The best of 2009

Some say 2009 is a bleak year especially when so many celebrities did not make it past the year. Anyway, 2009 has its moment to rejoice and we shall bask in such moments by reminiscing the best that I have watched and experienced in 2009

Most Enjoyable Movie

Avatar has perhaps top the headline at the end of 2009 with jaw dropping and eye busting computer generated graphic. It is beautiful and I really wanted to watch it in 3D if times and locality permits. However, Avatar scores a so so in the storyline department and I did, almost mind you, fell asleep, partly due to too much gaming and too little sleep. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, on the other hand, is a huge disappointment, Terminator 4, is just about massive robots holocaust and Harry Potter is just a lame version of its wordy counterpart. Sherlock Holmes too missed out on this award but by just a fraction. I really did like Sherlock Holmes for its fresh and funny rendition for one of the most famous detective but, aside for the pain-inflicting deductive process, the whole investigation process was not really mind blasting (Russell Peter, 2009).Therefore, 2009's most enjoyable movie goes to

Star Trek

Referring to my previous post 'I am not a Geek'. I am still not a geek......or maybe I am but I did walk into the cinema not knowing a single thing about Star Trek except for its weird looking spaceship, which I later found out that it is named 'The Enterprise'. Yet, I walked out of the cinema feeling satisfied, happy and wanting more (not orgasm but something like that). I enjoyed each and every seconds of the movie. It wasn't the whole geeky thing that got me hook onto the movie but rather the storyline, the humour and the chemistry of the cast. It is a movie that has everything; strong emotional opening, funny moments (mostly by Simon Pegg), a sarcastic captain, a charmingly cool alien-human hybird played by Sylar (nobody cares about his real name) and geeky stuffs. What's more to ask?

2009 Funniest Everything

What is life without laughter. Comedy/sitcom is my favourite genre be it for movies, series or games or work. Although work did not make its way into this category this year (will it ever?), there are quite some other medias that made me laugh in 2009 enabling me to forget about work. KG's small eyes being one, Guna's big nose another. Zombieland has been in the headlines (or fb statuses) being stated as one of the funniest zombie movie. Funny? Yes, Funniest? No but Bill Murray's cameo is worth a watch. Fired Up is also another movie that turns out unexpectedly funny. Russell Peter's mind blasting had me laughing the whole day. Series such as My name is Earl and Aliens in America too has light up my foresty 2009 but there is one that stands out from the rest. I laugh so hard, my stomach became smaller.

The Big Bang Theory

Beside Guna's similarities with one of the nerdy Indian characters, Raj, in the sitcom, the nerd bonding is inexplicably funny. The Big Bang Theory set on the premise of the awkward social encounter of 4 nerdy and geeky guys who have variable social disability with a hot blonde who aspires to be an actress but works in a cheescake factory or what Leonard called a Carbohydrate Delivery Factory. Sheldon, being one of the most dysfunctional social creature, dumb to any sort of social convention, is the funniest characters on the show. How could anyone not love Sheldon albeit his condescending behaviour. If you are a human, do not miss this show. We live for a purpose and that is to laugh. Furthermore, this movie has a lot of worthy quotes that you will never be able to memorise, at all.

2009 Best English Series

2009 has churned out some new series and saw the return of others. Heroes Season 4 has been a disappointment overall. It just isn't the same Heroes that it used to be. The storyline just isn't as interesting anymore. A lot of people has said that they can't stop watching True Blood but I stopped. If there is any reason I would continue watching, it would just be for Anna Paquin's sex scene. I haven't watched a number of English series but the best I have seen in 2009 would be

Flash Forward

Reason number uno to watch this movie would be for Harold from Harold and Kumar although he ain't funny here. Flash Forward has an interesting plot that I just wanna peel off episode after episode. Flash Forward tells the story of a mysterious event that has everyone in the world to black out for exactly 137 seconds. During the blackout, most people can see a vision of their future six months away. Those that did not see anything may be dead some time between then and 6 months later. An investigation team is then formed to investigate the events using clues they string together based on their vision. The drama also sees various people life suddenly strung together through their vision but this is actually the boring part of the series. It is not as good as Heroes Season 1 but I do not see any series currently hitting past that mark. Not yet, at least, I hope.

