This is a documentary about an international school in Israel who admitted mostly refugee children.
Liked the big family concept of the school! The teachers really went out of their way to even help the parents of their students!
Internet Movie Database Link
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Donor Unknown
This is a documentary about the sperm donor industry shown through the "family" of Donor 150 from the California Cryobank.
Liked the great story telling and the interesting characters!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the great story telling and the interesting characters!
Internet Movie Database Link
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Green Days
The story is about a young girl's life during the seventies in Korea. She has an artistic girlfriend who is good at singing and writing poems as well as a techie boyfriend who wants to be an astronaut.
Liked the nice coming-of-age story and the nostalgic feel of the seventies!
Liked the nice coming-of-age story and the nostalgic feel of the seventies!
Fairy Tales
The story is about how three teenagers who were neglected by their parents were led astray by bad guys.
Liked the pretty Siona Wu who played Amanda and the funny Indian couple! Thought it was a little outdated to be selling VCDs in this internet age. It puzzled me how the model agency boss managed to locate the taxi driver father so quickly though.
Liked the pretty Siona Wu who played Amanda and the funny Indian couple! Thought it was a little outdated to be selling VCDs in this internet age. It puzzled me how the model agency boss managed to locate the taxi driver father so quickly though.
Gangs
The story is about gangs in Singapore during the seventies.
Great acting by Xiao Lang! The torture scene was quite innovative too! The dying person had too much dialogue and should have run out of breath before she could finish them in my opinion.
Great acting by Xiao Lang! The torture scene was quite innovative too! The dying person had too much dialogue and should have run out of breath before she could finish them in my opinion.
Muppet History 101
This is a documentary about Jim Henson's early muppet making career when the idea of "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show" started to take shape.
Liked Jim Henson's great sense of humour in his shows as well as the promotional video of "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show"!
Liked Jim Henson's great sense of humour in his shows as well as the promotional video of "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show"!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Nosferatu
The story is adapted from Bram Stoker's Dracula. It is about how a vampire killed innocent people and how it was finally defeated in the end.
Liked how scary the vampire looked and the exciting music from the xylophone! The ending was a little bit anti-climax though.
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked how scary the vampire looked and the exciting music from the xylophone! The ending was a little bit anti-climax though.
Internet Movie Database Link
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Autumn Gold
This is a documentary about old people from different countries taking part in the 2009 Oslo World Masters Athletics Championships.
Liked the interviews with the old people who didn't seem old at all! They are an inspiration for people who are too lazy to keep fit.
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the interviews with the old people who didn't seem old at all! They are an inspiration for people who are too lazy to keep fit.
Internet Movie Database Link
Yellow Sea
The story is about a cab driver in China who smuggled into Korea to be a hitman and to gather news about his wife whom he has lost touch with.
Liked the tough survival instinct of the cab driver and the exciting fight sequences! One of the bad guy looked a bit like Sammo Hung.
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the tough survival instinct of the cab driver and the exciting fight sequences! One of the bad guy looked a bit like Sammo Hung.
Internet Movie Database Link
Animal Town
The story is about life in Korea after the financial crisis seen through two Korean guys: a former child molester out on parole and a family guy whose life was ruined because of him.
The pacing was slow but thought it helped to demonstrate the monotony of the lives of the two men. The little girl and her sister looked quite cute! The unexpected twist at the end was also interesting.
Internet Movie Database Link
The pacing was slow but thought it helped to demonstrate the monotony of the lives of the two men. The little girl and her sister looked quite cute! The unexpected twist at the end was also interesting.
Internet Movie Database Link
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
This is a documentary about a cave in France that had ancient drawings dated back to 30000 years ago.
Thought it stretched a bit too long as I got tired watching the same old animals on the caves after a while. There were some humorous moments and the choral music was nice though.
Internet Movie Database Link
Thought it stretched a bit too long as I got tired watching the same old animals on the caves after a while. There were some humorous moments and the choral music was nice though.
Internet Movie Database Link
The Revenge of The Electric Car
This is a documentary about how the electric car is gaining prominence despite the industry players plotting to kill it off a few years ago.
Liked the clear explanation on the current situation of the electric car and the interesting personalities like Carlos Ghosn from Nissan, Bob Lutz from General Motors and Elon Musk from Tesla Motors!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the clear explanation on the current situation of the electric car and the interesting personalities like Carlos Ghosn from Nissan, Bob Lutz from General Motors and Elon Musk from Tesla Motors!
Internet Movie Database Link
International Shorts 1
Shanghai Love Market: A parent tried to find a girlfriend for their son through the match-making ads placed in a park in Shanghai. Liked the unexpected ending!
The Familiar: A young man explains what it takes to be an assistant to a vampire. Felt quite sad for the cute sales girl at the video shop.
