Yeay… I am on a one person mission again. So no wonder the cook have to do everything. Have 6 hands… preferably more. But was too time consuming for me to copy and paste. Too tired as well. Yes, I am drawing this while my other pc render another file. Yawn… I need a break. Well… I guess I ain’t a good cook… being so messy and all. But that’s cooking.. and that means fun!
What is up next week? Project description: When you see this guy with big beer belly, red outfit.. carrying loads of presents and still wondering how he manage to get pass the tight chimney.. yes, that’s what we are talking about. Project deadline: 6 December 2006, Wednesday. Submit to: mandy@velverse.com Anyone and everyone is welcome to join. Be it good or bad… it’s just something we do for fun! Generate some cool ideas and well.. surely fill up some of our boring times 😀
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Movie Title: 墨攻 (A Battle of Wits)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10)
Year: 2006
A Battle of Wits official site: http://www.abattleofwits.com.hk/
Everything else could wait when it comes to priority for Andy Lau. Yes, Thai would have to delay, any other post can wait… even if I will have to be backdating 6 months events.
A Battle of Wits is a long awaited movie since Andy only acted in one or two movie a year. He did give a hint of what he was doing when he came down for concert last year. Which gets everyone all hype and anticipating.
I must say I am not disappointed at all with the movie. In fact, I think it was very much an exciting movie. Based on a famous Japanese manga “Bokkou”, this movie basically tells the history of Mozi.
Leave behind hopes of seeing extreme fights. Nope… not much blood fight scene… not much violence and gore as it’s not really what Mozi teaching is all about. It’s more about war strategy… universal love… peace. Yes, I know many were expecting big fight… millions of troops fighting and streams of blood which leads to a disappointment.
Okay… set in 243 B.C. when China was torn among seven states and was ruled by individual ruler. Everyone tries to conquer the other countries to expand their power. Smaller and weaker states often fell prey to larger and stronger ones.
The Liang city was an unfortunate victim when the Zhao state wanted to conquer the Yan state. Knowing that they have to take down Liang city first as a stepping stone to win the Yan state, a war must be fought. Desperate for help, the King of Liang (Wang Zhiwen) asked the fellow Mozi’s for help. 2 months has passed and yet, not even one person showed up.
One day, just when the Zhao army was getting ready to attack, a Mozi tribesman called Ge Li (Andy Lau) came to the rescue. Ge Li was having a hard time persuading the people of Liang to fight for their own rights and homeland. Everyone was motivated when Ge Li manages to scare away the Zhao army.
The King of Liang, being a selfish and greed for power person just couldn’t care less for his people. Even when the kingdom is on the brink of being attacked, he still have the mood to drink and get drunk while leaving all the war task to his son, Liang Shi (Choi Si Won).
Knowing he needs good leadership, he quickly promoted Zi Tuan (Nicky Wu). This make Lian Shi angry and a small competition of archery was done to prove Ge Li’s choice of men was right. Ultimately Zi Tuan did not disappoint Ge Li and was appointed General.
It’s amazing how one person can plan, decide, navigate and just be so rational at the same time. When the King know he can’t do anything but trust Ge Li, he pass the ultimate power to command the war troops to Ge Li. Ge Li’s strategy was working fine as he surely knows how to fight a psychology war. Yes, I do agree is all in the mind. The stronger the mind is… the higher the chance of winning.
Ge Li even come up with ideas like building a bulwark from the palace wall stones in seven days to strong hold the enemy out while shocking them with their ability. He even have everything planned out for instance ways to keep their water and food supply safe and the use of manure as a blanket on the villagers’ thatched roofs to prevent the spread of fire from flaming arrows.
The Zhao army, being lead by Commander Xiang Yanzhong (Ahn Sung Ki) suffer a big lost after the first round of attack. They retreat when the Commander was being shot by Zi Tuan. Being upset and angry with the lost, the Zhao army plan to re-attack Liang city.
Yi Yuen (Fan Bing Bing), the Calvary officer quickly assist Ge Li to spy on the Zhao camp. Being spotted and attacked, it leaves them no choice but jump from a cliff. After saving Yi Yuen, she quickly falls for Ge Li. Ge Li keeps pushing Yi Yuen away as a Mozi believes in one should care for all people equally.
The Liang kingdom under Ge Li’s plan once again manage to survive the Zhao attack when they tried to ambush the kingdom. Being surrounded and shot till death even when the Zhao army dropped their weapons, this has caused the other Zhao army to be angry.
Everything starts to tear apart in the Liang kingdom when they thought the Zhao army has retreat. The jealous king starts to worry that Ge Li would overthrown him. He quickly order his faithful general, General Niu (Chin Siu Hou) to get rid of Ge Li and everyone who obeys Ge Li.
It was surely a heavy price to pay to get rid of Ge Li. The Liang kingdom was vulnerable to attack after Ge Li was gone. The remaining Zhao troops came back to attack the Liang city as they think it’s really a disgrace such a big and strong kingdom was defeated by a small city under the supervision of one Mozi follower.
