tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71277805718975285752024-03-14T10:26:11.185+00:00Waiching's Movie Thoughts & More *Now Serving Monthly Posts, Whenever I Have Free Time (main header font: Equalize by chequered ink)Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.comBlogger1307125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-29409048343263440112024-02-07T23:06:00.003+00:002024-02-07T23:32:53.845+00:00Retro Review: They Live (1988) <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>They Live</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1988</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, Raymond St Jacques</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Genre: Science Fiction</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $13 million</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot:</i> Nada, a wanderer without meaning in his life, discovers a pair of sunglasses capable of showing the world the way it is </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFueN2BFHXCrkINFswLdvyjtlr44zQDRPrNKtvcQmPaKim1YUxo8loEbZ_PKmkuzEQPFOh9QXSSbf3sieEHgkremPA3y1H-ZW92hkHrOPCPiT7iMBlHlhN8I9rU2KZelRV7Nz85w-ucN08MdyogbJFFWzxvQ5K5gxG6lnAazLQALUNpjCjIp_1xIDvkI/s600/they-live-vintage-film-poster-mouse-mat.-movie-mouse-pad-gift.-john-carpenter-7419-p.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFueN2BFHXCrkINFswLdvyjtlr44zQDRPrNKtvcQmPaKim1YUxo8loEbZ_PKmkuzEQPFOh9QXSSbf3sieEHgkremPA3y1H-ZW92hkHrOPCPiT7iMBlHlhN8I9rU2KZelRV7Nz85w-ucN08MdyogbJFFWzxvQ5K5gxG6lnAazLQALUNpjCjIp_1xIDvkI/s320/they-live-vintage-film-poster-mouse-mat.-movie-mouse-pad-gift.-john-carpenter-7419-p.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><i><span style="font-family: arial;">'Reasonable, Yet Underwhelming'</span></i></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If <i>Mars Attacks</i> meets aspects of <i>Total Recall</i> and throws in a sunglasses gimmick, we would get something such as this. Set in Los Angeles shortly, the rich have got richer whilst the poor and lower class get poorer and become desolate; a construction worker/drifter in John Nada dons a pair of sunglasses after stumbling upon them and through its lenses, he sees subliminal and anti-societal messages and slogans and what they are truly saying about the state of 1980s western society. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Retitled <i>Invasion Los Angeles</i>, it was produced on a budget of $4 million and grossed U.S $13 million; much like John Carpenter's 1986's <i>Big Trouble in Little China</i>, in recent years <i>They Live</i> has attained a strong, cult following. Based on a short story whilst the concept sounded promising, I found it lacked the subversive irony of <i>Dead Heat</i>, a stronger, memorable villain as Lo Pan in <i>'Big Trouble...' </i>and Carpenter played things too straight here. Roddy Piper is supposed to be charismatic as the lead Nada but his character's persona isn't well developed; he seemed to have come alive somewhat in the 1990s B-movie action scene by teaming up with the likes of Billy Blanks in some of their offerings. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDb7RXySZsIb097kfKWR3h2nvjjh2UIT55Z7cMcySfOkQr98e8Rjv0PXW6t6iXMNBVpAbb1w4wpZsZWyHd8x3BqKKX1BwIdoSw_Sdp7657EZ-ruXpON-BULzvSIz0hu2_trlHaIbxH8XaxaulKojE00UkkTE8io4Z6pdx_jJ0JfUgy2tBLjJFkgjxbJWE/s1920/thumb_24C63EA2-CD06-4715-97AA-AEF8B7E5EEC2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDb7RXySZsIb097kfKWR3h2nvjjh2UIT55Z7cMcySfOkQr98e8Rjv0PXW6t6iXMNBVpAbb1w4wpZsZWyHd8x3BqKKX1BwIdoSw_Sdp7657EZ-ruXpON-BULzvSIz0hu2_trlHaIbxH8XaxaulKojE00UkkTE8io4Z6pdx_jJ0JfUgy2tBLjJFkgjxbJWE/s320/thumb_24C63EA2-CD06-4715-97AA-AEF8B7E5EEC2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The major issue I had with this film was it clings so hard on the premise but it didn't sell it well. There wasn't anything meaningful to say about it, through the main character, whom as the audience, we are supposed to turn to for that. Oddly, then-<i>WWE</i> wrestler Roddy Piper,- who was a hot property in the heydays of the 1980s generation alongside the likes of Hulk Hogan - as Nada seems muted for pretty much the entirety of the run-time and Keith David was okay. The twist with Holly at the end was unexpected and happened too late. It kept banging on and on about capitalism and Reaganomics but the action, and horror aspects could have been more compelling and fully emphasised.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It had a lot of potential and I do see the appeal it has with certain fans and audiences, but with this, it just didn't catch on with me; it's not just the pacing issue but it was so bogged down with a lot of stuff that was, forgettable. There just wasn't enough action sequences to justify it and to keep me invested in the story. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Had John Carpenter given it as much effort as he did with <i>Big Trouble in Little China</i>, it would have been another cult classic worth remembering as a great and entertaining film. Yet again, we have a movie where it was a case that the concept was better than its execution. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-MN16-0swtYeAvMN6Ct7WnArt6Jqv-DkIeaiokpAfZxh_0SCPe8MfLZvDq24z3w5cX5Xl8fzoyn9_19xjla6nM8gAI6hFkPe_Y6QL9BV8pWRQ8L7tyYxdcNdiAdePGsz9dnQ2d40_jej432RlDgbi9-FZuN1igi2uSuZM5i2zJ6InOGGl7dyMJSjOFc/s766/they-live2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="766" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-MN16-0swtYeAvMN6Ct7WnArt6Jqv-DkIeaiokpAfZxh_0SCPe8MfLZvDq24z3w5cX5Xl8fzoyn9_19xjla6nM8gAI6hFkPe_Y6QL9BV8pWRQ8L7tyYxdcNdiAdePGsz9dnQ2d40_jej432RlDgbi9-FZuN1igi2uSuZM5i2zJ6InOGGl7dyMJSjOFc/s320/they-live2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEKo66vwjx2PyaqLUgAT9oscAXAEWiWUxsrrazIvfOjsaoprnn_vaGNIbxQpBV9A9aDX4eS7xaM8Pl1w3d9qgWv8v-BofP47i1wNbJbv-qiBn9HGNIz4xQA2p8R-5Gw4r0q_iKGR1j-_zL3BVqLC4zoFNPyNJ69DJ1tAunHwE_TrDhVr3T_3X97kGMxQ/s725/John-Nada-Tye-Live-Roddy-Piper-Keith-David-h2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="725" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEKo66vwjx2PyaqLUgAT9oscAXAEWiWUxsrrazIvfOjsaoprnn_vaGNIbxQpBV9A9aDX4eS7xaM8Pl1w3d9qgWv8v-BofP47i1wNbJbv-qiBn9HGNIz4xQA2p8R-5Gw4r0q_iKGR1j-_zL3BVqLC4zoFNPyNJ69DJ1tAunHwE_TrDhVr3T_3X97kGMxQ/s320/John-Nada-Tye-Live-Roddy-Piper-Keith-David-h2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGRZIqZykW4Cp48ZOADVH2-YIIU5U80yN6T6TAhDNXPEXcsIPqS1vbFBr4DPxUKPensW9dVE80eUhMmgJjkh3nuikf6vev-KfEGawtD1jlYS_EYHXYENs3RvPcQsGyyQRIwXWmAWtf0Jc8xHbor17QcCESx-iH24PmDxveAiW94CRohLvChgWoicTW7Q/s851/They%20Live_5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="851" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGRZIqZykW4Cp48ZOADVH2-YIIU5U80yN6T6TAhDNXPEXcsIPqS1vbFBr4DPxUKPensW9dVE80eUhMmgJjkh3nuikf6vev-KfEGawtD1jlYS_EYHXYENs3RvPcQsGyyQRIwXWmAWtf0Jc8xHbor17QcCESx-iH24PmDxveAiW94CRohLvChgWoicTW7Q/s320/They%20Live_5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>Final Verdict:</u></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>In today's political and socio-economic climate, perhaps <i>They Live</i> is relevant in that sense and playing it off as a cynical piece as a drama which has something to say. Its lack of balance of action, which it could have done a lot more with, characterisation, as straightforward as it is, bland and no- personality characters really ran this movie to the ground. It is a low-key effort; it is not bad but as mentioned I didn't love it as I wanted it to, given how nostalgic it is and how much it has been lauded as a cult classic. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>We could have had something along the lines of <i>Big Trouble in Little China, Dead Heat, The Thing</i>; at least I liked Roddy Piper's mullet in this. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A-B-movie <i>They Live</i> is for sure. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Overall: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR1aKrsbVckcYHteUJvqq4GIA9gb2uLHXqlDpEu3-LFkJOtaTcdl-8X62C4TrXTGAtBgV1MUuHlQr6Axa6B6pM_FVTNWD0yMTCKpNafT3FosiW3vJ7eqGAeL2SoqWNQGiZNLHv4IEQQcl-2A4oeBPQv1s5LHZieFTN9_GyGQFuK0nYCfzXY8KloAefuA/s105/vecteezy%206.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="105" data-original-width="100" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR1aKrsbVckcYHteUJvqq4GIA9gb2uLHXqlDpEu3-LFkJOtaTcdl-8X62C4TrXTGAtBgV1MUuHlQr6Axa6B6pM_FVTNWD0yMTCKpNafT3FosiW3vJ7eqGAeL2SoqWNQGiZNLHv4IEQQcl-2A4oeBPQv1s5LHZieFTN9_GyGQFuK0nYCfzXY8KloAefuA/s1600/vecteezy%206.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">image credit: <a href="https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/11114146-numbering-icon-template" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bakemon</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIf9gFBn21wHucJLERf0V_n7hComdvgfJgDP-nqcaqA4S3vxMMGCm6Y1zrIh0nEyJ4nfL8_HkCs0fXlu0uuiFvtQArqgPjHqghOr8H5Y0OI33mV_FzNHX6azYdk6PK1tHldjIf1pP2dg2r6arlPSOAGYenUs-MNGIV1Qu6aOaurrwSM-ExaDhy6TThtw/s500/3zbqcm37pd9c1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="500" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIf9gFBn21wHucJLERf0V_n7hComdvgfJgDP-nqcaqA4S3vxMMGCm6Y1zrIh0nEyJ4nfL8_HkCs0fXlu0uuiFvtQArqgPjHqghOr8H5Y0OI33mV_FzNHX6azYdk6PK1tHldjIf1pP2dg2r6arlPSOAGYenUs-MNGIV1Qu6aOaurrwSM-ExaDhy6TThtw/w400-h170/3zbqcm37pd9c1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-52443791281874338602023-12-26T14:36:00.011+00:002024-02-01T20:05:01.417+00:002023 Year-End in Review<span style="font-family: arial;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNioJ-X7ztFpoTU81MH6Z1PfyUbiN1kRVBxKB_b-7Cdx8iT444GQMytM7uP_AULDnfJvTCrWWXX-AH9_eihl9tOYVtbU2iv9ticC0K5zt6dwAevsM21zD6mbywWBE0Ka0QNaJGru-jOp8G9H8D_TvG7dfLAJYJnv9_mebMjDlc0lnDDwanOXtQK32yDg/s5820/high-angle-delicious-cupcake-firework.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5820" data-original-width="3885" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNioJ-X7ztFpoTU81MH6Z1PfyUbiN1kRVBxKB_b-7Cdx8iT444GQMytM7uP_AULDnfJvTCrWWXX-AH9_eihl9tOYVtbU2iv9ticC0K5zt6dwAevsM21zD6mbywWBE0Ka0QNaJGru-jOp8G9H8D_TvG7dfLAJYJnv9_mebMjDlc0lnDDwanOXtQK32yDg/s320/high-angle-delicious-cupcake-firework.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /> <br /><a href="Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/high-angle-delicious-cupcake-firework_29370936.htm#query=end%20of%20year&position=11&from_view=search&track=ais&uuid=cd7dd6fb-83a3-49c7-b143-6dff10271e5c">Freepik</a>" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Image</a> by <i>Freepik</i><br /><br /><br /><b>By Waiching</b><br /><br />In 2022, I experienced a lot of disappointment and unhappiness. As the year ended, I was relieved to put it behind me and eager to turn over a new chapter and to make sure that my work efforts in 2023 stood out and that it was a year filled with more positive highlights.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">At the start of the year, things were looking good. Even though we had no permanent manager or supervisor in charge of the food court for several months, I was making good progress with my work and receiving positive feedback from members about my contributions. Over time, there were various changes in the employee roster at <i>Costco.</i> Some individuals departed, and others joined the department. While most new faces were welcome to the team, there were a few who left that were not missed.<b> (It is amusing to me that the same two people who once advised me to stick to my regular work at <i>Costco</i> were the ones who eventually quit their jobs at the food court. They believed that I was not good enough to serve members or prepare food, but, ironically, they were the ones who ended up leaving). </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I realise I will never find my worth in another person or their opinions. I have cultivated a not-give-a-damn attitude and got used to not taking what people say or do to me personally; that's them, their image of me, of how they perceive me - but I don't have to agree or accept it. I have self-worth and pride and some get me and understand me; by not getting upset or overreacting by taking things personally, ignoring and moving on, I feel at inner peace with myself. Seeking validation from other people devalues my self-worth and sets me up for heartbreak and sadness. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />On certain days, things go smoothly, while on others, they don't. Even though I have mixed feelings about the café, it still seems like this is the most appropriate place for me to develop my skills. The department has been experiencing a high turnover rate every year, which is not uncommon in large corporations such as <i>Costco</i>. They are always in need of new workers and hope that the employees have invested too much time and effort to resign, once they do the bait and switch.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The present-day food court team is doing well and has improved in strength and drive. It's always good to witness a team that works well together when things go well. As for the self-service kiosks they have made the process slightly efficient and there are no longer any queues to contend with. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />At the end of last year, I made the conscious decision to take a step back by focusing on and prioritising myself and not relying on other people for my happiness. As a result, I ended my relationship with a colleague whom I had known for almost four years. I felt she was not respecting my boundaries, particularly when I needed space. There was also an incident at work that I won't go into detail about, but it made me realize that I needed to cut ties with her for good. This experience taught me that it's okay to be independent and to prioritize my own needs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In 2023 things weren't perfect, but I felt like at the start there was a new dawn, a new beginning after some people at work, including my previous manager left. I like being able to challenge myself without someone constantly monitoring me. It is through these experiences and the people we meet that build our character; that we can grow and mature emotionally and get the best out of each other. Either we become better individuals or we remain stagnant. Or it reminds us how we ought not to be like him/her. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The cost-of-living crisis has been a hot topic for discussion lately, but fortunately, I earn a good income from my work. <b>The years of overseas travel continued in 2023: In February, I returned to Hong Kong, which is like a second home. It's one of my favourite cities in the world. Later on, I visited Los Angeles for the first time. While both trips were very different, they offered a much-needed respite from my daily work routine.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibinMPwB912iPpyzDmnEYyVGlpPidAOPfvVt2tG5tb1SxM-FlnPn9pPte6T4VmysgKiW3rbg5UzycvRZ3Giv49JvzE6ngNYQNKo8tOFLFl0vLcwiAuOzZBUzCzBNEbXZq39P1otigwEOGfySg0MR37Co0HcaYs2AZ5zpPux36kEXyPiLli1QpgzD5EQiU/s3840/IMG_20230225_090725.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibinMPwB912iPpyzDmnEYyVGlpPidAOPfvVt2tG5tb1SxM-FlnPn9pPte6T4VmysgKiW3rbg5UzycvRZ3Giv49JvzE6ngNYQNKo8tOFLFl0vLcwiAuOzZBUzCzBNEbXZq39P1otigwEOGfySg0MR37Co0HcaYs2AZ5zpPux36kEXyPiLli1QpgzD5EQiU/s320/IMG_20230225_090725.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Looking back on this year, I am proud to say that my biggest accomplishment was reaching five years of service in the food court of Costco, making me the longest-serving employee in that department at the warehouse. Surviving for half a decade in the fast-paced environment of the Costco food court/cafe, despite the many challenges that come with working in a department that experiences high turnover rates every year, is no easy feat. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In 2023, I became more aware of the importance and impact of my work contributions. This realization motivated me to take my career to new heights by becoming more proactive. I also discovered that I possess a considerable amount of self-confidence and self-worth, which enabled me to take on various tasks that were required of me.<br /><br />When faced with a difficult task, it may seem impossible and daunting at first. However, with persistence, it can be achieved. In my case, I found that the more I worked in the back, the easier it became. I was serving members and ringing up orders, something I had not done before. Initially, I was hesitant and worried that I would not be able to do it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In the past, I used to get so caught up in my emotions that it affected my work or prevented me from doing it. But now, years later, I've learned to set them aside. I don't get upset or emotional as much as I used to, and I'm far less angry and pent-up than before.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">However, I still had to stand up for myself when certain people tried to push my buttons.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">When you are in anger mode, you have no clarity. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><i>It was a real challenge to accept that other people's behaviour towards me had nothing to do with me. Instead, it was more about the internal issues that they were dealing with.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />My intuition is telling me that something is not right with that person. However, I try to ignore it and give them another chance because I am usually a forgiving person. But then, they continue or repeatedly persist with the same behaviour that is triggering me, even though they are unaware of it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>I need to keep reminding myself that I am not responsible for managing other people's emotions, especially from people I would never give them the time of day, otherwise. I don't owe anyone any comfort, and if they can't or won't accept me for who I am, I won't force them. </b></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't live my life for them.</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I don't like to judge people and write them off completely unless they have done something or said something to me that has made me lose trust in them. Some people might not give them another chance, and only some deserve a second chance. <i><u>However, I have realized that my self-worth is not dependent or co-dependent on other people's acceptance of me. </u></i>They might have an image of who I should be in their eyes, and vice versa, but that is not reality. I am the one who is in control of my life, my destiny, my emotions, and my feelings, not anyone else.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>I am who I am for myself, and not for anyone else. What others think or say about me does not define me. I know my self-worth, and I don't need anyone's validation to feel good about myself. Besides, you should never allow anyone else's thoughts, remarks, opinions, or comments about you to determine your self-worth and validate who you are. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>You may take them with a grain of salt, but nobody knows you better than yourself. And if people decide to have a negative opinion of you, yet throw a hissy fit when you have something to say about them, remind yourself they are being hypocritical and unfair to themselves as well as to you. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br />I have learned to appreciate the simple things in life, and I no longer chase after people who do not appreciate me. I value those who matter to me and cherish their presence. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I used to tolerate a lot because I didn't want to lose people and I have not been able to deal with the insecurities of my childhood past, <i>but I now realize and understand that <u>not</u> everyone is worth holding onto.</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9C0-oLYXht35TSxbKrzzE0jRmF8mTaz_9mVCZDH3Ga8gC8JniHZFZhtCZu3ZqsRdxxebiq2NU44l5EDgNDKhI_TrYnZPsMQIMr2ibWJoLCWQesz7-bC6L1KT3CDwENiwQbudPSKNFsk6SO6-J0jcJ31cSkmtSSmw0pbgMfi2oPOKK_wy0EVCTmRqL1Q/s3840/7742140-Mel-Robbins-Quote-It-s-so-sad-because-waiting-for-validation-will.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9C0-oLYXht35TSxbKrzzE0jRmF8mTaz_9mVCZDH3Ga8gC8JniHZFZhtCZu3ZqsRdxxebiq2NU44l5EDgNDKhI_TrYnZPsMQIMr2ibWJoLCWQesz7-bC6L1KT3CDwENiwQbudPSKNFsk6SO6-J0jcJ31cSkmtSSmw0pbgMfi2oPOKK_wy0EVCTmRqL1Q/s320/7742140-Mel-Robbins-Quote-It-s-so-sad-because-waiting-for-validation-will.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></b>Having been at <i>Costco</i> for five years, it has been quite a ride. In late 2018, the cafe team, with its original members, was performing well. However, things became hectic and chaotic in 2019 and 2021. Despite the challenges, I was able to perform better in 2021. Although 2023 presented many difficulties, it was still a significant improvement over the previous year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In 2022 it permeated an overwhelmingly jaundiced sentiment that made me loathe it even more. I said to one colleague of mine how last year was a 'total s*** show'. Well, for me it was. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It is important to take the time to reflect on both our successes and our failures or goals that we didn't achieve. In my personal experience, I have undergone a journey of growth, resilience and self-discovery, which is ongoing. Change and evolution are inevitable and can be felt over time, whether we acknowledge them or not. </span>Every year, I learn something new. If I make mistakes, I must learn from them. If something good happens, I cherish the memory.</div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />After waiting in line, I have finally realized that I have accomplished a great deal. Despite the multiple line-up changes, working at the café/food court has been incredibly gruelling and challenging, with long days and nights. We all know that we work harder than many other departments and we do not need anyone to affirm this. However, the café team has made significant progress in the past year and is in a much better place today than it was last year at this time. </span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Throughout the first four years, I was primarily focused on my work and managed to achieve positive results. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Looking back, I now realize that emotionally I wasn't in the right place. I used to try to control situations and people, always trying to make things work out the way I wanted. This approach left me feeling miserable and unhappy. I came to the realization that I was seeking validation and respect from others, believing that this would bring me happiness. However, towards the end of 2022, I discovered that this approach had its drawbacks and that I had placed my happiness in the hands of others so I decided to stop.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>My journey through life's ups and downs, based on my shared experiences, may not be understandable to everyone. However, that is perfectly okay because it is not their journey to comprehend. In the same way, their journey is not for me to understand. Once I decided to stop caring about what others say or think about me, set boundaries, and cut off people who did not respect them, and those who gave me mixed signals, I could move forward. Working life helped me grow a backbone, - something that was lacking in my past life.</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">My energy and intuition weren't for everyone and no longer served a purpose to him or her. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Healthy relationships are built on mutual trust, honesty, and open communication, rather than attachment. When communication is lacking, problems are likely to arise. If it seems that the relationship with the other person is not productive, then either it is an unhealthy relationship or there is very little to gain from it.</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">As time goes by, relationships between people can change. There are some individuals with whom I used to converse frequently, but now I hardly talk to them, or perhaps not at all. Some others may have gone out of my life completely. I have also realized that people have many different aspects of their personality, and they may reveal a part of themselves that we had not seen before.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">I need to prioritize those who matter in my life and align with my values and <i><u>not</u> waste my time on those who do not reciprocate the same level of attention & energy as mine.</i></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />It has been a challenging year that has resulted in personal growth and transformation. It is easy to become overwhelmed by problems, issues, and difficulties, as well as the behaviour of others who may say more about them than us. It is important to stay positive and focused on our goals, even when things don't go as planned. We should keep moving forward day by day and continue to do the best we can. It is also important to avoid getting distracted by things and people that do not concern us or do not have our best interests at heart. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We shouldn't let anything or anyone hold us back. If we had not crossed paths with them, we would not even pay them any attention in the first place.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyI7NAxMkUsnMl0G5hJH38qaZw3dZ2_xEDYdAVsZGPfZ6MczbUj7jHtQII4FH9L7g4ncLY7MefPve78HXTqRR_wTMbqYjw3XQc4rvDkPF4AXd-IUfzfyS1kMrfDUXyPJUeenLq3BMK4GOdgmTD9eB0Qr4VUiE5NIqVVrV8m-PDhNkTxLxYhJaNx3-KyM/s4000/square-i-am-stronger-than-i-think-beads-text-typography-red.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyI7NAxMkUsnMl0G5hJH38qaZw3dZ2_xEDYdAVsZGPfZ6MczbUj7jHtQII4FH9L7g4ncLY7MefPve78HXTqRR_wTMbqYjw3XQc4rvDkPF4AXd-IUfzfyS1kMrfDUXyPJUeenLq3BMK4GOdgmTD9eB0Qr4VUiE5NIqVVrV8m-PDhNkTxLxYhJaNx3-KyM/s320/square-i-am-stronger-than-i-think-beads-text-typography-red.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">(<a href="<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/square-i-am-stronger-than-i-think-beads-text-typography-red_13300000.htm#query=hard%20work%20pays%20off%20quote&position=23&from_view=search&track=ais&uuid=7dd8bfd0-2550-4a24-ba28-6c4eb21172c9">Image by rawpixel.com</a> on Freepik" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Image</a> by rawpixel.com on <i>Freepik</i>) </span></div><div><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>When we let go of our expectations of others and stop hoping for unlikely outcomes, we liberate ourselves from disappointment and the sudden urge to control or manipulate people into liking or respecting us. Rather, we can choose to be supportive, caring, and empathetic, which can help us avoid significant emotional burdens.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>When we accept others for who they really are, without feeling guilty or resentful, and allow things to be as they are, we gain acceptance that everyone has the freedom to live their lives as they wish, as long as their thoughts, actions, and behaviours do not undermine or hurt us.</b></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>We gain a better understanding of ourselves and of them, which often leads to a much healthier relationship when we choose not to place expectations on him/her.</i></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">One thing I need to be always wary of is if I am unsure, I still need to speak up in person to prevent a mistake or issue from occurring or taking place. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div>I have come to a point in my life where I cannot go back to the difficult times I faced in 2019 or 2022. For the next five years, I will have to rely on my own drive and initiative to succeed at <i>Costco</i>. I know my worth and I don't feel the need to justify myself to anyone anymore.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first five years were mentally and emotionally challenging for me, and I have had my fair share of both good and bad experiences. I believe that those experiences at <i>Costco</i> have shaped me into the person that I am currently. I am now in a stronger position to face the challenges of the future. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>I understand and accept that life is unpredictable, but I am determined to continue to do my best at work. I have realized that my state of happiness lies with me, <i><u>and I am the only one responsible for it.</u></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>I am excited to see what the next five years have in store for me. I am eager to grow personally and professionally in all areas of my life. Progressional growth is high on my list of priorities and I am confident that with hard work and determination, there is more success to come.</b></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwxuI-Yob71CHAz1_n3rZzuu-kCoj_Mk1m2PHlG60sy1xu1NPLpKqrHsdF2KE5xy0JRN5HgG5XTq0jjBq2y3Qsgqb7vJGPBH4oZT8lPkEQaqo7josbq2T-CO5VyuJfCAJAh9qjTkOkpmKltMUeCQOaIt0D_qIKGUf_-t4dF6u5YlFfQmNSwHqOPvMQUs/s1000/sometimes-you-win-sometimes-you-learn-quote-with-beads.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwxuI-Yob71CHAz1_n3rZzuu-kCoj_Mk1m2PHlG60sy1xu1NPLpKqrHsdF2KE5xy0JRN5HgG5XTq0jjBq2y3Qsgqb7vJGPBH4oZT8lPkEQaqo7josbq2T-CO5VyuJfCAJAh9qjTkOkpmKltMUeCQOaIt0D_qIKGUf_-t4dF6u5YlFfQmNSwHqOPvMQUs/s320/sometimes-you-win-sometimes-you-learn-quote-with-beads.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/sometimes-you-win-sometimes-you-learn-quote-with-beads_15439713.htm#query=know%20your%20worth%20quote&position=3&from_view=search&track=ais&uuid=d9dd66eb-b1f8-48b3-abf8-b43033a3c4ac">Image by rawpixel.com</a> on Freepik" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Image</a> by rawpixel on Freepik</span></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial;">*A generative AI tool on Grammarly was used for the editing process of this post</span></b></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Highs +</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />- Travelling to Hong Kong in February and Los Angeles in October<br />- The member compliments <br />- Finally getting to work in the kitchen after 5 years devoted to cleaning the tables <br />- The cafe team from September onwards <br />- I was happier and more content most of the time than in 2022 </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">- Reaching 5 years in the Costco cafe/food court </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Lows -</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />- Early May, July & August <br />- When I had an injury in early December, December was a challenging time for me </span><br /><br /></div></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-9028941124190661732023-11-20T18:07:00.005+00:002023-11-20T20:54:24.170+00:00Los Angeles: My Own Thoughts <div class="separator"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">By Waiching </span></b></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Los Angeles was one of those must-go-to-places/cities on my bucket list and for the experience alone, you have to go and see it to believe it. It is the USA's second-largest city after New York.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />There are places and cities around the world that have earned their reputation for being what it is: I'll be honest, Los Angeles appealed to me because I was interested in film and TV and it was a major draw for me in wanting to explore the area. Sometimes, it took me by surprise that my impressions of Los Angeles and this city that had so much to offer besides Hollywood were rather far-fetched. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />What with its reputation, yet come to think of it, L. A doesn't quite rival New York in the overly impressive U.S. big city stakes when it comes to the tourist attractions or lack of. <b>The fact of the matter is, what I and my sister realised is if you strip away that aspect of L.A, there probably isn't much going for it and as unique the Mexican and South American influences are, they take a massive backseat to the glamorous, showbizzy stuff that goes on. </b><br /><br />To get to various places in the city, we had to take Ubers and took the subway transit a few times. Los Angeles isn't a walkable city by any means; there was always some type of obstruction right around the corner, although we still walked it on foot because the weather was nice. But it shows how inconvenient & underdeveloped the public transportation system and its infrastructure is, compared to London, New York, and even Hong Kong and still it is heavily reliant on cars, buses, and trains. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJR7l67LosN6rNivZCgl-BTlsX-YC1nWEQafiLqqW9GbBY-DtwSjr1TyQQx8iRmyiHHDwKuHjwTL_tT6FACvbSURBtTz8RYynLBvQ47B1IXhf3RstGNikv-BbY3ZfvmtJO-5wr5x2V4sWMcY5u-DkPwPjmRjxl-ViIr7mrzEu5l6B9Ly3qehKcCOp48I/s3840/IMG_20231026_101828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJR7l67LosN6rNivZCgl-BTlsX-YC1nWEQafiLqqW9GbBY-DtwSjr1TyQQx8iRmyiHHDwKuHjwTL_tT6FACvbSURBtTz8RYynLBvQ47B1IXhf3RstGNikv-BbY3ZfvmtJO-5wr5x2V4sWMcY5u-DkPwPjmRjxl-ViIr7mrzEu5l6B9Ly3qehKcCOp48I/s320/IMG_20231026_101828.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">Regarding the Hollywood sign, it is a massive hike that we were not going to take, so we took a photo of it from afar instead. And we had to make do with a shorter trek across the sign, which was located at Ovation, Hollywood and Highland. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">My experiences were for the most part, okay. I preferred it over Washington D.C. just about because I was into TV and movies, and Los Angeles is the home to many TV and film studios. As well as various films have been shot and produced in Hollywood. We did skip the theme parks such as Disneyland as they were not our type of thing. </span></div></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">But it doesn't come close to New York, and I enjoyed Boston even more. I'm probably wrong, but downtown</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> at night had no sign of life, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Chinatown in Los Angeles was a cop-out: one evening, when we arrived at about 7pm or something after getting off the subway, almost all of the shops and restaurants were closed. We ate in a restaurant, </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Foo Chow</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> that was featured in the film, </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Rush Hour</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> which was made famous as Jackie Chan was in it, but the food itself left a lot to be desired. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt10sdypPFrhqCnzpkcOG4F3xMCr8QQgwxilGvHxFakZAVKVvWB8y8aLVqSS8hiWwGpVTQ3qYamI0CaakzXHcbVE32ps5ayO_BneFBokKsrDLsZ7KjQFYHw1me6cvRTZeY_vEfhDHYoH7SElH1fvd-MidTnwTOpYT8bpGPBhGx4L6oOYZ1CmSfet0LN5o/s3840/Katy%20perry%20former%20house.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt10sdypPFrhqCnzpkcOG4F3xMCr8QQgwxilGvHxFakZAVKVvWB8y8aLVqSS8hiWwGpVTQ3qYamI0CaakzXHcbVE32ps5ayO_BneFBokKsrDLsZ7KjQFYHw1me6cvRTZeY_vEfhDHYoH7SElH1fvd-MidTnwTOpYT8bpGPBhGx4L6oOYZ1CmSfet0LN5o/s320/Katy%20perry%20former%20house.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Katy Perry's former home </b><br /><br /><br />The Hollywood Walk of Fame, whilst it was okay to look at and explore, didn't wow us and wasn't a big deal. It's just a bunch of stars & and their names littered on the pavement: some looked like they needed sprucing up as they had cracks on them. If you are really into sightseeing, then fair enough, but in terms of seeing celebrities out and about, that only happens sometimes. Or rarely at all. I had not met or seen one famous actor or celebrity when I and my sister were there. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unless they count the presenter of Dr Pimple Popper, the TLC series in Sandra Lee, which my sister bumped into at Ovation. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">They tend to live right up in the Hollywood Hills or the mansions or up in Beverly Hills. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Sadly the city is marred by crackheads and rough sleepers in Skid Row, shady individuals wandering around Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame area, tour sellers (some who came across as desperate by flogging you tickets) and people wearing daft costumes selling pamphlets or getting you to take a picture with them; it stinks of urine and weed, and then there's the state's sales tax, which took me by surprise, and the burden that it is really expensive (but that is to be expected everywhere in a big internationally renowned city, given we are in a cost-of-living crisis and cities are still recovering after 2-3 years of covid). </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oqdNMNBtqCXW7ULQAykdbyABqIF0xjvvM7XMjCXYKNn-qBBPNvK3bL3-hkJqQWYp_Z80ieS9Wr07BnPMgSykvD3mT1-55luUDTq6zZbnfUXreIb08eMlaHOUpfaS3P-NvSf6kW7Kftav6t_fHdw0VMd9E5SvUNYkCId5wBAyNIK4VCEVKib9PlApEf4/s3840/IMG_20231024_101336.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oqdNMNBtqCXW7ULQAykdbyABqIF0xjvvM7XMjCXYKNn-qBBPNvK3bL3-hkJqQWYp_Z80ieS9Wr07BnPMgSykvD3mT1-55luUDTq6zZbnfUXreIb08eMlaHOUpfaS3P-NvSf6kW7Kftav6t_fHdw0VMd9E5SvUNYkCId5wBAyNIK4VCEVKib9PlApEf4/s320/IMG_20231024_101336.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">That isn't to say our time in L.A. was a complete loss, though; <i>I still enjoyed my time away from working life and away from London.</i> The weather was nice and we had some good grub to eat. I enjoyed stepping foot inside the supermarkets/grocery stores to see the different types of food items that they had and people are a lot more relaxed and chilled and not as in-yer-face as those in New York; despite that, I loved the fast-paced, hustle and bustle of New York, that energetic buzz that L. A lacks. Hollywood Boulevard/Hollywood & Vine, was okay but if you were to ask me to choose between Times Square and Hollywood Boulevard, I'd go for the former. Having been to both cities, New York still has that cutting edge.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />New York and Los Angeles are completely worlds apart: one is on the East Coast, and the other is on the West and close to Mexico, hence the Latino influences throughout L.A. and its past colonial history and is a very highly capitalistic-oriented culture. One has a higher cost of living than the other in NY, one city is fast-paced, and the other is more relaxed. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI4jSm_S5oF6ew5UD2p7f0YBtpVmIKr-JjHZ_3mfri1bcbwPq-QIo8RJskMleJsuotWBmbI5at-qnyAfP4v5i399DVt-pOgOPOdFuOGqgJ7FE5JHqU6-NNYRBfEingdC06bFf7strTGCX0RMbu0JUd7voa-LiZ0cQhmCPF0X32HmxhEpEMJHOcgoLceU/s3840/IMG_20231025_135949.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI4jSm_S5oF6ew5UD2p7f0YBtpVmIKr-JjHZ_3mfri1bcbwPq-QIo8RJskMleJsuotWBmbI5at-qnyAfP4v5i399DVt-pOgOPOdFuOGqgJ7FE5JHqU6-NNYRBfEingdC06bFf7strTGCX0RMbu0JUd7voa-LiZ0cQhmCPF0X32HmxhEpEMJHOcgoLceU/s320/IMG_20231025_135949.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>(left-hand side: the hotel that was featured in the movie, Pretty Woman)</b></i><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKI6EAAVna32K1zh4uiG7HLfYGfRqGy27uHqCQemqYghGD2POiMgYssRY5NEgwHkoqoPjIT5r7xmGUCqaX44yuG3I1RKQQsN0ZSscsrL0TcsaBF4MWodbdGmmW_FOOYZVAXl6G4K9cAYHIzaUO2y_2IEaaQg2PreA9rehG6vm4-ME93Irm6FlU3qwi4g/s3840/IMG_20231024_153536.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">As I mentioned, people say that L. A is one of those cities everyone must experience and visit once in their lives to be able to form an opinion: is it for everyone though? The answer is no, and I wouldn't return until a couple of years down the line. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />If there is one regret is that we could have spent a few more days in the city; we were there for like 4, 5 days- and that is still not enough time to see and do everything, or see, do things we wanted to do, but couldn't do. My opinion on L. A would have differed for the better. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />I feel as though San Francisco - a city I meant to go to - might be a better fit for me and is more comparable to New York; it has more in common with that city than Los Angeles through Little Italy and Chinatown. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />L.A. is, fine personally speaking, and is worth coming to for the photo opportunities and to get a few souvenirs, but that's mainly it. <br /><b><br /><br /><span style="color: #073763;"><i>The plus points</i> +</span>: the hotel we stayed in The Adler is very good, the bus tours, lovely weather, markets and food shopping were good </b></span><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /><i>The bad points</i> -</span>: Chinatown is not worth it, the city is too spread out, the homelessness issue is a concern, druggies on the streets, the city is not commutable-friendly nor walkable, the metro system isn't as good as in New York</span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84Jns7s0lUIm2sFuraq70GpqKa5jmcwxzOr1HRhPy3fcIxh6iGbt2N_vLR8ysm33Og-lr9M3lAoM8CdUHAKW-xyR7Xhcd1YIiwHWAUjcLrYk9FxnvOP7i8MXlq0WTczRrxJpSs76YfHuiuXYFlBxRTQXg3lxsmEX6EQmeo39-RZ2kjfoGqtN0ah8UPDA/s3840/IMG_20231025_101528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84Jns7s0lUIm2sFuraq70GpqKa5jmcwxzOr1HRhPy3fcIxh6iGbt2N_vLR8ysm33Og-lr9M3lAoM8CdUHAKW-xyR7Xhcd1YIiwHWAUjcLrYk9FxnvOP7i8MXlq0WTczRrxJpSs76YfHuiuXYFlBxRTQXg3lxsmEX6EQmeo39-RZ2kjfoGqtN0ah8UPDA/s320/IMG_20231025_101528.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1yIl-4zbKfp25VydDajS18hmwxNprF9howYwj19q6vBg_f_kWkND6cHCyJr9Hj17zRxenS4-OvjwnKjW3Vz6sPcvgQUzdM1WBs9wshpie8vMChxCYe_biA8RyDD-9AQDf7ftPexK4RN84awRIobmeMP0jtIVVCgmKnqG40VilVwoJv1DPL9Zq_wkC8A/s3840/IMG_20231025_131453.jpg" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1yIl-4zbKfp25VydDajS18hmwxNprF9howYwj19q6vBg_f_kWkND6cHCyJr9Hj17zRxenS4-OvjwnKjW3Vz6sPcvgQUzdM1WBs9wshpie8vMChxCYe_biA8RyDD-9AQDf7ftPexK4RN84awRIobmeMP0jtIVVCgmKnqG40VilVwoJv1DPL9Zq_wkC8A/s320/IMG_20231025_131453.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9q1dv1dvA3PEh_Af4qxdpcKv4i-HsD_2hk-CTmac9mjHZW5Sobem5TFzyLHVJCtFTo0avb9PGOUymtWG85c-RkKGmvk0xd9-pEgjV7uyywF6bI12txDitQikRbLiKM_go2teCQRbHBZqlOMDusfDuh_ebxarezlxbrkzPEPSWOPMSevGyu-bwEiFPFM/s3840/IMG_20231024_094036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9q1dv1dvA3PEh_Af4qxdpcKv4i-HsD_2hk-CTmac9mjHZW5Sobem5TFzyLHVJCtFTo0avb9PGOUymtWG85c-RkKGmvk0xd9-pEgjV7uyywF6bI12txDitQikRbLiKM_go2teCQRbHBZqlOMDusfDuh_ebxarezlxbrkzPEPSWOPMSevGyu-bwEiFPFM/s320/IMG_20231024_094036.jpg" width="180" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-56812719741439692462023-09-14T00:55:00.003+01:002024-02-07T23:13:23.390+00:00Retro Review: The Bone Collector (1999)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The Bone Collector<br />1999<br />Cast: Denzil Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker, Luis Guzman, Leland Orser, Ed O'Neil <br />Genre: Crime Thriller <br />Worldwide Box Office Gross: $151 million</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot:</i> A quadriplegic ex-homicide detective and his partner track down a serial killer who is terrorizing New York City</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH5MUanVYQN76uKqCEJP6w6sA_hqb9Gg1c-Mg73ZTbSLyKfJEPB2-6It67wlrFLykDKOvX_2iphadkFp2pogm5zrax4K9Z2_fxDtyyfNsjj0UY_ymIw2QFeaDfaCmvmNymUJBODaEfd0fINujJQzftfN5_Oh9UU57tFMajxxtncDaaTjPlVkL8IvC7Y0/s1000/91a-7Z86Q1L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="711" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH5MUanVYQN76uKqCEJP6w6sA_hqb9Gg1c-Mg73ZTbSLyKfJEPB2-6It67wlrFLykDKOvX_2iphadkFp2pogm5zrax4K9Z2_fxDtyyfNsjj0UY_ymIw2QFeaDfaCmvmNymUJBODaEfd0fINujJQzftfN5_Oh9UU57tFMajxxtncDaaTjPlVkL8IvC7Y0/s320/91a-7Z86Q1L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p><i><u><b><span style="font-family: arial;">'Sweet Little (Murder) Mystery'</span></b></u></i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Based on the novel by Jeffrey Deaver, <i>The Bone Collector</i> follows Lincoln Rhyme: a paraplegic forensic specialist, an NYPD homicide investigator and a team of police officers that include beat-patrol rookie cop Amelia (Angelina Jolie) and Paulie (Ed O'Neil) in their hunt and capture of a serial killer, after a string of mysterious murders in and around New York crop up. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With a slow-moving plot, the film managed to keep me glued and engaged to the suspense that it had me on the edge of my seat despite the unravelling of the serial killer, which might have thrown a lot of people off. But it made the story even more intense and entertaining to watch. The more the film went on, the more I got into the plot, as you and I wondered what might happen next. Both Denzel and Angelina gave impressive turns in their roles, Lincoln and Amelia as we see in action two performers, way before they reached mega-stardom, looking assured as they carried this movie from beginning to end.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of Angelina Jolie's earlier performances on the big screen, she was relatively unknown at this time, it is also one of her most impressive; as Amelia, she is given a lot to do and plays a significant role in the story, and whilst Denzel is bed-bound 99% of the time in this film, as Lincoln he still manages to dig deep and aid Amelia. Given that he spends so much time unable to move about, he has to rely a lot on his nurse, Thelma (Queen Latifah) and Amelia. This plot device enabled the film to be better and feel not as conventional as other serial killer-based crime thrillers. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It's not as graphically shocking nor exceedingly violent as<i> Se7en</i> and <i>The Silence of the Lambs</i>, although </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Bone Collector </em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">appears to be going for the typical movie-going audience demographic, given the strength of the main leads; the headline double act in Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie illicit good chemistry and they came across as believable and convincing as their characters. To this day, it still holds up well. Phillip Noyce (responsible for the Patriot Games & </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Clear and Present Danger,</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> and lest we can forget, </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Saint </em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">and the sleaze fest, </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Sliver</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">) might have stated he wasn't a fan of this movie and felt as if he was part of an assembly line of 1990s psychological thrillers. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Bone Collector</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> has become one of my favourite thrillers that doubles up as a reasonably tense, solid and satisfying cat-and-mouse murder mystery with insightful characters, an impressive cast, and a somewhat convincing villain to boot. It works thanks to the kills, surprising plot twists and gripping tension. It needed real panic and urgency, and the kills, which, whilst they were all right, required to have been more gory and gruesome. I was also a little baffled by the killer's motivations after his identity was revealed; it resulted in more questions than answers. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaIn_qBUdFMoZPSGZ2-IhsO-V1IrQyRVBOSwgG1fguSwV4AoBPh4mkSP23buSt41C3uVNLPr6JhH0mRBK8aFBarK9oWYtoozV74oB8BSgTpk649q_ONj3z0Vhfd6XXHajb88e-t-YrKnOqw0FK1sNMxHb1hssgq7Ts5gmfJJ5jieIv3BSqoB5G4R4I44/s800/8a4516ffe0a34d7bc59e1baf4efb5f4a.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaIn_qBUdFMoZPSGZ2-IhsO-V1IrQyRVBOSwgG1fguSwV4AoBPh4mkSP23buSt41C3uVNLPr6JhH0mRBK8aFBarK9oWYtoozV74oB8BSgTpk649q_ONj3z0Vhfd6XXHajb88e-t-YrKnOqw0FK1sNMxHb1hssgq7Ts5gmfJJ5jieIv3BSqoB5G4R4I44/s320/8a4516ffe0a34d7bc59e1baf4efb5f4a.png" width="216" /></a></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8Fli8Wm7cvwYQE5EBHW4Nm3A4uwI8WoaBoMeqB1nuNbmVt3u_OBt1OMghXTwxrTr_r8Bs8KJl5kJZ9HEMWIrSi0QZHobVsqyGz8mh2MHCn4f__JCWdaYu8OSIa8_3SGp4VlnVItqM4OwZybbhi2ZIRa-XDup3SYOCFahorAI8Spxvlxl-rHKQXUqOuk/s1920/unnamed%20(7).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8Fli8Wm7cvwYQE5EBHW4Nm3A4uwI8WoaBoMeqB1nuNbmVt3u_OBt1OMghXTwxrTr_r8Bs8KJl5kJZ9HEMWIrSi0QZHobVsqyGz8mh2MHCn4f__JCWdaYu8OSIa8_3SGp4VlnVItqM4OwZybbhi2ZIRa-XDup3SYOCFahorAI8Spxvlxl-rHKQXUqOuk/s320/unnamed%20(7).jpg" width="320" /></a></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUjBjn4XFMdwWRRpTDl5G9e_lfTmGMMfx2Zaa0lLidsUC9rpeeNkKgOCpmuGqKSXVUimlak6XW7LUcBQqSEjdx3iz1dlv0zmKHABBKviWXPJ-ojCed5qGu5dUaD_Igry5R3STNwRvKQuKefMoYJ6iPRQzjhTYPxhY-NilnZnpgAy6z_EsVD4VC1112oU/s1280/w1500_49305717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1280" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUjBjn4XFMdwWRRpTDl5G9e_lfTmGMMfx2Zaa0lLidsUC9rpeeNkKgOCpmuGqKSXVUimlak6XW7LUcBQqSEjdx3iz1dlv0zmKHABBKviWXPJ-ojCed5qGu5dUaD_Igry5R3STNwRvKQuKefMoYJ6iPRQzjhTYPxhY-NilnZnpgAy6z_EsVD4VC1112oU/s320/w1500_49305717.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcm4aGDLrPdIy28kq7ZxK1xEJ84fmCTrD9i3EO-KH9_cW0MZ_MHr1tYYCjHs9K0jufmE_8aNhB3tiCWC4eRZFO1tq2wBCpHMLjQjwqYdYMwK68o_TXDek0r_2ghbVsXWWTibtvn7mOADXf8JmNsZB-neD6cYTCwqU6OcDa_-nqR93pDLrbZmTzmzfvb4/s1920/The_Bone_Collector-234933689-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1920" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcm4aGDLrPdIy28kq7ZxK1xEJ84fmCTrD9i3EO-KH9_cW0MZ_MHr1tYYCjHs9K0jufmE_8aNhB3tiCWC4eRZFO1tq2wBCpHMLjQjwqYdYMwK68o_TXDek0r_2ghbVsXWWTibtvn7mOADXf8JmNsZB-neD6cYTCwqU6OcDa_-nqR93pDLrbZmTzmzfvb4/s320/The_Bone_Collector-234933689-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>Final Verdict:</u></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The 1990s was an interesting period for film, especially for thrillers and they were all the rage; lots of great ones, some not-so-good ones, and some films that flew under the radar and went unnoticed. Whilst <i>The Bone Collector</i> is no masterpiece and is also cliched, it is a different spin on the serial killer concept, further elevated by Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;">Overall:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqgT5q0elQpfqbh4lhjzaDOph71s41J5JRsCXpmq_6bbkvUPn93wqXOYaI8RyhVRqRD8jzbQDcDFrwv0MP7kEe5Eul-cuXeJ7tLYe4ajh-kH8JQc-P3h8nNwX33KvlKF-MNqSYVFyZ8J7tr1u1GTYa_mhaY87hSt1hbT-wdPvcbXKfzmhpqQkr9IO_GY/s100/vecteezy%208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqgT5q0elQpfqbh4lhjzaDOph71s41J5JRsCXpmq_6bbkvUPn93wqXOYaI8RyhVRqRD8jzbQDcDFrwv0MP7kEe5Eul-cuXeJ7tLYe4ajh-kH8JQc-P3h8nNwX33KvlKF-MNqSYVFyZ8J7tr1u1GTYa_mhaY87hSt1hbT-wdPvcbXKfzmhpqQkr9IO_GY/s1600/vecteezy%208.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-50474277795352827542023-09-10T12:54:00.001+01:002024-02-07T23:14:58.977+00:00Movie Review: Skyscraper (2018)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Skyscraper</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2018</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Moller, Noah Taylor, Byron Mann</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Genre: Action Thriller </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $304 million </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot</i>: A security expert must infiltrate a burning skyscraper, 225 stories above ground, when his family is trapped inside by criminals </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk5HtgSs4gs27xJBko7BzuPdht9KlfZb-FZfdDj39rLjpGay99b73Gpp-rEcCu29E9MlEPnDbgYMdSuPYjGnlUuSNi4r0j5rGkQNQ00_WwxvpNlwVLKcsf5ihQzixVmwYkUwi8pS-z5-Gm6QPI9Zof7TQrKncVQ0_Jeix4rjE4PUujOIgcMNm6gNoQ_g/s755/skyscraper_ver3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk5HtgSs4gs27xJBko7BzuPdht9KlfZb-FZfdDj39rLjpGay99b73Gpp-rEcCu29E9MlEPnDbgYMdSuPYjGnlUuSNi4r0j5rGkQNQ00_WwxvpNlwVLKcsf5ihQzixVmwYkUwi8pS-z5-Gm6QPI9Zof7TQrKncVQ0_Jeix4rjE4PUujOIgcMNm6gNoQ_g/s320/skyscraper_ver3.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><br /><p><b><u><i><span style="font-family: arial;">'Oh So Seen-It All-Before Actioner, Which Will Be Forgotten About'</span></i></u></b></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Skyscraper</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> was developed in China in 2016 when Legendary Entertainment won a bidding war for an action-adventure flick, set in Hong Kong and China. It under-performed, grossing over $300 million on a $125 million on the production. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Will Sawyer is a former FBI hostage Rescue Team Leader and U.S war veteran who currently analyses security for skyscrapers. Whilst on assignment in Hong Kong, Will finds out he is being framed for an arson that took place at the tallest and safest building in the world, and thus, has to find those responsible, to clear his name AND to rescue his family who are trapped. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Johnson was all right, but his charms were nowhere to be seen, the villain was forgettable and nothing worth shouting about; plus, despite the production, it had the feel of an action B-movie deemed for </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Netflix</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> status, as opposed to the big screen, despite the millions spent on the special FX. Neve Campbell's character, whilst she had her moments, I feel like she was more on the sidelines and Campbell wasn't given much to do.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pIu6hBjYKtr4KtRcPzp0oIoIm3E7VdEqhFUPRDZf2NAYbljfGtPqrCxpiSAUpxy8Cq3DA8PQScAjJpau1Wcm0p8j3U7SijckFD5CixFWqktJqFv49jGftxUoRvObhTXh3yijoBdTdfx84_EdhIe2DbA0QKTx7v-PPNrXicPIpv9Zf1aAiPmUAVo-9oA/s576/928398-576a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="576" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pIu6hBjYKtr4KtRcPzp0oIoIm3E7VdEqhFUPRDZf2NAYbljfGtPqrCxpiSAUpxy8Cq3DA8PQScAjJpau1Wcm0p8j3U7SijckFD5CixFWqktJqFv49jGftxUoRvObhTXh3yijoBdTdfx84_EdhIe2DbA0QKTx7v-PPNrXicPIpv9Zf1aAiPmUAVo-9oA/s320/928398-576a.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Nowhere as good as </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Die Hard</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, slightly better than </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Rampage, </em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">but that isn't saying much. If you take away Dwayne Johnson, I wouldn't have shown much interest that this would be a film you can easily pass up. It averages between mediocre and meh I couldn't choose between the two; not completely unwatchable -, rather the premise worked so much better in the late 1980s, early to mid-1990s when these types of plots in action films had a bit more substance and charm going for them. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Skyscraper</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> tries, but, as with so many traditional Hollywood action films of the non-Marvel & DCU franchises, released in the post-1990s, it is relatively tame and clunky; no big surprises or twists and it takes a long time for the film to get going. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It's heavy on emotional drama and is not creative or inventive enough when it comes to ideas. There is nothing new and the fights weren't meaty enough. Seems like this was made to cater towards the Chinese market and less so to Western audiences, and seeing the production values it shows. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It never tries to step out of the shadows of other action flicks that have the same formula, although one thing it does do is the script allows Dwayne Johnson to act a little more. Sandwiched in between a disaster movie and an all-around actioner, 2018's <i>Skyscraper</i> is too cliched and predictable, but this would have been offset had the story had plenty of weight. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnbIWSFuqpDesoUF4v1seYlwqb5eyNgObG407ndeZc6UWe-vi7etcD61OOnZaIwagzdNETNZPCo85B7BLfvdrWDOQMIrKNBGqwM3HWJxdXwLapOZmldv2ioqjkoi9YL8wtd_VtnMsEtk6iv2DLbygc7R1TKjxsQNAYwGh4oRkMtfltSV3Fibs5zXjAQk/s1920/oMKFQmoVgB69fyXfSMu0lGlHJP2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnbIWSFuqpDesoUF4v1seYlwqb5eyNgObG407ndeZc6UWe-vi7etcD61OOnZaIwagzdNETNZPCo85B7BLfvdrWDOQMIrKNBGqwM3HWJxdXwLapOZmldv2ioqjkoi9YL8wtd_VtnMsEtk6iv2DLbygc7R1TKjxsQNAYwGh4oRkMtfltSV3Fibs5zXjAQk/s320/oMKFQmoVgB69fyXfSMu0lGlHJP2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK7_gMWBhOUURJOVdyBlNRiBYiRuUgWJMhvZBl0rkTk9hlwLk5-lg66iYWPXslqm3uXF7Cn3Vz-tq47Nao5p-qPOfOUGqKkJ1LaYdmJbuCSk0VtADGbvhNqxVBQeogSOimi9nuAP5pfk_TlJE5SQkPNpdA4VvlacgHdzEMU1mbYk6Z3J68aucJ_qf-64/s1280/f5d31dc7dfca92db8dfc93c35c17c7f7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFK7_gMWBhOUURJOVdyBlNRiBYiRuUgWJMhvZBl0rkTk9hlwLk5-lg66iYWPXslqm3uXF7Cn3Vz-tq47Nao5p-qPOfOUGqKkJ1LaYdmJbuCSk0VtADGbvhNqxVBQeogSOimi9nuAP5pfk_TlJE5SQkPNpdA4VvlacgHdzEMU1mbYk6Z3J68aucJ_qf-64/s320/f5d31dc7dfca92db8dfc93c35c17c7f7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoryKxDTu8vbDeBtuGd88_OmR514WtpDlm2RqAiF3WLB-E7P4M182Bs77NyWMkKJGS--p60fOoiPdN9T3GAzFPCjWIcmsJDWV0Ir0IpmwllSUG6UtrBoFAF270KxFtiQjbxUOHoE43729iZ2F6A4T6YjanDqku54FAH-2yUafysB3xFKOQuIeOYXkrgU/s1351/SKYSCRAPER%202018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="1351" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoryKxDTu8vbDeBtuGd88_OmR514WtpDlm2RqAiF3WLB-E7P4M182Bs77NyWMkKJGS--p60fOoiPdN9T3GAzFPCjWIcmsJDWV0Ir0IpmwllSUG6UtrBoFAF270KxFtiQjbxUOHoE43729iZ2F6A4T6YjanDqku54FAH-2yUafysB3xFKOQuIeOYXkrgU/s320/SKYSCRAPER%202018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i><u>Final Verdict:</u></i> </b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It's one of those efforts that had the potential to emerge as one of the best and most entertaining action films of the 21st century, but only when it is executed flawlessly. When the director's previous credits include comedies such as Johnson's</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> Central Intelligence, We're the Millers </em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">and </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Dodgeball</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, sadly, Thurber's efforts do not go far enough. </span></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b>It delivers as a cheap rental or something you'd watch on TV, possibly once. </b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b>After seeing this on Channel 4 for the first time, I will probably skip this one. </b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Overall: </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_0ANzZ9dBQklzzdo-x2_tSMSckJw7yiXQLpdtQuVZbFDeBTPxm5xjpn3pVekEJ7XYiA2nwo-TSKLkgDogjcq7cQkMbiljjg-idstmCPnhQr7Br1X-WH3Iv026dOB1bmDRjPKAyunUsQ5dn3C2B1qsUj7V0BO_jn-cDiwTXeuxggE45wW4bFLuSPzhyphenhypheng/s105/vecteezy%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="105" data-original-width="100" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_0ANzZ9dBQklzzdo-x2_tSMSckJw7yiXQLpdtQuVZbFDeBTPxm5xjpn3pVekEJ7XYiA2nwo-TSKLkgDogjcq7cQkMbiljjg-idstmCPnhQr7Br1X-WH3Iv026dOB1bmDRjPKAyunUsQ5dn3C2B1qsUj7V0BO_jn-cDiwTXeuxggE45wW4bFLuSPzhyphenhypheng/s1600/vecteezy%206.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-35030369928308494632023-08-17T21:55:00.002+01:002023-12-14T17:56:46.411+00:0030 Favourite The- Dream & Tricky Stewart Songs <p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="856" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt74QU2t9luezrfrCIJJF_fuH-Y6Udun_48RO3m5H5njbFmWc6QiBcoSY9nCo4eEnxmyqtIaxhrCuD9owagDxdWrtYbA9zJYdjB492xx10OJHlVcZ77BexAKoO53nrurZTkXdOlcpaYdv6qlYTGV3E3o6KxjM2rXvrEHx6FLUWn948P8K2iGn35mAVC0U/w200-h200/ab677762000056b86aa529ff3b4a0d919cc0c43a.jpg" width="200" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUUKXp7JkAZzTBmjYzEmFkuW_hU1-toZQMXrxVtrN-Ns-Fyp6_pBpH6PlN9Im6U1XCLt2kXyZT4UYdEKocop6dXKBG5wgX2QOlEOL0pYn592qSLxmrNZgvo4pkoQW0fJAz7E3gBdqhEYeCjHLyK6q2Pki_5pBNrQUUnG2WRV34FUnPDf77yboHm1_ZV0/s500/71qEwuOqoXL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUUKXp7JkAZzTBmjYzEmFkuW_hU1-toZQMXrxVtrN-Ns-Fyp6_pBpH6PlN9Im6U1XCLt2kXyZT4UYdEKocop6dXKBG5wgX2QOlEOL0pYn592qSLxmrNZgvo4pkoQW0fJAz7E3gBdqhEYeCjHLyK6q2Pki_5pBNrQUUnG2WRV34FUnPDf77yboHm1_ZV0/w200-h200/71qEwuOqoXL.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></b></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Atlanta-based Christopher Stewart aka Tricky is a 4-time Grammy award-winning producer, music publisher and songwriter with credits such as Beyonce and Rihanna to his name. Along with fellow writer and producer, Terius '</span><span style="font-family: arial;">The-Dream' Nash, they have racked up various hit singles and played a significant role in pop and contemporary R&B during the past 30 years. Stewart was rather quiet in the early 2000s but momentum soon picked up come the mid-2000s. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of their record-breaking singles include Mya's <i>Case of the Ex </i>- which Tricky co-wrote and produced, Britney Spears' collaboration with Madonna on <i>Me Against the Music</i>, and big hitters in Justin Bieber's <i>Baby </i>and Beyonce's <i>Single Ladies</i>. Tricky is also one of the original founders of label, <i>Red Zone Entertainment </i>alongside his brother and artist manager, Mark E. Stewart that started way back in 1995 and later on enlisting Frank Ocean as one of their artists. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4m1EFMoRFvY" width="320" youtube-src-id="4m1EFMoRFvY"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), 2008 - Beyonce;</b> part of a double-A side to <i>If I Were a Boy</i>, is considered one of the best songs of the 2000s decade </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/epDCQ4EbIYw" width="320" youtube-src-id="epDCQ4EbIYw"></iframe></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">If I Were A Boy- Beyonce, 2008; </b>more in the vein of a pop ballad, Beyonce explained it was not a traditional R&B song. First real ballad that was later followed up with <i>Broken-Hearted Girl</i>, cowritten by Stargate, Babyface and Beyonce</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yjki-9Pthh0" width="320" youtube-src-id="yjki-9Pthh0"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Break My Soul- Beyonce, 2022; </b>Beyonce's comeback hit and first hit record in over 10 years or so when it was released in 2022, it samples Big Freedia's <i>Explode</i> and Robin S's <i>Show Me Love;</i> more like a club banger, it is unlike anything Tricky Stewart has put out before<i> Break my Soul </i>as it leans more towards dance music, rather than soul or r&b</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sk0JG0t3YEk" width="320" youtube-src-id="sk0JG0t3YEk"></iframe></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Case of the Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do) </b></span><b style="font-family: arial;">- Mya, </b><b style="font-family: arial;">2000 </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfwgBklO-fc" width="320" youtube-src-id="cfwgBklO-fc"></iframe></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Everything - B2K, 2003</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GlS71_2yKs0" width="320" youtube-src-id="GlS71_2yKs0"></iframe></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Umbrella - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z, 2007</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A4xR8Jt7fQg" width="320" youtube-src-id="A4xR8Jt7fQg"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Touch My Body - Mariah Carey,</b></span><b style="font-family: arial;"> 2008; </b><span style="font-family: arial;">one of many bangers courtesy of Mariah and one of several produced by the duo of Tricky and The-Dream for the songstress. Lyrically, they sure know how to write a great pop/r&b song with mainstream appeal </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w22v_FZk8Cw" width="320" youtube-src-id="w22v_FZk8Cw"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Outrageous - Britney Spears, 2004</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DyGNfbKkMVE" width="320" youtube-src-id="DyGNfbKkMVE"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Angels Cry (Remix) - Mariah Carey feat. Ne-Yo, 2010; </b>one of my favourite Mariah ballads and collabs/duets, lyrics are honestly beautiful, melodies are smooth and fluid-flowing </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k2uVTdLUMJQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="k2uVTdLUMJQ"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Obsessed - Mariah Carey, 2009; </b>perceived by the press as an Eminem diss track, if you listen to the lyrics you can understand how it was related to the whole Mariah vs Eminem furore that blew up in the music world. The record slaps </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JN6tlFAKWZk" width="320" youtube-src-id="JN6tlFAKWZk"></iframe></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cookie Jar - Gym Class Heroes, 2008 </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9rH-68PdAWc" width="320" youtube-src-id="9rH-68PdAWc"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Just like Me - T.I featuring Jamie Foxx, 2008 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xcwd_Nz6Zog" width="320" youtube-src-id="Xcwd_Nz6Zog"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Hard - Rihanna featuring Jeezy, 2010 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gVwaPTn6GQI" width="320" youtube-src-id="gVwaPTn6GQI"></iframe></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Baby - L.L Cool J featuring The-Dream, 2008</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PeiWhTOUaGI" width="320" youtube-src-id="PeiWhTOUaGI"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Leavin' - Jesse McCartney, 2008; </b>a departure from his teenpop roots and is still McCartney's biggest hit single in the U.S</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/haiI0QGoXug" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Up on Game - Skylar Stecker, 2019 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MbtajuiuLMU" width="320" youtube-src-id="MbtajuiuLMU"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>If I Never See Your Face Again - Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna, 2008 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yd8wMObmm38" width="320" youtube-src-id="yd8wMObmm38"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>H.A.T.E.U - Mariah Carey, 2010 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jg41dmc-dhE" width="320" youtube-src-id="jg41dmc-dhE"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Rockin' That Thang - The-Dream, 2009 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cE0_eiq6wpQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="cE0_eiq6wpQ"></iframe></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Only Want You - Skylar Stecker, 2017 </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vu5t3Cj5Ml8" width="320" youtube-src-id="Vu5t3Cj5Ml8"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Lonely Girls Club - Mario, 2009; </b>penned by Ne-Yo but never featured on any of Mario's albums. Pity because this is a great song </span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0SC_y5X0V_I" width="320" youtube-src-id="0SC_y5X0V_I"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Favorite Girl - Justin Bieber, 2009; </b>early Bieber offering from the late 2000s; has a similar-ish beat to <i>'Baby</i>', another Justin song</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6rKW_kMOW5Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="6rKW_kMOW5Y"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Don't Walk Away - Mario, 2009; </b>taken from his album, <i>DNA</i>, this mid-tempo ballad-like effort is solid and is something that could have been penned by songwriting production duo, Stargate</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qqCeVUmnFiY" width="320" youtube-src-id="qqCeVUmnFiY"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Sexual Capacity - Color Me Badd, 1996; </b>taken from the original motion picture soundtrack of <i>Striptease</i>, the Demi Moore movie, this is slick 1990s' r&b as we know it. Was written by Robin Thicke, who had the famous hit, <i>Blurred Lines</i> with Pharrell Williams </span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G2bx3FzgJ6o" width="320" youtube-src-id="G2bx3FzgJ6o"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Oh Santa! - Mariah Carey, 2010; </b>Christmas pop r&b track this features Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson. Whilst<i> All I Want for Christmas</i> appeals to mainstream audiences, <i>Oh Santa! </i>is more for Mariah enthusiasts and those who prefer something different to the 1995 hit song </span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WEN12kQh7dg" width="320" youtube-src-id="WEN12kQh7dg"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Red Hair - Shawn Desman, 2004; </b>Canada's answer to Justin Timberlake, Keri Hilson provides some of the backing vocals to this song, as well as co-wrote <i>Red Hair. </i>Interestingly, it has the same interpolation as<i> Your Body </i>by Pretty Ricky </span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6VfsJ7LAlE" width="320" youtube-src-id="F6VfsJ7LAlE"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Fashion Killa - A$AP Rocky, 2013 </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3b_vu9OkiUU" width="320" youtube-src-id="3b_vu9OkiUU"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I'm Not Okay - Lionel Richie, 2009 </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Vt8kARG6rY" width="320" youtube-src-id="2Vt8kARG6rY"></iframe></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Nivea - Watch it, 2006; </b>taken from the album, <i>Animal</i>, which was a Japan exclusive. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-9mDFQNTzFs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Black - The-Dream, 2009 </b></span></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-18135484518722527292023-08-10T12:32:00.002+01:002024-01-18T22:37:11.171+00:0030 Favourite StarGate Songs (2023 edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoo3Z-8OAedre5IEhi0aqa5XtVdTFXm3qVomBTR1x9zozNUNUMV3u4f4-PUbyHN3Q798xGrh0bZDZyIPT11NP4FWHaLfnP2UcdwRi0yUM1FYWfYpc3WClRrKbY3HGMK4sQPXE-3IUTlyE6EmOE8AWcyH8w6QKQsG5kQxFp1NChmm6fchlZmmhQxaHTfDI/s1000/SG_05_NEW-YuE.zUqQA1LtQ4o06ttPnjHwEVRILsAV.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoo3Z-8OAedre5IEhi0aqa5XtVdTFXm3qVomBTR1x9zozNUNUMV3u4f4-PUbyHN3Q798xGrh0bZDZyIPT11NP4FWHaLfnP2UcdwRi0yUM1FYWfYpc3WClRrKbY3HGMK4sQPXE-3IUTlyE6EmOE8AWcyH8w6QKQsG5kQxFp1NChmm6fchlZmmhQxaHTfDI/s320/SG_05_NEW-YuE.zUqQA1LtQ4o06ttPnjHwEVRILsAV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>StarGate</i> is a European record-producing and songwriting duo made up of two Norwegians, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen, originally from Trondheim, who currently resides in New York City. They first started out writing songs for artists in 1997 in Norway. </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The team's earlier successes originated in the UK market with songs like<i> 'S Club Party' </i>for pop act <i>S Club 7, </i>Hear'say's <i>'The Way To Your Love' </i>and<i> 'One Night Stand' </i>for Mis-Teeq. During the late 1990s to early 2000s, their records leaned more towards Euro-pop, rather than R&B, h</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">arking back to Swedish hitmaker, Max Martin and Cheiron Studios. <i>Stargate</i> were best known for producing material for the UK boyband,<i> Blue</i> on every major album of theirs. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was familiar with some of their work at the time, and as enjoyable as their UK efforts were, many of them weren't groundbreaking, nor were they huge hits. There were a couple of hit songs making it to #1 and the top 10, but they were not at the same level as the songs that later came out during the mid-2000s from this team. By that point, they reached the top 10, four times with Ne-Yo's <i>So Sick</i> and <i>Sexy Love</i>, Rihanna's <i>Unfaithful</i>, Beyonce's <i>Irreplaceable</i>. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Since 2006 and their worldwide breakthrough hit, Ne-Yo's <i>'So Sick'</i>, the pairing has set the U.S. & global charts alight with their brand of R&B music. Their sound changed dramatically (and for the better), once they moved to the U.S. with a more American- sound to them, thanks to a meeting with Shaffer Smith who goes by the moniker of Ne-Yo. In the last few years, musically Stargate's signature sound has gravitated more towards reggae & Caribbean- soca -beats fused with Electropop, due to the influence of Reggaeton. They are heavily noted for their extensive work with Ne-Yo and Bajan pop songstress, Rihanna. </span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The New York Times Ben Sisaro described Stargate's musical production style as<b> <i>'sugary, lilting R&B in the style of Michael Jackson, leavened with a melody-rich European pop'. </i></b></span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Their work carries on from the tradition of Scandinavian pop artistry that goes as far back as ABBA, Ace of Base and Max Martin. Whilst Max Martin has since made the transition from bubble gum teen pop to rock/contemporary pop, StarGate has stayed true to its Scandinavian R&B roots. </span><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>In the midst of an R&B scene that is and has been constantly dominated by Black African- American music producers, Eriksen and Hermansen offer something completely different to what is already out there, not just in contemporary and mainstream R&B, but R&B and music in general. </b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KMOOr7GEkj8" width="320" youtube-src-id="KMOOr7GEkj8"></iframe></div><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Rihanna featuring Ne-Yo</span> - Hate That I Love You (2007)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mgaeGW-2z6w" width="320" youtube-src-id="mgaeGW-2z6w"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Ne-Yo </span>- Sexy Love (2006)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U0CGsw6h60k" width="320" youtube-src-id="U0CGsw6h60k"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Rihanna featuring Drake</span> - What's My Name? (2011)</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oe4Ic7fHWf8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Rihanna</span> - Te Amo (2010)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JXmUYdOVJtc" width="320" youtube-src-id="JXmUYdOVJtc"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Beyonce</span> - Broken-Hearted Girl (2008)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nmjdaBaZe8Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="nmjdaBaZe8Y"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Chris Brown</span> - With You (2007) </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sAYuOc7_TKg" width="320" youtube-src-id="sAYuOc7_TKg"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Ne-Yo</span> - Mad (2008) </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OVJLK4fozBk" width="320" youtube-src-id="OVJLK4fozBk"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sean Kingston feat. Nicki Minaj</span> - Letting Go (Dutty Love) (2010)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PukKW3gY4uo" width="320" youtube-src-id="PukKW3gY4uo"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sean Paul feat. Kelly Rowland</span> - How Deep is Your Love? (2012) - I like this one slightly more than <i>Got 2 Luv U </i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/etOfaO8zwdQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="etOfaO8zwdQ"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sean Paul feat. Alexis Jordan</span> - Got 2 Luv U (2011) </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QrvJ7HVUTOk" width="320" youtube-src-id="QrvJ7HVUTOk"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Keri Hilson feat. Nelly</span> - Lose Control (Let Me Down) (2011)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1As2xAHBh4k" width="320" youtube-src-id="1As2xAHBh4k"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Coldplay featuring Beyonce</span> - Hymn for the Weekend (2015)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HOGmtnChKec" width="320" youtube-src-id="HOGmtnChKec"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Mary J. Blige</span> - I Am (2009) </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YBHQbu5rbdQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="YBHQbu5rbdQ"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink</span> - Worth It (2015)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7WuggM1WBiU" width="320" youtube-src-id="7WuggM1WBiU"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Fifth Harmony</span> - Write on Me (2016) - part-produced by Kygo </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CKLAB4RtuTY" width="320" youtube-src-id="CKLAB4RtuTY"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Rihanna</span> - Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4E1s0g3ZMw" width="320" youtube-src-id="T4E1s0g3ZMw"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Jordin Sparks</span> - Tattoo (2007) </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UrdopmvR7J0" width="320" youtube-src-id="UrdopmvR7J0"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Charli XCX Feat. Lizzo</span> - Blame It on Your Love (2019)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2EwViQxSJJQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="2EwViQxSJJQ"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Beyonce</span> - Irreplaceable (2006) - written by Ne-Yo and Stargate & Beyonce</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/12Wa9C7afhE" width="320" youtube-src-id="12Wa9C7afhE"></iframe></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Rihanna </span>- Cry (2007)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HY_mcoQVuiU" width="320" youtube-src-id="HY_mcoQVuiU"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Samantha Mumba</span> - Always Come Back to Your Love (2001)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nltcUlPa7zU" width="320" youtube-src-id="nltcUlPa7zU"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Brandy and Ray J</span> - Another Day in Paradise remix (2001) </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v0vlZmId3UQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="v0vlZmId3UQ"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Ester Dean </span>- Take You to Rio (2011)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vTT5uTlb4OQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="vTT5uTlb4OQ"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Stephen Gately</span> - Stay (2000)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2JUfQ4LPodE" width="320" youtube-src-id="2JUfQ4LPodE"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Hearsay'</span> - The Way to Your Love (2001)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x3bfa3DZ8JM" width="320" youtube-src-id="x3bfa3DZ8JM"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Khalid</span> - Better (2018)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6KoBntlOcIc" width="320" youtube-src-id="6KoBntlOcIc"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">En Vogue</span> (2000) - Riddle (StarGate Radio Mix) </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B-YqUELf7co" width="320" youtube-src-id="B-YqUELf7co"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Alexis Jordan</span> - Shout Shout (2011) </b>- interpolates <i>Shout</i> from Tears For Fears </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kxUdFQ6N_OI" width="320" youtube-src-id="kxUdFQ6N_OI"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Tinashe</span> - All Hands on Deck (2015) </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/78tcaUmJwmo" width="320" youtube-src-id="78tcaUmJwmo"></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Billie Piper</span> - Day & Night (2000)</b> - has shades of Britney Spears' <i>You Drive Me Crazy </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>Notable mentions</u>:</i> Sometimes You Hit, Sometimes You Miss - Girl Thing, You Can Run But You Can't Hide - Girl Thing</b></span></div></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-3175291873739046622023-06-15T22:34:00.001+01:002023-06-15T22:34:39.902+01:00Movie Review: The Expendables 3 (2014)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The Expendables 3</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2014</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Antonio Banderas, Jet Li, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Kelsey Grammer, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey, Victor Ortiz, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Action</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $214 million</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot:</i> Barney augments his team with new blood for a personal battle: to take down Conrad Stonebanks, the Expendables co-founder and notorious arms trader who is hell-bent on wiping out Barney and every single one of his associates </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOAULuq7G3Cb13SB6KTORwg1JPjTpN51FQSArsJo_RpajKfo4X0gn8eVHWLRM1Pe3V57Ty8K8KfDGQhcLL1NfME-GySTjQuRQmUKBZfxAOinoETd5URylPmyFeZQQI4kSL23QhKjUiRQAbD7jRYtujF0tV7xKcIqBVRCkBS93FDXiJ4ULzbumyKyN/s755/expendables_three_ver37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOAULuq7G3Cb13SB6KTORwg1JPjTpN51FQSArsJo_RpajKfo4X0gn8eVHWLRM1Pe3V57Ty8K8KfDGQhcLL1NfME-GySTjQuRQmUKBZfxAOinoETd5URylPmyFeZQQI4kSL23QhKjUiRQAbD7jRYtujF0tV7xKcIqBVRCkBS93FDXiJ4ULzbumyKyN/s320/expendables_three_ver37.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><p><i><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>'Weakest of the Series But Passable, Just'</b></span></u></i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A film that was built on the premise of a bunch of old fogeys coming together to defeat the villains is shelved in favour of new blood. A throwback to the 1980s action films, <i>Expendables 3</i> is somewhat watchable but substandard at best. The premise is the same one as the first two films with notable action stars of yesteryear as the good guys squaring off against an antagonist who tends to be a B-list actor or one that has fallen off the map, to match. The second Expendables movie was bigger than the first and the furthest it had went with the series. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The film opens up with the Expendables team meeting up with another crew member (Terry Crews) to intercept an arms dealer, who turns out to be a former comrade in Conrad Stonebanks, whom Barney finds out is not dead. When Stonebanks kills Barney's teammates, Barney seeks revenge. Admitting that the current Expendables team is no more, he walks away and the team disbands. Barney heads off to Las Vegas and meets a recruitment expert (Kelsey Grammer) to seek some new fresh blood. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Antonio Banderas and Kelsey Grammer divided audiences with their cameos with some questioning his appearance here (the latter plays the role of a talent scout, the former as a motormouth, Galgo, who comes across as the human form of Puss in Boots from the <i>Shrek</i> franchise). At this point in his career, Banderas had starred or appeared in straight-to-DVD action fare, though I'm assuming the director opted for him because of the <i>Desperado</i> and the Zorro movies. Jet Li was nowhere to be found, but to see him stand alongside Arnie without a single punch or kick, is disappointing. Dolph Lundgren has 1 or 2 scenes where he kills the bad guys & utters a few lines, but that is mainly it. Harrison Ford only had a little to do but say a few lines and fly a plane. Wesley Snipes was long overdue perhaps but he was, alight. He was not bad but not great: he starred opposite Sly Stallone in <i>Demolition Man</i> in 1993 - by far and large the much superior action flick to this effort, which came out 21 years prior. Mel Gibson is Conrad Stonebanks; after making the headlines the previous decade for all the wrong reasons in real life, he revelled in his tarnished public image by taking on the role of the film's main adversary. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcmC4usMhU47F7n4H3C1UDWosHoGtBLyu0T_rG44pDKPwjLzAiVsstWX8aNwIixrnP3G9B735lq7e-vz50R9VpR5n1CRwSkBDQ1buD8ndNBtrZU6ctxIlMlWlF8dTrvG1LPpmDIL7u5s_I2N1tugEbKdHiw0dmvNiljkvA_6bms3tb7bvI6ImeL1h/s717/expendables-3-1290312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="717" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcmC4usMhU47F7n4H3C1UDWosHoGtBLyu0T_rG44pDKPwjLzAiVsstWX8aNwIixrnP3G9B735lq7e-vz50R9VpR5n1CRwSkBDQ1buD8ndNBtrZU6ctxIlMlWlF8dTrvG1LPpmDIL7u5s_I2N1tugEbKdHiw0dmvNiljkvA_6bms3tb7bvI6ImeL1h/s320/expendables-3-1290312.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It's not a great film; it repeats the same formula, the same narrative without a major spark. But the new blood tries their best; I thought the story could have benefited from having the young guys working with the old guard more often onscreen. The recruits, comprised of MMA fighters- then <i>WWE's</i> Ronda Rousey, pro-boxer Victor Ortiz and<i> Twilight's</i> Kellan Lutz, didn't make that much of an impression to the extent that they were memorable - though it didn't help that they were marginalised and left hanging for much of the story. Given most of the recognizable name-list performers, it should have amounted to a lot more fun. The PG-13 rating didn't affect my enjoyment of this movie.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Expendables 3</i>, however, lacked the gritty energy and appeal that the first two films, but especially the first one had. Aside from the new characters, everything else seemed to be the case of 'been there, done that'. Action-wise, all the scenes were reduced to the camera cutting away when someone got killed. The film tried to be bolder, but, in reality, with the generic and at times run-down action sequences, there wasn't much that was new. By bringing in new and exciting elements this would have given the story (in the hands of 3 different writers), which seemed to be predictable, more impetus and presence that it had desperately lacked. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The third film could have done with action stars such as Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, and Billy Blanks all getting in on the act as well, probably in place of the younger Expendables tier. If only Stallone went out of his way to get them to appear.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the dialogue is bad (case in point Wesley Snipes: 'I was knifing people when you were still sucking on your daddie's titties, figuring out how to use a spoon'), but if you can bypass that, then it won't be much of a problem sitting through the rest of <i>Expendables 3</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AEb663DGLE-aNI-UVeohqtljW5STm2C-oc-CM26gTGC1lpynNMijIgEPMo3wSbY_EEWYjKLv8n63_rd16KU75C8MDtVqktrvWUOme9lhz67hkkJGr8BynpKvF0iFTYBm6kTDJOcRuSkNXKL40NsAWcEBqeTapcuu7VR2y6F7KthZfpmnney-GIAh/s1920/image%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AEb663DGLE-aNI-UVeohqtljW5STm2C-oc-CM26gTGC1lpynNMijIgEPMo3wSbY_EEWYjKLv8n63_rd16KU75C8MDtVqktrvWUOme9lhz67hkkJGr8BynpKvF0iFTYBm6kTDJOcRuSkNXKL40NsAWcEBqeTapcuu7VR2y6F7KthZfpmnney-GIAh/s320/image%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF1zQQ8bX_u5k3mZfEJdi2wxvdhV-ewKUDXRlLmFjcozlWutErV5Bp0o94oE4Mwgb7xc_rF1dIErS8e_KzPyEMxwt1zU2nNK5_0Sb03tvVyrNWDVJnX11Vo43a77oahPg32oy2fAHyVzE544KarC22ECPPPJfhodl-XSoNoo8mwPSnJP1oPCAMDhs/s1400/mel%20gibson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF1zQQ8bX_u5k3mZfEJdi2wxvdhV-ewKUDXRlLmFjcozlWutErV5Bp0o94oE4Mwgb7xc_rF1dIErS8e_KzPyEMxwt1zU2nNK5_0Sb03tvVyrNWDVJnX11Vo43a77oahPg32oy2fAHyVzE544KarC22ECPPPJfhodl-XSoNoo8mwPSnJP1oPCAMDhs/s320/mel%20gibson.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3y0Kxc85Tnu70ZaFOz8dhHVj6ML1n-9QmIi45qIs3RYuBRzma1MR4bF-oxl4WGvXplmnTtY1wkBPVVP3hkDf9YCML-SE9zK3S7v2Cs9UVrvS45Masl_SN_AyQ3gfE2tFAXXSgJNQkk8tERuJX6evGtQpdwrGWBAGF5DuTYmnbaKza_p3XHal46C21/s1920/025011a84a808110f1ffd75a503aa01c83d593070ef6fda9d89bcd1ece30912e._RI_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3y0Kxc85Tnu70ZaFOz8dhHVj6ML1n-9QmIi45qIs3RYuBRzma1MR4bF-oxl4WGvXplmnTtY1wkBPVVP3hkDf9YCML-SE9zK3S7v2Cs9UVrvS45Masl_SN_AyQ3gfE2tFAXXSgJNQkk8tERuJX6evGtQpdwrGWBAGF5DuTYmnbaKza_p3XHal46C21/s320/025011a84a808110f1ffd75a503aa01c83d593070ef6fda9d89bcd1ece30912e._RI_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><i><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Final Verdict:</b></span></u></i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The third time without the charm, it was underwhelming, yet still, I sat through the experience and it was watchable. Unambitious when it tries to be overly and inordinately ambitious and to be bigger and better, <i>Expendables </i>3 is notably bigger, a hyperbole, but that doesn't make it better. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>No doubt it will satisfy the cravings of action movie junkies. It is still dense, unfocused and ho-hum, to be honest, but remains solid at best. You just need to set the bar of expectations not too low. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall:</span> <span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">6.5 </span></b></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjGlUmSOoF8sWtozlpqq6_aqqn498vQ3hT-IjcEnKySk-lf-3cL1TvhxJ4tgF2Gn9StqR2gJMMdkgOfhenUXGDv1LkZtZQku5S2JtlzV0GPEtDDCWPQ4ke2TNOtDdqys_AJxKRdJGF1H1kYuK8vOVD7Wsn3-FISL1prEltpRqyM6sCrK8SJ30E_pA/s500/1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="500" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjGlUmSOoF8sWtozlpqq6_aqqn498vQ3hT-IjcEnKySk-lf-3cL1TvhxJ4tgF2Gn9StqR2gJMMdkgOfhenUXGDv1LkZtZQku5S2JtlzV0GPEtDDCWPQ4ke2TNOtDdqys_AJxKRdJGF1H1kYuK8vOVD7Wsn3-FISL1prEltpRqyM6sCrK8SJ30E_pA/s320/1.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-9177484873550665972023-05-29T23:48:00.001+01:002023-05-30T10:07:36.003+01:00Review: Pluto TV <p><span style="font-family: arial;">(based on the VPN app) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlP6k_rxmRa6uXjVWA9_oanVX1Jk_eTBtmKHFK6mxm7xjih5cIQgL-da2RS883WHdTTXWax4_C1E_Jex9kMEXOk2245G7bWAH_clDjz6W6-ocOOt6-wMh2QrIoAGK3h2jbKSyj9JDf5RJzqijwqP_DH86uKWFi2QPdihMoekYihd8ZRy8Q3Hl1QMK/s1024/E7pNT2u6t2E9jKaUcZoJim.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlP6k_rxmRa6uXjVWA9_oanVX1Jk_eTBtmKHFK6mxm7xjih5cIQgL-da2RS883WHdTTXWax4_C1E_Jex9kMEXOk2245G7bWAH_clDjz6W6-ocOOt6-wMh2QrIoAGK3h2jbKSyj9JDf5RJzqijwqP_DH86uKWFi2QPdihMoekYihd8ZRy8Q3Hl1QMK/s320/E7pNT2u6t2E9jKaUcZoJim.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>By Waiching</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><a href="https://pluto.tv/" target="_blank">Pluto TV</a></i> is an ad-supported free TV streaming service app that supposedly airs live, as well as on-demand content. If you don't mind ads and watching syndicated classic TV episodes and shows, <i>Pluto TV</i> might be for you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Pluto TV</i> is owned by <i>Paramount</i> <i>Global </i>(it was later acquired by <i>Viacom CBS</i> in 2019, four years after its launch in 2014 in Beta mode) and the majority of its U.S. content comes from<i> Comedy Central, Paramount, and TV Land. </i>It offers a wealth of content across 250 + channels and the channels are divided into subcategories and themes: these include Movies, Entertainment, News, Classic TV, Comedy and Food. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Similar mobile apps that offer free TV content include <i>Tubi</i>, which contains TV shows and movies from <i>Warner Bros, MGM, Paramount </i>and<i> Lionsgate</i>, <i>Plex</i> and <i>Roku</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">When I am not fussed and want to watch whatever is available and when it is available, I pretty much switch it on and around 9 times out of 10, I tend to find a show or movie I like or am interested in. Sometimes however, they air reruns of particular films or episodes of TV shows (these include <i>South Park, Baywatch, Criminal Minds, and Survivor</i>): I am not into these shows per se, so I cannot offer my personal opinions on each of them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Pluto TV</i> has a wide variety of channels, but not so broad range of programmes and films. The U.K. service it offers isn't as impressive, nor appealing compared to its U.S. counterpart, based on its content, which is why I often use a VPN </span><span style="font-family: arial;">to access content from overseas regions</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. Although recently, it has upped its game with <i>Come Dine With Me, The Drew Barrymore Show, MTV Classic, MTV Queens of Pop</i> and <i>K-Pop</i> channels.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdGmoZLtKizzdj38u-6lWSzvt3A9JVAtUNxE-o0JF34Fg8bX1oRGkICojloOwIxb1Nxz0T_oNLno1CJLBChh51vd3D3-nkCRFRoczgapWa0CgheHvRDFMI230yVKAsi0afX2qyzLdaP7XWFLGHUuJU7yyYSZhOsh5rCF0dFHHJ4Xit_mf8wsJRM9q/s1200/Pluto-TV.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdGmoZLtKizzdj38u-6lWSzvt3A9JVAtUNxE-o0JF34Fg8bX1oRGkICojloOwIxb1Nxz0T_oNLno1CJLBChh51vd3D3-nkCRFRoczgapWa0CgheHvRDFMI230yVKAsi0afX2qyzLdaP7XWFLGHUuJU7yyYSZhOsh5rCF0dFHHJ4Xit_mf8wsJRM9q/w640-h360/Pluto-TV.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>If you don't want to pay anything to watch TV, then <i>Pluto</i> is a good choice; there are no upfront or hidden charges, whatsoever, no monthly or annual subscription fees to contend with and whilst it doesn't quite replace <i>Sky</i> and <i>Channel 4's</i> On Demand service, other digital TV and may I add <i>YouTube</i> completely, it is a great way to waste time when there is nothing else on terrestrial or digital TV, - so long as you aren't too picky or fussy about what you find. It can be hit-or-miss and is a hodgepodge of the weird, wonderful, niche, the familiar and in-between. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>That, and you need to be wary that not all of the content is new and that they are reruns, repeats of episodes, and films of yesteryear that do not get made, any more. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Pluto's </i>On Demand selection of movies is reminiscent of what you will find on <i>Netflix: </i>the<i> </i>main difference is you pay nothing compared to <i>Netflix </i>and the films are general B-movies, direct-to-DVD stuff, yet you can also find the odd hidden treasure<i> </i>in there.<i> </i></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Popular films may include </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Beverly Hills Cop, Forrest Gump</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, and <i>Pulp Fiction </i>and these are on a rotational basis. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Its sports offerings in the U.S. version are neither conventional nor comprehensive; rather its choices are aimed at specialist</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> or die-hard fans of that genre/brand such as <i>TNA Impact, UFC</i>, and <i>Glory Kickboxing. </i>Surprisingly, I noticed the U.K. <i>Pluto TV</i> lacks any sports channels; alas sports fans residing in Britain will be disillusioned. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If there is one category that needs upgrading, it is food; as a lover of food, it feels underwhelming and it could do with episodes featuring the likes of Keith Floyd, Anthony Boudain, Bobby Flay, Ken Hom, and Ainsley Harriot to name. In the U.K. version alone, there are only three food-based channels and yet they all fall under the Living category. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b><u>Pros</u> +</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- Is completely free, no sign-up is required</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- Easy-to-navigate interface</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- Available across all platforms: Android, iOS, online, smart TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire, Roku </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- When using a VPN, you have a much wider selection of channels to choose from other regions of the world</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><b><u>Cons</u> -</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- But for some exceptions, channels are not really live in terms of real-time</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- Ads are unskippable </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- Lack of variety in terms of channel and content choices </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- So-called Top-tier channels such as NBC News and BBC News are watered-down/scaled down </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>Final Verdict:</u></i> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Pluto TV</i> still has room to grow: it is cable TV for free and in terms of content, given it is free, is pretty impressive, so long as you can tolerate the ads. It needs more quality and diverse content to cater to different audiences whose market they have yet to tap into.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>For those on a budget or who want to watch TV as and when they want without worrying about missing a particular show or film, this app has you covered. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Score out of 10: <span style="color: #990000;">8</span> (based on U.S. content)</b></span></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-73099410889552160562023-05-24T01:19:00.005+01:002024-01-04T22:27:47.799+00:0030 Favourite Polow da Don Songs <p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx08Den1k6y2WmZsIqQjTn4jn1nXpEKcEWRRU90DXhCGQkz8p0hHrJzNYintU1U-5tUd_hCFP_LBtcwlEF1JyRa0GKYW8HYFhJhHepBf2ksLXvfA4ElD19_6PxGri1Y4TFQ5qcAEI_lWUH-2c0deSFQbENSNrJ7cKneCSrZJd2aEAoeNJvppC7fyYm/s1155/photo_2_bmi_honors_polow2011reszbmi031711_0010_770_1155_70_s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="770" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx08Den1k6y2WmZsIqQjTn4jn1nXpEKcEWRRU90DXhCGQkz8p0hHrJzNYintU1U-5tUd_hCFP_LBtcwlEF1JyRa0GKYW8HYFhJhHepBf2ksLXvfA4ElD19_6PxGri1Y4TFQ5qcAEI_lWUH-2c0deSFQbENSNrJ7cKneCSrZJd2aEAoeNJvppC7fyYm/s320/photo_2_bmi_honors_polow2011reszbmi031711_0010_770_1155_70_s.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Polow da Don in 2011 (credit: BMI)</span></b></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Born on October 15, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, Polow- Freache Jamal Fincher-Jones, the cousin of singer Monica, who had a hit with Brandy on 1998's </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Boy is Mine</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, is a music artist and producer going by the pseudonym of Polow da Don who emerged on the music scene in the mid to late 2000s as the next hot super-producer of <i>Zone 4 Inc</i>., with a string of songs for the likes of The Pussycat Dolls, Chris Brown, Rihanna and Mary J. Blige. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">After a brief stint in Jim Crow, he, later on, became a producer and songwriter and worked with </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Interscope Records</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">: the label home to Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Dr Dre. As one of the producers of </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Kingpinz</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, his earlier efforts were released in the late 1990s by the likes of Monica and Ludacris. Polow earned 'Songwriter and Producer of the Year honours at the 2008 and 2009 annual pop awards, as well as the BMI Urban Producer of the Year award in 2010.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">He credits King Edward as an inspiration source for his production style; 'Edward J would take R&B songs, mix them with rap songs, or take two songs that didn't go together and put em' together'. Polow's style seems to fuse southern bounce with uptempo contemporary RnB and pop beats and futuristic space-pop on this side of Timberland </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">(sources: Last. fm, Rated RnB, Apple Music). </em></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></em></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WmTygz0P86E" width="320" youtube-src-id="WmTygz0P86E"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The Way You Love Me</i> - Keri Hilson </b>(2010) - raunchy, feisty, the high point from <i>No Boys Allowed</i> LP, the song evokes energy and is a club banger with its bounce feel</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q0SyUgw98tE" width="320" youtube-src-id="q0SyUgw98tE"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Glamourous</i> - Fergie feat. Ludacris </b>(2007) - lyrics dealt with staying rooted and not being driven by fame and money; samples Raheem The Dream's <i>'if you ain't got no money</i>'; became Fergie's second number 1 single in the U.S hot 100 and stayed at the top for two weeks. <i>Glamourous</i> was later sampled by Jack Harlow for <i>First Class </i>in 2023. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BiEAy1LoOTk" width="320" youtube-src-id="BiEAy1LoOTk"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Woohoo</i> - Christina Aguilera feat. Nicki Minaj</b> (2010) -</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">samples the 1972 song, </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">'Add mar uram az esot</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> by Hungarian singer, Kati Kovacs; the song, about oral sex, sounded like a blend of Kelis' </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Milkshake</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> with Lil' Mama's </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Lipgloss</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, as stated by The Village Voice's Rob Harvilla. Far from the dirtier cousin of </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Rude Boy</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, but rather dirtier than Xtina Aguilera's </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Dirty</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, her worldwide smash, it is a love-it-or-hate-it song. Totally unexpected, yet it turns out to be one of her most fun yet left-field efforts.