July 2022

 It's incredible how time flies so quickly. It's now the 2nd half of 2022, and we're just past the mid-third quarter of the year.

This year has been great so far. In the beginning of the year, Omicron was fresh and new and excited to spread its roots, and naturally I wasn't spared. Despite getting my booster in January (and disappointed I had no significant side effects and hence unable to claim any MC to get a break from work - I purposely chose to get my booster on a Sunday evening anticipating strong debilitating reaction on Monday), I was infected with covid-19 in March. It's likely Omicron, though no specific tests were performed, because my symptoms were so mild, I didn't test it until I just thought, oh, fuck it, I was in the office, let's just test it, and I saw a dark T line on the kit.

It was uneventful for me. Had a great week off.

Then, I went back to Penang for a month. I realised I haven't updated the subsequent parts - I'll do so when, well, I'm in the mood to do so. But returning to Penang a month makes me realised that I actually can survive in Penang. I tracked my finances, and I projected that I would be able to live comfortably if I have to. But the problem is, Penang isn't fertile with jobs I like, and I like the outdoor environment in Singapore that Penang does not offer.

I'm become a lot more physically active, because Singapore is such a great place for you to try to be physically active, and I seize on that opportunity because, why not?

Disney+ has not been a worthwhile subscription all the time, but it's not all lost. I paid SGD119.90 for a number of shows that don't seem like a very good investment, but to be honest, I would probably renew it next year. It doesn't harm to support the company a little for some entertainment I could get, even though it leans on the pricey side that makes piracy seems like a wasted, free stuff.

I've decided to treat myself a little better and take myself out to the movie. Most of my friends don't really share my excitement for movies. They rather stream at home. And most of them are more materialistic - they rather splurge on food, alcohol and attires, but I prefer the experience over materials. So far, I've watched 6 movies in Singapore. Despite being a GV member, I had not utilised any benefits, because watching a movie on Monday and Tuesday just don't feel right despite needing to pay only half the ticket price.

I've signed up for Standard Charted Singapore Marathon. I was hesitant at first, but at that time I decided that I should at times be impulsive. I registered and paid without rationally thinking further. Being rational can sometimes be a problem, and I do not want this to be one of the problems.

Well, 2022, let's make it eventful. Five more months to go, and I'll be looking forward to making my five more months more colourful. I'm pushing 30, it seems sad, but perhaps it's a reckoning - time's not in great supply. Seize it.

Top Gun: Maverick

This show has been released for two months, since end-May, but I decided to watch only yesterday.

You see, this isn't the typical genre I go for. I usually go for detective/crime, superhero, or horror. Aviation-theme movie isn't one that I have a fondness for. It doesn't mean I hate that theme, I just never really considered giving it a try. 

But this has since become the top grossing film of 2022, surpassing Marvel Studio's movie, and the general audience consensus seems to be unusually good. I've not met a single person who dislike the movie, or read a review that criticises anything about any aspects of this movie. Everybody who cares to write a review, however simplistic it is, seems to string together words in awe, reflecting great admiration and respect. And most importantly, they say this must be watched in the cinema for the ultimate experience.

So I decided to finally give it a try. I was hesitant to pay SGD16.50 for a two-month old movie that's about to be released VOD, but I decided that when the critics are unanimous that it's good, it has got to be good.

Boy, I would say, it's worth every damn cent of the money I was reluctant to pay. I would say it's now the best movie I've ever spent on.

The movie employs quite a cliche story plot, but what makes this movie remarkable really is the action scene - you watch the jets fly, and you watch it from the cockpit. That's where Top Gun: Maverick distinguishes itself from the common movies out there - the movie puts you inside the character's view, and you see the characters' emotions as it is when they're doing it. 

Then that resentment and hatred of Rooster towards Maverick, and how Maverick sacrificed himself (seemingly) for Rooster, and Rooster's regret and sadness and the ultimate getaway and the final reunion - that's gold. As Miles Teller said in an interview, this is a movie that makes a grown up cries. I did not cry, but I probably could have. It was moving, and it was good.

