The silver screen salutation

Ladies and gentlemen, may I declare Stardust...the best movie this year! Seriously, I left the cinema seat feeling the way I felt when I finished Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Fantasy and action thrillers are my favourite movie genres but when comedy does it part well in these two genres...baby, you (the movie) have won my heart. Nope, pun not intended.

Gosh where do I even begin to spoil the movie for you...

Let me introduce the quirks you should look out for :
The Old Guard who appears in the first scene. Never found out why he was designated to guard the portal to the other world, Stormhold, but watch out for his second and third appearances later on where he'll surprise you with some combat and apparent cowardice. Haha, makes for a good laugh!

Then there's the Lightning Traders (is that what they're called?) with Robert De Niro as the supposedly fearsome Captain Shakespeare. Brush aside your first impression of the sky sailors, they have a wicked sense of humour that unveils itself towards the climax of the story. Captain Shakespeare is actually a gay (?) and softie but because he thought he had to safeguard his fearsome reputation he goes all out to act merciless. Unknown to him, his whole crew actually knows that he's not scary! And everyone just played along to uphold the reputation of their captain. De Niro sure cracked me up with his portrayal of a self-deceiving character.

Watch out for curious names like Ditchwater Sal, Una, Primus, Secundus, Tertius, yada yada, Septimus which are kinda ridiculous but at least they help keep the audience on track with the many many characters.

Oh, and not forgetting Michelle Pfeiffer! As pek-chek as she can get in her hunt for the star that fell from the night sky, the story had to see her witch character make fun of herself. When you see the bunch of hair just coming off her head and her boobs suddenly greeting her stomach, you'll understand what I mean.

I saw the movie poster and I'd never thought this movie was going to be somewhat hilarious like Pirates but, gee, in all of the seriousness of the battles and importance of keeping the fallen star, Yvaine, safe there lie sprinkles of witty lines and unexpected comedy. Boy does it make the whole ride a good laugh and fantasy!

Despite a few minor plots going on in the story, the audience won't be lost because everything is well played out, coming and going at the right instances.

I salute the cast, crew and the novel (yes, Stardust is based on a novel). Now this is what movies should be like. Movie-magic justice well served 'cos I don't regret any buck I spent on it. Even Jason Bourne can't beat this. Personally, Stardust makes me wanna fall in love. It's so fantastic I'm considering getting the novel and maybe the DVD as well.

And yeah, Charlie Cox looks way better on screen than in still pictures.

EVERYONE GO WATCH THIS ONE-HECK OF A MARVELOUS MOVIE!!!

Ah, the Potter mania!

Yes, I'm guilty of being a Potter maniac.

OK, maybe 'maniac' is an exaggeration but hey, I'm loyal... I've read all the books and watched all the movies. And I use to subscribe to the Harry Potter (harrypotter.warnerbros.com) newsletter. Not bad mah...

Anyways, for those who, like Pei Ling, have not watched or even read the book. The part after the line in this post should prove unfit for your reading. Stop and go visit the cinema. (unless you don't actually give a darn)

It all started with Amelia raving about 11 July, wanting to be one of the nations firsts to watch the movie (aiya, those who went for the midnight sneak preview would have been the firsts lah). I, being the late-nighter in the house got geared up to book our tickets online once the clock strikes 12 a.m. Yes, such is our Potter spirit!

Then the internet line had to break off half an hour to 12...and stayed uncooperative until the next day. Disheartened but not giving up, I slept after nodding off too many a time in front of my laptop. I even wrote notes to tell Amelia to keep trying to go online the next morning but well, that stupiak line.

Continuing our battle with injustice, I made possibly 20 phone calls to GSC to try phone booking and much to our dismay, (half the calls didn't get through and) all the suitable movie slots were fully phone-booked!!!

I was suppose to have presentation that Monday but it didn't happen. Long unrelated story but anyways, being vexed at the fact that we were formally dressed for nothing, Jo, Amelia and I took a cab to Mid Valley to BUY our tickets. Yes. Of course we shopped a little, ate dinner there la... after getting the elusive tickets!

So yes, after experiencing a tinge of the great injustice of life on Sunday night and Monday morning, it is fortunate that Jo, Amelia and I manage to catch the second show in Mid Valley this morning!!!
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That morning was this morning. Oooh! I love the movie!
[spoilers! be warned!]

The effects during the battle scene were weallie weallie nice! With all the smoky, shredded cloth thingy and the glass pieces that Voldemort used to fire at Dumbledore and Harry. And the "I will not tell lies" sentence engraving itself on Potter's hand when Umbridge made him do that evil detention resemble the pictures we found for our Social Psychology assignment durign Foundation year. Our topic was self-mutilation.

I wonder what Amelia did when that scene unfolded itself. Closed her eyes, I guess.

When Harry kissed Cho, I suddenly realised...gee, they've grown up. I mean everyone in real life and in the story, yeah, suddenly I think the trio (Daniel, Rupert and Emma) have improved so much in their acting! Harry (Daniel) ain't awkward anymore! Well, that's how I watch movies. I do the reality part of it too. I watch not only for the movie itself but also to enjoy the performance of certain thespians. (cos, hush, I did have a Hollywood dream once upon a time *sheepish*). Though Katie could still try harder.

I love David Yates for making this installation of the Potter movies. He brings us back to the times when Harry (and Daniel) was this slightly chubby-faced (it's all the baby fat) cutie to this fit, kinda hot guy. [Well, the gymnastics did some chiselling to his body. *looks*] And some of the other times in between. You just get a wee bit nostalgic. Ah...growing up with Harry Potter eh?

Oh well, if I go on raving about Harry...I'll regret during my Phonetics class tomorrow. We're going to have this mini tests for the beginning this week which is a good thing because form those Ms Yoges, our Phonetics lecturer will take the best four marks to enter into our coursework marks or sumfink like that.

Ok, till me mind is imbued by me life.