Saturday, October 31, 2009

Surrogates Review: A Perfect World?

Saturday, October 31, 2009 3
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.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Nocturnal Amphibian

Monday, October 19, 2009 3
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


Wednesday, October 07, 2009

The Final Destination Review - Overkill

Wednesday, October 07, 2009 1

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

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

We scored, we conceded, and then Owen came along

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 2
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.



Thursday, September 10, 2009

Is there?

Thursday, September 10, 2009 5
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?





Monday, September 07, 2009

It's hard to be a footballer

Monday, September 07, 2009 2
A good footballer does not have to only be good on the pitch but he also has to have a good ability to speak. Our beloved Park Ji Sung came to England not only to ply his trade for the devils but also to do interviews. Thus, he has to learn English and he is a living prove that anyone from anywhere can learn to understand and speak English. Check out how this awesome Korean footballer fares in the linguistic department




What?

Sunday, September 06, 2009

of boxes and wires

Sunday, September 06, 2009 1
This post was stolen from this blog here but since not many people might visit about games, gamers and relationship, this video is too good not to be seen by more people. This video is about the difference between a man and a woman's brains and what's in them (yes, men has more stuff in their brain apart from sex). It is a funny video but whether it is true or not, it is up to your discretion. Waddaya think?