Note: I am not a hardcore dragon ball fan now, I was when I was younger (like any other highly hormonic growing teenage boy, I enjoyed watching bulky sweaty anime men train and fight). So the following review is based on my views as a half-ass fan. Enjoy!

How to begin? As everyone knows, this movie is not exactly best film of the year. My partner in crime and I ventured in the theater, knowing not to expect much, as so to prevent later disappointment and tears. We were ‘right on’ (groovy…?).

The story is loosely based on the original Dragon Ball story, merging the first dragon ball hunting saga with the King Piccolo saga together as one convenient anecdote. The setting looks to be like a modern ‘white’ society, with geeky Goku (Justin Chatwin) having problems fitting in his school, when suddenly, he is burdened to save the world from King Piccolo, an evil Namek, whose goal is to collect all dragon balls in order to “take my (his) vengeance upon the Earth”.

The movie was, for my taste, too lame and corny. There was too much emphasis on rebuilding the typical ultimate hero-like character, and not nearly enough effort to capture Goku’s free spirited story (“Far too much dancing and not nearly as enough prancing!” – Mr. Burns) Typical equals: “5000 years ago, an evil was locked away (blah)…you are destined to save the world (blah)…you are the destined warrior (blah)…”

King Piccolo’s makeup and costume was sickening, so was Goku’s trademark orange martial arts outfit. No need for explanations.

The fights scenes were ok though, where the lameness did help (for this particular type of movie), including good (and unintentionally funny!) slomo punches and impact scenes. The visual effects of the ‘ki’ energy weren’t that great though. Instead of taking a solid and luminous form as in the anime, the ki were presented as gaseous and misty. This didn’t look too great and impressive, compare to the anime at least, especially in the fight scenes where they are just throwing feeble-looking vapours at each other (fart much Goku?).

As mentioned above, we watched this film with minimum expectations, and surprisingly, it worked. It was quite enjoyable (and as said, unintentionally funny), but definitely not memorable. The best bits in the movie were the ones that probably included the cleavage-d exhibitionist Chi Chi (Jamie Chung), and the fobby and perverted Master Roshi (Yun-Fat Chow). As you can see, their descriptive verbs explains why.

In conclusion, the movie was not an evolution. Overall, I would rate this movie 3/7 dragon balls. Yes, the rating is out of the odd number 7, because there are 7 dragon balls in the movie, get it? (Kaka, I’m hilarious!) Read more...

The writing style of this novel is poor, as is this review! The Bride Stripped Bare conveys a story about a woman who believes that her husband is cheating on her, yet unable to leave because of her financial dependency on the cheating scum (I have no sympathy for people who cheat nor those who stay with cheaters). Through her struggles to accept what her husband has done, she seeks revenge by running around and sleeping with a bunch of people...yeah...i know...what a way to get revenge!

Some critics of The Bride Stripped Bare would say that this novel is about the liberation of sexuality for women, others (myself included) would say that this novel is borderline soft-core pornography for the chick-lit genre. Having said that i thoroughly enjoyed this novel, it was definitely a page turner. The scenes in the novel are rather explicit and graphical, so do not read if you feel uncomfortable about this kind of thing. The way the author describes the scenes are rather blunt yet descriptive, and you can definitely learn a few things from this novel!

I think this could be a novel for both genders, as there is a section in the novel called, "what we like, what we don't like and what we love". Yes, it's about what most women do and do not like in bed! So all males should definitely read it!

A lesson that I've taken from reading this novel is to never be financially dependent on anyone other than my parents! Even though that isn't the moral of the story (I'm not even sure if this novel intended a moral, it was marketed as a novel about the exploration of sexual desire). Another marketing gimmick that this novel had attached to itself, was that the author published the novel under anonymous. I suppose it was to create a mysterious bubble around this novel, and it worked! It gained a lot of publicity and eventually the author was ousted by media. It made it hard for me to find the book when it was recommended by a friend though!

I suggest listening to Not Fair by Lily Allen, not only is it an awesome song but reminds me of the character Cole (Cheating Husband).

(NOTE: It's been a few years since I've read this novel and this review is based on what I remember...which isn't much!) Read more...

