Thirty-first. The Wedding Banquet by Ang Lee (1993)

The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Director: Ang Lee



Once again the charlie's angels sat down together to watch another movie. This time it's The Wedding Banquet by Ang Lee. I guess this would be the last time we watch a film together because we really had to go and mug for our examinations after this. Nevertheless, we must always enjoy and relax...

Me: I enjoyed watching this movie as the content is slightly different and interesting!

Peishan: I think so too. It’s about closet homosexuals, transnational some more. It’s a American/Taiwanese romantic comedy.

Xiaoting: Haha. It is a comedy but at the same time touching. This movie showed family ties, tradition and acceptance.

Me: I learnt that relation to a movie is not purely about personal experience. For instance, homosexuality, is definitely not what I had experienced but it is an increasing trend I notice in the society.

Xiaoting: It also reflects the society’s view on homosexuals and parent’s concerns for their child’s future family . Wai-Tung’s parents kept calling from his hometown, Taiwan to Manhatten to ask about his marriage plans.

Peishan: Yar. When Wai-Tung is living with his American doctor boyfriend, Simon got many years already. It was difficult for him. All the family pressures are like those in an Asian family tradition. The tradition and generation gaps can also be seen from this movie.



Xiaoting: During the wedding ceremony. Such traditions made me realize that it is very sad that as ages pass, we are losing many traditions because the younger generation refuses to accept and hence lose the interest to learn and pass on such traditions. Not only for wedding ceremonies, but also burial ceremonies.

Me: I realize the comedy sets in also when the “fake” bride that Wai-Tung wanted to use in order to please his parents fell in love with him for real.

Xiaoting: Complicated relationships. Love triangle! I quite like the fact that this movie does not despise homosexuals, which will turn it into a “propaganda” type of movie that educate people and shape their mind to reject homosexuality.

Me: Lee managed to bring across these few themes in a comedy style where we laugh at it but still brings some reflections and thoughts back. Lee also managed to ably points out how honesty is the best policy.

Peishan: Correct. “Whatever the price of truth now, it's nothing compared to the inflated cost that awaits.” All in all, this movie is quite educational.

Xiaoting: Because it teaches us to see homosexuals from their point of view and to always be truthful to our families?

Peishan and myself: Yup!!!

[1] http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/1993/the-wedding-banquet/
[2] http://www.1worldfilms.com/weddingbanquet.htm

Thirtieth. Sepet by Yasmin Ahmad (2004)

Sepet (2004)
Director: Yasmin Ahmad

As my close reading assignment was on Gubra, another film by Yasmin Ahmad, which was also a sequel to Sepet. I believe after watching Sepet, it helped me understand Gubra more in terms of why Orked never tried to salvage her relationship with her husband when he cheated on her.

My favourite part of the movie is actually when Orked and Jason first met at the pirated CD store.


Love at first sight


Who is this angel that landed on earth?


Oh man... she's really an angel.


Bye, my angel

You can see from Jason's expression that he was lovestruck on first sight. Haha.. Personally I felt that Sepet is actually nicer than Gubra because it is quite cheerful at the start and always the first stages of a relationship is sort of the best, that is, the chase. And towards the end of the film there was a really dark side of the film where it was not expected that Jason would die in a traffic accident. However, I felt that Yasmin Ahmad's play of controversial roles in terms of cross-culture relationship and crossing religious boundaries was better in Gubra because of its second story, which was about a Malay prostitute Temah and even the sequel became more dark. In Gubra, it taught me that in life, separation is a also a kind of solution. In Sepet, it taught me the meaning of loving for the sake of love.

[1] Sepet: Beyond a Malaysian Love Story. Retrieved from http://www.ximnet.com.my/thelab/comments/comments.asp?id=53
[2] Sepet: A Malaysian Movie. Retrieved from http://www.infernalramblings.com/articles/Entertainment/291/
[3] Yasmin Ahmad's Films by Amir Muhammad: Sepet (Book)
[4] Sepet, Review. Retrieved from http://shafiqiskandar.wordpress.com/sepet-film-review/

Twenty-ninth. Home Run by Jack Neo (2003)

Home Run (2003)
Director: Jack Neo



After a few group viewing sessions together, again the charlie angels (haha) decided to come out with another creative way to conduct our discussion! We shall do it by question and answer style! Each person will take turn to ask a question and the two others will share their answers. Only then, the person who asked the question will then share her answer. For some questions, there may not be a correct or wrong answer. Hence this is also like a sharing session among the 3 of us about this local film.

Fun Facts!

My Question: Do you know that this film is a remake of an award winning Iranian film, Children of Heaven?

Xiao Ting: Yup, I know the story line is not original by Jack Neo but I didn’t know the original film is named Children of Heaven until I read the reviews yesterday.

Pei Shan: Yup, I knew it since I first watched this film in 2003.

