Movies for the weekend

Finally I get to watch the full version of the Original Conan series. 1. Conan the Barbarian. 2. Conan the Destroyer.

Just bought it at a discounted price of SD23.80.

As a kid, during the VCR age, I have video taped the Conan series from then RTM2 and watched over and over again until the tape is spoilt.

But I never had a chance to watch the full version with all the Blood and Gore + Sexy scenes due to the censorship. For example, the original Conan the Barbarian was 2hr 11min, but the one I remembered taping was just over 1.5hr. RTM showed it in a 2hr slot with loads of commercials.

Really looking forward this weekend.

Got the Transformers 2 disc special also since it is on 30% at Borders. I have watched 4 times in the Cinema, frankly speaking already a bit bored, but will bring back to KL for my family to test their new LCD TV.

Well, I sure will spend some time to play frame by frame some of the transforming sequence.

10" Joe Led Teddy Trooper by Adfunture

This Baby just courier in from Shanghai yesterday. The Teddy Trooper figure is design by Eddi of Adfunture and the Art is by Joe Ledbetter.

I really love this guy. The color combination is one of my favorite. He is 2 inch taller than my 8 inch dunnies, and a Giant among my 3 inch dunnies.

Lust, Caution 色 戒

Went to the city to watch the full version today. After reading and hearing many review about this controversial movie, must watch it my self.

Below is my opinion, the plot of setting up assassination by a bunch of drama club students (amateurs) of the head of counter intelligence is a bit too unrealistic. No point killing a person that can always be replaced by another monster so easily.

At least Mr.Yee is humane enough to end the sufferings of the tortured/interrogated prisoners swiftly.

The Wang LiHom character is very weak, and his acting is mediocre. He is just a runner boy for the entire movie. I can't feel any emotion from his acting in many situation where he should express grief, frustration and affection.

Well, the 2 main characters Mr.Yee(Tony Leung) and Mrs.Mok/Ms.Wang(Tang Wei) were very good. No doubt of Tony Leung's acting, and Tang Wei's interaction with Tony was very amusing. I love the scene when Yee offered Mok a cigarette in a restaurant, her face lit up, smoking the cigarette while seducing Yee with her eyes and facial expression.

The intimate scenes were MUST for this movie. As Yee was a very busy and important (life threatening job) man, the only time he had chance to develop any interaction with Mok was when they were alone and having an affair. Through the Intimate Moments, Yee and Mok developed affection for each other. The actors really did a big sacrifice for art.

Was this affection Lust, as suggested by the title? Well, I personally think that Lust(at the beginning) was starting to be replaced by Love, but it ended abruptly & painfully.

The movie is 2.5hrs long, watching it in a lazy morning or afternoon during weekend is recommended.

Last 8" Dunny for the year

Got this 8" Dunny today. I personally love the color purple/violet, so this one to me is very very nice. The face is based on the famous Pro-Wrestler Andre the Giant. He was the "Good Guy" of the Pro-Wrestling field, always go for the good fight. He acted in number of films also. No more buying for the rest of the year.

Crazy about Dunnies!!

I bought the Baby Blue (Teal) Bubble Yucky Dunny by Tara Mcpherson . Well, they look better in pair. Although I spend a lot of $$ lately, must control. GF is chanting "Buy less toy... buy less toy.. save $$, save $$" whenever I speak to her.

Well, got this hard to find Paul Smith Dunny (plastic though). Really like this guy. A piece of ART.

Ninja Dunny I bought previously.

And a Set of 17pcs, 3" Dunny series 4. I could never complete the whole set. There is another 4 pcs which are ultra rare. each of them over USD200 on EBay at the moment.

Below are the 4 Ultra Rare ones I don't think I can ever get it.

Biz Trip to Taiwan

Went to Taiwan last week for Biz Trip. 11/18(Sun) to 11/21(Wed). Only Sunday I have free time to move in Taipei, and the rest all packed with Biz Schedule.

I stayed in Regent Formosa Taipei (Zhong San North Road, nearest MRT Zhong San station), seems to be one of the best Hotel in Taipei. After checking in and pack a small back pack, I go out to search for Toy Shops in Taipei City.

Took the MRT from ZhongSan 中山to ZhongXiaoDunHua中孝吨化. Went to 2 Stores, bought some toys there and got to know that Kaiyodo of Japan was having an exhibition in Taipei City Art Gallery at YuanShan圆山. At that time was 4pm, and the Gallery will close 5.30pm. Well, rushed to 圆山and managed to reach there before 5pm. Free admission after 5pm. Lucky!!

No photography allowed in the Exhibition Hall, but it was very very interesting to see the collection of Kaiyodo Toys. Original Sculpts, 1:1 Ratio Models (Beautiful Anime Ladies and Macho Men). Over all it was a very good experience. Too bad they don't sell limited exclusive stuff there.

6pm, since the famous ShihLinYeShi (剑潭station) is just one station away, dragging stuff along, & went there for my dinner. Could not take any pic due to me carrying stuff. I ate: famous MeeSua(面线）, American Hot dog, Deep Fried Chicken Cutlet, Water Fried Bao(水煎包 very nice), Almond Milk. Wish I have a bigger stomach. ShihLin was packed with people... I really enjoyed the experience.

After all the food, just 7.30pm, took the MRT again and went to XiMenDing (西门町). Here many youngsters and a lot of stores and building selling young fashion. Went to a building where many toy shops are located. The stuff is really cheap... cheaper than Singapore and Malaysia. Wish I could have more space for my luggage. Again, spent a bomb there. (Below is one of the many stuff I got.)