Say what you will, this looks amazing...

Are we allowed to review trailers? Because seriously, this is a good trailer. The film adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are has been in the works for quite some time now. And they've had issues, sure, but don't we all? Originally shot in Australia, late '06, and slated for an '08 release, it's been delayed, delayed, almost done!, delayed. And it was not so long ago that Warners' studio chief had to defend the film, after reports that a number of children were brought to tears during test screenings (not that I'd see that as a bad thing): "We obviously still have a challenge on our hands. But I wouldn't call it a problem, simply a challenge. No one wants to turn this into a bland, sanitized studio movie. This is a very special piece of material and we're just trying to get it right." At last, it seems like they've got things back on track.

The film is being directed by Spike Jonze, a man responsible for some wonderfully bizzare creations. He also co-wrote the screenplay with a familiar face, Dave Eggers. But on to the trailer, which is beautiful even without the context. I really don't think I can adequately describe how gorgeous this looks. Just get a load of the awesome Arcade Fire song they've used ("Wake Up"). The book, the filmmakers, the music; they've got me sold. Let's just hope the movie meets my hype... So go on, have a look:


This could very well be a new favorite thing of mine, alongside certain staple gun threatening girls and that bit in Daft Punk's Digital Love that goes "Why don't you play the gaaammee?"Read more...

Straylight Run is an indie rock band originating from Long Island, New York; a place where other infamous bands such as Taking Back Sunday and Brand New have emerged. Band members include John Nolan on Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard, Shaun Cooper on Bass Guitar, and Will Noon on Drums.

As part of touring around Australia with the Soundwave Festival, the various genre of bands
all played warm-up side shows the night before hitting the main stages at each of the states. While in Melbourne, Straylight Run played at the Next! at Colonial Hotel, corner of King and Lonsdale St, along with Jaguar Love and Minus the Bear.

Now, my companions that night included (by their blog IDs) Chicken, Patrick, Chau! and Veeble; a bunch of crazy hooligan friends I picked up around my first year of university. Actually, change of plans, I seem to have writers block, so from now on, I’m just going to write as I talk…no more structured sentences! (Thanks Chicken!)

Ok, so here’s the story, we were in the city at about 6pm, and the show was scheduled to start at 9pm, so we had a good 3 hours to eat and bum (As in laze around! Don’t think dirty!! O_O).
In the end we ate at the Nandos along King St, and guess who came in! Straylight Run themselves!! My body almost died from sheer shock and happiness! I was just going to hide and spy on them for a while, but luckily my companions had more sense than me to convince me to talk and get photos with them, we did, and now I cherish these photos more than table tennis balls!

Anywhoooo, we got in the place at about 9pm. Next! is a nicely designed place, a darkish atmosphere with a light red glow theme (sorry I don’t remember much more!). The small stage was, of course, the central point for the venue, with various balconies and reserved places to view the performance.

The show started on time with Jaguar Love performing first, no offence, but they sounded horrible. With only two members, an OKish guitarist (using a Gibson SG guitar) and a crazy frizzball vocalist (with a cat’s screech for a voice), plus a tape for backup drums and sync, the whole thing sounded like a very loud and noisy mess…

Next, Straylight Run! They performed an array of old and new songs. Let me also note, that Will Noon is a mad drummer (in a good sense!) He really rips those drums like no tomorrow!
Starting off with Wait and Watch, they immediately captured my attention with its mixture of a melodic piano tune and thudding drum and bass beats, followed by a more heavier and aggressive chorus bellowing “I’m gonna wait and watch the world die!”
Mistakes We Knew We Were Making had a similar format, but with its chorus being a bit more cheery (poppy?) and less demanding. This was the song when I forgot about all my troubles. The lines “So we bottle and shelve, all our regrets…” and onwards really made me feel at bliss, and temporary shielded me from the issues and problems I was experiencing at the time…Thanks Straylight Run! =)
Around the middle of the set, they played a new song, I think it was called I Do, but definitely not sure! Being the incurable nature of a live performance, it was hard to process and understand the new song completely, but it sounded like it had something to do with marrying someone?
Existentialism on Prom Night needs to be mentioned, as it is mine and Chicken’s song. Not much to note about this particular performance, except that without former member, Michelle Nolan’s guitar strums, it sounded very empty and naked, not that I’m complaining! I quite like this broken down version!
They finished off with an emotionally high Hands in the Sky, which I felt left a very foreboding and hollow feeling in the air, constantly echoing “…they’ll tell you when they’re hungry again… they’ll tell you when they’re hungry again… they’ll tell you when they’re hungry again…” A good mysterious and sense-hungry impression to leave on the audience!

