Sunday 28 August 2011

A little bit of Drama: First look at Sunshine Angel (陽光天使)

Sunshine Angel (陽光天使)


Who's in it? Rainie Yang, Wu Zun, Jiro Wang, Calvin, Aaron 

In short: In order to pay off her family's debts, Girl is forced to become a maid to an arrogant, rich boy who happens to be the heir to a big make up company.

Ramble: When I first discovered that there was going to be a Wu Zun-Rainie collaboration, I was ecstatic. I am obviously a big Rainie fan (hrmm, not that I'd paste pictures of her on my walls and buy all the merch or anything like that at all. I just like it when she's the lead in a series that I've decided to watch), and I've always loved Wu Zun, due to the fact that he's Malaysian (sort of. He's from Brunei) and he studied at RMIT university in Melbourne (I walk past that university almost every week when I'm wondering around in the city :D)...and he's very good eye-candy? 



But seriously, I have always wanted this pairing since I got into this whole Asian drama thing. (In the Asian TV industry, they tend to avoid doing long rom-com series with several seasons. Instead the stars often complete several different series throughout their TV career. Each series is about 10-25 episodes long and has them paired up with different Asian idols as their love interest. I suppose this works better for a smaller entertainment industry where people are familiar with a select group of idols and entertainers.) Anyway, my first thoughts about these two together? I'm surprised to say I'm not too sure yet. I feel like the chemistry is a bit more forced than usual. It's probably just because it's the beginning of a series and it's always hard to establish where two characters stand before they end up together. I have seen their behind-the-scenes pics and they look like they get on brilliantly (Perhaps that's the problem. They're too friendly with each other!)...this was the opposite with Rainie and Joseph Chang, who had that awesome chemistry on camera and a more reserved friendship off-screen (or perhaps he just didn't like photos. Joseph Chang never seemed to smile as much in off-screen photos :s)

The other thing I noticed was that Wu Zun's acting isn't as convincing as I thought it'd be. I found him to be a more convincing arrogant snob at the start of Romantic Princess than I have with this series (I know, Romantic princess was a pretty shocking name for a series. Sunshine Angel, as a title, was a little too cutesy for me too, but I've gotten use to it since viewing the credits. But back to this in a minute.) But it has been awhile since he was in TV series, so I guess it's forgivable. Perhaps his character this time around is meant to be an amused rich boy who enjoys the teasing-rather-than-torturing method (Wu Zun is always the filial son; he rarely plays the bad boy). But even then, it's a bit here and there. Sometimes he hits the mark perfectly, looking both amused and annoyed. Other times he looks like he's about to laugh. Hrmm. Well, don't get me wrong, it's not that he's doing a bad job. It's just that I've seen him do more for a role before, and I'm hoping that he'll give more to this one as the series continues. 


I mentioned before that I'd come back to the title and credits. The title works for me this time partially because of the style and theme of the series (the main character is a quirky beachy island girl), and partially because of the opening credits where they play 'Sunny' by Boney M. You know, that song that goes 'Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rainnnn' :D It's such a cheerful, colourful and catchy opening sequence. So that always entices people to watch a series.


It's a little odd to be watching Sunshine Angel after Love you (This series was held back for a year as there were no slots available in air time and Rainie went on to star in Love you, which held priority as it was a sequel to 'Fated to love you' a very successful series in Taiwan, both in terms of fan love and commercial success.) I feel that Love you marked the beginning of Rainie's more mature roles. Even though she has a baby-face and I doubt she'll ever age, Rainie has been in the industry for a long time and, now, in her late twenties, it's getting harder to stay as a 'high school/uni student.' So to see her play the university student in Sunshine Angel is a bit of a back-track. Nonetheless, I enjoy seeing how her acting as improved and developed. I just wonder if it bothers some other fans.




