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Health & Wellness

Health & Wellness
Health & Wellness

 

 

Movie: Repo Men (2010)

For a price, any organ in your body can be replaced. But it can also be repossessed.

Repo Men (2010) is a sci-fi action thriller with the following synopsis.

In the near-future, human beings are able to improve their life expectancy and quality through buying and implanting highly sophisticated and expensive artificial organs produced by "The Union".

The Union will send highly skilled repo (repossession) men to take back the artificial organs (known as artiforgs), of which they claim as their properties if the patients fail to make payment.

Remy (Jude Law) is one of the best repo men with The Union. He is fitted with an artificial heart after he almost died from a mishap during one of his repossession mission. When he fails to pay, The Union's manager, Frank (Liev Schreiber) sends Remy's former colleague, Jake (Forest Whitaker) to track him down and bring him in.


Repo Men reminds me of two movies in 2009 - Gamer (starring Gerard Butler) and Surrogates (starring Bruce Willis). Both movies are set in the near-future and related to technology and medical breakthroughs.

What sets this movie apart is the gruesome amount of violence, gore, and splattering blood from sharp weapon combat scenes that were done in super slow motion and freeze frame technique. You either watch people being cut open, stitched up, or stabbed to death with all sorts of sharp weapons or delicate surgical instruments.
Oh the horror! This is NOT a movie for those with weak stomachs. :S

Lately, I've watched quite a number of movies starring Liev Schreiber. In Repo Men, he's Frank, the manager of The Union, Remy and Jake's boss. In Salt (2010), he's Ted Winter, Evelyn Salt's colleague. He's also Victor Creed/Sabretooth, Wolverine's brother in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and Zus Bielski in Defiance (2008).

Back to Repo Men, after watching scenes after scenes of violent action, pain, and death, just as you thought the ending is supposed to be good and it seems to be going in that direction, there comes an unexpected ending which I feel is rather disturbing and unfair. I won't divulge much here though. :)

According to Golden Screen Cinemas Online, Repo Men will be shown in August 2010. It's highly recommended for sci-fi action thriller fans. Watch out for it! :)
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Project 365 - Photo #212

I was at Nilai earlier today and saw this really antic motorcycle with two passenger seats.

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Project 365 - Photo #211

Local fruits - durians (猫山王), mangosteens, langsat, and rambutans for dessert after dinner. Yummss!

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Project 365 - Photo #210

Yellow & blue M&M's! I like!

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Project 365 - Photo #209

This lucky black cat is feasting on cat biscuits.

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Movie: Salt (2010)

Who is Salt?

Salt (2010) is an action thriller movie starring Angelina Jolie as CIA agent Evelyn Salt.

Here's a good synopsis written by Sony Pictures: As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?"

Liev Schreiber is Ted Winter, Salt's colleague. Schreiber is Victor Creed/Sabretooth, Wolverine's brother in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) & Zus Bielski in Defiance (2008).

Overall, this is an adrenaline-pumping action thriller with Angelina Jolie kicking bad asses wherever she goes and performing almost all of her own stunts. However, its storyline is not super-exciting or entirely new -- Russian moles in the CIA of America, assassination plots of presidents, nuclear war prospects, etc. Sounds familiar, right? In fact, I feel like I'm watching Mission Impossible or James Bond or Jason Bourne movies with a female protagonist. :D

However, I'm not overly disappointed because Angelina Jolie is still giving her top-notched performance as a female action star. On top of that, the little twist at the end of the movie is quite unexpected and it sort of defies all predictable moments from the beginning of the movie.

Recommended to all action thriller fans and Angelina Jolie's supporters. :)
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When a man discovers a woman...

Disclaimer: Here's a joke. Like I say, a joke, so please don't get offended if you choose to continue reading. :)

Day 1: God created the light. God saw it was good and God rested.

Day 2: God created night and day. God saw it was good and God rested.

Day 3: God created the oceans. God saw it was good and God rested.

Day 4: God created mountains. God saw it was good and God rested.