Youche Harbor: A grandson tried to find the location of Youche Harbor in Taiwan where his grandfather was last seen many years ago by his grandmother. Nice scenery!
The Wonder Hospital: A person goes for a face make over at the hospital. Pretty abstract!
The Father: A father tried to make up for his family after being released from jail. Another abstract film that didn't explain a lot of things between the father and the son.
Derelict: A guard and a prisoner who broke out of jail tried to solve their personal grievances. Exciting chase in the beginning but the dialogue sequences towards the end were too long and hard to understand as it tried to convey a lot of background information.
The Mouse That Soared: A bird taught her adopted mouse how to fly but the mouse ended up in a circus accidentally. Liked this short the best as it is funny and sad at the same time!
The Familiar: A young man explains what it takes to be an assistant to a vampire. Felt quite sad for the cute sales girl at the video shop.
Youche Harbor: A grandson tried to find the location of Youche Harbor in Taiwan where his grandfather was last seen many years ago by his grandmother. Nice scenery!
The Wonder Hospital: A person goes for a face make over at the hospital. Pretty abstract!
The Father: A father tried to make up for his family after being released from jail. Another abstract film that didn't explain a lot of things between the father and the son.
Derelict: A guard and a prisoner who broke out of jail tried to solve their personal grievances. Exciting chase in the beginning but the dialogue sequences towards the end were too long and hard to understand as it tried to convey a lot of background information.
The Mouse That Soared: A bird taught her adopted mouse how to fly but the mouse ended up in a circus accidentally. Liked this short the best as it is funny and sad at the same time!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Killer
The story is about how a young man is forced by circumstances to become a killer.
Liked the nice simple plot that explained the downward spiral of the young man! Was puzzled by the amount of time spent showing the professor trying to get out of the maze-like broadcasting station initially but realised that it served as a metaphor for the whole film in the end.
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the nice simple plot that explained the downward spiral of the young man! Was puzzled by the amount of time spent showing the professor trying to get out of the maze-like broadcasting station initially but realised that it served as a metaphor for the whole film in the end.
Internet Movie Database Link
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Loves of a Blonde
The story is about how a Czech blonde girl tried to find love during the Communist rule in the sixties.
Great acting by the female lead! Liked the funny and sad moments of the film!
Internet Movie Database Link
Great acting by the female lead! Liked the funny and sad moments of the film!
Internet Movie Database Link
Friday, August 12, 2011
High and Low
The story is about how a rich man became bankrupt after he tried to save his chauffeur's son who was kidnapped mistakenly.
Liked how the moral dilemma of the rich man was presented and how the police systematically found out the kidnapper's identity through various sources! They analysed the photos to identify witnesses, went on the ground to verify the line of sight from the phone booths to the rich man's house and even found out the type of trolley running past from the recorded sound!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked how the moral dilemma of the rich man was presented and how the police systematically found out the kidnapper's identity through various sources! They analysed the photos to identify witnesses, went on the ground to verify the line of sight from the phone booths to the rich man's house and even found out the type of trolley running past from the recorded sound!
Internet Movie Database Link
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Iron Man 2
The story is about how Iron Man saved the world from the bad guys yet again.
Liked Scarlett Johansson's nice costume and sleek martial arts moves! I was quite impressed by how Tony Stark was able to interact with his computers using voice and gestures easily!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked Scarlett Johansson's nice costume and sleek martial arts moves! I was quite impressed by how Tony Stark was able to interact with his computers using voice and gestures easily!
Internet Movie Database Link
Despicable Me
The story is about two villains, Gru and Vector, trying to outdo each other in terms of the bad things that they do. Gru adopted three young girls in the process as he wanted to infiltrate his enemy's place.
Liked the cute Gru's minion army, the flashback to Gru's childhood and the nice bedtime stories!
Internet Movie Database Link
Liked the cute Gru's minion army, the flashback to Gru's childhood and the nice bedtime stories!
Internet Movie Database Link
Friday, August 05, 2011
Dragnet Girl
The story is about how the girlfriend of a gangster decided to get her boyfriend to change his ways after she befriended his subordinate's sister.
My impression of Tanaka Kinuyo, the actress who played the gangster's girlfriend, was usually that of a middle aged woman but she looked so young in this 1933 silent film! Liked the nice plot, the interesting characters and the exciting chase sequence towards the end!
Internet Movie Database Link
My impression of Tanaka Kinuyo, the actress who played the gangster's girlfriend, was usually that of a middle aged woman but she looked so young in this 1933 silent film! Liked the nice plot, the interesting characters and the exciting chase sequence towards the end!
