Tuesday, July 6, 2010

DR. NO

Warning: profanities ahead!

Na uh, I'm not talking about Sean Connery's nemesis in that 1962 Bond movie!

This is a different script and yes, she's got a story to tell.  Dr. No is her boss. An old fashioned kind of a boss where everything is ruled under his thumb . She is of course a capable and experienced assistant.  Previously, her working relationships with her former boss was excellent. Works were done smoothly and delivered according to the standardized 'quality control' management  as befitting a large and established organization, spanning over 100 years since  it was first established.

1st Issue:
Tacky and oh so yesterday! So, in this age of IT, imagine her astonishment upon discovering that almost half of the works are done manually! She has to lug around a big, thick and heavy bound diary (this being Dr. No's planner/calendar) whereas  you could  just key in everything in your MS Outlook calendar!! The weight of that thing is almost fetching 2kgs! She asked the former assistant, why are we using this thing? It's soooo damn heavy. Are we not using that computer? PC tu perhiasan ja ka? The former assistant snorted: Hehhh, dia tu? He prefers to do half of the things around here manually!  The other day, she was extremely busy and didn't hear him calling for her. So, when she finally heard him, she dashed inside his office and attend to his 'beck and call'. Then, this Dr. No said: I don't like to use the intercom. Next time, I'd be using this bell so that I don't have to call your name repeatedly (he then proceed to lift up and rang the bell - the kind that you see in a Christmas card picture. Yes, that bell!, no fucking joke!). Of course, she was aghast. This is not the colonial era, for pete's sake!) So, she plowed in directly: "Please don't. We don't have to resort to that. Please just call my name" (inside she was cursing like mad: bell? i'm not a fucking cow! just burn that damn intercom!) God, this is armageddon!

2nd Issue:
Working hours. As she is staying quite far from the office, working hours have to be adjusted a bit.  She doesn't drive, nor does she own a car although she's planning to get around that, one of these days. So, in the beginning when she reported to work, she had sat and discussed about her transportation issue with Dr. No. Him being a Dr. No, this was his verdict:

"I start my day in the office from 7.30am until maybe 7-7.30pm. So I expect my staff to do so"

She bargained: I know, but there should be a way of compromise no? If I am needed to stay back, needed to
 take care of urgent tasks, then I am prepared to do so. As I am a woman, one who boards two busses to and fro everyday, that 7-7.20pm is very late. It's dangerous. I am prepared to stay back  until 6.30pm though.

Dr. No's answer:  Well, that's not my problem. It's yours to solve! I EXPECT my staff to do things according to my standard.  (translated as: fuck that transportation, you are to stay back in the office until I leave this fucking chair!) Shit!

Well, she might be a very dedicated assistant, but she isn't a stupid fool either. Why does she have to hang around the office when she has completed her work for the day? Another shitload of craps!

3rd Issue:
"You are my absolute coolie and I am the ultimate boss"  He doesn't have to say it verbally.  He is literally walking and breathing the air with chips on his shoulders as big as the Mt. Kinabalu.  Everyone is scared of Dr. No. EVERYONE!

So, what shall she do? Just endure it? For how long? She hopes for the sake of her sanity, Dr. No will leave quickly. Little birdie whistled to her that, yes, he will. Maybe next year!

Hallelujah! She'll drink to that...

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Leap Year, The Time Traveller's Wife,The Back-up Plan & The Bounty Hunter

I've seen these movies when I was in the mood for sappy, silly and romantic movies.  Yes, these movies of course starred by every starlets in Hollywood you could ever find.  My takes? In the most 'i love the movie' orders:

1. Leap Year



























A story of a successful American woman, Anna, who has everything that a woman could have ever wanted. A fantastic career, a successful surgeon boyfriend (if not for the fact that he flashes the picture of every surgery procedures that he has or had carried out to you, in his blackberry everytime it beeps and you have to tell him "honey, not here", I might find him attractive enough) and has her life mapped out literally! But no, the boyfriend seems to be holding off his 'will you marry me' and Anna seems to be wanting to get hitched desperately, enough to make her chasing after her boyfriend in Dublin (who was attending a medical conference) and planning to propose to him on the 29th Feb, the leap year, where women in old Irish tradition propose marriage to their beaus (wonder if this is true?) Enter Declan O'Callaghan (Matthew Goode), the cynical, broodingly sexy Irish and proud owner of a small pub in a small village, who hates the mere mention of Dublin! According to him, "Dublin is a city where thieves, liers and backstabbing snakes, where, the worst of humanity collect"