Day 5: God created plants. God saw it was good and God rested.

Day 6: God created animals. God saw it was good and God rested.

Day 7: God created man. God saw it was good and God rested.

Day 8: God made women.

.....



.....

Neither God nor man have rested since.

One more: When Adam discovers Eve, scientifically. :P Read this "Hazardous Materials Data Sheet" and be amused. :P


ROTFL!
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Project 365 - Photo #208

A heart that loves is always young.

Thanks for this sweet surprise, dear. :)

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Project 365 - Photo #207

A nice quote about the past, the present, and the future. :)

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Weekend Movie 2: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

Defy the Future

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) is a fantasy-adventure movie based on the popular video game - Prince of Persia.

I like this short and sweet synopsis from Disney: Set in the mystical lands of Persia, a rogue prince and a mysterious princess race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time -- a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

Jake Gyllenhaal is the rogue Prince Dastan of Persia and Gemma Arterton is the mysterious Princess Tamina of Alamut, the sacred city. She's also the guardian of the Dagger of Time. Ben Kingsley is Nizam, the villainous uncle who wants to turn back time so that he could be king instead of King Sharaman.

Overall, I enjoy the movie's fast and gripping pace and action.
Its entertainment value is undeniably strong - a handsome prince, a beautiful princess, a mission to save the world from destruction, the villains die, and finally, the most important element - a happily-ever-after ending. :)
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Weekend Movie 1: Flyboys (2006)

Inspired by a true story.

Flyboys (2006) is a movie set prior to America's involvement in World War I (WWI) that focuses on the experiences of a group of young Americans (1916-1918) who volunteered to become fighter pilots in the Lafayette Escadrille, formed by the French.

Compared to The Red Baron (2008), a German biopic about the legendary WWI fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen, Flyboys is a more superior WWI movie in terms of character development, storyline, and combat sequences.

As per its tagline, Flyboys is a fictional movie, inspired by real-life accounts of the French's Lafayette Escadrille during WWI. Young American men join the air squadron for different personal reasons. For example, Rawlings (James Franco) enlists due to the foreclosure of his family ranch in Texas; Lowry (Tyler Labine) joins the squadron because of his father; Skinner (Abdul Salis) is motivated to give something back to France due to their racial tolerance attitude. Their captain is Georges Thenault (Jean Reno), and veteran fighter ace Reed Cassidy (Martin Henderson), a fellow American, is their mentor. This article explores the different characters of this movie.

Whiskey the lion, Lafayette Escadrille's mascot, is portrayed by Shaka the lion in this movie.

Overall, this is an excellent movie with exciting air combat sequences of the Lafayette Escadrille's young fighter pilots against the German air squadron and vice versa. The Germans have significantly better planes and air combat experience and skills. However, Lafayette's young pilots give the best fight of their lives without regrets. Although most of them perished, they have done their part to end the war. Bravo!

Worth a watch. :)
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Cooking is therapeutic

Tada! Dinner at home with David on a rainy Sunday evening. Cooking is therapeutic. When I can cook, I'm happy! :D

We have chicken herbal soup with Chinese dried mushrooms, button mushrooms, and mee sua (rice noodles). The noodles are cooked separately so that they won't become a lump of gooey mass. For more fiber, we have cucumbers, tomatoes, dragonfruit, and grapefruit.

Well, it takes forever to finish nom-nom due to the huge amount of fruits! Hahaha!
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Project 365 - Photo #206

Colorful Volkswagen Beetles are displayed at Summit USJ for Bug-O-Rama 2010.

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Project 365 - Photo #205

5% off electrical appliances at Jaya Jusco. Hmmm... This is the first time I see a 5% mark. Business is bad huh?

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The destructive power of self delusion

Lying to ourselves always leads to disaster. Working out what's true and what's false isn't easy. It's a skill that we've to learn and practice all the time. This is hard work. Many people prefer their fantasies. Moreover, when it's painful to accept the truth you're facing, lying to yourself can seem the easiest option.

