April Movie Pick_ Rio

From the creators of Ice age, set in the magnificent city of Rio de Janeiro and the lush rain forest of Brazil, the comedy-adventure centre on Blu, a rare macaw who thinks he is the last of his kind.

When Blu discovers there's another - and that she's a she - he leaves the comfort of his cage in small town in Minnesota and head down to Rio.

But it's far from love at the first sight between the domesticated and flight-challenged Blu and the fiercely independent, high-flying female, Jewel. Unexpectedly thrown together, they embarked on an adventure of a lifetime, where they learn about friendship, love, courage and being open to life filled with wonders and most importantly, knowing how to fly.

Rio - the movie, brings together a menagerie of vivid characters, a heart-warming story, colourful backdrops, energizing Latin and Brazil contemporary music and wonderful dance moves.

A movie not to be missed!

Personal Rating:

3.9 out of 5.

Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Leslie Mann

Director: Carlos Saldanha

Genre: Animation

Language: English

Date of Release: April 7, 2011

Running Time:96 minutes

April Music Pick_It's Time by Stefanie Sun

Four years since her last album in 2007, Against The Light, It's Time Stefanie Sun makes her long-awaited return to the pop scene! With a different hairstyle that witness by her fans which the singer, herself, had highlighted the "freedom" to do her music she desires.

This time, the beloved singer from Singapore is fully involved in the music production as well as the planning of her 11th album since last debut with EMI _Capitol Music.

Titled "It's Time, this album's first plug "Telling the World the Words from My Heart" is an epic-sounding number unlike any of the pop diva's previous works, expressing her heart and soul after laying low for the last four years.

With her magnetic voice, Stefanie also works wonder on the other new songs such as the heartwarming ballad "When the Wintry Night Gets Warm".

Title: It's Time

Artiste: Stefanie Sun Music

Publisher: Make Music & Wonderful Music

Date of Release: March 11, 2011

Playlist:

01. 世說心語

02. 追

03. 當冬夜漸暖

04. 時光小偷

05. 空口言

06. 明天的記憶

07. 180度

08. 快瘋了

09. 愚人的國度

10. 是時候

*The songs highlighted in Bold are recommended tracks!

Personal Rating: 4 out 5

This album has a number of great tracks worth recommending, I will not be surprised if this is given the title "Top 5 albums of the Year 2011."

April Movie Pick_ Natali 3D

Starring Sung Jae Lee, Hyunjin Park, Jihoon Kim featuring in 3D, rated as the first 3D Erotica In Asia, R21 movie, critically acclaimed for its breathtaking beauty, the famous sculpture "Natali" is now back for the public to view at maestro sculptor Jonnhyunk Hwang's private exhibition, after being covered in veil for a decade.

The original model remains anonymous until the final day of the show when Joonhyuk tells art critic Minwoo Jang of his memories of passionate love with Natali's actual model, Miran Oh. However, Minwoo claims she was in love with him. Crossing memories of Joonhyuk and Minwoo surrounding Miran, as well as secrets revolving "Natali" start to unfold...

A romantic, sad story featuring in 3D.

Main Cast: SungJae Lee, hyunjin Park, Jihoon Kim

Director: Kyungjoong Joo

Genre: Romance

Language: Korean

Release Date: 31 March 2011

Do note: This movie is rated R21- Nudity and contain sexual scenes

April Movie Pick_ Let the Bullets Fly

Watching a movie is a luxury. Back in the early days, often, I watched movies in a group of 4 at least, yet often, we will go by the majority of the group of the final movie selection. Thus, it does bring some disappointment. Probably maybe, there are a couple of moments when you would like to watch a movie yet the rest are not interested, so what is the move?

Watch it alone.

Well, unless I wanted to watch it badly, I will enter the movie theatre and buy a single ticket, a coca cola and enjoy the rest of the movie on my own. It used to be such lonesome feeling, but, once you get used to such moments, it is a freedom. But this time round, this movie that I will be introducing was brought to my attention by a friend of mine with surprises.

Cast starring like Chow Yun Fat, Carina Lau, Ge You, Jiang Wen, the movie set in China during the warring 1920, notorious bandit chief Zhang (Jiang Wen) descends upon a remote provincial town posing as its new mayor, an identity that he had hijacked from Old Tang (Ge You) and his wife (Carina Lau) , himself, a small-time imposter.

Hell-bent on making a fast buck, Zhang soon meet his match in the tyrannical local gentry Huang Si Liang (Chow Yun Fat) as a deadly battle of wit and brutality ensues.