Internet Movie Database Link
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Scrabble Nationals 2011 (Day Two)
Game 6: vs Yong Jian Rong
Jian Rong is one of the young rising stars of Scrabble. I managed to beat him at last year's Nationals but he has improved tremendously since then. I had one bingo but he scored consistently to be ahead. The turning point came when I decided to try UNDATE down the triple word score lane and it turned out to be good when challenged!
New words learnt: UNDATE
My Bingos: LINTERS(70) Opp Bingos:
My Phoneys: LOM* Opp Phoneys: TABO*, TWINNERS*
My High Moves: UNDATE(32) Opp High Moves: FIZ(41), KETAS(43), WRIST(33), CAW(30)
W 383-364, +19. 5W 1L (Accum spread +342)
Game 7: vs Winston Gwee
Winston is one of the top few division B players. We had one bingo each but he scored much more consistently than me and was ahead by almost 100 points. He held for one or two minutes when I played QIS across the triple word score lane, back hooking the S to OVA before deciding to let it go. I found out later that OVAS* was no good!
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: LENDERS(65) Opp Bingos: SPICIER(66)
My Phoneys: BIVARIED*, OVAS*(43) Opp Phoneys: FAGO*(24), VIBER*
My High Moves: QIS(43) Opp High Moves: FA(30), JET(33), SAX(34), HOI(32), ZO(44)
L 355-437, -82. 5W 2L (Accum spread +260)
Game 8: vs Lam Guat Jane
Jane is a new player to the competitive Scrabble scene who just graduated from NTU. This game reminds me of last year's Causeway match with a pretty Thai girl. Think I got distracted when she smiled at me and my brain seemed to work less well. I also felt stressed when her boyfriend started to hover around her during the end game as it was lunch time and we were the last few to finish. Lost as I spent way too much time to find the bingo out of a EEHIRS? rack and didn't think through my end game stategy. I saw RESHINE but there was no place to put it, then I was deciding among REHIdES*, REHIrES and REHIvES*. I was tempted to put REHIvES* as I remembered UNHIVES was good but I was lucky that I guessed correctly in the end. There is an anagram for REHIvES* though.[4]
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: REHIrES(86) Opp Bingos: TERRAIN(82)
My Phoneys: DAT* Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: JAB(32), QUOTA(54) Opp High Moves: SINCE(40)
L 377-390, -13. 5W 3L (Accum spread +247)
Game 9: vs Valli
Valli is the organiser and a well seasoned division B player from MOE. My worst game so far in this competition as I kept challenging her good words while she bingoed and scored consistently.
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: - Opp Bingos: RECODING(73), WANIEST(72)
My Phoneys: HAIRIED* Opp Phoneys: BRATING*
My High Moves: EQUIPE(51), FIN(33), ZO(37) Opp High Moves: VARY(37), QUINS(66)
L 331-490, -159. 5W 4L (Accum spread +88)
Game 10: vs Peter Yu
Peter Yu is another well seasoned division B player. One of my easiest games as I bingoed and scored consistently. I even bingoed out before him even though he also had a bingo rack at the end. I wrote the result slip wrongly as I copied the score without considering his 18 points worth of unplayed tiles. Not sure if it had any impact on the subsequent pairings but luckily it did not affect the final rankings.
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: DANGLER(74), RATTANS(78) Opp Bingos:
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: SEIZE(58) Opp High Moves: SOX(30)
W 431-264, +167. 6W 4L (Accum spread +255)
Game 11: vs Seow Kai Yuan
Kai Yuan is a new player to the competitive Scrabble scene who is the boyfriend of Jane. He scored very consistently and won despite being outbingoed two to one.
New words learnt: DUAN
My Bingos: NEGATERS(64), DILATORS(58) Opp Bingos: FORESTS(82)
My Phoneys: JUGG* Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: QAT(30) Opp High Moves: HO(41), DEPOT(30), RIZA(39)
L 359-414, -55. 6W 5L (Accum spread +200)
Game 12: vs Shanthikumar
Shanthikumar is a seasoned division B player who just picked up the game again after stopping for three years since 2008. I was very lucky in this game as I had all the S. I outbingoed him two to one and managed to close the board every time he wanted to open up. I probably should have played a bingo that started with S instead rather than TENDeRS as there was a possibility that he could bingo with a nine-timer.
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: SNOOTED(82), TENDeRS(73) Opp Bingos: INTENDS(65)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: INTERING*
My High Moves: XI(40), COMBS(31) Opp High Moves: HUH(32), JO(30)
W 455-328, +127. 7W 5L (Accum spread +327)
Finished the tournament with 7 wins and 5th position. Felt pretty good as 75% of my games were against players in the top half of the group unlike previous years where I struggled at the bottom half. Hope to do better next year!
