Movie Review TED

The movie TED about a talking teddy, albeit a rude one while failed in tickling my funny bone much poses afew questions close to heart.

1. What is grown-up?
Is it having a stable job, is it getting married? Is it meeting all the societal expectations of a grown-up?

2. Do you laugh at someone who still has an inner child?
The one who still has a security blanket or a smelly childhood pillow. The one who talks to toys, ok maybe that's a little freaky for a grown-up.

3. What is true love?
Is it giving, is it receiving, is it about happiness? What makes you happy?

A grown-up is having a better sense of what's right and wrong than a child, but it doesn't mean we stop believing in miracles. It doesn't mean we lose our innocence and get skeptical, cynical or critical all the time.

Men turn into boys when they hang out with their peers. It is a moment they don't need to put up a front and be accountable to the opposite sex. For women? We never did shake off that little girl in us believing in fairy tales.

And true love? It is putting your loved one's interest above yours like what Ted, the teddy did for his best friend and what Lori did for her boyfriend.

TED opens 6 September in Singapore

Gudang grosir baju anak murah - harga pabrik !!
www.gudanggrosiran.com Categories: movie review

Purple: Singapore's Transsexual Scene

A survey revealed that most women cite red as their favourite colour while men cite blue. So then PURPLE must be a transgender colour, when red mixes with blue.

Oddly enough, when i was a girl, my favourite colour is purple but now i'm a woman, it is indeed red.

Transsexuals have always been the butt of mockery. The meanest prank a friend played on an irritating nerd (who was nobody's friend really), was to take him to Orchard Towers and pay a transsexual to take him home. It was the nerd's first time at Orchard Towers and thought it was his lucky night to get hooked up! Finding out must be extremely traumatizing.

When we think of transsexuals, our narrow minds think they are definitely in the sex trade. The large amount of social stigma pushes many over the edge, on the verge of suicide and cause misery. If only there is a campaign for acceptance like the Yellow Ribbon, it is difficult for transsexuals to find work they need not be ashamed of. I remember encountering a transsexual sales girl in Body Shop at Wisma. Its the first time i've seen such a hire by a well-known brand and honestly, it increased my liking for the brand. For a brand that advocates no animal testing, i'm happy to know they made an attempt in advocating equal rights too.

On Sunday, i watched PURPLE. A re-run of a sold out production in 1995 and 1998, it's an interactive 4 people performance staged at the new Bugis + (former Illuma).

Purple opens with 3 very loud Ah Lian-ish bordering Auntie bickering about an exhibit that takes center-stage. The entire hall looked like a Cirque Du Soleil, pretty purple and white ribbons draped around. The exhibit is then revealed, an impersonation of Maggi Lai Meiqi, Singapore's first transsexual who made it to Hong Kong's silver screen.

The circus concept suited the theme very well, how transsexuals were seen like animals, aliens or even monsters like the Chinese connotation 人妖

Selena, a Singaporean who resides in London offering services.
Taken from Vixen-escots.com

History lessons bore me but Purple enlightened me about a history i never knew Singapore would have.

We would not have thought Singapore to be famous for something else other than our airport, zoo or econom. We would definitely think of Patpong, Thailand being the capital for transgenders. Little did i know that one of Singapore's most famous tourist meccas from 1950s to 1980s was Bugis Street, where there is a nightly parade of flamboyantly dressed trans women.

These Asian queens in full regalia will tease, cajole and sit on gawking Caucasians laps or pose for photographs for a fee, just like what you'll find in Bangkok.

Veterans recall that the notorious drinking section began at Victoria Street, and proceeded west to Queen Street. Halfway between Victoria and Queen Streets, there was an intersecting lane parallel to the main roads, also lined with al fresco bars. There was a well-patronised public toilet with a flat roof of which there are archival photos, complete with jubilant rooftop trans women - Wikepedia

In the mid-1980s, Bugis Street underwent major urban redevelopment but tourist and local lamentation of the loss sparked attempts by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to recreate some of the old sleazy splendour by staging contrived "Ah Qua shows" on wooden platforms that proved to be failures. 