Best 2009 TVB drama

Best 2009 TVB drama is a quite obvious choice. Most dramas were average and not worthy of special mention. Beyond the Realm of Conscience came closest to being the best TVB drama. It has a good storyline and few powerful moments but just not as good as War and Beauty, a 2004 drama that has almost the same theme. Hence, the best 2009 drama is

Rosy Business

Lame name for a great drama, Rosy Business revolves around the paddy business during the time where hubby can have endless numbers of wives. It is a story of family feud with wives and sons fighting discreetly for right to head the family business and the husband's love. Every episode is filled with memorable moments with both Wayne Lai and Sheren Tang giving exceptionally believable performance. Their on-screen chemistry far exceeds the common love-dovey relationship.

2009 Best Game

2009 has been a year for good game but which year has it not seen any good games? Resident Evil 5,  Infamous, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, Uncharted 2, Modern Warfare 2, Killzone 2, Borderlands, Dragon Age are a few of the most notable games in 2009 but the best game in 2009 for me is

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Those that take gaming seriously would never think that games which are adapted from comics or movies will ever be good enough to be on the list of best games. Arkham Asylum took everyone by surprise, myself included. With a little bit of puzzle solving, a fun stealth mechanic, fluid actions and great boss fights, Arkham Asylum finds itself being my pick for the best game of 2009. Suffice to say, it really made me feel like Batman.

Other games of 2009 worthy of a note

Most fun multiplayer on the same screen - Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

Most fun co-op - Borderlands

Best song of 2009

Taylor Swift - Love Story

Endau Cream!!!

Yeah, Endau is your new approach. Try it!

Diary of 2009

2009 has now become a present tense. It is a year of discovery, a year of adaptation, a year of growth a year of exploration and a year of change. 2009 marks the year that I step out into the real world fighting for my very own existence. It is unbelievable how 2009 has changed me but furthermore, how much I have grown this year. 2009 is when I became an adult.

2009 is when I step into the working world, finding a source of income to fill my needs and wants. Not only have I enter the world of adult, I need to start my life away from home, away from city, into an unknown town. While this little place may not be as bad as some place that my peers have to trudge to everyday, it is still a little town that manages to every make new blood in this place feel lonely and sad. I am no exception. My heart started sinking since I left my house on the 11th of January 2009. It never came back up, not even after Chinese New Year 2009. However, noone can help you if you cannot help yourselves. Adapting is my only choice and adapting is what I have done. By getting the internet up and running, my heart started to try to like this place. Well, it is now 2010 and nope, I have yet to succeed in that sense though I think I have made much improvement in adapting as I do not hate this place anymore.....not as much as I used to be at least.

I am a teacher in 2009. At least I can call myself that starting 2009 and I believe 2009 has made a better teacher out of me. While teaching remains as something I do for living, I do feel a sense of accomplishment when my students write better and better as time passes. My passion, and probably future, lies somewhere but as of 2009, it can be said that disappointment of work and/or teaching has yet to reside in me. In 2009, I grew as a teacher, as an education practitioner, and as a man.

2009 has also been a year that I have traveled most, or rather drove furthest. I like driving but I have never ever thought I would be able to drive alone for 5 hours straight, and that is the distance between KL and Endau. Moreover, it have never cross my mind to drive to places like Kuantan, Pekan, Kota Tinggi, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Desaru and weirdest of all Bandar Mas. I did not know some of these places existed at all. Anyway, I like driving, and I love traveling. 2009 has not been a bad year for me at all in term of stumbling into new places. To end a great year of exploring, I was able to go tracking for Marco Polo's lost fleet in the land of Borneo with my love and a few close friends. Traveling is my passion and I will not let it slip in 2010!

Last but not least, 2009 was a year of great games. Heck, every year is a year of great games and 2010 will surely be one too. To gaming we toast.

Adious 2009, Hola 2010.

PS: Almost forgot that I graduated in the middle of 2009. I am now a graduate. Weeeeeeeeeeeee

Surrogates Review: A Perfect World?

Straight off the torment of the Gamer, I fear for the worst in another futuristic movie based on another concept of modern technology. In, Surrogates, human can now go to work by just sitting at home by controlling a robot at the comfort of their home. The remote control robot can take on any human form the operator wishes, which causes the world to be filled with flawless sexy and hot looking people/robots. A dream comes true? With great comfort comes great sacrifice.