Men who habitually lie to themselves tend to prefer lies that relieve them of responsibility, while women often prefer the kind of lie that leads to guilt.

When we lie to ourselves, we are holding two contradictory ideas. Neuroscientists have shown that the ideas we hold in our mind, either consciously or unconsciously, are represented in our brain by certain connections between the neurons. They've yet to discover the pattern of neurons that forms when we try to hide a truth that we know behind a denial of that truth, but when, eventually, they know what this is, it's sure to be some kind of neurological snarl-up.

The toll of such as snarl-up are shown in the way that we behave when we lie to ourselves. When lying to ourselves becomes a habit, we get into a tangle. We don't know when we're actually lying to others because we've told ourselves that we're always truthful. Other people, knowing or sensing that we're lying, regard us as insincere. They cease to trust us.

Without making the effort to remember truthfully, we lose the ability to remember accurately. We lose track of our own life story. When we do this, we lose touch with who we really are.

Worst of all, our buried truth do not disappear. They break through, if not in words, in actions. We find ourselves doing certain things and not understanding why we're behaving like this.

We hate ourselves for destroying those things that matter most to us, but we find that we can't control what we're doing. No matter what lies you tell to others, always tell yourself the truth. - The Times
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Are you a bookaholic?

Checklist:

1. You spend hours in any bookstore. In fact, bookstores become you and your partner's frequent dating spot.

(Me: Perfecto!)

2. You spend compulsively on books, even when you're feeling dejected, bored or restless.

(Me: Ahhh, not yet. :P)

3. You spend a fortune during books warehouse sales, e.g. Big Bad Wolf Sale or Times Books Clearance Sale.

(Me: Ahhh, not yet either. :P)

4. You rather buy books even though they're not on sale and not clothes/handbags/shoes/perfumes/make-up kits although they're on sale.

(Me: Guilty as charged.)

5. You hope that you'll get books that you secretly want or book vouchers for your birthday present and other special occasions.

(Me: Well, not really.)

6. You buy both the hardcover and paperback versions of the book you want because you think that's the reason the publishers print both versions.

(Me: No, I don't.)

7. You walk into your study room and bedroom and find yourself tripping over piles of books on the floor because your bookshelves are full.

(Me: Those are not my books. :P)

8. You start talking and discussing about fictional characters from the books you've read as if they really exist.

(Me: No, I don't.)

9. You're so worried that people won't return your books, so you won't let them borrow your books. You're adamant about this habit.

(Me: Perhaps.)

10. You're more than willing to sacrifice a night's rest to stay up and finish the book so that you can read other books tomorrow. Well, so many books, so little time, right?

(Me: I think sleep is more important. :P)

Verdict: Ahhh, so I'm not a bookaholic. :)



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Project 365 - Photo #204

These ducks, despite being not yellow, reminds me of one of DiGi's
campaign in 2009.

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The last cookie

For David. :)

I love this quote very much. :)
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Project 365 - Photo #203

Roland presents Michael Schack from Belgium on V-Drums Live in Malaysia 2010 @ LG Oval, New Wing, 1 Utama on 21 & 22 July. You can even experience the way in playing different drum styles like Techno, Jungle, Hip Hop, and many more!

More details here.

Note: Photos are taken during his live performance.

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Test your knowledge about anger

Source from here.

1. What's the difference between women's anger and men's anger?
A. Women's anger is more likely to be unjustified, while men's anger usually has a good justification.

B. Women are more likely to become angry with those around them, while men are more likely to become angry at the world at large and inanimate objects.

C. Women can't control their anger, but men can.

Answer: B
Anger in women is more likely triggered by their close relationships, such as when they feel let down by family members and friends. Men are more likely to be angered by strangers, objects that aren't working correctly and larger societal issues.


2. What part of the brain controls reasoning and tempers the amygdala's response to an anger trigger?
A. Frontal lobe

B. Parietal lobe

C. Temporal lobe

Answer: A
The frontal lobe, or the part of the brain that's over the left eye, controls reasoning and keeps an angry person from throwing a vase across the room.


