My Top Cinemas In Singapore

In no particular order...

• The Cathay - Eight cinema halls tt can seat up to 1,842 in comfy Quinette Gallay seats! Dun forget they have 24-hr screenings for those insomniacs out there. Relatively shorter queues, The Picturehouse, and UOB/POSB deals! Plus they've got an array of food like popcorn, hotdogs, nachos, sandwiches, muffins and salads! And oh, did I mention that they do food/snax deliveries to your seat? Talk abt service!

• Cineleisure (Also known as Cathay Orchard) - 3 levels, 12 screens, seating capacity of 2,135. THX system (The best there is). And the seats are ergonomically designed with you in mind...stadium-style seating with unobstructed view. 'nuff said!

• GV Tiong Bahru - Six halls seating over 1,500 pple. Off the beaten track - means less crowds! plus its pretty near town

• GV Great World - comfy comfy seats, not overly crowded compared to the Cathay big guns. Near town

• GV Vivo - The monster of them all. 15 screens with seating capacity of 2,173! Plus, itz in Vivocity, one of the largest shopping ctrs. 5 visits and up till now, I've yet to explored the whole place!

• GV @JP - Simply becoz sometimes I feel like watching a movie alone and it just takes me 10 mins to walk there =P

• When all else fails (meaning u find it hard to get tix to that blockbuster) - the grandest hall of them all - Prince 1 - its seating capacity is 1,259.

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Autobots...Roll Out! (Movie Review)

Transformers is a prime example of Michael Bay's knack in making mega-action films (think Bad Boys or Armageddon).

This children's toy movie is a good vehicle that is a great testament to his ability to bring action to a whole new kick-ass level.
Combine this with the talents of producer Steven Spielberg and we have now a huge summer blockbuster in our hands.

Transformers is simply awesome with no-holds barred action CGI effects.
It is nothing but a thrill ride from the start till the end. At the beginning when the voice of Optimus Prime narrated to give us a background of the Transformers, you can feel the chill running down your spine and you know that this is gonna be an awesome action movie.

There are plenty of laughs and tongue-in-cheek humour (more-than-meets-the-eye one-liners, references to Michael Bay's productions) with cameos (Bernie Mac & funny guy Anthony Anderson) to make sure that this film is not just a no brain actioner. Romance is definitely not quite there as the lovey-dovey scenes were simply too cheesy and cliche.

*Warning: Spoilers!*
At the end when the bad guys were defeated, not every bad guy was accounted for so I would say that this is definitely not the end. The Decepticons will be back, proli with Soundwave and Shockwave the next time.

Oh...I love the cars featured (though I wish good ol' Bumblebee was a Beetle). I remember driving back after the movie, and expecting my radio to 'talk' to me and transform...

Direction: B
Visuals: A+
Plot: B-
Acting: Humans B-, Robots A
Overall Rating: B+

To be continued...

Technorati Tags: Transformers, movie, review

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Rave of the week - Amy Winehouse

23 yearz old and de the owner of the coolest voice around, Amy Winehouse creates gritty, urban soul/jazz that is as seductive as it's punchy.

Born and raised on the urban sounds of London, Winehouse at times sounds like a '60s jazz singer - her voice fits in modestly with the modern grooves to which she gives a distinctly urban feel. But this vocal prodigy also has an amazing appreciation of dynamics. Boredom is non-existent in the music. The lyrics are frank, direct, and at times humorous. This girl knows how to write a song.

What is remarkable about Winehouse is how mature and diverse her vocal talents are. Her voice morphs so much on songs, it feels like a vocal multiple personality disorder.

At age 23, a perennial bad girl whose continuing travails with alcohol have followed her everywhere, Winehouse might be trouble, but her jazz and soul inflected 60s sound is exceptional. Already hailed in the UK with a Brit for Best Solo Female Artist, her sophomore effort Back to Black is destined fer greatness.

On the up-tempo opening track "Rehab" - reportedly about an incident in which her management suggested she check herself in resulting in Winehouse parting ways with them - she snarls out a refusal: “No, no, no”.