Yvonne: Actually Jack Neo decided to remake the Iran film as he was touched to tears after watching it with his wife!



Xiao Ting's Question: “Jack Neo wanted to use this remake to emphasis on the message of friendship and kinship.” Do you see more of friendship or kinship?

Pei Shan:I think I see more kinship, because ultimately the story still revolves around the 2 young lead actors, Shawn and Megan.

Me: Actually I can feel both friendship and kinship deeply portrayed in this whole film, but I have to agree with Peishan, I see more kinship too.

Xiao Ting: HAHA. I have the exact same view as you two.


Peishan's Question: What did you learn from this movie? Or what do you think is the moral of this movie plot?

Xiao Ting: Run to school everyday, and you can pass your NAPFA test with flying colours! HAHA. From this movie I see a lot of kinship, how siblings look after each other. How they are so young yet considerate for their family, understanding the circumstances they are in and tries to make the best out of it instead of complaining which is a common sign in the modern family.

Me: Always watch what is on the ground, especially during a running race. Hmmm.. probably more of friends being an important group of people in life. In face of troubles when the family is unable to help, friends will be there. From this movie, I further see what people meant by, it is in face of hard times that we see true friends.

Pei Shan: Yupp, I feel that this movie showed us the strong friendship and kinship between people and family members. Like how my parents always mention their kampong days, where the whole village knows everyone else, including the name of their neighbour’s dog! Such closeness is what we cannot see in the modern society even we are staying so much closer in HDBs.




My Question: Do you know of the political side of this film ?

Xiao Ting I only read about how it is banned in Malaysia but never went into knowing the detail why. But I heard in the movie just now about some announcement of Singapore’s separation from Malaysia.

Pei Shan Yup, I heard that part too. It was Lee Kuan Yew’s voice on a radio in the background announcing the separation.

My response: It is due to these political issues present in the movie that cause it to be banned in Malaysia even after appeal to screen. On top of the announcement on the radio, riot at the rubbish dump is depicting the labour strikes and riots of 1960’s. “Little Red Dot” is a phrase used by former Indonesian president Jusuf Habibie to disparage Singapore, and it is used as a name in the show. Water dispute on drawing water from the kampong well reflects the water issue between Singapore and Malaysia.


Peishan's Question: Will this film be more international than the other Jack Neo’s production like “I Not Stupid” and “Money Not Enough”?

Me: All these films by Jack Neo are rather successful ones in Singapore. Homerun should be able to be more internationally recognize since Megan won the golden horse award, and the movie talks about friendship and kinship which is a very general idea everyone can relate to.

Xiao Ting: I think this film will definitely be more international because “I Not Stupid” and “Money Not Enough” shows more of Singapore’s current society which people in other countries may not be able to find the relation. Some jokes for instance, only Singaporeans who understand the government systems and law are able to get the meaning. However homerun has less of that reflection of current society but more on narration of a pure story.

Pei Shan: I have similar thoughts as both of you too. (:


Xiao Ting's Question: Do you all realize Jack Neo likes to use young actors in his movie? What are your views about it?

Me: I think the young actors are cute. With the young actors in the movie, Jack Neo can make use of a child’s naïve thinking to make funny comments or speech.

Pei Shan: Yup I realize the repeated actors in “I Not Stupid” and “Homerun”. I don’t find anything wrong with using those actors. Infact it makes the movie more of a family movie where children can also relate to easily.

Xiao Ting: From a review, the critique mentioned that Jack Neo is “using his characters as a personal soapbox ”, referring to all the young actors. I disagree with that. In fact I feel that Jack Neo has tried to design dialogues and speeches for the children such that they are similar to that of what the children in the current society follows.

[1] http://historyworkroom.com/?p=23
[2] http://www.filmsasia.net/gpage155.html

Twenty-eighth. Cape No. 7 by Te-Sheng Wei (2008)

Cape No. 7 (2008)
Director: Te-Sheng Wei



When I first started watching this movie, I felt that I would not be interested in the movie as the progress was really slow. Furthermore, as there were random flashbacks, I was confused at the start.

An interesting point about this movie is that the actors and actresses are not the usual popular ones that filmmakers sought after when making a film. Hence this point itself made me interested to continue watching for the reviews received were great.

I loved the part where he found the parcel and it was the love letters from a Japanese to his love in Taiwan many years ago. The unsent love letters correspond to the main theme of Cape No. 7. The flashbacks were done in a nostalgic and affectionate fashion, the narrative and voiceover were very gentle. The main song of the movie which was also the song that the movie evolved around left me with the deepest impression. It is very nice and together with it's deep meaning of the lyrics. It kind of appealed to me because I like these kind of sentimental music. Despite the romance, it was really heartwarming to look at all the different kinds of people, like old men, gangsters and a young girl coming together to form a band that plays exceptionally well! They are really young at heart. These characters were neither handsome nor masculine, but their heart to perform as a band moved me greatly.