3. What does Phineas Gage have to teach us about anger?
A. He came up with the idea of counting to 10 when angry.

B. He suffered a brain injury that demonstrated the importance of the frontal lobe in controlling rage.

C. He wrote an influential book about anger shown by Jesus in the Bible.

Answer: B
Phineas Gage was a mild-mannered railroad worker until he suffered an accident in which a rod went through his skull, right above the left eye. From then on, Gage was angry, irritable and unstable. The rod had destroyed the frontal lobe's ability to control an anger response.


4. What does acetylcholine have to do with anger?
A. Acetylcholine works with adrenaline to work a person into an angry state.

B. Acetylcholine tempers the more severe effects of adrenaline, essentially turning off the anger.

C. Acetylcholine transmits messages between the amygdala and the frontal lobe about the anger trigger.

Answer: B
Acetylcholine is a hormone that tempers the more severe effects of adrenaline. A person who is angry all the time may not produce this hormone.


5. In a study of almost 13,000 subjects, individuals with the highest levels of anger had a higher risk of heart attack compared to those with the lowest levels of anger. How much greater was the risk?
A. Three times as much

B. Five times as much

C. 10 times as much

Answer: A
The study found that individuals with the highest level of anger had three times the risk of heart attack, as well as twice the risk of coronary heart disease, as individuals with the lowest levels of anger.


6. Anger expression typically takes one of three forms. Which method of anger expression has been described as depression?
A. Anger-in

B. Anger-out

C. Anger control

Answer: A
Anger-in, or turning anger inward, has been described as depression. This method of anger expression is overwhelmingly observed in women, who may feel that society frowns on angry women.


7. How do you diagnose someone with anger?
A. Interviews with family members and evaluation by a psychiatrist

B. The Anger Management Exam (AME), a 100-question test that is effective about 80 percent of the time.

C. Anger is not a diagnosis because it's not defined by the DSM-IV.

Answer: C
Anger is not defined by the DSM-IV, the diagnostic bible for mental health professionals. As such, there's not a specific way to diagnose or treat someone with chronic anger.


8. What is the goal of anger management?
A. To be completely cured of anger so that you're never angry again

B. To learn how to hold your anger in so that it doesn't affect anyone else

C. To learn how to defuse triggers and express anger in a healthy way

Answer: C
Those in anger management classes learn how to defuse anger triggers and express anger in a healthy way.


9. Do animals get angry?
A. Of course -- haven't you ever stepped on a cat's tail?

B. No, animals are more likely expressing fear.

C. Further testing is needed on the brains of animals to make a judgment.

Answer: B
Anger requires a mental component that many scientists think that animals aren't capable of. Animals are likely expressing fear, a primary emotion, rather than anger, a secondary emotion which requires attributing blame.


10. What is public anger?
A. Displays of anger that happen in public as opposed to behind closed doors

B. Anger that is felt by the people toward the institutions in power

C. God's anger with the general public and society

Answer: B
Public anger is anger that is collectively directed toward the institutions in power.


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Project 365 - Photo #202

I'm cultivating the habit to consume my daily intake of calcium & magnesium without fail. :)

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What do you want in a soul mate?

Photo from here.


Click here for the original article.

To date successfully and manage your relationships effectively, you must have a clear vision of yourself and others. One popular method to define that vision is to create a list of the qualities you want in a soul mate — a list that gives you a perfect guideline to use for your own self-inventory.

1. Values
You want someone you can believe in, someone you can trust. Can you count on him to do what he says? Can you trust her to do what's right and always be there? What about you? These shared values form the basis of a lasting relationship.

2. Emotional health and maturity
To have a lasting relationship, it's important for both people to be emotionally healthy and mature. Does he have a positive attitude? Does she like herself? What about you? When you and your mate are at peace with yourselves, you won't need others to make you happy.

