Review: Rob Zombie's Halloween

Halloween (1978) is the low budget horror flick that started it all. If not for the success of the original, we won't Friday The 13th series, A Nightmare on Elm Street series, Scream series...yada yada yada.

After around 30 year since the original was released, and the franchise and mythology of Michael Myers have developed into a totally different thing presented in the original film, finally, inevitably, a remake is made.

This remake or reimagining is a combination of a prequel and episode 1. It tells us the origin story of this killing machine Mike Myers and retell the event presented in the 1978 film. While the original focused more on those sudden shock kind of horror, this remake present horror by the portrayal of graphic and brutal violence scene. The original may makes you pee in you pant (if you drank too much and refuse to go to loo during the movie), the remake will make you puke, not because of the graphic disgusting scene, but because of the idea a human did such a thing to its fellow kind.

Yeah human, the origin story of Myers make him a human, a disturbed, distorted mind, sociopath, victim or the by product of post modernism capitalism society. The whole remake is like biography of a serial killer. The cause, early signs, behaviour of Mike in the film fit so well with the analysis of all most of the serial killer we have - dysfunctional family, domestic violence, lack of love, violence towards animal, bad in school but not in the least stupid etc...

But this is also the bad side of the film. The magic of the original film is, we only know the 'shape' is a maniac killer. Even though we have the name, but we never know who he is, what kind of person he is, what he is capable of, his potential etc. We know nothing about him, and that's why the fear is more intense and the movie is more fun to watch, a feature length psycho killer slashing teenage slut.

Michael Myers

In short, I enjoy this film giving a life and soul to Mike, but sad that the magic and whole insane mythology built up all this year is erased to give way to this realistic portrayal of this serial killer behind a painted white mask of William Shatner...

Shatner, see the resemblance?

The Long Halloween

Surprisingly (to me) my favourite Batman comic is not The Killing Joke by my favorite comic writer Alan Moore, but is Batman: The Long Halloween , written by Tim Sale with are by Jeph Loeb.

This is a superb book, it gives me the same feeling of watching The Dark Knight, but with a little twist. Unlike the hyper realistic representation in The Dark Knight, the concept of The Long Halloween is just moderately realistic. Batman still able to pull fantastic stunt, Catwoman is just too awesome a fighter for a too sexy lady.

The book pays a lot of homage to film noir, especially The Godfather. The starting of the book, some scenes in it...you will know and feel excited if you happen to be a fan for The Godfather as well. The film noir background mainly is caused by the fact of the presence of the Mafia group in the center of the plot, since the main plot revolves around the investigation of the murders of several prominent mafia figures on the major holidays or festive season by a mysterious serial murdered the press called "Holiday".

Set around the second year of Batman's adventure, The Long Halloween is also an origin story of the complex villain Two-Face Harvery Dent. If not for the presence of super hero and maniac villain, this book can be viewed as a mystery crime thriller, a mafia story and even a psychological drama. It is a very very engaging story, and the art work is just nice, for having a balance of portraying the aesthetic of superhero figures as well as the fashion, set design of Gotham City with a strong presence of nostalgic mafia setting. In short it is a Batman + The Godfather + Infernal Affairs combination kind of comic.

The Long Halloween is prominent for:

a) retelling the origin of Two Face

b) highlighting the cooperation of Batman, Gordon and Dent in crime busting

c) pointing the fact the the freak villain in Batman universe are drawn to Gotham due to the presence of Batman.

d) reminding us how interesting Two Face is after being haunted by the worst performance of Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever (aka Batman Growing Nipples).

e) giving new breath to those minor once laughable villain like Calender Man (that is given a Hannibal Lecter like treatment in this book, just cool).

Lecter

Calender Man

If got the chance, read this, you won't regret it!

-Untitled-

Wednesday coming...hmm this is fast. So far I haven't felt that Tuesday is Tuesday yet, and Wednesday is just an hour short.

If not I have to back up some colleague away for Diwali holidays, and the fact that starting today we have to fully use the uber mafan new production system, this week should be a jolly good relaxing week.

This weekend is visiting the historical city again. If no changes, maybe it will be the first time I'm gonna drive there. The last visit there I was the passenger, with my buddy behind the wheels of my car. Now he's at UK with his wife and hopefully can see them again by next year end when she finished her study.