As the movie splits into two parts, between the past and the present. However, the love story that had happened in the past runs parallel to Aga's current situation with Tomoko. He heads a band in performing this song at the end of the movie. Prior to the performance, the band faced many troubles as they have very different characters. But to put up the best performance, they resolved all problems and successfully gave a splendid performance. Although the ending is, as usual, a happy ending, I still like it!

[1] Movie Review: Cape No. 7. Retrieved from http://taiwanonymous.blogspot.com/2008/10/movie-review-cape-no-7.html
[2] Cape No. 7. Retrieved from http://www.moviexclusive.com/review/capeno7/capeno7.htm
[3] Cape No. 7. Retrieved from http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/cape_no_7.html

Twenty-seventh. Be With Me by Eric Khoo (2005)

Be With Me (2005)
Director: Eric Khoo



The usual trio musketeers are here to do another movie review! Here is our conversation. (:

Me: This is really a very touching movie. Despite its minimalist style with not much dialogue. Each of the 4 stories – “Meant to be”, “Puppy Love stage”, “Finding Love” as well as the true story of Ms Teresa Chan that have really touched my heart.

Xiao Ting: Yup. I agree. I would never have known that our Singaporean director can produce such wonderful film within Singapore setting with inexperienced and not exactly renowned actors and actress if I have not take Asian Film history.

Pei Shan: Yes I agree too. The themes of love, hope and destiny is weaven into the film seamlessly. I have no idea why. But after watching this show, the following song “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus came into my mind. I felt it describes to a certain extent Ms Teresa Chan. This is because I felt that Teresa’s sheer determination and optimistic views which eventually led her to succeed is somewhat similar to the sense of satisfaction and joy one will feel whenever one accomplished what seemed hard to accomplish originally. I am so inspired to be like her. I shall listen to this song everyday to constantly motivate myself.

The Climb lyrics

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/m/miley-cyrus-lyrics/the-climb-lyrics.html ]

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

Xiao Ting: I think this song “I’ll Move On” [attached file here] is more apt for the movie. Moreover, it is by our own local artist, Olivia Ong.

This road that I'm taking twists and turns
My life my chance turning dreams into reality.
Down this path faced with so many things
Sometimes I feel like giving up and turn away

Can't seem to go on
And I've been thru' this before
Now where am I?
Where do I stand?
A little lost here.
But I'll remember.
All those times you've bought me thru'.
I'd be a fool to give up cos' the goal is near

I'll move on I'll go on.
Lord I will take your hand.
And you will guide me along.
Survive thru' this storm.
So I say, come what may.
I'll hold on to my hope.
Yes, I will walk down this road.
And my passion drive will lead me on

Here I am Once again caught in the rain.
Looking back I've come so far And I want to carry on
Take a step at time
It's alright.
Even thru' this rain, I want to smile again

Don't hold back now.
And i've been thru' this before.
Now where am I?
Where do I stand?
A little lost here.
But I'll remember.
All those times you've bought me thru'.
I can feel the sun shining down on me

Here I am, Here I am.
Lord I will take your hand.
And you will guide me along.
Survive thru' this storm.
So I say, come what may.
I'll hold on to my hope.
Yes, I will walk down this road.
And my passion drive will lead me on.

Me: I agree with you girls. Actually, the other 3 stories that I have mentioned just now are also very reflective of the society we are in and displayed the theme of love, hope and destiny too. Like what one of the review I has came across, this film shows “truly an amazing journey of life, love, loss and an inspiration to guide us all ”

Pei Shan: Yes. This is 1 of the film I like the best so far.

[1] Pere, O. (n.d.). The Festival de Cannes Directors' Fortnight. Retrieved from: http://www.zhaowei.com/bewithme.html
[2] Shih, S. (2005, September 08). Movie Review of Be With Me by Eric Khoo. Retrieved from: http://www.moviexclusive.com/review/bewithme/bewithme.htm

Twenty-sixth. The Story of Qiu Ju by Zhang Yimou (1992)

The Story of Qiu Ju (1992)
Director: Zhang Yimou

We have once again decided to watch 1 of the films among our list of 40 films together. We have chosen to watch the day itself after we have Mr. Tan had went through on China National Cinema as we felt that it will give us a deeper insight to the works of both the director Zhang Yimou and Gong Li (who acted as the main female lead in the film, Qiu Ju ) who have established their reputation with their previous collaboration (Jou Du, Raise the Red Lantern and Red Sorghum) .

Just before the lesson itself, we had each done some research on the reviews of this film respectively.

Me: Pei Shan! I found this blog that showed quite a few photos of the scenes in the film itself. You can use it to do your photo montage as you have always liked to do.

