Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Bii Story主題曲"迷路"

Really like this song even if it is an old one. This is the first time I have know of this Korean guy sing Mandarin song. His chinese is sooooo good!!

Only heard of him after finding the singer for Zhong Wu Yan's theme song.
I like his voice...very soft and gentle...


Tuesday, August 24, 2010

A moment for the dead...

Shall we take a few minutes to say prayers for the 8 Hong Kong tourist hostages who was shot to death last night in the Manila hostage crisis. What was supposed to be a happy holiday ended up as tragic senseless demise for some families, just because some Filippino ex police decided to seek "justice" for his sacking the wrong way.

I dont comprehend why he thought that killing innocent people will justify his cause or gather any votes in his favor? Is that what police officers trained to protect lifes suppose to do, regardless if they are in active duties? Shooting someone to death in cold blood? Anyone should know by now that the govt will never give in to demands of terrorists or individuals who hold others in ransom. Because giving in will only set precedence and give way to others trying to emulate the stance. So why do wayward people still persists in doing things that only serve to harm themselves further, and others in the process? Are some people just so selfishly stupid to never learn from the numerous past cases?

As the gunman slumped dead out of the shattered glass door,  I watched live on TV seeing him with blood gushing out of his wound, I was trying to make some sense out of all these mess and chaos. He never got what he set out to achieve. He died for nothing. He will never be there to "prove" his innocence in his extortion charge. He will always be blamed for his guilt in killing those innocent holiday makers. I was crossing my fingers when the first 3 hostages came out alive. However when the police stopped carting out the bodies after number 4, and I saw the cop inside the bus looking downwards on the floor, it was then I knew the remaining 7 people were dead. If they were not rushing to cart out the bodies to hospital, it only meant that time wasnt an issue anymore..for the dead. My heart fell...and hopes dashed. I cannot imagine family members who were glued to the TV for updates must have felt...

The most mortifying part wasnt just watching the rescue mission nor the shooting, what chilled my heart was to actually hearing people laughing in the background when the reporters were giving a live update. Not once, but several times! I think it came from the crowd milling around the reporters. How can someone be laughing at such a moment? I was more shock by that behaviour than the gunman;s behaviour! I hope someone could track that jackasre who was laughing and give him a serious smack on the head.

Violence never solve any problems. It is reprehensible. It only sets to create more problems. No matter what the Philippine Govt says or will say to account for the incident, it is all too little, too late. The dead will never see any sunrise again.

news:%20Hong%20Kong%20criticizes%20handling%20of%20Manila%20hostage%20crisis

Zhong Wu Yan: Ep 5 Summary

Zhong Wu Yan: Episode 5 Recap.

On her first day at work, Wu Yan was immensely disliked by her peers due to her look and the fact that she was working with QiXuan. It didnt help her cause when Qixuan obviously disliked her and yelled at her to stop interfering with him at work.

During break, Wuyan noticed how wasteful everyone was with the coffee supplies, throwing away each freshly brewed pot because they didnt want to drink"old coffee". As such, she made a suggestion to one of the manager to issue coffee vouchers to staff instead to cut down waste. However, her proposal was met with much staff dissatisfaction who bear greater grudge against her nosy interference.

While the receptionist was fuming about the "stripped" free office coffee supplies, theblind guy came to look for Wu Yan. However the petty receptionist immediately denied his request saying there is no such employee. Undeterred, the blind guy started to yell for Wuyan. David walked past and heard him yelling and came to investigate. When he realised what happened, he demanded the receptionist to lead the blind guy to the waiting area and get Wuyan for him. The receptionist reluctantly led him to the room and she got hit by the blind guy who pretended it was an accident. Blaming it all on Wuyan, the 2 receptionist conspire to lock Wuyan in teh toilet cubicle and drenched her with a pail of wet water.