On December another buddy is getting married with a good friend. If not for the other buddy being in UK, this will be a super fun "Wedding of The Century" for our little PBC group, as Yong putting it.

Don't know when will visit Melaka again after this weekend. Heard that the gang may have it on November, since we fail to make it during Raya...

Been there so many time, so often...will it be sien? Nay...location is never an issue, the best part is the fun time with the company!

Blog @ Starbucks

How ironic, I'm buying a Starbucks iced coffee but end up using Nando's Wifi...

Saturday, weekend. This should be my day. The day I get some rest, a lot of rest; since on coming Monday, when the whole country is enjoying the Deepavali holiday, my evil company's evil department needs the be operational! Damn.

I have no problem going to work, or work...whatever. But what I am truly don't light is the fact my right of getting rest, along with all other friends is robbed away and denied, just for the sake of some dude I never set my eyes on. Fuck it!

Funny part is, I do enjoy working on a public holiday. Especially when it is a National festival like this. Reason being, there will be a number of people missing then, the office will be rather quite and when I work like this, I won't feel pressured. It is peaceful, unlike the usual chaotic. And somehow, it makes me feel time travels faster this way...

I told a friend that this Sunday evening may not be a gloomy one, since Monday is off. But now it is confirmed that I won't be off, so I think the gloomy will still on, just not as intense as usual...

Bought hell lot of DVDs this two days. Can't control...maybe it is the effect of being pissed that I have to work on Deepavali...

Song: 陳奕迅-超人的主題曲

Tiga is the Ultraman series that revitalized the Ultraman franchise in the late 90s.
The Hong Kong version OP has been replaced with a totally different song sung by Eason Chan. I think the first few verses melody sounds like the beginning of Skyrider's theme...maybe it is intentional.

陳奕迅-超人的主題曲

Nice Plat Number

Look at the plat for the black Myvi. This is just a very cool plat number, I meant the first three letters. It does makes a very strong statement. I wich I can have that...btw, which state's plate number starts with a "C"? Please do advice.

I prefer CCB to PKM, cause the idea of PKM is just disgusting...CCB is nice, and some of our hot PM in the office always curse using it too...!

Get me intoxicated! I thought you are the high level alcohol drink~!

So, in one of my drinking session with my dad at home (our only father and son bonding method), he taught me this: You must exhale through the mouth as mush as you can after every sip of vodka. Then, you won't be getting intoxicated so fast.

Thanks dad, now I try using this vodka to make me intoxicated so that I can get sleepy and sleep a wee bit earlier for tomorrow, but instinctively, I use your method when drinking. It is already more than a dozen shot, and I am still fresh!

Damn it, last night I can get a bit dizzy after two cans of 8.8% alcohol of beer with you but now I don't feel a bit of anything after 12 shots of 40% (actual should be 37.5% to 38%) alcohol level of vodka? Those are not fake, that is for sure, I felt the burn, but is it taking to long to reach the brain? Or will never be there at all?

The last thing I wanted on a Monday is a hangover. If the alcohol only do their job after I succeed to force myself into sleep, there will be a very higher probability I will get it. And that is just very bad!

Yam~Seng~!

My SL400, a bottle of Finlandia vodka and a shot.

P/S: Instead of sip, Why not just finish the shot at one gulp? This will definitely accelerated the intoxicating process!

Song: 何韵诗 - 韵律泳

Denise Ho, not consider the mainstream, but far more talented. A disciple of a legendary diva~