When their world collides, Anna's well mapped plan was totally 'unmapped' in an instant. Anna hires Declan to accompany her to Dublin and what happened along their journey to Dublin is totally hillarious (and romantic of course)! The cinematography is breathtaking and the chemistry between the two leads is really really good! I can't possibly write a whole review of the film, as i'm not a film critic. Besides, I ain't gonna spoil the movie for those who have not seen it yet! Amy Adams, now, she's a real sweetheart. She has always been my favourite actress. A very classy ones, never been vulgar and she seems to be doing her stuff because she loves it, not for the money nor for glamour. Matthew Goode, I don't know much about this guy. He's from UK and well, his dark good looks is sexy and a really good actor! He's so dreamy.. I will never get tired of this movie! Girls, you should watch this movie, highly recommended :)

2.  The Time Traveller's Wife




























Adapted from the bestselling novel (with the same title) by American author, Audrey Niffenegger, it tells a story of a librarian, Henry (Eric Bana) who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel. The two characters met while Claire (Rachel McAddams) was a little girl  and Henry (an adult) in a beautiful meadow behind her house. She grew up loving him and when they met in the library, when she was a fully grown woman, they fell in love, get married and had a little girl. However, his constant disappearance creates a problem within their married life but in the end, they were still happy and in love. It's a sad story but it's still a lovely love story. Again, highly recommended :)

3. The Back-up Plan




























Starring Jennifer Lopez and the actor from down under, Alex O'Laughlin, it is a funny and okay movie.  Tells the story of single, in her thirties woman Zoe, she opted for an artificial insemination procedures to have a baby (she got twins!) after several failed relationships.  Post artificial insemination, she met and fell in love with a man and decided to make a 'this is not gonna work' decisions because she's afraid that the man will bail out on her. The man did know (after they have made love, phewww..what a way to find out, ain't it?), and of course, poor guy, he was terrified and did 'bail out'  on her for several days but in the end, realizing his feelings, decided to sticks with her. Well, the movie actually highlights the antics, crazy cravings and mood swings of pregnant women and what the men have to endure (hey, pregnant women bear the worst!) during their various stages of pregnancy.  It's funny and painful to watch at times.  However, the whole point of the movie is about loving someone unconditionally! My verdict, it's still an okay rom-com. Can watch it in a lazy day..

3.  The Bounty Hunter



























Well, i'm not a big fan of Jennifer Aniston but I've to admit, I watched the movie because of Gerard Butler! *wink wink* Well, he was disgustingly funny in The Ugly Truth and he has this gorgeous bods in 300, and goodlooking in P.S I love You. This is a story about two total opposite characters whom fell in love with each other, get married, and divorced! Three years later, they crossed ways and still bicker in almost every single little things but above all, still deeply in love.  Milo hates his 'wanting an orderly life' ex-wife and Nicole hates her 'i don't give a shit and sometimes disgusting ex-husband'. When Nicole skipped her own hearing case (she was accused of battery assault to a police officer) It was Milo's duty as a bounty hunter to bring her back to the authority.

Of course, being a reporter, one who is investigating a murder cover-up case, Nicole abandoned her lawyer to chase after the clue of the murder case but ended up being chased by her bounty hunter ex-husband and some tough, but kind of stupid criminals.  Well, Nicole is bent on getting rids of Milo, and he, bent on shackling and cuffing her to himself, with all costs!  After all, the reward money is good and he's got the incentive of annoying her endlessly (sounds like a pervert S.O.B to me!).  So, the movie progressed with these two chasing and being chased and trading insults to each other's character.  I've to say, after quite sometimes, it bores me. The woman is too pushy and mouthy and the guy is disgustingly annoying to watch.  It has a disappointing ending, leaving you wondering what happens next? There's no closure, it just stopped there! Well, maybe the director is planning to make a sequel? Sorry, i'm not gonna watch it. In terms of acting, they're good actors of course.  My verdict - watch it if you're really bored.

Well, that's it. Me, the film critic *rolls eyes*

til next critics....