Well, we left after their performance, we didn’t wait to watch Minus the Bear (personally, I didn’t want to risk another Jaguar Love like performance).

We all got home safely and that’s the end! I realise that I wrote too much! So if you read up to here, thanks for bearing to read all this nonsense! Really appreciated! I am definitely not a writer, nor do I particularly enjoy writing, so please don’t criticise my review too badly!

I would give Straylight Run’s side-show a whooping 5/5 ducks! They performed perfectly and well! Not relying on bopping heads and hardcore ‘rocking out’ like some other idiotic bands out there! Now, off to get Roast duck on my next outing! YUM!

Trung!Read more...

I have it in my hand, sitting, as the Earth clings to me with fear. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, I glean from the jacket. His name is Dave Eggers, it's about him. My first few movements, callow trepid steps, the peek under book's cover, the eyes which widen at the sight; and it's coming. Nighttime, darkness and I'm flicking through it. While fireflies, they'd skip across the surface of each turning page; illuminate lines for me. Then a mighty gale, it comes to sweep us away, me and my hardbound friend. I watch on helplessly as pages whoosh by, turning vigorously, and I have to hold onto my hat and scarf so that they won't fly away. My eyes, my dazzling dancing eyes, dashing madly, back and forward, left to right then miraculously back at left again, trying to keep up. Until, as sudden as it had started, the wind dies, and all but a single page remains. All but an inky half filled page – evaporating! Line by line, letter by letter, going, going, oh it's gone!

...(Confess confess, to nonsense.)

I am not an avid reader. Last year I read one book. The year prior to that: none. This year, I am handed a hardcover by someone dear - a hefty, four hundred page tome - and I set about reading it with fears of half-finishing. Within a week fears vanish...

Awash with humor, poignancy, gimmickry, motley bindings of adjective effortlessness and ever growing self-referentiality: Eggers' memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, indeed, bears no misnomer. It is steeped in detail: the title could, alone, be kept afloat simply by weight of ideas. And for the most part, the experimentation is not only impressive, it is genius, genre-breaking prose.

Within the first few pages, Eggers has already modestly, or in some cases, honestly, outlined pages and chapters not worth reading, has told us that some of the events of the book have been fictionalized or chronologically rearranged (being his right as an American), and has shared disapproval over our abandonment of Pluto: "[the author] wishes, on the basis of his own casual research and faith, to reassert Pluto's planethood. Why did we do this to Pluto? We had it good with Pluto."

The story moves quickly. For all the tragic elements here: the sudden deaths of loved ones, the raising of a younger brother, and solipsistic struggle; the memoir is, more often than not, blithe, irreverent, and wonderfully truthful. What Eggers deems "The Painfully, Endlessly, Self-Conscious Book Aspect", that being, sections of the book in which he is all too aware it is being read, is all too conscious of what the reader is thinking, is not accustomed to any 'fourth wall', are simply sublime. Great artistic liberties are taken, characters, as it were, break character, igniting otherwise common exchanges. Eggers' device is gratuitous, often revelatory: at one instance, cheekily concluding that those who are not self-obsessed, that do not find themselves interesting enough to obsess over, mustn’t be very interesting people.

And as the book culminates through its final manic-depressive gasps, we see that for all Eggers' self-destructive magic, it is his relationship with younger brother Toph that provides grounding for his most compelling emotional clinches. It's an adventure through a majestic and surreal, sun-drenched, and utterly unadulterated youth. A place where time shrinks and stretches, where the Californian shoreline extends forever, where the worth of an apartment is dictated solely by its containing stretches of polished floorboard – area fit for sliding across whilst wearing woolen socks.

