, you can never say never...

You may have heard of caffeine fix, or chillies fix, but for me this is my tears/cry fix. Definitely worth it!!

Muallaf - The best ever!!

I watched Mualaf last Sunday with my sister. The cinema was half filled. One row of non Muslim guys were behind me , I think more than 5 of them. This the best Yasmin's film ever, here's why:

1. It talks about religion without offending others.
2. Strong and good Islamic values
3. Strong good family values
4. Dialouge were spontaneous
5. Filem ilmiah terbaik abad ini, no nonsense rempit or love or whatsoever
6. Gets you thinking how far do you know your religion and others?
7. Favourite scene- when the sisters about to go to sleep, they forgave everybody that hurt them during that day and later recites Ayat Kursi.
8. Like any other Yasmin's movie, I cried throughout....touching to the very core...

Was thinking to get my colleague to watch, highly recommended, but we don't have cinema in PD, and when I was looking for showtime in Seremban, NONE of the TGV,GSC or MBO is showing Mualaf at all!!!! What is wrong with Malaysians? Suppose we should have this wajib tayang in every states, WTH??

I regret that people in Seremban dan sewaktu dengannya will have to travel extra far just to watch this movie. Its bad enough that Malaysians gets to watch this movie much later than S'porean, and the rest of the world, and now not all big cities are showing it. Truly dissappointed...

Why oh why???

Something irks me yesterday. I suddenly feels the urge to watch movie, browsing TGV and latest they are showing The Storm Warriors....my sis favorite Cheng E-Kin and Aaron Kwok is back with the second installment movie that comes from comics. I think the first one was maybe 10 years ago, or more...

The thing is nobody is available yesterday. I asked this one person whether or not that person is free and up for a movie. Then I get the call;

That person : What movie you wanna watch tonite?
Me: The Storm Warrior,
That person : What?
Me : The Storm Warrior, chinese movie
That person : Ooooo...chinese movie then count me out.
Me : Ok...

What the h*** was that? Its not just this person, in fact many other my friends have reacted this way. Why is it that we always see that only the Malay watch Malay movies...(well at least this one you can blame on the low quality, Yusof Haslam, Razak Mohaidden kinda movie) .

And if at all any HK movies are showing, only the Chinese watch it?

Why is it that Malaysians (all Malay,Chinese,Indian alike) only watch the movie that is of their native tounge?

Why is it that the only genre/type or movie that can unite all these 3 main races is only those come from outside (American movies, Brit movies..etc..etc)

Did we not have a Chinese friend, and Indian co-workers, that the least we should do is open our mind to these alternative entertainment. That I believe will indeed increase our tolerance towards other races.

I have only 1 (ONE) friend so far that watch both Chinese and Malay movie with me. No other people can do both at the same time with me.

Its not about the movie, its about why are we quick to accept foreign stuffs, rather than learn to accept those that is closer to us? Why?

By the way, I have watched Infernal Affairs 3 (a HK triad movie) alone in cinema and I was the only Malay at that time.

It is true that all these HK, Bollywood movies are not local, but they are supposed to be more dear to us rather than all the 'mat saleh' movie, at least in terms of the language, the people and their culture.

Maybe this doesnt make sense to some people but all the small things like this gauge our understanding of other races, and entertainment is actually the most effective education yet.

One more thing, a movie should be watched because of the story line, cinematography and many other factors, not just the language, at least in my opinion ;)

My Mind is Made Up

Not a Twilight fan but am saying this.

I'm Team Jacob

Hands down. Period. ;)

Open Letter to Bro Afdlin: Papadom

I watched this movie one week back but I don't have time to sit and write my response for the movie. I posted the same comment on his blog, but last count there is 240+ comment, I bet if he read all. So here goes....

Salam Bro Afdlin,

First of all congratulation on making one of the best movies in 2009. Am honoured that you have chosen my alma mater UiTM to be one of your prime location for this film. From here onwards I will continue in BM.

Saya tak pasti sama ada komen saya akan dibaca memandangkan betapa ramainya peminat Bro Afdlin di sini. Walaubagaimanapun, saya ingin menyatakan rasa tidak puas hati dengan cara imej UiTM digambarkan di dalam filem bro.