The Storyboard

Its a Utopia where people rarely dies from accidents outside of their home, FBI Agent Greer is forced to unravel a conspiracy behind the world of surrogates when 2 robots are vandalized and inexplicably killing their operators. A series of revelation follow

Much like ‘Gamer’, ‘Surrogates’ has a good technological concept and morality issues to be explored. However, unlike ‘Gamer’, ‘Surrogates’ tells its story well. ‘Surrogates’ will keep you from going to the toilet just so you can unravel the mysterious behind a certain vandalism of a couple of robots and the homicide of their operators. As you sit longer through the movie, you will be served the right and wrong living a life as a robot. Subtlety, ‘Surrogates’ will help you dwell into beauty of life, in flesh and blood, as its reach its inevitable conclusion. A believable futuristic concept and good storytelling, ‘Surrogates’ did not fail on the storyboard

The Drawing Board

‘Surrogates’ does not have an out of this world kinda graphic presentation. There is no awesome explosion, no gory mutilation, no out to this world/ space ship but what actions that ‘Surrogates’ has is enough to satisfy my action bones. Don’t expect superb action of out this movie as it is more focus on bringing you across a topsy turvy world of human who opposes surrogacy and those who ARE using surrogates and its implication. When you have a good storyboard, graphical distinction is secondary.

By the way, flawless hot girl: check. But there is no hot revealing sexy girl. Imagine one yourself.

What? So there is no flaw at all?

The story of 'Surrogates' is not perfect. There are some inconsistency here and there; Bruce Willis's ridiculous hairdo for one, and some things that you would expect out of high-tech stuff are inconsistently missing but probably the producers thought that it would be better without those things for a smoother flow of story. Whatever it is, it doesn't hurt the story very much. it is just a very minor put off.


My Verdict

‘Surrogates’ is good. Maybe this is a rebound feeling due to the absurdity of ‘Gamer’ but it really left me feeling satisfied and entertained throughout the one and a half hour. It also left me feeling happy being able to love and control my own head and limbs and also to feel others!!


4 out of 5


Who will like this?

-People who likes futuristic make believe world.

-People who just enjoy unraveling mystery in a make believe world.

Nocturnal Amphibian

Most Malaysian teachers may, one way or another, have been an amphibian before, moving between 2 world and sometimes living both world at once. This year, not only have I experienced the wonder of both world, I have the priviledges to move between these 2 world extensively this year and work under two very different world, teaching a variety of people with variety of skills and abilities (or the lack of them). Today, this amphibian will once and for all tell his story of both world and which one is greener

The Morning
Day starts early for the morning world. Waking up early in the morning is not this amphibian's routine at all. There is nothing in his biological mind that rhymes with early and thus the demand of the morning world is already suffocating, before it even starts. To this amphibian, living in a world of routine is asking a lot out of him and demanding that he wakes up early in the morning is pushing his limit. Giving in is what this nocturnal amphibian has done.

Living in the morning world means less sleep for his nocturnal instinct and more energy needed. Therefore, it means more meals and more fats. Can this amphibian control? Not when his nocturnal instinct is compromised.

The fellow inhabitants of the morning world have an air (or aura, if you prefers) that makes the morning world much serious-er. This may be due to the general age group in the morning world that makes the communication between fellow inhabitants less in line with this amphibian's wavelength. Thus, it just feels less fun and fun is what drives us forward in a funless world, morning or the other world.

Well, the ruler is often around in the morning world. You decide what it means to your working mood. I decided

Not all are less in this world. The clients, on the other hand, is much more well behaved in the morning world, generally. They are less annoying as they are less childish. Sometimes and may I emphasize, SOMETIMES, the clients do participate in questions and answers sessions. They are more energetic towards creating a funner transaction of knowledge.

Besides, when your clients have finished their goals of the year, it is all so enjoyable sitting in your own comfort zone doing this. Oh, how time permits.


The After Morning World

What's undesirable, the clients in this world are immature and thus more poo poos that you have to be responsible for. Any mismanagement of the rowdy, mindless clients and it is all yours to bear and be blamed. Even zombies are more manageable and you can headshot them anytime.

Further, your clients probably do not have a goal of their life yet. Not needing to aim for anything, yet, and that means there is no period of time after the ability assessment process. Therefore, the amphibians in this world have to take on their clients' demand (or your ruler's) and perform knowledge transactions through the end of this time and this particular amphibian will have less time doing THIS.

However, the after morning world is much more suitable to this nocturnal amphibian's biological clock. I am a midnight ghost, if you like to call it that way. 2,3 and/or 4 is a familiar number. and as this other world do not start till 12, it calls for a more familiar, less restrictive routine. One that this amphibian is used to. One that he has less problem with. One that he would prefer more. Not one that he likes though. No, he will never.

