Category: My Opinion

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For the Geeks Game Reviews

Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1)

How time flies. Back in December last year I chanced upon a new hilarious game called Sam & Max and till today, set aside the fact that I have fun with all the 6 episodes, I still find the business model pretty intriguing.

Traditionally, gaming companies spend months if not years to develop a title and yet even if the title has become a hit, there are still people out there playing the pirated version not willing pay the full price. Online gaming subscription model works well for a particular gaming genre but not for all. What Telltale Games does is to break down this adventure game Sam & Max into monthly installments and to apply a subscription model in order to bring in revenue as the game is developed. Hence, for the end users, instead of getting the entire season 1 that is worth 20 to 30 gaming hours in one go, monthly episodes are downloaded into the users’ computers. Because there is a need to authenticate the electronic copy with the Telltale Games’s server, piracy is minimized. This model makes the cash flow statement looks good too. And meanwhile, game developers can gather the incremental feedback from the public to fine tune the game. That’s why I feel that this business model is intriguing.

As for this episode, I think it is a good round up of the entire season. The 5th episode scores high on originality; the 4th episode scores high on humor; while the 3rd episode scores high on dialogues, the 2nd episode scores high on fun factor. This last episode reminds me of the very 1st episode when I was first exposed to the game (come to think of it, Max did have his body “separated” in both the first and last episode). At one point while playing this last episode I was dead stuck. But I guess perseverance did pay off.

For those who have bought the entire season upfront, we will be receiving the DVD version of the game plus the extras for free (excluding shipping charge). I know at least 3 of my friends have bought the 1st episode after reading my blog. Good news is you will be able to download the entire season for USD 26.

To round up this blog, I would like to quote one of the random conversations between Sam and Max. The humor does seems to come directly from the development team.

Sam: What do you feel like doing once we wrap up this case?
Max: Take a vocation! Seems like we’ve been working for the past seven months straight!

Related Links and Blogs: Official Site of Telltale Games, Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1), Sam & Max Episode 5 – Reality 2.0, Sam & Max Episode 4 – Abe Lincoln Must Die!, My 3rd Contribution to YouTube for Sam & Max Episode 3 – The Mole, The Mob, And The Meatball, Sam & Max: Episode 2 – Situation Comedy, Sam & Max: Episode 1 – Culture Shock, Sam & Max at Wikipedia

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Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews

Bridge To Terabithia – Lived Up To Expectation

The rest of the Movie Review Squad was busy last Tuesday so once again I was empowered to make that one important decision – which movie shall we watch? I read that the Thai sex thriller “The Passion” and the Chinese erotic film “Summer Palace” are both terrible. The only reason why the theaters are full for these two films is because sex sells. Hence I only have “Bridge To Terabithia” and the dated but popular Korean comedy “200 Pounds Beauty” to choose from. I read that “Bridge To Terabithia” has generally good reviews so I took a risk knowing that it is a kid movie I was getting the Movie Review Squad into. Cynthia texted me that Straits Times reviewer Ong Sor Fern has written a bad review on “Bridge To Terabithia”. More the reason why we should watch that as I consistently disagree with her for more than 10 long years and I love that consistency while still hating what she writes (is she even aware that the film “300” is originated from a comic book?! … such an outraging review).

Based on a novel of the same title written by Katherine Paterson in 1977, “Bridge To Terabithia (the movie)” is 90% reality with 10% fantasy – contrary to what others expected as an after-school version of “Harry Potter” or “Pan’s Labyrinth” or even the kid movie “Chronicles of Narnia”. A rare friendship found between two teenagers – one who paints and one who composes fantasy stories – that do not quite fit in their social environment and together they have created “Terabithia” and have become the King and Queen of this new fantasy land. It has a rather gloomy side to the plot that challenges both teen actor and actress’s acting skill. I must say both Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb (acted in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) have raised up to the challenge and I enjoy every moment of their acting. I see both of them will have a long career in the entertainment business.