Bugis Street was immortalised in an English-language film of the same name, made, ironically, by a Hong Kong film company which starred Maggi Lai as herself, whom Purple is about as well.

Patpong, Bangkok today.

Based on the actual life story of a Singaporean transgender named Maggie Lai, the script tells the tale of how she survived childhood bullying, her careers as a sex worker, stripper and masseuse.

Shane Mardjuki plays Maggie, coming home, i had to Google how the real Maggie looked like.

She predicted to be dead by her 40s because transgender women don't live very long, but she is alive and well in her 50s and is now a getai singer during Hungry Ghost Festivals.

The only picture i could find was this.

Where in 2010, when the Jack Neo sex scandal was soon to be swept under the carpet, Maggie revealed that Jack Neo used her massage service at the end of 1988, a year after he got married to his wife. He wasn't as famous as he was then, but he was already a household name.

Maggie was wearing a mini-skirt while massaging a naked Jack and when she pressed his "sensitive spot", she asked if he wanted "special service" to which he accepted. He then paid her an additional $50 to have "intimate contact" while having the "special service"

Jack did not know then that Maggie was a "he".

One of the memorable moments of Purple was how they brought to life the whole painful procedure of a gender-reassignment operation. The males in the audience (my friend as well as Bobby Tonelli who coincidentally sat beside us with Joanne Peh) winced, mouth dry and squirmed ALOT. 

There is also a stomach churning Youtube video to be found of the procedure.

Little did i know that Asia's first sex re-assignment surgery was performed in Singapore! The world's first sex-change operation was performed in 1952 by Danish doctors, but Asia's first was in July 1971 at Kandang Kerbau Hospital. 

It was executed by the late Professor S.S. Ratnam who hailed from Ceylon who was quoted

He had been visited by an "attractive female" patient who shocked him by disclosing her true sex and begged him to transform her into a woman. Although hesitant, Prof Ratnam eventually relented. As part of his research, he would spent hours in front of a mirror, naked, looking at his genitals to see how they could be removed with minimal trauma to the rest of the body.

Since then, about 1,000 sex reassignment surgery were performed until 1987 when the authorities stopped it for fear of the exposure to Aids. The objection was lifted in 2001 but by then cities like Bangkok and Seoul had overtaken Singapore as the sex reassignment hub, thus Singapore is no longer known for the surgery that put us in the international limelight.

Late Professor Ratnam

Currently, the National University Hospital still offer such operation and between 2003-2008, 15 reassignments were done for $9,000 to change a male to female and from $15, 000 to change a female to male. Before sex reassignment surgery, transsexuals have to be evaluated by 2 psychiatrists and undergo real-life testing where they live and dress as their target gender.

Unfortunately, the highly educational Youtube video demonstrating a female to male have been removed.

If you wish, you can read about phalloplasty here.

In 2007, a statistical study indicated the male to female in Singapore is 1 in 2,000 and female to male is 1 in 4,000. This means that our little red dot is home to at least 1,500 transsexuals. 

I am surprised to find Singapore having fairly forward thinking and acceptance about transsexualism.  Since the 1970s, Singapore has allowed transsexuals to change their gender on identity cards and to marry since 1997. However, birth certificates will remain the gender at birth and therefore, if someone were to annul a marriage based on same sex marriage (which is not allowed), it will be valid. There is no definitive verdict on the marriage policy, definitely a catch 21.

These laws in favour of transsexuals do not banish discrimination against transsexuals. Like how they were denied entry into China One in 2007.

Art student was asked to leave.

Or in 2005, someone named Javier put up an online petition for SBS Transit to ban transsexuals on buses the way they ban animals.

However, the most important part of Purple, was the conversation between father and son. The acceptance and support of family was reinforced. Home, shouldn't be a song we only sing on National Day.

While my opinion stands at how men should not play God in reassigning sex, transsexuals shouldn't be judged or ridiculed. Their story is one about lifelong suffering, despair, courage and scandal in equal measure.

You may buy tickets to Purple at Sistic or at the door of Jayden Hall (level 7 of Bugis +), show times 3 or 8pm from now till 18 August. It was enlightening with creative ways of delivery. My only lament was the sound system was disappointing.