何韵诗 - 韵律泳

作曲：Edmond Tsang
填词：黄伟文 编曲：何秉舜

若你下去　让我亦跳下去
冷水暖水　无一点畏惧
至少最终　曾出生也入死都一对
我要用两个身体　编一种韵律给世界赞许
动态静态绝对合拍　为爱得悲观者表演创举
同一刻飞上天 同一刻跌下水
谁可以做情侣　动作不一致又一对
要是你没法起飞　我亦会争取
留在这泳池里　陪着你鸳鸯戏水
同一刻举了手 同一刻踼着腿
泥沼里暴潮里　仍共你形影不分一对
眼里有彼此　韵律也不需
凭一个默契 陪着你舞翩翩跳下去
若你慢了　让我学你慢了
挺胸转身　同出一格调
和你能够成双　破绽也都不紧要
要配合你再辛苦　辛苦比快乐都算太渺小
在训练里让我学会 为对方的偏差值得折腰
同一刻飞上天 同一刻跌下水
谁可以做情侣　动作不一致又一对
要是你没法起飞　我亦会争取
留在这泳池里　陪着你鸳鸯戏水
同一刻举了手 同一刻踼着腿
泥沼里暴潮里　仍共你形影不分一对
眼里有彼此　韵律也不需
凭一个默契 陪着你舞翩翩跳下去
浮下去沉下去　游下去潜下去　再优雅踼腿
然后你沉着气　抬着我连续四翻身插水
同一刻飞上天　同一刻跌下水
谁可以做情侣　动作不一致又一对
要是你没法起飞　我亦会争取
留在这泳池里　陪着你鸳鸯再戏水
如芙蓉出水那般　举了手
还一起　踼着腿
泥沼里暴潮里　仍共你形影不分一对
太快了肯等　太慢了肯追
才可以绝配 成伴侣一世同舞跳下去
难得我和你　磨合里跳出真正乐趣

Crap Entry

Surprisingly, so far no very very bad things happen in office yet. Got a slightly good news, some one is taking care of my Korean portion. Hope it will works better like this.

Maybe it is due to the pathetic 4 working days illusion I have after the Monday ponteng session, time flies rather fast this week. Now is Wednesday night, an hour or so later it Thursday, then Friday...hahaha~

I find that I buy a lot of original DVD and CD lately. Maybe alas I realize and appreciate that they indeed have better quality. Somehow I think I was cursed, the last few batch of pirated DVD and CD mostly has problem. So, in between getting a stroke and paying more, I chose paying more for original copies. Plus, I am very into those "Special Edition" DVD. Pirated one don't have these. I have some very deep interest in those behind the scene thingy about filmmaking. Indeed, when I watch those features, it makes me even more appreciate the work of filmmakers.

Already got Ironman from SM (near Petaling Street, 10 ringgit cheaper) when I went KL last week. Have my eyes set on The Incredible Hulk...but still waiting patiently for The Dark Knight.

It's a pity they don't have the ultimate Superman 10 DVDs (or more perhaps) edition here...

Song: Joanna Wang - Let's Start From Here

This is just so nice...it is so nice that I actually bought the original CD even I have all the mp3 versions of the album!

Joanna Wang's Start From Here

Working EL...Pathetic!

I never plan this EL. The idea just struck me spontaneously.

It was 6 or around 6...once again my mum washing some stuff in the kitchen and left the door open, and the noise travel through the morning of Evil Monday to my ears. Remember my headache the night before? Well, it's still there and haven't left! So I was thinking, how is it like to drive for half an hour, facing the sun to a freezer and sit there for 12 hours? Damn, just the idea of it makes my head even crazier.

I do not think doc will issue an MC for headache, and going to a doctor is just a waste of time and money. There will never be a nurse like those they have in Japanese video. Reality sucks and life is boring. So I decided, EL. So I proceed to sleep after I figure out what to say to my manager.

But this will not be a relaxing day. First, I have a headache to deal with, then, I planned to at least take a look of the work that came in from late Friday to Sunday. So after I wake up around 9 something (consider late for a weekday) and curse at a torrent that stuck after completed 99.8%, a lunch time, I go out to a nearby Starbucks and work.....pathetic.

So that's it. On a EL day, I still manage to work till 6 and got home at 7.30 pm, after some loitering around. But the good part is, I still have an illusion that I only work 4 days this week!

Pathetic!

Smoking Biscuit: A Confession

Puffing...how many of you do? How many don't?

First of all, who does not know how to smoke? Read carefully, not asking how smokes, but who knows how to? Smoking is bad, but not so much of harm if trying to find out how it is like.

Surprisingly, despite being in a boy school, I never have peer pressure about smoking. Maybe I mixed with a better crowd i.e. nerds that will argues about the approach solving a add maths question that has the potential to escalate to a brawl. But I never argue, cause I never really bother doing it.

But eventually, somehow I've learn how to smoke, but luckily, I never get addicted. Maybe the addicting department in me already busy serving the caffeine. I took up the habit for a while though (hey, I bought a packet with my own money, I might as well finish it right?) and I drop it. Just like that~!