Pertama sekali berkenaan sahsiah rupa diri pelajar ketika hari pendaftaran. Semua maklum UiTM ialah satu-satunya universiti untuk Bumiputera. Sahsiah rupa diri yang kami junjung tidak tergambar sama sekali di dalam filem ini. Pada hari pendaftaran pelajar diingatkan untuk memakai pakaian yang sopan (baju kurung untuk siswi) dan kemeja + tali leher untuk siswa) . Bukanlah saya ini anti jeans dan T-shirt tetapi hari pendaftaran adalah awal mula imej kampus didedahkan. UiTM berimej barat kah? Kalau pendaftaran di Lim Kok Wing, mungkin ya, siswa dan siswi memakai pakaian mengikut trend terkini.

Sudah lah pelajar yang mendaftar memakai pakaian kebaratan, aturcara hari pendaftaran jugak agak tersasar (tiada orientasi?) . Mungkin saudara hendak mencipta kelainan maka adegan ini tidak dimasukkan.

Mahasiswa dan pensyarah juga tidak langsung mematuhi sahsiah rupa diri ketika di dalam kampus. Sila periksa balik poster-poster di sekitar UiTM yang mewar-warkan sahsiah rupa diri pelajar. Saya musykil tiada pihak dari UiTM yang menegur sepanjang pembikinan filem tentang imej UiTM.

Perkara kedua mengenai budaya hidup pelajar – pulang terlalu lewat malam (adegan Hisyam menghantar Miasara, keadaan sekeliling gelap gelita dan tiada orang lain lalu lalang. Kehidupan kampus bermaksud ada lagi kawalan dari pihak universiti dan kolej kediaman, bukanlah sebebas-bebasnya seperti yang digambarkan. (selalunya mereka ini akan ditahan di pintu pagar oleh Pak Guard)

Pelajar UiTM tidak dibenarkan menganjurkan parti di dalam kampus, apatah lagi yang tidak mematuhi sahsiah rupa diri pelajar. Saya yang menghabiskan masa hampir 7 tahun di kampus induk Shah Alam tidak pernah tahu akan mana-mana pihak yang diberi kebenaran mengadakan parti bersuka-ria seperti itu, tak tahulah kalau fakulti Farid Kamil membenarkan aktiviti sosial dalam kampus…

Perkara kecil sebiginilah yang menyebabkan industri filem kita masih agak sukar menembus pasaran luar. Saya akui, filem Papadom ada mesej tersendiri dan dari segi pembikinan saya tabik bro dan krew-krew yang telah menghasilkan cerita yang lain dari yang lain. Cuma apabila imej UiTM yang jadi taruhan, saya agak terkilan standard yang ditonjolkan agak rendah.

Selain dari itu, cinematography yang menarik telah mengeksploitasi beberapa tempat di UiTM contohnya kafe Menara dan PTAR, amat cantik dan menarik. Syabas.

Ini hanyalah pendapat saya, terpulang pada bro untuk dipertimbangkan atau tidak. Seperti yang saya katakan awal lagi, tak tahu sama ada coretan ini dibaca atau tidak.

Well done & wassalam.

My suggestion : go watch the movie, one of the best yet in terms of story line and the filmmaking goes. However as UiTM alumni, I strongly believed that justice was not done to reflect the image in campus, at least in Shah Alam.

My 2 cents ;p

p/s: my 100th post ;) gilela..2 post in a day, nampak sangat takde keje..hehehe...

Once in the blue moon

I watched this VCD last night, With Love ( a Japanese Drama series) and continued this morning. I have watched it more than 10 times I think ;) Nostalgia gila tengok cerita ni...what are the memories?

This is the first VCD Series that I bought after I had my first PC in 2002. I fell in love with the actor immediately Yutaka Takenouchi. This is the story about relationship in cyberspace, background Tokyo, 1998. The guy (pencipta lagu) accidentally sent a piece of his song to this girl. The girl loves that song and later they keep on communicating via mail. Both uses nickname and unknowingly they were quite close to each other in real life. Along the line, both seems to be having the same dilemma, be it about money, being victimised or many other daily challenges and both exchange words of wisdoms via mail.

From this series I also learnt the cute icons such as p(^o^)q this is to express 'gambaro'..which means 'berusahalah'... I have it written on all my textbook (*o*) V

I know its cliche and those type of story only happened in movies but I loike the series so much. The funny part is I bought the series in Kota Raya KL. The basement used to have this one shop that sold Japanese and Korean drama series at good bargain. Went back to Shah Alam, watched the whole series overnight only to realise that the store packed me short of ONE VCD, the last one...how can!!! In order to get my ending, after class that day I took bus to Kota Raya (2hrs ++ ride) and claimed the VCD from the store. They acknowledge it was their mistake. I quickly rushed back to Shah Alam and finally finished watching the series, close 24 hrs after I bought it. One of the things that I do back then.

