Movie log: Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing - 3 stars

One thing I didn't know about this movie before hand was that it was set in the 60s, not the 80s. Watching this made me wish I could dance. Sadly, I can't dance for nuts.

When sick...

When sick, do not go to work

When sick, do not drive

When sick, stay the frack home!

If you fail to adhere to the guideline above, this may very well happen to your car

....When sick, get a goddamn MC

Movie log: Awake

Awake - 3 stars

A movie that holds more than meets the eye to its initial plot

Movie log: Saw IV

Saw IV - 3.5 stars

Yet another good addition to the thrilling series =D

Movie log: Raging Bull / A Note Of Love

Raging Bull - 4 stars

Extraordinary acting from the cast but the ending lacks punch. Pun intended.








A Note Of Love - 2 stars

Very good cinematography and camera angles, but suffers from slow pace, bad lighting, and a confusing mix of scenes and characters

Movie log: Seeing Double

Seeing Double - 1 1/2 star


Reminds me of the TV series. Crappy but relaxing. May pop music rule forever.

My new workdesk

My spanking new work desk as I have been transferred 'back' to the lifestyle department :)

Movie log rerun: Enchanted / Mannequin

Enchanted - 3.5 stars

A movie that keeps you smiling througout.









Mannequin - 4 stars

Next to The Wedding Singer, this will always be one of my favourite love stories of all time. Seriously.

Movie log: Pretty In Pink

Pretty In Pink - 3 stars

A tad slow for modern cinema, but a decent film nonetheless. Feels as though countless other teen flicks have followed 'Pretty In Pink's formula. Brilliant poster though!

Movie log: Sixteen Candles

Sixteen Candles - 3 stars

Gotta love the 80s :)

Solitude Interrupted

The steam room is a place in the gym where one relaxes and rests their mind in totally carefree environment where its just you and your towel. I love using the steam room after a hard days work & workout. Its one place where i can sit down, close my eyes, relax and feel the stress of life escape from my body. This was not the case last night.

After settling down with my towel and got myself into a state of serenity, three $#@$ whom I have not seen before in the gym came in. It was all good and fine until the steam room (my four walls of solitude) became a freaking mamak stall (minus the food). These three idiots kept yakking and yakking talking about some girl who one of them should bring to Zouk in order to 'make it happen'. Blablabla. They laughed as though it was their own private party room. Inconsiderate f**ks! One of them even belted out "Its too late to apologize...". Bloody hell! A couple of other regulars were in the steam room as well. And it could be seen that they were not too pleased. Gosh. They didnt stop.

After finishing my interrupted 10 minutes in my four walls of solitude, I went out, cooled down, and went to the shower. As soon as I closed the shower door, the three idiots came out of the steam room and proceeded to the shower cubicles next to me and continued blaberring. GAGH!

End of rant.

Movie log: American Psycho 2

American Psycho 2 - 1 star

Direct-to-video bullcrap sequel of a totally awesome original

Movie log: 27 Dresses

27 Dresses - 3.5 stars

An above average cliche chick flick. Katherine Heigl rocks.









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On another note, watching this movie in GSC's Gold Class hall in GSC Signature at The Gardens marked my first time experiencing 'five star' seats and service. RM60 for a ticket is super steep, but heck the seats and comfort are friggin' worth it!

Movie log: Definitely, Maybe

Definitely, Maybe - 2 1/2 stars

Should have been titled "How I Met Your Mother". Too bad that's already taken. A little too 'American' for my liking.

Movie log: Sleepaway Camp

Sleepaway Camp - 2 stars

Adidas should sue. Corny, campy, edging paedophilia yet stupidly fun. Pretty interesting twist at the end. I didn't know that this was a series though, the latest one comes out this year!

brianjchong.com

My photo gallery can now be found at:

http://www.brianjchong.com

=D

It's Up To Me

One of the first things successful people realize is the old adage, "if it is to be, it is up to me." That is, for you, the fact that your success and your course is up to you. This doesn't mean that you do it all alone. It simply means that you take responsibility for your life and your career.