3. Financial responsibility
No, money can't buy love, but you'd be amazed how much trouble financial irresponsibility can cause. Does his career provide a lifestyle you're comfortable with? Does she handle her money wisely? What about you? Think about this one carefully.

4. Physical appearance and fitness
We all want someone to whom we're physically attracted, and we want someone to be physically attracted in return. Does she take time to care for her appearance? Does he eat and exercise to stay fit? What about you? Remember that first impressions count!

5. Communication skills
Lasting partnerships depend on open communication that allows both people to share their thoughts, concerns, and dreams. Is she assertive in communicating her thoughts? Does he shrink from confrontation? What about you? You want someone who's willing to develop good listening and communication skills.


6. Confidence
Confident people radiate a glow that inevitably attracts us. Does he have strong self-esteem? Has she taken responsibility for her own life? Even the most tender of partners should bring strength to a relationship.

One of the quickest and surest ways to find your match is to become your own best friend and soul mate. Mirror, mirror on the wall… When the image clears, shouldn't the reflection be yours?


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Project 365 - Photo #201

Keychains from Little Trees. David has the USA tree and he gives me the Victory Lane tree. :D

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More about Inception

Disclaimer: This post may contain spoilers. If you haven't watched Inception, kindly refrain from reading.

Remember the totem? Here's the spinning top used by Cobb & Mal. Now it gives me the creeps whenever I think of Cobb spinning it. However, I'm glad that I've watched this unforgettable movie.

Inception has an impressive cast and their performance deserves two thumbs-up!

Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)
Eames (Tom Hardy)
Fischer (Cillian Murphy)
Mal (Marion Cotillard)
Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio)
Ariadne (Ellen Page)
Miles (Michael Caine)
Saito (Ken Watanabe)
Yusuf (Dileep Rao)

Here's a thought-provoking article that you might want to read - "Dissecting 'Inception': Six Interpretations and Five Plot Holes".


This article is interesting too - "7 Reasons Why Techies Love Inception".
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Project 365 - Photo #200

Dinner with Shawnae & my sis at Bobalicious Smoothies, Tropicana City Mall. Then, sis bought cinnamon cake, pumpkin cake, and chocolate cake for breakfast the next morning. :)

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Weekend DVD 2: The Red Baron (2008)

One warrior ruled the sky.

The Red Baron (2008) is a German biopic about the legendary World War I fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen.

Baron Manfred von Richthofen (Matthias Schweighöfer), known as The Red Baron is the most celebrated pilot of the German Air Force in World War I. Along with his fellow pilots, Werner Voss (Til Schweiger), Friedrich Sternberg, and his brother Lothar von Richthofen, they take pride in piloting their planes and engage in air combats as though they are participating in sport events.

As the war drags on, Manfred realizes that he's being manipulated for propaganda by Kaiser Wilhelm II. At the same time, he has also fallen in love with a nurse named Käte.

This movie is rather slow-paced and unexpectedly humdrum despite having the German Air Force World War I as the main theme. Nevertheless, the air combat scenes are pretty well-done although I'm not quite sure whether they're done with CG effects.

Overall, this is not a very exciting movie. However, its educational value deserves praises. Now I know Germany has good soldiers too. :)
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Weekend DVD 1: Defiance (2008)

Freedom begins with an act of defiance!

A true story.

It's August 1941. The Jewish Bielski brothers - Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber), Asael (Jamie Bell), and Aron (George MacKay) escaped from the massacre of the German soldiers in their village where their parents and many other Jews were either killed or sent to concentration camps.

The four brothers hide in the Belarussian forests and soon, other runaway Jews join them. Tuvia the eldest begins to assume leadership among the survivors and builds a village/community. Zus wants to fight the Germans and he chooses to leave the community and join the Soviet partisans. Tuvia continues his role as caretaker to protect all new and surviving Jews in his village with his two younger brothers and fight for food and ammunition.