Recent changes, tragics and the whole bad feeling and chaos and shit in office, especially the kick off of the mountain thingy really affected my mind a bit. I don't think it is pressure, just some very negative feeling, and missing the good old days in the office where everyone knows clearly what they need to do and do it correctly. Peaceful days, very very relaxing days.

The departure of SM to a better opportunity means I have to double for two persons. This means that I have to actually work non stop the moment I switch on the Thinkpad until the sun is set and I have to make a choice of either stopping or collapsing. A month ago, it was hell.

Now I never believe smoking can makes one relax, unless if one is addicted to nicotine. I, however, am not. But the act of smoking can indeed to a certain extend help you calm down a bit. I am not a chain smoker, I am not even a smoker. As I told one of the Singapore colleague when she came here a year ago, I am a casual smoker. This mean I am not the type that need to get down to the lobby every one hour or so to fill in the lungs with shit. I only do it, once in a while, after work.

After a hard days work, the idiot-ness from the profession that I loath, and various other problems and issues that may or may not related to me really made me very jumpy, emotionally unstable and super hot temper. Now I do not want to bring all this negative feeling home, to my bed, so before the drive, I need to cool off myself. This is now the smoke comes it.

What is the act of smoking? Look and analyze the action. A guy standing or sitting down, inhaling and exhaling from an end of a lit cigarette. If we minus the cigarette, then it is just a guy standing or sitting, inhaling and exhaling, which means a guy standing or sitting there breathing and doing nothing else...NOTHING! I am an impatient asshole. If I got a mission (in this case, drive home, shower, eat and sleep), I can hardly stop and do nothing, but smoking will give me an illusion that I am doing something, but in fact not. How long it takes to finish one cigarette? Five minutes? Assume so. So, before I get home, I actually do nothing for five minutes, and in this five minutes, my system somehow manage to regulate back my emotion, breathing, heart rate and I just feel "hey, that's not quite a bad day after all"!

Smoking is bad, don't pick it up. October has a good start, and I do not need this little mood adjustment thingy before getting home, especially when the sky has the sun hanging there smiling at me when I leave the office....But I don't mind for some session every now and then...if situation permits...

Evil Black Monday Blues

This coming Monday is a very very evil Monday.

The evilness is not sort of those "monster of the week" type evil in those tokusatsu show that you can dispose the monster in 25 minutes run time, 30, if you count in the commercial time as well.

This evil, is more like the Joker type evil, which is, plain evil. The evilness is so great that the Monday Blues are getting darker with shade looks more black than blue. Even we are still an hour odd short to get to this week's Monday, the aura of the evil already felt.

By 7 o'clock tonight, after dinner, I started to feel something wrong. Stomach is upset, I need to rush to the toilet and eject some light floating shit that has a nasty smell, suggesting this is not ordinary shit, but something may gone wrong in the system. There may be chances that I may need medical attention later.

So far, there is no other occurrence of such, but things don't just end here, the usual gloomy Sunday evening made an entrance without any cue or prior announcement, and it hit me so bad, my head starting to ache. I hate this. As of time I'm typing this, the ache is killing me bit by bit.

Yet, me, as a fighter in spirit, always have a opportunistic view on things. There is nothing that cannot be done, nothing that is so serious that can beat me. Me, I'm never serious (which suggest why I'm still not owned) feel little burden or pressure from work. I just don't like working. I just like surfing the Internet the whole day and pretend as if I'm very busy.

But, remembering the fact I has printed out dozens of orders last Friday that came in very very late, and I left them on my desk so that I can look at them first thing in Monday morning, I recall how evil Monday is. Fuck you Monday!

Starting tomorrow, I have to painstakingly counting down to weekend. I had a very bad weekend this week. For most of the time on Saturday I was stuck in the traffic for errands not related to me. Oh gosh, Saturday is the only day that I may feel enjoyable. Some pathetic relative already spoiled my Friday (my favourite weekday) and now my Saturday is burnt for some family obligation that they do not even bother to give an early notice. Worst part is, that is the first thing that I heard on Saturday morning! Damn it, can't you wait till I'm done with my shower and stuff and tell me after I done reading the papers?