With no strong promotion in Singapore but something to highlight, this movie has hit the box- office in China with remarkable record-breaking of 7 Billion dollars. Let the Bullets Fly, a movie packed with laughter, and unexpected twists.

Personal Rating:

3.6 out of 5

Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Carina Lau, Ge You, Jiang Wen

Genre: Action/ Adventure

Language: Mandarin

Release Date: 31 March 2011

Running Time: 132 Minutes

The Courage Dairy - Episode 2

I was feeling weak when i heard my name is called " Jeffrey Lim" announced by one of the operation theatre staff. It was followed by " The operation is over" heard over my ears. At that moment, I was unable to move, too weak to even open my eyes. But I knew the nurses are pushing my bed from the major operation theatre to the ward. As the bed was moved to the high dependency ward (ICU unit), on the way along the corridor, my eyes were starring at me. In my heart, I knew how ugly I might look ... But I was mentally prepared as I knew the effects on my face as my surgeon (Dr Lye) did mention to me. The clock reflected is 5.15pm. It was rather a long operation, around 6 - 7.5 hours long. The back of my head was rather painful. I requested a nurse to move my head to the over side of the bed as the pain was unbearable. At the high dependency ward, it was like a war zone after the quake, nurses were busy monitoring the patients condition especially the elder patients who is next to me was depending on a tube to breathe. I was feeling rather sleepy after the operation. Closing my eyes to rest as I was also unable to move from the advice of the nurse who was checking my condition to ensure I was feeling all right. I can't talk, only murmured my words...even for a cup of water. Even when I realise that water was on the table near my bed, the time reflected on the clock is 7.05pm... My sisters who had just finish with their work was at the hopsital to visit me hours later. I was requesting for water as I was feeling rather thirsty. I was a long night. The only thing I can do is rest. Though I was eager to look at the mirror yet, I know, I can only do so probably when I discharge from SGH.

March Movie Picks_Rango

Whenever I am lost in the next step to take in life or need inspiration at a moment of my life, watching a movie does help. Whether you have a partner or friend to watch it with you, or the seat next to you is empty, it does not matter. Most importantly, I can have the luxury to choose the settings I wanted.

This week, my pick is Rango.

From the director of "The Pirates of the Caribbean" comes Rango, featuring Johnny Depp in an original animated comedy-adventure that take moviegoers for a hilarious and heartfelt walk in the Wild West.

The story follows the comical, transformative journey of Rango (by Johnny Depp), a sheltered lizard living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can he aim when his whole purpose in life is to blend in?

When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt - a lawless outpost populated by the desert's most wily and whimsical creatures - the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new to the hilt. Until, in a blaze of action-packed situations and encounters with outrageous characters, Rango starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be.


With a cast that include Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Night, Harry Dean stanton, Ray Winstone, and Timothy Olyphant as the Spirit of the West, Rango is an exciting new twist on the classic Western legend of the outsider who saves a town and himself in the process of knowing his real purpose and identity in life.

Personal Opinion:
This is the fourth movie for the month of March, love it because it does highlight the importance of having fresh water and we need to conserve our water supply which many people at the other parts of the world faces such problem of lacking of water.

Though it was a serious issue, yet, it was presented in an animated and colurful way with 4 little owls singing at different turning points of the story, a good way to draw attention and educate viewers.

Definitely, a 4 out of 5.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation
Language: English
Main Cast: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Staton, Ray Winstone, Timothy Olyphant
Running Time: 107 Minutes

March Movie Picks_Big Mommas

Big Momma is back, starring Martin Lawrence as FBI agent, Malcolm Turner and as Turners deep-cover alter-ego "Big Momma." But this time, Turner is joined by his teenage stepson, Trent, as they go undercover at an all-girls performing arts schools after Trent Turner has witness a murder. Posing as the Big Momma and as Hefty coed Charmaine, they must find the murder before he finds them.

The success of the first two "Big Momma" films led to this third offering, but Martin Lawrence, David T. Friendly (Producer), John Whitesell (Director) and screenwriter, Matthew Fogel wanted the new film to reinvent the franchise, and not merely continue a successful formula. In doing so, they opened the film up to an audience largely untapped in the first two films: teens. Essentially, as Friendly notes, " we're starting over and making something that is not a shadow of the first two films."

The film is set in equally surprising setting: an all girls' high school, and several music and dance sequences feature not only Lawrence and Jackson, but also a talented ensemble of bright young stars.

Watch it! You will love it!

Personal Rating:
3.5 out of 5




Cast: Martin Lawrence, Brandon T. Jackson, Jessica Lucas


Release Date: 10 March 2011


Genre: Comedy, Action


Running Time: 108 Minutes