Ne me quitte pas

Have you seen the mukhsin ad they run on local tv? Heard the french that plays in the end? Well, I happen to like it without bothering to understand it. The song's called 'ne me quitte pas' and that was the version sang by nina simone surprisingly coz it the voice in the song was very manly.

The add. maths project we have to do for SPM is just bloody pathetic. It is just a bunch of repeating crap on calculating lengths, widths and areas of sheep pens ! I don' think farmers would be using graphs or differentiation to determine measurements for their pens. Then again, 3/4 of the stuff learn in add maths doesn't seem related at all to daily life. Imagine using progressions to like find out how much fruit you'll eat next. What crap am I talking about.

Exam marks have so far been OK. No failures so far. It was a definite pass for moral =) and well i got 66 for my first accounts paper ever. All my science subjects are in the 60-65 range. At least, my parents won't get called for an exclusive parent-teacher meet.

I can't wait to catch these two movies in the cinema.

1. Pan's Labyrinth --> why must crappy m'sia make it 18PL =(

2. An Inconvenient Truth --> Al Gore global warming documentary seen by Brandon to contain elements of political propaganda

I'm supposed to go for the PBSM-Scouts camp in school over the weekends but i've been excused. All thanks to Qing Ming on Sunday. Looks like its gonna be fun though. On a brighter side, it means that i'll be able to attend the edu uk expo in klcc convention centre on saturday.

-adios-

Let's Start Over

I can't believe I haven't blogged once this whole week. The holidays come but my blog isn't updated. At least I am now .. at the very end of a one week holiday. Truthfully, it's been a very unproductive holiday.

Not much work done nor did I manage to collect any cash like I did during chinese new year. I have to admit that this one-week holiday was already kind of filled even before it started. Add. maths project, moral essays, ICT projects, choir practice, arrangement of the school library. I have barely done any work and I just finished my ICT stuff a while ago. It's due tomorrow or 30 marks will be gone from my exam marks. I couldn't do any of the add. maths stuff so nothing could be done about that.

When it comes to moral, I keep telling myself that I can write one damn essay in an hour but everytime I think of doing it, I'll end up doing something else. Just hate moral. From the subject, to the exams and down to that stupid doraemon teaching. God knows if she failed me in moral again.

However, I did go out a few times this week. Went for the University of London thing in mandarin oriental last sunday. Went to school on monday and times square after that. Managed to even watch the ex-form 5s scream happily over their SPM results. I went to times square again on wednesday since my sis was going. Bought some books in borders and watched a movie! Hate the lala people there though.

You wouldn't believe me but I actually watched Mukhsin. I don't care whether its a Malay film but people said its nice and they even won that award in the Berlinale. I would recommend everyone out there who preferably is malaysian to watch it.

Being true to its tagline "everyone has a first love story to tell", it tells of the not so puppy love that blossoms between 12-year old Mukhsin and 10-year old Orked. The character of Orked appears yet again in this Yasmin Ahmad production for the last time but going back into her childhood love. No gangsters, no pirated VCD peddlers, just pure childhood cinta sejati.

On an interesting note, Orked being a Malay girl happens to study in a Chinese school. Another common touch there by Yasmin Ahmad which more or less represents an image of multi-racial Malaysia. Orked being Chinese educated still speaks very fluent English and BM having a English educated mum and a malay speaking dad. There was also a comback of Ng Chee Siong as Jason in Sepet in one of the scenes.

Minus the lovey-doviness (if that's how u spell it), the movie also includes a few comedic scenes which coincide with the malaysian way of life. This movie uniquely slips in other elements not entirely related to the main theme without making it too obvious. In my opinion, Yasmin Ahmad and crew made an excellent choice of filming in Sekinchan, Kuala Selangor with its vast green paddy fields as well as blue skies. It would without doubt enthrall audiences particularly those overseas.

Indeed this movie is heart wrenching not in a 'a walk to remember' way but still worth a tear parrticularly towards the end where Mukhsin tries to hold back his tears in the midst of trying to make Orked speak to him before he left. You cannot help but feel sad for such a character rough and innocent but yet so compassionate.