What happen next… hmm, you will have to really see it for yourself. Yes, I am leaving lots of empty blanks to fill in because I simply think it was a great movie. Muahaha.. it’s all in the mind! I totally love the idea and the storyline but I somehow think they could still further develop some of the character. Yes, they have a rather simple setting and costume compared to “The Banquet” but I must say, it outcome was far more better than “The Banquet”.
Having a great soundtrack to go along with the movie just brings out all the emotions and effects. Ah… not to mention… having Andy Lau is more than enough to kept me drooling. I just love handsome, cool, calm and capable man. Now… should I see it again? Should I not… I think I should. I don’t know… *drool*
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Being the only person who draws the prisoner means… er… yeay… I am the sole survivor~ Okay… let me show off my Minor Mo version of Mini Me. Hemm… yes very much like ikan, I am inspired by Austin Power as well. To fellow people who have seen my sketchbook… yes, it’s very much different! I know… I have no idea why I tend to stray away from my original idea. Seems like I just want to add everything in. Then again… I am fickle minded. Right… not all prisoners are as handsome as the ones in Prison Break okay! So you gotta live with it 🙂 Hehe… reality check… they all should be bald, my dear sis!
What is up next week? Project description: Food… more food… more and more please. *burp* I want more! So someone gotta cook it for me! Project deadline: 29 November 2006, Wednesday. Submit to: mandy@velverse.com Anyone and everyone is welcome to join. Be it good or bad… it’s just something we do for fun! Generate some cool ideas and well.. surely fill up some of our boring times 😀
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Backdated post. Actual event took place on 18 November 2006.
Evening Hours, such a beautiful name that Brian thought of for our gatherings.
It all started with our cooking projects and a reason to gather.
In the future, when you see the word Evening Hours you will know it is related to our cooking and gatherings.
And I would like to thank Gigi for creating the Evening Hours logo.
The first Evening Hours gathering was at Brian’s house since his kitchen was well equip and has a cosy ambient.
Since it is a cooking project, everyone needed to cook a dish.
Hence Gigi helped to do grocery shopping for all the needed ingredients since me and Brian was busy at work.
As for Jon and June, since they can’t really make it to cook, we gave them a chance to buy some food instead of them cooking.
We decided to start preparing our dishes first so that everything will be ready when Jon and June arrive.
Gigi is busy preparing – cutting up meat, tomatoes, mushrooms as she is going to cook Spaghetti 🍝.
Brian on the other hand is making Bake Tomato with Baby Leek and Balsamic Vinegar (Jamie Oliver style).
As for me, I am cooking my signature Pork Rib in Orange Sauce.
The most difficult part was marinating the pork rib and squeezing orange juice without a juicer.
Yay! Seems everyone was busy finishing their masterpiece and cooked something that compliments each other dishes.
Our timing was perfect. Jon and June arrived just in time.
Jon brought some cheese sausage while June prepared some sandwiches from home and even brought dessert.
With some wine, we now had a complete meal.
As we finish our meal, sat down for a good chat, Jon suddenly made a bold suggestion to go Genting 😲!
And we are up for it. Of course we all say OKAY!
So, let’s wait up for my next post about our Genting adventure.
Backdated post. Actual event took place on 15 October 2006.
Since Nicole left, I continue my normal hanging out and watching movies routine with my buddies.
Eating is what I do best (so does everyone else).
This time round, we decided to have some Japanese food before the movies.
And in KLCC, we are down to only 3 choices – Genki Sushi, Sushi King or Nippon Tei.
We decided on Nippon Tei since we have tried Genki Sushi and Sushi King before.
This is our first time here, and everyone ordered their own set.
I have a sudden craving for beef, and I am glad they have pages of beef dishes on the menu.
I end up ordering Beef Teriyaki set while Gigi ordered the Beef Teppanyaki set.
Angeline on the other hand ordered the Saba Shioyaki set since she is a white meat eater.
While for Brian, I don’t really remember what he ordered.
I think I am starting to be forgetful .
We each also ordered extra for sharing.
Me and my Agedashi Tofu, Gigi ordered Soft Shell Crab while Angeline ordered Edamame.
I didn’t manage to try other items aas I was busy enjoying my plate of beef.
While it isn’t really great, it is enough to satisfy my cravings.
As for the Agedashi Tofu, I think it needed quite some improvement since I have tried better previously in One Utama.
I can’t recall which shop it is, so I will go there again and blog it out next time.
Nippon Tei
Address: Lot 426/427 Level 4 Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +603-2161 4176 / +603-2161 4169
Movie Title: The Covenant
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/10)
Year: 2006
The Covenant official site: http://www.jointhecovenant.com/
If “Charmed” was meant to make guys drool over the sexy and beautiful witches. The Covenant is the total opposite of that. Now finally the girls sit down and drool at the handsome guys and their witchcraft powers while the guys job is to supply tissue, hold the popcorn and pass drinks whenever needed.
