Thank You and Goodbye Michael Jackson

Just like this photo, you will always be remembered and respected.

The Ultimate King of Pop.
R.I.P. The Legend of the Legends.

Transformers 2 - The Revenge of the Fallen

Wow here it comes finally! The long awaited, most talked-about movie of this year is finally here! Not sure if you are as excited as i am but i have been waiting since the first one. I have always been a Transformer fan since i was a kid. They used to show it on TV in Hong Kong. And without a doubt, a fortunate kid like me, was able to buy a Transformer. Though i did not have an image of me buying any character apart from Optimus Prime and Megatron. I think they were the only popular ones or were the only ones available in HK.

Transformers, as a movie, is nothing less than a visual enjoyment and entertainment. Even until yesterday, i could still have visions of different cars trun into various types of robots. Imagine you were the main character fighting alongside all the Transformers, wouldn't it be the greatest thing ever happen to you in your life? Isn't that like a dream come true? Both Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay have successfully brought the comic, imagination and dream to 'reality'. Props to them both.

This time, the limelight is still shining on Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox (of course!), Optimus Prime and Megatron. But Bumblebee has his turn, fighting bravely to protect Sam and the bond between Bee and Sam is nothing but love. Who would you take a bullet for?

Transformers 2 has also added new robots such as 'Rampage' the tiger, 'Frisbee Girls' the bikes and 'Twins'. The expansion of the squads have put more freshness into the film, which i believe they will have bigger roles in the next one.


Though i still found something that i feel pretty strange about. Like the whole trip of searching for the matrix, those scenes are like Shia's other movie - Indiana Jones, Nicholas Cage's National Treasure and Da Vincci Code 2. Then i do not think it is good to make a Decepticon transform into human mode as they like. I mean that is a nice move by the writer, though does it mean they can transform into human looks and hide amongst people on Earth? That kind of lost the essence of Transformers. I also wonder how they are going to keep up with it in the next one.

The 'Decepticon-turned-human' who tries to seduce Sam, real name Isabel Lucas, was born in Melbourne, Australia and stared in an Aussie TV episode called 'Home & Away'. Watched her on TV while i was in M-Town and now on a bigger screen, this is like two different things and totally different level. I wonder how she got into it but i wish her the best. Australian Pride (even though i am not).

Have you watched it yet? Shoot me with your reviews and comments. Much love.

From CoCo to Chanel - What a life change

少女香奈兒：由低下階層，到上流社會，名設計師，魅力釋放

<a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=8634604a-f016-45fa-b979-17dffc32002c" target="_new" title="Water bird"> Video: 少女香奈兒</a>

The Captain has recently watched the life story of CoCo, who later became one of most well-known household names - Chanel.

It was a good story, even though i am not sure how much of it is real (you know movies). But undoubtedly it was encourgaing and inspiring. The from-below-to-the-top storyline surely motivates a lot of hearts to work their way up to achieve their goals. I am definitely one of them.

You never know what is going to happen with Fly. It might be a world brand someday, it might be a top local company. Either way, i am just going to bring out the best products for consumers, my community and people around me.

A picture of Focus's Crossover Project

One of the most exciting competitions i have ever played in!

之前The Captain在這裡提到將會出席一個射球比賽. 這是第一屆的'金巴崙長老會籃球隊'的投籃比賽. 當C Sir致電邀請我時, 我心裡想, '射球比賽? 不是吧? 我的射術從來都不太好, 是我最弱的一項.' 但當聽到會有不同範疇的射球比賽時 (請看下圖)和參加的選手水準挺高的, The Captain當然不會放過這個令自己進步的機會!


講起今次比賽的發起人 - Henry Sze aka 'C Sir', 他是一個很特別的人. 他不單是一個丈夫, 一女一子的父親, 一個畢業於電影系卻熱衷於籃球的教練, 一個前甲組球員, 一個激進派人仕 (請原諒! 哈哈), 他更是一個非一般的基督徒! 他令我了解到更多世間的不平事, 不只是他所講的, 而是他親身經歷的. 在此不多說與他認識的過程, 日後有機會再跟大家分享. 大家可以到C Sir的網誌看看他的籃球世界及對世事的獨特見解.
http://c-sir.blogspot.com/
http://www.reboundministry.com/index.html
http://c-sir-coaching.blogspot.com/
http://www.c-sir-dream.blogspot.com/

好了, 說說今次的比賽. 比賽共有4部份: Steve Nash Shooting Game, NBA 3-point Shootout, NBA Shooting Stars Game & Swingman Shooting Game.

在'Steve Nash'比賽中, 我很快便射入近距離的9球, 當我以為自己會很快完成這個項目時, 正如我之前所說, 我的3分很不濟, 限時到了都只射進了一球. 過份! 很失望的同時, 亦令我想起最近看的一本運動心理學書 (稍後交代) 裡面提到的'將失敗轉為正面的力量', 決定之後要射得更好!

3分賽, 19中5. 很低的數字. Shooting Stars是不計在個人總得分內的, 我被編排到跟一個只有13歲的小朋友同隊, 我很欣賞他. 我相信如果他在往後的日子能跟上好的教練, 受正統的訓練, 他會成為一個挺好的球員!

到了Swingman Shooting Game. 這是我最期待的環節. The Captain的遠距離射術真的不敢恭維, 但對中距離, 轉身射球 (turnaround jumper)和壓力下射球還是可以的. 'Swingman'首先要做一個Pull-up jumper, 然後繞過障礙物去到底線射3分, 之後到對面接傳球Turnaround jumper. 在2分30秒內不斷重複, 最後計算射進多少球. 我自己將這個環節當作練習, 特意要求C Sir傳球時傳到我的左手, 讓我好好的練習turnaround j. 雖然只是2分30秒, 聽起來很短, 真正比賽時卻是很長的時間! 射球, 快速跑加上集中力其實是很累的. 我到後來的pull-up jumpers全都射失了, 是因為我的腳已經很累, 導致我射球的力量是由身體先發出, 而不是腳先發出, 所以起手時身體不平衡令到出手都失去節奏了.

