Belle

This is a modern remake of the Beauty and the Beast story set in the metaverse.

Liked the nice songs in the film! I preferred the real life part than the metaverse part of the story.

Internet Movie Database Link

CSC Online Scrabble Competition 2022

The CSC Online Scrabble Competition is an annual event for organisations in the civil service to take part in a friendly game of Scrabble. It was held online on 21st May 2022 from 9.30am to 5.00pm. A total of 20 people from 6 organisations took part including one from MINDEF.

Here's my match report.

Game 1: Sharon Chia (HDB)

I had SLEIGHED (63) while she had ATEBRIN (75). Spotted FELTERS but missed finding the place to put it. Scored well with the big scoring tiles such as JIB (28), XU (27) and LUZ (48) to win. Bingos missed on examination: LARIATED, ENCALMED, CARINATE, HOLEYEST, DATURAS, FELTERS, ONDATRAS, ANTBIRDS, RHINITIS, OUTSTRIP and BRIQUETS. BRIQUETS might have turned the game around if she had played it as it would have scored 137 points.

Won 434-324. 1-0 spread +110
Link to game

Game 2: Noormah (PA)

I had BlOTTED (100) while she had pISCINAl (66+5). I challenged HERMA, pISCINAl and AMIRATE unsuccessfully, giving my opponent 15 points but high scores with XI (37) and EQUIp (42) helped me to win. Bingos missed on examination: MARINATE and DURATION.

Won 446-275. 2-0 spread +281
Link to game

Game 3: Toh Wei Bin (HDB)

After winning two games, I had the chance to meet the top seeded player from HDB. I had SITTErS (68) while he had VEINING (78) and FATUITY (80). Challenged his VERD, MUGFUL, WAWE/ABUNA, VEINING and OPEPE unsuccessfully and played phonies such as VERDS* and CORALESS* that were challenged off. Realised that I could have played OARLESS somewhere else instead. I could also have played SOLERAS down the TWS lane when FATUITY was put down but missed it. Bingos missed on examination: LESSORS, OARLESS, SOLERAS, CESTODES and COTTISES.

Lost 259-568. 2-1 spread -28
Link to game

Game 4: Joseph Tan (HDB)

Met another player from HDB. Didn't play too well at the start where I phonied with REGATING*, WADE/JE* and WAIF/FLINK*. Was trailing by about 50 points when I decided to open up the board with GUE hoping to back hook it with some letter. He played SWAN opening up the rightmost TWS lane. I had AAEINER? and thought for a long time to decide if ARANEId or ARANIdE* was valid as I had phonied too many times. I managed to put the correct bingo down and was just able to pip my opponent by 10 points as he went overtime. Bingos missed on examination: PREBOARD, RAZORING, INERTIAE and INTWISTS.

Won 373-363. 3-1 spread -18
Link to game

Game 5: Abdillah (HDB)

Met yet another player from HDB as they sent a total of 9 players. Almost half the field were from HDB! None of us had any bingo for this game and I managed to win by scoring consistently with words like TZAR (42), FY (32), SCENT (40) and NAVE (44). Bingos missed on examination: TZARIST, GILLETS, CENTESIS and TEUCHTER.

Won 409-268. 4-1 spread +123
Link to game

Game 6: Marlon (LTA)

Was lucky to have two bingos early in the game, INDORSE (75) and RATIONS (69) while his ALLEGGRO* was challenged off. Played two phoneys though, HELI* and OWS* which made the score closer than necessary. Was deciding between WOS and OWS* that would play down the TWS lane but decided that OWS* looked more correct. I also chickened out of GUB/BOK as I forgot if GUB was valid and played GUT/TIK instead. Ended up with a small win as Marlon went over time. Bingos missed on examination: FRENUMS, TEAPOYS, ESTRIOL, HELICOID, TOILINET, DEVOTION and KILOBITS.

Won 372-338. 5-1 spread +157
Link to game

Game 7: Toh Wei Bin (HDB)

First KOTH round and I am playing the top seeded player again! I had LENSiNGS (77+5) and he had CENTONEL (62+5), RECOALED (84+5) and TREADER (76). I had two phoneys, BOLLET* and ORADS*/SWIPE and finished with a slightly better losing spread than before. Bingos missed on examination: LOBELETS, REFLUENT and ENNOBLERS.

Lost 324-558. 5-2 spread -77
Link to game

Game 8: Choo Kay Wei (HDB)

Last KOTH round and I must win to get into top 4. Had a pretty easy game as I had two bingos, REFUSEd (84) and UNROOFS (83) while my opponent had none. Thought for a long time to decide between UNROOFS and SUNROOF, but realised much later that both were valid. Bingos missed on examination: FEVEROUS, ELIXIRS, STRIGIL/GIRLIEST, STARLIT, UNSHORN and RELIGHTS.

Won 435-362. 6-2 spread -4
Link to game

I played with players from HDB, LTA and PA and was placed 3rd eventually. This was much better than I had expected and would definitely need to make fewer mistakes if I were to try to improve on this placing next year.

Keep on Walking: The Man and his Higher Course

This is a documentary about a famous Taiwanese director Li Hsing who directed many genres of movies.