Gudang grosir baju anak murah - harga pabrik !!
www.gudanggrosiran.com Categories: movie review, things to do, uniquely singapore

Movie Review: The Dictator

My history teacher sucked at teaching. I was never intrigued by history when history is actually made everyday. If only my history teacher was Sacha Baron Cohen, a history graduate from Cambridge.

I would have enjoyed learning about dictatorship a lot more via his film than the textbook.

It is not a mindless funny romantic comedy, but there is alot of depth and underlying meanings if you think harder. It is a surprisingly deft political satire.

Memorable Quotes

"These! Are banned in Saudi Arabia for being too safe."

"You're like an onion. Cock sucker outside, and another 10 layers of cock sucker inside."

"They raped me very unprofessionally."

"There's a rape center here?!"

"A customer left some cream and shavers in the tip box, do you want to take it?"

"Are you having a boy or an abortion?"

"Bad news. Its a girl. Where's the thrash can?"

Gudang grosir baju anak murah - harga pabrik !!
www.gudanggrosiran.com Categories: dictator, memorable quotes, movie review, sacha baron cohen

Movie Review: The Lorax

The Lorax is here to teach a lesson and a good one too.

The office is the worst place of paper wastage. People print anything and everything.

We are in such a digital age that it's an irony that we still print so much.

From the creators of Despicable Me (which is one of my favourite animation by far), The Lorax is an animation film adapted from a children's book written by Dr Seuss. It was first published in 1971, chronicling the plight of the environment.

Imagine! Dr Seuss almost 40 years ago predicted what the future would be like. Do we seem closer to what he imagined?

Some critics especially the logging industry says it is an unfair portrayal as they do lumber responsibly. Society has advanced and living improved with the existence of lumbering, however everyone still plays a small part in saving Earth in reducing reusing and recycling.

Voiced by songsters Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, expect good music that is worthy to be soundtracks.

A very good quote from the book/movie.

It's such a good quote to remember by that people are inking it!

So cute that people are eating it!

Society is so self absorbed these days with devices, how can an iPhone app not be created?

There are means and ways the entertainment industry are making money and hopefully reminding us to protect the environment. It is a fun way of education.

So contribute to the box office and watch The Lorax!

My movie date and i pledge to save the trees in little ways as part of our daily lives.

Gudang grosir baju anak murah - harga pabrik !!
www.gudanggrosiran.com Categories: movie review, the lorax

Movie Review: Contraband

Are you curious to know how trafficking is done?

"Contraband," a fast-paced thriller about a man trying to stay out of a world he worked so hard to leave behind and the family he'll do anything to protect. Set in New Orleans, the film explores the cutthroat underground world of international smuggling -- full of desperate criminals and corrupt officials, high-stakes and big payoffs -- where loyalty rarely exists and death is one wrong turn away.


To be honest, the movie started off slow in the beginning but the middle got pretty intense. 





http://www.contrabandmovie.net/

Meanwhile, these are the movies i will be looking out for!











And this 2012, there's Avatar 2!! The below is a spoof trailer though.

2012 movie watching is promising.

Gudang grosir baju anak murah - harga pabrik !!
www.gudanggrosiran.com Categories: contraband, movie review

Apple of My Eye

Everyone was raving about this Taiwanese movie when it screened. I hesitated watching it (thinking it was lousy) but glad i caught it at the eleventh hour before it stopped playing. I would buy the DVD and watch it again and again.

Written and directed by famous internet writer Giddens Ko, more widely known by his Chinese name Nine Knives 九把刀, the movie is based on his life's story and is one of his best selling novels.

He wrote in Mandarin,

"Adolescence is like a heavy rain. Even though you catch a cold from it, you still look forward to experiencing it once again. Everyone has those impetuous times, the time when every boy likes the same girl in class, rushing days with mischief and pranks. Then, youth departed without a sound."

The story played around the school belle whom every boy lust, likes, wants.

It brings back memories of my school time. This is the school belle (on the right, i am on the left). Though Dewi wasn't fair, she was thought to be the prettiest. She had a vivacious nature, playful, sporting, cheerful, friendly and she's a dancer. She can't get any more perfect. She had a heaving bosom, which boys loved to sit at the benches and watch her jump around playing netball.

