Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Went to watch the final instalment of the Harry Potter movie franchise just now. I have been afraid of how sad I will be when it's all over, and indeed am very sad, even though I finished watching the movie smiling with tears.
It was wonderful, despite what ys might say. Perhaps to him this is merely another one of the many movies that he has watched, but to me it has a very special meaning. It is personal. Perhaps I am clouded by my love for the book, but I really do think that the crew have done their best to do justice to the book.
Well, the 3D glasses kept sliding off my nose (I finally understood that commercial for contact lenses!), it was highly annoying and disturbing. I want to watch the movie again, in 2D to better appreciate the plot, and maybe alone. I want to remain in the theatre as credits roll and immerse myself in "Hedwig's theme"...
I definitely recommend watching the movie in 3D. The Dementors at the beginning of the movie seem so real. And the ride at Gringotts reminds me horribly of the rides I took at USS. :P
**SPOILER ALERT**
I love how the movie started with the grave of Dobby. And how Snape stared broodingly as students marched into Hogwarts, a lone figure on a high tower. I paid extra attention when Harry spoke with Ollivander, for I have read reviews that raved about John Hurt's performance, but I failed to see what's the hype. Maybe it's too 内敛 for me. I felt it was a pity they didn't have time to develop Dumbledore's story. Dumbledore's guilt, his pain, his desire to see his family reunited, they made it so painful for me to read the cave scene. I cried when Mrs Weasley hugged Ron as he cried over Fred; at the sight of Lupin and Tonks' bodies, their hands finally holding each other (I'm not sure about this, cos it appeared to me their hands were not in contact, but I'd like to think that they are). The whole thing just feels like this epic tragedy.
My favourite part of the movie is, of course, Snape dying in the Shrieking Shack. Not that I want him to die, of course, but his final words, asking Harry to look at him, saying he has his mother's eyes (I'm glad they used the lines from the book, they're brilliantly written), are just so heart-wrenching. Then Harry poured the memories (I don't know why he collected Snape's tears. Maybe it looked more romantic?) into the Pensieve (I noticed they changed the Pensieve to a mobile washing-basin-like thingy), and I know Snape's tragic tale is going to unfold. The young Lily and Severus are so adorable. However I think the film transitioned from the two of them being friends to adulthood too fast. It should have included Severus calling Lily 'Mudblood'. That was a turning point. Severus regretted that and my heart never failed to ache when I read that part. But Alan Rickman was so, so wonderful. His acting was so convincing I could totally feel Snape's desperation when he pleaded with Dumbledore to save Lily, feel his pain as he hugged Lily's body. He might not have been a good man, but to do good things against your usual nature out of your love for someone, I think, takes greater courage.
19 years later... Of course it was corny, all n years later scenes are. The young Albus Severus Potter was adorable, and again, I'm glad they used lines from the book when Harry reassured his son about sorting. I love the scarlet Hogwarts Express, I love platform nine-and-three-quarters, I love how they used the same music as they did in the last scene also with the train in "The Sorcerer's Stone" ("Leaving Hogwarts"), and most of all, it was most apt to end with "Hedwig's Theme".
It was wonderful, despite what ys might say. Perhaps to him this is merely another one of the many movies that he has watched, but to me it has a very special meaning. It is personal. Perhaps I am clouded by my love for the book, but I really do think that the crew have done their best to do justice to the book.
Well, the 3D glasses kept sliding off my nose (I finally understood that commercial for contact lenses!), it was highly annoying and disturbing. I want to watch the movie again, in 2D to better appreciate the plot, and maybe alone. I want to remain in the theatre as credits roll and immerse myself in "Hedwig's theme"...