This is a very inspirational movie with a touchy topic: the Holocaust. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell give us powerful, impressive, and provoking performance as the Bielski brothers. You could feel the pain, loss, and suffering caused by war and death among the survivors. You could feel their strong determination to continue surviving amidst hardship. Some of them are at the brink of losing their faith at some point of time. This is indeed a very touching and intense movie.

Moreover, the beauty of this movie also lies in its balanced and non-provocative approach to uncover mankind's past, and possibly the worst history of genocide ever. You won't be stirred up too much to hate the SS or the Russian partisans or the Jews or anyone. There's no ground to harbor hatred and revenge. All you want to see is the possibility to survive and nothing else.

The movie ends with this statement. "The Bielskis never sought recognition for what they did, and that the descendants of the people they saved now number in the tens of thousands." This is amazing.

Final verdict: Highly recommended.
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男人女人- 阿穆隆 许茹芸

A sweet song with a soothing tune and an encouraging message. If you've a special someone and if you can understand Mandarin, you'll love this song. :)

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Project 365 - Photo #199

Bought Charlotte Ward's "Why am I always the one before The One? One girl's quest to bag Mr Right" and gotten Neil Gailman's "Coraline" for free. Great stuff from Bookalicious' "2 for 1" deal!

Bookalicious: Lot G35, The Summit USJ. Mon-Sun, 10:00am - 10:00pm

Check out Bookalicious' Facebook Fan Page.

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Movie: Inception (2010)

Your mind is the scene of the crime.

Inception (2010) is, perhaps, the most talked about movie in July and August 2010.

I won't provide any spoiler. You've to watch this very highly recommended movie and make your own judgment. :)

I'd like to highlight three main points:

First, the movie has an interesting topic - the invasion of dreams, the sharing of dreams, and how a single idea in the human mind can be the most dangerous weapon or the most valuable asset. The intricacy of its plot with scores of surprising twists-and-turns keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout the entire movie.

Second, this movie reminds me of Leonardo DiCaprio's another profound and thought-provoking thriller earlier this year, Shutter Island. What I'm suggesting is, Leonardo seems to love to take on roles that are considered psychologically exhausting, overwhelming, and taxing. I'm very much impressed with his performance in both movies.

Third, this movie is directed by Christopher Nolan, the writer and director for Batman Begins, The Prestige, and The Dark Knight. About the actors, other than Leonardo DiCaprio, there are Ken Watanabe (Mr. Tall in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant), Ellen Page (Juno in Juno), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), and Michael Caine, a seasoned actor.

Do stay alert till the very end of the movie. Why? It's at the very end of the movie that you need to make a decision regarding your understanding of the entire plot. Is it a dream or a reality? It's up to you to decide.

Related post: More about Inception.
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Project 365 - Photo #198

A big thank you to FeeqSays Network for FREE Inception movie passes. :)

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Project 365 - Photo #197

This is General Grievous from Star Wars.

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Working mentality?

From an email.

Disclaimer: Any similarity is purely coincidental.


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Project 365 - Photo #196

All kinds of chili-based condiments at Bao Bao Restaurant, Aman Suria. The commercial advertisement is about the restaurant's bottled chili sauce called Chili Bao.

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Movie: Predators (2010)

Fear is Reborn

Predators (2010) is the sequel to Predator (1987) and semi-sequel to Predator 2 (1990). However, it's not related to Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).

Here's the synopsis: A group of people, total strangers to one another found themselves trapped on an alien planet... as prey. They all share a disturbing similarity - they are ruthless murderers back on earth - mercenaries, Yakuza, convicts, death row inmates, serial killers. On this alien gaming planet, these human "predators" are now being taunted and hunted to be eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators in a ruthless game of survival skills.

Surprisingly, I manage to watch the entire movie without feeling sick. Thanks to the fact that the movie doesn't have as much blood and gore as I thought. That's good.

However, don't be disappointed. You're going to watch how the human beings figure their way to outwit the Predators. These alien beings, armed with advanced combat suit and their famed cloaking camouflage are fast learners and they adapt well while hunting for the human preys. They are indeed a far superior breed of "predators" compared to the human beings.

