Saturday, June 28, 2008

Farewell Auntie Rosalie

Well, this is a depressing month... we just found out that my hubby's aunt passed away early Friday morning. She was a wonderful and caring woman. She was never without a big smile. We had celebrated her 80th birthday earlier this year.

We will all miss you auntie. You always treated me like your true niece, and I always thought of you as my true aunt. And you always will be to me.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Summer of movies

The shows are on summer break, so what better time to go to the movies? This is rare. I think we've seen more movies in the theater these past few months than in the last few years! They have some good stuff out there.

Iron Man - GREAT movie. Recommend to everyone. I love Robert Downey, Jr.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - It was ok. I like the other films better.
Sex and the City - LOVED IT! If you love the show - go see the movie. That's all I'm gonna say.

Now We're waiting for The Dark Knight to come out. I hope it's awesome, because the trailers have me on the edge of my seat.

As far as catch up DVDs...

Marie Antoinette - didn't like it, but I loved the costumes and the shots at Versailles.
Grindhouse - if you like mindless blood and guts, go for it. I didn't like it.
I Now Pronounce you Chuck & Larry - good, funny, another good Adam Sandler movie.
Knocked Up - predictable, but it's good. Not hysterical funny, but good.
Office Space - "Work Sucks" e'nuf said.
Ju-On: The Grudge 2 - once is enough, not necessary.
Shrek the Third - like the first two better.
Fracture - it was OK. Not necessary.
Disturbia - frustrating. So many other things the character could have done differently.
Seasons one and two of Dead Like Me - great show. Big plot holes that should not have happened. Waiting for the DVD movie to come out this year.

Starting to watch Wonderfalls. Only watched the pilot episode so far. Kind of like Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies style of show. We'll see...

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Farewell to my grand uncle 15

I have a huge family. My dad's side is big (13 uncles and aunts), but on my mom's side, it's crazy big. We're talking 19 siblings in my grandfather's generation. To explain, my great-grandfather had 4 wives (older Chinese times my friends). So, it's 19 siblings divided among 4 women. I guess it shouldn't be too shocking - after all, there is that family in Texas who has 18 children and just the two parents. So, kudos to my dad's parents who had my 13 uncles and aunts on their own.

In Chinese, we don't refer to uncles and aunts by their names in a situation like this. You don't say this in English, but in Chinese we call them uncle or aunt followed by their birth order.

With all that said, I just found out from my mom that my grand uncle 15 recently passed away in Toronto, Canada. I didn't know him well, but as he was one of the closer brothers with my grandfather, I had the opportunity to see him more often than my other grand uncles and aunts.

My grand uncle 15 used to perform magic tricks for me. They were simple tricks, but as a kid, I was amazed - and every opportunity when I saw him, I wanted a new magic trick. I remember he gave me a Donald Duck doll too. I guess my memory of him is that he made me laugh, and he was someone who did things that boggled my mind - and in a way, I loved him for that.

I will miss you grand uncle.

Completely confused - but not anymore

I'm a big horror movie fan, but last night, I was just completely confused and couldn't sleep until I figured it out - you know, the important stuff in life keeps me awake.

Most people know that 'The Grudge' series of movies staring Sarah Michelle Gellar were produced by the same guy who did the original Japanese versions. Ju-On is the title of the Japanese version. Fine.

Only talking about the Japanese versions now. I've watched Ju-on many times (or so I thought). I read a synopsis of Ju-on 2 - which is about a film crew making some sort of show based upon the terrible things that happened in the house, and then of course, things start happening to the crew members and actors. But when I actually watched Ju-on 2, the story was completely different. It was almost like an extended version of part 1, and revolved around a student - many shots in his school and at his family's home. What? What about the synopsis I had read? Where was the TV crew? Not to mention it was a horrible, low-budget film. Nothing like the first Ju-on I had seen. Did they run out of money or something?

Then last night, they were showing Ju-on 2 on TV again. With nothing else on, I decided to watch it. This time, it was a much better quality film and it was about the TV crew. I was completely confused.

Anyway, after researching on the web at 2am, I finally figured it out.

There is Ju-on, and Ju-on 2. Those were low budget films that showed on Japanese TV. Then a few years later, they made Ju-on: The Grudge and Ju-on: The Grudge 2. So, I guess what happened is that I've never really seen Ju-on, but went straight to The Grudge and then saw Ju-on 2. And then last night it was The Grudge 2.

I'm sure I've confused everyone who's reading this, but I'm happy to report that I understand now. So, out of the 4 movies made, I have never seen the very first one - which I'm going to try to find today and watch.

This is all crazy making, that's what it is. And to top it all off, they're making The Grudge 3 in America, which will be based on Ju-on 2 (with the TV show storyline). There will also be a Japanese version called Ju-on: The Grudge 3 - but I have no idea what that story will be about.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Sex and the City

OMG - I freakin' loved this movie! I'm a big fan of the show, so I was a little worried that the movie would make a mess of how the stories left off. Surprisingly, it was very well done. I laughed, and I even shed a tear (or two). Kind of predictable story, but that's totally OK. I loved seeing my girls back.

Any SATC fan should not miss this movie.