Too many people today look at opportunity and figure it is up to someone else to make sure they get it. They look at financial security and hope that the government will make sure they live safely in retirement or in case of disability. They wait and wait, figuring that it is up to someone else. And then the wait is over, and it is too late to do anything. Their life is over and they are filled with regret.

This isn't true for you however. You know that you must take responsibility for your life. It is up to you.

The fact is that nobody else is going to do it for you, you must do it yourself.

You get to choose your life. Hundreds of millions of people all around this world would give anything to live in the situation you do just for the chance to have the opportunity to take control of their destiny. "It is up to you" is a great blessing!

Here's why:

You get to chart your own destiny. Maybe you want to start a small business and stay there. That's great because you can choose that. Maybe you want to create a small chain of stores. Maybe you want to have a net worth of $100 million. That's okay too. The idea is that you get to choose. You can do whatever you like. Different people have different dreams and they should live them accordingly.

You can reap what you sow. Sleep in and go to work late and reap the return. Or get up early and outwork the others and earn a greater return. Place your capital at risk and earn a return or place it at greater risk and perhaps reap a greater return. You decide what you will sow and thus what you will reap.

No one else can stop you from getting your dream. Yes, there will always be things that come up and people who may not like what you are doing, but you can just move on and chart your own course. There is great freedom in that.

You experience the joy of self-determination. There is no greater pride than knowing you set your mind on something and accomplished it. Those who live with a victim mentality never get to experience the joy of accomplishment because they are always waiting for someone else to come to the rescue. Those who take responsibility get to live the joy of seeing a job well done.

Movie log: The Vanishing

The Vanishing - 3 stars

A remake of 1988 Dutch film "Spoorloos" by the same director. Keeps the same feel as the original, but they should have stayed true to the original ending

the question remains

So, the inaugural STYLO KL Fashion Festival is over. It's back to the mundane-ness of work and life again. Thank God for the short boost of handling The Gardens as a client for a while. Slowly, Tan Sri and Nij will take it back (for as long as the contract lasts..) but am still currently working on some coverage for them still. Somebody please take me away from the 'corporate' clients!!

Not a day goes by (except during STYLO period) where my passion (or whats left of it) slowly starts fading off and dies. Not a day goes by where I still try to figure out what the hell I'm here on this Earth for. What the hell am I supposed to be doing?! Sigh. I need a sign. An answer. Until then, the question remains.

http://www.styloklfashionfestival.com

http://www.flickr.com/brianjchong

3 Years - Granpa

~It has been 3 years and not a day goes by that you are not missed~

Rocket

White lights, strange city, mad music
(all around)
Midnight, street magic, (ah) crazy people
(crazy sound)
Jack flash, rocket man
Sergeant pepper and the band
Ziggy, benny and the jets
Ah, take a rocket

We just gotta fly
(I can take you through the center of the dark)
Were gonna fly
(on a collision course to crash into my heart)
I will be your, I will be your, Ill be your
(rocket yeah satellite of love)
(rocket yeah satellite of love)
(rocket yeah satellite of love)

Rocket baby!
Cmon, Ill be your satellite of love

Spotlight, magnetic, razor rhythm
(laser love)
Guitar, drums, load up, stun!
Jet black johnny b
Ah gene jenie, killer queen
Dizzy lizzy major tom
So cmon

Rocket baby!
Cmon, were gonna fly

(rocket yeah!)

Guitar, drums, load up!
Were gonna fly
(rocket yeah)
Satellite of love
Were gonna fly
(rocket yeah)
Yeah!
Satellite of love
Rocket yeah!