In shorts, there's a lot to like about this book. In pants (terrible!), I probably should have said that to begin with. That probably would have been a lot less painful for the both of us. In fact, you're probably very annoyed with me, especially if you had bothered to read this far. Will redemption be granted if I offer gifts? And what if said gifts aren't tangible?

I grant you (and this book) 4/5 ducks! Quack! (Don't eat them)... (Seriously, don't!!)Read more...

Since we have been on the topic of vampires, I will share you a story of MY vampiric experience.
I am talking about a place where people wholeheartedly, willingly, cheerfully and indubitably provide their souls blood to vampires the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. Okay, okay so it isn't vampire Edward Cullen or Vlad per se. However, the ARCBS secretly ARE people who are hungry for blood and determined to get some out of you.

I was a donator once. No, I had donated 3 times! So do not judge me for I am not just a blood-vampire-hater-playa-foo-poo but a victim of ARCBS blood sucking ways.

I was everything but cynical and was genuinely excited yet nervous for I am human to feel nervous. I was going to lose a can-full of blood after all. My conscience reassured me that I would be saving at most 3 people or 5 babies so it's all going to be O.K!
When I first came in, I had to wait a while, get interviewed blah blah ...ANYWAYS ... They took my blood and all was well! They thanked me heaps, then they fed me well with shake and cookies and even a free ice-cream voucher!
All was great!
I was excited to donate again! I felt so good-willed, being a student nurse I was aspired to even work there one day!

The second time was not the same.
In fact it was bitter.
It was cold.
I had disappointed them.
This time I had low blood pressure. My blood wasn't flowing out of me adequately enough. They scolded me to drink more (while baring their 2 sharp front fangs of course). In the end I didn't give enough and they told me with this amount, it probably won't but MIGHT save one person! I felt horrible. They didn't thank me. They didn't offer shakes nor cookies so I took my leave (but I graciously had some shake+cookies because I can!) while they greased me off when I was not looking.

So I thought I would redeem myself third time round. I had thought wrong. They hurried me onto the chair and hastily prepared the venipuncture to suck me dry. I had low blood pressure again or I was not squeezing the stress ball hard enough for they sunk their needle teeth into my arm and missed my vein. Oh the P A I N! And then came the BRUISING.
This abomination lasted 2 weeks plus! It disabled me with my activities of daily living! Bella Swan sure has neat marks in her arm! Not I.

I wanted to cry.
I wanted to run.
But I didn't.

I tried to stay brave. These blood nurses did not give up though. They didn't care for me and my mind-boggling pain! They were thirsty and just wanted my blood!
So they tried my other arm. Again no luck for I was still low in blood pressure. No apologies were given to me.

I was a blunder.
A let down for their blood bank.
They made me feel like I was an absolute disgrace to society and that my soul just could not help others as my blood would not pour like a river of red blood cells, white blood cells etc.
Nevertheless, they were insistent with a desperate urgency that I return again for the next donation of blood for them to drink.

I never came back.

My excuse was my blood pressure is just too low.
But I am afraid of their teeth-needle and their over enthusiasm for my blood.
I shall help others by being a better, caring, non-vampiric nurse myself.

Maybe one day I would find my inner were-wolf courage and face the ARCBS blood suckers again with a full can of my appetising and luscious blood to those in TRUE need.

The Chicken gives the ARCBS:
1 out of 10 drops of blood. (Because I STILL have low blood pressure). Read more...

Young Dracula may be a children's bbc show but it's a damn good one. The script is witty and funny, and the characters are entertaining and memorable. Read more...

So there’s been immense hype surround Twilight, a cinematic adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s vampiric teenage romp. I finally got around to watching it but I must confess, I only saw it because my housemate had downloaded it. That said, I will admit this movie is probably the best teen flick I have ever seen. More mature than Harry Potter, greater heart than Lord of the Rings; this movie goes for the jugular by striking upon themes of growing pains, love and self virtue.