Like in the movie, the prettiest girl in school always has a less pretty sidekick who doesn't get attention, if any at all. I was that sidekick.

 The school belle would get the cutest boys liking her while i get the weirdos.

I would plan study camps and hound the principal for approval so i could sneakily "live" with my school crush (the one sucking the bottle, it was a game). I remember this picture causing much "orgasms". I didn't know about masturbation until after graduation.

Later on, i became a little more popular and i got my own less pretty sidekick.

In the movie, it highlighted the relationship between youth and masturbation. The tagline below in the trailer even said, "So long as you are still masturbating, your youth has not left you."

Syed was the one who brought a blue tape to share in school. We all heard about the boys plans to go to someone's house after school to watch it together. I guess it wasn't weird for boys at that age to masturbate side by side, brotherhood bonding.

Arjuna was nicknamed the Pak Chiu Cheng King. Girls never understood what that meant. Later on, i learnt from my elder brother it meant 打手枪 (shoot water gun) which also meant masturbation. Arjuna had skinny legs like a stork and i remember i read from a book called Talking Cock by Richard Herring that showed an old photo of a malnourished man who overdosed on masturbation. He had skinny legs too.

Then the passing of notes. Girls do that more than guys. We write notes and plan for after-school. To get the boys involved, sometimes i write a line and get them to continue the story. The boys never did play along.

The antics demonstrated in the movie reminded me of the days where boys bully girls and people getting punished.

Boys pull bra straps and make it snap from the back, Syed took my watch and slipped it into his pants.

Ivena fell asleep in class and i whispered in her ear "Fire! Fire!"
She woke up screaming.

We both got detention.

Then there were the different courtship methods that boys deployed.

During courtship, i had Andy writing me a love letter every single day for 6 months. There was Sul who carved me a wind chime during Design & Technology class over a semester. He also did my art homework, made me pop-up cards and picked out red gummy bears from a mixed bag. Then there was Jeremy who used felt pen to colour a A3 art piece, every morning he would colour a bit over 2 months. Ailmer gave me a Swarvoski rose brooch which at that time, i didn't know was expensive.

Courtship was so innocent and sincere, remembering them makes me smile sweetly. No one was thinking about getting into your pants with that bouquet of flowers. There was no motive in the courtship, it didn't matter if the love was unreturned. Courtship would go on months and even years till graduation. Now, men drop you like a hot potato and move on to another potential if you don't reciprocate in 2 weeks.

There's a creepy classmate photo bombing us.

Like in the movie where the boys climax just seeing the apple of their eye tying her hair back in a pony tail, there was one boy who got wet just seeing me tie two.

We sit according to index numbers and teachers rearrange mischievous students to the front. It irritates the hell out of me when the boy sitting behind me loves kicking my chair to ask something he has missed. It was sweet revenge when he was asked to change seats and he got in front of me.

The movie had a hilarious scene where the boys masturbated to their teacher. When there is a hot relief teacher in town (usually the young girl who works interim while waiting for university), the boys plot to remove the mirror from round shaped sharpeners and put it on the floor. Near the edge of their table leg, they cross their fingers for the hot teacher to walk pass. The Internet wasn't a big thing then, but without it and the influence of the Japanese No Panties cafes, the boys then were still creative and imaginative.

Mrs Chia was however one of the better looking permanent teacher in school. She also had a heaving bosom, a pair we called papayas and she walked like a duck.

There were all sorts of punishments. Standing in the corridor, standing on the chair, standing on the table, those were the days. Now, teachers are not allowed to punish students nor scold. Teachers are graded by students instead. My teachers would throw dusters a metre away and uniforms will be dusted with chalk. There were also teachers who wouldn't allow us to go to the toilet and pass boys rubber bands to tie their cock (no one did it).

Under 18, we weren't allowed in the clubs yet. So on Racial Harmony Day, Teachers or Children's Day, it is usually a cause for celebration and we would party in a classroom. Just loud music and no alcohol.

 And yes, romance blossoms between the weak students and their tutors.