On "Just Friends," she softens her voice visibly when recalling the good times and steels it when lamenting about how her lover’s two-timing is sucking quality time out of their affair.

Arguably her best work is on the title track where she captures the cloudy desolation of a hasty jilting. “Life is like a pipe. And I’m a tiny penny rolling up the walls inside”. You can read the fading of hope in the lyrics and hear it in her voice.

In fact, love and heartache are very much on her mind. She mines themes of betrayal and loneliness in Tears dry on their own and Wake up alone, but effortlessly changes gears from foot-tapping R&B to jazz-inflected soul between the two tracks. Throughout the CD, you get the feeling Winehouse can take the hard knocks with the best of them. But a sense of doomsday prevails. You’re not sure if she is learning her lessons; that it’s only a matter of time before her next personal disaster. It’s a deliberate play brought about by how she responds audaciously and ambiguously to driving events in her work.

Aiyo, if Amy Winehouse doesn't break through to the big time, then there is something wrong with the industry (But seriously, dunno whether her music is the type the typical average Singaporean can appreciate...). Her unique combination of jazz, soul, coupled with her magnificent voice, is truly something of greatness.

Winehouse ends the album with "Addicted." Thatz a good word to describe what her songs did fer me.

The bottom line: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Prepare for Glory! (A 300 Review)

"A new age has begun, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it." - Spartan King Leonidas

300 is a visual display of modern movie making, and a stunning looking film that makes up for every ounce of its lack of plot by painting a brilliantly beautiful image over every single frame of the film.

"We Spartans have descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death in the battlefield is the greatest glory he could achieve in his life. Spartans: the finest soldiers the world has ever known." - Dilios (the narrator)

Basically "It’s about these 300 Greek dudes (300 Spartans +700 other Greeks) who stomp the sugar-coated shit out of like a million other dudes (actually abt 250, 000 Persians but u get the idea). "

The Phantom of the Opera's Gerard Butler as Leonidas, the king with no patience for the cowards and boy-lovers on the Greek council. This dude, Theron, a sleazy politician keen on stopping Leonidas from inciting war against the Persians denigrates the theory that the Persians intend to dominate the world and unleash their weapons of mass destruction, including mutant rhinos, elephants and a masked army called the Immortals. That leaves Leonidas no choice, but to round up 300 of his bravest bodyguards and embark on a doomed mission against the Persians. The king does everything to rally the troops. The trick is to bottle up the pesky Persians in a narrow mountain pass.

Went with a fren and we didn’t go in expecting Shakespeare or a history documentary, and we came out having watched a bloody, savage, completely engrossing fist fight of a movie.

If you like action, you’re going to love this movie. If you marvel at stunning visuals on film, you’re going to love this movie. If you have ever wanted to just get up and whoop some ass you will love this movie. You will find yourself living vicariously through these characters, and ready to fight an army of uncountable proportions when you walk out of the theater.

Bottom line: 3.5 out of 5 stars

One of my favourite bits abt the movie is the laconic quotes riddled thruout the movie, below are some of my favourites:

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[last lines]
Dilios: Give thanks, my gallant and brave 300 - to victory!

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Messenger: Why does this woman think she can speak amongst men?
Queen Gorgo: Because only Spartan women give birth to real men.

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Spartan King Leonidas: Before this war is over, the world will know, a few stood against many.

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Xerxes: Yours is a fascinating tribe. There is much our cultures could share.
Spartan King Leonidas: Perhaps you haven't noticed, but we've been sharing our culture with you all morning.

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Spartan King Leonidas: Spartans! Prepare for glory!

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Dilios: We did what we were trained to do, what we were bred to do, what we were born to do!

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Dilios: The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one, good odds for any Greek!

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Queen Gorgo: Spartan. Come back with your shield... or on it.
Spartan King Leonidas: Yes milady.