Qixuan passing by the toilet overheard her pleas for rescue entered the toilet. He bargained that he would let her out only if she agreed to quit and leave his home which she refused. Qixuan then told her to "repent" as she must have done something to incur everyone's hatred. As such, he left her stuck and told her to wait for the cleaners to rescue her tomorrow morning. Before he left, he left a "toilet maintenance" sign on the door. Before he left office, David asked if he wasnt gonna wait for Wuyan which Qixuan refused saying he has no reason to. david explained that it was bad enough that she is facing despise from all directions and to suffer such treatment from Qixuan, it must be hard for her being all alone in a foreign place. Qixuan said it was all her fault since she had "stolen" item belong to his late mother, and monopolising his dad attention, and is she going to steal his best friend as well? David decided to let the matter rest and sent him home.

At home, his father asked what happen to Wuyan but Xuan feigned ignorance about her whereabouts and refused to look for her. His dad asked how could he be so heartless esp when she had carried him back with much difficulties when he was drunk previously. Only realising that, Xuan immediately said he would look for her.

When he arrived at the toilet, he was shocked to see her crying and bleeding, drenched all over. Genuinely concerned, he tried to help her but she was too pissed and refused his help outright. She yelled at him for being so insensitive about the fact that she knew no one and all she could count on was his support but for him to turn on her like that was too much. When she stormed out, she bumped into the blind guy who was waiting for the cab.

The blind guy asked why was she wet and Xuan misunderstood him to be molesting Wuyan and stepped forth yelling for the blind guy to stop. They started to "argue" but Wuyan stopped them. The blind guy said he will be back since now he knows where she is. When Xuan and Wuyan left, the blind guy muttered to himself that Xuan is truly as empty headed as the rumours go.

At home, Xuan offered to help Wuyan with the bandage. He said he wasnt going to apologise but conceded that since the whole situation was conceived by his father and not her, he proposed a truce and for them to work harmoniously from now on.

The next day, David's mum gathered all the board of director for a meeting on the pretext of being concern on Xuan's progress for the proposal. Xuan headed off to the meeting with great confidence. David and Wuyan were worried as to how he will be "attacked" about his continuous inability to contact the client director- Qing Chu. Xuan naively said it wont happen and headed off. Wuyan told dave it was pointless to sit and wait and she will try to meet up with Qing Chu.

Firstly, she pretended to be courier and tricked the secretary in revealin the "schedule" for the Qing Director. She was told he will be leaving office in 15min. Next, She pretended to be a new employee scouting the office and tried to find out information from the security guard about the car. When she saw the car departing office, she ran after it to try to stop the director so that he can read their new proposal. When she managed to stop it by throwing an icecream cone, the guys within didnt want to listen to her but she quote a line she had read before, what the Qing director had once said about failure and success. - "I am not afraid of failure as it only drives me to work harder to succeed. I fear Success as it will instead hold me back pacing on the same spot." The blind guy was in the car and heard her.

The car stop and the "Qing Director" alighted and asked her one question. "Are you Zhong Wu yan?" Surprised, she acknowledge. With that, the director said he will consider working with her company. Meanwhile, although Xuan's idea was well received, Dave's mum tried to make him look bad by mocking that everything is pointless if he has yet to contact the client. Just then, Dave appeared and have Xuan report the good news that the client has agree to consider the new proposal with interest.

Back in office, Xuan shared the news with delight with Wuyan. He didnt know it was her help and thought it was Dave who had come thru for him. Dave didnt understand why Wuyan wouldnt let him tell Xuan the truth but she said she had misgivings and the whole episode is too bizarre. She confided she didnt understand why the QIng director would know her name, and agree to consider the proposal when he didnt even read it. She was mystified.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that the blind guy is the true Qing Chairman and the older man was just his uncle pretending to be the director on behalf. The uncle asked to read the new proposal but the blind guy said forget it since the empty headed Xuan will not come up with anything good. Rather, he just wanted to toy with them to punish wuyan for "abandoning" him to work for Xuan. Plus he thought she is an interesting opponent to spar with and he wanted to see what other interesting things she can come up with to deal with the situation.

The next day, the "Qing director" summon Xuan and Wuyan to his office. Explaining his intention was to have them not to report on the new proposal but rather have them "care" for his nephew who had just arrived from the countryside. He wanted them to show him around and care for him for the day. Xuan agreed.