Pei Shan: Sure. And here it is:



Pei Shan: I have done the research and have done up the montage this time round already. Ha.

XIaoTing: Ok! Let’s focus on watching the film. From my research, the Chinese view this film as comedy. However, the Western critics who have written the reviews that I have found could not really phantom why the Chinese have thought that certain parts were humorous.

Me: I guessed it might be due to the different cultures of the East and the West. Maybe it is because some of the meaning of the film originally in Chinese has been lost during translation for the Western critics. We shall just watched and decide if we felt that it is a comedy.

Pei Shan: Maybe Gong Li is too pretty for them to perceive her as a comic actress i.

We began watching the 110 minutes film.

Pei Shan: Actually, the doctor has already given a remedy that will redress Qiu Ju’s concern about her husband’s possible incapacity from this scene:



Subtitle translates: Keep it straight and let the air get at it.

Xiaoting: Yes. If only Qiu Ju has not been so determined and feministic, the ending might not have been so tragic for the chief of the village, who is actually deserving of his position. He did not bear grudge to the grief he has suffered due to Qiu Ju’s complaints; instead, he did his duty as a village chief to help his villagers as he carry Qiu Ju to the hospital when Qiu Ju got into labor late one ngiht and could not deliver her baby such that both her baby and herself were in danger. If only…

Me: But there is no wrong being a feminist and fighting for her right isn’t it. I agree with one of the point from one of the reviewi that Qiu Ju is just another victim of any legal system of justice. We are just being too often caught in dilemma about what is right or wrong as well as the emotional and humanity aspects that might be linked and intertwined with it.

Xiao Ting: O that is quite philosophical. Let’s get back to the question on if I have felt if this is a comedy. I don’t think so. What do the 2 of you think?

Pei Shan: Maybe as we are “rojak” of the East and West culture. Yes, I do not think it is exactly a comedy to me.

Me: Yes, I agree. However, I do feel sad for the village chief’s plight at the end.

[1] Stone, A. A. (1993, September/October). Comedy and Culture in Boston Review. Retrieved from http://bostonreview.net/BR18.5/alanstone.html
[2] NB47. (2007, Nov 24). Zhang Yimou- Qiu Ju da guan si ('The Story of Qiu Ju') 1992. Retrieved from http://avaxhome.ws/video/genre/drama/quiju_by_yimou.html
[3] Retrieved from http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDYwNjAwMzI=.html

Twenty-fifth. A Tale of Two Sisters by Kim Jee-woon (2003)

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Director: Kim Jee-woon

Although I was sure that I promised myself that Nang Nak would be the ONLY horror film I'm going to watch this semester, little did I know that A Moon Light Dinner by Yukata Ikejuma (1998) was a horror and erotic film (to my horror, I truly dislike both genres D: ) and it was unavailable therefore I made it up with another horror film, A Tale of Two Sisters. As usual, I'm so timid, but I'm so curious about what the story is like, so I had gathered many of my friends to watch again, and here goes. A heart stopping film...

A tale of two sisters is a Korean psychological horror film directed by Kim Ji-woon. The story started when Su –mi was brought back home from the mental hospital by her father together with her sister Su-yeon and they met their stepmother at home.
Strange things started to occur in the house after the sisters’ return and the stepmother thinks that it is due to the presence of Su-mi and Su-yeon. I feel that the ambience of the movie is perfectly tune to making audiences feel goose bumps throughout the whole movie. Adding on to it, the house also feels ghastly, with the whole house being dark even during the day, and with a lot of dark corners and blind spots.

This movie thoroughly plays with the audiences mind, having numerous unexpected scenes which will give sudden shock to all. Director Kim succeeded in building up the horror of the movie by using eerie sound and numerous unexpected “exposure”, however, I feel that the story can be rather confusing as it hovers around numerous flashbacks and turns of event. Certain parts of the movie leave me scratching head.

However, the last part of the movie did reveal that actually the whole thing about the stepmother and Su-yeon was just her imagination. Su-yeon was dead and I am not very sure, but I would think that the death of Su-yeon is cause by Su-mi.
Overall, the horror element is too overwhelming for me. It's so scary! Sigh, my heart can't take it anymore. But I liked this film although it gives me the creeps and I couldn't sleep for many nights. I think that this is a superb movie for horror freaks. However, one must watch the show carefully, to avoid missing certain portions which may result in leaving you baffled about what is happening. Sadly, I was not watching it carefully as many parts I had my hands over my eyes and only looked that the subtitle from the edge of screen. Fortunately, my friends were there to tell me what had happened. Yay.

[1] A Tale of Two Sisters (2003). Retrieved on 1 May 2011 from http://www.eatmybrains.com/showreview.php?id=53
[2] A Tale of Two Sisters. Retrieved on 1 May 2011 from http://www.snowbloodapple.com/ataleoftwosisters.htm