I definitely recommend watching the movie in 3D. The Dementors at the beginning of the movie seem so real. And the ride at Gringotts reminds me horribly of the rides I took at USS. :P
**SPOILER ALERT**
I love how the movie started with the grave of Dobby. And how Snape stared broodingly as students marched into Hogwarts, a lone figure on a high tower. I paid extra attention when Harry spoke with Ollivander, for I have read reviews that raved about John Hurt's performance, but I failed to see what's the hype. Maybe it's too 内敛 for me. I felt it was a pity they didn't have time to develop Dumbledore's story. Dumbledore's guilt, his pain, his desire to see his family reunited, they made it so painful for me to read the cave scene. I cried when Mrs Weasley hugged Ron as he cried over Fred; at the sight of Lupin and Tonks' bodies, their hands finally holding each other (I'm not sure about this, cos it appeared to me their hands were not in contact, but I'd like to think that they are). The whole thing just feels like this epic tragedy.
My favourite part of the movie is, of course, Snape dying in the Shrieking Shack. Not that I want him to die, of course, but his final words, asking Harry to look at him, saying he has his mother's eyes (I'm glad they used the lines from the book, they're brilliantly written), are just so heart-wrenching. Then Harry poured the memories (I don't know why he collected Snape's tears. Maybe it looked more romantic?) into the Pensieve (I noticed they changed the Pensieve to a mobile washing-basin-like thingy), and I know Snape's tragic tale is going to unfold. The young Lily and Severus are so adorable. However I think the film transitioned from the two of them being friends to adulthood too fast. It should have included Severus calling Lily 'Mudblood'. That was a turning point. Severus regretted that and my heart never failed to ache when I read that part. But Alan Rickman was so, so wonderful. His acting was so convincing I could totally feel Snape's desperation when he pleaded with Dumbledore to save Lily, feel his pain as he hugged Lily's body. He might not have been a good man, but to do good things against your usual nature out of your love for someone, I think, takes greater courage.
19 years later... Of course it was corny, all n years later scenes are. The young Albus Severus Potter was adorable, and again, I'm glad they used lines from the book when Harry reassured his son about sorting. I love the scarlet Hogwarts Express, I love platform nine-and-three-quarters, I love how they used the same music as they did in the last scene also with the train in "The Sorcerer's Stone" ("Leaving Hogwarts"), and most of all, it was most apt to end with "Hedwig's Theme".
Monday, July 25, 2011
Universal Studio Singapore
I went to Universal Studios Singapore with HF and TH today. Gosh I still feel dizzy from the rides. The concept is very similar to Disneyland, I guess, with mascots, rides, 4D movies and interactive performances. We went on a Monday, but it was still awfully crowded. Should be feeling happy for Singapore's economy, I guess, but the queues were crazy (45 minute wait for a 5-minute ride?), and the tourists (esp those from certain countries) are downright annoying, cutting queues everywhere, taking up the center block of seats despite the emcee's repeated prompting and using flash photography in a dark room. Maybe the park will be more enjoyable if it wasn't so crowded. And hot. I also feel that the staff could do with a little more enthusiasm. I mean, some of them sounded like they were reading off scripts. (Which they were, I suppose, but must it be so obvious?)
We had arranged to meet at VivoCity at 9.45am as USS opens at 10, but due to an unforeseen fire drill the entrance from the MRT station was closed. After making a roundabout we managed to enter via another entrance. It's really cool to walk inside an empty shopping mall. :D
Upon arriving at USS, the first ride that we took was "Madagascar: A Crate Adventure". It was pretty unexciting, though the animals were cute. Next, in Far Far Away (hah), we took the "Enchanted Airways", which is a short roller-coaster ride that I was totally unprepared for and ended up screaming alongside TH. Luckily it didn't last very long. By then, people were starting to head for lunch, and we queued for "Donkey LIVE", in which a computer-generated Donkey talkedwith the audience, much like Stitch in Disneyland. Started feeling hungry then, so we searched around for food. Naturally the price was exorbitant, and we settled for "Fossil Fuels" (hah doesn't it sound like we're eating crude oil).