10.30pm, finally back to Hotel. Bought some nice dessert and drinks from the Convenient Store Family Mart. (Our partner in Biz, must support)

Well, the next day, after a days work, my Taiwan colleague brought me to the most famous Beef Noodle in Taipei. (Maybe was Famous from last time, price is high and the taste was just OK only.) But I enjoyed the tit bits / appetizer (小菜) very much. I LOVE 小菜very much!!

After a hefty meal, my colleagues took me to a tea house to relax. The tea house was a very good experience, the ambient / decoration is nice, music (Chinese Instrumental) was soothing. And enjoyed many types of different tea.

Well, the next 2 days were all Biz. Had nice and expensive dinner with customers.

Overall it was a very good trip. But really wish to go Taiwan again for vacation next time.

Beowulf !!

This movie really blown my mind away. Watched it in Singapore Cinema. Many scenes of the movie might be edited in Malaysia. A bit sexy and violent for Malaysia.

Won't want to spoil the movie for you guys, but the story is a bit different from the original epic poem though. Over all the movie is packed with action and adventure. And "Some" Battle scenes are 100 times better than Harry Potter.

An one of the screen writer is the famous Neil Gaiman. He is very good in adapting stories into comics.

Well, sit back and enjoy!!

8" Pink Bubble Yucky Dunny

I bought this 8" Pink Dunny yesterday. Well this is the latest just released world wide on 15th Nov 2007. Limited to 2000 pcs world wide. (rumored to be 50/50, 1000pcs per colour.)

At 1st I wanted and reserved the Teal (baby blue) one with the shop, but a case of 6 pcs the shop received are all pink. Kidrobot who is the producing company only sell to each distributor 1 case of 6 pcs. Well, no choice but to grab the pink one 1st.

Do you think I should get the teal one too if chance come by and no need to pay more than the pink one???

Fixed another Gundam model

Fixed this over the weekend last week while chatting on MSN video call. Lucky nothing is broken this time. Bought some decal to stick on this guy later. He will look much better with decal on. Well... a pass time for a geek alone in the house on weekends.

Bought Another 2 Cute Figures

Well, got 2 more Finders Keepers, Holiday, the Pink Pig I always wanted, and Kittypillar, a Hybrid of a caterpillar with a cat head, or a cat with a caterpillar body...(confused).

Well, the shop offered a set of 12 out of 16 (Complete Set of 16 is really really hard to get!!). I have been fighting against my desire to own them, my sister was urging me to buy.. she said: if you like it just buy it lor... you can afford it mah! Then my GF asked me to think carefully.. as the price is her 1/2 month salary... she said that it is just a buying impulse, will subside after a while... see how. But at least I got 3 at the moment.

What do you think?

Corruption in the USA

This book is really daring at exposing the highest form of "legalized" corruption in the USA.

Big Corporations donate big sum to fund the election campaign of certain corruptible politician. Lots of $$ in the campaign fund means more publicity and hence lead to more votes.

After being voted into the government office, these politicians will lobby, propose and pass law favoring to the Big Corporations which will save them millions or even billions of $$ in reducing their corporate responsibility to the country, community, humanity.

The book also expose open lies and empty promises of many politicians after they are elected. While they are in the office, they have work in favor of the Big Corporations, and they career as lobbyist for them are ensured after they leave the office.

It is very scary after reading this book... although our country have our own corruption issues, but I personally think that the USA political corruption is much more cleverer that ours (ours the method and ways are too primitive... maybe we are too "primitive" to challenge them?). Really "Salute" to both.

My Trophies for the Weekend!!

Below are the stuff I got on Sunday after walk-walk in China Square Central (China Town) and Century Square (Tampines).

1. Joe Ledbetter's Finders Keepers

Cutter the Saber tooth cat. (About 2.5inch tall) He is the most common of the lot.

The rarest of them all is the flying pig named Holiday! 1 out of 300 (That means you probably will get one after opening 300 boxes. It was auction in eBay and sold for about USD150. one blind box cost USD7.95). Well, this Pig is really the best Mascot for my BLOG!! Too bad I will never own it.

2. 8 inch Ninja Dunny

I really love this one. I have asked the shop for this Dunny when I first saw them passing out to the pre-order customers. The shop owner said all was reserved. Well, today saw him offering out to other customer and I asked him why, this one the Box is damaged hence "Hardcore Collectors" do not want them. I don't really mind though... as this is SOLD OUT in most of the shops in the world. Put a 3 inch Dunny beside for size comparison.

3. HG 1/144 Zeon plastic kit to compliment the Gundam I fixed last week. Had a good chat with the Store Keeper who is also an expert in plastic kit modeling. Hope to get more tips from him soon.

Well, a geek will always be a geek...

ADDICTION!!! (Dunny figures by Kidrobot)

Recently started to collect some Dunny (take a look at the full Archive) toys by Kidrobot. They are really Cute !! (In my opinion)

Some of those rare ones are selling at eBay at hundreds of USD$. They come in 3 sizes, 3 inch (those displayed), 8 inch and 20 inch tall. They are sold in Blind Boxes(meaning you won't know what you are buying until you open up, the rarity are different for each design). But Singapore Shops is selling them opened box, with prices varies according to the rarity.

These I bought are the common ones which are not that pricey. I wanted to buy some rarer ones.. nearly forked out SD200 for another set of Dunnys...but is stopped & warned by GF not to spend too much on plastic/vinyl toys.

Well, I am addicted to collect toys... already spent thousands of dollars collecting from days in Japan. Hope to find a cure soon...

Gundam Plastic Model

Spent some time after work to fix this Gundam Model (1/144 scale, RX78-GP02A) I bought last Saturday. I accidentally broke its hands with my bull force though...

Well, really had fun fixing it. The time I spend fixing the model is similar to meditating... learned few lessons while doing so too : Never force on something, as we probably might end up breaking it, use "lubricant" instead.