Haha… I sounds cruel? No, I don’t. Seriously… unless guys like watching other HOT guys. I mean… most of the guys I know just felt so physically challenged looking at other HOT guys. Started making remarks like.. “very HOT meh? handsome meh? I don’t know why you all like the guy so much.. blah blah blah”. Well… I still can never understand why guys drool over Jennifer Love Hewitt or Jessica Alba so yeah… woman are hard to understand, so are guys.
Back to the movie ,The title of the movie refers to five families, The Putnums, Danvers, Perrys, Sims and Garvins which untold powers who form the covenant of silence. One of the family wants more and was banished with their bloodline disappear without a trace.
The Covenant starts of with a very fast pace music and fast montage opening. Some might complain it goes too fast no one understand what it was trying to tell… but well, it’s fast but they kinda repeated the same images for many times. So if you see clearly, it’s basically telling about how the witches community was killed during the witch hunt. Stuffs that happen in the Ipswich Colony back then and images from the Book of Damnation.
Right after that, they started with a very cool start trick with the four sons of Ipswich, Caleb Danvers (Steven Strait), Pogue Parry (Taylor Kitsch), Tyler Sims (Chace Crawford) and Reid Garwin (Toby Hemingway) jumping or I should say floating off a cliff to join the other people at a party.
At the party, Caleb and Reid sort of spot on this new girl, Sarah Wenham (Laura Remsey) who just joined the Spenser Academy. Sarah was then introduced to them by Pogue’s girlfriend Kate (Jessica Lucas). When the cops was here to bust the party, the guys once again use their power to free themselves. The four combined power to make the car float off the cliff. I just love how they say “Harry Potter can kiss my ass.”
Everything was cool until one of the students was found dead at the party place. Caleb starts having nightmares that woke him out of sleep. He started to worry and gather the others. Caleb started suspecting Reid for overusing his powers which leads them to fight against each other. Apparently, the powers are addictive, the more they use it, the more it weakens and age them.
The sweetest part is, Caleb’s power still has the potential to grow. Which is when he is 18, his power will mature and he have greater powers than the rest. Unknown to them, all the problem appears to be the work of the fifth family of the Ipswich Colony.
Right, he is back and he wants more. He wants to seek revenge, wants to have more power. That’s because the power has got him so addicted. Caleb was the main target since his birthday was soon and the fifth “son of Ipswich” wants him power badly. The best way to get to him was through his friends and Sarah.
I love how the movie uses the soft way of slipping in messages about one battling one’s evilness against drugs. The powers are like drugs. It’s powerful, addictive.. but the more we use it the more it weakens us and kills our body. I totally love the effects of the car breaking apart and sticking back together. I totally love the scenes, the Danvers house but I somehow think the fights were a little “street fighter” style.
I know many people sort of have high hopes since it was from the producers of “Underworld”. But hey, this is a rather low budget movie.. with all new stars… I think it was a pretty much movie considering the budget and the new stars. Obviously they could have done better. But I think it was good enough for a start.
And yes, they gathered 4 handsome guys together… now that is eye candy and additional points. Oh yes, by the way… it’s not any horror movie. It’s a mixture of a little action and a little thriller. So… yes, I want to see more! I want more… I hope they come out with a part two *drool*
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Backdated post. Actual event took place on 10 November 2006.
Everyone have different cravings of their own.
When everyone around me talk about food, it makes my craving list grew.
And I am sure it doesn’t only happen to me.
While I was chatting with Gigi the other day, I was telling her I had this sudden cravings for Kung Pao Chicken and Nam Yue Pork Ribs.
Haha, as you can tell I am a meat lover 🍖 and carnivore. I love meat! Yummy!
So before our midnight movie, we stop by Choi Keng Restaurant along Jalan Alor for dinner.
According to Gigi, they serve one of the best stir fried dishes in town.
I was disappointed with their Nam Yue Pork Ribs as I find that it isn’t seasoned and marinated enough.
The fermented bean curd taste is too mild while the pork rib fails to absorb the strong taste.
So I can only use one word to describe this dish – TERRIBLE.
While the Kung Pao Chicken is OK except the fact that it was a little too sweet for my taste.
The dish is good, just I don’t like my main dish I prefer nothing too sweet.
As for the vegetables and tofu, it was pretty standard.
I personally believe that “safe” dishes like this can never go wrong.
And only people like me would be able to screw up a vegetable and tofu dish.
No kidding! If any restaurant manage to screw up on dishes like this, be sure not to return!
Gigi also agree that their food standard dropped from her last visit.
Maybe they have changed cook or the cook is in a bad mood 😅.
Restaurant Choi Keng
Address: No. 11, Jln Alor, Wilayah Persekutuan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Phone: +603-2141 0160
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Ah.. our plane is here and we are now just 2 hours away from holiday!I am still excited. Jimbo was trying to catch some sleep since he didn’t sleep. Men and football *sigh*. Since no one talk to me. I snap some pictures and then doze off to sleep. When I wake up…
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