After lunch, we joined the quque once again for "Shrek 4-D Adventure". The chairs shook a bit, but after the horrifying "Enchanted Airways" earlier, I felt rather at ease. No, it was the "Revenge of the Mummy" at Ancient Egypt that broke me. It is an indoor ride, much like the Space Station one in Disneyland. (That one was a nightmare too.) TH was pretty spooked out by the mummy jumping out, but it's the motion that got to me. The feeling of ascending, coming to a halt, and plunging, taking with it my guts and what-not, is one that I do not foresee myself wishing to experience again in the near future, which is why I did not join HF on the "Battlestar Galactica" later. I don't care what people say, but it's just freakin' scary. You feel like screaming but you can't quite find your voice; yet there is nothing you can do except to close your eyes and scream. Gosh I still shudder when I recall the ride.
Rounding back to the Lost World, we finally got to try the "Canopy Flyer" after queueing for an hour. It didn't look like much when I was walking beneath those people, but it was scary. I screamed a lot and some bad language came out (sorry TH :P). And then it ended and I was sitting there, shaken and exhausted, when the kid in the next car returned smiling... Brave kiddo.
This is beginning to sound like a list of what I did... Ok I shall just summarise what's left,since the fear portion is largely over. haha... Next we did "Accelerator" (which was kind of no kick), "Lights, Camera, Action!" (really cool!) and "Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure". The rapids ride was ok; dinosaurs roared occasionally from both banks, the waters got a bit turbulent at times. Towards the end we entered a dark tunnel, which I knew for sure was a bad sign. It was so dark you can barely see your fingers, it was so oppressive. And then we ascended vertically and there was this T-Rex with jaws wide open above us. But I wasn't afraid of the T-Rex, I was dreading what I knew was imminent. Sure enough, the gates behind us opened and we were plunging, my back facing the open air. I was so scared I wasn't thinking properly, and I screamed, and only when I had swallowed mouthfuls of water did it occur to me to shut my stupid mouth. So we emerged, looking foolishly wet.
We met the 'Pharaoh' in Ancient Egypt and took photos with him. *smiles at muscles* Just as we were nearing the exit and I was feeling abit sad and unfulfilled, we saw Frankenstein. The guy (I should think it's a guy) inside is really interesting and came up with all sorts of interesting poses. I can't really explain it, but he feels warmer than other mascots. Maybe it's because he's Frankenstein, who is sort of a tragic figure, or maybe because he pretended to strangle me (hah), or simply because he waved to people on his way back. Whatever the reason, Frankenstein left a warm fuzzy feeling in me... :) (I'd imagine that's how drinking Butterbeer will feel like.)
We had arranged to meet at VivoCity at 9.45am as USS opens at 10, but due to an unforeseen fire drill the entrance from the MRT station was closed. After making a roundabout we managed to enter via another entrance. It's really cool to walk inside an empty shopping mall. :D
After lunch, we joined the quque once again for "Shrek 4-D Adventure". The chairs shook a bit, but after the horrifying "Enchanted Airways" earlier, I felt rather at ease. No, it was the "Revenge of the Mummy" at Ancient Egypt that broke me. It is an indoor ride, much like the Space Station one in Disneyland. (That one was a nightmare too.) TH was pretty spooked out by the mummy jumping out, but it's the motion that got to me. The feeling of ascending, coming to a halt, and plunging, taking with it my guts and what-not, is one that I do not foresee myself wishing to experience again in the near future, which is why I did not join HF on the "Battlestar Galactica" later. I don't care what people say, but it's just freakin' scary. You feel like screaming but you can't quite find your voice; yet there is nothing you can do except to close your eyes and scream. Gosh I still shudder when I recall the ride.
Rounding back to the Lost World, we finally got to try the "Canopy Flyer" after queueing for an hour. It didn't look like much when I was walking beneath those people, but it was scary. I screamed a lot and some bad language came out (sorry TH :P). And then it ended and I was sitting there, shaken and exhausted, when the kid in the next car returned smiling... Brave kiddo.