“Bridge To Terabithia” is one of those few movies that Tong Kiat, Cynthia, and myself enjoyed in a positive way. (Can you enjoy something in a negative way? Sure you can.) Some claim that “Bridge To Terabithia” is a classic in this genre. I am no expert in this particular genre but I cannot recall another kid movie that comes close to “Bridge To Terabithia”.

Categories
Music Reviews Pop Rock & Alternative

Artist Gone Solo Part 1 of 3 – Brett Andersen of “Suede” and “The Tears”

In 1994, the British band “Suede” has given the world one good news and one bad news. Good news was that they have released one of their finest work “Dog Man Star” (written by Brett Andersen and guitarist Bernard Butler). If I was to be stationed in a remote island for a long time, “Dog Man Star” would be one of the albums that I would bring along. Songs from that album are timeless and I still enjoy listening to them whenever I am in that mood of melancholy.

That was the good news. Bad news was, “Dog Man Star” was going to be their divorce album. From then on, Suede went on without Bernard Butler and Suede was not quite the same anymore. Suede was unique to me because that was the only band that has a guitar solo track almost throughout each song. Besides this guitar solo sound, Bernard Butler has also put in layers of guitar sound to make Suede’s sound unique. Combined with Brett Anderson’s unique vocal (you either love it or hate it) and the beautiful lyrics, Suede has cursed me with this longing years after years to search for something that sounds like them.

After 11 years of waiting, in the year of 2005, Brett Andersen and Bernard Butler reunited and formed a new band “The Tears”. Old time fans like myself rejoiced. “Hear Come The Tears” – their first collaboration after “Dog Man Star” – was a critically acclaimed piece of work. To be honest, I see “Hear Come The Tears” as an extension to “Dog Man Star”, less darker, and I still prefer “Dog Man Star” hands down.

While “The Tears” may be working on a 2nd studio album, Brett Anderson has released his solo album. At first I was skeptical over his solo work. Written and produced by Anderson himself and Fred Ball, the keyboardist of the album, this solo album has brought a new sound on the table. There are still a fair amount of acoustic guitar sound by Anderson but somehow in this new album, the sound is widely varied. Those who like the upbeat old Suede sound should be able to fall in love with “Dust And Rain” immediately (though it is still a bit far from “We Are The Pigs”). The last song “Song For My Father” reminds me of “The Asphalt World” from “Dog Man Star” – both has a reasonably long instrumental piece within the song. And the lyrics of “Dust And Rain” – I am the dust, you are the rain, I am the needle, you are the vein – has a similar theme to the opening song of their reunion album “Refugees” – You are the dust and I am the rain, let’s go out in the rust and let’s gather the change.

Here is the opening track “Love Is Dead” that probably sums up what the sounds is like for this album. I think I am falling in love with Andersen’s solo piece of work. (Note: Gosh! I have finally finished writing this blog. It took me forever to listen to “Brett Andersen”, “Here Come The Tears”, and “Dog Man Star” side by side with one another.)

Question: Can anyone guess who will be featured in Part 2 and 3? (Hmmm … let’s see how many people actually read my blog and manage to read pass the first line.)

Categories
Foreign Movie Reviews

Priceless – Fans Of Audrey Tautou Rejoice!

I am a huge fan of the French actress Audrey Tautou, ain’t no shame in it. Captivated by her award-winning French film “Amélie”, I try to follow her career in as much as I can. Like “The Spanish Apartment” and its follow-up “The Russian Dolls” as one of the characters in a romance drama between a group of friends with different nationalities, like “Pretty Dirty Things” as a lowly paid Turkish Muslim girl who works under a sexually predatory boss – one of the characters that portray what some of these immigrants have to live through, and like “A Very Long Engagement” – a romance drama that is dated back to World War I where imagination can become reality, worldwide viewers are mesmerized by not only her characteristic big eyes but also her fine acting. If you still don’t know who I am talking about, perhaps you may wish to recall the main actress played in “Da Vinci Code”. Yes, it was her – one of the French iconic figures known to the world.