2022 has been an exceptional year, and this movie makes this year an exceptionally amazing one for me.

My rating: 10/10. And I love Lady Gaga, Hold My Hands rock and is beautiful.

Thor: Love and Thunder

It's a no go in Malaysia, but it's screened in Singapore, where I currently reside. Initially, I wasn't very keen with Thor, because Thor isn't a character that really got my attention. In MCU, I especially love Wanda, Strange, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and to some degree, Captain Marvel. Thor isn't high in my list, but I don't hate him. 

So we watched Thor: Love and Thunder on the Sunday of the first release week. Knowing it's still directed by Taika Waititi, I believe comedic elements are expected. From the trailer, we know Jane is returning. That's awesome. 

Before I watched the movie, I was heavily expecting GOTG to be a heavy future in Thor. Disappointingly, they are featured for only like the first few minutes, and then Thor parted way with them to his friend whose world's God had been butchered by Gorr. Only Star-Lord actually had a few memorable speeches, no other characters of the GOTG had any memorable screentime other than a cameo. In fact, I think Zeus had more screentime.

But otherwise, it's a great movie. I like the goats. I like the 'seeing your ex-girlfriend hanging out with your ex-hammer' thing and I like how the stormbreaker gets jealous. I also like Gorr, and Christian Bale is an awesome actor for skilfully playing such a evil villain that manages to elicit sympathy from the viewers. The shadow realm is interesting, and I like the fight at the end of the film. It's really too sad that Mighty Thor had to die, although it was also impressive how she could put up such a good fight like Thor when she just got hold of the Mjolnir a short while ago (in Thor's time, since he's like thousands years ago).

I think the movie is great. No, there's no LGBTQ+ element. It's mentioned only by passing by Korg and it's extremely insignificant, definitely not as significant as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness showing America's two mothers on screen. I believe why it wasn't greenlit in Malaysia was the scene in the beginning - Gorr, dying, met his God and begged for His help, but that God dismissed him as a worthless chap only worthy as a follower. Gorr, furious, declared he renounced his fate. The God was furious and was about to kill him, but that's when Gorr was chosen by the cursed sword to become the God Butcher and he killed the same God who was just about to kill him. Renunciation of a fate is blasphemy in Malaysia, and I think this is the likely explanation.

Why I do not think LGBTQ+ element is the reason Thor was blocked? First, as I mentioned, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had a more significant LGBTQ+ element yet it wasn't blocked or censored. Secondly, Thor was initially delayed two weeks in Malaysia. Disney had affirmed that it's not open to censoring LGBTQ+ scenes from movies in Lightyear, so I doubt they'll do the same with Thor. And even if they are willing to, it didn't need a two-week delay. LDP would have given conditional approval subject to compliance which is often not an issue, just like Lightyear. Disney pulled out Lightyear not because it was blocked, but because Disney refused to comply. Then, a two-week delay suggested Disney intended to make amendments, and we know LGBTQ+ isn't something Disney was willing to compromise, and we know it hadn't been an issue in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

So given the silence on why it's not released, the better explanation, in my opinion, had to be the renunciation of fate in the beginning, and the central theme of the God Butcher, which is a very controversial and perhaps taboo topic in Malaysia.

It's too bad for Malaysia. It's a work of fiction, and actually a very entertaining film.

My rating: 8/10. Deducting 2 marks because GOTG is reduced to an insignificant cameo. Btw, the R&B style of the opening Marvel scene is refreshing.

Stranger Things 4

This now becomes one of my top favourite shows of all time.

I think I've mentioned how Stranger Things blew my mind in season 1. Then season 2 was better. Then, blowing my mind again, season 3 was also awesome. This appears to be an outlier - a show where the subsequent seasons are better than the previous ones. I was worried season 4 might not follow this trend especially since season 3 did not end with a major cliffhanger except a dermagogue, and the kids have grown up. 

But no, season 4 continues to blow my mind.