After that I was head over heels with Yutaka that I keep on buying his drama series, although I don't have all but I have the one movie he did with Kelly Chen, Calmi Couri Appasionati - background in Italy. See, I was that much in love with him....

So just to reminisce the old fling, here are some of his pics (not latest though..)

(this one actually looks like Farid Kamil....but naaahhh...he can never top Yutaka-san ;p)

I like him in all the looks, totally went crazy over this guy (I think I still am..hehehe...) I mean who wouldn't fall for that sometimes badboy, sometimes very deep thinker and sometimes just plain sweet and cute look, am sure I did ;)

btw: once in the blue moon is the song that HAsegawa TAkashi accidentally sent to Teru Teru Bozu.

May Allah Bless You

This is the second time I am writing obituary this year, within less than 1 month period. It is true, death can come knocking your door anytime,anyplace,anyhow.

She is a very well respected filmmaker. Her artpiece moved people, shows the unity among us, Malaysian. She was the pioneer on the new age movie making and although I have heard rumours (i.e doutbfull news) about her, she is the one that earns my respect compared to other Malay filmmakers.

Hope her movies will still be remembered as it is not just mere movies for entertainment, she educates her viewers as well. And for that long live education via film by Allahyarhammah Yasmin Ahmad. May you'll be accorded a place in Jannah, rest in peace and may Allah bless you. Al-Fatihah.

Cinema Week!!

Last week was my cinema week!! I watched 3 movies in cinema.

1. The Day The Earth Stood Still - Thursday
2. Cicakman 2 - Saturday
3. Los Dan Faun - also Saturday :)

I must be crazy or something to have done it in one week..hehehe.... well its actually something that I do on quarter yearly basis ;p

The first one is so-so..typical pre apocalypse kinda a thing. Girls watched because of Keanu Revees and guys watched it because of Jennifer Connelly. But does carry a good message, that the human beings are destroying the earth and should be all exterminated...

Second and third is of course due to my strong support of the local film industry. I know that the KRU brothers are good artist and expect good results from them as well. They did not dissappoint me :) Highly recommended!!!

Afdlin Shauki is another director that gets my highest respect when it comes to comedy...my sister and I was laughing like mad throughout the movie. Also highly recommended :)

Jab We Met

Watch this one last night. Actually this is my second time, first one I fell asleep in the middle on the first song..hehehe...(it was not that boring, I was just too sleepy) Anyway, Shaz has been putting very good words for the movie and how cute Shahid Kapoor is and all..so I just give it a second chance ;)

After not watching Hindi movies for quite some time, it is refreshing to watch this movie. I can say that although the storyline is typical Hindi style with the cheesy lines at some part and also the perfectly synchronised dance moves, it was actually not bad. Kareena's character (Geet) was bubbly at first but took a complete turn when the love of her life rejected her. For Aditya (Shahid) it is cool that he does not over-do (unlike SRK..whom I think always over the top in terms of acting) his character or else it will just fall into some other Hindi movie.

Do I fall in love with Shahid? Probably a crush...oohhh he is so cute and charming and handsome and......(this can go on and on..hehehehe..;) Nonetheless, I enjoyed the movie, but they only sold it in India though, probably can get Shaz to ask her cousin to buy in bulk so that she can become the sole distributor here..sounds like a good opportunity? You bet!!

Sepi Movie

Watched Sepi, it was indeed for the lonely hearts...just that I think there are so many other ways to describe the word itself. Sepi means alone,lonely, solitude, lonesome..etc etc..I was crying like nobody's business throughout the whole movie.

The touching part was when Adam question himself how to find that special one? I think for people like us..(those who have not yet found that special one) it is one big mystery black box. For most of the lonely soul out there, it is as if there is this wall around us that guard us and not allowing us to slip. I came across this saying....

"Sometimes people put up walls not to keep others out, but to see who cares enough to tear them down...."
For Adam's case, he did tear his own wall when he reaches to Ilyana.

I was deeply stirred when the part Imaan recites the poem for the first time to Ean, she really capture the feelings well and my heart sort of sink in together as the word slips through her lips. It was beautiful. Everything about the movie is stunning. The cinematography, the shots, angles, even the story line is beautiful.....let alone the background music.

Enough said, go watch it, definitely worth my RM7 (in Seremban..hehehe..)
To compare I like Cinta better but Sepi is still a must watch!! ;)