I like “Priceless” because it is good to see Audrey Tautou finally took up a more “normal” role and have showed the world how mature, sexy, and seductive she can be – a side that I don’t recall seeing often on screen. “Priceless” is a romance comedy of a girl who preys on rich men for their money and a man who pretends to be one only to find out that this plan of his is not sustainable. You may call this a chick-flick but I have not seen one with so much acting in it. I am not sure how the female audience reacts but it is certainly a feast to my eyes to see Audrey Tautou dressed in top French branded fashion – from head to toe.

You may wish to watch the trailer from the film website though I feel that they have given out too much of the plot. Only take a look if you don’t mind the spoilers. Click here to access the film website.

Categories
J Pop Music Reviews

Mika Nakashima’s Yes – Enough To Please The Fans

Some Japanese artists are so productive. Not long ago back in January I wrote a review for Nana Starring Mika Nakashima. Turns out that the new rock sound from her one-off-band assembled during the filming of Nana and Nana 2 is also … one off. How disappointing for me as I do enjoy her new sound. In her new album, she is back to her original light and mellow style. Fans who like her rather fragile (or weak depending how you view it) and soothing vocal will continue to support her career – even for mildly disappointed fans like me.

The album opens with the song “I Love You” (feel free to follow the YouTube link to sample) – a typical Mika Nakashima song that just can’t go wrong. Her latest single “Sunao na Mama (素直なまま)” – an upbeat song – turns out to be one of my favorite songs from the album. Unfortunately, this wonderful video is not featured in the DVD that comes with the CD. In this new album “Yes”, Mika Nakashima has also put in some heavy gospel influenced songs such as “Cry No More” and “All Hands Together”. As recorded in her DVD, she performed “What A Wonderful World” live inside a Chapel. I found the video pretty powerful. While I cannot find the same clip from YouTube, there is a live performance that is very closed to the DVD version – vocal-wise that is.

If you are already a fan of hers, why not “Yes”. If you happen to like her voice, perhaps it is time for you to check out her new album?

Categories
Music Reviews Pop Rock & Alternative

Hinder’s Extreme Behavior – A Decent Rock Album Less Of Originality (Read On For A Surprise!)

I have just purchased another batch of CDs so I better publish the reviews of the last batch fast. Expect another few on the way. Writing an album review can be at times tedious. Sometimes it takes 5 to 10 rounds for me to get into an album. Sometimes I need to refer to some of the older releases to make comparison.

Hinder is a new band from Oklahoma City and their debut “Extreme Behavior” sounds awfully like the band Nickelback. Hence, some listeners may slam it down as unoriginal though to me, while Nickelback’s song quality tends to be uneven within the album, “Extreme Behavior” as a whole sounds decent.

Again, here are the YouTube links of some of my favorite songs from the album. I bought “Extreme Behavior” because of one song – “Lips of an Angel”. If you have been listening to the radio lately, you should be able to recognize the song immediately. Follow up to that powerful slow rock is “Better Than Me”. It is hard not to love that song if you have already fallen in love with “Lips of an Angel”. Their powerful opening “Get Stoned” probably rounds up what Hinder’s sound and lyrics are all about. I especially love the video. It is hot.

Besides the not-too-original-but-yet-contagious rock sound and the frontman’s characteristic coarse voice, lyrically it is sexy and mainly talks about defunct relationship (versus Nickelback’s lyrics on defunct family). The opening song “Get Stoned” has set the tone of the entire album: Go home and get stoned cause the sex is so much better when you’re mad at me … the break up is worth the make up sex you’re giving me. Some found the lyrics of “Room 21” extremely sexy about a girl the singer picked up and what went on behind closed doors. “Lips of an Angel” is about an attached man who is still in love with his previous love: Well my girl is in the next room, sometimes I wish she was you … and I never wanna say goodbye but girl you make it hard to be faithful, with the lips of an angel. “Homecoming Queen” is a fun song: It’s been five years since I’ve seen her face, she is the holy ghost lost without a trace … Shame, shame, shame that our homecoming queen had a lot to prove and so many to please, she’s just somebody’s daughter looking for somebody to love her.