 Like the movie enacted out, Jing Ting hated Kenneth's guts and they were often at loggerheads. Two opposite poles, she was the student who cries when she misses 5 to 100 and he was the prankster who didn't care two hoots about studies.

The teacher appointed her to tutor him and the many afternoons spent together after school brought forth a relationship. They were the first official couple in my class.

The movie was about youth, about friendship, about dreams and hopes. There were different types of students back in school. The ones who studies the hardest don't necessary turn out champions in life. The ugly ducklings became swans. Most importantly, it talks about the first love that never fades.

It reminds me of KC who held a torch for me since 14. He was the suitor who nicknamed me Chrispy. He irritated me alot with his endless questions. Boys were really immature at that age. He courted the school belle first, and when she spurned his affections, he gave me the Swatch watch which i believed was intended for her.

Though he courted the school belle first, i believed his affections for me were stronger. He always flitted in and out of my life, and i often hear him asking about me even 10 years after graduation.

If you've watched the movie, here's the MTV to reminisce moments of the awesome movie. My favourite scene was the last part where the school belle finally got married to none of the boys who courted her back in school. Her first love (thought nothing official really happened between them in their youth) felt it was a pity and asked to kiss the bride. Her new husband jokingly said he would have to kiss him first in the manner they want to kiss the bride. The first love rushed forward and gave her husband a hot wet tongue twisting kiss.


Below is the movie trailer and i attempt at a very lousy translation of the snippets.

Boy: " Shen Jia Yi, i like you. I like you very much. One day i will get you."
Boy: "In every boy's heart, there is a girl like Shen Jia Yi. I am Ke Jing Deng, i was16 that year.
Although Shen Jia Yi has been in the same class as me for 3 years, the disparity between a good and a bad student, our distance is always there."

Teacher: " Who did not bring the textbook, stand up!"

Bad boy student sacrificed himself and saved the perfect girl student from humiliation where she forgot to bring her textbook for once.

Girl: "why do you not study? I do not like boys who are stupid."

Boy:" I always thought i am very confident but i realised that in front of the girl i like, i am a coward."
I want to become super. So that with me in the world, it can be different."

Girl: "why are you so stupid to fight in a competition! Now you are injured, you are so immature!"

Boy: " Yes, i am stupid! That's why i will court you for so long. I don't know anything!"

Not like an exam, not every difficult question has an answer. This is life's mystery, there are sometimes no answers.

May our youth be continued.


Apple of My Eye, the novel made a sensational sucess with its debut screening because it's a story of youth, hope, love and dreams. The battles and the triumps in life, how you will never guess what the future holds.

Based on a personal account, here is Gidden Ko and the school belle whom everyboy wanted.

and the other movie characters VS real life.

As for my story?

Syed became a roti prata stall owner.
Arjuna went on to win university beauty pageants.
Kenneth became an Airforce pilot.
JingTing became a professional dancer but they didn't end up together.

as for Dewi the school belle? She grew fat.

Gudang grosir baju anak murah - harga pabrik !!
www.gudanggrosiran.com Categories: apple of my eye, gidden ko, movie review, old pictures, quotes, school days

The Truth about Advertising.

Advertising takes place everywhere. The history of advertising begins out-of-home with Egyptians using thick paper as wall posters. Rock or wall painting was also common. Then it starts invading our homes with television commercials, magazines and direct mailers. We can't escape advertising anymore, even rubbish bins will be used. Needless to say, Facebook cashes in on their social networking site, touted as the third largest nation if it was a country. 

Anybody can buy an ad space on Facebook and you only pay per click or impression. You can target ads according to demographics and interests, which makes it really effective and reasonable for small business and singles.

Spotted last month, an innovative singles ad caught my eye. It was actually on my friend's account and she is 22. I guess she falls into Bill's target audience as he manually sets ad parameters. 

Honestly, it raised some chuckles but i must applaud Bill for his bravery and creativity. Somewhere on his page, he mentioned that this was a prank done by his friends but now his friends are jealous that he is gaining lady attention. $0.30 for each like he got, his bill is now only $16.50, cheaper than a date!

One of the first type of ads seen in Facebook, i am sure there'll be more to come. Facebook can now use Bill as a case study if he succeeds. Unfortunately, last i checked since the screen grabs taken a month earlier, his likes still stays at 55.