We're now introduced to the main villain, the main player behind the evils of the first three seasons - Vecna/001, the one whom Eleven is experimented basing on in hope to replicate his success. This is one mind-blowing season that has got to be a history - each episode is minimally 50 episodes long and the season finale is literally 2 hours and 10 minutes long, easily surpassing the duration of many movies out there. There are 9 episodes in this season, so season 4 is actually crazily long by Netflix standard.

Still, it did not disappoint.

Okay, there are a few things I dislike. The three groups barely interact with one another, and it seems that Steve, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Robin, Nancy, and the delightfully cheerful Eddie were the one busy trying to defeat Vecna. Eleven's role had been reduced to mostly regaining her power, so her role in defeating or confronting Vecna only arises in the season finale - before that, the both of them do not cross path, and Eleven isn't aware of Vecna at all. Because Eleven is taken away without leaving a message and without informing where she's taken to, the show spent most of the time having Jonathan, Mike and Will searching for and rescuing her, so this is the first season that isn't Mike- and Will-centric, which is fair, considering the two of them and Eleven had played the central role in the previous seasons and it's opportune the spotlight is passed on to the rest. Joyce, as delightful as always, goes to Russia with Murray in hope to free Hopper. Their storyline feels a little forced - like, the coincidence Joyce receives the letter just in time when Vecna strikes feels too, hmm, fake and forced, but I absolutely love watching Joyce and Murray so I'll let it slide.

The three groups reunite only in the season finale. As explained earlier, this is the season where the focus is shifted to the characters who weren't the focus in the previous three - Steve, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Robin and Nancy. 

I love Robin. And I love Joyce. And I love Steve and Dustin as a group. So I'm happy.

But seriously, one of mind-blowingly good season. The horror is up several notches, the stories are well-paced and solidly built, and the acting are as flawless as expected. Stranger Things 4 did not disappoint, and now I seriously just can't wait for season 5.

Please bring season 5 as soon as possible - and before the kids become young adults. This show should be about kids and adolescents, it saddens me to say this, but I believe the show would lose a lot of its original charm if the actors are still playing that role in their mid- and late-20s. 

Highly recommended. Watch season 1 onwards if you haven't given it a try, you'll definitely not regret it! There's a reason why the release of the show crashed Netflix - that's because it's awesome on an international scale. In fact, I prefer it over MCU movies. Sorry.

Minions 2: Rise of Gru

 I'm going to say it: Minions was, in hindsight, quite a big letdown from the cute yellow minions. But Minions 2: Rise of Gru is honestly a huge improvement - the story is a lot better, the minions are cuter, and the show is just livelier and more entertaining and more funny.

Minions 2 wastes no time introducing the central theme of the movie. Gru, still a kid, obsesses, idolises and fantasises the Vicious 6, which has, by design, a slot opening and is recruiting a new member. Unaware Gru is just a kid and thus has accepted his application and scheduled an interview, the Vicious 6 dismisses him as unfit for a partner but was momentarily distracted by a new member walking into his interview. Seizing the opportunity, Gru stole the prized stone the Vicious 6 holds and threatens the world, and thus spends the remaining of the movie running away from the Vicious 6 and attempting to counter them.

The minions here play quite a huge role in assisting Gru and has significant screentime, which is a much better treatment than what Despicable Me 3 bestowed upon them. The three minions are as cute and adorable as always. I like Kevin, Bob and Stuart, and also Otto, and all four of them did not disappoint as hardcore minion fans fear. 

Minions never disappoint. Well, except the first, but I blamed it on my own unrealistically high expectations following an awesome Despicable Me 2.

I watched this movie in the theatre, and I had an absolutely enjoyable time. My criticism would be that the movie is actually too short - barely one and a half hours. But the minions are cute and I forgive them.

Rating: 9/10.

P/s, watch the scene below at 0:04 to hear  Bob says '没有了 nasi goreng kicap manis' which means no more (the Chinese part) sweet soy sauce fried rice (nasi goreng kicap manis, the Malay/Indonesian part). Apparently Bob's nightmare is that his favourite fried rice is no longer available.