With enough rest to power through this world, less meals are needed meaning less barter system performed and eventually means less meaningful notes going out. And that means more for other passions. And that means a happier amphibian. And...........

And the verdict is......
If there is a choice, this amphibian will choose neither world and make a world of his own. But as this world ain't perfect, there is yet to be an option of a world of my own. For the time being, this amphibian will be going back to the other world and probably dread the more knowledge transaction periods but will be delighted to be able to live his nocturnal life again and feeling less restrictive. Whichever world it is, my clients' need is of the utmost important, and being able to fulfill both the needs of your instinct and your clients can only happens in the perfect world and there is no perfect world. Not when your passion is not being an amphibian

The Final Destination Review - Overkill

Like Final Fantasy, the Final Destination franchise still does not understand the meaning of the word ‘Final’. The fourth of its kind, The Final Destination still uses the same concept as the previous installments. Cheat Death and Death will find you; Death with a capital D.

Storyline

Fourth time coming, you should already be familiar with the backbone of the series’ storyline. Someone sees a premonition of a freaked accident that kills everyone; someone gets crazy and somehow drags some people out and thus saving them and cheating Death; Death gets angry and finds creative ways of coincidental accidents to kill those cheaters; these people finds a way to break the chain and the question is, is there a way to break the chain? If you watch the previous 3 installments, you should already have the answer. Since you already seen and heard the story before, why bother? The answer is suspense and the creative coincidental accidents that seem like an elaborate killing machine made of everyday stuffs.

Presentation

Death has a creative mind. Killing people the normal way isn’t his (or her?) thing. It is interesting to see how Death sets up the elaborate killing machine but sometimes, the ways people are killed seem forced. I can’t shake off the feeling that some of the ‘weapons’ in the movie did not have the capability to create enough force to impale, cut, poke all the way through a person body/organs and thus killing him. It seems that the everyday machines used in the movie are purposely powered up just to kill, defying the law of physics. This makes the elaborate killing machines less believable.

Squished by an elevator belt. Really?

One of Final Destination trademarks was also the initial takedown. Final Destination 2 provides the best crash scenes but The Final Destination’s initial Nascar racing track accident seems lackluster and lacks the wow factor. It is still a good watch but just not great.

Despite few flaws, The Final Destination still provides enough suspense to bring you gritting through the whole movie. It is a good ride but it is nothing great. The finale of The Final Destination brings quite a different taste but it certainly did not bring a new flavour to a drained franchise.

Is The Final Destination worth a trip to the cinema? Yes, but only if you are a hardcore fan of thriller, gore(however sick that might sound) and suspense or you just want that ‘special feeling’ of being hug tightly by your girlfriend. Otherwise, it’s a rental at best and that’s only if you really want to know what is happening in the world of Final Destination.

2 out of 5

We scored, we conceded, and then Owen came along

The manchester derby match, as reported by many, is a classic match that will be remembered for a long time. It was a 7 goals thriller with Manchester City intending to poop Man Utd victory party on three occasion though Man Utd did intend to suicide. Equalising during injury time, all seemed bleak for Man Utd. The players were shocked (at Rio's crappy loop pass), the supporters were down, the haters are saying 'in your face' and along came a shadow of the babyface assassin. With his small stature, he wandered into the danger zone unnoticed signalling to a mastercraft for a pass. A superb pass, a small shadow, a good touch and a wonder shot. I leave myself and you this video to forever etch the moment intense blissfulness and excitement into our heart believing that no matter how useless it may seem, we just have to believe and try till the last drop of blood and sweat, and the reward will be so much sweeter.

Is there?

A month from now, current batch of Form 3 students will take their PMR examination. In this one month, I have the glory to help failing students to pass their English test. These kids are on the verge. A little slip up and they will surely fail their English test and soon enough, their future. Therefore, it is a huge responsibility. One that I will, with all my effort and knowledge, see to the end.

But it was not all that easy. One more month left and these 'monkeys' have no fears. They have no desire, no motivation, no believe at all that English is important for their immediate and also far future. They do not want to learn. They are too comfortable in their failing comfort zone. I really like to believe that their future is their to choose but can I do anything at all? Is there anything at all that will give them a shred of motivation, a feather of hope to pass? Is there?