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5sMKX22BHeE" width="320" youtube-src-id="5sMKX22BHeE"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Forever </i>- Chris Brown </b>(2008)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R6A1HpWgXdw" width="320" youtube-src-id="R6A1HpWgXdw"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Outta Here </i>- Esmee Denters</b> (2009) - the only hit from Esmee Denters with a little help from JT (Justin Timberlake)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KGGgpUdTP0A" width="320" youtube-src-id="KGGgpUdTP0A"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Change Me</i> - Keri Hilson feat. Akon </b>(2009)<b> </b>- seventh song from Keri's first album, <i>In a Perfect World</i>, and one who never thought there was a video to go with it </span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Fading</i> - Rihanna </b>(2010) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5BCoRAaNQk0" width="320" youtube-src-id="5BCoRAaNQk0"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Like This</i> - Kelly Rowland feat. Eve </b>(2007)</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yRfIYUTgjq8" width="320" youtube-src-id="yRfIYUTgjq8"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Lay it Down</i> - Lloyd </b>(2010)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DwGKDF9Y1r4" width="320" youtube-src-id="DwGKDF9Y1r4"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Area Codes</i> - Ludacris feat. Nate Dogg</b> (2001)</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8PjvtsCQlM" width="320" youtube-src-id="H8PjvtsCQlM"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Wait</i> - Chris Brown feat. Trey Songz and The Game </b>(2009) - similar in a way to the single, <i>I Can Transform Ya </i>in terms of composition, only a tad better </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLPLLO9m7MA" width="320" youtube-src-id="cLPLLO9m7MA"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Remember Me</i> - T.I. feat. Mary J. Blige </b>(2009) - Mary J. slays this track with T.I going hard with his verses. Instrumentally, <i>Remember Me</i> pulls no punches. Song reminds us that no matter how many times we fall down, it's how we get back up that truly matters </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DD1yz7Rw9g8" width="320" youtube-src-id="DD1yz7Rw9g8"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Back to the Crib</i>- Juelz Santana feat. Chris Brown</b> (2009)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Bad Girl </i>- Rihanna and Chris Brown </b>(2009) - Pussycat dolls recorded this song, but Chris Brown and Rihanna did it originally</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lpxpHQ9ggUE" width="320" youtube-src-id="lpxpHQ9ggUE"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Baby by Me</i> - 50 Cent feat. Ne-Yo </b>(2009)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AAreWtoJMgU" width="320" youtube-src-id="AAreWtoJMgU"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>My Heart</i> - Jennifer Hudson </b>(2008)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nXAVYZB_VYY" width="320" youtube-src-id="nXAVYZB_VYY"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Medicine</i> - Piles feat. Keri Hilson </b>(2009)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fo2Mxl0CjeY" width="320" youtube-src-id="fo2Mxl0CjeY"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Buttons </i>- Pussycat dolls feat. Snoop </b><span style="font-family: arial;">(2006) - taken from their debut album, penned and co-produced by Polow and Sean Garrett and third song of theirs to feature a rapper (first with Busta Rhymes for <i>Don't cha</i> and will.i.am for <i>Beep</i>. Decent song, though it's not as fun as <i>Beep</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WD33ii01kXI" width="320" youtube-src-id="WD33ii01kXI"></iframe></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>London Bridge</i> - Fergie </b>(2006) - samples Tower of Power's </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Down to the Nightclub </i><span style="font-family: arial;">with Polow providing backing vocals, it sounds sort of like <i>Hollaback Girl</i> by Gwen Stefani. Received a mixed reception, it is another love-it- or- hate-it type of song, courtesy of the producer and Fergie </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Sex Therapy</i> - Robin Thicke</b> (2009)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4U6TEqhxnuo" width="320" youtube-src-id="4U6TEqhxnuo"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Stronger</i> - Mary J. Blige </b>(2009) - with backing vocals from Chris Brown and written by Brown and Ester Dean, <i>Stronger</i> featured on the soundtrack to the basketball-based documentary, <i>More than a Game</i> based on the story of Lebron James. Song deals with issues surrounding people standing by one another through thick and thin</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cB5e0zHRzHc" width="320" youtube-src-id="cB5e0zHRzHc"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Love in this Club </i>- Usher ft. Young Jeezy</b> (2008)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Heaven</i> - El DeBarge </b>(2010)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2HXr94gyM8A" width="320" youtube-src-id="2HXr94gyM8A"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Gone</i> - Jennifer Hudson </b>(2011)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a95gZgcdkvY" width="320" youtube-src-id="a95gZgcdkvY"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>You II </i>- Lloyd </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;">(2011) </span><b style="font-family: arial;">- </b><span style="font-family: arial;">samples Cameo's </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Word Up</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2sMdfRAxBk" width="320" youtube-src-id="X2sMdfRAxBk"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Lost in Love</i> - I-15 </b>(2007); formed by Polow da Don in 2006, 1-15 were a short-lived trio. Decent song though</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JX-1q_Lpzp8" width="320" youtube-src-id="JX-1q_Lpzp8"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Whatever U Like</i> - Nicole Scherzinger feat. T.I. </b><span style="font-family: arial;">(2007) - a promo single taken from her unreleased album, <i>'Her name is Nicole' </i></span></p><p><br /></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q-bzeIc7rNE" width="320" youtube-src-id="Q-bzeIc7rNE"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Last Minute Last Night</i> - </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Kane Brown</b> (2015)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Lay In My Bed </i>- Mario </b>(2007) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>Pimpin' All Over The World</i> - Ludacris feat. Bobby Valentino </b><span style="font-family: arial;">(2005)</span></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-57523267795643717342023-04-17T20:15:00.003+01:002023-04-20T02:31:52.858+01:0010 Favourite *NSYNC Songs<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfudBC8_unrjPiok-CaTUuVHjN_NkKn6zlziwdB-daCFfXgz-WjJDyKAGmApVuOzVfAbt8ZcuLeQM8B9Zex6UuWdeEiBreLBBgfUyTU_2AxXFiidIp3jR1zAJjmpFQktAqNGvT9Nj1qo6evh4TNeTwrWNlzE6LwRnovW_wZIUiAcZq3uNHic9vAxI/s1100/n-sync.006.jive.ph.na_r1-df8a0276ba950b420134e8d6a089603a9e292ed0-s1100-c50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1100" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfudBC8_unrjPiok-CaTUuVHjN_NkKn6zlziwdB-daCFfXgz-WjJDyKAGmApVuOzVfAbt8ZcuLeQM8B9Zex6UuWdeEiBreLBBgfUyTU_2AxXFiidIp3jR1zAJjmpFQktAqNGvT9Nj1qo6evh4TNeTwrWNlzE6LwRnovW_wZIUiAcZq3uNHic9vAxI/s320/n-sync.006.jive.ph.na_r1-df8a0276ba950b420134e8d6a089603a9e292ed0-s1100-c50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Formed in Orlando, Florida, N*SYNC were named after taking the last letter of the initial members' names: JustiN, ChriS, JoeY, LaNce and J.C to create the acronym as I take a look at my favourite *NSYNC songs from one of the best-selling boy bands of all-time. The group tore up the charts in the late 1990s when <i>I Want You Back </i>was released in Germany in 1996, right through to the early 2000s with their second studio album effort, <i>No Strings Attached</i>, which clocked over 2 million copies in its first week. Working with Max Martin, they enjoyed immediate success. The follow-up, Celebrity became the second fastest-selling album of all-time. After the release of <i>Celebrity</i> in 2001, N*SYNC went on indefinite hiatus. Justin Timberlake went on to purse a solo career, thus finding success & eventually became a 10-time Grammy-award-winner. In 2018, the group achieved a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. </span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ts_bn7IFHTo" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ts_bn7IFHTo"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1. <span style="color: #351c75;">That Girl (Will Never Be Mine)</span> (2001)</b> - some would argue this is their best song, it hits hard right from the start and is my favourite. A bonus track on the European version of <i>Celebrity</i>, it should have made the cut on the North American edition too. It screams single every way and it is disappointing it didn't get a look in in that department. It would have been a top 10 hit for sure. It's <i>Bye Bye Bye</i> part II<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GQMlWwIXg3M" width="320" youtube-src-id="GQMlWwIXg3M"></iframe></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2. <span style="color: #351c75;">It's Gonna Be Me</span> (2000) </b>- the only *NSYNC song to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, with an effortless five-part harmony bridge. It was released at the very peak of their pop success and was the follow-up hit to the edgy, <i>Bye Bye Bye</i> when NSYNC were huge & they were pitted against their boyband rivals, the Backstreet Boys. It was written by Max Martin and produced by Rami Yacoub, who also wrote some of the Backstreet Boys songs from their debut album all the way through to the <i>Black & Blue</i> era <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xhwj_zb77fU" width="320" youtube-src-id="Xhwj_zb77fU"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>3. <span style="color: #351c75;">I'll Never Stop </span>(2000) </b>- I was only 19 when this came out, and it is still a belter over 20 years on; has flashes of<i> Tearin' Up My Heart </i>as it has a similar beat. When the Backstreet Boys released <i>The One</i> off <i>Millennium</i> with a music video containing excerpts from concerts, NSYNC did just that with <i>I'll Never Stop</i> as a single release; in fact, if you listen to both songs, <i>The One</i> and<i> I'll Never Stop</i> they do have a not- to- similar chord structure </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lrgQz2qH_nQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="lrgQz2qH_nQ"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>4. <span style="color: #351c75;">Just Don't Tell Me That</span> (2001) -</b> when it comes to upbeat songs, *NSYNC has some of the best ones for a boy band, and <i>Just Don't Tell Me</i> that is no exception and is overlooked. From start to finish, this is another great uptempo number. They have so many songs that get you dancing to choose from in contrast to other boybands that came before and after them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0CC08D7dDD8" width="320" youtube-src-id="0CC08D7dDD8"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>5. <span style="color: #351c75;">If I'm Not the One</span> (2000) </b>- featured as a bonus track on the European version of <i>No Strings Attached</i>, it has a catchy mid-tempo sound and beat and is one of my favourites from this group </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6thmPrTxBtI" width="320" youtube-src-id="6thmPrTxBtI"></iframe></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>6. <span style="color: #351c75;">This I Promise You</span> (2000)</b> - stands as<b> </b>the best slow jam of *NSYNC's by a long shot, written and with arrangements by Richard Marx who sang <i>'Right Here Waiting'</i> and edges out I<i> Drive Myself Crazy</i> off their debut LP, with leads Justin and J.C delivering impressive vocal ranges on this song. Earned them their 5th top 10 on U.S Billboard Hot 100, although it didn't find much success internationally with the song only hitting #21 on the UK top 40</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n2H9hnBkAIA" width="320" youtube-src-id="n2H9hnBkAIA"></iframe></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>7. <span style="color: #351c75;">Could It Be You</span></b><i> </i><b>(2000) - </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;">B-side to </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Bye Bye Bye </i><span style="font-family: arial;">and was on the U.K version of</span><i style="font-family: arial;"> No Strings Attached,</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> that should have been a standalone single perhaps. A song that some NSYNC fans might be unfamiliar with but it is still a goody</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JorPqevzJ7M" width="320" youtube-src-id="JorPqevzJ7M"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>8.<span style="color: #351c75;"> I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You</span> (1998) </b>- was on their Christmas themed album, <i>Home for Christmas</i> and is a slow modern ballad with a great chord structure. My personal pick from their LP with rousing vocals throughout </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/saxnXiBKEaY" width="320" youtube-src-id="saxnXiBKEaY"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>9. <span style="color: #351c75;">Girlfriend</span> (2001) </b>- produced by The Neptunes, penned by Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, probably the first song of JT's he has recorded that he has written and it is a very mature- sounding record, so unlike anything they put out before with its pop- R&B sound. 2001 was peak *NSYNC taken from their final studio LP<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KeGCA96_Azo" width="320" youtube-src-id="KeGCA96_Azo"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>10.</b></span><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Tell Me, Tell Me... Baby</span> (2001) </b><span style="font-family: arial;">- follows in the same vein as <i>Bye Bye Bye</i> and<i> It's Gonna be Me</i> from <i>No Strings Attached</i> LP, <i>Tell Me Tell Me</i> is the follow-up from Celebrity</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Honourable Mentions</span>: Tearin' Up My Heart, Think About That, All I Do, Down to Earth, This is Where the Party's At, I Feel the Love, (God Must've Spent A Little)Time On You, I Drive Myself Crazy (Thinking of You) (J.C version), Everything I Own, Bye Bye Bye, No Strings Attached, <i>If Only Through Heaven's Eyes</i>, One in This World, I Want You Back, Down to Earth, Pop, Gone, Selfish, That's When I'll Stop Loving You, I Never Knew The Meaning of Christmas, <i>Kiss Me at Midnight </i></b></span></p>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-70395853429202869112023-03-06T12:00:00.004+00:002023-11-21T01:06:07.049+00:00Returning to Hong Kong in 2023<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKxfvghBpZfttwRt_FfGqetaUJZXMmrWaveLXILBQeIKuuD5iJar-Ohzge-YfFesTH3XXVSDG2QE8-ZnBQh3XI3EpyB021bJ4qFhPZ9JTj-S4d90M_MMPgW5ahzBSGoJwPlKfM7Sn2EVvbXVTOqXivbJV429CFDPNTRQTxshf-uC9K_mW4xRya0SO/s3840/IMG_20230223_130637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKxfvghBpZfttwRt_FfGqetaUJZXMmrWaveLXILBQeIKuuD5iJar-Ohzge-YfFesTH3XXVSDG2QE8-ZnBQh3XI3EpyB021bJ4qFhPZ9JTj-S4d90M_MMPgW5ahzBSGoJwPlKfM7Sn2EVvbXVTOqXivbJV429CFDPNTRQTxshf-uC9K_mW4xRya0SO/s320/IMG_20230223_130637.jpg" width="180" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkU0r4ii1AEpMv4xphpVRRKEWqBpnmTeDP2NWh2Usb-JpgOpmU8izza-5ydxGap2U9uUTmndF6gENfXL-9tsxcFAjcXbXEkmQ9q1K3dfqVHXvQgQXxOmMzeK2YCzmaBIfjhA7covVVMHrsiPbzTH_zCaKls4FnHUiFLYRDYFTkg0JHEYG-mPgHlsk/s3840/IMG_20230225_092656.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkU0r4ii1AEpMv4xphpVRRKEWqBpnmTeDP2NWh2Usb-JpgOpmU8izza-5ydxGap2U9uUTmndF6gENfXL-9tsxcFAjcXbXEkmQ9q1K3dfqVHXvQgQXxOmMzeK2YCzmaBIfjhA7covVVMHrsiPbzTH_zCaKls4FnHUiFLYRDYFTkg0JHEYG-mPgHlsk/s320/IMG_20230225_092656.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>By Waiching </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last month was my first time returning to Hong Kong in 3 years, and reflecting on my time, it was truly worth the wait; the previous 3 years were a testing period for everyone, not just for those living in Hong Kong but for those of us abroad watching on the outset who had family and relatives that we hadn't seen because of the strict travel restrictions and pandemic measures and of the effect of the fifth wave of Covid that ripped the city apart, claimed countless lives & discouraged people from travelling to & from Hong Kong. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We weren't able to go back; it was agonising to endure whilst seeing other nations open up their borders and eased restrictions & observing my work colleagues return to their countries, Hong Kong remained off-limits and out of reach up until late November 2022. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In those years, I lost 3 family members, of whom I last met in the late 2010s - one to Coronavirus, but what caught me off-guard was finding out he was an anti-vaccine advocate. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Moving on, my visit didn't just rekindle my love affair for Hong Kong (which is translated as 'fragrant harbour'), which harkens back to the first time I set foot in the city with my family - this was my 6th, 7th visit (I can't remember) - and yet, in 2023, I thoroughly enjoyed it much more than in previous encounters. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We took our pre-departure tests before we boarded our flight, but when we arrived at Hong Kong International Airport, nobody checked our negative covid results. Also, other covid tests were gone, with no mandatory hotel quarantine, no contact tracing apps, and no social distancing measures. They didn't ask us for proof of vaccination, and just last week, Hong Kong dropped the mask requirement, which ended on March 1st. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVjRW7Tpyg9ELIYjn6HtjNWV-_7ZBfQWVyuQrIoGDUP0Fpj6-9OqLbx9fgoZha9P2iqOKVAwyj-nVhhc0liDhc7eMapJIC0Q7Cq4nEgCPoqr-1WKJUOulfFMTufJpRVBpFyhpK-ZPnQn_19GyzrWc7m0Gyw4bKtCC4fbd8sL5ePCb3pMk2EpobReD/s3264/IMG_20230225_085706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVjRW7Tpyg9ELIYjn6HtjNWV-_7ZBfQWVyuQrIoGDUP0Fpj6-9OqLbx9fgoZha9P2iqOKVAwyj-nVhhc0liDhc7eMapJIC0Q7Cq4nEgCPoqr-1WKJUOulfFMTufJpRVBpFyhpK-ZPnQn_19GyzrWc7m0Gyw4bKtCC4fbd8sL5ePCb3pMk2EpobReD/s320/IMG_20230225_085706.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>*I had to wear this until March 1st*</b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With all measures gone, we didn't encounter any major stumbling blocks, which was a massive and much-welcomed relief and after my visit which ended on Saturday, March 5th, I am planning on returning to Hong Kong either later this year or in February of next year and every year from now onwards. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It felt like we went at the right time (late February) and but for one odd issue, everything went smoothly, flawlessly and fell into place. We also renewed our Hong Kong smart identity cards, which expired back in 2020 or 2021, meaning that we can enter Hong Kong as residents with rights to abode.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I enjoyed eating out and seeing what the city still had to offer and seeing and spending time with my extended relatives and loved ones. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENzg4k0iRHBQHgnJ1-Cao7ZmUYV2SINCHqEkIod6-gRd4Hb5vBktXHfqIol6o48740KBJRsNevrROkFK7-kUFZ1BoZ2UjFsjnyrK_vjxR9XLvFdfwFARtFtJs6FlVkBv1XU6XGrLNM35DzviEMGzXVJAa0WXgK2Yi84RoFFVyJn9nhcQ6HYG8Tu3Q/s3840/IMG_20230225_144908.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENzg4k0iRHBQHgnJ1-Cao7ZmUYV2SINCHqEkIod6-gRd4Hb5vBktXHfqIol6o48740KBJRsNevrROkFK7-kUFZ1BoZ2UjFsjnyrK_vjxR9XLvFdfwFARtFtJs6FlVkBv1XU6XGrLNM35DzviEMGzXVJAa0WXgK2Yi84RoFFVyJn9nhcQ6HYG8Tu3Q/s320/IMG_20230225_144908.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xiXAiEtBYU5qOYchkPUwdfySSX7wSu7HVUSW8dup243RRC3HO6OIl1p45yuhBjp__Py7DtCcMDBSwl7vkVVPaCVHJdPafw7uI1aA-AkLosFZ49Sd1zqWi3rZLqU0bUn4VCAok2xbnBl2WI-LhahbB8v3zZhkwYo6cNaRykt3IpFlEtWBn8vosRkU/s3840/IMG_20230301_103525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xiXAiEtBYU5qOYchkPUwdfySSX7wSu7HVUSW8dup243RRC3HO6OIl1p45yuhBjp__Py7DtCcMDBSwl7vkVVPaCVHJdPafw7uI1aA-AkLosFZ49Sd1zqWi3rZLqU0bUn4VCAok2xbnBl2WI-LhahbB8v3zZhkwYo6cNaRykt3IpFlEtWBn8vosRkU/s320/IMG_20230301_103525.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We stayed in Tsuen Wan, not far-off in Central Hong Kong and at the Dorsett Hotel. It was the first time our accommodation was a hotel in Hong Kong; my brother, sister & I were extremely impressed. It had free WiFi service, and the rooms we shared were spacious and cleaned every 2-3 days. One thing that needed to be added was a microwave, so therefore, bringing food to reheat and eat in our rooms is pretty much a no-no.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Alas, in a city such as Hong Kong, you are encouraged to eat cooked food and meals by dining in/out in restaurants and cheap food stalls rather than have it to go or take out. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Other than that it was worth shelling out the money for a 2-week stay. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Speaking of which, having Chinese food in Hong Kong is a totally different experience to having it in Chinatowns in and around London, New York, San Francisco and other places in the world that has a Chinatown; plus, there is so much more variety to choose from -, and is so much cheaper too. You are looking to pay as little as say £1- £10 per item/dish and it won't break your bank. Alas, I much prefer the dining scene in Hong Kong - whether you are into Cantonese food in dim sum or siu mei (Cantonese for roasted & braised meats in duck, chicken or pork), Hong Kong street snacks such as egg waffles and egg tarts, pineapple buns, international cuisine or fast food in <i>McDonald's</i> and <i>KFC</i>, one is spoiled for choice. It is one of the significant tourist foodie destinations and it's an </span><span style="font-family: arial;">eclectic </span><span style="font-family: arial;">plethora and myriad of gastronomic delights. There are cha-chann Tengs (Hong Kong-style teahouses or cafes that serve local Cantonese and Western-style menu items like macaroni soup, sandwiches, French toast and milk teas in a cafeteria or greasy spoon setting), dai pai dongs (open-air licenced food stalls) that have small tables and stools, ice houses, street food hawkers and vendors (ready-to-eat snacks, as well as beverages) and dim sum restaurants galore. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_Nl4oD8tGVUxE2AiVnbKNYEi5stzkMx7RTRBmLbLMmivKFwTZscPtbzPBZ22O48U91jUrH0MZkBUAo4L6TUfuWf32w6SCiq3S-0oCt7wL91U2_kC_ez0puKvYXx2HpniL9qHIiiWk0nEXG3BfRC6W_-agge_xf56agKb1r_ZOJyjEigNJvvr9y5m/s3840/IMG_20230223_193824.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_Nl4oD8tGVUxE2AiVnbKNYEi5stzkMx7RTRBmLbLMmivKFwTZscPtbzPBZ22O48U91jUrH0MZkBUAo4L6TUfuWf32w6SCiq3S-0oCt7wL91U2_kC_ez0puKvYXx2HpniL9qHIiiWk0nEXG3BfRC6W_-agge_xf56agKb1r_ZOJyjEigNJvvr9y5m/s320/IMG_20230223_193824.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuv418eE4bMk__H-u0UlnKMsTc8oF9VVdbB4usC_8FjHSql41Di3FWCPoCYaqVzX4krJZ9vgk8lDbdDaq7CQ4WB-8UZ_TPNO9YeoNnHlSC85KuRfib0tzlwbRI0YfTEcaTuLuhLEhdDgr9l5eFo5sTau4VbXwk1a3Uwte62e8_skSc17tH4hoo-1bD/s3840/IMG_20230222_125710.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuv418eE4bMk__H-u0UlnKMsTc8oF9VVdbB4usC_8FjHSql41Di3FWCPoCYaqVzX4krJZ9vgk8lDbdDaq7CQ4WB-8UZ_TPNO9YeoNnHlSC85KuRfib0tzlwbRI0YfTEcaTuLuhLEhdDgr9l5eFo5sTau4VbXwk1a3Uwte62e8_skSc17tH4hoo-1bD/s320/IMG_20230222_125710.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb5cl2RcaLdE54zqevtMGKV9oqkENu03qex13Hr7ZxgDNb5w0BGySV-vUXCu2CQj0t60zKk6HLRTM55inJsyLrBU-xL-l0H7cxVbPpC9jbPSnAWofEZg8iKYLDnqTII1SrZxyWJ0qzBVcKaZqziPHWoabDbshLxOn1mYLf95MQF-mMnmY7Dt6acor/s3840/original_b39ad41c-9e01-4d54-b0d9-e40e00d750ea_IMG_20230226_185606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb5cl2RcaLdE54zqevtMGKV9oqkENu03qex13Hr7ZxgDNb5w0BGySV-vUXCu2CQj0t60zKk6HLRTM55inJsyLrBU-xL-l0H7cxVbPpC9jbPSnAWofEZg8iKYLDnqTII1SrZxyWJ0qzBVcKaZqziPHWoabDbshLxOn1mYLf95MQF-mMnmY7Dt6acor/s320/original_b39ad41c-9e01-4d54-b0d9-e40e00d750ea_IMG_20230226_185606.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bOdRTw6PKhFkk6CnvL-RAxC4ld5d6obluX3JSFHbEitipj5hfJ9kKYZXOXsQscNiQcmsAD-5Fv3dbnyHbpVSHUvUjwEqzYmUa6DYjcQrIrakLsUImWY6I-bcv1BqbpoAvmPnPYVzdmhtbIxkZ45dI5_3B5ejoIdPFoi9h6D9Edv9spLx3AfE_0bw/s3840/IMG_20230302_153036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bOdRTw6PKhFkk6CnvL-RAxC4ld5d6obluX3JSFHbEitipj5hfJ9kKYZXOXsQscNiQcmsAD-5Fv3dbnyHbpVSHUvUjwEqzYmUa6DYjcQrIrakLsUImWY6I-bcv1BqbpoAvmPnPYVzdmhtbIxkZ45dI5_3B5ejoIdPFoi9h6D9Edv9spLx3AfE_0bw/s320/IMG_20230302_153036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYid1dqMN9-0MrhrfJDrmIGc6OmbBzn15AfqgOLeGoNWOAUMh2uLVzWmQjUeoyW8PcO9-o94smrbMrpv_AFAMvxabxnyVelYV8q_voj0QVXE4ezZZVWFS_6kTzXiCmYn8x0WNIWiL3Tb82GyYVjAQYpZVWEzcRbPly8vMTSs0j8FUCjz_-wmP-11vY/s3840/IMG_20230301_102712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYid1dqMN9-0MrhrfJDrmIGc6OmbBzn15AfqgOLeGoNWOAUMh2uLVzWmQjUeoyW8PcO9-o94smrbMrpv_AFAMvxabxnyVelYV8q_voj0QVXE4ezZZVWFS_6kTzXiCmYn8x0WNIWiL3Tb82GyYVjAQYpZVWEzcRbPly8vMTSs0j8FUCjz_-wmP-11vY/s320/IMG_20230301_102712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Regarding the food, we preferred the non-fast food restaurants & hawker stalls in Hong Kong over the already-established <i>McDonald's, KFC</i>, and <i>Popeyes</i>, as these were somewhat underwhelming. Not that I expected it to be mind-blowing, but it was for the most part, edible. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For visitors, you can get by speaking English, but learning and speaking a bit of Cantonese goes a long way; despite the handover in 1997, in 2023 Cantonese is still the main dialect in Hong Kong. Signages are also in English and Chinese, given Hong Kong was a former British colony and has since become an international hub of the financial world. & being a SAR (special administrative region) of China and acting as a gateway to it, it operates as an independent state/country with its own currency, economy and legal system and the city enjoys freedoms that are prohibited in the mainland such as the use of social media platforms and <i>YouTube</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I prefer going to Hong Kong in late January to early March or right after summer when temperatures aren't hot and humid to the point that its subtropical conditions are mild and tolerable; not too hot but not too cold. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>So why visit or live in Hong Kong, one might ask?</i> Answer: it is a mix of traditional and modern Hong Kong and is a vibrant and dynamic city combined with a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">rich, multicultural and cultural heritage</span><span style="font-family: arial;">, which in contrast to Asian stalwarts Tokyo and Seoul of South Korea, offers the best of both East AND West worlds. The East is represented by Chinese cultures through food, travel, dialects of Chinese being spoken with Cantonese dominating and its ex-British colonial roots and various Western-based or related places of interest or themes on the West side.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It is for those above reasons that Hong Kong is dubbed 'Asia's world city'. It was also monikered by <i>National Geographic's</i> Matthew Kinsey as 'Manhattan on steroids'. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Examples that come to mind include Disneyland, the street signages in English, food, and international brands in </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Chanel, Gucci, Nike</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, and </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Apple</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> can be found here. There is even a Marks & Spencers located in parts of Hong Kong. It is so convenient you can find pretty much anything you want for every budget. Navigating your way around the city on public transport or by foot is less of a hassle than it is in London and is remarkably efficient (likewise, public transport service in London is inconsistent and expensive, - & don't get me started on the strikes). In Hong Kong, they have what is called Octopus cards, & much like with London Transport's Oyster cards, you use the card to top up and travel on the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) trains, buses, and trams. You can also use the cards to pay for goods and services that accept Octopus cards in selected restaurants and convenience stores like <i>7-Eleven</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There are always places to see and go, to immerse yourself in, to find somewhere to eat etc; HK has so much to choose from in every aspect. There are no limitations. Just when you think you have seen it all, something else appears out of nowhere or you discover something that you'd never thought of before, which is why I enjoy it when I am there. & plus, it is one of those places where you don't need to spend large amounts of money to eat out, shop and have a good time. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIgxfov8tALY6d3ISP0LRj38PU5gzqrkwPo3Fi65aYf96iLTV4N8AXwuWnk0uvykaJ6AA7yBc3XiSPzCb1M--aYad5spmwJfjLQuHE3m5aCjevyEOqpDlLWzXYE_AV-4HJIPNEs_zoQ9Fcn2T2uAWu-wQpDBgfmtfEdsdvCn3HXyuGppyJOeI8C0V/s3840/IMG_20230222_151429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIgxfov8tALY6d3ISP0LRj38PU5gzqrkwPo3Fi65aYf96iLTV4N8AXwuWnk0uvykaJ6AA7yBc3XiSPzCb1M--aYad5spmwJfjLQuHE3m5aCjevyEOqpDlLWzXYE_AV-4HJIPNEs_zoQ9Fcn2T2uAWu-wQpDBgfmtfEdsdvCn3HXyuGppyJOeI8C0V/s320/IMG_20230222_151429.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6NzmEcNImGssjd0tvZrYxCqVWIHh_XYlE_Vi5mmVqLNDr4vKqR9BKNRlkfvXP_BXu3gav13Ja1jj3syEjIi_R03Kx7hPGMvwWGbekEGZaK6U-wC-kKdOp1miWT2hbIVw3_d8ch9ZGwzn3sB__AtIWJCwnLnpINNlNgfiDlDVc-xDQDlI8ZwalaA8/s3840/IMG_20230222_151517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6NzmEcNImGssjd0tvZrYxCqVWIHh_XYlE_Vi5mmVqLNDr4vKqR9BKNRlkfvXP_BXu3gav13Ja1jj3syEjIi_R03Kx7hPGMvwWGbekEGZaK6U-wC-kKdOp1miWT2hbIVw3_d8ch9ZGwzn3sB__AtIWJCwnLnpINNlNgfiDlDVc-xDQDlI8ZwalaA8/s320/IMG_20230222_151517.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9VWaKIKyLb9uwsr3bDVjI-3FjSJ8X9yc1Bh9SO_Ac3bGaVv1Ic2zlndIZBxvPaJ6BKCkqFPFP5IapMzEXCnTaZwwB0mzRlttCbS5gHVeUXeM4X-hAqgRrE80u-eamWu5fdYaA9pYr7HbflD_0jqGFu6nMWMjQGFI8nN7XIt_fzADVZCys-CawMPU/s3840/IMG_20230222_152746.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9VWaKIKyLb9uwsr3bDVjI-3FjSJ8X9yc1Bh9SO_Ac3bGaVv1Ic2zlndIZBxvPaJ6BKCkqFPFP5IapMzEXCnTaZwwB0mzRlttCbS5gHVeUXeM4X-hAqgRrE80u-eamWu5fdYaA9pYr7HbflD_0jqGFu6nMWMjQGFI8nN7XIt_fzADVZCys-CawMPU/s320/IMG_20230222_152746.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From my travels, I managed to get a Hong Kong t-shirt from Mong Kok market and a pair of Nike sneakers for approximately under £40 British pounds; Sneakers Street or Fa Yuen Street is a shopping mecca dedicated to sneakers and trainers ranging from brands such as Nike, Jordan and Adidas to New Balance, Converse, Puma, Reebok, all in a variety of styles and tastes. If you are an avid fan of trainers, it is worth checking out this area; sometimes you end up spending a fraction of what you'd normally pay in America or Britain for the same shoes. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGiCCjpEGt6G6zRnpvINyUgUt5zJfM3ryUa9RMy9rIPj9iFWcEtoHHFyKe7e9HRRqYJTKPf9r_3r8_lADuoLYr62iX7CwOEIXEXA9cV9TfRMff7QsdHJZkDH8r-zD_H19LTu27LHrQ-G9K_FqzBdkJv_VWqSxZy5pqMRWFbth0dqQ81VlixuoHC4W/s3840/IMG_20230302_163832.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGiCCjpEGt6G6zRnpvINyUgUt5zJfM3ryUa9RMy9rIPj9iFWcEtoHHFyKe7e9HRRqYJTKPf9r_3r8_lADuoLYr62iX7CwOEIXEXA9cV9TfRMff7QsdHJZkDH8r-zD_H19LTu27LHrQ-G9K_FqzBdkJv_VWqSxZy5pqMRWFbth0dqQ81VlixuoHC4W/s320/IMG_20230302_163832.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mong Kok has an array of markets, and food stalls, and comprises a few shopping centres dedicated to things such as Japanese Anime merchandise & books, electronics, cosmetics, and clothing. Other standouts besides Mong Kok were Tsim Sha Tsui, the </span><i>Avenue of Stars </i><span style="font-family: arial;">on East Promenade; the city's very own take on Hollywood's Walk of Fame with handprints from film idols such as Andy Lau, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, not forgetting the famous Victoria Harbour. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The downsides are the humid weather and that it can be very overwhelming and chaotic; people can be blunt and bump into you or brush your shoulder without being apologetic, which sucks, but that's Hong Kong for you. It is a metropolitan concrete jungle out there, as densely populated and fast-paced as it is, but it all depends on whether or not you are prepared for it or ready for what comes your way... and if the answer is yes, then you'll probably love or enjoy HK. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The best way to enjoy travelling to Hong Kong and seeing the sights of the city is by foot, bus and tram: when it is walkable and you see different restaurants, shops, bars, and landmarks and the weather is nice, brisk and sunny in the daytime or vibrant and the bright lights go up at night time, you relish a city like Hong Kong.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">One thing I also noticed, is there is a massive emphasis on family, and Hong Kong and Chinese culture is a very family-orientated affair that is banded around, with younger children and their parents seen out and about in the city. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The cliche that Hong Kong is an apolitical cultural desert inhabited by people who had no real values or understanding of what being Hong Kong is about, - except for being rich and wealth bringing prosperity, happiness and joy rings true - however, I always led a life where money doesn't equate to success or happiness. <b>For me, it is not about being wealthy, about how much money you make, or the type of job you do: it is about being appreciative of what you have such as family, and your culture, not taking anything for granted, being grateful for the opportunities that lie in front of you and making the most of them. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu0YaU6quFoSV7fZF_85igfEXr4Ke_1ZGtz8rm1eBV7wkCf9UmJ6A_B6JO95d5l6N5xKIAR2Xaivsedv32BCdIQbSlR_isY4yUe77wSFLkeCGyZS6zSL3ohngkli7otVFU2PV9_veDSvUlXKMXBgNxKZfVTi1ePtivzG8fjW9iFtpk2TF-8X0K8jR/s3840/IMG_20230225_095915.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu0YaU6quFoSV7fZF_85igfEXr4Ke_1ZGtz8rm1eBV7wkCf9UmJ6A_B6JO95d5l6N5xKIAR2Xaivsedv32BCdIQbSlR_isY4yUe77wSFLkeCGyZS6zSL3ohngkli7otVFU2PV9_veDSvUlXKMXBgNxKZfVTi1ePtivzG8fjW9iFtpk2TF-8X0K8jR/s320/IMG_20230225_095915.jpg" width="180" /></a></i></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My attachment towards Hong Kong is not just rooted in familiarity, family and sentimentality; it is thus regardless of the political problems and unrest of the past 3 years, it didn't discourage me from visiting HK, once the pandemic subsided. When it did subside, I and my siblings went ahead with our plans.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There is still a spark in Hong Kong that lights up when the going gets tough for a lot of people, as well as to recognise its imperfections. I am London- born and bred in the U.K., but my roots and family ties lie in Hong Kong. I enjoyed travelling to Spain in Madrid, Valencia and to a lesser extent, Barcelona in 2021, same with New York, Boston and Washington D.C in the United States last year, but Hong Kong resonates with me on a personal and cultural level, partly due to the family connections, and has and will always have a special place in my heart.