Quiz answers (highlight to see clearly)
[4] SHRIEVE
Jian Rong is one of the young rising stars of Scrabble. I managed to beat him at last year's Nationals but he has improved tremendously since then. I had one bingo but he scored consistently to be ahead. The turning point came when I decided to try UNDATE down the triple word score lane and it turned out to be good when challenged!
New words learnt: UNDATE
My Bingos: LINTERS(70) Opp Bingos:
My Phoneys: LOM* Opp Phoneys: TABO*, TWINNERS*
My High Moves: UNDATE(32) Opp High Moves: FIZ(41), KETAS(43), WRIST(33), CAW(30)
W 383-364, +19. 5W 1L (Accum spread +342)
Game 7: vs Winston Gwee
Winston is one of the top few division B players. We had one bingo each but he scored much more consistently than me and was ahead by almost 100 points. He held for one or two minutes when I played QIS across the triple word score lane, back hooking the S to OVA before deciding to let it go. I found out later that OVAS* was no good!
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: LENDERS(65) Opp Bingos: SPICIER(66)
My Phoneys: BIVARIED*, OVAS*(43) Opp Phoneys: FAGO*(24), VIBER*
My High Moves: QIS(43) Opp High Moves: FA(30), JET(33), SAX(34), HOI(32), ZO(44)
L 355-437, -82. 5W 2L (Accum spread +260)
Game 8: vs Lam Guat Jane
Jane is a new player to the competitive Scrabble scene who just graduated from NTU. This game reminds me of last year's Causeway match with a pretty Thai girl. Think I got distracted when she smiled at me and my brain seemed to work less well. I also felt stressed when her boyfriend started to hover around her during the end game as it was lunch time and we were the last few to finish. Lost as I spent way too much time to find the bingo out of a EEHIRS? rack and didn't think through my end game stategy. I saw RESHINE but there was no place to put it, then I was deciding among REHIdES*, REHIrES and REHIvES*. I was tempted to put REHIvES* as I remembered UNHIVES was good but I was lucky that I guessed correctly in the end. There is an anagram for REHIvES* though.[4]
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: REHIrES(86) Opp Bingos: TERRAIN(82)
My Phoneys: DAT* Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: JAB(32), QUOTA(54) Opp High Moves: SINCE(40)
L 377-390, -13. 5W 3L (Accum spread +247)
Game 9: vs Valli
Valli is the organiser and a well seasoned division B player from MOE. My worst game so far in this competition as I kept challenging her good words while she bingoed and scored consistently.
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: - Opp Bingos: RECODING(73), WANIEST(72)
My Phoneys: HAIRIED* Opp Phoneys: BRATING*
My High Moves: EQUIPE(51), FIN(33), ZO(37) Opp High Moves: VARY(37), QUINS(66)
L 331-490, -159. 5W 4L (Accum spread +88)
Game 10: vs Peter Yu
Peter Yu is another well seasoned division B player. One of my easiest games as I bingoed and scored consistently. I even bingoed out before him even though he also had a bingo rack at the end. I wrote the result slip wrongly as I copied the score without considering his 18 points worth of unplayed tiles. Not sure if it had any impact on the subsequent pairings but luckily it did not affect the final rankings.
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: DANGLER(74), RATTANS(78) Opp Bingos:
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: SEIZE(58) Opp High Moves: SOX(30)
W 431-264, +167. 6W 4L (Accum spread +255)
Game 11: vs Seow Kai Yuan
Kai Yuan is a new player to the competitive Scrabble scene who is the boyfriend of Jane. He scored very consistently and won despite being outbingoed two to one.
New words learnt: DUAN
My Bingos: NEGATERS(64), DILATORS(58) Opp Bingos: FORESTS(82)
My Phoneys: JUGG* Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: QAT(30) Opp High Moves: HO(41), DEPOT(30), RIZA(39)
L 359-414, -55. 6W 5L (Accum spread +200)
Game 12: vs Shanthikumar
Shanthikumar is a seasoned division B player who just picked up the game again after stopping for three years since 2008. I was very lucky in this game as I had all the S. I outbingoed him two to one and managed to close the board every time he wanted to open up. I probably should have played a bingo that started with S instead rather than TENDeRS as there was a possibility that he could bingo with a nine-timer.
New words learnt: -
My Bingos: SNOOTED(82), TENDeRS(73) Opp Bingos: INTENDS(65)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: INTERING*
My High Moves: XI(40), COMBS(31) Opp High Moves: HUH(32), JO(30)
W 455-328, +127. 7W 5L (Accum spread +327)
Finished the tournament with 7 wins and 5th position. Felt pretty good as 75% of my games were against players in the top half of the group unlike previous years where I struggled at the bottom half. Hope to do better next year!
Quiz answers (highlight to see clearly)
[4] SHRIEVE
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