I wouldn't mind making every malaysian watch mukhsin but then where is the freedom of choice. Go watch it but try avoiding times square for you will 100% be watching the movie in a hall filled with jakun malays. Try mid valley or klcc.

Berlinale jury’s citation: “A wonderful, almost magical atmosphere, enhanced by a striking soundtrack, poetic images of the closeness of a family and community. Witty script combined with well-rounded and humorous characters. All this in a story of a friendship that dared not cross into love, and a love for which friendship is no longer enough.”

Overall Rating : 4.5/5

On Screen Success

Exam terror is around the corner again. More studying and late nights to come for me indeed. Considering its our third last school term exam ever maybe there is some delight to it after all. Another term exam, the trials and *poof* it became koko crunch SPM comes. 3 alphabets to strike fear in the eyes of every form 5 in the country.

Time does pass fast considering it's already the 3rd month of the year giving us only another 8 months or so to literally prep ourselves up for SPM. It seemed barely yesterday that I came back from spain and started school again. Wish me luck for everything that's coming up.

Something weird, funny and maybe inspirational took place for 5L-ians last week. Gnerally, leong collects our diaries every month or so for her checking pleasure I guess. This time around it all came back with angpau's in it. My first impression was like she must have striked the lottery for this sudden surprise but it was still chinese new year. Still she wasn't married. It turns out that every angpau contained some sort of advice/message personally from her mind and soul. Guess what I got ..

"Brandon, i only find out that u'r very cute in this year =) U'r a smart boy, i hope u'll get straight A in SPM. Wish u've a good year .. "

Confusing as it may be, it looks like a whole mix-up of insults, encouragement and praise. I mean what's with - 'very cute this year'. Seems so wrong. Clearly she doesn't know me well based on the message which is very vivid. Mind you that all the grammatical mistakes ie. find as well as the smileys are as written on that piece of paper.

Moving on, both my mum and step-dad are finally in beirut, lebanon. My mum left madrid on the 1st sadly but I have yet to hear from her since she called from the airport. Hopefully she hasn't been gunned down. Haha

Believe it or not, I actually spent 4 hours of my life watching the Oscars last week. Wonderful show overall with ellen degeneres being one of the most entertaining yet spontaneous hosts i've seen. Wasn't truly happy with some of the winners but it wasn't as bad as last year's.

Here's a rundown of the main award recipients ..

Best Motion Picture - The Departed

Frankly, I found this movie really boring. I feel asleep watching it on the bus trip to pangkor last year. I know its the remake of internal affairs but I think we asians make better kick ass movies related to triads. I think less talk and more action's the key. Maybe i'll have to rewatch this dreadful movie. Even Babel or The Queen deserved this award better.

Best Lead Actor - Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland)

Haven't heard much about this guy but I guess his acting must be good which also means his movie is a must watch. Still downloading on my comp. The only skill I can think of from him is speaking with a almost pure african accent throughout the movie. Try it if you think it's easy. He played the character of Adi Amin, a Ugandan dictator. He has a really hot wife. =)

Best Lead Actress - Helen Mirren (The Queen)

She has won every single award she was nominated in this year for her interesting yet controversial role as Queen Elizabeth II. She just suits the character 100% coz i dun think i can find another actress who looks like the real queen so much with or without make up. I've watched half the movie and she totally emulated every aspect Queen Elizabeth has to offer. Sadly Penelope Cruz didn't win for Volver.

Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine)

This came as a big surprise since he was up against actors like Eddie Murphy and Mark Wahlberg. Played the drug addicted, fowl mouthed grandfather in Little Miss Sunshine which to me is one really amusing movie to watch. I still remember him telling his 16 year old mute grandson to "fuck all the women you want". I'm serious ..

Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)

Many may still remember her from her American Idol days but I didn't till someone told me. She is like the newest thing Simon and gang can probably boast about. I wanna watch Dreamgirls before the cinemas stop showing it here. There's Beyonce in it too. Pretty great achievement for her since dreamgirls is like the first production she's ever been in.

I was unhappy over the fact that Volver didn't grab the award for best foreign language film. Pedro Almodovar is such a great director. At least Inconvenient Truth won best documentary. Hope I do well in my exams ...

-adios y hasta luego-