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>I love it.</i> And much like Hong Kong has that East meets West vibe, I feel as though that in a way, both synonymously and simultaneously it ties in also with my identity as a British-born Chinese, having been born & bred in London in the U.K. and being of Chinese origin. That, plus Hong Kong being a former British colony. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A lot of people may feel Hong Kong is not for them; the city is evolving in both good & bad ways, yet it provides something for everyone and in some cases great value. So long as you keep your political opinions to yourself or you don't care about the political side of things and get used to its way of life and be open-minded, you will find something to like from Hong Kong.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>With the city ramping up its efforts to lure in tourists in an attempt to reclaim what they had lost ground in, in the numbers stakes during the pandemic phase, normalcy in Hong Kong is here & the dropping of the final restriction in the mask-wearing paints a bright picture for its current and future endeavours.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>It is a place that everyone has to visit at least once in their lives to get a taste of its one-of-a-kind feel, atmosphere and culture that you can't find anywhere else. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>You just can't go wrong with Hong Kong. I know I can't.</i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkkhkN7-Kiy0rr1QK5pXIRO8ItuMu6VxChtVwoZSS1_7Kf_4KsWk7snJJBa2FhZhs8jJnbC6390GTngX8C4ZVythCmeVaM7MztetQkzWjixgbHiNglKEFCfLAuzhzz_dJjXCMIc7CLq97B4dIdPdVmdTahmBySJFTa36xOfRMMb5cZE5XW1C9JORT/s3840/IMG_20230301_162735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkkhkN7-Kiy0rr1QK5pXIRO8ItuMu6VxChtVwoZSS1_7Kf_4KsWk7snJJBa2FhZhs8jJnbC6390GTngX8C4ZVythCmeVaM7MztetQkzWjixgbHiNglKEFCfLAuzhzz_dJjXCMIc7CLq97B4dIdPdVmdTahmBySJFTa36xOfRMMb5cZE5XW1C9JORT/s320/IMG_20230301_162735.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YMz2_s4gthwk0pO0MeXfzZZOfMJXNMLBt-FHHq5CwGv4J8Vcu_Ihb00Yi0w1B5TY5wbyhg-cgUlkSJDwQb7Iv7EilaVmvKwMDLgDaYdECC0CeVxVQ1PBWXoLJxyTFDkG3a94uC82yF2UzQncCfbGjlZSZG1DUmqf7EraM9076UK2rTCyGG1gBWgF/s3840/IMG_20230301_171536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YMz2_s4gthwk0pO0MeXfzZZOfMJXNMLBt-FHHq5CwGv4J8Vcu_Ihb00Yi0w1B5TY5wbyhg-cgUlkSJDwQb7Iv7EilaVmvKwMDLgDaYdECC0CeVxVQ1PBWXoLJxyTFDkG3a94uC82yF2UzQncCfbGjlZSZG1DUmqf7EraM9076UK2rTCyGG1gBWgF/s320/IMG_20230301_171536.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>Must-visits:</u></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Tsim Sha Tsui </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Causeway Bay & Victoria Harbour</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Mong Kok</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jordan</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Yau Ma Tei</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Central </b></span></p>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-30302748065483991012022-12-30T00:15:00.018+00:002023-12-31T09:22:20.504+00:002022 Year In Review<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj6A5wWxokzID2orR14pBHDkorohAimICAcYrKSWVfnJ5yA91cFDxIHr0q4MMnqtVltdE3WZOpo6gN5_Uc7SsMPf_anY3wQMRx4owJ2WhbNu8C4Z33zpLOfvPdlExlJDkyPMN_PTeP0_r_icd2S2EOvzXomzCBrYArl8WqOZ8i35WOZhDq3lFpxj-/s1200/fd7bc96a3ffee79d8d53b8081268ef4bfbc37afc-1200x628.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCj6A5wWxokzID2orR14pBHDkorohAimICAcYrKSWVfnJ5yA91cFDxIHr0q4MMnqtVltdE3WZOpo6gN5_Uc7SsMPf_anY3wQMRx4owJ2WhbNu8C4Z33zpLOfvPdlExlJDkyPMN_PTeP0_r_icd2S2EOvzXomzCBrYArl8WqOZ8i35WOZhDq3lFpxj-/s320/fd7bc96a3ffee79d8d53b8081268ef4bfbc37afc-1200x628.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">By Waiching </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">2022 was a year that felt incredibly strange and brought me back down to earth with a bump.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">The last two years have been a whirlwind of emotions, filled with uncertainty regarding COVID-19, from the devastating deaths to the emerging vaccines. However, in East Asia, as in the rest of the world, we are pretty much past the pandemic phase, and COVID-19 is an afterthought that is rarely mentioned. For many people, 2022 was a year of considerable change. But here in the UK, it was business as usual, with energy prices and inflation soaring, leading to a cost-of-living crisis, and many of us trying to juggle our finances. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">Russia's invasion of Ukraine dominated headlines, an unjust war that nobody asked for or wanted. In the UK, we also saw three prime ministers and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, Argentina won the football World Cup hosted by Qatar, which was marred by controversy and drama before and during the tournament. Our working life resumed in person after two years of Zoom calls and no hugging our colleagues. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">We stepped up to meet a series of unexpected challenges and changes. We forged on, and COVID-19 has subsided in the West in a sort of flu-like endemic way. In 2022, we leaned more towards the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and were a lot closer to the years before it in terms of normalcy. Work-wise at <i>Costco</i>, it hasn't been without its set of challenges.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVZc_rlMNc0Ot_dnJt8kaw5TP2HWzYapzhf1PRm09LpixMhQ_73faz3414Dpw31kpi944f9dGJdRlbmMk6CHyUeT3_Ds3PHEG0xQD49fMLhjtP3tYoezBA3k_txq2p-vKKagOhfX05wxWA5KTUy-YpgAA1MLbY2LXqDC38osRbwXdKSHJ8nCYjQRA/s800/403_118076627.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVZc_rlMNc0Ot_dnJt8kaw5TP2HWzYapzhf1PRm09LpixMhQ_73faz3414Dpw31kpi944f9dGJdRlbmMk6CHyUeT3_Ds3PHEG0xQD49fMLhjtP3tYoezBA3k_txq2p-vKKagOhfX05wxWA5KTUy-YpgAA1MLbY2LXqDC38osRbwXdKSHJ8nCYjQRA/s320/403_118076627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">The food court, also known as the meat grinder, has undergone a change in management. It's the fourth manager in less than two years, but the first in 2022. As with every year, there has been a turnover at the warehouse. People come and go, move up and move on. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">Reflecting on the past year, it hasn't been as smooth as expected. It hasn't been easy, and at times it has been a mess, but neither was it tumultuous. The world operates differently now in the new normal than it did in 2019. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">It's important to acknowledge the highs, accomplishments, and lessons learned in the past year. However, we must also take into account the lows and struggles and understand what could have been done differently. Consistency is usually revered by management, but we must also recognize that change is inevitable.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB3kF7zbvf6MhBXFIy0puO1grz-lk79-Y4-gF12ybyNFRhOKndc5Qy1UB7vCLl8BwJDsZIaxIDyFf3Gmfv3qZpt7F1Db82Dx1ZCw985r_ghfBXf-Yyb-1YQklAiTE9JgEqRA1ZFYzDChWSNDUK54PIA5G0RJG4Q2wezy1ctfH8NoAu3sjsSe-B_Rv/s850/best-inspirational-quotes-and-positive-sayings-for-2023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="850" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB3kF7zbvf6MhBXFIy0puO1grz-lk79-Y4-gF12ybyNFRhOKndc5Qy1UB7vCLl8BwJDsZIaxIDyFf3Gmfv3qZpt7F1Db82Dx1ZCw985r_ghfBXf-Yyb-1YQklAiTE9JgEqRA1ZFYzDChWSNDUK54PIA5G0RJG4Q2wezy1ctfH8NoAu3sjsSe-B_Rv/w200-h200/best-inspirational-quotes-and-positive-sayings-for-2023.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">One thing I must learn to take into consideration is not to take criticism to heart and perceive it as a personal attack on myself. That includes constructive criticism: we are not all perfect, we have our imperfections and flaws, and, in life, we need to constantly work on eradicating them. Thus forth, emotional intelligence & maturity is one area I must work on. </span></div><div><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I need to let go of the pent-up anger and unnecessary frustration and instead of becoming irate, see things rationally and come from a place of empathy, compassion, and understanding from not just my perspective but to see it from the other person's and acknowledge the positives from it. </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Emotionally, it has been a headache, but really their problems, issues, and whatever is going on in their head directed at me are things I do not need to take on as my own. </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It is about them, not me. I need to stop carrying the weight of other people's expectations on me at the expense of my own happiness. </span></em></strong></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></em></strong></span></p></div><div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And I need to work smarter, not just harder. I learned some consequential home truths from my managers, which were a bitter pill to swallow as there were periods in 2022 when I faced criticism for not always pulling my weight in terms of the work. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8SY0Xa1It5xwX9fv_y-DWpeRwWGZ_Ln6c8XArQsm7FtDHw1jhq-TdcZawEi2BvX1EF0yad3vFt2XISM6O6jlwoA0xZIPfrr47B2wrQ0-6lmvAkwoQcFKXWeG7zQCDwQl-P1aomJR8jr3oMOD4SZIgqi-BohxdBGOVINLQn7s2obDMxqFPsd6kFgh/s498/not-bad-ryan-reynolds.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="498" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8SY0Xa1It5xwX9fv_y-DWpeRwWGZ_Ln6c8XArQsm7FtDHw1jhq-TdcZawEi2BvX1EF0yad3vFt2XISM6O6jlwoA0xZIPfrr47B2wrQ0-6lmvAkwoQcFKXWeG7zQCDwQl-P1aomJR8jr3oMOD4SZIgqi-BohxdBGOVINLQn7s2obDMxqFPsd6kFgh/w200-h200/not-bad-ryan-reynolds.gif" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Did I achieve what I needed to do? <i>Well, work-wise, I would say, partially, but as I said before, that level of consistency and high standard needs to be maintained all the time, and in fairness, overall, I haven't managed that. I wasn't satisfied with some of my efforts, I was going through some emotions & lost some of my appetite to succeed and to work hard. </i></b></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I have been under the cosh several times, and I felt rather disconnected. I haven't always been happy & my mental health struggled (the months of July and August especially, </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">and they can go straight into the dumpster fire</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">).</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I spent the majority of 2021 at </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Costco</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> working in a different role and another department, having spent time in the food court- and I relished that opportunity and enjoyed it so much. So to find myself back in the food court, I didn't anticipate it. I had to rekindle my passion for the work and familiarize myself with undertaking some of the general tasks endowed to me. In contrast to last year, collectively, the food court team have fared well, whereas individually, I didn't have an amazing year -</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> over a year ago, it was the other way around with me excelling in my performances and the then-food court team of 2021 experiencing a range of problems, coupled with the exodus of a few key players. </em></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></em></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">At a retail outlet such as <i>Costco</i> that functions as a retail wholesaler with members as customers, a lot of people view retail as an easy job that doesn't require much effort -, however, if you have spent 4 years or more in this sector, regardless of whichever company you work for, this couldn't be any further from the truth. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUahlvY53hpSp6upcLIVzZTvpv1pO-kBCQaJ_wgfTN7S4oUTNSkIhlSFo37MvrAvZnBChF1jfjbSe4U3YBwtxHe8_A-HpgTagzFSPqk4ZscL1_bwPbe3fwmhY5HMVd3CDDWrRc5YKxt9oB-4iLY7_PFJY0ZN5ZhdgtgNAZa-8rhw_29A0X1ZsDAmwf/s420/MjAxMy04YmMxMDEzNmRjNjQ4Yzdh.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="420" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUahlvY53hpSp6upcLIVzZTvpv1pO-kBCQaJ_wgfTN7S4oUTNSkIhlSFo37MvrAvZnBChF1jfjbSe4U3YBwtxHe8_A-HpgTagzFSPqk4ZscL1_bwPbe3fwmhY5HMVd3CDDWrRc5YKxt9oB-4iLY7_PFJY0ZN5ZhdgtgNAZa-8rhw_29A0X1ZsDAmwf/s320/MjAxMy04YmMxMDEzNmRjNjQ4Yzdh.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">One thing I learned this year is that as long as I get into a rhythm and pattern in doing tasks and doing them over and over, it becomes easier to remember & recognise I am doing what needs to be done. Repetition is both a good as well as a bad thing in that respect. At first, my mind was like, "How can I do this?" -, nowadays it is like: "I can do this, I am going to do this" and doing it correctly. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><b>Undeniably, I need to do better; I see 2023 as the chance for rebirth and personal growth and an opportunity to not just put things right but to make fewer mistakes & learn from them. I've endured setbacks before, as well as encountering my share of unpleasant members - it's about overcoming each one of them on my journey to become a better version of myself. </b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the aims of next year is to focus on myself; I have to make myself the priority without being too selfless. <i>When you are selfless and trying to help others and be more caring, you end up being exploited or drained by the other person.</i> I discovered that when this occurs, it becomes too much to take on. I want to find that balance: I am no pushover and won't bend over backwards for anyone, and yet I don't want to be or be seen as arrogant or self-centred. </span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">At the end of the day, I have to come to the realisation that whilst I might be working as part of a team, my work efforts are still my own; accurately enough I work independently with little to no supervision and help from my coworkers -, with that, I see to it that it is more about me working for and by myself, rather than working as a team and feeling as part of a team. That is the feeling I am getting. <i>And if so, be it. </i></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><b>Having been working at <i>Costco</i> for over 4 years, I want to be a great employee who is capable of doing their job to the best of my ability but at the same time, on an emotional level, I need to let go of the anger, hurt, bitterness and resentment. To ignore & understand that constructive feedback doesn't hinder my success but drives it forward, rather than react negatively. One time I was under the impression that I wasn't being respected and that those higher-ups didn't care, when deep down they did, sort of. Rather they just didn't come out and say it. </b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">I said some things I should not have said, got involved when it was not necessary and had nothing to do with me in the workplace. I became over-emotional and reacted to situations when there was no need to do so... I learned and realized that if I were to get too involved in the emotional side of things and not let my work do the talking & the results speak for themselves, other people would notice. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Each year presents a new set of challenges: 2022 was no different to 2021 and neither will 2023; I seek to enter next year & every year with a clean slate, alas seeking a personal and professional transformation that will be of tremendous benefit to myself. Therein remains an underlying sense of ambition, buoyed by the resilience and a sense of certainty after the pandemic shutdown and my past struggles. As I turn 42 in February 2023, I am not getting any younger - and yet, I won't give up and stop giving it my all.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Suffice it to say, I am not letting anything stand in my way.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The highlight of the year for me by far was travelling to America with my sister to New York, Washington D.C, whilst stopping off at Boston along the way back in October.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8mb0VT37tr4XWNK7lXfMj3lwd26VFgT7Wqs_7G8s7s4WE4w9UHjFD2auccIkTA9E34wBByXFaUjq3POcHkIUTO56M9mj68uFJojBPp--bwUk8f7ILvsTFMIl8Ezc3XRysUPwMPD3jz3euYRIASErdnEGfWVjACbje7yR3yyD4IUiGvey0DkypEd4/s1920/29fcf3ad-4e06-4476-a755-15acecda8bfc.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8mb0VT37tr4XWNK7lXfMj3lwd26VFgT7Wqs_7G8s7s4WE4w9UHjFD2auccIkTA9E34wBByXFaUjq3POcHkIUTO56M9mj68uFJojBPp--bwUk8f7ILvsTFMIl8Ezc3XRysUPwMPD3jz3euYRIASErdnEGfWVjACbje7yR3yyD4IUiGvey0DkypEd4/s320/29fcf3ad-4e06-4476-a755-15acecda8bfc.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It was my first time in the States, and I relished every minute of it (but for our not-so-good stay in an Airbnb in Washington D.C.): it outweighs all the other things that occurred this year. The only vacation I took in 2022, and it was worth it. When I returned to London and to work after my spell on holiday, the difference it made to my work was enormous; I felt sharp and more dogged & I cared much more about the work. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2022 wasn't a love-it-or-hate-it affair - more like split right down the middle; however, in hindsight, based on my efforts and how I felt, it was a challenge to top or succeed in the echelons of 2021. 2021 was a hard act to follow. </span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was clear to me and from many of my superiors that this year was somewhat of a step down from last year, which was incredible in many ways. & it is something that I agree with. </span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">By my standards, I've done well at work. Yet what remains is I should have amounted to far better, - and whilst some might see to it that I am being a bit too hard on myself. I should be still grateful and pleased with what I have achieved at </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Costco</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> (which I am btw), and still having a job lasting over four years since I joined the company earning very good money, I consider myself a hands-on type of worker; a grafter who prides myself on not letting those high standards drop and slip away for good. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Multiple times I have demonstrated that after a setback, I manage to fight back with perseverance, and self-belief and possess the urge to keep going and not drop my guard down for anyone. This mentality has gotten me through the tough and the rough spells, and one that has worked. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In terms of working relationships at work, having worked with and for a majority of my colleagues who are still present at </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Costco</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> but who are at different stages in their careers, I have connected with a few of them whilst, at the same time, there are several that I do not talk to very often but we remain on good, professional terms with each other, regardless. I do not need to cater and appeal to everyone, and that's fine. I do not consider myself friends with anyone at work- I maintain my boundaries. They are nothing more than acquaintances. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">If some have a problem with this, then, well, I don't do work friendships. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In my 2019 end-of-year review, I remarked at the time that it was a mixed bag... three years ago, it sure was, but after some thought and reflection, most of it was horrible. Excluding my trips to Hong Kong and Spain, I fell off in 2019, and it was a horrific period. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2022 wasn't by any means horrific or that terrible, but I would be lying if I said I loved every minute of it. It was important to end the year on a high, which is what I did. </span></span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2021 was incredible... 2022 not so much, I just wasn't happy or satisfied with my results at work and most of the time I was unhappy, but there are lessons to be learnt from those experiences. </span></span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am desperately keen not to go back to 2020 - we in the West cannot afford to and I see 2022 serving as the springboard to (hopefully) a much more consistent and happier new and upcoming chapter that lies in and for 2023. </span></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d2fX_eWlPIluSrDaZ7IMZuZAvcss7LNZ0YNcyt3GKSFO7tvm-UEIsGYOxpLSBgL5y6X37sSfoqGC8XKmUTLs8kf0C7PVi2fLO6iPSspkiDqGNRkLU_Hm5p6nHu305rBM8ETH7tqIXnd4i7VeZ7Uzx0A6OQkmKITmyaiAP-5-RfwSNLTEhbbCVmkk/s700/New-Year-Quote-Hal-Borland.jpg" style="clear: right; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d2fX_eWlPIluSrDaZ7IMZuZAvcss7LNZ0YNcyt3GKSFO7tvm-UEIsGYOxpLSBgL5y6X37sSfoqGC8XKmUTLs8kf0C7PVi2fLO6iPSspkiDqGNRkLU_Hm5p6nHu305rBM8ETH7tqIXnd4i7VeZ7Uzx0A6OQkmKITmyaiAP-5-RfwSNLTEhbbCVmkk/w320-h320/New-Year-Quote-Hal-Borland.jpg" width="320" /></a></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d2fX_eWlPIluSrDaZ7IMZuZAvcss7LNZ0YNcyt3GKSFO7tvm-UEIsGYOxpLSBgL5y6X37sSfoqGC8XKmUTLs8kf0C7PVi2fLO6iPSspkiDqGNRkLU_Hm5p6nHu305rBM8ETH7tqIXnd4i7VeZ7Uzx0A6OQkmKITmyaiAP-5-RfwSNLTEhbbCVmkk/s700/New-Year-Quote-Hal-Borland.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><i> </i></b></a></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>My Highlights</u> +</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- Going to America with my sister for the first time</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- Late December </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO_4IcZ6Ob09zVqGZVZbCsg7ug-qH3lcxFvwvL_5uByBQx1gyYrKibFaw3Q28OHJ8z-a5ECO2HyBOfHYWb-0c6yGaTMkL5i_aTaW7L0vprgYdu85dzLhspeoUMmgYGoG7k9Rv-x4XyNk-ND61-D6yBqIis_x9WCxhjH98tnPLYy8fi2tmqHOG0b1p/s1024/IMG-20221016-WA0044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO_4IcZ6Ob09zVqGZVZbCsg7ug-qH3lcxFvwvL_5uByBQx1gyYrKibFaw3Q28OHJ8z-a5ECO2HyBOfHYWb-0c6yGaTMkL5i_aTaW7L0vprgYdu85dzLhspeoUMmgYGoG7k9Rv-x4XyNk-ND61-D6yBqIis_x9WCxhjH98tnPLYy8fi2tmqHOG0b1p/s320/IMG-20221016-WA0044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>*me standing behind the stars and Stripes billboard in Times Square, New York in October 2022 </i></span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>My Lows</u></i> - </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">- July and August, Early December in particular </span></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-70980845646789235892022-11-17T19:40:00.000+00:002022-11-17T19:40:00.211+00:00Retro Review: Lionheart (1990)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Lionheart aka A.W.O.L: Absent Without Leave/Leon</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1990</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Harrison Page, Deborah Renard, Brian Thompson, Michel Quissi, Billy Blanks </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Genre: Action Martial Arts</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Worldwide Box Office Gross: over £24 million</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot:</i> An ex-French soldier begins participating in underground street fights to make money for his brother's family</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuoiQMwrMAfabeX8-iE0pU0ZSN3Z6JolNFqxvTnLxv7iW8Kqy74dJTaAGoMU-bf3T-sv8c19pBXJCM_-tNWi-u3YGCt67VhzpBs2ILo2vPxGUR6gHFzXZbXb41Np8lqfgEhV0DeE2pe7yU8HBdd9uTcx-U1uYve54FDxeqUoJNpNV0i-VJGeaH777/s1200/A_W_O_L_Absent_Without_Leave-859027245-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="808" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuoiQMwrMAfabeX8-iE0pU0ZSN3Z6JolNFqxvTnLxv7iW8Kqy74dJTaAGoMU-bf3T-sv8c19pBXJCM_-tNWi-u3YGCt67VhzpBs2ILo2vPxGUR6gHFzXZbXb41Np8lqfgEhV0DeE2pe7yU8HBdd9uTcx-U1uYve54FDxeqUoJNpNV0i-VJGeaH777/s320/A_W_O_L_Absent_Without_Leave-859027245-large.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div><i><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>'Bloodsport - Only Better'</u></span></b></i><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Lionheart</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> was Jean-Claude Van Damme's fourth major billing after <i>Bloodsport, Cyborg</i> and <i>Kickboxer</i>, with the story written by Van Damme himself and who plays Lyon Gautier (no relation to Jean-Paul Gautier). Gautier escapes from the Legion in a region in North Africa/France and initially heads off to America to avenge his brother's attack. When he arrives, he helps pay the sister-in-law's bills and support her youngest daughter. He is also on the run from two blokes of the French Foreign Legion who intend to get hold of Lyon. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Released at the beginning of the 1990s decade, & just before Van Damme hit his peak with 1992's </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Universal Soldier</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> and a year on </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Hard Target</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, Lionheart is directed by Sheldon Lettich. Lettich went on to direct the entertaining </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Double Impact</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Only the Strong</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> and the disaster which is </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Hard Corps</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> to name. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i>Lionheart</i> is more drama first, action second, & it plays out like a version of <i>Kickboxer</i> meets <i>Rocky IV</i>, but with a fish-out-of-water storyline built-in. It is a lot more earnest than Van Damme's latter flicks. It's light on action but heavy on the story and showcases more of his acting chops - which has been a persistent criticism of his film career. Van Damme humanizes Leon and he comes across as not as invincible, but down-to-earth and modest. He has a conscious. The story itself, whilst argued, is pretty rote, bears some weight and is relatively decent as it progresses.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One thing </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Lionheart</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> and Van Damme didn't capitalize on was making 80s' action B-movie actor Brian Thompson fight Van Damme in a final battle.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Thompson's sharp-suited character was a sidekick who talked more and fought less and it was a missed opportunity to see them square off in a fight, whilst capitalist rich b**** Cynthia was the villainess (that character appears to be a take on Brigette Nielsen in <i>Rocky IV</i>). </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Also in this movie was Michel Quissi - the original Tung Po of the first <i>Kickboxer</i> film, and Quissi here as his character looks, well, your average guy in a suit as one of the French foreign legion guys. His brother also appears, and he fights Van Damme at the end fight.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Fight scenes look scrappier and rougher and are not the usual f<i>lashy shenanigans of Van Damme's '90s efforts such as Double Impact, Hard Target, and Universal Soldier.</i> It is less reliant on kicks. Does this alone make it any more inferior? Absolutely not. However, in the context of the story, Leon takes part in these illegal underground street fights to make money for his sister-in-law, Helene, a single mother and daughter, Nicole, Leon's niece, and to give them a better quality of life. But he is not doing this alone, as he enlists a street hustler Joshua to act as his manager. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Compared to his other films, including the direct- to- DVD cheapo efforts, this Van Damme film has a lot of heart, and it was a total surprise: I didn't think I would enjoy it, but I ended up feeling the opposite, thanks to the added characters besides Leon. Had it not been for them and for them elevating this film further, I would enjoy it less. The melodrama and family angle also pushes the story forward, and that resonates more than the fights, which act as a backdrop. If the fights are the backdrop to </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Lionheart</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, then the family angle is the backbone of this film. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_B4xT0J39QcwGOKGESq_9lhOA284FjLJO4g6wYSjRaltC4H_TQVJdmT7r_-lqBXQMKc5A8cg_ajfSjYxD0RvoNGEcGiJSxOHjTo9FW7GUWcs8Fr9JFHHyIlzHoAsckT26C_AHxBioJq7BPU8RvlOdOCip9Wee7dZ51p6Pepm71v8B3CUIUgbi_yN/s1791/x1080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1791" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_B4xT0J39QcwGOKGESq_9lhOA284FjLJO4g6wYSjRaltC4H_TQVJdmT7r_-lqBXQMKc5A8cg_ajfSjYxD0RvoNGEcGiJSxOHjTo9FW7GUWcs8Fr9JFHHyIlzHoAsckT26C_AHxBioJq7BPU8RvlOdOCip9Wee7dZ51p6Pepm71v8B3CUIUgbi_yN/s320/x1080.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It's earnest, never over-the-top and engaging from beginning to end and the runtime is perfect. The performances are very good, and because of that, it makes the melodrama feel believable, with Van Damme showing some range in his performance. Having him play a character that he wrote that is not one-dimensional but who has a lot to say and having a character that has depth as a human being and person and not just someone who kicks the crap out of people, is interesting to see. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Van Damme's <i>Rocky</i>, yet way, way superior to <i>The Hard Corps</i>, <i>Lionheart</i> is far more reserved than any of Jean-Claude Van Damme's other films. </span>Many people will look down on this as being silly and too toned down for their liking and prefer a more macho Muscles from Brussels. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">For me, this is much better than it has any right to be. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXEmShtO6bvPpkWuCOU1Vl9GWTP9KXigeH92s4uCUD0pmco_BOREJNRP7bnwVdzkoGestn2at-mVtGuJhqR5EG8J526Up-N0Bru7jY41am2q9lGfmdGOwhqk9fOUMwrUD_Gn45MAGFCCdf-VMLVX1tCxTjoGQ71Nc715f5vN8fkrwGeRs-j70lGhf/s1400/1_IwOHIFAar9AwsxhHo_W2-Q.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXEmShtO6bvPpkWuCOU1Vl9GWTP9KXigeH92s4uCUD0pmco_BOREJNRP7bnwVdzkoGestn2at-mVtGuJhqR5EG8J526Up-N0Bru7jY41am2q9lGfmdGOwhqk9fOUMwrUD_Gn45MAGFCCdf-VMLVX1tCxTjoGQ71Nc715f5vN8fkrwGeRs-j70lGhf/s320/1_IwOHIFAar9AwsxhHo_W2-Q.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEbYdbLje2SZnptNKDfyiYPig3AuMGGEvgqi9WPNNrXPvFdScH_Y7va_gcK-4f8bd2aM4KLmF54wldbRu6Ory_i8A3OmztdVbu5W4Xx7MRyFF-fs4rkyoIvIj74N54qumsV8ss3nBRGNjOc7p-fy4To3CsyC6raMw31pIuVM3EXLnt1bDVL_JKgG7/s1280/009507_1280x720_401043_015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEbYdbLje2SZnptNKDfyiYPig3AuMGGEvgqi9WPNNrXPvFdScH_Y7va_gcK-4f8bd2aM4KLmF54wldbRu6Ory_i8A3OmztdVbu5W4Xx7MRyFF-fs4rkyoIvIj74N54qumsV8ss3nBRGNjOc7p-fy4To3CsyC6raMw31pIuVM3EXLnt1bDVL_JKgG7/s320/009507_1280x720_401043_015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQyBSyPhdmayQb-TQAdHHawYINd1EFXSQWYSCNMz4UKrto-5JaACBLvEYlNBpByHq8u1rGV-M9YvYF7D4-7LXYy3GBen7PSKq_mICdqWZVp3qx8BbbG02uWg9aqdiJzxAn8LI6oOPBzyWcOa-wIYfSOWqfQ7DUt5rQ8SAYy5gxuSHU2O8cdoFEaco/s978/Web%20capture_17-11-2022_19175_femalevillains.fandom.com.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="978" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQyBSyPhdmayQb-TQAdHHawYINd1EFXSQWYSCNMz4UKrto-5JaACBLvEYlNBpByHq8u1rGV-M9YvYF7D4-7LXYy3GBen7PSKq_mICdqWZVp3qx8BbbG02uWg9aqdiJzxAn8LI6oOPBzyWcOa-wIYfSOWqfQ7DUt5rQ8SAYy5gxuSHU2O8cdoFEaco/s320/Web%20capture_17-11-2022_19175_femalevillains.fandom.com.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqzKVOq7eq9IBNbNhbRZxrqfGNoVHCURL1A-oPXx2Hl2rhcnmiOfAD0JqZ4mYRI9Ama1pqDJENqkhlJnAtBc2l4IXTY5funIxXZGP_tGXR6xgXjRvIHKIIByISrw3RjVNNiIMsprtB3wSrWg6E7DKuBv4VNrFEO49fE-bYLwfdNqNNPh7q5ZvEvQ7/s677/Web%20capture_17-11-2022_192230_silverscreenanalysis.com.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="677" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqzKVOq7eq9IBNbNhbRZxrqfGNoVHCURL1A-oPXx2Hl2rhcnmiOfAD0JqZ4mYRI9Ama1pqDJENqkhlJnAtBc2l4IXTY5funIxXZGP_tGXR6xgXjRvIHKIIByISrw3RjVNNiIMsprtB3wSrWg6E7DKuBv4VNrFEO49fE-bYLwfdNqNNPh7q5ZvEvQ7/s320/Web%20capture_17-11-2022_192230_silverscreenanalysis.com.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i><u><b>Final Verdict:</b></u></i></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i>Bloodsport</i> put Van Damme on the action map alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, but with <i>Lionheart</i>, whilst it isn't as recognised as <i>Universal Soldier</i> and <i>Kickboxer</i>, it is sincere and still works as a crowd-pleaser in the same vein as <i>Rocky</i>. As well as one that I might take over <i>Kickboxer</i> and<i> Bloodsport</i> when it comes to competitive fighting movies, as the fish-out-of-water setting gives it that edge.</b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i>Lionheart</i> may not offer much, yet with a simple and effective story and an intriguing set of characters, it turns out to be one of JCVD's best. </b></span></p></div><br /><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Overall: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdSuUrzVglhOY5QJPPLfFw4ByizE_LgVZM4ZqtuSFNZfOUFU7yJYqInpssOIeLETdJ9b43j7uKmLJHLlRUwwg_h-eRcSglJfJ6cqN_Bec1ZrTxxORm4b4d5-OILenaAw7lRFeXDPxtjk/s1600/8.jpg" /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLLNnBXmDreTqwihZ3XirdQUYkc3DlKwSNRgRG7N4Pt56XdGiJeDNemmvE_fI8aW9Zb9_KMtqPdPZZ4FWAUt91qIsfTGZAoX2MEh0kD-G-rZFB76JMoYKPjtwj7iWn5m9udlmZn09LaDou4koyKijVUs9xsY9CtMp1x4KW825P5YZky3sz3jGVPfw/s245/Lionheart-Wrong-Bet-A-W-O-L-Full-Contact-1990-jean-claude-van-damme-33365639-245-160%20(1).gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="245" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLLNnBXmDreTqwihZ3XirdQUYkc3DlKwSNRgRG7N4Pt56XdGiJeDNemmvE_fI8aW9Zb9_KMtqPdPZZ4FWAUt91qIsfTGZAoX2MEh0kD-G-rZFB76JMoYKPjtwj7iWn5m9udlmZn09LaDou4koyKijVUs9xsY9CtMp1x4KW825P5YZky3sz3jGVPfw/s1600/Lionheart-Wrong-Bet-A-W-O-L-Full-Contact-1990-jean-claude-van-damme-33365639-245-160%20(1).gif" width="245" /></a></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-39240011435342028822022-11-03T20:47:00.000+00:002022-11-03T20:47:20.419+00:00Retro Review: Employee of the Month (2006)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Employee of the month</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2006 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson, Dax Shepard, Tim Bagley, Andy Dick, Brian George, Efren Ramirez</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Genre: Comedy</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $38 million </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot:</i> A slacker competes with a repeat winner for the ''Employee of the Month'' title at work, in order to gain the affections of a new female employee</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMbWE0Xr5CeqykzZQZHz3ev74ukayuvLUzp9jtGlmcKqa9BZp881IscBPYj5M892cujZ7tfw6li42QddboJ-omszQ9LcwmoPLujQL4XtuKPCRdRID3S8lJrIwjICslKHHxbwmxv_PYK-e--U7xjGz7glP7fR3suf8u8wEIXOA9eBSpVMrPN4Z6vRB/s731/employee-of-the-month-taiwanese-movie-poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMbWE0Xr5CeqykzZQZHz3ev74ukayuvLUzp9jtGlmcKqa9BZp881IscBPYj5M892cujZ7tfw6li42QddboJ-omszQ9LcwmoPLujQL4XtuKPCRdRID3S8lJrIwjICslKHHxbwmxv_PYK-e--U7xjGz7glP7fR3suf8u8wEIXOA9eBSpVMrPN4Z6vRB/w274-h400/employee-of-the-month-taiwanese-movie-poster.