Movie log: The Brave One

The Brave One - 3 stars

Be patient for this one

Brian, Nick, Howie, AJ, Brian :)

My not so secret desire to be part of a boyband during my teens to the err.. present was almost fulfilled last night during the Backstreet Boys' Unbreakable Tour in Sunway Lagoon. ~~


BSB sang songs from their new and old albums and the concert lasted for about 1 hour 40 mins of pop madness. In my opinion, BSB is THE staple boyband, and whenever the term 'boyband' arises, BSB is the first thing that comes to mind. And to think that i ALMOST wanted to pass on this due to some tightness in the wallet area.

The whole setup of the concert was kinda generic. No posters, buntings, or any sort of advertisement could be found around the area. No MC to usher in the event. No opening act. The concert started when the light turned off and the sound of raging guitars and drums could b heard. A 'remix' of Survivor's Eye of the Tiger was hinted to the crowd and spotlights suddenly revealed the members of the band one by one Michael Buffer (Boxing) style. They were all dressed in boxing robes and gloves. Eye of the Tiger then slowly transitioned to Larger Than Life when they started singing.

God damn that was awesome sh*t. Pop's heyday may b some years behind, but the concert was really a walk down memory lane. =)

Another memorable setting during the concert was when the boys were seated with a square table accompanied by wine glasses, cigars, and a deck of cards and were casually having a conversation when the opening lyrics of Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely was sung. The crowd went mad. =D

A few solo efforts from each of the boys broke some 'Backstreet' flow, but was a good addition nonetheless with Brian Littrell taking the cake as the best solo performance of the night with Welcome Home.

A medley of some hits got the crowd going all out although the music arrangements for those classics were 'remixed' with some new tunes. With energetic synchronized dancing and unforgettable songs the Backstreet Boys Unbreakable Tour in Malaysia was a superb experience. =) Hey it's not everyday you get random girls (...and guys) screaming your name.

Who's up for N'Sync?

If I wasn't doing PR, I would be the resident archer at the Holiday Inn

Movie log: Jumper

Jumper - 2.75 stars

Interesting premise that could have been so much more

Movie log: American Psycho

American Psycho (Uncut Version) - 4.5 stars

A movie that keeps you hooked throughout and keeps you thinking even hours after the film has ended

Movie log : The Karate Kid Part III / The Next Karate Kid / The Game Plan

The Karate Kid Part III - 3 stars

Despite being a lackluster sequel and almost hopeless love subject side story,the ending bout makes it a worthwhile close to Daniel-san's story








The Next Karate Kid - 2 stars

Unecessary









The Game Plan - 3 stars

A predictable verdict, for a predictable show

Dental woes

Went to the dentist today.

After going to my regular dentist in SS2 (Mak Dental) due to 'sensitivity' issues with my teeth and some scaling as well, the doc said that I did not have any cavities although I was convinced that I had one.

Even during the following months, the tooth kept displaying signs of sensitivity towards certain kind of foods. Sigh. As it got worse I checked up on toothache online and got a shocker when I displayed 'cracked tooth syndrome'. OMG. Im gonna need a root canal!!

After being convinced that I had a crack in one of my back teeth, I made an appointment with another dentist near the office. Jason Cheong Dental Surgery; as recommended by Nigel. Expected an old dude to attend to my dental woes but out comes a pretty young chap with good bedside manner and brought me into the dreaded dentist room. First impression? They have Astro baby! A good distraction when you're getting your teeth yanked out!

After the usual check up, thank God it was just a cavity! Got it drilled and patched up. Cost me RM80 though. Argh. Another dent to the wallet.

He told me not to have anymore energy drinks, sweets, anything sour, or chew on ice. =(

Unbreakable Tour!

Backstreet Boys comprising of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean. It''s hard to believe that 15 years have passed since Backstreet Boys redefined the modern musical landscape, ushering in a chapter of pop culture that commandeered the world's radio airwaves, broke music and concert sales records, and launched a new generation of teen idols for millions of youth.

In all, the group has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. Their first two U.S. releases both received the Diamond Award for sales of more than 10 million: "Backstreet Boys" in 1997 and quintessential "Millennium" in 1999, which reached No. 1 in 25 countries. They have scored a dozen top 40 hits, including top 5 smashes "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)," "As Long As You Love Me,"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "All I Have To Give".

