那些年, 我們一起追的女孩/ You Are The Apple Of My Eye (2011)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Haiz, another one of those growing up shows. Really plays on nostalgia and sentimentalism. And really a lot of Taiwanese 闽南话 jokes. Quite crude at certain parts. Yet I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Despite after 2 weeks of running the film in the theater, the show I went to was fully packed!

Official Site (Mandarin and English):
http://www.appleofmyeye.com.tw/

Official Sony Site (Mandarin & English)
http://www.sonymusic.com.tw/pop/appleofmyeye2011/

IMDB ENtry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2036416/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Are_the_Apple_of_My_Eye

P.S. The lead actress bears striking resemblance to one of my friends. Spooky.

P.P.S. It's really 弯弯! *jaw drop*

Kaiji 2:Jinsei dakkai gêmu / カイジ2 ～人生奪回ゲーム～(2011)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Other

Thoroughly enjoyed this with my brother at the theatre. Not much linkage with the first film; although you would appreciate this film more if you watched the first one. The games are not as interesting as the first one, but the lines and the overacting are still as cheesy.

Official site (Japanese)
http://www.kaiji-movie.jp/index.html

IMDB ENtry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1904937/

Asia Media Wiki:
http://asianmediawiki.com/Kaiji_2

Sanpei The Fisher Boy/ 釣りキチ三平 / Tsurikichi Sanpei (2009)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Kids & Family

The final Mio Home TV review I'm doing for tonight. Based on a Japanese manga, somehow the adaptation came across as weak. I think I'll rather stick to the manga and anime...

IMDB ENtry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262419/

English Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsurikichi_Sanpei

Asia Media Wiki:
http://asianmediawiki.com/Sanpei_The_Fisher_Boy

The Laughing Policeman/ 笑う警官 / Warau Keikan (2009)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Yet another free movie from (yes, you guessed it) Mio Home TV movies. Really loved the police suspense drama, with a dash of film noir and jazzy soundtrack. The plot is incredible; and brings back the age-old question: Who watches the watchmen? ("Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?")


Official Site (Japanese)
http://www.warau-keikan.com/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1297980/

Asia Media Wiki:
http://asianmediawiki.com/The_Laughing_Policeman

A Tale of Ululu's Wonderful Forest/ウルルの森の物語 /Makoto Naganuma (2009)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Kids & Family

Another free Mio home tv movie. A Japanese summer film, catered to the children and family. The wolf-pup is cute, and so are the children. Heart-warming, but can be tepid at times. But cannot deny the beauty of the natural scenery in Hokkaido

Toho site entry (Japanese):
http://www.toho.co.jp/lineup/ululu/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535420/

Asia Media Wiki:
http://asianmediawiki.com/A_Tale_of_Ululu%27s_Wonderful_Forest

The Hovering Blade/ さまよう刃/ Samayou yaiba (2009)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Catching up on my movie reviews. Here's one I caught on Mio Home TV movies. A serious drama, that talks about juvenile crimes in Japan. Not one of those happy-ending stories. Acting is superb. Too bad I don't know Japanese, if not will try to read the novel.

Japanese Website:
http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/sp/200908-03/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1415224/

English Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samayou_Yaiba

Asian Media Wiki:
http://asianmediawiki.com/The_Hovering_Blade

The Undercover Economist (2nd Edition)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Nonfiction
Author:	Tim Harford

Truly brings me back to my junior college days of studying Economics, with more relevant and updated examples. It's a relaxing read, not too technical, yet the basic concepts are explained very well. Oh, the author celebrates the Singapore government health care system; maybe the grass is greener on the other side...

Tim Harford site:
http://timharford.com/books/undercovereconomist/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undercover_Economist

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Animation

A superb adaptation from print to screen. Everything from the introduction to the ending is breathtaking. The quality of 3D rendering in IMAX format is really amazing, you can hardly imagine the characters on screen NOT to be flesh and blood. Hoping the sequels will just be as fantastic. Oh, no coda, in case you were wondering whether to stay till the end.

Official Site:
http://www.us.movie.tintin.com/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0983193/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Tintin_%28film%29

SHAW THEATRES LIDO IMAX ® 3D

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

Went to Lido to try my first IMAX 3D show. The images are really crystal clear, and the immersive experience is awesome! Too bad the seats are not springy enough for my liking. And there was this tall Caucasian guy who was sitting upright in front of me throughout the show. Other than that, it's really a wonderful experience.

Site:
https://www.shaw.sg/imax/

Bat Cat

http://neoslashott.deviantart.com/#/d49iof2