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Spartan King Leonidas: My heart is broken for your loss
Captain: Heart? I have filled my heart with hate
Spartan King Leonidas: Good

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Spartan King Leonidas: [Turning towards the Spartans] Spartans! What is your profession?
Spartans: Harooh! Harooh! Harooh!
Spartan King Leonidas: See old friend, I brought more soldiers than you did.

---

[Dilios is putting a patch over his eye]
Spartan King Leonidas: Dilios, I trust that "scratch" hasn't made you useless.
Dilios: Hardly, my lord, it's just an eye. The gods saw fit to grace me with a spare.

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Xerxes: Your Athenian rivals will kneel at your feet... if you but kneel at mine.
Spartan King Leonidas: That is quite an offer. I'd be crazy to refuse it. But this kneeling business... I'm afraid killing all those slaves of yours has left me with a nasty cramp in my leg.

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Queen Gorgo: It is not a question of what a Spartan citizen SHOULD do, nor a husband, nor a king, instead ask yourself, my dearest love, what should a free man do.

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Xerxes: Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory.
Spartan King Leonidas: And I would die for any of mine.

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Xerxes: Consider the fate of your women.
Spartan King Leonidas: Clearly you don't know our women.

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Spartan King Leonidas: The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle was over, that even a God-King can bleed.

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Xerxes: Your women will be slaves...
Spartan King Leonidas: Have you seen our women? We might as well have marched them up here...

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Persian Officer: Fools! Our arrows will blot out the sun.
Stelios: Then we will fight in the shade!

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Spartan King Leonidas: This is where we hold them. This is where we fight. This is where they die.

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Spartan King Leonidas: Give them nothing! But take from them everything!

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Persian Officer: Spartans, lay down your weapons.
Spartan King Leonidas: Persians! Come and get them!

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Persian Emissary: This is madness!
Spartan King Leonidas: Madness? This is Sparta!

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More abt Spartans

Makan Review - Pepper Lunch!

I went with 姐 for this one and we had an enjoyable eating our meals. The butter melting into the rice was realli a yummy idea (though may be a tad unhealthy). The sizzling idea of having yer meal cooked before u is realli cool as it realli whets yer appetite!

Bottomline: B+

Makan Reviews

I L-O-V-E food. Period.

and i love to review stuff!
So I shld give a shot at writing reviews...specifically food reviews.

I can't promise fancy writing that promises to whet yer appetite but wat i can promise is simple, straightforward no-nonsense no fancy pancy review of the place, food and service.

First up, my latest craze about all things indian (Ash!!! I love you!!! :P)

So it is only appropriate that I review my fave indian eating place in Sg - Annalakshmi!

Eat as you like, pay as you feel...

So...What does Annalakshmi mean?

Annalakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of Food and the adage "athithi devo bhava" meaning "the Guest is God" is the motivating factor. This factor is a tribute to the Goddess of Plenty, Annalakshmi. These ideals, the warmth and the service very soon capture the imagination of diners. Opened since 1983 when it was first located at the Exclesior Annalakshmi aims to provide food for the soul by providing a good wholesome meal to those who walk in.

The most attractive part of it (to Singaporeans especially) is the philosophy of giving what you feel. In other words...u pay watever amount u feel like giving.
And I feel like giving $20 for my meal! It has yummy indian food!
Friendly service and nice ambience
Location's not bad (Chinatown Point), and it's near to MRT (Chinatown)
Other locations around the world include Perth, KL, and Penang.
Personally, I tried the one in KL (Midvalley Megamall), it's slightly different (it's buffet style, so no menu) but is just as good! Try the pappadums and lassi esp, one of my faves!

I give it an A!
For more info, goto http://www.annalakshmi.com.sg/index.htm


My other raves...a quick review...

• PS Cafe - avoid eating a meal there, just go there for drinks and desserts. B+
  
• Settlers Cafe - hawker centre western food, but the games are great! B-
  
• Liquid Kitchen - menu has variety and nice drinks and finger food. B+
• TCC - wide variety of food and drinks, nice decor BUT I feel that it's a tad bit pricey so...go to Starbucks (I love its green tea frappe!) instead if u just want drinks! B-
  
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