Sunday, June 21, 2009

Summer Movies : Terminator Salvation


Didn't expect to see a Part 4, to the Terminator Series. I thought they have already decided to close shop on this one....Last I heard, they are making a few more...look like we can expect Terminator V and VI.

The Trailer look impressive enough to give it a try for $10 at the theatres.

Story
I always thought, Terminator Series is always about the character John Coner, the one who is suppose to lead a rebel against the machine. I was bit surprise that this movie focus much lesser of him compare to Part 3
Though I must say, Christian Bale, fit the role really well, just that the script doesn't seem to put him on focus. His Screen time also seem lesser
They introduce what we have already seen in Part 3, a Humaniod, Aka (Man + Machine), in the form of a man,Marcus Wright, he was introduce as a prisoner waiting for the death sentence when some scientist ask him to be part of the experiment - Man Merge Machine.
References were make to Part 1,of a character is, Kyle Reese, who in part 1, was send from the future to protect the young John Coner, The machine know about his importance and decided to hunt him down. (Kyle is the one in the background)
Story was pretty ok, though I felt it put lot of screen time on Sam Worthington, Who play the humaniod. But I must say, he show potential to be a future big star, much in the line of StarTrek - Chris Pine, Transformer - Shia LaBeouf . These star are likely going to make it big. He was very convincing as a humaniod, initial kinda "feelingless" to a more human form later toward the end.
Honestly, I see myself enjoying the show more with both of them on screen, than just seeing John Coner. I felt bit "sad" for Christian bale after doing so well for Batman have to downgrade himself here to just acting angry and worry....

CG and Effects
A large reason of seeing the movie is due to CG they use to create all those robots and fighting sequence. I am not disappointed here, though it have the "seen that" kinda feeling.
The way they animate the robot was impressive though we seen something similar in part 3.
Was also wondering when why are we human still using machine guns, in the year 2018, when the robot have seem move on to more powerful weapons. No wonder they find it so hard to defeat the machines....furthermore, I think the machine are getting smarter, at time ..better than their makers...
Something new they introduce here must be the "motor-machine", cool effects, though, they are kinda stupid.

Overall, it was still an entertaining movie, I give it a 6/10. Sam worthington make it all worthwhile to see the show. But too bad, he isn't going to be in the sequel. The CG although impressive are still kinda normal, couple with a relative short and weak script typical of action movies, I was wonder why would they still want to spend on all the CG, they should have focus on the story in the same way, Startrek did.

Just an update of the current 2009 Top 10 Movies (Jun 20th)
1. Star Trek - $240Million - Best Movie so far this year
2. Up - $228Million - Yet to seen this, overtaking ST soon
3. Monster Vs Alien - $196Million - Crappy, wonder how come it still earn so much
4. The Hangover - $178Million - Yet to seen this, look like some slapstick comedy
5. X-men Origin : Wolverine - $177Million - Not too bad, pop-corn movie
6. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian - $155Million - Not as good as the original
7. Fast and Furious - $155Million - Great, if u like sportcars
8. Paul Blart: Mall Cop - $146Million - Funny and witty, saw it on rental though
9. Taken - $144Million - Yet to Seen
10. Angel and Demon - $125Million - Good, but not as good as davinci
11. Terminator Salvation - $115Million - Flawed, but still watchable

Friday, June 19, 2009

Saucony Passion Run 2009 - 10Km


2nd 1oKm Run of the year - Saucony Passion Run, also the 2nd 10K run I am running this year. Hope to better my run-time but haven't been training to run this distance for sometime since the last run in Mar-09, call me lack of self-discipline....lol
Was there early as my "chicken" friend want to do bag deposit...so we reached there at about 6.35am. The sky is just getting brighter....though my IXUS can't get the juice out of this photo
Lot of "early Bird" are already there, mostly at the bag deposit area as well as the Toilet area....it was pack with lines of people...all trying to have their last business and "pee" before the 1hr+ run.


The Organiser are still waiting at the entrance and the car-park area trying to "certified" people whether they are feeling well. I thought that was a good move with all the recent H1N1 news getting around. I got my "Certify Fit" sticker though...(feeling really sleepy as always before an early morning run)

The run started at about 7.45am, about 15mins earlier than last year....started out quite all right...but towards the end was really really tired...(probably due to the heat and the tummy problem)....started walking a little....(by then, I know I am a goner to be able to better my Mar-09 timing of 64mins)

The route this time was bit different, they shorten the run actually, as I know last year distance was 11.5km. This year, they stated that the Actual distance is 10.4km. The u-turn at the starting leg(5km mark) was shorter...Last year we went till almost toward fort road, but the extended the return leg to slightly further than Bedok Jetty...(That where my problem starting to occurs.....tired....tummy)

Though I failed to do better than my Mar Timing, it was about the same as last year timing(11.5K) - 69mins. Age is starting to catch up with me....which I am determine not to let "it" do so...A nice after-run photos to end an enjoyable race which I definitely be back next year - 2010, hopefully with friends to run as well....
Headed to Changi-Airport for breakfast @ Yakun, what a place to be when I smell so bad...but who cares though.
Lucky there wasn't alot of people there so early in the morning. Look at the background, u would know....
This year Running tee, was also of a bright-color, Last year, their Single Tee was a Bright-yellow, This year it was RED. I wonder in 2010, is it going to be "Green" or "Blue". I hope it blue...
Organiser did a much better job this year, more road marshall, water point with 100plus(last year, not all have this drink), the distance was also more acceptable compare to last year 11.5Km
They also give us a sling bag, though bit "odd" colour. But it come in handy consider I didn't bring any bag to the run. Just enough to put my Ipod, key-bag in and camera in.