The idea of making her character a 'Japanese-speaker' may be a little bothersome too. I can't say it annoys me as such, but I do feel the urge to laugh really badly at some points. Probably not as bad as when they make Wu Zun speak English. It's common for them to make male leads speak English as the characters are often business men or rich students who have studied overseas before. But it only ever works well when they actually are fluent in English (think Will Pan, Vanness Wu etc.) because no one is ever fooled (Especially not me, sorry! :D). But I suppose Wu Zun is half way there - he speaks with the Malaysian accent. I just wish they'd change those scenes though, they seem so unnatural. And perhaps they will change them. I've noticed that an increasing number of dramas focus on China as the land of new commercial opportunity. Instead of having the businessmen/movie stars in Asian dramas talk about expanding their businesses and careers in America, they're now all talking about expanding their businesses and careers in China (Think Personal Preference, Lie to me, Love you, Calling out to big star etc.) It's interesting - I like these little realistic reflections that occasionally appear in Asian dramaland.


But yes, the musical choices for this series has been pretty reflective of the scenes. I like that they've incorporated songs from other artists not just from Rainie and Wu Zun's band, Fahrenheit. I also like the score - there's something ambient about it. The characters and their costumes are also done well (or lack of costume sometimes *cough topless Wu Zun cough* I feel a fan girl nosebleed coming on). but I'm still undecided on humour at the moment. There's been some really maxed out slapstick scenes - like characters apologizing to a crushed bathroom and a broken laptop? I didn't laugh, but I'm going to see if this changes. 


All in all, I haven't seen anything amazing yet. Worth watching for the pairing of the year :D But there needs to be more chemistry and laughs to bring out the potential this show has. At the moment, it's sitting on 3 stars- here's hoping it'll end on a better score! :)



Thursday 25 August 2011

Tunes for Thursday: The Kooks - Junk of the Heart (Happy)


A breezy spring song from The Kooks' new album, Junk of the Heart, coming out 12 September. It's such an upbeat, carefree little tune that is perfect for the sunny days we've been having here in Melbourne this week :) And can't wait for this new album, if this is the first track off it, then I'm looking forward to some good stuff.

Sunday 21 August 2011

Food story: Three Bags Full

So due to the request of friends, I've decided to start recommending places to eat(restaurants, cafes, bars etc.) in Melbourne (and around the world when I travel). Given that I eat out a lot and take lots of photos, this seemed like a good idea :D I think I write quite a bit whenever I make an entry, so I'm going to try to cut the reviews short, and only post about awesome places and let the pictures do most of the talking :)


Three Bags Full

A few weeks ago, I went for a lovely Brunch to catch up with my China crew (friends who I spent a summer travelling and studying with in China.) We spent the morning chatting, photowhoring and eating at Three Bags Full in North Richmond. Here are some photos:

A pretty cafe

Crushed Peas, poached eggs, tomato relish and feta on toast :)


Ricotta pancakes with Ricotta, berries and orange sauce

The breakfast table

Teacup lights!

More of the awesome interior

Muffins, cakes and slices :)

A slightly fuzzy pic of jams and breads

Cafe: The place looked very cozy. The choice of lights were interesting, and the seats (made from traffic signs) created an original look. I also like the flowers that were placed around the space. No overall theme, but a very warm, open dining space.

Customer service: The waiter was friendly and answered all our questions. He did forget our drinks after clarifying our orders with us twice :s (I guess it was because he tried to remember them all off the top of his head instead of write it down? There were quite a few of us at Brunch!), but aside from that, everything was ok.

Food: ...Was really, really nice! Everything was colourful, well presented and tasty :) The menu was also very original - it had all the old favourites like 'Eggs Benedict', 'Eggs Florentine' etc. But it also had stuff like 'Peas and eggs' (Crushed peas, poached eggs, tomato relish on rye toast). 'Peas and eggs' turned out to be a good choice. It's been 2 weeks since I was at Three Bags Full and I'm still craving this dish :( The Ricotta pancakes were lovely, both picture-wise and taste-wise. They were also super filling :D Ate like a glutton here!

Price range: $10-$30 (both the dishes mentioned above were $15 each)

With thanks to: My China crew, for a fantastic day :)

Anyway, if you'd like to visit, the address is
Corner of Nicholson St and Mollison St, Abbotsford

Website:


Film story: Le Havre

Le Havre
(France, 2011, Directed by Aki Kaurismaki)



(I have to apologise for the the trailer inserted above. Funnily enough, I couldn't find a French trailer or an English trailer or one with English subtitles, so I ended up settling for German trailer.)

Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

In one word: Heart-warming


Ramble: This was one of the best film of the several that I was lucky enough to see at this year's Melbourne International film festival (MIFF). From viewing the trailer that was put on the official MIFF website (Not the one above this review. I picked a better trailer than the MIFF people :D), I would have thought this was a comedy. While there were many genuinely humourous scenes, Le Havre proved to be much more than just a bunch of laughs. The plot was interesting and the characters were unique and quirky. All in all, it was a very charming French film.




The story begins with a French man named Marcel Marx, a struggling author who has recently relocated with his wife, Arletty, to the port town of Le Havre. He lives a very simple life, working as a shoe-shiner, spending time with his wife and going out to the local pub for a drink with the townsfolk. 


His daily routine is interrupted, however, when his wife falls ill and needs to stay in hospital for a prolonged period of time. While eating lunch by himself at the port one day, Marcel meets Idrissa, an African refugee who is hiding from French authorities and seeking a route to England to reunite with his mother. Feeling sympathetic for the child, Marcel sets out to help Idrissa get to England. But can he do it with Monet, the private inspector hot on his trail?




I was moved by the story and impressed with the use of comedy, and with the performances of all the participating actors, in particular Andre Wilms who played the main role. Wilms' was able to portray a warm and thoughtful character, who delivered comedic lines with the right amount of 'innocence' and seriousness that you couldn't help but laugh until you were sore. Monet (Jean-Pierre Dorroussin) and Chang (Quoc Dung Nguyen) also provided quite a few memorable laughs.


In terms of the story, I felt that the script was well-written, with each scene contributing to character or plot development. I did find the glimpses into Marcel and Arletty's loving-but-awkward-and-routine relationship confusing at the beginning and in some ways, I wonder if it could have been explained more explicitly. However, I suspect that this sets the base for Marcel's relationship with Idrissa (My personal analysis: Marcel was the child in the relationship with his wife, and his regret for not taking as much care of her as he should have, made him want to take on the role as a father figure to Idrissa.)




The interaction between the timid Idrissa (Blondin Miguel) and Marcel are the real heartwarming and sentimental parts of this story. It is a pleasure to see Marcel and his quirky neighbours band together to help a child that is essentially a stranger to them. The lengths they go to in order to ensure that he achieves his goal leave you feeling warm and fuzzy about society. Seriously.


As a film about the the importance of relationships and friendships, this is definitely a feel-good film to be enjoyed with loved ones :)

Thursday 18 August 2011

A little bit of Drama: Last look at Love you ( 醉後決定愛上你)

Love you ( 醉後決定愛上你)

Stars (Final verdict): ★ ★ ★ ★


In short: Girl and boy get drunk, wake up married to one another. Think of a romantic-comedy version of 'The Hangover.' Similar to 'Fated to love you'.


Won points for: Awesome drama actors with good chemistry on screen - Rainie Yang (Lin Xiao Ru) and Joseph Chang (Song Jie Xiu), Good drama acting from both leads, A lovely romance with lots of passion ;), Some really good angsty episodes that made the whole story come together, Some really awesome laughs, good music selection especially Rainie's 我們都傻, A good and well aired out ending (a very rare occurance indeed!), A lovely film clip for the closing credits and good publicity calls - Rainie Yang had Joseph Chang star in her film clip for 我們都傻


Lost points for: There were a few middle episodes that were a little yawn-worthy - some were repetitive and didn't advance the story at all, some comedy scenes stretched the slapstick comedy element to its limits, and the series was deemed a sequel for 'Fated to love you' so it was often compared to that very popular storyline and borrowed from those conventions. 

Ramble: This was an enjoyable series. I like Rainie Yang's versatility when it comes to characters. I also like her ability to bring chemistry to any 'relationship' she has been scripted to. She's always fun and interesting to watch, not to mention super cute, regardless of the quirky (and occasionally odd) costumes she wears to form her character. She has genuine personality and that will always win over an audience.