Thursday, July 1, 2010

Hennessy Artistry Event - 31st July 2010 @ White Room, KK Times Square

BRACE YOURSELVES KK, HENNESSY ARTISTRY IS COMING TO TOWN!


Hello fellow bloggers and KKians,

Peeps,  wanna  go ‘aramaitiiii’ with free flow of Hennessy all night long? What more, it comes in various mixtures to suit your tastebuds! Hennessy Artistry - "The Global Art of Mixing" is back again on 31st July, 2010 and this time in White Room, KK! Are you a blogger? If you are, then this might be just the opportunity for you to win 2 VIP Passes by blogging about this event. Well, spread some luuuuurrrve around sugar… who knows, something interesting is awaiting you on that night. Of course, there'll be some 800 cool and sophisticated clubbers expected that night!    *wink wink*

The line up acts of the night will surely blow your mind away!





The Hennessy Artistry party in KK promises to provide East Malaysians with a never before seen revolutionary clubbing experience through its colourful mish-mash of music artistry and a combination of performers from  KL and Korea. Headlining the night is DJ Siera Lee, one of the world’s hottest DJs. Born in South Korea, grew up in Canada, and currently residing in Sydney, Australia, Siera Lee represents a new generation of female turntable phenomenons. Over the years, she has risen up the ranks to become one of Asia’s best female DJ icons. Armed with her sexy looks and banging up-tempo R&B and Hip Hop sets, DJ Siera Lee promises to blow the roof off White Room come July 31.

DJ Sierra Lee

Next, Joe Flizzow and Sona One. Joe, who is one half of the internationally renowned Malaysian hip-hop duo, Too Phat - a familiar fixture of the Malaysian hip hop scene. As Too Phat, he released multi-platinum albums, sold over half a million records and even achieved international recognitions from MTV Asia and Channel V – incredible feats for a local artiste. He has collaborated with various pop acts from Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada and the United States. Among some of his standout credentials include performances for Linkin Park, the Black Eyed Peas, and Kanye West. 

DJ Joe Flizzow & Sona One



Amplifying his crafts for the night is his protege and one of the fastest rising hip-hop stars in the country, Sona One.  The 21-year-old Sona One is the consummate artist who continues to break barriers and delivers results way beyond his young age. Starting his career as a graffiti artist at the age of 10, today he is widely recognized as one of the leading "graph-heads" in the region.  Musically, Sona One's sound is distinctively "European" with the early 90's hip-hop tinge, an era where conscious lyrics were often met with soulful production. A huge fan of golden oldies, as reflected in his  sample-heavy musical compositions, this fast rising young star will surely deliver a unique collaboration between guru and protege. Experience their power packed one-off performance which will blow your minds away as they hit the Hennessy Artistry stage in KK! 


Bringing to life its trademark repertoire, partygoers can also expect to be blown away bt DVJ G Mix, one of the few individuals in the country with the ability to 'visualize sounds' and to provide audiences with hypnotic, head-turning visuals.  He has performed as the closing act for the Bangkok Invaders and most memorably, as the guest DVJ Korean superstar Rain's concert VIP after party in KL.

DVJ G Mix


Remember clubbers: Passes to Hennessy Artistry ‘The Global Art of Mixing’ is by-invitation only. To obtain invitations to the party at White Room, logon to www.h-artistry.com.my. Alternatively, to relive the experience of past Hennessy Artistry events or to receive updates on the upcoming party, visit the official Facebook fan page: www.h-artistry.com.my/facebook or follow Hennessy Artistry on Twitter: www.h-artistry.com.my/twitter. The party is strictly opened to non-Muslim guests aged 21 years and above only.  ID verifications will be carried out at the door.

For further details, say your  his and hellos to:

HELENNESS CHONG
http://helenness-inc.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/helenness
lenz_cyy@hotmail.com Mobile : +6019 671 2703
          
Milk PR Sdn. Bhd.
(Formerly known as DDB PR)
Level 8, Menara Manulife RB, No. 6 Jalan Gelenggang
Damansara Heights
50490 Kuala Lumpur


Now that's a cool way to end your July calendar! 


Ciao..

The Long Absence..

 For 6 years.. I haven't been writing anything.  The last entry that I posted was in October 2016! Damn! That feels like a century ago.....