Speaking of advertising, i went to Orgasm Inc. One of the last few shows screening at Sinema before it closes.

Located behind The Cathay, you climb some 142 steps before arriving at Mt Sophia. By the time you reach the top, you are wheezing like an orgasm.

Quaint and shabby. Its a hidden gem location near town! Second floor is the theatre (like a elaborate home theatre), the first time i was there, i thought Sinema reminds me of Yang Tze, the Chinatown cinema that screens soft porn.

So, Orgasm Inc is a documentary about filmmaker Liz Canner who exposes medical companies who take advantage of the insecurity of women (and potentially endanger their health) in pursuit of billion dollar profits. To be honest, i haven't seen a really exciting documentary other than Animal Planet, but surely all documentaries especially those of humanity brings forth thought.

However, the highlight of the evening for me was the pre-screening FREE SEX workshop by Dr Martha Lee. It was amusing to observe the attendees, to experience how a sex workshop was conducted and to meet a sexologist in person. That career choice certainly piques interests!

The hall was pretty empty except for 11 couples, 2 of whom are Caucasians and 3 inter race (ang mohs and their spgs). There were 6 pairs of girls (including myself and friend), 3 women (Wah, so brave) and 2 men who came alone. I counted because i thought the statistics made a statement. Girls are hungry for information and not abashed to seek knowledge.

Dr Lee stepped up on stage barefooted and apologized for the lack of shoes as she was afraid of falling. I looked at my friend and raised my eyebrow. A bespectacled woman, dressed in a frumpy floral dress in a dull colour, she sat on a high stool with her shoulders hunched and she looked at the floor as she spoke. My other eyebrow raised, bewildered. I did not expect a meek woman who choose sex as a profession to portray such an image. I would expect ego larger than a watermelon and alluring confidence like a Hollywood sex pot.

I caught rather unflattering images of Dr Lee but with due respect, i don't think i should upload them. It was unanimous that we were appalled at the unveiling of a real sexologist yet was refreshing that our preconceived image was challenged.

I whispered to my  girlfriend and asked if she would take a hot sexologist more seriously or a plain Jane more seriously. Without second thought, she replied "hot!" I later discoursed with my male friend and he thought that it's usually the plain Jane who is better in bed because she would be more eager to please. Although he said he'll take a hot one more seriously. But i saw a glint of cheekiness in his eye, i knew what he was thinking.


As minutes passed, Dr Lee got over her stage fright and started awkward discussions like "what's an orgasm". I suppose her forte is in intimate private consultations and thus she fails at public speaking. I expected a session packed with information and useful tips but Dr Lee took the approach of a discussion. Which i felt was inappropriate for conservative shy Singaporeans. Dr Lee then took the lead by sharing her own orgasm and experiencing her first. She felt the tingling sensation when she was 3. Her sister discovered it by accident and she set out on a race to beat her sister. Later in school, she let on that she was the ugliest girl and thus masturbated alot. My amusement just could not get any better.

The handful participants warmed up only towards the end of the session.

Dr Lee was trying to drive home a point that you are not abnormal if you do not experience a female orgasm via intercourse. This was what the medical companies were trying to hypnotize women to feel and thus deluding them that they are dysfunctional and therefore needs to be treated with pills. And the money making machine starts.

She explains that most women experience orgasm with clitoral stimulation easier and better. A men's ejaculation may not mean an orgasm. The science behind an orgasm is really dumb-founding.

She then ended the session by getting us up on our feet and doing keggel exercises. This tightens a woman's vagina and delays a man's ejaculation. She then hands out a 15% discount coupon to an adult store.

 Later, it was a full house at the screening of Orgasm Inc. I suspect it's because of the Groupon offering where deal hunting Singaporeans bought the tickets without really know why they did it.

Radio DJs Shan and Roz interviewed Dr Martha Lee before, if you want to know more about her profession.


Otherwise, let me visit the little girl's room to experience my own orgasm!

Gudang grosir baju anak murah - harga pabrik !!
www.gudanggrosiran.com Categories: advertising, facebook, movie review, orgasm