Joseph Chang was a good choice for partner in crime. I was a bit skeptical when I first saw him as the male lead. I hadn't seen him in anything before and wondered if he was a newbie. But then he totally blew my perspective of him in this series. It's easy to play the stereotypical Mr Darcy in these dramas, but to bring a high level of passion, spark and intensity to a character, and to create and maintain genuine chemistry with another actor for 18 episodes is not an easy feat. But Joseph Chang did a damn good job. And I suppose he's quite good looking, and skilled in doing that lost-in-love expression which does help ;) Haha, in the end he became quite endearing to me and I'll be sad to see him move on from being Song Jie Xiu.






Given that both actors did not really know each other before filming, they had wonderful chemistry (They'd been in a drama together once, but that had been some time ago). And all those hot and heavy scenes were done with great intensity...(I imagine fangirls watching those scenes with blood noses :P) Which was interesting as Asians often try to create implied scenes rather than film them explicitly (But then again, Taiwanese dramas do trump other asian dramas in this department :P) 


In terms of the 'villians,' I found it refreshing to have bad guys that I didn't totally hate. Some might reckon it takes away from the drama experience, but I felt that Tang Ai Wei(Tiffany Hsu) and Geng Shuo Huai(Alien Huang) characters were surprisingly realistic towards the end of the series. It was nice to see bad guys that evolved and moved on, as painful as it was for some of them. It's true to life that sometimes no matter how badly you want things to work out for you, they just don't and you have to live with it. Sigh.




If I had to be critical of one thing, it'd be with sections of the plot. It was never as tight as some of the other dramas I've seen, which was both a curse and a blessing. It wavered the major climax structure that a lot of dramas follow - where all problems tie together and all hell breaks loose after a confrontation - for the little wave format - where a problem arises, is solved, arises, is solved and so on. So I guess it was a 'curse' because it meant some episodes lacked substance in that they were not building up to anything that would enhance future episodes. They became the filler episodes that lacked romance and story development and tried for comedy but sometimes made it too silly to appreciate. But it was also a very big blessing because the usual drama issues were resolved quite quickly - none of that hidden-conflict for 18 episodes! It revealed a lot more of the characters and it made them stand out to me, both in their stories as individuals and lovers. 



Overall, the portrayal of warm, likeable characters by good drama leads, and the sweet nature of their relationship makes this one definitely worth getting drunk on ;) 


Warning for Spoilers:


The unexpected angsty arc towards the last 3-4 episodes (where Samantha slips and Xiao Ru thinks it's her fault and Jie Xiu is struggling with grief and trying not to blame this wife) is one of the best mini drama arcs I've seen. It added substance to the fading middle story and made it into a an actual drama that hooked onto your heartstrings. 


And on a final note: This story had one of the best drama endings I've seen for awhile. Possibly a bit cheesey, but otherwise, it was great - there was time spent pulling each aspect of the story apart for viewers. None of that last minute cramming a problem-and-solution into a finale dilemma, No unnecessary use of the 'vague' ending where viewers were left to imagine the rest of the story and No neglect of comedy or romance in the final episode. It was all perfectly balanced out - a beautiful wedding sequence and a sweet montage of their new lives together. And even though there was comedy at the end (as the Taiwanese can never resist it at the last minute), it was toned down and tailored to the honeymoon scene, so that it shared some of that intimacy with a laugh :)



Monday 1 August 2011

Fashion story: Violet and I

Lately, on my way to work, I've been walking past these little pop-up shops for the State design fair at Melbourne Central station. While I've never been one for keeping up with the latest fads and being fashionable or whatnot,  there are certain designers that I admire, even if I could never buy their designs.


One brand that falls under this category is 'Violet and I.' With some of the softest fabrics around and a nice pastel palette of colours to choose from, what's not to like about this stuff? If I had the chance I'd go back and buy that navy blue silk dress (with the floral embroidery on the skirt). I'll try and find you guys a link.

In the meantime, you can look at their lovely designs here: http://www.violetandi.com.au/index.html