Didn't know that the director was also involved in organising the Golden Horse Awards besides directing films! Learned a bit more about the director's personal life and a few more of his classic works through this documentary.

Mama

The story is based on the childhood memories of the director when her mother was about to give birth to another child.

Liked the nice countryside scenery and different sets of people ate together everytime! Not much of a plot but I learned a little bit of how people lived in the countryside then.

Internet Movie Database Link

Chinese Shortcuts: Online Shorts

The online shorts consist of three films: "The Poem of Pakistan" is about a Pakistani rediscovering his roots while living in Hong Kong, 念念烟城 is about a teenager going back to his late father's hometown and "賴桑の黑色喜劇" is about an experienced actor showing the newbies how things are done.

Liked the nice poems in "The Poem of Pakistan", the farm full of tomatoes in "念念烟城" and the enthusiasm of the experienced actor in "賴桑の黑色喜劇".

Angela's Christmas Wish

The story is about how Angela tried to get her father home from Australia back to Ireland for Christmas.

Liked how the film placed fathers as the central characters! A nice heartwarming short story to watch with your kids!

Internet Movie Database Link

Boyhood

The story is about a boy growing up from a child to a young adult who is just about to enter college.

Quite amazed by how the director spent 12 years making this movie to capture the protagonist growing up! Wonder if he'll make a companion piece called "Girlhood" in the future?

Internet Movie Database Link

Hi, Mom

The story is about a girl travelling back in time to meet her mum before she was born and her mum was still single.

Liked the warm mother daughter relationship! Think most parents would want their kids to be healthy and happy like what the mum said! Was pretty impressed by the twist at the end!

Internet Movie Database Link

Asakusa Kid

The story is about Japanese director, Takeshi Kitano's relationship with his teacher who taught him how to be a comedian.

Liked how hardworking and talented Kitano is! Was impressed by how he incorporated comedy in his daily life like what his master preached!

Internet Movie Database Link

The House

The movie consists of three short segments about the same house but with different characters.

The first segment was the strangest! Can't quite understand what was going on with the house but the baby was really good at climbing up and down! The second segment was the most disgusting with all the bugs! The third segment taught me that sometimes we should learn to let go and start afresh.

Internet Movie Database Link

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

The story is about how a boy who loves making haiku poems became friends with a girl who is a social influencer.

Liked the cosy atmosphere at the day care center! The haiku poems were quite nicely crafted!

Internet Movie Database Link

The Farewell

This is based on a real story where a grandma's family who were living overseas came back to China to visit her as she had terminal illness. The grandma didn't know about it and they used a grandson's wedding as an excuse to gather.

Was really surprised that it was based on a real story as I thought it was quite unbelievable! Great acting by the lead actress!

Internet Movie Database Link

Love in a Puff

This is a love story about two people who met when they were smoking in the smoking box.

Liked the interesting interview segments that were interspersed in the film! The lead actress was pretty charming despite saying swear words occasionally.

Internet Movie Database Link

Stand By Me Doraemon 2

This movie is based on a Japanese manga Doraemon. Doraemon is a robot cat who has travelled from the future to be friends with Nobita to ensure he has found happiness before it can go back. In this sequel, he is intent on fulfilling his grandmother's wish.

The travelling back and forth in time reminded me a bit of "Back to the Future II"! The grandmother is my favorite character! She is not fazed by anything that she sees and hears and also gave excellent advice to Nobita at the end!

Internet Movie Database Link

Over the Moon

The story is about a young girl flying to the moon to find Chang E after learning that her widowed dad intends to remarry.

Liked the nice friendly sibling relationship between the young girl and her future step brother! The moon setting looked quite futuristic!

Internet Movie Database Link

Whisper of the Heart

The story is about a girl who is an aspiring writer falling in love with a boy who wants to be a violin maker.

This felt a bit like "Only Yesterday" with only the childhood segments. Both films also have English songs sung in Japanese! I liked the Shizuku character as she felt like a nice girl-next-door character who is trying to find her way in life!

Internet Movie Database Link

Dangal

The story is about a father training her daughters to be world class wrestlers so that they can win medals for India.

Liked the nice songs and the father daughter relationship in the film! Didn't like the parts with the coach who was depicted as evil for no reason. The director also tried too hard to make the match exciting by making it an almost impossible task for Geeta to come from behind.

Internet Movie Database Link

Mulan

The story is about a girl who went to the Army in ancient China to fight against foreign invaders by disguising herself as a man.

Liked the nice songs and the great problem solving skills of Mulan! I also liked the warm father daughter relationship!

Internet Movie Database Link

A Dog's Journey

The story is about a loyal dog that remembers its purpose to protect its owner's granddaughter even after going through several deaths and rebirths as a different dog.

Liked the nice heartwarming plot! The two main characters were really likable too! The evil side characters were a little bit of a caricature though and the part where the granddaughter walked away normally after a car accident didn't quite make sense.

Internet Movie Database Link

Found

This is a documentary about three cousins going back to China to find out more about their past. They were abandoned by their parents in China and adopted by Americans.

Liked the strong bond among the cousins and their journey to search for their identity! The potential sister of Chloe really looked like her! Can't really blame the father from doubting the report!

Internet Movie Database Link