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><u>'Watching a Retail Comedy with Rarely Any Laughs Is as Tawdry & Predictably Dull as This One Gets'</u></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A non-precursor to NBC's six- season run of the similarly-themed sitcom, <i>Superstore</i>, 2006's <i>Employee of the Month</i> may have been out of the block first, but in actual contrast, lacks the satirical bite and any real wit and insight into the endeavor and life in and around the world of retail; instead, the film pursues a love triangle subplot that doesn't fully convince, with easily forgotten supporting characters, nor does it connect with the audience as both Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson flatter to deceive, whilst Dax Shepard, who reminds me a little of Zac Braff, goes full-on jerk mode as the arrogant cashier, Vince. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cook plays a shelf-stacker who mopes through the warehouse at <i>Superclub </i>(a fictional name for a wholesaler. Examples of warehouse-based retail stores include <i>Makro, Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's</i>) -, only to find out he has to go all out in his efforts to attract a newly appointed cashier, who only dates guys who obtain 'Employee of the Month' status. Dax goes up against Vince and the pair battle it out for Amy's affections. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The film is noted for being filmed in an actual <i>Costco</i> warehouse in Albuquerque, New Mexico. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Employee of the Month</i> could have been the big -screen <i>Superstore</i>; it ought to have delved into and explored the characters' story arcs, with considerable screen time allocated to each one, not just Dax and Amy's. Had the movie been an ensemble comedy (and ideally so), the story would have flourished. Yet as it wasn't, it didn't work, and the story's scope wasn't broad enough. As such, the story goes nowhere and is aimless. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I work at <i>Costco</i> and at our warehouse, we have varied characters from walks of life, from different parts of the world with different personalities. I only imagined how much more relatable and better the film would be had <i>Employee of the Month</i> had gone for this approach, instead. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It also suffers from the lack of genuine comedy and laughs throughout its runtime. it was so tame; I'm not familiar with Dane Cook's material, but even still, I was questioning whether he was the ideal choice for the lead. He didn't sell it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ctFjH4fIoS4GI9qvgPfRsYtFviAL2arCbY-4R2GqpBeZFzQ0QtoDbUCLAvELk8TJDHRK2XNA--rCvWZQrtxEJ2L6qsjHVGXGIGXLYptljRNdS0uPhBcMzCnkNJZTKie0fbHtMTaj84qYec-Wc43GiwWw2LcSq1JGc1Wdwa5pjqfXVHsX6bSG8-TG/s450/dax-efren-eotm1_1159917474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ctFjH4fIoS4GI9qvgPfRsYtFviAL2arCbY-4R2GqpBeZFzQ0QtoDbUCLAvELk8TJDHRK2XNA--rCvWZQrtxEJ2L6qsjHVGXGIGXLYptljRNdS0uPhBcMzCnkNJZTKie0fbHtMTaj84qYec-Wc43GiwWw2LcSq1JGc1Wdwa5pjqfXVHsX6bSG8-TG/s320/dax-efren-eotm1_1159917474.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_4kZQjyLEGHK14RuceAvRZ61J_GxldDLlFFDQJGrl4cfamjMXBT5QPcxaipozjUy1hQvIKWNw4AcVeI3yI-fUAJdwlbFhaTAH0wjvnVr_5tlCI4SkOYA37gqSjQMXB327yBVT44FwZ3R_9Cov-CmGjkjJwWkfnCl1iVklxkoCQhOC7E1tsoNmrpn/s800/16556085_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="800" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_4kZQjyLEGHK14RuceAvRZ61J_GxldDLlFFDQJGrl4cfamjMXBT5QPcxaipozjUy1hQvIKWNw4AcVeI3yI-fUAJdwlbFhaTAH0wjvnVr_5tlCI4SkOYA37gqSjQMXB327yBVT44FwZ3R_9Cov-CmGjkjJwWkfnCl1iVklxkoCQhOC7E1tsoNmrpn/s320/16556085_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgkn6YAlpOfSYRwgB0-pzzldSJd76FzUWhRvYZ4UAoyWYKU_KtlzvwhRNjC_L3ZKajHp_z0no095WAtrpfa0WMI_9RJRZhimvxjPXXK3l76y4vb4R4L1sG8orKOlfskLuxP_XIFmaae_EqKWwoRm8rZSt-2Bk_O_AXjSgj4PWvXnkOBWtSAtumbJV/s3840/fb309254938012d8380b958d079f2ed17cb9d2b9e600d07648a11f5b13c0f785._RI_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgkn6YAlpOfSYRwgB0-pzzldSJd76FzUWhRvYZ4UAoyWYKU_KtlzvwhRNjC_L3ZKajHp_z0no095WAtrpfa0WMI_9RJRZhimvxjPXXK3l76y4vb4R4L1sG8orKOlfskLuxP_XIFmaae_EqKWwoRm8rZSt-2Bk_O_AXjSgj4PWvXnkOBWtSAtumbJV/s320/fb309254938012d8380b958d079f2ed17cb9d2b9e600d07648a11f5b13c0f785._RI_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSbb59wpCB1Wx8dVcDBYUlIdARk-7UzQl8IEtSN2Tfj51Vr2SKom-1Sbih9jBY4nmwVMvclreP1-dFQc6plCBUYgtFQ9d288SxkZfFWoINy1Zww9kmuZGOX2jMRSRcfIiFzT2bstdYhW0dfcIPDrq_CNoRsXqTr_ORviWYZ7bM2gzBn7kQEOb2cd0/s1800/employee_of_the_month_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSbb59wpCB1Wx8dVcDBYUlIdARk-7UzQl8IEtSN2Tfj51Vr2SKom-1Sbih9jBY4nmwVMvclreP1-dFQc6plCBUYgtFQ9d288SxkZfFWoINy1Zww9kmuZGOX2jMRSRcfIiFzT2bstdYhW0dfcIPDrq_CNoRsXqTr_ORviWYZ7bM2gzBn7kQEOb2cd0/s320/employee_of_the_month_11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b><u>Final Verdict</u>:</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>Caddyshack </i>meets<i> Superstore, Employee of the Month </i>possesses none of the vulgarity of some of the other post-2000s comedies headed by the likes of Will Ferrell and Steve Carell, - something of which I liked; unfortunately, it is relatively bland that doesn't try to attempt to sell itself as a legitimate workplace comedy & with barely enough laughs to keep audiences tuned. Hence, shifting its focus away from being an observational comedy and leaning towards frat boy humour and being more interested in the battle between two employees over an attractive young lady.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>I'd watch the seasons of <i>Superstore</i>, instead of sitting through this film.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ejp9U4vrhLWyfNt1-2JibgwmsSKQwYtRlpj36OiZaYzU5DzKE2QVtTL173HJT1SiKawqET2Y31VltSqEA7ecO6HrbtkX55Hq10FlEKFx62nkiPMyoo7N6wY_9xGerSelWVyGBQttVNs/s1600/3.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" /></span></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-51777606648834380822022-10-27T00:06:00.001+01:002022-10-27T00:06:31.239+01:00Retro Review: Pedicab Driver (1989) #Hongkongcinema <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Pedicab Driver aka Kwan Lung Hei Fung</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1989</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-leung, Max Mok, Billy Chow, Fennie Yuen, Nina Li Chi</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Genre: Martial Arts Comedy Drama</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Hong Kong Box Office Gross: over $14 million</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot</i>: Two men find themselves in trouble when one falls in love with a bun maker and the other with a woman he doesn't know is a prostitute </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaLhHQComucHQVb8KsXEr_ZfBuR6bzS30LATwvQySjvH-YT_sk7oXaNvXAvqMGx-12DVc5XZaLUAa-Q-1ZQo9glf6Gv0ZXPSv2AVClUBNEyf5FgaRYdoVqLvcldS4OWJObE5i1jjJQZFf23DMEC4XHDvWpTExxarGb9VBs9u_WPnT7aHR3IPiNggq/s500/pedicab%20driver%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaLhHQComucHQVb8KsXEr_ZfBuR6bzS30LATwvQySjvH-YT_sk7oXaNvXAvqMGx-12DVc5XZaLUAa-Q-1ZQo9glf6Gv0ZXPSv2AVClUBNEyf5FgaRYdoVqLvcldS4OWJObE5i1jjJQZFf23DMEC4XHDvWpTExxarGb9VBs9u_WPnT7aHR3IPiNggq/s320/pedicab%20driver%20poster.jpg" width="225" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><b>'A Hidden Gem Considered By Many, Yet I Wasn't Quite Sold On It'</b></u></i><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Set in the 1930s, Pedicab Driver follows the trials and tribulations of a set of pedicab drivers in Macau: two of them have set their hearts on two attractive ladies, one a baker, and the other a prostitute. So, it is a part-romantic comedy, part drama and part action. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This is not what I personally consider to be a favourite of mine from Sammo Hung's. Viewed purely as a film with a beginning, middle, and end, <i>Pedicab Driver's</i> journey from A to B isn't sloppy; instead, it is unequivocally brazen and veering all over the place, with no coherency. It was difficult to keep track of the plot throughout. Scenes oscillated between comical and silly at the start to serious and violent, to dreary melodrama which meanders on and is overemotional, in typical Hong Kong drama fashion. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Additionally, the female characters are not written very well; here they are objectified and once, or twice, they get slapped around or are hit by a male character. That, and it doesn't look pretty. Again, in many of these 1980s Hong Kong action films, unless they are the main characters i.e., Cynthia Rothrock, or Michelle Yeoh oozing a strong onscreen presence, the women are generally portrayed as physically weak and overly emotive/emotional to the extent to which their sensitive nature is taken advantage of and mocked. I had to look away twice when one of them got kicked and punched by the bad guys (she ended up dying I think). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVFd-LLcLbhGqtq9MP_-ek_wnxTUpoF6c82GnXdcIzAvgX4yoDePjX13BfBfvq1QbF9v-DQtvcDiXItShYMxXX88qQbGwiste6PknPICiMaCXiWHym0FrNApB-bLAA4xZmlA9a_0zF_SfSy_Aw-3VgRKs58GqNeEiS4GII5VvN43lC3RQW0vU2BWB/s725/Eddie-Maher-felt-that-one.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="725" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVFd-LLcLbhGqtq9MP_-ek_wnxTUpoF6c82GnXdcIzAvgX4yoDePjX13BfBfvq1QbF9v-DQtvcDiXItShYMxXX88qQbGwiste6PknPICiMaCXiWHym0FrNApB-bLAA4xZmlA9a_0zF_SfSy_Aw-3VgRKs58GqNeEiS4GII5VvN43lC3RQW0vU2BWB/s320/Eddie-Maher-felt-that-one.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It could have all gone straight to pot, but the film is just about saved by the performances and the impressive and over-the-top looking martial arts action sequences (one involving Sammo's character, Lo and Casino played by Lau Kar-Leung in a weapons duel), in the face of the melodramatics, the topsy-turvy tonal shifts and dull romance plots involving the two main characters, Max & Lo. Instead of counterpointing the heaviness of the drama with light relief in a smooth, nuanced way- something which can be detected in say, some of Robin Williams' earlier movie works that incorporate drama and comedy-, <i>Pedicab Driver</i> slaps the two styles together without any degree of thought as to how they could coincide with one another. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Besides the fact that he was a right prick, I found John Shum's bad guy character so annoying. Though he fought well against Sammo, he came across as being so OTT and wicked, he was an annoying twerp throughout. Shum's characters are often silly, goofy, and playful with that snarky tone in his comedy films, - and so it was a surprise to see him play a person, whom I hated so much. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyPv-VWgcFsiav8nnZmS6eYePxFtkVFRSaXddKIBvgd4uq87yU_KODr-RQwhc5i_B6iOeTSidcJm3ooHJprJSP8z2EiyUfxVifc06n54EyItvAwgNMRKYrHtTtDMYEBZTsoTvjGtIlv39Fw2pq7a3gWjsB_fLbZ1X57a8LO6bMXIdc0rHv4NIKEbt/s860/1452439195-1%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="860" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyPv-VWgcFsiav8nnZmS6eYePxFtkVFRSaXddKIBvgd4uq87yU_KODr-RQwhc5i_B6iOeTSidcJm3ooHJprJSP8z2EiyUfxVifc06n54EyItvAwgNMRKYrHtTtDMYEBZTsoTvjGtIlv39Fw2pq7a3gWjsB_fLbZ1X57a8LO6bMXIdc0rHv4NIKEbt/s320/1452439195-1%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_4ZPx4gARLIvyfR2P7mM03uz1ri3Slin0r-XpTUMoFdTx0u4pig3Wj7sDLoK7m8tmIFktb_HoooecIPpmABFvfyCslBSYVBf028mgYhdtoD-VwwpMIsXH6QzfmPv6b10RuTVg8XYXpQwdAx15wMLNht_NMOBI3MlumetI2hGGlKHznrEXzfPV10V/s640/pedicab-driver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="640" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_4ZPx4gARLIvyfR2P7mM03uz1ri3Slin0r-XpTUMoFdTx0u4pig3Wj7sDLoK7m8tmIFktb_HoooecIPpmABFvfyCslBSYVBf028mgYhdtoD-VwwpMIsXH6QzfmPv6b10RuTVg8XYXpQwdAx15wMLNht_NMOBI3MlumetI2hGGlKHznrEXzfPV10V/s320/pedicab-driver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEmXViTC-Oalb26eT5AGR04MPMTyNRyTHllGBxHX8Btjth0TnOjb1rg6bvL0aylB5tCfs710h_thLtKI0JZ0PTNcj6mq9bhB_iq9mZ7R2-0Cqlvx0dhhosxaleX-uGf__AYp8xzbY0K8hNJIpnGAvyGQo3qdm6hoUd5_tbmKVkt7TzPKhsSGpDqsM/s725/The-film-takes-a-shocking-turn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="725" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEmXViTC-Oalb26eT5AGR04MPMTyNRyTHllGBxHX8Btjth0TnOjb1rg6bvL0aylB5tCfs710h_thLtKI0JZ0PTNcj6mq9bhB_iq9mZ7R2-0Cqlvx0dhhosxaleX-uGf__AYp8xzbY0K8hNJIpnGAvyGQo3qdm6hoUd5_tbmKVkt7TzPKhsSGpDqsM/s320/The-film-takes-a-shocking-turn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oczGSbf2cEZ8ukn4hG8S7e0yhbnHcCufQb-xPCAjTtpctvaD1yhjB3pbzlZ1_ctxjvrqLmpL8LCBr-qLdIrNQY6PvOvj19xbTok7PBlXH9ZsTM5mQOED6mxfS0p2Wx4LLjF9C1G7GhcpSvlypB_8PIkdWO2HhJhu6J-hqVZGn5w7eHXlYFDzmAuT/s725/John-Shum-as-Fifth-Master-wants-Tung-eliminated.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="725" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oczGSbf2cEZ8ukn4hG8S7e0yhbnHcCufQb-xPCAjTtpctvaD1yhjB3pbzlZ1_ctxjvrqLmpL8LCBr-qLdIrNQY6PvOvj19xbTok7PBlXH9ZsTM5mQOED6mxfS0p2Wx4LLjF9C1G7GhcpSvlypB_8PIkdWO2HhJhu6J-hqVZGn5w7eHXlYFDzmAuT/s320/John-Shum-as-Fifth-Master-wants-Tung-eliminated.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><br /></u></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><b>Final Verdict:</b></u></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I really wanted to love this one, given that it is highly regarded, but because of the tonal whiplash Sammo took with it, it just never quite worked out for me. It is a film that makes little to no sense and makes little to no attempt in presenting a coherent narrative for us to follow - it just so happens that it excels in the action - yet manages to be jarring. It is never a love-it or hate-it movie for me; it just falls in the middle. Had it followed on, right through from the first fight scene, by not losing sight of its direction when it came to the story and not confusing viewers by mish-mashing subplots, then <i>Pedicab Driver</i> would have turned out to be a terrific film. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">If you are not too bothered by the (muddled) story and are more interested in the action, that's fine.</span> </b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Overall:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvu6fGmhjPk3xYSr6M5c1dFqqdbxGY534_rziSg7TdbuYbpf9d1cFvbJYS2sACqnpy6CQgIsk0EvXvuX8OpuQBAg1zUjTzKjrrnHspsWOy2uZY8zeXAczGDxNfqpkp26uhaJQbCuhCrI/s1600/7.jpg" style="font-family: arial;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l3feDnTg2zLxk0s3tZkfxPz4eAub8e0Gs__qPKZnEFthNpt5WcwjLpAy17N14nSfTfb4Eja_nL930nKAnAQ7QycfCH-FwfD9xHplkTTqOkRZd3rfo3RKrauGNjKtw2oWysWLDH6pPBZBMyQrmIN8L26kVaOd5MHY8GGK87Exkye3fH3Cskb7vVQA/s480/tumblr_pttkrwNLsY1v6w3juo2_500.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l3feDnTg2zLxk0s3tZkfxPz4eAub8e0Gs__qPKZnEFthNpt5WcwjLpAy17N14nSfTfb4Eja_nL930nKAnAQ7QycfCH-FwfD9xHplkTTqOkRZd3rfo3RKrauGNjKtw2oWysWLDH6pPBZBMyQrmIN8L26kVaOd5MHY8GGK87Exkye3fH3Cskb7vVQA/s320/tumblr_pttkrwNLsY1v6w3juo2_500.webp" width="320" /></a></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-90742891014372332812022-09-22T00:27:00.004+01:002022-09-22T00:50:13.268+01:00Retro Review: Shaft (2000)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Shaft</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2000</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Toni Collette, Busta Rhymes, Mekhi Pfifer, Dan Hedaya, Richard Roundtree </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Genre: </b></span><b style="font-family: arial;">Action Crime Thriller</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $107 million</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot</i>: The nephew of John Shaft, the original 1970s detective, goes on a personal mission to make sure the son of a real estate tycoon, is brought to justice after a racially motivated murder </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOTErlMd9m4TTd3CCsfyrHfSK_QDgO4TZALIG3l5GCqA4XULQPfgOo6mKhp_mm23yCSedJbTfFg_incRxV0jtJy1NfT63R42HltRwMY-GriFHk3_aMLYWpSB9aXqPYMzjdccMkcmm2K38krhD3gsdGMdIp7plinMK8Rjx02FHAoY1zEdW32PwsgI0/s1280/SHAFT-2000-ORIGINAL-CINEMA-POSTER__51427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="858" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOTErlMd9m4TTd3CCsfyrHfSK_QDgO4TZALIG3l5GCqA4XULQPfgOo6mKhp_mm23yCSedJbTfFg_incRxV0jtJy1NfT63R42HltRwMY-GriFHk3_aMLYWpSB9aXqPYMzjdccMkcmm2K38krhD3gsdGMdIp7plinMK8Rjx02FHAoY1zEdW32PwsgI0/w269-h400/SHAFT-2000-ORIGINAL-CINEMA-POSTER__51427.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><b>'What Is an Enjoyable & Standard Affair That Should Have Been Way Better? (Shaft!)'</b></u></i></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just to be sure: this isn't a remake of <i>Shaft</i>, nor a prequel to the 1970's <i>Shaft</i>, but a different type of Shaft character... he is the nephew of Uncle John Shaft. They share the same first name, but Samuel L. Jackson's Shaft is not his take on the original Shaft character.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here, John Shaft (Jr) is an NYPD cop who is investigating a racially motivated murder wherein a young Black man named Trey, was fatally killed by a rich White yuppie, Walter Wade Jr., played by Christian Bale (years before he (Bale) took on the mantle of Bruce Wayne & Batman in Christopher Nolan's Batman films). Shaft quits the NYPD and 2 years later, he is now a narcotics cop/agent with leader & partner, Carmen Vasquez (Vanessa L. Williams) at the helm. When Wade gets released years later, he and a Dominican drug lord, Peoples go out of their way to kill the eyewitness, Trey's date, Ivy (Toni Collete). </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">In John Singleton's original script, Richard Roundtree would have played a more pivotal role, teaming up with a younger, newer generation to fight social and racial injustice. Yet neither the studios nor Shaft's producer agreed. Reportedly, Samuel L.Jackson & Singleton disagreed during the shooting & they had clashed with producer Scott Rudin & screenwriter Richard Price during the filmmaking process. </span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">For someone who never saw the original nor was familiar with the Richard Roundtree-led Blaxploitation hit, John Singleton's </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Shaft</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> was enjoyable, if not mind-blowing. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2sMO4TI1eHVKYGM7h2DE5sKgls09XkEOGVPwoHueotj9MfYC7dzizKvkEgpgNZGryXdvZ-hHKoFElKobT53XCRRuF0AS09IxU8jlVFLeJ2k68zXTRJz_mKk8zA3RpQ7IcGSgyvys8jDDsLwXBy9aGklhIbP1c_xRTu-izOy8kQE1CqgT5cgtcOk1/s432/h280_162896.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="432" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2sMO4TI1eHVKYGM7h2DE5sKgls09XkEOGVPwoHueotj9MfYC7dzizKvkEgpgNZGryXdvZ-hHKoFElKobT53XCRRuF0AS09IxU8jlVFLeJ2k68zXTRJz_mKk8zA3RpQ7IcGSgyvys8jDDsLwXBy9aGklhIbP1c_xRTu-izOy8kQE1CqgT5cgtcOk1/s320/h280_162896.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I thought the supporting cast did well with the marginally weak script and lent themselves well as their characters: Vanessa L. Williams and Toni Collette were decent, although it was a little odd to see that Williams' character is Latina, and Williams herself is African-American, and Jeffery Wright's surprising turn as the flamboyant Spanish-speaking People's was one of the highlights (I was interested to learn he is part-Latino in real-life), whereas rapper Busta Rhymes, you can either give or take his cameo as Rasaan. Bale's turn as the smug Walter was a follow-up to his breakout role in <i>American Psycho</i> and here, he dials up the nastiness and bravado to a tee.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet the film's flaws lie in the lack of character development: the story itself is very routine, one-note and by-the-numbers, which doesn't offer many surprises, but for the two corrupt and not-so-smart cops. It does well with what it has to work with, but this in itself lies in the film biting off more than it can chew. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju64P_BQtzWOG9Kndvendls3vQuU3KedEQmOraEBN96vhRmposb-e5Q_sPGC4CMr8dfiIvuaqxSMpd9BH-fEYkVD0Ni55IbZj0-nGtI5WSFgEQBCORxNm4dPIGcxmR-GriAh6ssBgvCaf9jdCUjUUnj2K6seYK0suo-DpU3P3DdvBvUx5ma3AaPD_E/s1487/bale-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1487" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju64P_BQtzWOG9Kndvendls3vQuU3KedEQmOraEBN96vhRmposb-e5Q_sPGC4CMr8dfiIvuaqxSMpd9BH-fEYkVD0Ni55IbZj0-nGtI5WSFgEQBCORxNm4dPIGcxmR-GriAh6ssBgvCaf9jdCUjUUnj2K6seYK0suo-DpU3P3DdvBvUx5ma3AaPD_E/s320/bale-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDc1DLt-lOx4OvmUrt2tEoxaQoMz9tWZApzetF5PBB7lTznSG2kHX9quKqiGG6TPsvXAcRWabRci0x9gvXTgK1Xg3rfp2ffxIfoad9IjuZoOoXvlIZ_H0HQNYJH14njYM4fACSsELSEzC4IBMIi0aUzOzE2x2UC0k69JVoEus9-N5GS6vc_37EXOR/s432/h280_162899.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="432" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDc1DLt-lOx4OvmUrt2tEoxaQoMz9tWZApzetF5PBB7lTznSG2kHX9quKqiGG6TPsvXAcRWabRci0x9gvXTgK1Xg3rfp2ffxIfoad9IjuZoOoXvlIZ_H0HQNYJH14njYM4fACSsELSEzC4IBMIi0aUzOzE2x2UC0k69JVoEus9-N5GS6vc_37EXOR/s320/h280_162899.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah-yJeuU1PFnV26b_sxSZ1JBgw6JZIM9qAlt0ZL9fWiZVc1VHio3GqGhxaEHU1Et4Qz_zIMluEVlyjiIWLfFG7mHeZby8Xws9kMFCOZtU9A1kAfeyBwlg_O_eciD19QGmRCvB8UwOI0Ayk1ztyrZORbW6DMd2IL_DZp8Xy6_4GWZDjJfd8MEkrDaA/s1001/Shaft%202000%20-%20Jeffrey%20Wright.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="1001" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah-yJeuU1PFnV26b_sxSZ1JBgw6JZIM9qAlt0ZL9fWiZVc1VHio3GqGhxaEHU1Et4Qz_zIMluEVlyjiIWLfFG7mHeZby8Xws9kMFCOZtU9A1kAfeyBwlg_O_eciD19QGmRCvB8UwOI0Ayk1ztyrZORbW6DMd2IL_DZp8Xy6_4GWZDjJfd8MEkrDaA/s320/Shaft%202000%20-%20Jeffrey%20Wright.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><b>Final Verdict:</b></u></i></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Regardless, that same story was easy to follow all the way through, the casting worked & the team-up of John Singleton and Samuel L. Jackson was interesting. Other than that, as mentioned, I found 2000's <i>Shaft</i> enjoyable, but it didn't offer more for it to deserve a 9 or 10 out of 10 for me. </b></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I just wished the story was a little scrappier and were a bit feistier for an R-rated, 18-rated crime thriller; Shaft plays things all too safe and Singleton allows whatever issues that are supposed to be deep and serious to be resolved, in a very simplistic and watered down way. </b></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>It got a mixed reception, yes - subjectively speaking, <i>Shaft</i> isn't great, but I still enjoyed it. </b></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Overall:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nTtYkoQLBSRzPHS7xGuqEPKBnHJTUs5M2lw4DOX-cAdTI52n9WidTV5LcV1sVSdG3XLARoZgShAYvqx2EMN4AGMPBUPkwhCupif9fCmvesBpnjhS6lkMoobYKPrj5l-HzpxWRFYctsuq/s1600/7.5.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wzfoH6heHWxpAvzcyw9SPTd2WzKQ6c54rH84oHNlpiCpYnJN5RyxAQ1dW0jmISj7RegdbaGiP1z0ii-yqKpKRh9NIyALnLGPEd2OKd9E5vzB0YhfGNqJlJGvn3REOFw4kzLULfQhYm-a1j0wQ9Y9Ajv-FqkoArCyLGnEgd79Mh1G_iuMN_YTuUrR/s400/beffd00d-c9cd-49b5-8a9a-6138c7dffd3e_text.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="400" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wzfoH6heHWxpAvzcyw9SPTd2WzKQ6c54rH84oHNlpiCpYnJN5RyxAQ1dW0jmISj7RegdbaGiP1z0ii-yqKpKRh9NIyALnLGPEd2OKd9E5vzB0YhfGNqJlJGvn3REOFw4kzLULfQhYm-a1j0wQ9Y9Ajv-FqkoArCyLGnEgd79Mh1G_iuMN_YTuUrR/s320/beffd00d-c9cd-49b5-8a9a-6138c7dffd3e_text.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-10650203037346480392022-08-25T21:29:00.001+01:002022-08-25T21:29:25.869+01:00Mini Movie Review: Here Comes The Boom (2012) #badmovies <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Here Comes the Boom</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2012</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Sports Comedy</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5yYCxYXeCv68zIXkmfiJNIbN-0PYpGdpUN83jAgOZIvsTagbMpZOCtvSHjeDYvGZaZRqlAVw1VDz4LHNwq-Ku8kTid-i80GyZMUeJ-SH0G9auFGq0FC24cpBhws7nMhe02xLDjoesafJl4ttekJeoVd5g4epQVSZGwYA2lTCp5eM9PpqnuxsM67a/s600/boom3_600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5yYCxYXeCv68zIXkmfiJNIbN-0PYpGdpUN83jAgOZIvsTagbMpZOCtvSHjeDYvGZaZRqlAVw1VDz4LHNwq-Ku8kTid-i80GyZMUeJ-SH0G9auFGq0FC24cpBhws7nMhe02xLDjoesafJl4ttekJeoVd5g4epQVSZGwYA2lTCp5eM9PpqnuxsM67a/s320/boom3_600.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A high school biology teacher tries to raise funds for a school by moonlighting as a mixed martial arts fighter and in his quest, he attempts to win the heart of Bella, the school nurse he has a crush on. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">An <i>MMA</i> promotion, starring then- latest in the long line of TV actors turned movie stars, Kevin James, unfortunately, <i>Here Comes the Boom</i> fails to hit the mark as this sports comedy wallows in an insipid and forgettable story and plot, which while on paper, sounds promising, the execution isn't that entertaining, with weak humour. This film would have been more interesting had it been released in the late 1990s or early 2000s with a mid-late 1990s or early 2000s style of comedy. Produced by Adam Sandler, it has his brand of juvenile humour and comedic tone, which was a thing in the 2000s into the early 2010s interweaved into <i>Warrior</i> and <i>Never Back Down. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kevin James' and Adam Sandler movies make them the male equivalents of Melissa McCarthy, and with Here comes the boom it is a by-the-numbers, formulaic Sandler project that doesn't challenge himself or the audience. And it is stale too, both in the story and dumb humour. Hardly the side-splitting farce one would predict in a comedy. I stopped after an hr. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></u></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: arial;">Is It Worth Watching?</span></u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">For Sandler and Kevin James fanatics only</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Overall: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU6cPzyMveIoEvGPHk79q_VTHPSeN867YyFgEfRHU5thittqW5x3r4cKcvj5o4H-rMvKJwnJXboCQb5cuIFE5m9HUUn-hWJO983VOdFAJF9j0A_IP3iPtOdQyjOgItOUzuxWOyMwVMoI/s1600/2.jpg" /></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-46693485796425360472022-06-26T01:15:00.002+01:002022-06-26T01:35:16.579+01:00Retro Review: Fantastic Four (2005) <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Fantastic Four</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2005</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Genre: Superhero</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $333 million </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot:</i> A group of astronauts gain superpowers after a cosmic radiation exposure and must use them to oppose the plans of their enemy, Doctor Victor Von Doom </b></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX0yGWsVWvA1QnrWzdF9VEmt41c2slFV4RwRQD4NZEcvO97OzhQcbCrDr2yIkwRvuOMvQMs86y0HxzSSXm4HKz39dKS_g9galCNBxjvpDAqldglDRILFtvXRFOnGq7nREoVB9VpIq1Da8CFty2ylK3V5jSQi3LxpBfVS68aK8qYp6xiTCGKPI7gE-/s1024/fantastic-four-2005-poster-121751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX0yGWsVWvA1QnrWzdF9VEmt41c2slFV4RwRQD4NZEcvO97OzhQcbCrDr2yIkwRvuOMvQMs86y0HxzSSXm4HKz39dKS_g9galCNBxjvpDAqldglDRILFtvXRFOnGq7nREoVB9VpIq1Da8CFty2ylK3V5jSQi3LxpBfVS68aK8qYp6xiTCGKPI7gE-/s320/fantastic-four-2005-poster-121751.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>'Solid Adaptation & Far from The Drubbing It Received in 2005'</u></i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">As the 1990s became the noughties/00s, the age of the Marvel cinematic universe began, starting with <i>Blade </i>in 1998 starring Wesley Snipes, <i>X-Men</i> followed suit in 2000 with then-unknowns Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman: the financial success of the <i>X-Men</i> movies catapulted their statuses. But it was 2002's <i>Spider-Man</i> that broke the $100 million barrier. Fox's gamble on the<i> X-Men </i>paid off and they then turned their attention to the <i>Fantastic Four</i>. 2005's <i>Fantastic Four</i> became the second live-action <i>Fantastic Four</i>. A number of directors flirted with the idea of taking on the most famous superhero family - those included Chris Columbus (well known for <i>Home Alone</i> and <i>Mrs. Doubtfire</i>), who under Avi Arad and Ralph Winter's production was hired by Fox to write AND direct the <i>Fantastic Four</i>, way back in 1995, and Payton Reed, the latter who went on to take on the realms of <i>Marvel's Ant-Man</i>, - before it settled on Tim Story- whose previous success was with 2002's Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer comedy, <i>Barbershop</i>. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Fox's initial first choice for Sue Storm was Rachel McAdams (<i>The Notebook</i> and <i>Dr Strange</i>), whereas Payton Reed wanted Charlize Theron for the female role and have Paul Walker (<i>The Fast & the Furious</i>) playing Sue's brother, Johnny Storm. Alexis Denisof (<i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>) as Reed, John C. Reily as Ben Grimm/The Thing and Jude Law as Victor Von Doom rounded up the initial casting. Under Tim Story's direction, the casting became of that of Welsh actor, Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba - off the back of dance drama, <i>Honey</i> -, then unknown Chris Evans in his first comic book movie role and Michael Chiklis of <i>FX </i>cop drama, <i>The Shield</i>. Chiklis in latex, as opposed to CGI, as the Thing looked all right. Rounding up the cast was Australian actor, Julian McMahon who, much like with Chiklis, was achieving success on the small screen in <i>Nip/Tuck as</i> Christian Troy. Dr Doom was the biggest weak spot; despite being the main villain, he was neither imposing nor could be taken seriously as one. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Back in 2018, I commented on and reviewed 2015's iteration of <i>Fantastic Four</i>, which was and still stands as one of the worst superhero films of all-time. With that being said, and given the vitriol 2005's movie received, I had to revisit this one thoroughly this time around to see if it is that bad. Well, surprisingly, I found it to be enjoyable in places and somehow, the casting worked - though in contrast to the 2015 <i>Fantastic Four</i>, there seemed to be a bit more charm with this one and is a tad more entertaining than I'd thought it would be. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayfxMQYCAtaJc3Vk84dtprYCVJdOcaJ79YCabG8bArLGKkyIw9EXe0HvJyLL-y2pEyBBhfP-MrgrBzKWAh6rj0G5bHjUwaFblqBAnQrgQeZ6ZjCl4UQLgqajd6ANFnSEvrX45sAweYD-z1DrXrrUyMG5c-4GvCHmSZHYUCtb3jj50EReXlRVfS1fl/s1400/the%20thing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayfxMQYCAtaJc3Vk84dtprYCVJdOcaJ79YCabG8bArLGKkyIw9EXe0HvJyLL-y2pEyBBhfP-MrgrBzKWAh6rj0G5bHjUwaFblqBAnQrgQeZ6ZjCl4UQLgqajd6ANFnSEvrX45sAweYD-z1DrXrrUyMG5c-4GvCHmSZHYUCtb3jj50EReXlRVfS1fl/s320/the%20thing.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There were aspects of the story that didn't hold up all the way through, and the characters lack that something to make them stand out amongst other superheroes such as the <i>X-Men, The Avengers</i>; yet in Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis, they were by far the standouts in the entire film. It was really interesting to see Evans as Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch and pre-Captain America and before he became really big; when you give an actor like Evans a character with a big personality to back up his skills and abilities when it comes to the action elements, you can see him come to life, and as a result, he excels as a character actor. He demonstrated this in the indie fare, <i>The Losers</i>, as Captain America and in the first big <i>Fantastic Four </i>movie. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">However, Jessica Alba and Ioan Gruffudd's roles seem underwritten and underwhelming, as much as they try to do their best in their performances. Along with Evans, Chiklis, it at least to me it felt like I could buy into them onscreen as a team and as a family. I still take this <i>Fantastic Four</i> over the 2015 casting, which looked out of sorts and had no chemistry, no charm, no synergy. The dialogue, in this one, is a give and take thing, and whilst it lacks style, the turns by Evans and Chiklis just about keep the <i>Fantastic Four</i> together, - and just about. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The mid-2000s special effects via the $100 million budget, are still decent to this day, and honestly, as a whole, it wasn't too bad as a film; I had fun with it and went along for the ride, and it was fairly solid and enjoyable. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4C-MCqJ75WTBeNMmLzJilYRwYFwDK1G5mCzaH86HpCEmOu9BX8BBovJ6ueDZzwrOcOx1f5-wCn-x60ZkB4t1onRFsNnofoOg8GDTSmQATJPWBpvAcVifHCBdGf_Q8LiyxKSS8_cyY-jWq0uOLFdlfYsy1bUXyQNwPdPlJFGdI6-3XJHBPXzc10Mw/s860/image-asset.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="860" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4C-MCqJ75WTBeNMmLzJilYRwYFwDK1G5mCzaH86HpCEmOu9BX8BBovJ6ueDZzwrOcOx1f5-wCn-x60ZkB4t1onRFsNnofoOg8GDTSmQATJPWBpvAcVifHCBdGf_Q8LiyxKSS8_cyY-jWq0uOLFdlfYsy1bUXyQNwPdPlJFGdI6-3XJHBPXzc10Mw/w200-h181/image-asset.