This is beginning to sound like a list of what I did... Ok I shall just summarise what's left,since the fear portion is largely over. haha... Next we did "Accelerator" (which was kind of no kick), "Lights, Camera, Action!" (really cool!) and "Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure". The rapids ride was ok; dinosaurs roared occasionally from both banks, the waters got a bit turbulent at times. Towards the end we entered a dark tunnel, which I knew for sure was a bad sign. It was so dark you can barely see your fingers, it was so oppressive. And then we ascended vertically and there was this T-Rex with jaws wide open above us. But I wasn't afraid of the T-Rex, I was dreading what I knew was imminent. Sure enough, the gates behind us opened and we were plunging, my back facing the open air. I was so scared I wasn't thinking properly, and I screamed, and only when I had swallowed mouthfuls of water did it occur to me to shut my stupid mouth. So we emerged, looking foolishly wet.
We met the 'Pharaoh' in Ancient Egypt and took photos with him. *smiles at muscles* Just as we were nearing the exit and I was feeling abit sad and unfulfilled, we saw Frankenstein. The guy (I should think it's a guy) inside is really interesting and came up with all sorts of interesting poses. I can't really explain it, but he feels warmer than other mascots. Maybe it's because he's Frankenstein, who is sort of a tragic figure, or maybe because he pretended to strangle me (hah), or simply because he waved to people on his way back. Whatever the reason, Frankenstein left a warm fuzzy feeling in me... :) (I'd imagine that's how drinking Butterbeer will feel like.)
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| Look at those soles! lol |
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Building a grocery store (model)
Bought this model of a grocery store at Taiwan and decided to make it for my sister's birthday. I was taken aback by the difficulty of it though. Yah, my arts sucks, but working with miniature stuff is just crazy.
So here's the cover of the packaging:
And the back showing the contents:
It comes with an instruction manual too:
The various parts:
Building the crate. I hate the smell of the glue.
One part down. I hadn't expected the price labels to be so small. Had to use double-sided tape in the end because the glue didn't stick very well...
Making the sack of yellow what-nots:
Done! Don't think I did it correctly though...
Wooden planks for the shelf:
Materials to make jars of tea leaves (the body is actually plastic tubing):
Tying the golden wire around a malleable 1-cm plastic tubing with that small piece of cloth is enough to drive anyone crazy... Seriously.
Candy jars:
This is supposed to be preserved fruit... xD
Materials for the blackboard:
Blackboard. Didn't have pen with white ink... And they didn't provide chalk!
A small piece of wood and a strip of black paper...
And you get a blackboard duster!
Materials for weighing scale:
Materials for hawthorn string:
Materials for the top of the shop:
The finished product!!! Not very stable because the glue isn't very sticky...haha... Don't know how to keep out the dust tho... :P
So here's the cover of the packaging:
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
After the previous disastrous attempt at baking fruit tarts, I decided to go back to what I am more comfortable with, to rebuild my confidence, i.e. egg tarts.
I don't know how to modify the recipe; it always gives me more filling than crust.
I'm finally going to watch HP7 part 2 next week!!! Can't wait!!!
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| Baked on 15th July, so TH can try them the next day ^^ |
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| And another batch yesterday. I pre-baked the crust this time round so that the bottom would not be soggy. |
I don't know how to modify the recipe; it always gives me more filling than crust.
I'm finally going to watch HP7 part 2 next week!!! Can't wait!!!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
My first time making fruit tarts shall also be my last. What a complete disaster.
1) There were clumps in the custard.
2) The custard was waaay too sweet. And watery.
3) The tart was super hard. Kind of like Hagrid's rock cake, I guess.
4) I failed to make the apricot glaze miserably. It was liquid when it boiled but clumpy after it cooled a little.
No more tarts for me.
1) There were clumps in the custard.
2) The custard was waaay too sweet. And watery.
3) The tart was super hard. Kind of like Hagrid's rock cake, I guess.
4) I failed to make the apricot glaze miserably. It was liquid when it boiled but clumpy after it cooled a little.
No more tarts for me.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Intriguing picture
Saw this picture in this video by JW Griffiths. Dunno where the director found those 2 people, but they are really beautiful ^^
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