The group spent a year and a half recording "Unbreakable," which marks a confident return to the pop template that best defines the group's sound.

While it would be clever enough to declare that "Backstreet's Back" - hearkening the title of their hit song - the truth is they never went away. Over the course of 15 years, they maintain rare relevance in an industry that so often disposes of pop acts with ultimate haste.

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The Instant Classic™ is looking for people who would like to go to the concert!
~Stop being too cool for BSB! U know u love them!~

The Unending Journey

Sigh. The holiday season has finally come to an end. After tumultuous end year & January public holidays and some annual leave, the dry season begins today. Needless to say, once someone returns to the 'mines' after such a joyous time, reality comes back and wakes you up at dawn every Monday - Friday and keeps you someplace until the sun begins to set. Sigh. I have no passion whatsoever for what I am doing and would like to find out what else there is out there.

I still have not completed my soul searching journey.. and it seems unending.

Movie log: The Karate Kid Part II

The Karate Kid Part II - 3 1/2 stars

Movie log: Halloween (2007)

Halloween (2007 - Director's Cut) - 4 stars

Awesome retelling of THE classic slasher flick of the 70s

Movie log: The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid - 3.5 stars

Movie log: Black Water

Black Water - ZERO

Stupidloadofcrocksh*t

Movie log: Smiley Face

Smiley Face - 1 star

Waste of time and talent

Etchings

As people grow older they seem to subtly change and begin to find things they never thought were interesting to be just that.

A couple of months ago as I was casually walking by the shops inside Bangsar Village II as I usually do, I suddenly stopped in my tracks and looked at something. And no, it did not have 2 legs and a skirt.

It was a painting inside an art gallery that was on display. It was titled 'Lagu Rindu' by a Malaysian artist named Eng Tay. I was mesmerized by the painting, and I did not know why. I just stopped and looked at it closely in front of the gallery's glass window. The painting was going for about RM30k odd. Not knowing much (or anything for that matter) about paintings and the arts, I wondered how a 'local' guy could manage to command such a fee. But that's another matter. Went back to the gallery a week later, but it was no longer by the window where it once was.

There's no way in hell that I could afford or invest in such a hobby/interest like art at the moment, or in the near future. I wonder if my interest in photography has 'opened' up a side of me that I didn't know was there.

Even the other day during a corporate event where me and some colleagues were having lunch at the hotel's coffee house, I stood up while having my dessert and looked at some generic art pieces that was hanging on the restaurant's usually uninteresting walls.

Hmm.

'Lagu Rindu' by Eng Tay

Movie log: Spoorloos / High School Musical 2

Spoorloos (aka The Vanishing) - 3 1/2 stars

Mysterious Dutch film with a claustrophobic finale










High School Musical 2 - 3 stars

Pleasantly innocent once again

Movie log: Meet The Spartans

Meet The Spartans - 2 stars

"Tonight..we dine in HOOTERSSS!!"









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January Movie Log Recap
17 movies watched in the month of January.

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Lisa

Yeah. Another one leaves. Nigel is offcially the 'seniorest' of the 'new blood' in the company (with me losing (..or is its winning) by 2 weeks). Lisa was the one who 'roped' me into the PR world and now leaves to greener pastures (as does everyone). Sigh.

Thanks Lis. Here's to wishing you all the best.

A Note Of Love

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the picture was Linus' recent movie 'A Note Of Love'. :)

For more pics, head on to
http://www.flickr.com/brianjchong

Movie log: Sicko / The Warriors / Rambo

Sicko - 3 stars

• Does the US health care system really suck that bad? With Micheal Moore, I can't tell

The Warriors - 3 stars

• Very watchable gang movie from the late 70s

Rambo - 3 stars

• Pointless sequel to the Rambo franchise that kicks butt all the way
• Uber graphic
• Not for kids