Let down your guard and enjoy each tense, thrilling, and heart-pumping moment. This movie is recommended for all action horror fans.
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Project 365 - Photo #195


Warning: Wash your own cups!

One lonesome cup is left at the office pantry's sink. I guess the culprit doesn't want to own up. Why? If you're caught red-handed for committing the offense of leaving unwashed cups/plates/bowls/etc at the washing area, you shall be fined RM10 per utensil. :)


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Color IQ Test

Take this fun and simple online Color IQ Test and learn how you see color.
 
 
Note: A lower score is better, with ZERO being the perfect score.

I've a score of 10. What about you?


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Project 365 - Photo #194

This is our latest astromech droids collection as of July 2010. 24 of them! :D

More astromech droid photos on my Facebook album. :)

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Movie: Haunted Room: Who Are You (2010)

Haunted Room: Who Are You (2010) is the latest psychological horror movie from Thailand based on an interesting medical condition known as Hikkikomori (Acute Social Withdrawal Syndrome), diagnosed among Japanese teenagers in the modern days.

Here's the synopsis: Nida, a DVD seller has a son named Ton who has locked himself in his bedroom for the past five years. He refuses to meet anyone and threatens to commit suicide if she forces him to come out. Helpless, Nida can merely communicate with her "invisible" son via notes slipped under the closed door.

This weird anti-social behavior draws a lot of interest and unwanted attention from neighbors, including a young girl with severe allergy and depression who lives across the road.

This is not the usual horror movie that gives you scares with horribly disfigured ghosts. It's also not a torture porn with blood and gore flying everywhere. This movie stands out from most Thai horrors because it highlights shocks and subtle fear. Psychological scare is very prominent and the way the story goes gives you more and more creeps towards the end. Add that with somber music, long unsettling, dramatic scares and you won't be disappointed.

However, I don't like the frequent twists and turns in the movie that finally ends with an anti-climatic and confusing ending. It could have been better if the ending is explained in a clearer way to avoid audience from feeling, "Huh? That's it?"

Overall, if you're okay with movies that have multiple plots and a weird ending, you might give this movie a go. A DVD would be fine though.
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Project 365 - Photo #193

Dried figs are great for snacking! ^^

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Movie: Wanted (2008)

Choose your destiny.

Wanted (2008) is an action movie based on the comic book miniseries of the same name.

Here's the synopsis: Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is a miserable young man with a humdrum life who's stuck with his mundane job, bullied by his domineering lady boss, and his unfaithful girlfriend is cheating behind him with his colleague. To cope with his life, he takes anti-anxiety pills.

One day while getting more pills at the pharmacy, Wesley meets Fox (Angelina Jolie). Fox tells him that she's sent to protect him from a man named Cross who murdered his father. Wesley is quickly recruited into the "Fraternity," a secret society of assassins that his father was a member, headed by Sloan (Morgan Freeman).

The "Fraternity" members begin to train Wesley to bring out his special powers that he was born with in order to avenge his father's death.

As an action movie based on comic book series, we'd expect a significant amount of graphical and perhaps, nonsensical action sequences. Having said that, I'd say I quite like the graphic "headshots" and body shots scenes that were done in super slow motion and freeze frame technique. Whether it's gunshot wound or knife wound, you'll see blood splashing everywhere in slow motion. Not for those with a weak stomach though.

Car chase sequences with cars flipping over and over again - a must-have element in action movies are pretty well done too with Angelina Jolie on the wheels of super luxurious cars, e.g. a flaming red Dodge Viper SRT-10. w00ts!

Perhaps the most unacceptable and illogical thing about this movie is the way the assassins fire "curving" bullets by flicking their wrists while they shoot their guns.

Oh well, if you're looking for a logical movie, this is definitely not a good example. For action movie fans who love to watch Angelina Jolie strutting her stuff, this would be a recommended movie. Honestly speaking, I'm waiting for her latest 2010 action flick - Salt. ;)

Update: I've watched Salt. :D
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