Since highly anticipated albums from bands like Linkin Park (click here to view their brand new video … what a reward for those readers who stay on reading this blog!) and Bon Jovi (click here to view their new single played in American Idol) won’t be hitting the stores till a later day, you may satisfy your craving for rock music with Hinder’s “Extreme Bahvior”.

Categories
Fantasy & Sci-fi Movie Reviews

Spiderman 3 – The Most Memorable Of All

It must have been 10 years since I watched a movie at Bugis Junction. Two days ago, Cynthia and I were dining at our favorite Thai restaurant at The Heeren and we were wondering what has happened to our Movie Review Squad that has been out-of-action for two weeks. We blame it to the lack of good movies available. Perhaps the good ones have been held back for the summer blockbuster release. Suddenly, a thought came into my mind: Spiderman 3. So I picked up the phone and sent Tong Kiat a text message. I love modern technology. A single thought was converted into 3 online movie tickets through a chain of signals in a matter of minutes.

What I adore more on modern technology is the arrival of the new Sony’s true 4K digital cinema projector that has a resolution of 4,096 by 2,160-pixel (hence “4K”). This level of resolution has overtaken the current HD standard. That is to say, watching movies at a cinema yields a better visual experience than watching them at home for some who can afford a home theater system. Tong Kiat told me via text messages that we had two options for “Digital 4K”: VivoCity or Bugis Junction. Frankly speaking, so long as the seating is good, I care less.

I care less because I know that parking is going to be horrendous for either mall. The difference is that for VivoCity, you spend 45 mins to an hour driving inside the car park hunting for an empty lot while for Bugis Junction, you spend roughly the same amount of time queuing outside the car park.

I remember how impressive the first episode of “Spiderman” was. The computer generated effect of how Spiderman navigated around the high-rise buildings was jaw dropping at that time. I also loved the chemistry between Spiderman and his girlfriend M.J. These positive attributes carried over to the second episode. Entertaining as these two episodes were, I did not find the storyline memorable at all. This new episode though is different. It is about love and friendship in the theme of revenge and forgiveness whereby it is how one makes his or her decisions that defines character. That, is a memorable theme. Storyline aside, as someone who has studied computer graphics, the scene of the “birth” of Sandman was perhaps the highlight of my evening. How did they do that?! Love the music that accompanies the scene too.

Edit: Gosh, I forgot. This episode is the most hilarious of all too.

Categories
Music Reviews Pop Rock & Alternative

A Tribute To Simply Red – For The Nostalgic Fans

Simply Red is not exactly a commercially successful band outside UK and Europe but yet it draws fans like myself who care to discover a few gems from each release. This morning, prior to writing this review, I picked up one of my favorites record “Stars (1991)” and listened. Now that I am listening to their latest release “Stay (2007)” as I am writing this review, I may reconsider my initial assessment of “grossly inadequate compares to Stars“. I am not so sure if familiarity made me fell in love with “Stars (1991)” in the first place as I do get to enjoy “Stay (2007)” more after each listen. Perhaps, some albums are less assessable than others – only for those who care to dig in.

What better way to introduce Simply Red to my readers than to showcase some of my favourite Simply Red tracks? I won’t cluster my home page with tons of YouTube videos and I shall provide the links instead for your viewing pleasure. So sit back, relax, and let DJ Wilf do the job. Just click whichever link you feel like it.

Back in my University days, one of my favourite past time was to listen to the daily countdown on radio. Gosh, I still remember the name of the radio station – Fox FM it was (what a nostalgic day!). And every night, for some period in time (during my 2nd or 3rd year), I looked forward to listening tracks from the album “Stars (1991)”. Out of all the videos I found in YouTube, this live version of “Stars” is my favorite video. But my favorite song of all time? That has to be “For Your Babies“.