On way, Wuyan asked Xuan why did he agree since it was alittle too unreasonable request but Xuan explained it must be terrible for a kid to be cope up in office whole day and not see the city after coming from the countryside. So he was happy to take the kid around and have fun. When they entered the room,both were shocked to see it was the blind guy!!!
I like the opening theme song but even more, I love the the ending theme song for Zhong Wu Yan, sung by Bii, a Korean artist. It's amazing to think he doesnt know a word of Mandarin 4 years ago when he went to Taiwan.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Summer's Desire: Ep 13 Review and Summary

Summer's Desire : Ep 13 Recap.

Xiaochen was hospitalised to the shock of ouchen and xiamo.

The doctor declared that even though the transplant was a success, but the other organs had already begun to shut down and now it is only a matter of time. If they are lucky, it would be 3 months at most, else....Xiamo was shocked.

Ouchen had a separate meeting and angrily demanded the doctor to do something. He was exasperated when they said there was nothing else to be done. Ouchen said how is it possible for xiaochen to die before he is even 20yrs? He then told them not to inform xiaomo of the truth for fear of shocking her, but she had already overheard them from outside.

Finally xiaochen died. Yet Xiamo didnt cry and look on. In her mind, xiaochen did not died and wanted to eat her chicken wings. She told him that she didnt cry because they cannot trick her, she knows that xiaochen is alive because god cannot take him away as god had not given xiaochen anything. Ouchen could only look on from the sides unable to do anything to console her.

Xiamo couldnt accept the death of her brother and shut herself into her own world. Ouchen tried all means to help her cope but to no avail. He called up his ex mentor Simon and apologised that he finally understood why the old man had to do what he did in the past. Looking at the zombie state of Xiamo, Ouchen said he now too will do anything just to get Xiamo back to the talking smiling state.

At the same time, Luoxi's boss went to the grave and apologised to Xiaochen for not being able to do anything. He thanked Xiaochen that he would take time to write a letter to him, explaining that he did not blame the father as he knew his mother had truly loved him. He explained that since he is dying, he could no longer hold on to his mother's last momento. A song "Diamond" which was written specially for the father.
Meanwhile Luoxi read from the papers about Xiaochen's death and started packing immediately from his retreat. Shenqiao who had tag along unsolicited saw the news and angrily muttered "Xiamo again". However before Luoxi left, she told him to let her go first since it wont feel as if he had abandon her. As he watched shenqiao leave, Luoxi thought to himself that Shenqiao will always have an important place in his heart.

Ouchen in trying to help Xiamo be "closer" to Xiaochen moved her back to her old place. Xiamo found some old conversations taping that xiaochen had made before he lost his hearing, and started to immense herself completely in the recordings ignoring everything else. Luoxi who came to visit saw the state she was in, had Ouchen aside and punched him. He yelled at Ouchen is that was the so called his way of taking good care of Xiamo? He angrily warned Ouchen that from today onwards, he will keep coming to visit Xiamo and dun Ouchen dare try to play dirty tricks to stop him. Ouchen didnt retaliate and just quietly watched from the sidelines as Luoxi also tried to pull Xiamo out of her depressive state.

One day, zhenen the manager found a script and told Ouchen that a renowned director wanted Xiamo to audition for a role. Initiatlly she had wanted to turn it down ut after reading the script, she felt that it was a tailor made role for xiamo! Ouchen read it and said he will consider. Luoxi who overheard however kicked up a stinker demanding that Xiamo is not in the state or frame of mind to enter the show biz right now. Ouchen contested what if through acting, it could help Xiamo through the pain and through renacting, to become some form of therapy for her? Luoxi rejected the idea saying that she is not some experimential object to go through such trial method. Zhenen interrupted saying the story however really fit Xiamo very well.
She went on to describe the plot, about a couple who was very much in love. The guy is xiaochen a painter but he died and the female character was devasted. Hearing Zhenen, Xiamo showed some reaction and walked to the door surprising everyone. Ouchen urged zhenen to continue, triggering more response from xiamo.