Bella, toughing out a dreary relationship with her father and struggling to find her place at a new school becomes both frustrated and enthralled by the mysteriously vague and distant Ed Cullen. Love blossoms, slowly. I mean eternal immortality passes by the time Ed moves his lips to contact Bella. Playful Tarzan maneuvers through the forest soon clot away when blood lust converges with human necks.
While we learn nothing about any character who is not a hot vampire or dating one, this film pulsatingly succulent. Can’t wait for the next!

Baseball has nothing on quidditch!

Mike
Read more...

Here's a MUST READ classic, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry published 66 years ago today. Although it is categorised as a children's book and is most likely be shelved in the children's section where most of us adults avoid as we fear children somehow.... because they are adorable thingies with RAVISHING DEVILS within.......... ahem... This book is REALLY written for adults.

So the story is about an aviator and his meeting with the little prince. The little prince requests the aviator, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry himself to draw him a sheep. So as readers, we indulge ourselves to simplistic but pretty illustrations (not just in this part of the story but throughout the book! w o w right?!). So its a PLUS for those who like physical imagery on a page when reading. Ahh, but it sounds childish so far, picture story books... This novel; this classic, holds many wise words, philosophical viewpoints and commentary about the world we live in and the world around us. (ooOOooOOoo)

This book, seemingly innocent written for children only, has forced me, a young adult, to reflect. AND I DISLIKE reflecting!! Because it means I would have to face my inner demon child... But from reading this book, maybe this inner child is more wise than I give her credit...

It may be a life changing experience for you! Or an entertaining piece of literature anyways (because of the pretty pictures and did I mention it's not very long!? No I have not! It's very short!).

I LOVE it. So the Chicken will give it a:


And now I end my review with an excerpt because there isn't really any other way to persuade you but show you the real deal!. Go on read it,I DARE YOU! (NOTE: this is an excerpt of the first few pages so the aviator a.k.a. the narrator, has not yet met the little prince. You would have to read the book to see!)

Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book, called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest. It was a picture of a boa constrictor in the act of swallowing an animal. Here is a copy of the drawing.



In the book it said: "Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole, without chewing it. After that they are not able to move, and they sleep through the six months that they need for digestion." I pondered deeply, then, over the adventures of the jungle. And after some work with a colored pencil I succeeded in making my first drawing. My Drawing Number One. It looked like this:



I showed my masterpiece to the grown-ups, and asked them whether the drawing frightened them. But they answered: "Frighten? Why should any one be frightened by a hat?" My drawing was not a picture of a hat. It was a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. But since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another drawing: I drew the inside of the boa constrictor, so that the grown-ups could see it clearly. They always need to have things explained. My Drawing Number Two looked like this:



Hostel Villa Saint Exupéry. (2008). The Little Prince. Retrieved March 6, 2009 from http://www.vsaint.com/

If you would like to read the rest, try finding it in your local champion library, OR click here for the full book online!Read more...

Warning to those who may read this piece, this is more like a review on my life. So stop if you think it may bore you!

Today was the first day in long time that I got the chance to walk in the rain. Unfortunately I had forgotten to take an umbrella with me...either way it was wonderful! It gave me time to relax and take in the wondrous scenery, reflect on where my life is heading and whatnot. I still don't know what i want to do with myself, nor where my head space is at. But after that long invigorating walk, though nothing in my life has changed, I feel I can relax a bit more. Everything in my life right now feels like a blurr, I can't make up my mind on simple decisions and i rely solely on the chance of a coin. Simple things, like whether or not i should give someone a call, should i go out to a party or curl up to a book. I even tossed a coin on whether or not i should make this post about my walk in the rain. I feel like I'm under a lot of pressure, but that pressure is non existent. I put too much on my plate, but like doing that, it makes me feel like i may have a purpose, like I'm doing something. Either way, it makes me happy, sometimes sad, sometimes just bland...a bit numb. The walk in the rain made me realised that my life would be happier if i took more walks in the rain, so please god let it rain more!

"I love going for walks in the rain because nobody can see that I've been crying". One of my favourite quotes, because it used to be true. Now I like walks in the rain because it is peaceful, my form of therapy.Read more...