Prior to “Stars (1991)”, there are some real classic songs of Simply Red. Top of my list would be “If You Don’t Know Me By Now“. That song is timeless. After their success with “Stars (1991)”, Simply Red released a cover heavy album “Blue (1998)” and there are some gems inside such as “The Air That I Breathe“. Around the same period, Simply Red was dumped by their record label and they have gone independent. “Your Eyes” from the album “Love and the Russian Winter (1999)” is probably my second favorite track of all time. Perhaps not this original version as shown in YouTube but the Mousse T Acoustic version from their greatest hits “It’s Only Love (2000)”. Inside that greatest hits, there is another song of my favourite “Lady Godiva’s Room” that is not to be missed.

I have a mixed feeling towards their subsequent release “Home (2003)”. It contains two of the strongest offerings “Home” and “Sunrise” (I prefer the more melancholy album version of “Home”) but the rest do not seem to match up to these two. Perhaps I need to revisit that album again. By the way, these two music videos are surprisingly hot in YouTube.

If you only wish to purchase one album from Simply Red, “Simplified (2005)” is the one. It is a collection of their classics stripped back to mainly acoustic arrangements and inside this album, they did a cover for “A Song For You” that without doubt is my favorite of all their covers. In the same album, I love the strong opening track “Perfect Love” as well – the only new song in that album.

Back to their tenth album, “Stay (2007)”, the singles “Oh! What A Girl!” and “So Not Over You” may not have the same punch as some of the tracks from “Star (1991)”, I think they have done enough to please the loyal fans. As for me, my favorite track is the upbeat and more music rich track “Good Times Have Done Me Wrong”. Though not my top 2 favorite albums of Simply Red, “Stay (2007)” definitely remains as my top 3 favorites for now – no less.

Now you know my favorites. Tell me, what are yours?

Categories
Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Fracture – Great Acting And I Can Understand Why People Love It

Within the Movie Review Squad, we have a dividing preference towards movie genre. For instance, I love horror movies but it is a no-no for Tong Kiat and Cynthia. Tong Kiat and I love Japanese and Korea tear-jerking movies but Cynthia does not. And Cynthia and I know that the slow pace lengthy art movies are best to be watched in the daylight as Tong Kiat will certainly fall asleep inside the movie theater. “Fracture”, starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling, fall under the category of both Cynthia and Tong Kiat love it while I am okay with it.

In fact, I am more impressed with the Japanese dinner that Tong Kiat has bought us. He was particularly happy that day and to celebrate this happiness of his, we have our second visit to this restaurant that has a sizable staff strength of authentic Japanese and it is much frequented by the Japanese in all sort of nice clothing. What a lovely scene to watch! (I am especially impressed with some of the … erm … quality of the Japanese waitresses.) The restaurant has expanded taking more of the outdoor space. The food quality is still good but the service level has dropped significantly. I forgot the name of the restaurant but it is by the canal near to Grand Copthorne hotel that is just a stone throw away from Great World City (okay, more like a few long stone throws). There are two Japanese restaurants along Waterfront Plaza so apply common sense and choose the more posh looking one with lots of Japanese. The food variety is different from the generic Japanese meals that we so commonly see in Singapore.

Back to the movie “Fracture”, had I booked it at one of the Cathay cinemas, we would have missed quite a bit of the show. For once, I was glad that it was GV and they usually have 20 minutes of advertisement before the show starts. The movie scheduled to start at 9.15pm and at 9.10pm we were still at the restaurant waiting for our bill. My Movie Review Squad contemplated to walk back to Great World City because it would only take 5 minutes. Walk we shall not! I span the car out of the car park with such a zest that Cynthia and Tong Kiat have to remind me that we have just eaten. My car dashed out of the car park exit, cut across 4 lanes of traffic, made an U-turn, and I felt as though I was testing a new potential F1 circuit in Singapore. By the time we strolled into the movie theater, the show was yet to start. Hooray!

