| Rating: | ★★★★ |
| Category: | Other |
http://www.samurai-7.com/index.html
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Samurai 7
http://www.samurai-7.com/index.html
Zodiac: the Legend begins 生肖传奇
| Rating: | ★★ |
| Category: | Movies |
| Genre: | Animation |
The great Buddha gave the eminent Jade Emperor the task of ruling the celestial and mortal worlds. Although the Emperor has made the mortal world a facade of peace and tranquility, which was thriving and prosperous, men still did not have an awareness of time. With the absence of this facility, calamity was certain. To prevent this calamity, the Jade Emperor gave a celestial order.
“Let it be known in the mortal world, that I, the Imperial Jade Emperor, shall appoint 12 animals to ascend to the celestial world. These 12 species of animals shall represent a cycle of 12 years with each animal representing a year. Any humans born in a particular animal’s year shall bear that animal’s mark and his strength. This representation shall be known as the Zodiac.”
But deep in the dark swamps, the thousand year old tree spirit hacks a plan of her own. Determined to thwart the plans of her long time enemy, the Jade Emperor, she sets forth to prevent the success of the Race be impeding the 12 chosen ones.
taken from http://www.moviexclusive.com/review/zodiac/zodiac.htm
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Personal take:
Too many singing animals. Period. I like the turtle, blur and cute. But the pacing of the story really cannot make it. And the voice acting of the mandarin version really is horrible. Later did find out the film actually used local artistes. Man... Lets hope this will not be the 1st and last 3D animated film for local efforts.
Only good thing out of this is I learnt the order of the Chinese Zodiac. well, must always salvage something out of every situation.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
on faith of being a child of God...
argh, haven't been writing as much these days. First was caught up in the video madness of following "Jewel in the Palace"'; then now am caught up the Chinese New Year festivities & watching all kinds of crazy videos at Youtube (www.youtube.com) . Still, had to write something down about Sunday's sermon. Personal take la.
Pastor Kai was speaking last Sunday to us about spiritual training; how we must recognize the necessity of it, reap the promise of it and resolve to get into spiritual training. One of the points he brought up was on the novel "the Da Vinci code". The book has already caused quite an uproar when it first came out a couple of years back, with the claims it make about Jesus being a man only, is mortal, had a wife and had children etc etc. I read the book quite some time ago, and can only remember snatches of it. To me it was a very good piece of fiction, expertly written and well-crafted. And there it ends, as a piece of fictitious work only. When I read the claims of Jesus, I laughed my head off and thought to myself: "Mr. Brown has some serious accounting to do on Judgment day."
Pastor was saying if the furor caused by the book can be likened to that of a storm's, then when the film adaptation of "the Da Vinci Code" comes out in May this year, the impact will be like that of a tsunami's. Faiths will be shaken, and unprepared Christians will not be ready for the questions levied at them about the person of Jesus. Therefore, as believers and disciples of Christ, we must be ready to give an account of who our God is.
At the same time as I hear this, I realize at once this is the easiest and hardest thing to do, for myself. For I do not have the eloquence and wisdom of pastors or great men like the apostle Paul, Martin Luther or C.S. Lewis. I am just a regular guy trying to mae his way in this world; who am I to stand up to my peers of more worth? 
But to believe in that indefinitely is to belittle God of my faith, who is Elohim, Adonai, and El-Shaddai*. Through the ages, great men and women of faith arise, not because they are talented in themselves - rather, they have allowed themselves to be used by the sovereign Lord for His purpose and glory. For me to say "cannot be done" when the Lord says "can be done", is to make myself god of my own life, refusing to trust and believe in God's fullness and ability to do great things in my life. If the Maker of the world, Creator and Shaper of my life says His will be done, who am I to argue against Him? While to some, this sounds like God being a cosmic bully of infinite resources, to those who knows Him, this is God at His best, with His infinite patience and infinite love, He calls us to return to Him, all who are hard of heart and hearing.
Back to the book of "the Da Vinci Code", it's a good book of fiction, mixed in with truths and make believe. Yet do be aware that the devil loves these kind of works best, to further his schemes for the unwary. Afterall, it concerns the person of Jesus, who is "the capstone the builders have rejected".** Many people have stumbled over who Jesus is to them; yet to all those who believes, we are given the wonderful gift of knowing God. Before we start fighting over with people over the authenticity of "the Da Vinci Code", let us first get back to the Holy Word, and get the authenticity of Jesus aright.
And hey, if your faith is ever shaken about who Jesus is, my brother and sister, don't despair! Instead, rejoice and pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and revelation. Ask Him to move you out of that position, and pray for divine intercession and meeting with God through Word, prayer and fellow brother and sisters. 
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* Jewish names of "Greatness and Glory", and "Lord and Master" and "All-bountiful in the fullness and fruitfullness". For more information, please read "Names of God" by Nathan Stone.
** See the Gospel of Mathew Chapter 21 verse 41-43.
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"...But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20b-21.
P.S. lost the rhythm of writing, cause was called out suddenly to meet some of my friends. Will continue this in another of my blog entries...
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
大长今主题曲《希望》
http://www.youtube.com/w/%5927%957F%4ECA%4E3B%9898%66F2%300A%5E0C%671B%300B?v=_7v7a2g8k_g&search=%E5%A4%A7%E9%95%BF%E4%BB%8A
ok, the earlier one about the anime was not weird. Seeing Kelly Chan belting out cantonese croon to this Korean tune is WEIRD. Think soon we'll hear aunties and uncles belting this out in Karaokae joints all over...
on being a computer junkie...
Bumped into my friend just now at the library. He told me he finished the "Jewel in the Palace" dvd series already, in 2 days' time.
My aunt came over to visit us just now, to pass us some Chinese New Year goodies, plus do catch up with my mom. During the chit-chat, my mom complained about me being glued to the laptop for hours.* Well, to be more preceise, all 3 of us siblings actually. I use it to surf web, write blogs and look for emulations, my bro used it to download anime and songs, my sis used it to do her projects and chit-chat with friends online. Well, guess my mom feels pretty left out because she just don't get why we need to spend so much time in front of the other dumb-box**. And seriously, we can't connect to any of her Taiwanese dramas on Channel 8. And frankly, I don't want to. (shudder)
ok, time to get back to my surfing... before getting riled at again.
* how do i know? Simple, I was playing the "dutiful eldest son" role of "joining in chit chat with your elders". Plus I want to know how my "good name" is being "smeared" by my mom, and to fire a few of my "salvos" as well...
** we 3 siblings don't watch much TV programmes these days. Lets face it, national programming sucks big time; and we can't afford cable. Plus the laptop is keeping us glued enuff as it is.
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