後記:


這個非常有創意的比賽, 除了令我對自己的射術了解更深外, 還加強了我對自己起手的信心. 更重要的是讓我認識到幾位對籃球都很有熱誠的年青人.

當然, 可改進的地方也有許多. 但我所見到的是一班很有組織, 很齊心的年輕人. 為了搞好是次比賽, 他們會做好自己的崗位和聽從領導者的指令. 金巴崙長老會籃球隊的一班年青人是應得讚許的!

正如C Sir所說, 香港很難有正面的籃球文化及風氣. 要發揮這種精神, 要提倡這股風氣, 應該由我們這一班人做起!

Twitter

The Captain has just created a Twitter account.

Look me up -

http://www.twitter.com/LoknessMonster

Peace.

Duplicity (最佳情•敵)

The Captain unusually had a little bit a availability today and was wandering in a shopping mall. Downstairs was a nicely renovated cinema, The Captain went down to have a look at the movie schedule, saw 'Duplicity' featuring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, and he was thinking, 'oh well, since i haven't seen a movie on my own in ages...' Checked the time, good fit of his schedule, then headed to the cashier and bought a ticket.

Summary: 'Duplicity' talks about 2 corporate spies try to set up a con that will ultimately and eventually lead them to enjoyable and luxurious lifestyles, yet are being played instead. The romantic storyline between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen is well planned.

The following is a comment by 'Shek Kei' from Yahoo! Movies (HK).

《最佳情•敵》鬥智奇緣 明報 : 2009-06-11 (星期四) 5:06 AM
【明報專訊】繼《誘心人》之後，茱莉亞羅拔絲再與英國男星佳夫奧雲結上片緣，合演驚險鬥智的愛情喜劇，相當合襯，佈局也奇情有趣，可惜她有點過氣，他有點濕水，未能擦出熱鬧浪漫的火花。

《最佳情•敵》（Duplicity）的編導東尼驕萊，編過賣座片《叛諜追擊》系列，首次執導佐治古尼主演的奇情片《敵對同謀》，描述倒霉律師與工商業大集團鬥法，橋段與手法都不俗，甚獲好評。現在新作拍攝工商業間諜，十分「扭計」，還增添愛情妙趣，然而成績不及前作。

其實故事構思好玩，美國CIA女特工與英國M16男間諜，結上男歡女愛而又爾虞我詐的奇緣。幾年後這對冤家狹路相逢，都已轉行投入商營機構，變為工業間諜和商界臥底，一起捲入兩大公司陰謀鬥法。男女主角究竟是情人拍檔，還是各懷鬼胎的敵手呢？劇情就由頭至尾扭來扭去。

此片妙在拍間諜而脫離了政府，玩臥底而超出黑白道，事實上商場如敵國，情場如戰場，往往比官方和黑幫更競爭激烈。這次商戰加情戰，就很曲折蠱惑。

至於男女主角有驚有喜的情緣，則令人想起荷李活盛行「幼兒化」「魔幻化」之前的成年人奇趣舊片，例如柯德莉夏萍與加利格蘭合演的《花都奇遇結良緣》（Charade），以及她和彼德奧圖合演的《偷龍轉鳳》（How to Steal a Million）。

九十年代大紅的《風月俏佳人》茱莉亞羅拔絲，近年失色了，今次有演技有台型，但明星魅力就不及當年柯德莉夏萍。女星始終比男星受年齡影響，中年後仍然星光輝煌的很少。佳夫奧雲保持風流瀟灑，只是他一向性格不強，火力不猛。

片中鬥智鬥法也比較誇張，如果像高安兄弟拍《CIA光碟離奇失竊案》那樣漫畫化搞笑，可能過癮。現在導演處理通俗喜劇還未熟練，又經常賣弄幾年前、幾月前的時空交錯，複雜鬆散了，不夠緊湊爽快。

雖然不滿意，《最佳情•敵》也有不少妙處，肯定不會陳套和弱智。

石琪

5,671 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 6.7/10 as the rating for 'Duplicity'. And i would rate it at 7/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135487/

The director of this film, Tony Gilroy, has a tremendous background of writting and directing cops-crime, investigation and adventure thrillers such as State of Play (by Russell Crowe, one of the most-wanted-to-see films that i have not seen), Michael Clayton, The Bourne Trilogy and Bait.

Veteran actor Denis O'Hare's versatality of acting has definitely added some extra colors to this film.

There was one scene that had 4 squares showing different places with Julia Roberts's face on the right hand side of one square (she was pissed off after an interrogation with the female staff of B & R Travel), and there was another square showing a metal/bronze lion in London on the right hand side of the square. I guess the director tried to put these 2 pictures together and to show 'at that very moment, Julia was like a lion, she could eat anyone off when she is angry'. It was a very good scene.

I give this film a 7 out of 10 because it is not a new idea, kind of reminds me of 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'. But i need to give some props to the film music composer - James Newton Howard. I really enjoyed the music in Duplicity, put in at the right time and the best time, very fitting and classical, which match the themes very well.

I just did a little research on him and geez, he has done loads of great jobs of composing for Awards-winning movies such as The Dark Knight, I Am Legend and Blood Diamond.

Let me know what you think of the movie.