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsK2hVcvhq0i9rgdno3MDLReEsVdZexCcQYUhpTsgJT0ro5zZIYG0-VDnfLdePAa_XOzvdZBHCAn9Fc1rtXhZffbfahEA9Bpi6LlBsujFxWqT1wnBo8voq5-QEtnKAJuXRifG-b3JpdDnkCuXefbc3fX95Gn3gm3fuNvVthwmWa-T8pq1ZauDq5X1N/s740/thumb_C9FB2DDF-7B7E-4FAB-A878-49487F01AAAC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="740" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsK2hVcvhq0i9rgdno3MDLReEsVdZexCcQYUhpTsgJT0ro5zZIYG0-VDnfLdePAa_XOzvdZBHCAn9Fc1rtXhZffbfahEA9Bpi6LlBsujFxWqT1wnBo8voq5-QEtnKAJuXRifG-b3JpdDnkCuXefbc3fX95Gn3gm3fuNvVthwmWa-T8pq1ZauDq5X1N/s320/thumb_C9FB2DDF-7B7E-4FAB-A878-49487F01AAAC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1hD5qdez6fTGgnVUymyKSgdh0KYfdDnhAN0F7m6vSRQdbfMYOvewmbjZnVGLJVeWbaGWySY-l6UG2KDL1nj3vqNb3iHHngqNF2Ih2ne7uuJO1m7YQRhOR52rWF9CDDX53YXXkUv2Sx4DyMyvPrxhhepiYrWc0UgETO-fO6btCIjgr7kTHSjvMekE/s1080/m9w4IJ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1hD5qdez6fTGgnVUymyKSgdh0KYfdDnhAN0F7m6vSRQdbfMYOvewmbjZnVGLJVeWbaGWySY-l6UG2KDL1nj3vqNb3iHHngqNF2Ih2ne7uuJO1m7YQRhOR52rWF9CDDX53YXXkUv2Sx4DyMyvPrxhhepiYrWc0UgETO-fO6btCIjgr7kTHSjvMekE/s320/m9w4IJ.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><i><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Final Verdict:</b></span></u></i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>It's definitely not a complete bomb as a film as critics have stated at the time of its release and today as it has its bright spots; it embraces the spectacle aspect that is found in movies such as this and goes out of its way to entertain. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2015's <i>Fantastic Four</i> has nothing, and I say absolutely nothing, on this one. </b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Overall: </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nTtYkoQLBSRzPHS7xGuqEPKBnHJTUs5M2lw4DOX-cAdTI52n9WidTV5LcV1sVSdG3XLARoZgShAYvqx2EMN4AGMPBUPkwhCupif9fCmvesBpnjhS6lkMoobYKPrj5l-HzpxWRFYctsuq/s1600/7.5.jpg" style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS1vf4N97wdb_i3e5Jv3bxebMjWIF9_PvrsCjCLgem9KQAOm-hZ88MGJ57ekCWb6dYRlWtlpARyPFva_gSji3em5bxQAxj7_mdtNuQPOf9J7EoHXzhbHW14eo4hZGxrq6-eS3VfmwVlhcaJuKiQ2r4n3lRizyp0B3leu5XyqpOk8GFr2ix3_A5iE7/s500/sL6xlY.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="500" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnS1vf4N97wdb_i3e5Jv3bxebMjWIF9_PvrsCjCLgem9KQAOm-hZ88MGJ57ekCWb6dYRlWtlpARyPFva_gSji3em5bxQAxj7_mdtNuQPOf9J7EoHXzhbHW14eo4hZGxrq6-eS3VfmwVlhcaJuKiQ2r4n3lRizyp0B3leu5XyqpOk8GFr2ix3_A5iE7/s320/sL6xlY.gif" width="320" /></a></div></span></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-60056935671911154162022-06-23T00:06:00.000+01:002022-06-23T00:06:03.972+01:00Mini Movie Review: Whitney (2015) #badmovies <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Whitney</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2015</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Biography </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhEP7xgvBPR17ec6ptnLCFQ3lSayy--7PgbWirpHia2IKz5t-F919gJMOqzadNzkbITYV0KO3NeteOTdkVZx_ODDfSoYFtmuAJwDFKdLm0FvvtYzzGiIbsyGipXVMjo4D5fVgnDMSyNfbRiI4qtuBSHQJICyIBWH3b3kApeGdgYd9s2ojp8dtmv25/s634/24CE23C800000578-0-image-a-34_1421661486672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="634" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhEP7xgvBPR17ec6ptnLCFQ3lSayy--7PgbWirpHia2IKz5t-F919gJMOqzadNzkbITYV0KO3NeteOTdkVZx_ODDfSoYFtmuAJwDFKdLm0FvvtYzzGiIbsyGipXVMjo4D5fVgnDMSyNfbRiI4qtuBSHQJICyIBWH3b3kApeGdgYd9s2ojp8dtmv25/s320/24CE23C800000578-0-image-a-34_1421661486672.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From <i>Britney</i> to <i>Whitney</i> and other biographical offerings, <i>Lifetime</i> movies have been pretty terrible, and it is no record that Whitney's family made no secret of their loathing towards this one. Oddly, it jumps straight into the late 1980s where she broke out with <i>I Wanna Dance with Somebody</i>. Too much about Bobby Brown (this is a film that is supposed to be about Whitney, after all), also Deborah Cox is a fantastic singer, but why have her or anyone else sing Whitney's songs? Doesn't make sense, whatsoever. There is a glaring omission of the darker details of Whitney and Bobby's troubled relationship, i.e., the domestic assaults, and the sex scenes, are, well... (and what is with the choice of reggae music playing as they have sex in one of them?) A stiff, low budget film - directed by none other than Angela Bassett, shock horror - that skimps out on the most important and crucial moments and successes of Whitney's life and career and focusing on her ups and downs with Bobby Brown and presenting Whitney in a negative light, and one that is exploitative. Whitney Houston fans will be unimpressed when and after they see this. I'm hoping the upcoming <i>I Wanna Dance with Somebody</i> will be the movie that will do justice to Whitney's pop legacy, - unlike <i>Whitney</i>, well make that Whitney and Bobby. More like propping up Bobby Brown and playing down Whitney.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Is It Worth Watching?</b></span></u></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></u></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I came for Whitney, but what I got was Whitney's lows, and Bobby. Don't bother</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Overall:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU6cPzyMveIoEvGPHk79q_VTHPSeN867YyFgEfRHU5thittqW5x3r4cKcvj5o4H-rMvKJwnJXboCQb5cuIFE5m9HUUn-hWJO983VOdFAJF9j0A_IP3iPtOdQyjOgItOUzuxWOyMwVMoI/s1600/2.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;" /><br /></div></b></span></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-90032878088450170482022-06-21T15:47:00.008+01:002023-04-10T23:55:13.922+01:0010 Favourite Steps Songs <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghygjgcYFnboL9KNJ-rk1jddmcBOQm5mSkdsyPAS_LEVVhNCzwu_8qu_wX90CIM5g6OIvahjWWHdwie0fSVez6dMXB1j6-RxMLeEwQ6B4FAo135Y4sAPWlpQ0IXOUCSPvqrWrUN0GPdFiRRp9IrOWXE2W6fX7HZ_RO4PutJQwQj9Mh9LS8JuSq2z-r/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghygjgcYFnboL9KNJ-rk1jddmcBOQm5mSkdsyPAS_LEVVhNCzwu_8qu_wX90CIM5g6OIvahjWWHdwie0fSVez6dMXB1j6-RxMLeEwQ6B4FAo135Y4sAPWlpQ0IXOUCSPvqrWrUN0GPdFiRRp9IrOWXE2W6fX7HZ_RO4PutJQwQj9Mh9LS8JuSq2z-r/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNWUCI_yOtPagskuSpl57n3zlo2VKsIre8QbdhzUmz7dUR-JcAdi2njQY1YFnDeRNFvouMZqjyyU6onHlDIhPZ53YKUR5qKSdmU6QX2fhewufa2J3fS953E65NoOlp6gflUxAo-nKZ8JPsJxiG1LwKiR_eIx_jF6Y12ON6NrRNeXQgAH2Kzg6kwfS/s1000/steps-square3-1x1-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNWUCI_yOtPagskuSpl57n3zlo2VKsIre8QbdhzUmz7dUR-JcAdi2njQY1YFnDeRNFvouMZqjyyU6onHlDIhPZ53YKUR5qKSdmU6QX2fhewufa2J3fS953E65NoOlp6gflUxAo-nKZ8JPsJxiG1LwKiR_eIx_jF6Y12ON6NrRNeXQgAH2Kzg6kwfS/s320/steps-square3-1x1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Steps</i> was formed in 1997 by Steve Crosby and Barry Upton after the members answered an advert in <i>The Stage</i> newspaper to attend an open audition for a 5-piece British line dancing pop group; originally with Ian ''H'' Watkins, Lisa Scott-Lee, Maddy Chan and two other male members, the latter three members left and were replaced with Tozer, Latchford-Evans and Richards. The final line-up consisted of Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and H; Steps got their name from the marketing premise that their songs were choreographed, and the steps would be included in the CD sleeves. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Having had a listen of their discography via <i>YouTube</i> and <i>Wikipedia</i>, it turns out that Steps are a pop group who are unfairly dubbed as being cheesy that caters to teenyboppers and kiddies alike; the general consensus may be that<i> 5,6,7,8 </i>and <i>Tragedy</i> is Steps, yet thorough listens of their other songs, including non-singles that didn't chart on the top 40, reveal Steps' discography is far more varied than what might one would imagine, and as such they have plenty of great material. For me, they are a guilty pleasure, much like listening to any Stock Aitken and Waterman- produced song. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">2022 sees Steps celebrating </span><span style="font-family: arial;">25 years of being in pop industry; t</span><span style="font-family: arial;">he group's sting in the late 1990s/early 2000s', under the Pete Waterman partnership & through Max Martin's <i>Cheiron</i> studios musical output, is still etched in pop lovers' & Steps Fans' memory. </span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EBUwhq9pSSA" width="320" youtube-src-id="EBUwhq9pSSA"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">1. Say You'll Be Mine (1999)</span></b> - one part of the double- A sided single with <i>Better the Devil You Know</i> as its sister counterpart, this was the better and chirpier single release compared to that of <i>Heartbeat</i> of <i>Heartbeat/Tragedy.</i> Still underrated today, complete with a video that has the group paying homage to, & re-enacting scenes from various Hollywood movies of the nineties. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GpjCAPFmZ1s" width="320" youtube-src-id="GpjCAPFmZ1s"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">2. Deeper Shade of Blue (1999)</span></b> - surprisingly not one of the group's biggest chart successes, which is truly saying something; the song that even some of the biggest detractors and non-fans of Steps begrudgingly admire. Originally stated as a Tina Cousins' release, it came out of nowhere, but the biggest surprise was it came from a group that did the cover of <i>Tragedy</i> by the Bee Gees. Musically, with its club beat, this edgier- and superior bop is a world away from the cheesy<i> 5,6,7,8</i> and <i>Last Thing on my Mind</i>. The most un-Steps song, and yet still one of their very best. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8vE-hbV9eHc" width="320" youtube-src-id="8vE-hbV9eHc"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">3. Here and Now (2001)</span> </b>- rarely considered by so many as one of Steps' finest & is one of the group's lowest selling singles, <i>Here & Now</i> is great than one would give credit to as a Steps' song; it definitely has that same up-tempo feel as Britney Spears' early 2000s output - it was penned by Andreas Carlsson (who did the Backstreet Boys' <i>I Want it That Way</i>) & Ali Thompson. Was part of the group's 4th double-A side single release when paired with <i>You'll Be Sorry </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bEtrBC9Ki7U" width="320" youtube-src-id="bEtrBC9Ki7U"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">4. Stomp (2000)</span></b> - '70s disco-inspired bopper that riffs on <i>Chic's</i> 1978's <i>Everybody Dance</i> with a catchy chorus that became the group's second consecutive chart topper. Yes, that rhymes. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KA2W19uCQmY" width="320" youtube-src-id="KA2W19uCQmY"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">5. No More Tears on the Dance Floor (2017)</span> </b>- cowritten by ex-<i>Savage Garden's</i> Darren Hayes, <i>No More Tears</i>... is an Anders cover that deserved a single release and a music video to go with it. Vocally, Claire is at her peak, whilst it allows male counterpart, Latchford-Evans to step forward and deliver a verse on his own. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U0uS0Zhf9WM" width="320" youtube-src-id="U0uS0Zhf9WM"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">6. Paradise Lost (2000)</span> </b>- if Ace of Base's <i>The Sign</i> & Madonna's <i>La Isla Bonita </i>had a love child, then<i> Paradise Lost </i>would be it; this often-overlooked mid-tempo, Latino-inspired offering was performed as a medley on their tours with H & Lee's rendition of Luis Fonsi & Justin Bieber's <i>Despacito</i> and <i>Summer of Love. </i>Really impressive and one of the 'must've been single' releases. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HUG2y4Gpf9w" width="320" youtube-src-id="HUG2y4Gpf9w"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">7. Summer of Love (2000)</span> </b>- Euphoric Latin-fueled summer dance banger, which came out in the midst of the Ricky Martin, J-Lo and Enrique Iglesias dominance of the pop charts in the same year & reached #5 in the U.K with <i>When I Said Goodbye</i> as a double-A sided single </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ck4Jt5O2dP4" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ck4Jt5O2dP4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">8. Happy Go Lucky (2000)</span></b> - another <i>Ace-of-Base</i>-ish -sounding song; song featured on <i>The Princess Diaries</i> movie soundtrack; is incredibly infectious </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xl-deXhe1-0" width="320" youtube-src-id="Xl-deXhe1-0"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">9. Better the Devil You Know (1999)</span></b> - cover version of the Kylie Minogue hit that whilst composition-wise and vocally, brings nothing new, it is still an overly decent song </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tBKhMMgVn7o" width="320" youtube-src-id="tBKhMMgVn7o"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">10. To the Beat of My Heart (2021)</span></b> - taken from their 6th studio album <i>To the Beat of My Heart, </i>this one was cowritten by Sarah Thompson, Brian Higgins, MNEK and <i>The Saturdays'</i> Molly King. A drastic change from their much earlier efforts of the 1990s, it is edgier, more club-based and hipper, and plus, it is not bad as a record. <i> </i></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>Notable Mentions</u></i>: Last Thing on My Mind, Love's Got a Hold of my Heart, To Be your Hero, You'll be Sorry, Buzzz, <i>Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby</i>, Words Are Not Enough, <i>Dancing With A Broken Heart</i>, Human Touch, Scared of the Dark, Take Me For a Ride, Kiss of Life, The Slightest Touch, High, In It For Love, Turn Around </b></span></p>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-15956011491370430152022-06-06T22:18:00.002+01:002022-06-07T10:36:09.801+01:0010 Favourite Cher Songs <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTljSExFokwDdJLPM51trVcKgEEBsNjm0Wt3KrmRr-gKF2CSPIcYM_p3JY5DAH1s7CArUq0a7vFU9-qrgQ3e7CXPGPjqXMRFWbv1YtAt1DzF7xTEF8llIuo8AZdpdJnymFwdjtqDn05GZRaZd8vTgUiaO765twx5IuzUPQkmEI3ZOoFeIuyszrVPtK/s560/Web%20capture_6-6-2022_20224_photo-collage.net.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="560" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTljSExFokwDdJLPM51trVcKgEEBsNjm0Wt3KrmRr-gKF2CSPIcYM_p3JY5DAH1s7CArUq0a7vFU9-qrgQ3e7CXPGPjqXMRFWbv1YtAt1DzF7xTEF8llIuo8AZdpdJnymFwdjtqDn05GZRaZd8vTgUiaO765twx5IuzUPQkmEI3ZOoFeIuyszrVPtK/w400-h297/Web%20capture_6-6-2022_20224_photo-collage.net.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>By Waiching </b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;">Considered one of the greatest and most legendary pop stars and divas of all time, Cher's startling career spans over 7 decades (crikey): with her beginnings as one half of Sonny and Cher, she later on pursued a solo pop career. A trendsetter in fashion, music, movies and an icon, she has consolidated her place alongside the likes of Madonna, Tina Turner and countless other female pop singers; alas, there are very, very few singers/performers who have sustained longevity through a back catalogue that goes as far back as the 1960s. In 2017, Cher nabbed the <i>Billboard Icon Award</i>. She also made history by becoming the only artist to have a #1 single on the Billboard chart in 6 decades. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;">1998's <i>Believe</i> was huge, but it was also autotuned. Her distinctive voice, - which in general without the dance beat and autotune-, is incredible - was autotuned; comparing that song to her efforts from the 1980s and 1990s where they were leaning towards soft-rock and she switched gears from soft-rock to Motown, briefly that is, to adult contemporary, dance and back to pop through her ABBA covers, the consensus is that her older, classic material still rules. <br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've seen a lot of comments made about Cher in regard to her having plastic surgery, moreso than her vocals. Of all the female powerhouse pop vocalists of the 20th century, I would cite Cher, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Donna Summer, and Aretha Franklin, but a couple in that list. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are my selections when it comes to Cher's songs: </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xTjMr-yeyvk" width="320" youtube-src-id="xTjMr-yeyvk"></iframe></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
1.<i> Love and Understanding</i> (1991)</b> - one of the best songs written for her, produced by Guy Roche (Celine Dion's <i>If You Asked Me To & Brandy's Almost Doesn't Count</i>), and performed by Cher, it is hugely uplifting, and rousing, framed with orchestral strings and a rock beat; though it is not as widely known as <i>Turn Back Time</i> and<i> Believe, Love and Understanding</i> is, nonetheless, musically and lyrically fantastic. Yet it doesn't get enough praise and recognition, which is a shame. It is though my ultimate top Cher pick </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT21ukU3s6ZLd5UK-TiHR0WEYm0ItTEz6DBZ4hji0oVo70oNvO4lCGRsrdIuOt6LdIEkihc41GdbXPYKnyUqGV15a7Y7iVEZcfrFgBHpEOODo0de3XBlP_j8cwP2Y5DKDfanqgQDw8NwhVx_cfvH5F3pDRxmp0XiTtL6lHTsKWpKhJwuEiu1GTqA7n/s193/6is9qz.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="193" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT21ukU3s6ZLd5UK-TiHR0WEYm0ItTEz6DBZ4hji0oVo70oNvO4lCGRsrdIuOt6LdIEkihc41GdbXPYKnyUqGV15a7Y7iVEZcfrFgBHpEOODo0de3XBlP_j8cwP2Y5DKDfanqgQDw8NwhVx_cfvH5F3pDRxmp0XiTtL6lHTsKWpKhJwuEiu1GTqA7n/s1600/6is9qz.gif" width="193" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
2. <i>If I Could Turn Back Time</i> (1989)</b> - a quintessential power ballad of the 1980s and written by one of the greatest songwriters, Diane Warren (who was also responsible for<i> Love and Understanding</i>) that still stands the test of time, 4 decades later. <i>If I Could Turn Back Time</i> was and still, is also the iconic & grandiose anthem that propelled Cher's pop career in a big way & it helped her gain worldwide recognition. After her disco-themed work of the 1970s, tracks such as <i>If I Could Turn Back Time</i> and Y<i>ou Wouldn't Know Love</i> in the 1980s enabled Cher to break new ground in the soft rock-pop vein. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kP23qAHo5to" width="320" youtube-src-id="kP23qAHo5to"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;">
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3. Not Enough Love in The World</i> (1995)</b> - the third single off <i>It's A Man's World</i> album originally performed by Don Henley as a soft rock song; production and vocal-wise, I prefer this one over the original. The LP itself contains several cover versions from male artists; the other notable one is <i>Walking in Memphis</i>. The 1995 version of <i>Not Enough Love in The World</i> has a more contemporary '90s- pop feel and as cover versions by Cher go, this is one of her best -yet also it is vastly (& criminally) overlooked; moving, swaying, very catchy, but also through <i>It's A Man's World</i>, it amounts to being what is, sound-wise, and arguably her most mature album to date. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2r3fBbznkcuIys8ZkRi4xPVNr7johjYKkQWBk_StxRFarJ7b-e4BJgSBeWGdD55lrR6nwCNFyTTwtsqjXxRpMWAUXuIRxTfkiWZ9MZPQfmWk69DbgVZ63c-9Pwhxa2x_TtxVcSvOmHN9vxM68WXCDIDrfOkNu3lZh_3RprPtTVQKOI3kqH_BapKI/s360/6isciq.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="360" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2r3fBbznkcuIys8ZkRi4xPVNr7johjYKkQWBk_StxRFarJ7b-e4BJgSBeWGdD55lrR6nwCNFyTTwtsqjXxRpMWAUXuIRxTfkiWZ9MZPQfmWk69DbgVZ63c-9Pwhxa2x_TtxVcSvOmHN9vxM68WXCDIDrfOkNu3lZh_3RprPtTVQKOI3kqH_BapKI/s320/6isciq.gif" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>
4. <i>The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)</i> (1990)</b> - another cover made famous by Cher and was on the soundtrack of the comedy-drama, <i>Mermaids</i>, this version topped the charts. With her powerhouse vocals, she has always been able to belt out a song in a distinctive voice too. Motown-ish and harking back to the 1960s with the original by Betty Everett, <i>The Shoop Shoop Song</i> became Cher's first solo #1 song in the U.K </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BW4LUe2e5oU" width="320" youtube-src-id="BW4LUe2e5oU"></iframe></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>
5. <i>All or Nothing </i>(1999)</b> - the follow-up to the massive <i>Believe</i> and <i>Strong Enough</i>, it leans more towards the former as a dance-pop number and yet compared to those two songs, isn't and wasn't as massive although it charted at #1 in the U.S on the dance club songs and did extremely well in the Czech Republic, Finland and Hungary. However, it didn't chart on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. Whilst many will opt for<i> Believe</i>, it is <i>All or Nothing</i> as my pick out of her dance-pop efforts </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLYyfciL6drglyny7353U2djM4vQBwBTzjkt4pHpRnsBhPs_yYvpV_YJiPuVzk-ByCM23cc6JK4evR6xYbo3alEnGwNBb220fWvGxOz8LTRH5JDDh1j9lbYDzE_sQNTESRlmxP6S_bLoo63ipO3w7-mGphNEz__fzefo9j_U4-huWOVN-biSQ3uRC/s300/62229_1586589196_300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="300" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLYyfciL6drglyny7353U2djM4vQBwBTzjkt4pHpRnsBhPs_yYvpV_YJiPuVzk-ByCM23cc6JK4evR6xYbo3alEnGwNBb220fWvGxOz8LTRH5JDDh1j9lbYDzE_sQNTESRlmxP6S_bLoo63ipO3w7-mGphNEz__fzefo9j_U4-huWOVN-biSQ3uRC/w200-h196/62229_1586589196_300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
6. <i>Just Like Jesse James</i> (1989)</b> - one of Cher's least favourites, which is saying something as lyrically and musically, it is amazing. This country-style bop has a slower pace (it is very restrained) and it takes a while until it gets to the chorus but the production and musically, it is so polished. The title is in reference to the real-life wild West bandit, Jesse James </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rCGhOWecK_A" width="320" youtube-src-id="rCGhOWecK_A"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
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7. <i>I'll Never Stop Loving You </i>(1991</b>) - <i>Heart</i> did a version of this song as well, one year earlier and did it first; a melodic power ballad and a hidden gem that shouldn't be slept on. Its composition sounds like something that is being sung at the Olympics or on presidential inauguration day </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
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8. <i>Walking In Memphis</i> (1995)</b> - a cover of the Marc Cohan track, released in the mid-1990s, this rendition rocks. Never quite understood the criticism Cher received for it. Cher's take is livelier and more listenable in contrast to the original. <br /><br />
<br /><b>9. <i>Perfection</i> featuring Bonnie Tyler and Darlene Love (1987)</b> <b>tied with <i>Working Girl</i> </b>- this rocker is akin to <i>Emotional Fire, </i>the latter, <i>Working Girl</i>, remained an unreleased track, and another one that showcases Cher's vocal range </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlBPiEcDP7HDzg3uozebKoFSyq9MMOtCsA9hhgsZHUJ0uUCMEW4Wrs9aYMEfVBdkx9rGtOsDqp3R1rtRL2tA4isRFnHDe1sFp7XqWD2_fNi_Eo0RLQMDFvxSpSx66yKQCzuklTv-VKnEKrNOIqu4-Cme2WColpD-fLPUBldW2uq7v-9OELkepI6Vt/s600/R-2753856-1436693882-4679.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="600" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlBPiEcDP7HDzg3uozebKoFSyq9MMOtCsA9hhgsZHUJ0uUCMEW4Wrs9aYMEfVBdkx9rGtOsDqp3R1rtRL2tA4isRFnHDe1sFp7XqWD2_fNi_Eo0RLQMDFvxSpSx66yKQCzuklTv-VKnEKrNOIqu4-Cme2WColpD-fLPUBldW2uq7v-9OELkepI6Vt/w200-h174/R-2753856-1436693882-4679.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
10. <i>You Wouldn't Know Love</i> (1989) </b>- lyrics by Michael Bolton, who also recorded his own version, and sandwiched in-between <i>Just like Jesse James</i> and <i>Heart of Stone, </i>composition-wise. Bolton's rendition has a little bit of soul, whereas this one goes down the soft-rock MOR, power ballad route, laced with backing vocals & a booming and rousing chorus <br />
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<i><u><br /><b>
Honourable Mentions</b></u></i>: *<b>Save Up All Your Tears</b>, *<b>Could've Been You</b>, When Love Calls Your Name, *<b>I Found Someone</b>, *<b>We All Sleep Alone</b>, One by One (UK version), Believe, *<b>Emotional Fire</b>, Starting Over, Takin' Back My Heart, Alive Again, Real Love, Name of the Game,<b> *Gypsies Tramps & Thieves</b>, *<b>Dangerous Times, Different Kind of Love Song</b>, Still in Love With You, Starting Over, *<b>Dov'e I'amore (remix)</b>, The Greatest Thing feat. Lady Gaga, *<b>Woman's World</b>, *<b>Red,</b> Love So High </span></div>
Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-47214361163429501222022-06-04T23:10:00.001+01:002022-11-16T00:11:11.231+00:00Retro Review: Mortal Thoughts (1991)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Mortal Thoughts</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1991</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Cast: Demi Moore, Glenne Headly, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Genre: Neo-Noir Thriller</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $18 million </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Plot:</i> Two detectives interrogate a hairdresser on two homicides she may or may not have been involved in </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEz289r6HwqgdhI6xELH7eK0Ky1WjeDHzJTyplX5ytr5KGLuuUpKJU5DPIYTAv-3dXDGPIlK5yahMiZnboMw3w8-E-CW_R4lEcT_RcdMrEfSFRFPOE6QCKeiSwZbN13x09FjD00-GWCzGxobe4G0c0Qb00h-CiXXrUXFyU_52CCMU1QTy9HPkWqLmS/s2641/lf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2641" data-original-width="1794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEz289r6HwqgdhI6xELH7eK0Ky1WjeDHzJTyplX5ytr5KGLuuUpKJU5DPIYTAv-3dXDGPIlK5yahMiZnboMw3w8-E-CW_R4lEcT_RcdMrEfSFRFPOE6QCKeiSwZbN13x09FjD00-GWCzGxobe4G0c0Qb00h-CiXXrUXFyU_52CCMU1QTy9HPkWqLmS/s320/lf.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><i><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;">'Better Than I Thought It Would Be'</span></u></b></i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Alan Rudolph may not be a name familiar to most people; as an associate of Robert Altman's, his filmography consists of B-movies and non-typical Hollywood films very few have come across before. <i>Mortal Thoughts</i> is the most commercial offering to date of his still in his take on domestic violence and one that manages to be engaging through its plot, but it is, unfortunately, let down by the unraveling of the culprit that makes little to no sense to the viewer, whatsoever. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Two working-class gals/ friends who run a beauty parlour in New Jersey, New York, make a mess out of a situation that goes wrong; their husbands, however, are arguably two of the worst characters in the film: one is a calm-yet boorish salesman, the other is an abusive, obnoxious lout who is also an alcoholic. The women discuss killing James (Bruce Willis) and getting away with it, as he was a criminal and abusive. One of the men gets killed and cops are trying to get to the bottom of who did it, by interrogating Moore's character, Cynthia.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Considered bleak and cold by critics when it was released in 1991, watching it today it works much better on the small screen. <i>Mortal Thoughts</i> feels more like a made-for-TV film, judging by the way it comes across and as the film progresses, its neo-noir-Esque, murder-mystery story, which goes back-& forth, becomes engaging. Yes, it feels tawdry and yet Randolph takes the material, and the characters and manages to get the best out of those aspects, as well as out of Moore and Headley. The bits and pieces of Cynthia's version of events come together to form an intricate- yet conflicting whole, up until the ending, and one that I didn't like, which let the film down. In her self-defence, she was innocent; I wished the film had stressed this part. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Performance-wise, as Demi Moore's follow-up to <i>Ghost</i>, she completely nails it, and her character has a tad more depth by comparison. With bigger hair, her role as Cynthia was a complete departure, after coming off the back of her success in <i>Ghost</i>; spirited but also it was a compelling performance that has never been bettered, before and after <i>Mortal Thoughts</i>. Glenne Headly was also a tour-de-force, whilst a low-key turn by Harvey Keitel was impressive. Bruce Willis was okay, but his character was a total douche and obnoxious; still, it made an interesting change to see him play someone we couldn't root for. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcjTr2cdifX1Fj9aF37lUm0tx6hbaLNNRaDCcENbWBMVW283-UFfcVdTpJlUUJ5tsT_WGgXFf_DI3keEjHEiamPrHOQcBbw27vEzow7vZd8Hg6uxw7erV4Lg4BudvVChHA4eDkiqfWh0TNuo_WkHxN-KHPCCa1P8Sf3Qb9F8T113luCFiChtUIWtg/s2280/edadb6b61ebda00668a0abfe343ebd0b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="2280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcjTr2cdifX1Fj9aF37lUm0tx6hbaLNNRaDCcENbWBMVW283-UFfcVdTpJlUUJ5tsT_WGgXFf_DI3keEjHEiamPrHOQcBbw27vEzow7vZd8Hg6uxw7erV4Lg4BudvVChHA4eDkiqfWh0TNuo_WkHxN-KHPCCa1P8Sf3Qb9F8T113luCFiChtUIWtg/s320/edadb6b61ebda00668a0abfe343ebd0b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnlatJeXFHEAr0lvXIfwhFZad0KlQNJKbgBzAiCm0xxEyB5062meIGvBrN6lz4WtRrVwQX1LfjM6YYjkDBRVFF7aqw8__HT9PsTEjT_zwWC4Z9jQmV_HpOXcQnDzQylvaC-MEfMnQYfIK8Z8cdbpsXEWIAKQAsZD0vyS2A6ruJK5x85m3JYl6z1Kd/s274/01A8-34X6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="274" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnlatJeXFHEAr0lvXIfwhFZad0KlQNJKbgBzAiCm0xxEyB5062meIGvBrN6lz4WtRrVwQX1LfjM6YYjkDBRVFF7aqw8__HT9PsTEjT_zwWC4Z9jQmV_HpOXcQnDzQylvaC-MEfMnQYfIK8Z8cdbpsXEWIAKQAsZD0vyS2A6ruJK5x85m3JYl6z1Kd/s1600/01A8-34X6.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DlRJVYwVnNnV7kTWiOpEiziRJ-cnT-TZWdJCEsHzswKUJehc3HuWjY47yCu2vp3g8aPVoWuP7lacTf2mvcELnKZGRESyXQ-e7Mt3LOJtgm3Z8774SjxQ3Cfr8WDDV0ou_Kv3-Eo3O8QUTK7FOObDlBkRp3KmuBaO55-LqpuBzMFg-Xxgyr3NVmal/s1600/Mortal-Thoughts-Bruce-Willis-1991.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DlRJVYwVnNnV7kTWiOpEiziRJ-cnT-TZWdJCEsHzswKUJehc3HuWjY47yCu2vp3g8aPVoWuP7lacTf2mvcELnKZGRESyXQ-e7Mt3LOJtgm3Z8774SjxQ3Cfr8WDDV0ou_Kv3-Eo3O8QUTK7FOObDlBkRp3KmuBaO55-LqpuBzMFg-Xxgyr3NVmal/s320/Mortal-Thoughts-Bruce-Willis-1991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><b>Final Verdict:</b></u></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Suffice it to say as Modern film noirs go, <i>Mortal Thoughts</i> has its surprises and is occasionally tense, with moments that kept me intrigued. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>It's underrated for sure.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Overall:</b></span></p><p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdSuUrzVglhOY5QJPPLfFw4ByizE_LgVZM4ZqtuSFNZfOUFU7yJYqInpssOIeLETdJ9b43j7uKmLJHLlRUwwg_h-eRcSglJfJ6cqN_Bec1ZrTxxORm4b4d5-OILenaAw7lRFeXDPxtjk/s1600/8.jpg" /></p>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-13359935032914952162022-05-24T00:22:00.004+01:002022-05-26T02:32:04.062+01:00Unpopular Opinion: 'London's Chinatown Exists Merely As A Tourist Trap With Extortionate Meal Prices & Is Overhyped'<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_VpkNMKGmabQHjo2LWSvAwBz087sIkLHURLT4sayu-5_5EDpLykVroFScPjqN_0KJliAPtDDHsCZ0wvB01dUpfTZgik4mtFcn5YIfOzPpDErypVKHT38C-O5BOhGYhhwPaX37zWbL6SQRte9IvuHFbQxyz4VwAVEfBA2D0TT_1dvERouZb6Qmv9m/s3000/image%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2001" data-original-width="3000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_VpkNMKGmabQHjo2LWSvAwBz087sIkLHURLT4sayu-5_5EDpLykVroFScPjqN_0KJliAPtDDHsCZ0wvB01dUpfTZgik4mtFcn5YIfOzPpDErypVKHT38C-O5BOhGYhhwPaX37zWbL6SQRte9IvuHFbQxyz4VwAVEfBA2D0TT_1dvERouZb6Qmv9m/s320/image%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One wrote:</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> ''In the heart of the West End, London's Chinatown was a little more than a ragtag collection of all-you-can-eat buffets and low-end grocery stores''</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.... well it's now 2022, and it is more than low-end all-you-can-eat, self-serving buffets serving egg fried rice and sweet & sour chicken and overpriced-yet authentic far eastern cuisine with the occasional dessert shops & bubble tea places thrown in. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My last visit to Chinatown was yesterday, and sadly on the face of it, the area is on the wane. Much like Oxford Street, the good ol' days are pretty much a distant memory with rising rents pushing many owners out of Central London. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There is no community with a strong sense of immigrant and ethnic identity, nor a sense of belonging anymore in Chinatown; smaller than the one in Manhattan and Flushing, Queens in New York and with San Francisco holding the title as being the largest Chinatown outside of China, London's Chinatown looks even more desolate and despairing, and occasionally decrepit which smells of sewage in one, two areas (one being in the alleyway in</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> Lo's Noodle Factory</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">).</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Being the capital city of the U.K, London, this Chinatown has become too commercialized with virtually little in the way of existing as an alternative to travelling to China and Hong Kong to sample a taste of the Orient. When I was young, and having grown up in and lived in London, I and my family used to be in awe whenever we visit Chinatown occasionally on a Sunday for dim sum; - that was then in the 1980s and 1990s, in its heyday, before things took a turn for the worse, and so much has changed since. When the money came from Mainland China and its people emigrated to London and fewer people from Hong Kong came over - probably in effect to the 1997 British handover of Hong Kong back to China -, the landscape in London's Chinatown changed from what was predominately Cantonese-based led to Mandarin offerings. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nowadays, it exists as a superficial facade and not so flashy-looking tourist trap, resembling a Westerner's view of the Orient with ridiculously expensive restaurants, and dessert shops with the odd Korean and Japanese restaurants popping up. </span></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">With the very, very few who have no or nor show any interest in Chinese culture, I can only assume that management and whoever is in charge of the Chinatown areas in Gerrard's Street and Wardour Street is more interested in generating profit and revenue by overcharging its customers and diners in restaurants and targeting overseas tourists. Aside from the supermarkets/grocery stores, whilst there is more variety on the Asian food front, good dim sum places and good affordable Cantonese grub have plummeted as many of these establishments have permanently disappeared or are non-existent. We visited </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">New World</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> a few times; it has since been closed down in 2011 following reports of mice infestation. Oh well. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst it is interesting to see more regional variations in Chinese food appearing, such as Hunan and Sichuan, this shouldn't be at the expense of eliminating Cantonese cuisine, which has been getting a bad rep in recent years. </span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SILylzDKsvkM4Fa_Wq9D8jqt9GJahSF_KgEpaF6UefwiwPYm_MOLE5ME8P2Dsdk4RF4bEm7fJ2G1uWVxfvfeUaBJHOKrg8cstjUEXYDIGKItW9s5cibX2odp3IUvdUesUc6bWUzTaX1Oyrz9kDdxMV0UtD6eZnJNn_lRVF2XVsRM08Q-EKbuCc-8/s1800/Hero_ChinaTown_shutterstock_521484172.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SILylzDKsvkM4Fa_Wq9D8jqt9GJahSF_KgEpaF6UefwiwPYm_MOLE5ME8P2Dsdk4RF4bEm7fJ2G1uWVxfvfeUaBJHOKrg8cstjUEXYDIGKItW9s5cibX2odp3IUvdUesUc6bWUzTaX1Oyrz9kDdxMV0UtD6eZnJNn_lRVF2XVsRM08Q-EKbuCc-8/s320/Hero_ChinaTown_shutterstock_521484172.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The fact that in places such as Queens you can grab some dim sum or roast duck with rice for around $5-9 dollars, and here in London, you're looking at £9-10 or more, just shows you what a rip-off Chinatown London can be. And is. There is no such thing as budget- friendly, cheap eats places in London, well, not to my knowledge and from venturing this place. I haven't seen many legitimately good ones. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The coronavirus pandemic led to everything being scaled back and a spate of anti-Chinese racism. Yet limited choices in food and sub-par, yet pricey quality of Chinese food available could explain why Chinatowns in parts of Australia and America flourish and are seeing a bit of a resurgence, whereas London's seems to be stagnating. The U.S has a higher proportion and concentration of Asian immigrants and American- born Chinese people living in the area and there is a vast Chinese American community residing in big cities such as New York, Houston, Texas, and San Francisco in California than in parts of the U.K. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am looking forward to seeing the Chinatowns in Flushing, Queens and downtown Manhattan when I pay a visit to New York on my travels and from what I have read, they appear and sound to be way better and more authentic than our Central London one.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">They have plenty of overly decent to quality Chinese restaurants and cheap eats places which cater to every budget. Not just the middle classes and the affluent. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tired, worn down, underwhelming and living on borrowed times with little in the way of change, the sense of wonder and interest whenever I go down to Gerrard Street to head to Chinatown is, for me at least, practically over. </span></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></em></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></em></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwU8H9UMCMBrsFgPndGzbNDZ2KQ4L83SXcuAfZD6yRFMa8sg1TplxZYrKYZIm03by7FlgeNFt6hDH67-K98oEGBjdxkfqc7IddjWF3BnYBv1oggAANL39fidPyVT-giWEmnzR2cHchRcCa7aP1elDXj0-lytvFZbHU55ceRhz82mpxi_Dcgw4t5rmu/s933/Chinatown.london.700px.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwU8H9UMCMBrsFgPndGzbNDZ2KQ4L83SXcuAfZD6yRFMa8sg1TplxZYrKYZIm03by7FlgeNFt6hDH67-K98oEGBjdxkfqc7IddjWF3BnYBv1oggAANL39fidPyVT-giWEmnzR2cHchRcCa7aP1elDXj0-lytvFZbHU55ceRhz82mpxi_Dcgw4t5rmu/s320/Chinatown.london.700px.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127780571897528575.post-2022250324465103302022-04-19T23:34:00.003+01:002022-11-06T00:02:51.301+00:0040 Favourite Theme Songs From Movie Soundtracks <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJpxeY9Ju4_6bBrEBxvu091S_-DznhgwNENZxUTdFaeohB4qC1pJcVcv_lUlgkVqGxKmAb6_1VEpS39Y6j4mOKV2Oo5KVAskaMG2uT9MhYxNuCGteEGrfzNy5GjYmLMTkW6r8qS6U3XwMftHYjt_SjMgxh73V8Cz02qDRd7CaaaMtkWQezjHHJfh8/s922/png-transparent-cool-music-film-elements-collection-cool-music-the-film.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJpxeY9Ju4_6bBrEBxvu091S_-DznhgwNENZxUTdFaeohB4qC1pJcVcv_lUlgkVqGxKmAb6_1VEpS39Y6j4mOKV2Oo5KVAskaMG2uT9MhYxNuCGteEGrfzNy5GjYmLMTkW6r8qS6U3XwMftHYjt_SjMgxh73V8Cz02qDRd7CaaaMtkWQezjHHJfh8/s320/png-transparent-cool-music-film-elements-collection-cool-music-the-film.png" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>By Waiching</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Given my love for both movies and pop music, it became clear that I had to compose my own list dedicated the movie tracks. Not only can a great movie theme song can add weight and meaning to a scene - as standalone pop and R&B songs and chart-toppers, they have that 'it' factor that even without the backing of the film, they still stand out as great songs for their lyrical content and musical composition: from musical songs to numbers specifically written and produced with the film in mind, movie songs are for life...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XBZUz4C6kqk" width="320" youtube-src-id="XBZUz4C6kqk"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u2R6YTcdbbbTiLIVL-9VgibH4tElc67oWDbRxZY5XZcDbz4Gb54H44NX-VdsMMpF3Fqad8VKR5rLU6C5JxxyZ8dx0o2O0Es2v5jlS-mw81rQ7W-sosIAFayIFDUbyttfkCFqpNq_u1gV3GKrEt6JoIiMF_g0NVNVxuCuemQM6aYYPd-BYcLfmBaj/s1074/61dF0z9beQL._AC_SL1074_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1074" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u2R6YTcdbbbTiLIVL-9VgibH4tElc67oWDbRxZY5XZcDbz4Gb54H44NX-VdsMMpF3Fqad8VKR5rLU6C5JxxyZ8dx0o2O0Es2v5jlS-mw81rQ7W-sosIAFayIFDUbyttfkCFqpNq_u1gV3GKrEt6JoIiMF_g0NVNVxuCuemQM6aYYPd-BYcLfmBaj/w200-h193/61dF0z9beQL._AC_SL1074_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The King of Wishful Thinking, 1990 - Go West (Pretty Woman) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OsyM_peiSTg" width="320" youtube-src-id="OsyM_peiSTg"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>It Must Have Been Love, 1990 - Roxette (Pretty Woman)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tK8j1GCEI7c" width="320" youtube-src-id="tK8j1GCEI7c"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRq7LiGNv3qVgBEdGX5Q1v3JBUwmXQrc3pnhk5yfx3XIlCpWrrCLEZL7X7kFo-eSN8yFZ6j5r2mVeqkYmBytbu2Fl2NnMVB5fzNRYZp_8LUVk_SF4sP7AFt-Z9mHKIZiFRGZjh9RltmerklJyeC6HSwWUzoPThOVZG3Rnfd0QCozCCuoREj9Dy_IC/s600/R-2242226-1401678066-1960.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="600" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRq7LiGNv3qVgBEdGX5Q1v3JBUwmXQrc3pnhk5yfx3XIlCpWrrCLEZL7X7kFo-eSN8yFZ6j5r2mVeqkYmBytbu2Fl2NnMVB5fzNRYZp_8LUVk_SF4sP7AFt-Z9mHKIZiFRGZjh9RltmerklJyeC6HSwWUzoPThOVZG3Rnfd0QCozCCuoREj9Dy_IC/w200-h196/R-2242226-1401678066-1960.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Better Way - James Ingram, 1988 (Beverly Hills Cop II)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ltrMfT4Qz5Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="ltrMfT4Qz5Y"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmzcjjdXZjtSO7PP5c0zNjdFsfUPJ0f9iRx7fKIGUiJRkcrEtu1BWRJdPB9Yg6n5InZyzR6fFjASaRmhFrRof4d8oNe2thS84EnOKpQ9ty1EgjulF3pQ7BmQyawcHUs5-gaqXsaSDl4OipWScX3vBNVOpVeMPF2SslHilmVb1Ur0yE3gBqr8iZBhc/s500/R-635517-1555401878-3645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="500" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmzcjjdXZjtSO7PP5c0zNjdFsfUPJ0f9iRx7fKIGUiJRkcrEtu1BWRJdPB9Yg6n5InZyzR6fFjASaRmhFrRof4d8oNe2thS84EnOKpQ9ty1EgjulF3pQ7BmQyawcHUs5-gaqXsaSDl4OipWScX3vBNVOpVeMPF2SslHilmVb1Ur0yE3gBqr8iZBhc/w200-h198/R-635517-1555401878-3645.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Footloose - Kenny Loggins, 1984 (Footloose) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aGCdLKXNF3w" width="320" youtube-src-id="aGCdLKXNF3w"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5K7dIdr0mQ1slAOtmJDhWtczMyNT1u-yxdnswpFKIP5X3_xmMUoNXqD5U9kWkG4TXr4Abuiw26tGkYtTpbGJNm1oaYL1kb0tlqz5xZkPoN8HBjpcAyR5xaPoCRy-jfVhWaSnaCX9XDiLgOm-xg_IBY_uuLEYWs5-P3gtfFlY6cXBLbEzXhjvMFOaL/s320/soundtrack-real-genius.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5K7dIdr0mQ1slAOtmJDhWtczMyNT1u-yxdnswpFKIP5X3_xmMUoNXqD5U9kWkG4TXr4Abuiw26tGkYtTpbGJNm1oaYL1kb0tlqz5xZkPoN8HBjpcAyR5xaPoCRy-jfVhWaSnaCX9XDiLgOm-xg_IBY_uuLEYWs5-P3gtfFlY6cXBLbEzXhjvMFOaL/w200-h200/soundtrack-real-genius.png" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule The World, 1985 (</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Real Genius) </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cAQSZhazYk8" width="320" youtube-src-id="cAQSZhazYk8"></iframe> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb45ohtQ2Dr_6v0X0qkXABS3MyQtThIfpgCZcXOG8Qv3GhveZrlq7vJDfKwb62ApgMrg4pla3o7sGyw2IZtOZcxml4Tzy4_X7zHUghpWA0gs9oHF7kTmXgP6ihQM0AjI8HS4Ub5f_upWGCrFxsR0Hp9NfZ0jR9l3t52gExYe6GGpyg0H-zXmLtuQMy/s600/R-2097629-1626091124-7902.jpg" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb45ohtQ2Dr_6v0X0qkXABS3MyQtThIfpgCZcXOG8Qv3GhveZrlq7vJDfKwb62ApgMrg4pla3o7sGyw2IZtOZcxml4Tzy4_X7zHUghpWA0gs9oHF7kTmXgP6ihQM0AjI8HS4Ub5f_upWGCrFxsR0Hp9NfZ0jR9l3t52gExYe6GGpyg0H-zXmLtuQMy/w200-h200/R-2097629-1626091124-7902.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><br /><br /></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Rhythm of the Night - Debarge, 1985 (The Last Dragon)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vzBOG-QW3_E" width="320" youtube-src-id="vzBOG-QW3_E"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTzqi4Fy1m2nEhg0AWfYPIwCdefefisKUNCS9kTKw5IdLV3Jr0QB2fn6jYd6Ty-KXDhphwvEt3OZ9ZGmBWJxftgwm7sWmQHv4sNRJj4KR1T8-smJckECn9XhZCM8PlFoU7V-jtwW-GSwsL6k7Cu9zY6vhd4Z8x6T6Op1DBsabozLDXOVFcjQ0pXNQ/s420/R-15194305-1587922291-2490.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="420" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTzqi4Fy1m2nEhg0AWfYPIwCdefefisKUNCS9kTKw5IdLV3Jr0QB2fn6jYd6Ty-KXDhphwvEt3OZ9ZGmBWJxftgwm7sWmQHv4sNRJj4KR1T8-smJckECn9XhZCM8PlFoU7V-jtwW-GSwsL6k7Cu9zY6vhd4Z8x6T6Op1DBsabozLDXOVFcjQ0pXNQ/w200-h197/R-15194305-1587922291-2490.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I Can Dream About You - Dan Hartman, 1984 (Streets of Fire)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jLuCBC7xjCA" width="320" youtube-src-id="jLuCBC7xjCA"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALXs4S5zYQjQnNSXs7xuxckPsPWj773YPRq9efPolY5_xxDsKGurmfEnuTSOXbqPS414FyvpGQWzRWSkKWV4eTfL_ctCsqEYlmnwMmKwHU3gtXi7cfCsaq7qcxdJQT7WNSYWksDeLM8ywqs-JMOSb3MQ_mHL8WQCcwcIIFGRVyZ_ODVq2h_BL9x9z/s500/71DkElPDnwL._SS500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALXs4S5zYQjQnNSXs7xuxckPsPWj773YPRq9efPolY5_xxDsKGurmfEnuTSOXbqPS414FyvpGQWzRWSkKWV4eTfL_ctCsqEYlmnwMmKwHU3gtXi7cfCsaq7qcxdJQT7WNSYWksDeLM8ywqs-JMOSb3MQ_mHL8WQCcwcIIFGRVyZ_ODVq2h_BL9x9z/w200-h200/71DkElPDnwL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The Name of the Game - Dan Hartman, 1985 (Fletch) </b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cv-0mmVnxPA" width="320" youtube-src-id="cv-0mmVnxPA"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-CVW8MTmSnKonbRhe0UhpSda7KEeOMMpHC-auSjtKJap00OcJccLNXMVj3pIVq_NwhLgAUWNFhnm2nF6lSOn4VI1Og6rHgcHMzGgmQ9vDl7pMrrNiS3yL2lHjLESIlEYQm1O0cZFw_wLi6WfkoDWqdgcLOdKgWxwjI07H7Tk7iodQeVEmrInJ587/s600/R-11106274-1582812446-7920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-CVW8MTmSnKonbRhe0UhpSda7KEeOMMpHC-auSjtKJap00OcJccLNXMVj3pIVq_NwhLgAUWNFhnm2nF6lSOn4VI1Og6rHgcHMzGgmQ9vDl7pMrrNiS3yL2lHjLESIlEYQm1O0cZFw_wLi6WfkoDWqdgcLOdKgWxwjI07H7Tk7iodQeVEmrInJ587/w200-h199/R-11106274-1582812446-7920.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Let The River Run - Carly Simon, 1989 (Working Girl)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S3J_3mcOwdQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="S3J_3mcOwdQ"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIG24A1rcxmYLwXkGsTdIJ6JWDqYpNSA_eBZrd1b7AmTB-lm69oGCSfiRoVZJ5bUlK7RYa-xzumfnfVO8CEO2bcxbdqcKO9MMoBg2hTRDRcMOPNp0btso7N69QSKtQaEEe9Jp4t5mxu9BoRvfQxhXrVtCK_WrNz_A9cCL7ap-XM_qT1hx9zBOn95K/s750/5dcbcff884545LDS121641_-750x750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIG24A1rcxmYLwXkGsTdIJ6JWDqYpNSA_eBZrd1b7AmTB-lm69oGCSfiRoVZJ5bUlK7RYa-xzumfnfVO8CEO2bcxbdqcKO9MMoBg2hTRDRcMOPNp0btso7N69QSKtQaEEe9Jp4t5mxu9BoRvfQxhXrVtCK_WrNz_A9cCL7ap-XM_qT1hx9zBOn95K/w200-h200/5dcbcff884545LDS121641_-750x750.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Put a Little Love in Your Heart - Annie Lennox and Al Green, 1988 (Scrooged)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yQHhqDRn4_c" width="320" youtube-src-id="yQHhqDRn4_c"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsu2RuyH9uRhWPsSQVMyQYeGYR9beIXizVjMBmBKwNdErHQj2JuGWdRxfD_6RghLtSFghNUByO9CBdwq-GXiw4d8g2mC-Qbn7GujN6Q-q9sWYDno2YSfGiKwP2M-BJWUcom0KygLuXrINF0uymt03snYXspNGCEomZHLWbZZVn3OQEl4zfXaElPAO/s1280/karatekid-part2-cover__38087.1602002379.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsu2RuyH9uRhWPsSQVMyQYeGYR9beIXizVjMBmBKwNdErHQj2JuGWdRxfD_6RghLtSFghNUByO9CBdwq-GXiw4d8g2mC-Qbn7GujN6Q-q9sWYDno2YSfGiKwP2M-BJWUcom0KygLuXrINF0uymt03snYXspNGCEomZHLWbZZVn3OQEl4zfXaElPAO/w200-h200/karatekid-part2-cover__38087.1602002379.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Glory of Love - Peter Cetera, 1986 (The Karate Kid Part 2) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-n3sUWR4FV4" width="320" youtube-src-id="-n3sUWR4FV4"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EvbOYfVslUj5QGWi6zphLmJSNPIsxq69V5-3dulKDynnhmbfVJHSFqBweQHKRHMFO07K-UOfJXTyO-68QE1O2lFdku8qqYS9CqI_B-7poMuie3FbdXf0PPyZ8PIjgWp3hdAzAwX0ffeKeabmty7_qQ8CyyrZ37UfmPeD-t4d5OEp76pJCG09vj3V/s500/R-586004-1265109226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EvbOYfVslUj5QGWi6zphLmJSNPIsxq69V5-3dulKDynnhmbfVJHSFqBweQHKRHMFO07K-UOfJXTyO-68QE1O2lFdku8qqYS9CqI_B-7poMuie3FbdXf0PPyZ8PIjgWp3hdAzAwX0ffeKeabmty7_qQ8CyyrZ37UfmPeD-t4d5OEp76pJCG09vj3V/w200-h200/R-586004-1265109226.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Gets Going - Billy Ocean, 1985 (Jewel of the Nile) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3wxyN3z9PL4" width="320" youtube-src-id="3wxyN3z9PL4"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5Ck6hyptZTAZqTz9UwPNKqQe3ovwFUz_wCOuVCCXF-NBhnKhMvuMbCW9mVkve8tnaYTdr1lyqW6BWZ3XANt9ccRts7mkxjh1l5zEmOmAfwJb8B03VL85Egc56pN947xRu4n0ut1BMS1gAADTSHdoPaQxyYktHmxAKsYDOFA4oQD5bE-tx3y8Y-dx/s2837/38866.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="2837" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5Ck6hyptZTAZqTz9UwPNKqQe3ovwFUz_wCOuVCCXF-NBhnKhMvuMbCW9mVkve8tnaYTdr1lyqW6BWZ3XANt9ccRts7mkxjh1l5zEmOmAfwJb8B03VL85Egc56pN947xRu4n0ut1BMS1gAADTSHdoPaQxyYktHmxAKsYDOFA4oQD5bE-tx3y8Y-dx/w200-h196/38866.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship, 1987 (Mannequin) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5vheNbQlsyU" width="320" youtube-src-id="5vheNbQlsyU"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvNRWiac_svqMkeW5GDd1zRVfAuAYk0sVGoHVzOYVKvAjk38_kPNv5b7LbuMunL0Wy2sxEQ1FWvifAgakzfw_1rHQ1VUvVpopARatoPj8bp0kv0_mDj2pqzbXWDrpv4yM9k6zSBLGggN--d6QmNWuNHUDTuslmNRFnzYjy8BLGmjvHFg1jMf-xPRt/s1400/71Lp8ou83VL._AC_SL1400_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvNRWiac_svqMkeW5GDd1zRVfAuAYk0sVGoHVzOYVKvAjk38_kPNv5b7LbuMunL0Wy2sxEQ1FWvifAgakzfw_1rHQ1VUvVpopARatoPj8bp0kv0_mDj2pqzbXWDrpv4yM9k6zSBLGggN--d6QmNWuNHUDTuslmNRFnzYjy8BLGmjvHFg1jMf-xPRt/w200-h200/71Lp8ou83VL._AC_SL1400_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Always Remember Us This Way - Lady Gaga, 2018 (A Star Is Born)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yge2PqEZZJo" width="320" youtube-src-id="yge2PqEZZJo"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLt4gf88QPRGxM3IVE1tgxQ4Hpy1CnguJ4n87Lapmng1Z-F4cV6JMOXDmQpgN6npcZMTmkHz-K3mq6tsoxSOLcX59BPoNw3aXef3i-hn19nMHUagDqanU27noVS5-YfKpFzN5DUrSXEOrNIrxa6nxwe6-FMTaFhzvyZyDzI_j67c0Wla5gqI74AFp/s599/R-1161541-1594227296-8199.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="599" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLt4gf88QPRGxM3IVE1tgxQ4Hpy1CnguJ4n87Lapmng1Z-F4cV6JMOXDmQpgN6npcZMTmkHz-K3mq6tsoxSOLcX59BPoNw3aXef3i-hn19nMHUagDqanU27noVS5-YfKpFzN5DUrSXEOrNIrxa6nxwe6-FMTaFhzvyZyDzI_j67c0Wla5gqI74AFp/w200-h199/R-1161541-1594227296-8199.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Sittin' Up In My Room - Brandy, 1995 (Waiting to Exhale) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e2sLeruRZio" width="320" youtube-src-id="e2sLeruRZio"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZnt71wiFTXWw8bmKLBXeZtiRrqRxTWCenGHVu31B7u-_iJZaAY34DhGhMnJf4h9Xp3vee-kPYbDpFpOj6SGE-7KBdckLNb1nfbN_DrbC1OKOcG-eTlJbmpAa5RWlEfbA1vnKMKXSvIgdyrrEAGZE7NOAAft2b3ud4Oq1vc0_S4bD-Gw-kZePChos/s2500/2+-+Cover+Art+-+Randy+Edelman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="2500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZnt71wiFTXWw8bmKLBXeZtiRrqRxTWCenGHVu31B7u-_iJZaAY34DhGhMnJf4h9Xp3vee-kPYbDpFpOj6SGE-7KBdckLNb1nfbN_DrbC1OKOcG-eTlJbmpAa5RWlEfbA1vnKMKXSvIgdyrrEAGZE7NOAAft2b3ud4Oq1vc0_S4bD-Gw-kZePChos/w200-h200/2+-+Cover+Art+-+Randy+Edelman.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>On Our Own - Bobby Brown, 1989 (Ghostbusters II) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bx3s99FNXzI" width="320" youtube-src-id="bx3s99FNXzI"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl0lePs0PLcdpL5USkHYj1LUjR8G3VaChAyLQ1M_mOGUMHMHK6WdxxrjTXL8CPpfOfLe_wajkaL4H6cDqrBwArI8pLQxJ_779EETLryGzU2Nhy4GbnzbKf7K16TH1mDdau8MtTpUueGRy5OlAG5wfXJRXfKZsMuLI9yACVTF9O282W8AMURgTUlgd/s436/R-13489197-1555642461-4744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="436" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl0lePs0PLcdpL5USkHYj1LUjR8G3VaChAyLQ1M_mOGUMHMHK6WdxxrjTXL8CPpfOfLe_wajkaL4H6cDqrBwArI8pLQxJ_779EETLryGzU2Nhy4GbnzbKf7K16TH1mDdau8MtTpUueGRy5OlAG5wfXJRXfKZsMuLI9yACVTF9O282W8AMURgTUlgd/w200-h194/R-13489197-1555642461-4744.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Can't Fight The Moonlight - Leann Rimes, 2000 (Coyote Ugly)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oALKAh_bL5g" width="320" youtube-src-id="oALKAh_bL5g"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6woi3iU4Vy7UOMCiy-XxH7RymuTrBnT9ocS3o8veMq7P6JEN-7Kvb8cr_nOpQmAsJCQSoDklaLmIbK3THcDJ9bg-a7Vd6Vh5E1ZZIff3_-dtdEr4MrMZcbCmRzNHNEV8lr8EEI7j3JyjVTyxYbE9PoHebVkBMC4064ZFQmGF4oVmt6lOLe5ItUfR/s500/71UsGmyOZdL._SS500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6woi3iU4Vy7UOMCiy-XxH7RymuTrBnT9ocS3o8veMq7P6JEN-7Kvb8cr_nOpQmAsJCQSoDklaLmIbK3THcDJ9bg-a7Vd6Vh5E1ZZIff3_-dtdEr4MrMZcbCmRzNHNEV8lr8EEI7j3JyjVTyxYbE9PoHebVkBMC4064ZFQmGF4oVmt6lOLe5ItUfR/w200-h200/71UsGmyOZdL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees, 1975 (Saturday Night Fever)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cSzDhGqC61Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="cSzDhGqC61Y"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUCU02r6M0QcbuJ0rpB4IAvBHVdQ0GwHQl906dhcEbRgor7I8b9xkSW-gSL3BymRDgosF1BGoIj6zOP3r9pjQk8x9HT9Bd9CLEo3nlAPO7ynxLqnfhywTyViESSh9Z6m0t45n9SDcEwSg0G2HA3S_MuvF1qBnnSGvgS3fJ77IQiQu0__d6YSw2TlS/s560/R-1068619-1312039274.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="557" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUCU02r6M0QcbuJ0rpB4IAvBHVdQ0GwHQl906dhcEbRgor7I8b9xkSW-gSL3BymRDgosF1BGoIj6zOP3r9pjQk8x9HT9Bd9CLEo3nlAPO7ynxLqnfhywTyViESSh9Z6m0t45n9SDcEwSg0G2HA3S_MuvF1qBnnSGvgS3fJ77IQiQu0__d6YSw2TlS/w199-h200/R-1068619-1312039274.jpg" width="199" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Show Me Heaven - Maria McKee, 1990 (Days of Thunder) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZC7v2gFsCz0" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZC7v2gFsCz0"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRUQR0A6PjSt2oHgs4aujvVPyfTvk4HLXor956dE1Aw1Vj0R_dICSPOoHsHx2QAJ0xdvygfnySeqWaTEVZxMtQaanutx9u9ZdmoFtQH7UqTWdK6VdgsRGkiKIifqOZPOo8Wpx9eHHZC1sg1eAgioqNGbXm_gezm62zBLJQ807Ng35n0QOHI46c4fO/s496/51PsWtVpxNL._AC_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="493" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRUQR0A6PjSt2oHgs4aujvVPyfTvk4HLXor956dE1Aw1Vj0R_dICSPOoHsHx2QAJ0xdvygfnySeqWaTEVZxMtQaanutx9u9ZdmoFtQH7UqTWdK6VdgsRGkiKIifqOZPOo8Wpx9eHHZC1sg1eAgioqNGbXm_gezm62zBLJQ807Ng35n0QOHI46c4fO/w199-h200/51PsWtVpxNL._AC_.jpg" width="199" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Grease - Frankie Valli, 1978 (Grease) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZM5qIJdBtX0" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZM5qIJdBtX0"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPZ7haZZ1bQv5uwdfCQHDhA5P6yubqQeHdDzwWP61LClLTwFfVAZKm2GJSe6kRq42ijmN0pMnTnSi3C0Z4FLGcDU3vJ0DJjLB-QWJwsj1EN1K2JiK32Jak9olAA8hZQT8LW8lZq9jNC1IMlpjtsWfdsb2YYDohH0l0aCsYA-04wzoGsw9Pdyjiw9C/s640/ab67616d0000b273777bf1dcd847f66dcd588f3a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPZ7haZZ1bQv5uwdfCQHDhA5P6yubqQeHdDzwWP61LClLTwFfVAZKm2GJSe6kRq42ijmN0pMnTnSi3C0Z4FLGcDU3vJ0DJjLB-QWJwsj1EN1K2JiK32Jak9olAA8hZQT8LW8lZq9jNC1IMlpjtsWfdsb2YYDohH0l0aCsYA-04wzoGsw9Pdyjiw9C/w200-h200/ab67616d0000b273777bf1dcd847f66dcd588f3a.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) - Cher, 1990 (Mermaids) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x7NFidHa2VI" width="320" youtube-src-id="x7NFidHa2VI"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROr3_ulToK_m9-mRpvHF51IDgQqFgL5Ll6kDj3YCujzrE-WmCmIGRQoFJARsjQJd8t4HTDqL4vlupoO9o4SQFpX3gI4uQz7m41ZL5_IzsibnqioUG5-46H7HCnLOllS9A31O6a8mPwg35TS_Wy_FRRTl_CZmKjkOdty8U8kTiEbYpPlPLGjXoxuZM/s600/R-9411165-1480097658-9201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROr3_ulToK_m9-mRpvHF51IDgQqFgL5Ll6kDj3YCujzrE-WmCmIGRQoFJARsjQJd8t4HTDqL4vlupoO9o4SQFpX3gI4uQz7m41ZL5_IzsibnqioUG5-46H7HCnLOllS9A31O6a8mPwg35TS_Wy_FRRTl_CZmKjkOdty8U8kTiEbYpPlPLGjXoxuZM/w200-h199/R-9411165-1480097658-9201.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Go For It - Joey B. Ellis, 1990 (Rocky V) </b></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zDKO6XYXioc" width="320" youtube-src-id="zDKO6XYXioc"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9_oWrK-5b76QIw6yX_CTqQuXogQ39WaNQ7nsFRqxbbcS1MWsCJTf95WBWwO4X5ZTc1k7eV8yqNU2zdgGNvnxtFPY91aIb_ROGTmrDC9wk9tVOsW1sJsNUZWE0mpuXSlrEtvTzCVX7HsW8cBcVSaIcXvSxow-UKlfebw5_C3TtTeOZhySQaa7-Lhp/s500/100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9_oWrK-5b76QIw6yX_CTqQuXogQ39WaNQ7nsFRqxbbcS1MWsCJTf95WBWwO4X5ZTc1k7eV8yqNU2zdgGNvnxtFPY91aIb_ROGTmrDC9wk9tVOsW1sJsNUZWE0mpuXSlrEtvTzCVX7HsW8cBcVSaIcXvSxow-UKlfebw5_C3TtTeOZhySQaa7-Lhp/w200-h200/100.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>End of the Road - Boyz 2 Men, 1992 (Boomerang)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tLJPsHhcEOo" width="320" youtube-src-id="tLJPsHhcEOo"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Give U My Heart - Toni Braxton and Babyface, 1992 (Boomerang) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RhxF9Qg5mOU" width="320" youtube-src-id="RhxF9Qg5mOU"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_xsIliVRUpmpdk9FXsPZ6UI5dep-kQ0h99rg-ewg6k7-hMPDK80f5i_nlza239SA4CsKCSJk794_jz-GXMevF9ShsnCHI6uQced2z7SfTOITfJcmdJceo-VGhxTNRneG1Kd_sMHJp_DctVkWyoUYPXSWCFB3A6sCEZk5LN0thuTDlGfNLLouOUSU/s1187/713ksL3MR6L._SL1187_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="1187" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_xsIliVRUpmpdk9FXsPZ6UI5dep-kQ0h99rg-ewg6k7-hMPDK80f5i_nlza239SA4CsKCSJk794_jz-GXMevF9ShsnCHI6uQced2z7SfTOITfJcmdJceo-VGhxTNRneG1Kd_sMHJp_DctVkWyoUYPXSWCFB3A6sCEZk5LN0thuTDlGfNLLouOUSU/w200-h197/713ksL3MR6L._SL1187_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Waiting For A Star (To Fall) - Boy Meets Girl, 1988 (Three Men & A Little Lady) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/El7GVPUl-r0" width="320" youtube-src-id="El7GVPUl-r0"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ99jUPUQuxXtn2ynAvIY69BY4sPeAFgTRmPTh8HwXN-VSvHBEYpr7_p3qSkaS2VfSDaAALzGDhK2GTaoyUkWeg0IWimfyqNqACHUeIRLKQiXTMPL9ZW1Dv2OS2YekVpPzyi8PbdcS2MsylVUjKVg_biXDP_nTG3Gc8RiSGdI7kDJd1RNYR-agDYl/s600/R-12371337-1533912189-3928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="600" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ99jUPUQuxXtn2ynAvIY69BY4sPeAFgTRmPTh8HwXN-VSvHBEYpr7_p3qSkaS2VfSDaAALzGDhK2GTaoyUkWeg0IWimfyqNqACHUeIRLKQiXTMPL9ZW1Dv2OS2YekVpPzyi8PbdcS2MsylVUjKVg_biXDP_nTG3Gc8RiSGdI7kDJd1RNYR-agDYl/w200-h196/R-12371337-1533912189-3928.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Almost Unreal - Roxette, 1992 (Super Mario Bros)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUFBhXpNQWw" width="320" youtube-src-id="RUFBhXpNQWw"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjVifLtu0tiHIkJin7-hJRlnqmt20wxS-7FlSKFSsvL572fPPxyQZ1crH2b274nlXP2zK3u2UWIDw0dS14S3byZRAooBpk5XWixNK9kQKzy3hlSbp4VxjSwp6ms766khbF1LvG59yWlljleVe6zRaCXncJigiKSK3CAqCRwdYMHlJnUoOBXtdrALC/s600/R-1415511-1593688655-5673.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjVifLtu0tiHIkJin7-hJRlnqmt20wxS-7FlSKFSsvL572fPPxyQZ1crH2b274nlXP2zK3u2UWIDw0dS14S3byZRAooBpk5XWixNK9kQKzy3hlSbp4VxjSwp6ms766khbF1LvG59yWlljleVe6zRaCXncJigiKSK3CAqCRwdYMHlJnUoOBXtdrALC/w200-h198/R-1415511-1593688655-5673.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I Don't Wanna Fight - Tina Turner, 1993 (What's Love Got to Do With It?)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4ieT8oeFMZ8" width="320" youtube-src-id="4ieT8oeFMZ8"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsvo0efFupvqFcGXhby5DciYl7u8jVC1BKYN3v6Gwga5b09WmkVv9t0ZW6Mem-GlCsyIbH4g_OKap87JaZjSdfygJ0JgtwDb9jnVNX9K6WY0cHxt57rw-vbgJ8sakjr_N9HUQrKOVrH5xcWrJ3ii1JrZGNncYRcXQ4XUwwc6xgSW8K-MAX8RlI-B4/s700/beverly-hills-cop-III-cd-soundtrack-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="700" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsvo0efFupvqFcGXhby5DciYl7u8jVC1BKYN3v6Gwga5b09WmkVv9t0ZW6Mem-GlCsyIbH4g_OKap87JaZjSdfygJ0JgtwDb9jnVNX9K6WY0cHxt57rw-vbgJ8sakjr_N9HUQrKOVrH5xcWrJ3ii1JrZGNncYRcXQ4XUwwc6xgSW8K-MAX8RlI-B4/w200-h181/beverly-hills-cop-III-cd-soundtrack-001.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The Right Kind of Lover - Patti Labelle, 1993 (Beverly Hills Cop III)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VfjDUJws2LA" width="320" youtube-src-id="VfjDUJws2LA"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5EjvaPLeBHOcFWkwxIfNhlWMJk9o08lfxyHf-2UBtb7mZGkBVpE9CF0higu5EAYx1Rn3MuY4HeQJvT7Nqq1WTTGfesUsSHeYK_qcoZqKJiIqxF2ByfU1P1x0IPle5ITG9122Hlvby7czF0NAqXNXn4vTN5SFhbZPZF0_91xB7xmzV66Sc4A83DOu/s600/R-994938-1181990403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5EjvaPLeBHOcFWkwxIfNhlWMJk9o08lfxyHf-2UBtb7mZGkBVpE9CF0higu5EAYx1Rn3MuY4HeQJvT7Nqq1WTTGfesUsSHeYK_qcoZqKJiIqxF2ByfU1P1x0IPle5ITG9122Hlvby7czF0NAqXNXn4vTN5SFhbZPZF0_91xB7xmzV66Sc4A83DOu/w200-h200/R-994938-1181990403.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Be There - The Pointer Sisters, 1987 (Beverly Hills Cop II)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vBLK-XMeJBM" width="320" youtube-src-id="vBLK-XMeJBM"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>I Can't Stand It -Sue Ann Carwell, 1987 (Beverly Hills Cop II)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2TCJycSu0lk" width="320" youtube-src-id="2TCJycSu0lk"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWJnCJtia1SujuweKJrvicXabyF37MgwTrhYrLzMHT1W2jMee7i_eQPBqPdtoR4oXqhv7o7CkZZa5UsVNztOAoOTKoGu-6Mhw1-wG6xs8AXwy78kPWxhzxvqBaFk79KvtKNGnzZyG1sqhD51ZkffUXSWGYWjDEDVQE-t-kw2fcEFlTeUa2z9nbLYh/s600/R-2280419-1274141364.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWJnCJtia1SujuweKJrvicXabyF37MgwTrhYrLzMHT1W2jMee7i_eQPBqPdtoR4oXqhv7o7CkZZa5UsVNztOAoOTKoGu-6Mhw1-wG6xs8AXwy78kPWxhzxvqBaFk79KvtKNGnzZyG1sqhD51ZkffUXSWGYWjDEDVQE-t-kw2fcEFlTeUa2z9nbLYh/w200-h198/R-2280419-1274141364.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Coming to America - The System, 1988 (Coming to America)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/szjaHbjhauk" width="320" youtube-src-id="szjaHbjhauk"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr5v6MS6gv9nwxrcd2YwGn_cIRiWGP2nnh2lK_s8jerqahmZdV9tpCCQM3PXkZ8HNyH21S2Abr8vwh5onr4aGFv6LVyiHs7JATNPZKbDNlyxxfAgoJFT_d08xzALT1vOhYHopQM5riO9VeltMn3P0cFG3Nm6wltfZVbSdymwztDAfvG5r1jF1m315/s1500/81nzVa5v3ML._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="1500" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr5v6MS6gv9nwxrcd2YwGn_cIRiWGP2nnh2lK_s8jerqahmZdV9tpCCQM3PXkZ8HNyH21S2Abr8vwh5onr4aGFv6LVyiHs7JATNPZKbDNlyxxfAgoJFT_d08xzALT1vOhYHopQM5riO9VeltMn3P0cFG3Nm6wltfZVbSdymwztDAfvG5r1jF1m315/w200-h198/81nzVa5v3ML._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Shy Guy - Diana King, 1995 (Bad Boys) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I7dSVg00Rsg" width="320" youtube-src-id="I7dSVg00Rsg"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8HUtEBn5eNo5X4dbbKc121dggZRYUXsWgJchNIdkwI6zW_cpYAZy1iVAlmerSap-MR3oBz05t8RUBJm_xz5QM0AAH04oZv3DAGP9P-cVgvw36hVkYLSvwpO9xHK3p31Mw6WWm3O-1SOcw3cCP-CuovD2FXJ6bEfTzq1_F7lU2RlftQJ0mK4VA_CK/s600/R-1780481-1242868583.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="600" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8HUtEBn5eNo5X4dbbKc121dggZRYUXsWgJchNIdkwI6zW_cpYAZy1iVAlmerSap-MR3oBz05t8RUBJm_xz5QM0AAH04oZv3DAGP9P-cVgvw36hVkYLSvwpO9xHK3p31Mw6WWm3O-1SOcw3cCP-CuovD2FXJ6bEfTzq1_F7lU2RlftQJ0mK4VA_CK/w200-h196/R-1780481-1242868583.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>What's Love Got to Do with It? - Warren G feat. Adina Howard, 1996 (Supercop) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/43XWafBLJIM" width="320" youtube-src-id="43XWafBLJIM"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1JoX1sqvLb39zuVNFAWl36IfxQuB46kT0i58Sq7MBTc6WUIxYfk5NSrh-jP8kFMel-fCfUFXjtvAYshhT3IWf-mo2ZHGgzHB52deW7OeKXGJdn0UfTDErxE312MjCaKP_0P-Vglz1dUyLcI-1jBXCZ1NKjcCbyl_8CFxWBk02yDBRTi5PV9niq4k/s400/rushhour_4595.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1JoX1sqvLb39zuVNFAWl36IfxQuB46kT0i58Sq7MBTc6WUIxYfk5NSrh-jP8kFMel-fCfUFXjtvAYshhT3IWf-mo2ZHGgzHB52deW7OeKXGJdn0UfTDErxE312MjCaKP_0P-Vglz1dUyLcI-1jBXCZ1NKjcCbyl_8CFxWBk02yDBRTi5PV9niq4k/w200-h200/rushhour_4595.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>How Deep is your Love - Dru Hill, 1998 (Rush Hour)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/erjJ_R_n2MI" width="320" youtube-src-id="erjJ_R_n2MI"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirY1j-RjiXxHHno1NsNZs41EoEByzplr8OZbJ8j1GzYXIUjhoK77Hoe2kWxBebopN8LtDxwUkRF6Tgr6yk2RWY7eVWFGiKrEZcQJCeus5H3_XDQgaAUzAMz7IzW4EL0sKn9IQL8S8RMUnRdpTDGUJAWJ3GxC-L07_sH6gfMemWGTuWL-rlsuI3tw6X/s355/61qVte-TxWL._AC_SX355_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="355" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirY1j-RjiXxHHno1NsNZs41EoEByzplr8OZbJ8j1GzYXIUjhoK77Hoe2kWxBebopN8LtDxwUkRF6Tgr6yk2RWY7eVWFGiKrEZcQJCeus5H3_XDQgaAUzAMz7IzW4EL0sKn9IQL8S8RMUnRdpTDGUJAWJ3GxC-L07_sH6gfMemWGTuWL-rlsuI3tw6X/w200-h199/61qVte-TxWL._AC_SX355_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Stuck With Each Other - Shontelle featuring Akon, 2009 (Confessions of a Shopaholic)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPO76Jlnz6c" width="320" youtube-src-id="fPO76Jlnz6c"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPu-Qt5YTFIXbC559QOATw9z6-HQXZnEoqKoB4GA76dQx8jexmG4B2JsRPtcfmr8O6fC8mQxarwFxBULtDU467MWIid5by2hL7z1vf5i_K7pF4a9jjsRLOtvEsSgurNXjA8liqU_P-1Fftp_NXLsXt01m1g9D0CvvqpIC8cN5IGNWQWfqpyhNQvqI3/s400/CD-Various-Dangerous-Minds-Music-From.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPu-Qt5YTFIXbC559QOATw9z6-HQXZnEoqKoB4GA76dQx8jexmG4B2JsRPtcfmr8O6fC8mQxarwFxBULtDU467MWIid5by2hL7z1vf5i_K7pF4a9jjsRLOtvEsSgurNXjA8liqU_P-1Fftp_NXLsXt01m1g9D0CvvqpIC8cN5IGNWQWfqpyhNQvqI3/w199-h200/CD-Various-Dangerous-Minds-Music-From.jpg" width="199" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio featuring L.V, 1995 (Dangerous Minds) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xtOoeDPc9uI" width="320" youtube-src-id="xtOoeDPc9uI"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05pi94MA5cHC_Q1zISZiWzcORc1s8vH9St-hF-fAi3T2ud8u1OexcBmP9tesuOUsfyHaMFKTr9Hc05WxnJT1JFteRAMaMw1Hx0AotjgfwZMaLvUPJfsYN6j4CPpIxNklTN46DQKUs58BeFYVzncRnsKcaFS1IM7_TbLWH_xRRYFI-UR0f8Rzrb9TH/s599/R-161671-1486643262-3157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="599" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05pi94MA5cHC_Q1zISZiWzcORc1s8vH9St-hF-fAi3T2ud8u1OexcBmP9tesuOUsfyHaMFKTr9Hc05WxnJT1JFteRAMaMw1Hx0AotjgfwZMaLvUPJfsYN6j4CPpIxNklTN46DQKUs58BeFYVzncRnsKcaFS1IM7_TbLWH_xRRYFI-UR0f8Rzrb9TH/w200-h199/R-161671-1486643262-3157.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Stir It Up - Patti Labelle, 1985 (Beverly Hills Cop)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yivLt9cTaio" width="320" youtube-src-id="yivLt9cTaio"></iframe> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp4-FLxW2fquymWvkqZwAacnmibmZR8qmMIdpRfCrkTYi_IVFQxeJxI7U3moLHUbE2oolPQjpP0lbjr6g2YcEfrFsnMOW9MOUje4RID-UnKRtwEqgFD_9OZ-DprhVcMhWoNH-UIwz5cAKhbq93H5bF8u6VRh3623uy83M7rlHH_PvBPrYvrRnB0PS/s1500/91xugiZf6XL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp4-FLxW2fquymWvkqZwAacnmibmZR8qmMIdpRfCrkTYi_IVFQxeJxI7U3moLHUbE2oolPQjpP0lbjr6g2YcEfrFsnMOW9MOUje4RID-UnKRtwEqgFD_9OZ-DprhVcMhWoNH-UIwz5cAKhbq93H5bF8u6VRh3623uy83M7rlHH_PvBPrYvrRnB0PS/w200-h200/91xugiZf6XL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Kiss From a Rose - Seal, 1995 (Batman Forever) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1i4ZIVq--E" width="320" youtube-src-id="Z1i4ZIVq--E"></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHwhRSmg8ZiXH5YvPiWcvpzjMMawWe7FX_omqg35HaY8GVIEfI25rhX9t39iOlvSK1R4VMLUk7vI-208ZBRqX6wVsbCVMGf0LqBH5EGWbkw7GjRMKCm_VUy2nwsHVMvQMIYhEA9rBv1OQIeGN3RGCAQACMQgAmtk9PU4EfMrqkNqqI0SpdjjFA4x_/s600/R-16257837-1606374000-1605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="594" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHwhRSmg8ZiXH5YvPiWcvpzjMMawWe7FX_omqg35HaY8GVIEfI25rhX9t39iOlvSK1R4VMLUk7vI-208ZBRqX6wVsbCVMGf0LqBH5EGWbkw7GjRMKCm_VUy2nwsHVMvQMIYhEA9rBv1OQIeGN3RGCAQACMQgAmtk9PU4EfMrqkNqqI0SpdjjFA4x_/w198-h200/R-16257837-1606374000-1605.jpg" width="198" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful) - Backstreet Boys, 2001 (The Princess Diaries) </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qDktp_aE_z4" width="320" youtube-src-id="qDktp_aE_z4"></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa9nQbLrr99Fzqlpomo-PgkBCpKzV6M7kzMdOHXfF0FdVLsfS8w9WHoRt5Hi-3I-IIN8nZiB2ZelsGRoemGebv0GESjq1r2I9Uf3LsB3s0UgcgAJx6Z7R7KMZBRkYwtTT4mr__bGfhFkLpMjJQgJYeIDVYqndaNq37RPbVPFsy700YVv1Ric06dO0/s1135/81A7VWibldL._AC_SL1135_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="1135" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa9nQbLrr99Fzqlpomo-PgkBCpKzV6M7kzMdOHXfF0FdVLsfS8w9WHoRt5Hi-3I-IIN8nZiB2ZelsGRoemGebv0GESjq1r2I9Uf3LsB3s0UgcgAJx6Z7R7KMZBRkYwtTT4mr__bGfhFkLpMjJQgJYeIDVYqndaNq37RPbVPFsy700YVv1Ric06dO0/w200-h196/81A7VWibldL._AC_SL1135_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Don't Need You to (Tell Me I'm Pretty), 2001 - Samantha Mumba (Legally Blonde)</b></span></p>Miss Waiching Liu 81http://www.blogger.com/profile/03060864250868105164noreply@blogger.com0