I enjoyed the quality acting of Anthony Hopkins. I have always been a fan of his films. I wouldn’t go crazy on Ryan Gosling but I know Cynthia does. Okay, his acting matched up to his counterpart Hopkins. I am more interested by Rosamund Pike who played in “Die Another Day”. She is so pretty and poised. In fact, if she was to play the role of the prosecutor, I would have given this movie a 5-star (I know, I can be shallow sometimes). And did you know that Rosamund Pike did her study in the same University as mine and not only that, same college (Wadham that is)? If only I was born 7 years younger …

Anyway, without giving out any spoilers, “Fracture” is a movie full of twists and turns with believable plots coupled with believable actings. It is a classic movie of murderer versus prosecutor, exploitation of loopholes in law, making the morally right decisions, and crime scene investigation. The script is tastefully humorous at some point that helps to lift the mood of such a serious movie up a bit. My biggest issue with the movie is that I don’t like the beginning and I don’t like how the plot comes to an end. It is not forgivable that such a meticulous murderer can make two simple mistakes. However I do like the actual ending though. For some, the prosecutor is their hero. Weird to say, I admire the wit of the murderer.

Categories
Music Reviews Pop Rock & Alternative

Good Charlotte’s Good Morning Revival – A Few Great Songs

I had no idea that the front man of Good Charlotte (Joel Madden, age 28) once dated Hilary Duff (age 19) until Cynthia casually told me over … I forgot. Anyway, it was not my intend to buy Good Charlotte’s new album – love their last one though. Cynthia wanted it because of a few catchy songs. I concur. There are a few great songs in the album though I must say, the rest are average.

What intrigued me the most is that after listening to Hilary Duff’s new album (see previous blog) and now Good Charlotte’s one, I must say that their love history has added much texture to the songs. Check this out.

Hilary Duff’s first single “Play With Fire”: (not sure if she is referring to one of her ex, Aaron Carter and the “he” towards the end is Good Charlotte’s front man … I suspect that this song was written before the break-up as she mentioned in her DVD that this song is from her previous era)

And now I hear you saying that you still adore me. But if you think I’d ever get with you again then you can just love me, love me feed the flame. If you want me back again, burn into the sky higher and higher. Baby, can you play with fire?

Ooh, by the way, by the way I’ve found someone who gives me space, keeps me safe, makes me sane. Found someone to take your place. Now I’m safe in his arms. And I decided only he can play with fire.

And in Good Charlotte’s “Victims of Love”:

In the beginning, I tried to warn you. You play with fire, it’s gonna burn you. And here we are now, same situation. You never listen, I never listen.

Everybody’s hurt somebody before. Everybody’s been hurt by somebody before. You can change but you’ll always come back for more. It’s a game and we are all just victims of love.

Here are the opening songs for both artists, the “room” is mentioned in both counts. Good Charlotte’s “Misery”:

Take a look around don’t you see it? See that you are the only real face in the room. No one here has a clue what you’re feeling. Don’t feel bad keep your sadness alive.

And Hilary Duff’s “Stranger”:

Did I ever do anything that was this cruel to you? Did I ever make you wonder who was standing in the room? You made yourself look perfect in every way. So when this goes down, I’m the one that will be blamed. Your plan is working so you can just walk away. Baby your secret’s safe.

Time to move on for the both of them? Good Charlette’s “Dance Floor Anthem”:

We break up it’s something that we do now. Everyone has got to do it sometime. It’s okay. Let it go. Get out there and find someone.

And Hilary Duff’s “Happy”:

I’m happy and I can thank myself. If it were up to you I’d be in my bed crying. But I’m happy and I know that makes you sad. After all the things you put me through. I’m finally getting over you.

Back to the review, there are a number of songs that sound distinctly different from their usual style and they actually work for me. Like their hit single “Keep Your Hands Off My Girl” (see below), you wouldn’t imagine that it is from them. And the beginning of “Victims of Love”? Reminded me of ta-Tu (in a good kind of sense). I personally don’t necessarily enjoy the vocal of Good Charlotte. With that said, there are some great catchy tones in this new album of theirs.