The moment I open my eyes after sleep, to the moment I pick up the newspaper to read after brushing teeth, shower and a quick shot of coffee is my danger zone. I must to conduct all this without interference, anyone attempt to talk to me or interrupt the sequence.....hahahaha I will blame all my bad luck to you for that day, and I will unleash my sarcasm to break you mentally. But dear friends, relax, this only applies when I'm in my own home, with my own family.

Having living with me for more than twenty years, they know better to come across my path. The recent irritation I got from the office only makes me more flammable than ever.

So, as you can see, the coming Monday's evilness can even extend to the weekend before it...damn evil Monday. Don't you remember I am evil as well? See who's the last one standing~wahahahahaha~

<無題>

時間永遠不夠用,
錢永遠都是賺不夠.
麻煩永遠都嫌多,
工作永遠做不完.
真他媽的, 這是生活嗎?
一到五忙得像隻螞蟻,
周末有時玩得像個瘋子,
有時候卻閒得像對大便...
靜靜的,慢慢的,讓光影悄悄的溜走...
等發現時...太遲了...
已經是禮拜天的傍晚...
邪惡的星期一...
黑色的星期一...
可怕的星期一...
又捲土從來的...
他媽的上帝,
你敢馬非要用六天來創造世界不可?
幹嘛不用一天創造完畢, 讓後其他六天都休息?
你不是全能的咩?
怎麼不能呢?
你現在分明是在昆我們唶!
小喇叭!

Song: 周杰伦 - 稻香

One of Jay Chou's new song, rather meaningful lyric (as usual his style)...
listened the whole album already, no big surprise, pretty standard Jay-Pop...
Got some heavy stuff, some light hearted piece, mandatory oriental style hit yada yada yada

周杰伦 - 稻香

词/曲 周杰伦 编曲/林迈可

还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随著稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑 小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带著你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随著稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑 小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带著你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

所谓的那快乐
赤脚在田里追蜻蜓追到累了
偷摘水果被蜜蜂给叮到怕了
谁在偷笑呢
我靠著稻草人吹著风唱著歌睡著了
哦 哦 午后吉它在虫鸣中更清脆
哦 哦 阳光洒在路上就不怕心碎
珍惜一切 就算没有拥有

我在out這方面, 是很in的...

終於! 終於! 終於有得唱K了!
經已等了多久辣? 不知, 大概新年前後到現在吧?
終於約成整班朋友去唱K, 本來滿期待的...
但是, 不過, 可惜...到了K房, 才知道大事不妙!
看著螢幕上的本周流行, 我竟然一手都沒聽過...就連歌手的名字也沒看過...
就算看過也不知道張的身麼樣...
呵~大變 (Oh Shit~)我out了!
轉身一問, 還好, 愛俺納特阿隆! (I am not alone!)
他們也覺得有點out, 不過我覺得我最out,
因為我連TVB的電視主題曲都不知道....
鬼咩~我都不追劇的~unless是我超有興趣的...
那些什麼什麼月圓阿, 什麼什麼風暴阿...都是爭家產爭來爭去....
只看戲名都已經發風暴血管啦...還追...
真估不到, 就好似林海峰說的那樣...我在out這方面, 是很in的...

Evil Comp Rob My Right To Take Leave

New month, same old suffering, in fact, worse.

The evil company is extending the leave freeze, entering October, it will be the third month. If you consider some of them need to come back on weekends, this means basically it's people works a full month. How wrong is this?

You may say, "But you all get OT right?" Yeah right, but what is the use of money when you don't even have time to go for doctor if you are sick? When you have to skip your lunch almost everyday? When you are having an emotional roller coaster knowing that you have to stuck in the office while your friends missing you in a weekend getaway? Worst, I am not entitled for OT!

Now they do not have any concrete statement if the leave freeze will end soon. They don't even can tell when my team can shift to the new production system, or even if we are to use it at all. They never updates about the customer's procuring website thingy, they never update when our big partner is buying automatically, by passing us...they never update, but expect us to magically know what happen and react on it. Even if we made an intelligent decision but if doesn't fit they pathetic standard (which depends a lot on their mood), we are toasted!

Hmm....if I go on writing, maybe it can become a book series...better stop here. Need a calmer emotion so can get asleep easier.

So, dear friends, me is suffering now, so if you want to help, please recommend, a nice job and/or a nice girl....wahahaha~!

But preferably, a nice job with high salary but do nothing.