The audition day came. Xiamo did the scene with so much conviction. Ironically, the lines in the script were exactly the same lines tat Xiamo had with her dead brother before he passed away. She didnt believe he was dead. And in her mind, xiaochen said to her he will never leave her. They will always be together. Xiamo muttered to herself that god is fair, he will only take away something from you if he gave you something, however he has not given Xiaochen anything, so he wont take xiaochen away. Everyone present was so moved by Xiamo's emotional scene and the director offered her the role on the spot. Ouchen who was supporting a collapsed Xiamo asked her, if she is willing to accept the role and she nodded.

While taking Xiamo out, pannan and zhenen came to visit xiamo. Ouchen walked away to leave them to talk, not before leaving the script with underlined lines for Xiamo. Zhenen told a zombie xiamo that luoxi is even willing to break his "nonacting break and resume acting for her sake in this movie. As pannan and zhenen were discussing about ouchen';s possible reaction to see luoxi and xiamo acting together intimately, Ouchen was plesantly surprised to see xiamo taking iniative to read the script.

At the shooting scene, Ouchen was relieved to see xiamo becoming"normal" and reactive again. Luoxi later at the bar, told pannan that he used to want to erase xiamo from his memory and wished he never met her, yet now, he would be relieved and happy just to see xiamo willing to eat and smile. All Luoxi wants now is not to fight for Xiamo to be his only, but rather he just want her to be happy. Pannan said he has changed.

At home, when Ouchen was preparing some of xiaochen's drawing for the film, he accidentally came across a letter addressed to his sister xiamo. Ouchen opened the letter and read it...

The next day, Ouchen told zhenen to asked luoxi over as he has something to say to him. Zhenen panicked and said luoxi and xiamo are only acting initmate for the show, is ouchen gonna bashed luoxi? Ouchen said no. He has something else to say to luoxi...

Afterthought

I really like Ouchen more and more....as for Luoxi, so long he will stop persisting his longing for someone else's wife and blaming everyone else, he will be more likeable. I am glad he finally realise he was the fool who gave up Xiamo due to his own insecurity as Ouchen rightly told him off previously.

Friday, August 20, 2010

K-Drama: My girlfren is a Gumiho

If you haven jumped onto the wagon in watching "My girlfriend is a Gumiho", perhaps its about time to realise you are missing out on something!
(credit source: SBS website)

I have got started on this immediately I got back (after watching Hotaru) and plus with good urging from fellow drama comrade Nimy, I have to say you really shouldnt pass this up.

The reason I had wanted to watch was because I like Seunggi. However after watching, i think the whole plot definitely has the potential to bring further good laughs on weekday night. It's original  in the sense that they transform a folklore into "reality" and have the nine tail fox experience the everyday norm of our lives in a different eye. Seunggi is really funny here. I love his varied expressive looks, and I sincerely think he is even better here than Brillant Legacy! Maybe his stint with 2 days 1 nites have done him good, opening him up and more communicative with his expressions. I like the subtle undertones of some of the lines too. if it wasnt unexpectedly good, it would have bordered on cheesy but it hasnt! Plus the scene where Seunggi was having his hair permed, I was laughing so hard because it reminded me of one episode in 2day 1 night where Ho Dong was making fun and taunting Seunggi - "Seunggi! You dun think well unless your hair is perm?" Hahaha!!

It's funny to see how the 9-tailed fox "threatened" to eat him and have seunggi's character sweating and squirming away...I laughed so hard everytime he cower in fear! Hahahahaha! I love the chemistry!!! Oh not to mention the Fox Hunter is quite a hottie in various angle. Ok, not so hot when he was dressed in the period costume but in modern days gear, OooooLala!!! It has to be the hair. Why am i falling for all the Korean men who are a little androgynous looking but with a hot bod?
(Credit source: SBS website)

Enough said, here is a short MV, which basically condensed the whole episode 1 into a 3min highlights to get you going:) All I can say for now, Go Hurry! Grab a seat before the couch! What are u waiting for? LOL

PS: Found the link for the song here. (credit)

1. Video MV (condensation of ep 1)


2. Drama Teaser