I realise that this year running medal aka Key-chain, was a bit smaller than last year ones, is this cost saving?

Friday, June 12, 2009

PC show 2009 - Brochures....

2nd such event this year...expect to have record turn-out as well,

Was there last evening...and was surprise by the crowd on a thurday evening

for those of you who don want to get sweaty..(been clocking > 35C recently) and with the crowd, be sure to endure....knocking and smell....(Especially from "you know who")

Here is the link for those who just want to look at the brochures before going down for the "hunt"

http://www.bootstrike.com/itfairsg/pcshow2009/

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Summer Movies : Angel & Demon


There is slight Difference between the book and the movie. Like the Usual, the book is actually more detail in introducing the character such as character development, and how the "anti-matter" theory comes about. It also further explain the theory on symbol which most of us might not be familiar.

Cast & Characters

Robert Langdon, - He is the Symbolist Expert here, call in to help solve the mystery behind the disappearance of the pope successor. Not much details on how he make his way to Rome, the whole story revolve around him and Vittoria racing around Rome trying to uncover clues left by the assassin to find the 4 pope successor.

Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca,
In the book, He murdered the pope, who is later revealed to have been his biological father. His codename for dealing with the assassin, "Janus", was taken from the two-faced Roman god of beginnings and ends, and for whom the month of January was named
But there wasn't much details about him in the movies, except that he kinda wanted to lead the church to another level, more of like a warrior kinda of idea in leading the church which I think most of the successor would not approved. Evidence of poison found in the pope seems to suggest he plan it all along.....The ending will tell all....

Leonardo Vetra (not mention in the movie at all), I think he is one of the professor that dies during the time when the assassin come to grab the "antimatter" ...consider he is the adoptive father of Viittoria Vetra, make me wonder how come he wasn't given any screen time at all?
Vittoria Vetra, came into the picture with the knowledge of the so called "God" particle. race around with Robert Langdon, to help find it and charge it up to be return back to the lab. She have lot of knowledge of physics and keep a journal on it as well which become a target of the bad guy....

Their Chemistry is not too bad, expecially the scene where they went to the archive section and have to tear-up a page of a very precisous book.

Cardinal Saverio Mortati - The one on the left, Who almost become the pope himself. Luckily Langdon manage to save one of the successor pope...But he seem to be the smart guy here..knowing that he don really trust Camerlengo
Another bad guy who co-operated with Camerlengo, but ended up outsmarted by him and landed himself out of action...but he still leave behind some evidence to enable the real culprit to be caught....

Hassassin - the assassin hired to kill off the sucessor pope. This must be one of the stupidest character in the movie, think the director change the way he dies, in the movies he was killed when he ignited his Car's Engineer (How stupid, any experience assassin would have know that this is a risk), in the book, I think he fell to his death....Would have like the book ending better, it more realistic.

Story
Center around Rome, The story start kicking into high gear once they realise that the bomb can actually destory the entire rome City and Robert Langdon & Vittoria Vetra Started racing round the city trying to find the following as the so called Secret society " Illuminati" would always use this so call method to place their captives.....(something which my friend call it lame as it make them so predictable and be easly caught.....and I thought so....too....but it probably the writiing of the book as well...lol)
The 4 Clues were ...
Though I have been to Rome, can't remember all this place...and this movie do spark an interest in visiting this magnificent place again......


They only manage to save the last successor pope, also due to the stupidity of the Assassin to even execute the order when both Robert Langdon & Vittoria Vetra are already at the scence and police are around. This I think is why the pope can be rescue, the lluminati are too predictable,

The final scene talks about the revelation of how Camerlengo did everything so that he could be name the next pope. But he eventually die by killing himself with fire. Something I didn't understand have I not read the book....(Cos he is filled with guilt for killing his dad and all those evil stuff he did just to have the throne...)

I must say, I enjoy Dan Brown's book "The Davinci code" and the movie as their seems to be more details put into the movies which is really lacking here in Angel and Demon, probably due to the fact that this is the first prequel to the Davinci Code. 2.5/5 is what i think this movie is worth....Entertaining but short of details and you will be confused with all those symbol they talk about in the movies...

But Still, it doing quite ok, though not as good as DaVinci Code. This is how the 2009 Top Movies Stands

1. Star Trek - $222Million (Seen - Great)
2. Monster & Alien - $195Million (Seen - Crappy - Review coming up real soon)
3. X-men Wolverine - $180Million (Seen - Summer Popcorn)
4. Fast & Furious - $155Million (Seen - Great)
5. Paul Blart - Mall Cop - $147Million (Nope - DVD Release)
6. Taken - $145Million (Nope - DVD Release)
7. Up - $130Million (Nope - Not Release yet -- ETA Sep09)
8. Night at The Museum 2 - $130Million (Seen - OK, the Original is better)
9. Angel & Demon - $115Million (Seen - OK, Davinci Code is better)
10. Teminator Salvation - $105Million (Seen - Better than expected, Review coming up)